Ethnozoological Study on Ichthyotherapy among the Suku People (Feshi Territory, Kwango Province), Democratic Republic of the Congo

Abstract

A survey was conducted from August 15, 2019 to February 20, 2020 among 67 traditional healers in order to know the species of fish that are used in the composition of traditional medicines used to treat some diseases in the Kambundi-Nganga Group, Ganaketi Sector, Feshi Territory in Kwango (DR Congo). The results obtained show that seventeen (17) species of fish belonging to 14 genera, 12 families and 8 orders are used by traditional healers to treat 24 pathologies. The fish of the order Siluriformes offer eight (8) species of fish which are used in the preparation of medicines for treating diseases. The fish species frequently used are respectively: Parauchenoglanis punctatus (31.3%), Clarias ebriensis and Gymnallabes typus representing respectively 16.4% and Malapterurus electricus (12%). It is followed by the order of Characiformes and Perciformes with respectively two species of fish. Fish of the orders Osteoglossiformes, Channiformes, Cyprinodontiformes, Symbranchiformes and Cypriniformes are represented by one species. The most treated pathologies are: bronchitis, asthma, dysmenorrhea and rheumatism. The most used parts of the fish are bones (32%), head bones (24%), fins (19%), scales (6%) or sometimes the whole fish (15%). It is therefore desirable that in-depth chemical and pharmacological studies be conducted in order to scientifically validate the use of fish in ichthyotherapy and to identify the active principles with therapeutic value for each species.