The impact of traditional methods of managing snake bite in humans and livestock among the Hausa-Fulani communities of Sokoto State (North-western Nigeria)

摘要

raditional snake bite healers, farmers and Fulani cattle rearers in some local government areas of Sokoto State were interviewed through the use of structured questionnaires for the various ways they manage snake bite in their livestock. Almost all of them use plants either for prophylaxis, treatment or as repellants. Prophylactic treatment is only practiced in humans, while first aid treatment and post-treat mental care are given to both humans and animals. Most of the farmers and rearers (90%) interviewed directly or indirectly depend on traditional healers. Usually, a combination of two or three plants is mixed in acidic medium, usually sour milk (nono); and in some cases, a single plant is used. Dried leaves, roots or stem back are the parts used. The most commonly used plants include: Tunfafiya (Calotropis procera), Marke (Anogeissus leiocarpus), Magarya (Zizipus mauritiana), Tafarnuwa (Allium sativum), Kukuki (Sterculia tomentosa), Chibra (Randia nilotica), Nunu/Danya (Spondias?spp.), Bagaruwa (Acacia nilotica), Gwanda (Carica papaya), Kalgo, Kuna-kuna, gawasa, Kanya (Ebenaceae?Diospyros mispiliformis), Tsada (Ximenia Americana), Harwatsi and Taura (Detarium senegalense). Previous research showed that these plants contained anti-inflammatory, antibiotics, analgesic and other bioactive compounds that can be purified and further standardized for use in both human and animals, especially in the rural dwellings where anti- venom is almost absent, expensive and unaffordable.