Rodent–Human Interface: Behavioral Risk Factors and Leptospirosis in a Province in the Central Region of Thailand

Abstract

This sequential explanatory mixed-method study consisted of analytical, cross-sectional, and qualitative studies. The research was conducted in the Khao Nor and Khao Kaew areas of the Banphot Pisai districts of Nakhon Sawan Province in 2019. Here, we examined the rodent contact characteristics of villagers in these areas and determined the potential characteristics/risk factors associated with rodents using a semi-structured questionnaire, key informant interview (KII), and focus group discussion (FGD). Results of the quantitative study (N1 = 372) characterized participants that contacted rodents per gender, age, occupation, knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP), including their cultural contexts, and beliefs. Ninety participants (24.2%) reported contact with rodents, and the reasons for their direct physical rodent contact were hunting (35, 9.4%), killing (41, 11.0%), preparing rodents as food (33, 8.9%), consuming cooked meats (12, 3.2%), feeding food (4, 1.1%), cleaning feces (17, 4.6%), and cleaning carcasses (33, 8.9%). Moreover, logistic regression results showed that males encountering rodents were statistically significant (Adjusted OR = 3.137, 95% CI 1.914–5.139, p < 0.001). Low monthly household income (<THB 15,000 or <USD 450) was also negatively statistically significant with encountering rodents (Adjusted OR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.33–0.99, p = 0.04). Additionally, the villagers had a low level of knowledge toward zoonotic diseases and inappropriate attitudes and practices toward contacting rodents and zoonotic diseases. Thirty-five qualitative study participants (N2) participated in the KIIs and FGDs. Various rodent contact activities were also reported among the qualitative research participants, such as hunting, consumption, and selling them to their friends and neighbors. However, these rodents also destroyed their belongings, crops, and plants. Some participants also reported that rodents accounted for leptospirosis transmission. As a result, communication intervention should be planned to provide appropriate knowledge and attitude to the villagers, especially among those who have close contact with rodents in the understudied area.

Ocular leptospirosis: lack of awareness among ophthalmologists and challenges in diagnosis

“…Thailand Central Region, the villagers had a low level of knowledge and inappropriate attitudes and practices such as hunting, consumption, and selling of rodent meat. Better communication and awareness programs should be planned to provide appropriate knowledge to the villagers [21].…”

“…Despite rare, renal involvement is reported also in children. Anuria is an atypical presentation of Leptospirosis [20,21]. More recently leptospira virulence factors have been discussed in detail by several investigators [22][23][24].…”

Spatial Analysis and Risk Factors of Leptospirosis in Indonesia. A Systematic Review

“…In Ariani's study (2020) the number of respondents with Leptospirosis RDT + cases was 58.5%, more respondents were male, namely 59%, most respondents were in the age group >46 years, amounting to 57.1% 15 . In Kanokwan's 2020 study there were 113 respondents with gender 47 male and 66 female, aged between 20 and 45 years 17 .…”

A Mathematical Model Analysis for the Transmission Dynamics of Leptospirosis Disease in Human and Rodent Populations

“…Human infection occurs through direct contact with infected animal reservoir urine, tissues, or other body fluid, or more commonly by contact with infected animal (reservoirs) urine-contaminated environment [ 1 , 6 , 7 ]. Person-to-person transmission of the disease occurs very rarely.…”

“…Although the human infection of the disease occurs in multiple different ways, most of the infections acquired directly or indirectly from environment (soil or water) contaminated with Leptospira especially in urban slum areas [ 7 – 9 ].…”