Vol. 11, Special Issue 10 (2022)

This cross sectional study was conducted in 100 dairy farmers from Bidar district, Karnataka state with a designed questionnaire on different aspects of cattle zoonotic diseases, with the aim to study the awareness, risk factors of cattle zoonotic diseases, impact on human and animal populations. The study revealed that, 85 per cent farmers belongs to 26-50 years age and 73 per cent of them were male. Only 25 per cent farmers did schooling. These farmers had an annual income in the range of Rs.50, 000-1,00,000 through agricultural cum dairy farming. 53 per cent farmers had less than 5 dairy cows in their farm, 57 per cent dairy farmers having less than 5 years of experience in dairy farming and 59 per cent respondents followed semi intensive method of cattle rearing. 74 per cent and 77 per cent dairy farmers were aware about deworming and zoonotic diseases, respectively. 56 per cent respondents were aware of route of transmission of zoonotic diseases and also knew ingestion (55 per cent) was the major route of transmission. It was observed that out of 100 farmers interviewed, only 22 per cent had any immunosuppressive disease. Also our study revealed that 11 percent respondents had a habit of smoking in dairy farm. 29 per cent farmers screened their dairy cattle for zoonotic diseases and also 49 per cent farmers have never done any type of screening to rule out the zoonotic diseases. 33, 30 and 19 per cent received the sources of information on awareness about the zoonotic diseases from media, veterinarian and physician. It was concluded that dairy farmers were well aware of rabies and foot and mouth disease but the knowledge towards other zoonotic diseases was low to medium. This study can be used for development of a coordinated, effective one health approach to prevention of zoonotic disease.