Adebowale Oluwawemimo Oluseun, Amoo Olufemi Samuel, Afolabi Kayode Olayinka, Oloye Abimbola Adetokunbo
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
Centre for Human Virology and Genomics Research, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research NIMR, Yaba, Nigeria.
J Adv Vet Anim Res. 2022 Jun 26;9(2):203-210. doi: 10.5455/javar.2022.i585. eCollection 2022 Jun.
Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is one of the most important causative agents of swine diseases that pose a global economic threat. Presently, there is little or no information on the perception and awareness of PCV2 and its associated effects among pig farmers in Nigeria. Therefore, this research was carried out to describe pig farmers' views, awareness, and likely impact of PCV2 and its associated postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) on pig production in the southwestern region of Nigeria.
A cross-sectional survey of pig farmers in Oyo and Ogun states, Southwest Nigeria, was carried out with the help of a self-administered questionnaire.
A total of 111 farms out of the 385 required took part in the study, resulting in a total response rate of 28.8%. 89 (79.2%, 95% CI = 70.8-85.8) pig farmers who participated were unaware of PCV2, while 46 (41.4%, 95% CI = 32.7-50.7) had heard about PMWS. The level of awareness was generally poor, with an average score of 1.43 (SD ± 1.25; 23.9%). Only 23% (25/111) of the participants had a high level of awareness. To promote awareness about PCV2/PMWS, participants' most preferred sources of information were seminars, extension services (especially by veterinary and agricultural extension officers), social media (WhatsApp and YouTube), and mobile telephone (through calls or text messages).
The present study showed a gap in the level of farmers' awareness about PCV2/PMWS, and to bridge the gap, more scientific-based evidence is needed to promote targeted educational programs and policy formulations. Also, with the dearth of information about PCV2, it is necessary to determine its prevalence and the characteristics of the virus possibly circulating within the swine herds in Nigeria.
猪圆环病毒2型（PCV2）是对全球经济构成威胁的猪病最重要的病原体之一。目前，关于尼日利亚养猪户对PCV2及其相关影响的认知和了解情况，几乎没有相关信息。因此，开展本研究以描述尼日利亚西南部地区养猪户对PCV2及其相关的断奶后多系统消耗综合征（PMWS）对生猪生产的看法、认知以及可能产生的影响。
在尼日利亚西南部的奥约州和奥贡州，借助自填式问卷对养猪户进行了横断面调查。
在所需的385个养殖场中，共有111个养殖场参与了研究，总回复率为28.8%。参与研究的89名（79.2%，95%置信区间=70.8-85.8）养猪户不知道PCV2，而46名（41.4%，95%置信区间=32.7-50.7）听说过PMWS。认知水平普遍较低，平均得分为1.43（标准差±1.25；23.9%）。只有23%（25/111）的参与者具有较高的认知水平。为提高对PCV2/PMWS的认知，参与者最喜欢的信息来源是研讨会、推广服务（特别是兽医和农业推广人员提供的）、社交媒体（WhatsApp和YouTube）以及移动电话（通过通话或短信）。
本研究表明养猪户对PCV2/PMWS的认知水平存在差距，为弥合这一差距，需要更多基于科学的证据来推动有针对性的教育项目和政策制定。此外，鉴于关于PCV2的信息匮乏，有必要确定其在尼日利亚猪群中的流行情况以及可能传播的病毒特征。
