International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Mustafa Manaf Hussein and Ahmed Saker Abdullah

abstract
The research aimed to determine the level of knowledge of breeders about diseases transmitted from animals to humans and ways to prevent them in Al-Alam District / Salah Al-Din Governorate - Iraq in each of the following study areas: (rabies, toxoplasmosis, Malta fever, hemorrhagic fever, anthrax, salmonella, hydatid cysts) and to identify the correlation between the level of knowledge of breeders about diseases transmitted from animals to humans and ways to prevent them and the independent variables studied, which are: (size of holding, animal husbandry profession, percentage of income contribution, participation in extension activities, contact with information sources). The study community included all animal breeders in Al-Alam District, numbering (543) breeders. A simple random sample of 50% was selected so that the number of breeders who underwent the procedures became (136). The results showed that Malta fever ranked first due to its association with the field of livestock breeding, followed by hydatid cysts due to its spread in rural areas. Rabies ranked third due to its seriousness and rapid transmission, while salmonella dropped to fourth place due to the lack of distinctive symptoms, then toxoplasmosis in fifth place due to its association with a specific source, followed by hemorrhagic fever in sixth place due to its low prevalence, and finally anthrax in seventh place due to its rarity and weak awareness. The researchers recommended the need for serious implementation and enactment of laws and legislation that prevent butcher shop owners from slaughtering animals without examination or health control, and for the border crossings department not to be lenient in the quarantine system for all imported animals.