Combining market surveys and participatory approaches to map small ruminant mobility in three selected states in northern Nigeria

Abstract In Nigeria, an enormous gap in knowledge on livestock mobility and its role in transboundary disease spread exists. As animals move, so do diseases. Therefore, there is a need to understand how livestock movements can contribute to the circulation and maintenance of infectious livestock diseases, which can impede the design of particular surveillance and control tactics in the event of outbreaks. Our study aimed to compare and combine market surveys and participatory approaches to map and describe small ruminant mobility in three selected states in northern Nigeria for better surveillance and control of small ruminant infectious diseases. We conducted a market survey via semi-structured questionnaires from 1065 market traders and 20 separate focus group discussions with traders and transhumance in 10 local government areas (LGAs) in the three northern states, namely, Plateau, Bauchi and Kano. The respondent movements by type, animal movement, and reason for movement were described and summarized. The data collected were used to reconstruct small ruminant mobility networks, whose nodes were LGAs, in the 3 states of the survey area and with other states in Nigeria and whose movements were mapped. The characteristics of both networks were studied via a complex network approach either separately or in combination. The use of these two approaches provides a complementary view of small ruminant mobility. The reconstructed networks are connected, highly heterogeneous and have very low density. The networks include LGAs belonging to 31 states. The presence of hubs increases the risk of disease spread. Gwarzo, Wudil (Kano) and Alkaleri (Bauchi) LGAs receive the most sheep and goats, whereas Jos North (Plateau) and Gwarzo supply more small ruminants. The Bukuru and Alkaleri markets are superspreaders with a relatively high probability of detecting virus circulation. Four to six multistate communities were identified. Our findings could support policy choices to identify priority areas for surveillance and disease control in small ruminants.