Animal and their products used for treatment and prevention of disease practiced by traditional healers in Jimma Arjo district, East Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia

Abstract Background Ethiopia is one of the countries with richest fauna used for medicinal purpose. The Jimma Arjo community has knowledge and practice of utilizing this medicinal animal for treatment of human and animal ailments. Objective The objective of this research is to assess animals and their products used for treatment of human and animal ailment Methods A cross‐sectional ethnozoological survey was conducted using a semi structured questionnaire among purposively selected traditional healers resided in Jimma Arjo district. The data collected was entered in Microsoft excel spread sheet and analysed using SPSS statistical software. Fidelity level (FL), use value and informant consensus factor was determined. Results A total of 33 animal species was found to be used for treating 40 human ailments and different livestock disease confirmed by 36 informants of different ages, sexes and educational backgrounds. The majority of animals (63.63%) were mammals followed by birds (15.15%). Most of the respondents were male, married and aged 55 years and above. Most of the healers learn ethnozoological practice from the father (36.11%) followed by mother (19.44%). The traditional practice is accepted by (72.22%) of the community where 61.11% of the healers are not willing to transfer their knowledge to other. For most of the healers, the reason to practice traditional healing was for treating one's own family or animals (41.67%). The FL was found 100% for honey from Apis mellifera and Trigona spp. for asthma, Cynopterus sphinx for viral skin disease and Crocuta crocuta for bad sprit treatment. In this study, honey from A. mellifera, Hystrix cristata and Sus scrofa domesticus were reported to cure different ailments. Conclusion This study indicated wide use of medicinal animals and their products which could be used as an alternative and complementary medicine or a basis for in developing new drugs because the existing drugs especially antimicrobials are under threat due to the development of resistance by microbes.


K E Y W O R D S
disease, ethnozoology, fidelity level, knowledge, medicinal animals, use value

INTRODUCTION
People with different cultures across the globe apply their indigenous knowledge to prevent and treat various diseases of human and animals by using plant and animal derived remedies (Borah & Prasad, 2017).For the majority of the world's population, traditional medicinal remedies and medical practices are a primary source of health care, making indigenous medicinal knowledge an essential part of the health care system (World Health Organization, 1993).Various animals, their parts and products of both wild and domestic animals are used to prepare curative, protective and preventive remedies for a variety of ailments (Yirga et al., 2011).Animals and the products derived from their body organs constitute part of the inventory of medicinal substances which are used widely by the people since time immemorial, and such practices still exist in traditional medicines (Alves & Rosa, 2005).
Zootherapy is a form of healing that uses medicine obtained from animals to treat human or animal ailments (Costa-Neto, 2005).All over the world, it is used in healing practices, magic rituals and religions (Anageletti et al., 1992;Rosner, 1992).As one of many known therapies practiced worldwide, zoo therapy is a viable alternative in modern society (Alves & Rosa, 2005).Marques (1994) stated that all human culture which presents a structured medical system utilizes animals as medicines.The phenomenon of zootherapy is marked both by a broad geographical distribution and very deep historical origins.Of the 252 essential chemicals that have been selected by the World Health Organization, 8.7% come from animals (Alves & Rosa, 2005).Traditional healing methods involving hundreds of insect and other invertebrate species are reviewed by Meyer-Rochow (2017).In traditional Chinese medicine, more than 1500 animal species had been recorded to be having some medicinal use (CNCTHM, 1995).In Brazil, Alves and Rosa (2007) reported the medicinal use of 283 animal species for the treatment of various ailments.In Bahia state, in the northeast of Brazil, over 180 medicinal animals have been recorded (Unnikrishnan, 1998).
Africa has the richest and most diversified fauna resources.The continent is known to be the home of approximately 2000 important biodiversity sites and the worlds most diversified and numerous big ungulate (hoofed mammal) populations (Ripple et al., 2015;Wolf & Ripple, 2016) and freshwater fishes than any other continent.For example in South Africa, animals and plants are commonly used as traditional medicines for both the healing of ailments and for symbolic purposes such as improving relationships and attaining good fortune (Whiting et al., 2010).
Ethiopia is known for having wide climatic and ecologic conditions which possess a wide range of fauna and flora of different species that are used for medicinal purpose (Yirga et al., 2011).According to Bekele and Yalden (2013), there are more than 860 species of birds, 320 species of mammals, 200 reptiles, 145 fishes in Ethiopia and 63 amphibians.Approximately more than half of the human population in this country depends on traditional medicine for meeting their primary health care needs and 90% of livestock disease (Birhanu et al., 2015).Enormous work has been done on ethno botany and traditional medicine in the country but reports about ethno zoology of Ethiopia are still limited.From animal source molecules like heparin, insulin and barbiturate, pituitary hormone was some of the substances employed for pharmacotherapeutic effects.Insulin was first isolated from pancreases of pigs or cows, used to treat diabetic in patients in 1920.
The initial source of heparin was dog liver which is used till today for variety of coronary and cardiovascular disease.

Gap and Justification
The Didessa basin of Jimma Arjo district is known by hot climatic condition with poor road and infrastructure like veterinary and human clinics.In addition to the original residents of the area, there are settlers from North Showa, Western Hararge and Wollo owning different religions who had long experience of using traditional medicine.
Despite huge experience of the society on the use of traditional medicine, there is no documented research on use of animals as a traditional medicine for human and animal ailments from this area.
As traditional knowledge is seen as a major component of Ethiopian social legacy where it is under researched and in danger of being lost.Recognizing that the natural assets from wild and domestic animals are better therapeutic options and hence to be recorded.
Hence, the objective of this research is to assess traditional healing practice exercised by Jimma Arjo districts community used to cure human and livestock ailment through interviews with purposively selected respondents.

Study area
The study was conducted in Jimma Arjo district of East Wollega administrative zone of Oromia regional state western part of Ethiopia The farming system of the district is mixed farming system, from total population of the district 89% engage in agriculture and livestock production.The common crop of the area are coffee, teff, sorghum, maize, wheat, barley, and inset, sesame, ginger and rice are also planted in some extent.Honey production and chat plantation are also commonly practicing.Natural broad leaf forests and grasslands cover non-cultivated lands in the area.The main farming system in the area is mixed farming, and most abundant animal species kept are cattle.

Methodology
Study design: In order to acquire ethnozoological information about the medicinal animal and their products used in traditional medicine, a cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2020 to October

2021.
Sampling technique: The ethnozoological data (local name of animals, mode of preparation and administration, part of the animal used and ingredients added) were collected through semi-structured interview prepared in English and then translated to Afaan Oromo for suitability after a pilot study was conducted for reliability of the designed questionnaire.The selection of informant's was based on their experience, recognition as experts and knowledge concerning traditional medicine and their age ranged from 25 years and above.
The healers were selected from each kebeles of the districts based on their prior experience.They were inquired, about the illnesses cured by animal based medicines and the manner in which the medicines were prepared and administered.They were also requested thorough information about mode of preparation and blending of animal products used as ingredients and whether they use animal in the healing practice, as this type of information indicate how a given medicine can be therapeutically effective in term of the right ingredients, the proper dose and the right length of medication.During the course of the study, each participant was visited at least twice in order to confirm the reliability of the ethnozoological information.Consequently, the response of an informant that was not in accord with each other was considered unreliable and hence rejected.

Data analysis
The data obtained was summarized and analysed using descriptive statistical methods, presented in tables as percentages.R-studio was used for analysis purpose.In the ethnozoological data that was obtained from the interviews on reported medicinal animals and associated knowledge, fidelity level (FL) was calculated as the percentage of respondents claiming the use of a certain animal species for the same ailments, for the most frequently reported diseases or ailments as FL% = NP × 100/N; where NP is the number of respondents that claim use of a species to treat a particular disease, and N is the number of respondents that use the animals as a medicine to treat any given disease (Alexiades, 1996).The range of FL is from 1% to 100%; high values indicate that this particular animal species is used by large number of the people, whereas a low value shows that respondents disagree on the usefulness of a species in treating ailments.Moreover informant consensus factor (ICF) was calculated using the following formula, ICF = nur − nt/nur − 1, where ICF is the informant consensus factor, nur is the number of used citations in each category, and nt is the number of species used.

Socio demographic characteristics of respondents
The present study identified the traditional medicinal knowledge of treating various diseases using different animals and their parts by communities.During the study, 36 key informants of either male or female were selected.From the included participants, most of them at least write and read, whereas 25% of them does not have no formal education.Most of the informants were aged individuals having age of 45 years (80.55%) and above.More than 80% of interviewed individuals are married and greater than 58% were living in the country side.
Fifty five per cent of included traditional healers included in this survey were farmers with different educational backgrounds, whereas 19.4% of them were merchants (Table 1).

Source of knowledge and its maintenance
From the study participants, the most common source of traditional knowledge was father (41.67%) followed by mother (25.0%).Regarding the reputability of the ethno medicinal practice 72.2% of the participants indicated that the knowledge is well accepted by the community, whereas 27.78% of informants showed the resistance of the community to use traditional medicinal animals.Relatively only few participants show interest to share their knowledge (38.89%) to other, whereas 61.11% of participants refuses to transfer their knowledge to others who seek to exercise this ethnozoological knowledge.From this study, it is learned that 47.22% of participants responded peoples can always use traditional medicine, whereas 36.11% of them reply as individuals use it situational.Economy and efficacy account above 61% of the reason why people use traditional medicine.Most of the healers (61.11%) responded as there is no conservation mechanism for the wealth of knowledge from traditional healers (Table 2).

Type of medicinal animals
In the current study, from a total of 33 animal species identified as source of remedies for different human ailments, 63.63% were mammalian class, whereas 15.10% for birds.Insects, fish, reptiles and amphibians were told to be source of remedies.From these animals, 72.27% of them were wild, whereas 27.27% were domestic animals (Table 3).

Method of preparation and mode of application of medicinal animals
The medicinal animals were reported to be used in different routes of administration.The most common routes of administration were eating (43.0%) followed by drinking (28.0%), fumigation (12.00%) and heating (6.0%).Massaging, tying on, sitting on and hanging of medicinal products were reported to be the used routes of administration.
The most common route of entry was found to be oral and dermal ways (Table 4).
This study revealed a total of 33 animal species under different genera and 6 classes which are used for treatments of 40 different human ailments.Wild mammals are the most commonly used classes followed by birds and insects, respectively.It delivered in different methods either fresh or being cooked, dried, smoked or mixed with other ingredients like sugar, butter, milk and salts (Table 5).
Preparation methods involve cooking, smoking, burning with, crushing, powdering, wrapping and the use of fresh animals or their products.
It varies according to different ailments treated (Table 5).It is told in this study that meat and fat (33.33%) are the most frequently used animal part followed by liver and animal products such as honey, egg and milk butter.Whole animal, excrete; blood, teeth and blood are used for medicinal purposes.The preparation conditions various from using the animals or products fresh or drying and preparing in powder form (Table 6).

Relative importance and fidelity level of medicinal animals and their products
The present study revealed that Hystrix cristata with 36.11use value percentage is the most frequently used animal species for different ailments followed by Sus scrofa domesticus, Apis mellifera and Procavia capensis (Table 7).
The FL of medicinal animal species was determined for the most commonly reported disease by the informants (Table 8).Accordingly, honey from bee and sting less bee species (A.mellifera and Trigona spp.) is known to relieve wart, asthma, diarrhoea, throat pain, stomachache, cough and tuberculosis and achieves 100% FL.In addition to this, Sus scrofa domesticus, H. cristata, urine of Bos indicus and Crocuta crocuta indicated 73%, 75%, 80% and 100% FL for the treatment of hepatitis, asthma, snake venom and evil spirit respectively (Table 8).
TA B L E 2 Source of knowledge, attitude and practice of the community related information (n = 36).

Variable Frequency Percentage
From

Information consensus factor
In this study, the level of agreement between interviewees over which animal to use for each illness category was determined using ICF.
This study revealed that informants have high degree of agreement (ICF = 1) in the treatment of asthma, hepatitis and warts.However, the informants have a high level of heterogeneity (ICF = 0.5) in the treatment of evil eye and febrile disease (Table 9).

TA B L E 5
Medicinal animals used to treat animal and human disease with mode of administration and method of preparation.

DISCUSSION
In the present ethnozoological survey, 33 animal species and their parts/products that belong to a class of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects were reported to be used for the treatment of 40 kinds of human and different livestock health conditions by traditional medicinal practitioners of Jimma Arjo districts' community.
The current result is slightly lower to study report by Kendie et al. (2018) from Metema who indicated 51 medicinal animals.This finding is higher than study conducted in the semi-arid regions of Northern Brazil that reported 25 medicinal animals species used for the treatment of 43 different ailments (Alves et al., 2012).Similarly, a study conducted in West Gojjam Ethiopia also revealed the use of 26 animal species for the treatment of 33 different ailments (Misganaw et al., 2021).Lower number of medicinal animals was reported from Arba Minch Zuria district (Kebebew et al., 2021) and Kafta-Humera (Yirga et al., 2011) that reported the use of 19 and 16 animal species, respectively.In this study, majority of the medicinal animals (85%) were wild animals.This finding is in agreement with the study conducted in semi-arid regions of Northern Brazil which reported wild animals as the major (77.7%) source of animal-based complementary medicines (Alves et al., 2011).The finding of the study conducted by Kebebew et al. (2021) in Arba Minch district and Yirga et al. (2011) in Kafta-Humera district of Northern Ethiopia reported more than half of medicinal animals were obtained from wild sources.This finding is in agreement to the reports by other researchers as wild and domestic animals and their products such as skin, bone, feather, tusk, hooves, blood, honey and others are important ingredients in the preparation of curative, protective and preventive medicine (Kindie et al., 2018) This finding indicated that traditional medicinal practitioners and indigenous people are mostly dependent on the wild sources which might be related to the preference of the community for wild animals.Animals of all kinds are utilized for food, clothes and traditional health care practices to treat a variety of human and livestock illnesses, ranging from insect larvae to larger mammalian species.
In this study, mammals were the most commonly (63.6%) used class of animals followed by birds (15%) and reptiles, insects (9.09%).This finding is in line with the review conducted in the Mexican traditional system that reported mammals as the most commonly used medicinal class of animal species followed by birds and reptiles (Alonso-Castro, 2014).The study conducted in the semi-arid region of Northern Brazil also reported mammals as the most commonly used class of medicinal species (Alves et al., 2014).Similarly, the study conducted among the indigenous people of Metema Woreda, Northwestern Ethiopia also reported mammals as the most commonly used animal species followed by birds and reptiles (Kindie et al., 2018).Study conducted by Abebe et al. (2022) from Motta city administration and Hulet Eju Enessie and Kebebew et al. (2021) from Arba Minch Zuria district indicated similar value (64%) as mammals are most commonly used animal class (Abebe et al., 2022;Kebebew et al., 2021).In line with the current finding, the medicinal use of insects and other arthropods plays an important role to treat various maladies and injuries and has  macopoeia Commission, 2015).It was used as diuretics to improve urinary dysfunction and exploited tonics for enhancing immunity (Jia et al., 2016).The N- (3,4-dihydroxyphenylethyl) acetamide and 2,4-ditert-butylphenol were used as strong antioxidants and proved potent candidate for against hyperlipidaemia and atherosclerosis (Xu, 2014).
Cicada slough is often used in Chinese folk medicine to improve throat discomfort, relieve spasm, treating skin disease, immunomodulatory effect, combat allergies and esophagitis (Xu et al., 2006;Zhang, 2007).
Honey bee and stingless bees are common traditional insects for treatment of arthritis, rheumatism, pain, tumour, skin disease and asthma.
Rheumatoid arthritis is treated by bee venom as it induces apoptosis through caspase-3 activation in synovial fibroblasts of patients (Hong et al., 2005).Maggot therapy is a type of biotherapy that involves in the introduction of live, disinfected maggots in to non-healing skin and soft tissue for cleaning and debridement of dead necrotic tissue (Sherman & Pechter, 1988).The present study indicated that different parts/products of medicinal animals are used for their healing values.
Accordingly meat or fatty meat was the most commonly (33.3%) followed by animal products such as milk, honey, egg and liver.Similarly, other studies also reported the meat/flesh of different animals as most commonly used for its medicinal value for the management of different ailments (Abebe et al., 2022;Erena, 2020;Kendie et al., 2018;Kebebew et al., 2021;Tesfaye & Erena, 2020;Yohannes & Chane, 2014).This study indicates the oral route either in the form of eating or drinking accounts (71.0%) for the administration of medicinal preparations followed by fumigation (12.0%).Similarly, other studies also reported the oral route as the major route for administration of the medicinal preparations (Abdeta et al., 2020;Abebe et al., 2022;Mahomoodally et al., 2019;Yirga et al., 2011).However, contrary to current study finding, the study conducted in Arba Minch Zuria district reported the dermal route as the major route compared to the oral route of administration (Kebebew et al., 2021).
The relative importance of a species cited by the informants was determined using use-value.The present study reported that H. cristata, Sus scrofa domesticus and A. mellifera 36.11%,27.8% and 25.0%, respectively, were most common cited medicinal animal.These higher values of some of species might be related to the preparation of different remedies from the different parts of a single animal species to treat different ailments (Alves et al., 2009).Most of the healer's individual's life is influence by beliefs about the magical power of the medicinal animals as in other part of the world.
The finding of this study indicated that most of the medicinal animal species are being lost due to deforestation and over-exploitation.
The loss of medicinal animals might be associated with slaughtering the animal species to collect the meat, organ, blood and other parts which were commonly reported to prepare most of the medicinal remedies.
Today most of the community also uses ready available commercial drugs.In line to this, an attempt to conserve of these medicinal animals along their niches is rare from government and non-government organization though the local wisdom of indigenous people in nature conservation plays a crucial part in protecting planets biodiversity and the overall health of the ecosystem.

Limitations of the study
The fact that the current study only gathers the essential data over a third of a year is one of its highlighted weaknesses.Furthermore, most of the traditional healers are not willing to show the exact mechanism how the medicine is prepared other than responding to the questions.This is from fear if they do that the knowledge will be transferred to anyone who seek seeks it, which will reduce their value in the community as every one become expert to the specific disease.Furthermore, it is very difficult to capture the every animal for further investigation as most the animals are not assessable.The prevalence of ailments and the accessibility of remedies both vary seasonally.

CONCLUSION
Salmon sperm was used to create protamine sulphate made from utilizing recombinant DNA technology.Captopril, the first angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, was discovered 1970, derived from Brazilian snake Bothrops jararaca venom.Eptifibatide is a glycoprotein; potent inhibitor of receptor IIb/IIIa used to avoid thrombosis was extracted from rattle snake venom called Sistrurus miliarius barbouri.Armour thyroid is one of the most well-known medications derived from pig thyroid glands used for the treatment of hypothyroidism.Gelatin, a substance utilized in nearly every home, is frequently used in the pharmaceutical sector to make capsules.It can be either of porcine or bovine origin (https:// recipe-cpsa.com/en/medicines-of-animal-origin/).Loss of traditional knowledge of indigenous communities had impact the development of modern medicine.It is important to document the traditional knowledge of human communities, as the majority of such communities are losing their socioeconomic and cultural characteristics.The present study was carried out to investigate the use of traditional medicine of animal origin used for healing human and livestock ailments that has been practiced by people in Jimma Arjo community.
Socio demographic factors of respondents.
TA B L E 1 Animal parts or products used for traditional medicine used for treatment of ailments (n = 102).
Use value of medicinal animal for treatment of common disease in the study area.Note: ∑iUvi: the sum of the number of use reports sited by the informants.Abbreviation: Uv: use value, %Uv: use value percentage.medicineusinganimal based remedies.In this study, 33 animal species that belong to mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects were used for the management and treatment of different types of human and livestock ailments.Mammals were the most frequently used.Although the traditional medicinal practitioners and indigenous people are skilled with the preparation and administration of animal based remedies, less effort has been made to conserve the medicinal animals that lead the loss of knowledge and practice as the elders pass.Hence, it is important to document, conserve and manage; the indigenous knowledge and further research should be conducted to test the products scientifically for product development.Fidelity level of medicinal animals for treating common disease.Informant consensus factor for the common disease.Veterinary Medicine, Wollega University dated 20/08/2020 with minute number SVM.RERC/0019., ethical approval was obtained for oral consent from the Research Ethics Committee of the School of Veterinary Medicine, Wollega University dated 20/08/2020 with minute number SVM.RERC/0019.Communicative letter was written to district and peasant association leaders explaining the objective of this study.Data was collected after the respondents agree to participate in the interview process.It is assured that information collected was anonymous and that it was only for research purpose.In this process, animals are not sacrificed rather the picture is taken at the spot.
Developing countries commonly used traditional medicines as one of the alternative medicinal practices.In Jimma Arjo district, traditional medicinal practitioners and indigenous people practiced traditional TA B L E 7 AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS Conceptualization; methodology; supervision; resource; supervision; project administration; analysis; writing the original draft and editing final paper.TA B L E 8