# Use of Animal-Derived Products for Medicinal and Belief-Based Purposes in Urban Cities of Southwestern Nigeria: A One Health Perspective

## TL;DR

This study examines the use of animal-derived products for medicine and beliefs in Nigerian cities, highlighting risks to health and conservation.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into zootherapy practices in urban Nigeria and their One Health implications.

## Key findings

- 95% of reported animal species are reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens.
- 44% of species are classified as vulnerable or endangered.
- Practices are driven by income, beliefs, and wild meat trade dynamics.

## Abstract

The use of animal-derived products for human healthcare and spiritual purposes, also called zootherapy, is practiced in many countries of the world, including Nigeria. We assessed the implications of therapeutic and belief-based use of wildlife products in southwestern Nigeria from a One Health lens. Income, traditional beliefs, and wild meat trade modulated these practices. Overall, 44% (18/41) of the animal species described by participants as abundant are classified as vulnerable or endangered under the IUCN Red List. Also, 95% (39/41) of reported species belonged to animal taxa documented as pathogen vectors and reservoirs, or hosts. Together, these results highlight the potential risks of zootherapy to public health, animal welfare, and environmental health.

Zootherapy is a significant component of traditional medicine in many parts of the world. This study investigated the therapeutic and belief-based use of wildlife in urban settings in Southwest Nigeria, assessing its potential implications for One Health. We used semi-structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and participant observations to gain insights into the practices, practitioners’ knowledge, motivations, and animal species used. Also, we searched the published literature and the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species for zoonotic pathogens and the conservation statuses of the reported animal species. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyze the data. Results revealed 53 practices involving 41 species, with occasional importation of animal parts to meet demand. Practitioners’ limited awareness of zoonotic risks, coupled with income generation and deeply rooted traditional beliefs, sustained these practices, further fueled by the dynamics of urban wild meat trade. The majority (95%) of species reported were reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens, with 44% in the vulnerable, near-threatened, endangered, or critically endangered class. The use of animal-derived products for medicinal and spiritual purposes may constitute a plausible pathway for potential zoonotic spillovers, transboundary animal diseases (TADs), decline in wildlife resources, and ecological imbalance. We recommend intensified monitoring, risk communication, awareness programs, and the adoption of sustainable alternatives to mitigate the negative impacts of these practices in Nigeria and beyond.