Hunting, Food Preparation, and Consumption of Rodents in Lao PDR

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 29 villages of Khamkeuth District in Bolikhamxay Province in the Lao PDR during March to May 2013. The study aimed to determine the characteristics associated with rodent consumption and related behaviors among different ethnic groups, ages, and genders. Five-hundred-eighty-four (584) males and females from 18-50 years of age participated in this study. Half of them were Hmong (292, 50%) while 152 respondents were Lao-Tai (26%) or other ethnic groups (140, 24%). Most of the respondents (79.5%) had farming as their main occupation. Prevalences of the studied outcomes were high: 39.9 for hunting or capturing rodents in the previous year, 77.7% for preparing rodents as food, and 86.3% for rodent consumption. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that likelihood of these types of rodent contact was more consistently associated with behavioral factors (gathering things from the forest and elsewhere, cultivation-related activities, and taking measures to prevent rodent-borne disease) than with socio-demographic, environmental, or cultural factors. The strongest associations were observed for gathering things; these associations were consistently positive and statistically significant. Although this study did not directly assess rodent-borne zoonosis risk, we believe that study findings raise concern that such risk may be substantial in the study area and other similar areas. Further epidemiological studies on the association between rodent-borne disease infection and rodent hunting, preparation for food, and consumption are recommended. Moreover, further studies are needed on the association between these potential exposure factors (i.e., rodent hunting, preparation for food, and consumption) and rodent-borne infections, especially among ethnic groups like the Hmong in Lao PDR and those in neighboring countries with similar socio-demographic, environmental, behavioral and cultural contexts.

<p><em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> And <em>Neospora caninum</em> In Brain Tissue Of Rodents In North-West Iran</p>

“…Rodent plays an important role in the life cycle of T. gondii and N. caninum because they are generally preyed by domestic and feral cats and dogs hence can spread the parasite to humans and other animals. Besides, hunting and eating of rodents by man as an ancient practice in some nations increased the risk of acquiring zoonotic diseases such as toxoplasmosis and neosporiasis 28. However, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first study of Toxoplasma and Neospora prevalence in rodents in the Meshgin-Shahr District.…”

Hunting and consumption of rodents by children in the Lassa fever endemic area of Faranah, Guinea

“…Recently, studies identifying risk factors for zoonosis and emerging pathogens have focused on a better understanding of human-rodent interactions worldwide [ 4 , 29 ]. One risk factor for the transmission of infectious diseases is rodent hunting and consumption due to the intimate contact with animal body fluids during butchering.…”

Risk factors for bat contact and consumption behaviors in Thailand; a quantitative study

“…The human and wildlife interface has been a global concern in the past decade due to several zoonotic disease outbreaks related to wildlife contact. Pathogen transmission may occur through several routes, e.g., inhalation [1]; bites [2][3][4]; scratches [5]; hunting [6][7][8][9]; guano use as fertilizer [10]; food consumption [6,11,12]; handling, slaughtering and butchering; drinking water or food contaminated with saliva or feces [13]; and possible human-to-human transmission.…”