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Jenkins J, Lawundeh W, Hanson T, Brown H. Human-animal entanglements in bushmeat trading in Sierra Leone: An ethnographic assessment of a potential zoonotic interface. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298929. [PMID: 38547141 PMCID: PMC10977710 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
'Bushmeat' markets are often portrayed as chaotic spaces where exotic wild animals are sold. They are hypothesized to be important sites for zoonotic disease transmission, given the prolonged and intense nature of the cross-species encounters that occur within them. Whilst such markets have received some attention from researchers, rich qualitative descriptions of everyday practices in these markets are rare. Depictions of wild animal markets as sites for potential viral amplification often rely on exoticizing assumptions and narratives rather than actual evidence, and in some cases are based more on ideology than on science. We provide an in-depth ethnographic account of two bushmeat markets in Bo, Sierra Leone. Our analysis goes beyond common assumptions that zoonotic risk is located solely in the knowledge and behaviours of traders. Our account sheds light on the modes of touch, closeness and contact that shape this hypothesised zoonotic interface, outlining the possible risks to different people who use and spend time in the market. We found that inadequate infrastructure and sanitation facilities created risks of zoonotic disease transmission for diverse actors including traders, customers, children, and the wider public. Butchering and trading practices frequently resulted in people directly and indirectly encountering animal fluids. We also discuss how public health management of these markets focused on individual behaviours rather than on improving conditions. Urgent sanitary reform and infrastructure upgrades in these sites that support the economic needs of traders could encourage voluntary compliance with biosafety measures amongst traders seeking to balance responsibilities to family and public health. Our study reveals the value of moving beyond exoticized narratives about bushmeat markets to yield situated insights for reducing risk at this interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Jenkins
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Wahab Lawundeh
- Department of Sociology and Social Work, Njala University, Bo, Sierra Leone
| | - Tommy Hanson
- Department of Sociology and Social Work, Njala University, Bo, Sierra Leone
| | - Hannah Brown
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
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2
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Pouliquen A, Mapeyi GAB, Vanthomme H, Olive MM, Maganga GD, Cornelis D, Lebel S, Peyre M, Delabouglise A. An experimental game to assess hunter's participation in zoonotic diseases surveillance. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:342. [PMID: 38302879 PMCID: PMC10832086 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17696-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Strengthening the surveillance of zoonotic diseases emergence in the wild meat value chains is a critical component of the prevention of future health crises. Community hunters could act as first-line observers in zoonotic pathogens surveillance systems in wildlife, by reporting early signs of the possible presence of a disease in the game animals they observe and manipulate on a regular basis. METHODS An experimental game was developed and implemented in a forested area of Gabon, in central Africa. Our objective was to improve our understanding of community hunters' decision-making when finding signs of zoonotic diseases in game animals: would they report or dissimulate these findings to a health agency? 88 hunters, divided into 9 groups of 5 to 13 participants, participated in the game, which was run over 21 rounds. In each round the players participated in a simulated hunting trip during which they had a chance of capturing a wild animal displaying clinical signs of a zoonotic disease. When signs were visible, players had to decide whether to sell/consume the animal or to report it. The last option implied a lowered revenue from the hunt but an increased probability of early detection of zoonotic diseases with benefits for the entire group of hunters. RESULTS The results showed that false alerts-i.e. a suspect case not caused by a zoonotic disease-led to a decrease in the number of reports in the next round (Odds Ratio [OR]: 0.46, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.36-0.8, p < 0.01). Hunters who had an agricultural activity in addition to hunting reported suspect cases more often than others (OR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.09-3.88, p < 0.03). The number of suspect case reports increased with the rank of the game round (Incremental OR: 1.11, CI: 1.06-1.17, p < 0.01) suggesting an increase in participants' inclination to report throughout the game. CONCLUSION Using experimental games presents an added value for improving the understanding of people's decisions to participate in health surveillance systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aude Pouliquen
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France.
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, Montpellier, France.
| | | | - Hadrien Vanthomme
- CIRAD, UPR Forêts Et Sociétés, Montpellier, France
- CIRAD, Forêts et Sociétés, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Marie-Marie Olive
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - Gaël Darren Maganga
- Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), Franceville, Gabon
| | - Daniel Cornelis
- CIRAD, UPR Forêts Et Sociétés, Montpellier, France
- CIRAD, Forêts et Sociétés, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Sébastien Lebel
- CIRAD, UPR Forêts Et Sociétés, Montpellier, France
- CIRAD, Forêts et Sociétés, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Marisa Peyre
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - Alexis Delabouglise
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France.
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, Montpellier, France.
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Tumelty L, Fa JE, Coad L, Friant S, Mbane J, Kamogne CT, Tata CY, Ickowitz A. A systematic mapping review of links between handling wild meat and zoonotic diseases. One Health 2023; 17:100637. [PMID: 38024256 PMCID: PMC10665173 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
1.Hunting, trade, and consumption of wildlife present a serious threat to global public health as it places humans in close contact with zoonotic pathogens.2.We systematically mapped the literature on wild meat handling and zoonotic disease transmission (1996-2022) using the online database Web of Science and Google search engine and identified 6229 articles out of which 253 were finally selected for use in our mapping review; 51 of these provided specific information regarding transmission risks.3.The reviewed studies reported 43 zoonotic pathogens (17 bacteria, 15 viruses, and 11 parasites) that could pose a potential risk to human health.4.Sixteen hygienic and sanitary behaviours were described in the reviewed studies. Disease surveillance was the most frequent. Most of the surveillance studies were carried out in Europe and were less common in the tropics.5.To inform policy and practical actions effectively, it is imperative to broaden our understanding of how various mitigation behaviours can be employed to minimize the risk of transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Tumelty
- Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), CIFOR Headquarters, Bogor 16115, Indonesia
| | - Julia E. Fa
- Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), CIFOR Headquarters, Bogor 16115, Indonesia
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M1 5GD, UK
| | - Lauren Coad
- Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), CIFOR Headquarters, Bogor 16115, Indonesia
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Rd, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Sagan Friant
- Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States
| | - Joseph Mbane
- Center for International Forestry Research-World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Cedric Thibaut Kamogne
- Center for International Forestry Research-World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | | | - Amy Ickowitz
- Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)-World Agroforestry Center, Beit Zayit, Israel
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4
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Williams SMT, Ansumana R, Johnny J, Bakarr IA, Osborne A. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Assessment on Bat-Borne Zoonotic Diseases Among the People of Moyamba District, Sierra Leone. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2023; 16:1331-1342. [PMID: 37489233 PMCID: PMC10363381 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s413802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Bats are considered wildlife species of public health concern, as they are known to host various pathogenic agents, and their interactions with humans are potential routes of pathogen spillover. A high level of knowledge on Bat-borne Zoonotic Diseases (BZD), their causative agents, signs, symptoms, mode and pattern of transmission, health attitudes, and practices towards the disorders are vital parameters in handling them. This study aimed to look into BZD knowledge, public attitudes, and behaviour. Methods We surveyed the 14 chiefdoms of Moyamba district. A total of 421 participants were randomly sampled using closed-ended questionnaire. Simple linear regression analysis was used to determine the effects of gender, age, education, and livelihood opportunities on BZD knowledge (at 95% confidence interval and alpha value = 0.05). The findings were analysed and correlated with a scientific and public health perspective to assess the breadth of knowledge and awareness of BZD among the people of Moyamba district. Results The findings from the study show a low level of knowledge on BZD among the people of the Moyamba district, with only 119 (28.3%) individuals that had some knowledge about BZD. Of those that knew about BZD, 94 (79.0%) had very little knowledge, 24 (20.2%) had a fair amount, and 1 (0.8%) had a great deal of knowledge about BZD. The primary mode of knowledge dissemination was through social media platforms. Conclusion The level of knowledge about BZD is also very low. As a result of these findings, policymakers, health professionals, and environmental educators will be compelled to develop strategies to reduce the risk of BZD transmission in Sierra Leone's population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Maxwell Tom Williams
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, Njala University, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Rashid Ansumana
- Department of Public Health, School of Community Health Sciences, Njala University, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Jonathan Johnny
- Department of Wildlife Management and Conservation, School of Natural Resources Management, Njala University, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Ibrahim A Bakarr
- Department of Wildlife Management and Conservation, School of Natural Resources Management, Njala University, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Augustus Osborne
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, Njala University, Freetown, Sierra Leone
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Alhaji NB, Odetokun IA, Lawan MK, Adeiza AM, Nafarnda WD, Salihu MJ. Risk assessment and preventive health behaviours toward COVID-19 amongst bushmeat handlers in Nigerian wildlife markets: Drivers and One Health challenge. Acta Trop 2022; 235:106621. [PMID: 35908578 PMCID: PMC9329136 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Over 70% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic and 72% of them have wildlife reservoirs with consequent global health impacts. Both SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 emerged certainly through wildlife market routes. We assessed wildlife handlers' zoonotic risk perceptions and preventive health behaviour measures toward COVID-19 during pandemic waves, and its drivers at wildlife markets using Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs. A cross-sectional study was conducted at purposively selected wildlife markets in Nigeria between November 2020 and October 2021. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariable logistic regressions analyses were performed at 95% confidence interval. Of the 600 targeted handlers in 97 wildlife markets, 97.2% (n = 583) participated. Consumers were the majority (65.3%), followed by hunters (18.4) and vendors (16.3%). Only 10.3% hunters, 24.3% vendors and 21.0% consumers associated COVID-19 with high zoonotic risk. Also, only few handlers practiced social/physical distancing at markets. Avoidance of handshaking or hugging and vaccination was significantly (p = 0.001) practiced by few handlers as preventive health behaviours at the markets. All the socio-demographic variables were significantly (p<0.05) associated with their knowledge, risk perceptions, and practice of preventive health behaviours toward COVID-19 at univariate analysis. Poor markets sanitation, hygiene, and biosecurity (OR=3.35, 95% CI: 2.33, 4.82); and poor butchering practices and exchange of wildlife species between shops [(OR=1.87; 95% CI: 1.34, 2.60) and (OR=2.03; 95% CI: 1.43, 2.88), respectively] were more likely to significantly influence COVID-19 emergence and spread at the markets. To tackle the highlighted gaps, collaborations between the public health, anthropologists, and veterinary and wildlife authorities through the One Health approach are advocated to intensify awareness and health education programmes that will improve perceptions and behaviours toward the disease and other emerging diseases control and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nma Bida Alhaji
- Africa Centre of Excellence for Mycotoxin and Food Safety, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria; Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.
| | - Ismail Ayoade Odetokun
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
| | - Mohammed Kabiru Lawan
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Abdulrahman Musa Adeiza
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
| | - Wesley Daniel Nafarnda
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
| | - Mohammed Jibrin Salihu
- Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
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6
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Friant S, Bonwitt J, Ayambem WA, Ifebueme NM, Alobi AO, Otukpa OM, Bennett AJ, Shea C, Rothman JM, Goldberg TL, Jacka JK. Zootherapy as a potential pathway for zoonotic spillover: a mixed-methods study of the use of animal products in medicinal and cultural practices in Nigeria. ONE HEALTH OUTLOOK 2022; 4:5. [PMID: 35216623 PMCID: PMC8881094 DOI: 10.1186/s42522-022-00060-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding how and why people interact with animals is important for the prevention and control of zoonoses. To date, studies have primarily focused on the most visible forms of human-animal contact (e.g., hunting and consumption), thereby blinding One Health researchers and practitioners to the broader range of human-animal interactions that can serve as cryptic sources of zoonotic diseases. Zootherapy, the use of animal products for traditional medicine and cultural practices, is widespread and can generate opportunities for human exposure to zoonoses. Existing research examining zootherapies omits details necessary to adequately assess potential zoonotic risks. METHODS We used a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data from questionnaires, key informant interviews, and field notes to examine the use of zootherapy in nine villages engaged in wildlife hunting, consumption, and trade in Cross River State, Nigeria. We analyzed medicinal and cultural practices involving animals from a zoonotic disease perspective, by including details of animal use that may generate pathways for zoonotic transmission. We also examined the sociodemographic, cultural, and environmental contexts of zootherapeutic practices that can further shape the nature and frequency of human-animal interactions. RESULTS Within our study population, people reported using 44 different animal species for zootherapeutic practices, including taxonomic groups considered to be "high risk" for zoonoses and threatened with extinction. Variation in use of animal parts, preparation norms, and administration practices generated a highly diverse set of zootherapeutic practices (n = 292) and potential zoonotic exposure risks. Use of zootherapy was patterned by demographic and environmental contexts, with zootherapy more commonly practiced by hunting households (OR = 2.47, p < 0.01), and prescriptions that were gender and age specific (e.g., maternal and pediatric care) or highly seasonal (e.g., associated with annual festivals and seasonal illnesses). Specific practices were informed by species availability and theories of healing (i.e., "like cures like" and sympathetic healing and magic) that further shaped the nature of human-animal interactions via zootherapy. CONCLUSIONS Epidemiological investigations of zoonoses and public health interventions that aim to reduce zoonotic exposures should explicitly consider zootherapy as a potential pathway for disease transmission and consider the sociocultural and environmental contexts of their use in health messaging and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagan Friant
- Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA USA
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA USA
| | - Jesse Bonwitt
- Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - Wilfred A. Ayambem
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
| | - Nzube M. Ifebueme
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
| | - Alobi O. Alobi
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
| | - Oshama M. Otukpa
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
| | - Andrew J. Bennett
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI USA
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Department, Biological Defense Research Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center–Frederick, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD USA
| | - Corrigan Shea
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Jessica M. Rothman
- Department of Anthropology, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, NY USA
| | - Tony L. Goldberg
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Jerry K. Jacka
- Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309 USA
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Harvey‐Carroll J, Simo FT, Sonn‐Juul T, Tsafack JP, Aka'a SJD, Nchembi Tarla F, Fowler A, Ingram DJ. Continued availability and sale of pangolins in a major urban bushmeat market in Cameroon despite national bans and the COVID-19 outbreak. Afr J Ecol 2022; 60:146-152. [PMID: 35601564 PMCID: PMC9111401 DOI: 10.1111/aje.12969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Franklin T. Simo
- Laboratory of Zoology Department of Biology and Animal Physiology University of Yaoundé I Yaoundé Cameroon
| | - Timm Sonn‐Juul
- Section of Biology and Environmental Science Department of Chemistry and Bioscience Aalborg University Aalborg Denmark
| | | | - Serge J. D. Aka'a
- Central Africa Bushmeat Action Group (CABAG) Yaoundé Cameroon
- Zoological Society of London –Cameroon Yaoundé Cameroon
| | - Francis Nchembi Tarla
- Central Africa Bushmeat Action Group (CABAG) Yaoundé Cameroon
- Zoological Society of London –Cameroon Yaoundé Cameroon
| | - Andrew Fowler
- Zoological Society of London –Cameroon Yaoundé Cameroon
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Lucas A, Kumakamba C, Saylors K, Obel E, Kamenga R, Makuwa M, Clary C, Miningue G, McIver DJ, Lange CE, Kingebeni PM, Muyembe-Tamfum JJ. Risk perceptions and behaviors of actors in the wild animal value chain in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0261601. [PMID: 35171910 PMCID: PMC8849473 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which contains the greatest area of the second largest rainforest on Earth, people have long been connected to the forest for subsistence and livelihood from wild animals and bushmeat. This qualitative study sought to characterize the bushmeat movement-from hunting wild animals to market sale-and the roles of participants in the animal value chain, as well as their beliefs surrounding zoonotic disease and occupational risk. Actors in in eight bushmeat markets and two ports in Kinshasa, DRC completed semi-structured interviews between 2016 and 2018 in which they expressed belief in transmission of illness from domestic animals to humans, but not from wild animals to humans. Wild animals were viewed as pure and natural, in contrast to domestic animals which were considered tainted by human interference. Participants reported cutting themselves during the process of butchering yet did not consider butchering bushmeat to be a risky activity. Instead, they adopted safety practices learned over time from butchering experts and taught themselves how to butcher in a fashion that reduced the frequency of cutting. In general, butcherers rejected the idea of personal protective equipment use. Port markets were identified as important access points for meat coming from the Congo river and plane transport was identified as important for fresh and live meat coming from Équateur province. Most participants reported having heard about Ebola, but their mistrust in government messaging privileged a word-of-mouth story of witchcraft to be propagated about Ebola's origins. It is critical to better understand how public health messaging about outbreaks can successfully reach high risk communities, and to develop creative risk mitigation strategies for populations in regular contact with animal blood and body fluids. In this paper, we offer suggestions for formal and informal trusted channels through which health messages surrounding zoonotic risk could be conveyed to high-risk populations in Kinshasa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Lucas
- Labyrinth Global Health, Saint Petersburg, FL, United States of America
- Metabiota Inc., San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Karen Saylors
- Labyrinth Global Health, Saint Petersburg, FL, United States of America
- Metabiota Inc., San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Erby Obel
- Metabiota Inc., San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Maria Makuwa
- Labyrinth Global Health, Saint Petersburg, FL, United States of America
- Metabiota Inc., San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Guy Miningue
- Metabiota Inc., Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - David J. McIver
- Metabiota Inc., Nanaimo, BC, Canada
- UCSF, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Christian E. Lange
- Labyrinth Global Health, Saint Petersburg, FL, United States of America
- Metabiota Inc., Nanaimo, BC, Canada
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9
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Peros CS, Dasgupta R, Kumar P, Johnson BA. Bushmeat, wet markets, and the risks of pandemics: Exploring the nexus through systematic review of scientific disclosures. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY 2021; 124:1-11. [PMID: 36536884 PMCID: PMC9751798 DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2021.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is the third coronavirus this century to threaten human health, killing more than two million people globally. Like previous coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 is suspected to have wildlife origins and was possibly transmitted to humans via wet markets selling bushmeat (aka harvested wild meat). Thus, an interdisciplinary framework is vital to address the nexus between bushmeat, wet markets, and disease. We reviewed the contemporary scientific literature to: (1) assess disease surveillance efforts within the bushmeat trade and wet markets globally by compiling zoonotic health risks based on primarily serological examinations; and (2) gauge perceptions of health risks associated with bushmeat and wet markets. Of the 58 species of bushmeat investigated across 15 countries in the 52 articles that we analyzed,one or more pathogens (totaling 60 genera of pathogens) were reported in 48 species, while no zoonotic pathogens were reported in 10 species based on serology. Burden of disease data was nearly absent from the articles resulting from our Scopus search, and therefore was not included in our analyses. We also found that perceived health risks associated with bushmeat was low, though we could not perform statistical analyses due to the lack of quantitative perception-based studies. After screening the literature, our results showed that the global distribution of reported bushmeat studies were biased towards Africa, revealing data deficiencies across Asia and South America despite the prevalence of the bushmeat trade across the Global South. Studies targeting implications of the bushmeat trade on human health can help address these data deficiencies across Asia and South America. We further illustrate the need to address the nexus between bushmeat, wet markets, and disease to help prevent future outbreaks of zoonotic diseases under the previously proposed "One Health Framework", which integrates human, animal, and environmental health. By tackling these three pillars, we discuss the current policy gaps and recommend suitable measures to prevent future disease outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin Scott Peros
- Organization for Programs in Environmental Sciences, University of Tokyo, Japan
- Nature Resources and Ecosystem Services, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Japan
| | - Rajarshi Dasgupta
- Nature Resources and Ecosystem Services, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Japan
| | - Pankaj Kumar
- Nature Resources and Ecosystem Services, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Japan
| | - Brian Alan Johnson
- Nature Resources and Ecosystem Services, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Japan
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10
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Milstein MS, Shaffer CA, Suse P, Marawanaru E, Gillespie TR, Terio KA, Wolf TM, Travis DA. An Ethnographic Approach to Characterizing Potential Pathways of Zoonotic Disease Transmission from Wild Meat in Guyana. ECOHEALTH 2020; 17:424-436. [PMID: 33792854 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-021-01513-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The hunting, butchery, and consumption of wild meat is an important interface for zoonotic disease transmission. Despite this, few researchers have used ethnography to understand the sociocultural factors that may increase zoonotic disease transmission from hunting, particularly in Amazonia. Here, we use ethnographic methods consisting of structured, semi-structured and unstructured interviews, and participant observation to address questions pertaining to wild meat consumption, pathways of zoonotic disease transmission, food security, and the cultural identity of indigenous Waiwai in the Konashen Community Owned Conservation Area, Guyana. Our data revealed that the majority of Waiwai eat wild meat two to three times/week and 60% of respondents reported butchery-related injuries. However, semi-structured and unstructured interviews, and participant observation data indicate that the Waiwai do not perceive most cuts from butchery as injuries, despite being a potential route of pathogen exposure. Additionally, participant observation revealed that hunting is integral to Waiwai identity and the Waiwai exhibit a cultural aversion to domestic meats. These findings provide valuable insights into the interplay of hunting and wild meat consumption and disease in Amazonia and demonstrate how an ethnographic approach provides the contextual data necessary for identifying potential pathways of zoonotic transmission from wild meat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa S Milstein
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, 1365 Gortner Avenue, 225 Veterinary Medical Center, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA.
| | - Christopher A Shaffer
- Department of Anthropology, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI, 49401, USA
| | - Phillip Suse
- Masakenari Village, Konashen Indigenous District, Region 9, Guyana
| | | | - Thomas R Gillespie
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Program in Population Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Karen A Terio
- University of Illinois Zoological Pathology Program, Brookfield, IL, 60513, USA
| | - Tiffany M Wolf
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, 1365 Gortner Avenue, 225 Veterinary Medical Center, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Dominic A Travis
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, 1365 Gortner Avenue, 225 Veterinary Medical Center, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
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11
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Onyekuru NA, Ume CO, Ezea CP, Chukwuma Ume NN. Effects of Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak on Bush Meat Enterprise and Environmental Health Risk Behavior Among Households in South-East Nigeria. J Prim Prev 2020; 41:603-618. [PMID: 33222018 PMCID: PMC7680257 DOI: 10.1007/s10935-020-00619-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The 2014 disease outbreak in West Africa of the Ebola virus was the longest, largest, deadliest, and most complex epidemic of its kind in history. It was believed to have originated from bushmeat consumption and exhibited sustained human-to-human transmission. We assessed the effects of the virus outbreak in West Africa on bushmeat enterprise and environmental health risk behaviors among households in Nigeria. We adopted a multistage sampling technique to select 100 respondents. We structured two sets of questionnaires for both bushmeat sellers and consumers. The questionnaire contained information about the respondent’s socioeconomic characteristics; perceived causes of the Ebola outbreak; risk behaviors; level of sales; and consumption before, during, and after the Ebola outbreak. We found a significant decrease in the levels of sales and consumption of bushmeat during the outbreak. Consumers perceived touching an infected person, but not eating bushmeat, as a significant mode of Ebola transmission. Although respondents knew about some practices that help to prevent Ebola, they did not practice these to a reasonable extent. We also found that females were 25% more likely than males to consume bushmeat during the outbreak. Given these findings, we recommend that the government should sensitize people and educate them on risk prevention behaviors they should adopt to prevent the transmission of the Ebola disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chukwuma Otum Ume
- Institute for Agricultural Policy and Market Research, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany.
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12
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Dell BM, Souza MJ, Willcox AS. Attitudes, practices, and zoonoses awareness of community members involved in the bushmeat trade near Murchison Falls National Park, northern Uganda. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0239599. [PMID: 32986741 PMCID: PMC7521682 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The harvest of bushmeat is widespread in the tropics and sub-tropics. Often in these communities, there is a dependence on bushmeat for both food security and basic income. Despite the importance of bushmeat for households worldwide, the practice raises concern for transmission of zoonotic pathogens through hunting, food preparation, and consumption. In Uganda, harvest of wildlife is illegal, but bushmeat hunting, is commonplace. We interviewed 292 women who cook for their households and 180 self-identified hunters from 21 villages bordering Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda to gain insights into bushmeat preferences, opportunity for zoonotic pathogen transmission, and awareness of common wildlife-associated zoonoses. Both hunters and women who cook considered primates to be the most likely wildlife species to carry diseases humans can catch. Among common zoonotic pathogens, the greatest proportions of women who cook and hunters believed that pathogens causing stomach ache or diarrhea and monkeypox can be transmitted by wildlife. Neither women who cook nor hunters report being frequently injury during cooking, butchering, or hunting, and few report taking precautions while handling bushmeat. The majority of women who cook believe that hunters and dealers never or rarely disguise primate meat as another kind of meat in market, while the majority of hunters report that they usually disguise primate meat as another kind of meat. These data play a crucial role in our understanding of potential for exposure to and infection with zoonotic pathogens in the bushmeat trade. Expanding our knowledge of awareness, perceptions and risks enables us to identify opportunities to mitigate infections and injury risk and promote safe handling practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- BreeAnna M. Dell
- Department of Biomedical & Diagnostic Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America
- * E-mail: ,
| | - Marcy J. Souza
- Department of Biomedical & Diagnostic Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Adam S. Willcox
- Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America
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13
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Espinosa R, Tago D, Treich N. Infectious Diseases and Meat Production. ENVIRONMENTAL & RESOURCE ECONOMICS 2020; 76:1019-1044. [PMID: 32836843 PMCID: PMC7399585 DOI: 10.1007/s10640-020-00484-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Most infectious diseases in humans originate from animals. In this paper, we explore the role of animal farming and meat consumption in the emergence and amplification of infectious diseases. First, we discuss how meat production increases epidemic risks, either directly through increased contact with wild and farmed animals or indirectly through its impact on the environment (e.g., biodiversity loss, water use, climate change). Traditional food systems such as bushmeat and backyard farming increase the risks of disease transmission from wild animals, while intensive farming amplifies the impact of the disease due to the high density, genetic proximity, increased immunodeficiency, and live transport of farmed animals. Second, we describe the various direct and indirect costs of animal-based infectious diseases, and in particular, how these diseases can negatively impact the economy and the environment. Last, we discuss policies to reduce the social costs of infectious diseases. While existing regulatory frameworks such as the "One Health" approach focus on increasing farms' biosecurity and emergency preparedness, we emphasize the need to better align stakeholders' incentives and to reduce meat consumption. We discuss in particular the implementation of a "zoonotic" Pigouvian tax, and innovations such as insect-based food or cultured meat.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Damian Tago
- Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand
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14
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Evans TS, Myat TW, Aung P, Oo ZM, Maw MT, Toe AT, Aung TH, Hom NS, Shein KT, Thant KZ, Win YT, Thein WZ, Gilardi K, Thu HM, Johnson CK. Bushmeat hunting and trade in Myanmar's central teak forests: Threats to biodiversity and human livelihoods. Glob Ecol Conserv 2020; 22:e00889. [PMID: 35574577 PMCID: PMC9098047 DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tierra Smiley Evans
- One Health Institute and Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - Theingi Win Myat
- Department of Medical Research, Ministry of Health and Sports, Myanmar
| | - Pyaephyo Aung
- Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association, Myanmar
| | - Zaw Min Oo
- Myanmar Timber Enterprise, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, Myanmar
| | - Min Thein Maw
- Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Myanmar
| | - Aung Than Toe
- One Health Institute and Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - Tin Htun Aung
- Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association, Myanmar
| | - Nang Sarm Hom
- Department of Medical Research, Ministry of Health and Sports, Myanmar
| | | | | | - Ye Tun Win
- Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Myanmar
| | - Wai Zin Thein
- Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Myanmar
| | - Kirsten Gilardi
- One Health Institute and Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - Hlaing Myat Thu
- Department of Medical Research, Ministry of Health and Sports, Myanmar
| | - Christine Kreuder Johnson
- One Health Institute and Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA
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15
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Narat V, Kampo M, Heyer T, Rupp S, Ambata P, Njouom R, Giles-Vernick T. Using physical contact heterogeneity and frequency to characterize dynamics of human exposure to nonhuman primate bodily fluids in central Africa. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006976. [PMID: 30589843 PMCID: PMC6307716 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases of zoonotic origin constitute a recurrent threat to global health. Nonhuman primates (NHPs) occupy an important place in zoonotic spillovers (pathogenic transmissions from animals to humans), serving as reservoirs or amplifiers of multiple neglected tropical diseases, including viral hemorrhagic fevers and arboviruses, parasites and bacteria, as well as retroviruses (simian foamy virus, PTLV) that are pathogenic in human beings. Hunting and butchering studies in Africa characterize at-risk human social groups, but overlook critical factors of contact heterogeneity and frequency, NHP species differences, and meat processing practices. In southeastern Cameroon, a region with a history of zoonotic emergence and high risk of future spillovers, we conducted a novel mixed-method field study of human physical exposure to multiple NHP species, incorporating participant-based and ecological methodologies, and qualitative interviews (n = 25). We find frequent physical contact across adult human populations, greater physical contact with monkeys than apes, especially for meat handling practices, and positive correlation of human exposure with NHP species abundance and proximity to human settlement. These fine-grained results encourage reconsideration of the likely dynamics of human-NHP contact in past and future NTD emergence events. Multidisciplinary social science and ecological approaches should be mobilized to generate more effective human and animal surveillance and risk communications around neglected tropical diseases. At a moment when the WHO has included "Disease X", a presumably zoonotic pathogen with pandemic potential, on its list of blueprint priority diseases as, new field-based tools for investigating zoonotic disease emergence, both known and unknown, are of critical importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Narat
- Institut Pasteur, Emerging Diseases Epidemiology Unit, Paris, France
- Eco-anthropologie et Ethnobiologie, CNRS/MNHN/Paris Diderot, France
| | - Mamadou Kampo
- Institut Pasteur, Emerging Diseases Epidemiology Unit, Paris, France
| | - Thibaut Heyer
- Institut Pasteur, Emerging Diseases Epidemiology Unit, Paris, France
| | - Stephanie Rupp
- City University of New York, Lehman College, Department of Anthropology, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Philippe Ambata
- Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | | | - Tamara Giles-Vernick
- Institut Pasteur, Emerging Diseases Epidemiology Unit, Paris, France
- Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Studies, Toronto, Canada
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16
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Bonwitt J, Dawson M, Kandeh M, Ansumana R, Sahr F, Brown H, Kelly AH. Unintended consequences of the ‘bushmeat ban’ in West Africa during the 2013–2016 Ebola virus disease epidemic. Soc Sci Med 2018; 200:166-173. [DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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17
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Walz E, Wilson D, Stauffer JC, Wanduragala D, Stauffer WM, Travis DA, Alpern JD. Incentives for Bushmeat Consumption and Importation among West African Immigrants, Minnesota, USA. Emerg Infect Dis 2017; 23:2095-2097. [PMID: 29148387 PMCID: PMC5708257 DOI: 10.3201/eid2312.170563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The knowledge, attitudes, and practices surrounding bushmeat consumption and importation in the United States are not well described. Focus groups of West African persons living in Minnesota, USA, found that perceived risks are low and unlikely to deter consumers. Incentives for importation and consumption were multifactorial in this community.
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18
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Alhaji NB, Yatswako S, Oddoh EY. Knowledge, risk perception and mitigation measures towards Ebola virus disease by potentially exposed bushmeat handlers in north-central Nigeria: Any critical gap? Zoonoses Public Health 2017; 65:158-167. [PMID: 28771956 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The bushmeat industry has been a topic of increasing importance among public health officials for its influence on zoonotic diseases transmission, such as Ebola virus disease (EVD), a rare and severe infectious disease of humans and non-human primates. This survey assessed knowledge/awareness, risk perceptions and mitigation practices towards EVD among bushmeat handlers in north-central Nigeria. These characteristics are premise to level of preparedness against appropriate risk prevention and control. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted between January and December 2015 on 395 bushmeat handlers. Descriptive and analytical statistical analyses were performed using Epi-Info 3.5.3 software, and p < 0.05 was considered statistical significance in all analyses. Mean age of respondents was 40.9 ± 10.7 years, and most (30.4%) of them were in the age group 40-49 years. Majority (82.8%) of them were males, while most (47.9%) do not possess formal education. Bushmeat hunters, vendors and consumers constituted 17.2%, 28.1% and 54.7% of the respondents, respectively. A majority (85.6%) of the participants had heard about EVD. Bushmeat vendors were more likely (OR 1.96; 95% CI: 1.05-3.65) to have satisfactory knowledge than the hunters. Handlers with tertiary education were more likely (OR 3.22; 95% CI: 1.56-6.67) to possess significant satisfactory knowledge/awareness about EVD. Also, vendors were more likely (OR 1.85; 95% CI: 1.01-3.42) to practice satisfactory mitigation measures than the hunters. Only handlers with tertiary education were more likely (OR 2.48; 95% CI: 1.26-4.89) to significantly practice satisfactory mitigation measures against EVD. Although most of the handlers possessed significant knowledge/awareness about EVD, few applied mitigation measures against its infection, which is the challenging gap. There is a need for collaborations between the public health, veterinary and wildlife authorities in the provision of health information to bushmeat handlers on better management of emerging and re-emerging zoonotic viral diseases of wildlife origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- N B Alhaji
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.,Zoonoses and Epidemiology Unit, Niger State Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development Minna, Minna, Nigeria
| | - S Yatswako
- Zoonoses and Epidemiology Unit, Niger State Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development Minna, Minna, Nigeria
| | - E Y Oddoh
- Zoonoses and Epidemiology Unit, Niger State Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development Minna, Minna, Nigeria
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19
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Participation of women and children in hunting activities in Sierra Leone and implications for control of zoonotic infections. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005699. [PMID: 28749933 PMCID: PMC5531371 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 06/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of infectious diseases of zoonotic origin highlights the need to understand social practices at the animal-human interface. This study provides a qualitative account of interactions between humans and wild animals in predominantly Mende villages of southern Sierra Leone. We conducted fieldwork over 4 months including participant and direct observations, semi-structured interviews (n = 47), spontaneously occurring focus group discussions (n = 12), school essays and informal interviews to describe behaviours that may serve as pathways for zoonotic infection. In this region, hunting is the primary form of contact with wild animals. We describe how these interactions are shaped by socio-cultural contexts, including opportunities to access economic resources and by social obligations and constraints. Our research suggests that the potential for exposure to zoonotic pathogens is more widely distributed across different age, gender and social groups than previously appreciated. We highlight the role of children in hunting, an age group that has previously not been discussed in the context of hunting. The breadth of the "at risk" population forces reconsideration of how we conceptualize, trace and monitor pathogen exposure. Studying how and why humans interact with animals is important to understand the transmission of zoonotic diseases (infectious diseases transmitted from animals to humans) and how to prevent and control them. We conducted a qualitative study to understand how and why people come into contact with wild animals in the Southern province of Sierra Leone, a region with numerous wildlife species known to carry zoonotic diseases. Previous studies on hunting in sub-Saharan Africa principally describe adult men as hunters and adult women as retailers of meat from wild animals. Based on our results, we seek to broaden the category of people deemed “at risk” of zoonotic diseases through hunting by including women and children. In particular, because of their limited physical abilities and social position, children hunt under different circumstances than those of adults. Our results have implications for zoonotic disease research and prevention, for example by ensuring children are integrated in health interventions and that their unique reasons to hunt are taken into account during such processes.
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20
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Abstract
Understanding pathogen exchange among human, wildlife, and livestock populations, and the varying ecological and cultural contexts in which this exchange takes place, is a major challenge. The present review contextualizes the risk factors that result from human interactions with livestock, companion animals, animal exhibits, wildlife through nature-based tourism, and wildlife through consumption. Given their phylogenetic relatedness to humans, primates are emphasized in this discussion; primates serve as reservoirs for several human pathogens, and some human pathogens can decimate wild primate populations. Anthropologists must play a central role in understanding cultural variation in attitudes toward other species as well as perceived risks when interacting with animals. I argue that the remediation of emerging infectious diseases will be accomplished primarily through human behavioral changes rather than through efforts in pathogen discovery. Given the history of human interactions with wildlife, candid discussions on zoonotic diseases will be increasingly important for our combined survival.
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21
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Bonwitt J, Kelly AH, Ansumana R, Agbla S, Sahr F, Saez AM, Borchert M, Kock R, Fichet-Calvet E. Rat-atouille: A Mixed Method Study to Characterize Rodent Hunting and Consumption in the Context of Lassa Fever. ECOHEALTH 2016; 13:234-247. [PMID: 26895631 PMCID: PMC4996873 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-016-1098-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2015] [Revised: 12/14/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Lassa fever is a zoonotic hemorrhagic illness predominant in areas across Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, and southern Mali. The reservoir of Lassa virus is the multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis), a highly commensal species in West Africa. Primary transmission to humans occurs through direct or indirect contact with rodent body fluids such as urine, feces, saliva, or blood. Our research draws together qualitative and quantitative methods to provide a fuller and more nuanced perspective on these varied points of human-animal contact. In this article, we focus on the hunting, preparation, and consumption of rodents as possible routes of exposure in Bo, Sierra Leone. We found that the consumption of rodents, including the reservoir species, is widespread and does not neatly tally against generational or gender lines. Further, we found that the reasons for rodent consumption are multifactorial, including taste preferences, food security, and opportunistic behavior. We argue that on certain topics, such as rodent consumption, establishing trust with communities, and using qualitative research methods, is key to investigate sensitive issues and situate them in their wider context. To conclude, we recommend ways to refine sensitization campaigns to account for these socio-cultural contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse Bonwitt
- Department of Anthropology, University of Durham, Dawson Building, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK.
| | - Ann H Kelly
- Department of Sociology, Philosophy and Anthropology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | | | - Foday Sahr
- University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Almudena Mari Saez
- Institute for Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Borchert
- Institute for Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | - Richard Kock
- Department of Pathology and Pathogen Biology, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
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22
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Temmam S, Davoust B, Chaber AL, Lignereux Y, Michelle C, Monteil-Bouchard S, Raoult D, Desnues C. Screening for Viral Pathogens in African Simian Bushmeat Seized at A French Airport. Transbound Emerg Dis 2016; 64:1159-1167. [PMID: 26876732 PMCID: PMC7169774 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Illegal bushmeat traffic is an important threat to biodiversity conservation of several endangered species and may contribute to the emergence and spread of infectious diseases in humans. The hunting, manipulation and consumption of wildlife‐based products, especially those of primate origin, may be a threat to human health; however, few studies have investigated the role of bushmeat trade and consumption as a potential source of human infections to date. In this study, we report the screening of viral pathogens in African simian game seized by French customs at Toulouse Blagnac Airport. Epifluorescence microscopy revealed the presence of virus‐like particles in the samples, and further metagenomic sequencing of the DNA and RNA viromes confirmed the presence of sequences related to the Siphoviridae, Myoviridae and Podoviridae bacteriophage families; some of them infecting bacterial hosts that could be potentially pathogenic for humans. To increase the sensitivity of detection, twelve pan‐generic PCRs targeting several viral zoonoses were performed, but no positive signal was detected. A large‐scale inventory of bacteria, viruses and parasites is urgently needed to globally assess the risk for human health of the trade, manipulation and consumption of wildlife‐related bushmeat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Temmam
- URMITE UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Faculté de Médecine de la Timone, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Bernard Davoust
- URMITE UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Faculté de Médecine de la Timone, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Anne-Lise Chaber
- Research Unit of Epidemiology and Risk Analysis applied to veterinary sciences (UREAR-ULg), Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Liège, Belgium.,Wildlife Consultant L.L.C, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Yves Lignereux
- National Veterinary School, INP, Toulouse Cedex 03, France.,Natural History Museum, Toulouse, France
| | - Caroline Michelle
- URMITE UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Faculté de Médecine de la Timone, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Sonia Monteil-Bouchard
- URMITE UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Faculté de Médecine de la Timone, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Didier Raoult
- URMITE UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Faculté de Médecine de la Timone, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Christelle Desnues
- URMITE UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Faculté de Médecine de la Timone, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
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23
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Abstract
Zoonotic diseases are the main contributor to emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) and present a major threat to global public health. Bushmeat is an important source of protein and income for many African people, but bushmeat-related activities have been linked to numerous EID outbreaks, such as Ebola, HIV, and SARS. Importantly, increasing demand and commercialization of bushmeat is exposing more people to pathogens and facilitating the geographic spread of diseases. To date, these linkages have not been systematically assessed. Here we review the literature on bushmeat and EIDs for sub-Saharan Africa, summarizing pathogens (viruses, fungi, bacteria, helminths, protozoan, and prions) by bushmeat taxonomic group to provide for the first time a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge concerning zoonotic disease transmission from bushmeat into humans. We conclude by drawing lessons that we believe are applicable to other developing and developed regions and highlight areas requiring further research to mitigate disease risk.
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24
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Cawthorn DM, Hoffman LC. The bushmeat and food security nexus: A global account of the contributions, conundrums and ethical collisions. Food Res Int 2015. [PMCID: PMC7126303 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2015.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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25
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Voigt CC, Kingston T, Racey PA. Exploitation of Bats for Bushmeat and Medicine. BATS IN THE ANTHROPOCENE: CONSERVATION OF BATS IN A CHANGING WORLD 2015. [PMCID: PMC7123159 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-25220-9_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Bat hunting for consumption as bushmeat and medicine is widespread and affects at least 167 species of bats (or c. 13 % of the world’s bat species), in Africa, Asia, across the islands of Oceania, and to a lesser extent in Central and South America. Hunting is particularly prevalent among the large-bodied fruit bats of the Old World tropics, where half (50 %, 92/183) the extant species in the family Pteropodidae are hunted. Pteropodids that are hunted are six times more likely to be Red Listed as threatened: 66 % of species in IUCN threatened categories (CR, EN, VU, NT), compared to 11 % of species in the ‘Least Concern’ (LC) category. However, there still appears to be an information gap at the international level. One third of the hunted species on the Red List are not considered threatened by that hunting, and nearly a quarter of the bat species included in this review are not listed as hunted in IUCN Red List species accounts. This review has resulted in a comprehensive list of hunted bats that doubles the number of species known from either the IUCN Red List species accounts or a questionnaire circulated in 2004. More research is needed on the impacts of unregulated hunting, as well as on the sustainability of regulated hunting programs. In the absence of population size and growth data, legislators and managers should be precautionary in their attitude towards hunting. Roost site protection should be a priority as it is both logistically simpler than patrolling bat foraging grounds and reduces the comparatively larger scale mortality and stress that hunting at the roost can cause. Education and awareness campaigns within local communities should demonstrate how bats are a limited resource and emphasize characteristics (nocturnal, slow reproducing and colonial) that make them particularly vulnerable to hunting pressure.
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26
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Friant S, Paige SB, Goldberg TL. Drivers of bushmeat hunting and perceptions of zoonoses in Nigerian hunting communities. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003792. [PMID: 26001078 PMCID: PMC4441483 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bushmeat hunting threatens biodiversity and increases the risk of zoonotic pathogen transmission. Nevertheless, limited information exists on patterns of contact with wildlife in communities that practice bushmeat hunting, especially with respect to social drivers of hunting behavior. We used interview responses from hunters and non-hunters in rural hunting communities in Nigeria to: 1) quantify contact rates with wildlife, 2) identify specific hunting behaviors that increase frequency of contact, 3) identify socioeconomic factors that predispose individuals to hunt, and 4) measure perceptions of risk. Participants engaged in a variety of behaviors that increased contact with wild animals, including: butchering to sell (37%), being injured (14%), using body parts for traditional medicine (19%), collecting carcasses found in forests and/or farms (18%), and keeping as pets (16%). Hunters came into contact with wildlife significantly more than non-hunters, even through non-hunting exposure pathways. Participants reported hunting rodents (95%), ungulates (93%), carnivores (93%), primates (87%), and bats (42%), among other prey. Reported hunting frequencies within taxonomic groups of prey were different for different hunting behaviors. Young age, lower education level, larger household size, having a father who hunts, and cultural group were all associated with becoming a hunter. Fifty-five percent of respondents were aware that they could contract diseases from wild animals, but only 26% of these individuals reported taking protective measures. Overall, hunters in this setting frequently contact a diversity of prey in risky ways, and the decision to become a hunter stems from family tradition, modified by economic necessity. Conservation and public health interventions in such settings may be most efficient when they capitalize on local knowledge and target root socio-economic and cultural drivers that lead to hunting behavior. Importantly, interventions that target consumption alone will not be sufficient; other drivers and modes of interaction with wildlife must also be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagan Friant
- Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Sarah B. Paige
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Tony L. Goldberg
- Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
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Simons RRL, Gale P, Horigan V, Snary EL, Breed AC. Potential for introduction of bat-borne zoonotic viruses into the EU: a review. Viruses 2014; 6:2084-121. [PMID: 24841385 PMCID: PMC4036546 DOI: 10.3390/v6052084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2014] [Revised: 04/10/2014] [Accepted: 05/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Bat-borne viruses can pose a serious threat to human health, with examples including Nipah virus (NiV) in Bangladesh and Malaysia, and Marburg virus (MARV) in Africa. To date, significant human outbreaks of such viruses have not been reported in the European Union (EU). However, EU countries have strong historical links with many of the countries where NiV and MARV are present and a corresponding high volume of commercial trade and human travel, which poses a potential risk of introduction of these viruses into the EU. In assessing the risks of introduction of these bat-borne zoonotic viruses to the EU, it is important to consider the location and range of bat species known to be susceptible to infection, together with the virus prevalence, seasonality of viral pulses, duration of infection and titre of virus in different bat tissues. In this paper, we review the current scientific knowledge of all these factors, in relation to the introduction of NiV and MARV into the EU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin R L Simons
- Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), Epidemiology, Surveillance & Risk Group, New Haw, Surrey, Addlestone KT15 3NB, UK.
| | - Paul Gale
- Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), Epidemiology, Surveillance & Risk Group, New Haw, Surrey, Addlestone KT15 3NB, UK.
| | - Verity Horigan
- Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), Epidemiology, Surveillance & Risk Group, New Haw, Surrey, Addlestone KT15 3NB, UK.
| | - Emma L Snary
- Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), Epidemiology, Surveillance & Risk Group, New Haw, Surrey, Addlestone KT15 3NB, UK.
| | - Andrew C Breed
- Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), Epidemiology, Surveillance & Risk Group, New Haw, Surrey, Addlestone KT15 3NB, UK.
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