The use of trypanocides and antibiotics by Maasai pastoralists

Information was collected on the use of veterinary drugs by Maasai pastoral ists in an area of Kenya where tsetse flies and trypanosomosis occur. Three herds of cattle were followed for between 4 and 5 years and records were k ept of every veterinary drug treatment given by the livestock owners. Almos t all treatments were either with the trypanocides homidium or diminazene, or with oxytetracycline by intramuscular injection. The rate of trypanocide use varied between 0.66 and 1.56 treatments per animal per year, while oxy tetracycline use was between 0.20 and 1.00 treatments per animal per year. Farmers were injecting these drugs in the absence of veterinary supervision , obtaining their supplies mainly from local village shops or informal trad ers. Underdosing with trypanocides appeared to be uncommon and the indicati ons were that farmers generally gave the drugs at dosage rates above the re commended standard dose. Accurate information on the dose rates of oxytetra cycline could not be obtained, but it was noted that in most cases farmers gave a single injection rather than a course of treatment. In a proportion of cases, trypanocides and antibiotics were mixed together before injection . The farmers administered the drugs when disease was recognized and were r arely using trypanocides as prophylactics. Although necessity forces the li vestock owners to obtain and use these drugs without veterinary supervision , there are concerns with regard to the possibility of drug misuse and the development of drug resistance.