Survey of Zoonotic Diseases Awareness Among Veterinary Students at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

This study surveys the level of awareness and understanding of zoonotic diseases among undergraduate veterinary students at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, located in Nigeria's North West geopolitical zone. Veterinary students are future frontline professionals in zoonotic disease detection, prevention, and control, making their knowledge of major zoonoses a critical professional competency. Using a cross-sectional survey design, a validated questionnaire was administered to 200 veterinary students across all clinical and pre-clinical years at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, ABU Zaria. The instrument covered awareness of major zoonotic diseases, transmission routes, occupational risk practices, personal protective equipment use, and perceptions of zoonosis importance in veterinary practice. Data were analysed using frequency tables, percentages, and chi-square tests to identify significant predictors of knowledge levels. Findings revealed that while 94 percent of respondents correctly identified rabies as a zoonotic disease, awareness of less prominent zoonoses such as leptospirosis, Q fever, and Rift Valley fever was significantly lower (below 40%). Occupational biosafety practices including glove use during animal handling were consistently low across all years, with only 42 percent reporting regular use during clinical work. Senior clinical students showed significantly higher zoonotic knowledge scores than pre-clinical students. The study recommends enhanced zoonosis-focused modules in the veterinary curriculum and mandatory occupational health and safety training for all clinical-year students. Keywords: zoonoses, veterinary students, awareness, biosafety, Zaria.