Household practices related to disease transmission between animals and humans in rural Cambodia

Abstract

BackgroundZoonotic diseases are disproportionately affecting poor societies in low-income countries and pose a growing threat to public health and global food security. Rural Cambodian households may face an increased likelihood of exposure to zoonotic diseases as people there live in close association with livestock. The objectives of the study was to identify practices known to influence zoonosis transmission in rural Cambodian households and relate the practices to agro-ecological region, socio-economic position, demographics, livestock management and zoonosis awareness.MethodsThe study was conducted in three different agro-ecological regions of Cambodia; 10 villages each in the central lowlands, north-west wetlands and on the south coast, where information was obtained in questionnaires administered to 300 households, and 30 village heads and animal health workers.ResultsDescriptive analysis revealed a gender difference in responsibility for livestock and that the main purpose of raising livestock was for sale. Few respondents (6%) perceived a likelihood of disease transmission in their village between livestock, humans and wildlife, despite household practices related to zoonosis transmission being common. More than one-forth of households practised behaviours such as culling sick animals for consumption, eating animals found dead and allowing animals to enter sleeping and food preparation areas. Associations between household practices and possible explanatory factors were analysed with multivariable models using generalised estimation equations to account for clustering of practices within villages. Factors found to influence household practices were agro-ecological region, socio-economic position, number of people in the household, livestock species reared and awareness of zoonoses.ConclusionsCambodia has experienced numerous fatal human cases of zoonotic influenza and extensive influenza information campaigns have been run, yet only a few of the households surveyed here reported the threat of zoonosis to be a concern in their village. Zoonosis awareness was positively related to hand washing behaviour, but other practices associated with an increased or decreased likelihood of exposure to zoonotic pathogens were unaffected by awareness. The findings indicate a knowledge-to-action gap among rural farmers and highlight the necessity for reconstructed interventions in zoonotic disease control.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-015-1811-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Carriage of carbapenemase‐ and extended‐spectrum cephalosporinase‐producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in humans and livestock in rural Cambodia; gender and age differences and detection of blaOXA‐48 in humans

“…There are no obvious biological reasons for the observed difference in community carriage between sexes, and the explanation could be local gender‐related behaviour leading to transmission between populations. In the current study population, women are often more responsible for the care of poultry and pigs (high level ESCE/K colonized livestock), while men generally take care of more valuable livestock such as ruminants (low level ESCE/K colonized livestock) (Osbjer et al, ). It has been previously shown that close contact with poultry increased community carriage of ESCE in Dutch humans (Huijbers et al, ).…”

Animal Husbandry Practices and Perceptions of Zoonotic Infectious Disease Risks Among Livestock Keepers in a Rural Parish of Quito, Ecuador

“…Although comparisons across studies should be cautioned due to methodological differences, findings from a household survey of livestockraising practices in rural Cambodia suggest a similar incongruity between knowledge and perceived risk: while two-thirds of households in the study were aware of zoonoses, only 6% of respondents considered disease transmission between livestock and humans to be likely. 55 Interestingly, despite evidence indicating increased risk of Salmonella infection from contact with backyard poultry, a study of backyard poultry owners in Los Angeles, CA, indicated that only one half of owners believed that poultry in urban areas could lead to more illness in humans. 56,57 Past zoonotic disease outbreaks in Yaruquí or educational campaigns in the area may have contributed to the relatively high level of awareness of zoonotic disease transmission observed in our study.…”

Risk factors associated withCampylobacterdetected by PCR in humans and animals in rural Cambodia

“…Such results suggest future actions targeting the entire meat production chain for reduced burden of human Campylobacter infection. Moreover, as previously reported, livestock are mainly produced to generate an income and often sold by households [24]. Thus, efficient Campylobacter control ought to move beyond the households with improvements in hygiene practices targeting also external factors along the meat production chain, such as middlemen, abattoirs and consumers.…”

“…The interviews, targeted towards the female head of the household, were carried out in Khmer using a household questionnaire consisting of questions on livestock management, meat consumption and household practices related to zoonosis transmission (Table 1). To enhance consistency between the three regions, the field team was trained in questioning and sampling prior to fieldwork [24]. Each village was visited for two consecutive days.…”