Ndou Rendani Victress, Materechera Simeon Albert, Mwanza Mulunda, Otang-Mbeng Wilfred, Ijane Mooki Fabridge
Centre of Animal Health Studies, North West University, Mmabatho, South Africa.
Indigenous Knowledge Systems Centre, North West University, Mmabatho, South Africa.
Front Vet Sci. 2023 Nov 22;10:1273562. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1273562. eCollection 2023.
Ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM) has been used by local South African communities for centuries. However, the knowledge of EVM is under threat due to the influence of Western medicine and acculturation. This study aimed to document the knowledge of ethnoveterinary medicinal plants in four villages within the Mahikeng Local Municipality to help preserve this valuable knowledge. The study used a qualitative research approach and targeted practitioners and holders of ethnoveterinary knowledge in four villages. Participants were recruited using key informants and snowball techniques, and in-depth interviews were conducted using semi-structured interview schedules. The data collected was analyzed thematically, and herbarium specimens were prepared from medicinal plants during field walks and sent to the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) for identification. The study documented the use of thirty-one medicinal plant species, with (sebetebete) emerging as the most frequently used species for multiple animal health indications. The most common diseases treated using EVM were gala (general malaise due to bile reflux) and retained placenta. Participants strongly agreed on the cultural significance of plants for treating five animal diseases, including coughs and diarrhea. Although the study revealed a high level of trust in ethnoveterinary medicine among participants, they expressed concern regarding the loss of this knowledge due to the influence of Western medicine and acculturation. The study concluded that the indigenous knowledge and use of ethnoveterinary medicine was prevalent among livestock owners in the communities of the North West Province, and more studies need to be conducted in other areas to preserve this valuable knowledge.
几个世纪以来，南非当地社区一直在使用民族兽医学（EVM）。然而，由于西医的影响和文化适应，民族兽医学知识正受到威胁。本研究旨在记录马希肯地方市四个村庄的民族兽医药用植物知识，以帮助保存这一宝贵知识。该研究采用定性研究方法，以四个村庄的民族兽医学从业者和知识持有者为目标。通过关键信息提供者和滚雪球技术招募参与者，并使用半结构化访谈提纲进行深入访谈。对收集到的数据进行主题分析，并在实地考察期间从药用植物制备标本馆标本，然后送往南非国家生物多样性研究所（SANBI）进行鉴定。该研究记录了31种药用植物的用途，其中（sebetebete）成为用于多种动物健康适应症的最常用植物。使用民族兽医学治疗的最常见疾病是gala（胆汁反流引起的全身不适）和胎盘滞留。参与者强烈认同植物对治疗包括咳嗽和腹泻在内的五种动物疾病的文化意义。尽管该研究显示参与者对民族兽医学高度信任，但他们对由于西医的影响和文化适应导致这种知识的流失表示担忧。该研究得出结论，西北省社区的牲畜所有者中普遍存在民族兽医学的本土知识和应用，需要在其他地区开展更多研究以保存这一宝贵知识。
