Ascaris suum - A zoonosis in Bali, Indonesia

Background

Ascariasis is a common disease in humans and pigs. In previous reports, it has been known that ascariasis in humans is not only caused by Ascaris lumbricoides but also by Ascaris suum which is known to originate from pigs.

Aims and Objectives

This research aims to identify the species of Ascaris that infect traditional pig farmers in Bali, Indonesia.

Materials and Methods

To achieve this, an observational study was conducted, in which 239 feces samples were collected from traditional pig farmers. The collected samples were then divided into two parts, with one part stored in a pot containing 10% formalin for microscopic testing, and the other part stored in 70% ethanol for molecular testing. In cases where Ascaris infection was observed during the microscopic examination, a further test was conducted using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for molecular examination. The DNA derived from the PCR was then subjected to DNA sequencing.

Results

The result was compared to A. suum gene data previously published in the Gene Bank. The results of the microscopic examination showed that 22 farmers were infected with Ascaris. However, PCR testing and DNA sequencing indicated that three infections were caused by A. suum.

Conclusion

Therefore, it can be concluded that A. suum is a zoonosis in Bali. Thus, efforts to control ascariasis must pay attention to the presence of pigs around it. Handling of ascariasis is not only carried out in humans but also in pigs and the environment.

Designing a rabies control mobile application for a community-based rabies surveillance system during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bali, Indonesia

Background and Aim: Rabies remains a public health concern in Indonesia, and the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has stymied rabies prevention and control efforts. There is a need to transform the rabies program to be adaptable to pandemic situations to improve program coverage on dog vaccination and rabies surveillance. This study aimed to create a rabies control (RaCon) mobile application for a community-based rabies surveillance system during COVID-19 in Bali, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: We employ the Design Science Research methodology. Surveillance officers, veterinarians, community leaders, outreach workers, and dog owners participated in a series of offline in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The RaCon prototype was evaluated using the Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ) framework, which included the system's usefulness, information quality, and interface quality. In this study, we used both a qualitative (n=50) and quantitative (n=342) approach. Results: According to the findings of this study, integrating public health and animal health into the rabies surveillance system are critical to supporting the One Health approach and encouraging community engagement in rabies programs. The RaCon prototype is expected to include features such as pet ownership, case report, news and announcements, nearest vet, health information, outbreak radar, emergency call, and app feedback. The RaCon prototype passed both qualitative and quantitative evaluations, indicating that it could be used to support the rabies surveillance system, particularly in the COVID-19 situation. Conclusion: The RaCon prototype was accepted by the users and got positive feedback in terms of the system's usefulness, information quality, and interface quality dimension. As a result, this prototype has the potential to be integrated into the rabies surveillance system in Bali, particularly to strengthen the community-based rabies surveillance system. Even though this prototype received positive feedback, this study focuses solely on the design development and evaluation of its user interface. As a result, further development is required before incorporating RaCon into the rabies prevention and control program.

Evaluation of Community-Based Dog Welfare and Rabies Project in Sanur, a Sub-district of the Indonesian Island Province of Bali

The Indonesian island province of Bali experienced its first rabies incursion in 2008. Mass vaccination of the dog population has proven effective and rabies cases in dogs and people have decreased, however the virus is still circulating among the dog population. Vaccination coverage must be maintained until rabies elimination. Increasing efficiency and effectiveness of vaccination campaigns is therefore desired. Community engagement leading to preventative health actions by community members can reduce disease incidence and costs of control. Here we evaluate 2 years of a novel community-based dog welfare and rabies control project (Program Dharma) in the Sanur sub-district. The project engaged the services of people living in the project area with an interest or experience in dogs or community health services. These people spoke with owners within their own community about dog welfare and health, monitored owned and unowned dogs and increased owner and carer efforts to access vaccination and further veterinary services. The evaluation focused on a sample of dogs whose owners had been regularly engaged with project. Vaccination coverage was increased and there were no dog or human rabies cases reported in the project area; the percentage of the dogs that had never been vaccinated was reduced by an average 28.3% (baseline unvaccinated 41–49%, post-project unvaccinated 11–19%). The welfare of dogs improved from an average of 20.7% of dogs with visible welfare problems at baseline to 2.7% after project implementation. Roaming dog density observed on street surveys also decreased in all project areas (24–47% reduction dependent on desa). A participatory evaluation event with a sample of Program Dharma community-based agents highlighted several additional successes, including that the community appeared to welcome and value their services and were beginning to support the cost of project activities. Conversely, challenges included identifying dogs in the database during revisits, sustaining the costs of community member time spent working on Program Dharma activities and the costs of veterinary care, whilst avoiding dependency of owners on free veterinary services. The benefits revealed by the evaluation were judged to be sufficient to extend Program Dharma to new areas, whilst evolving activities to resolve challenges.

Dog Ecology and Rabies Knowledge of Owners and Non-Owners in Sanur, A Sub-District of the Indonesian Island Province of Bali

This study gained an understanding of dog demographics, owner behaviour, and knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to rabies in three villages in Sanur, Bali, providing insights for an intervention to improve responsible dog ownership. A combination of a census of all dogs, street surveys of roaming dogs, and a Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) survey was used to study both dogs and people. A total of 6009 dogs were recorded, of which only 3.3% appeared to be unowned; unowned dogs had poorer welfare and were more likely to be wary of attempted approaches by people. The source of dogs, method of confinement used by owners, and whether dogs were sterilised differed between three breed types; purebred dogs, mixed breed, and Bali dogs (native breed). Three variables were found to have significant effects on the chances of not being vaccinated: age, dog type, and confinement. A mean of 3.81 roaming dogs per km of street surveyed was recorded along 28 sub-village routes. Responses to attitude statements showed that most people had a positive attitude towards dogs and vaccination and did not agree with culling. Knowledge of appropriate bite treatment and symptoms of rabies in dogs was good.

Prevalence of Intestinal Worm in Free Ranging Domestic Cats in Bali (PREVALENSI CACING USUS PADA KUCING PELIHARAAN YANG BEBAS BERKELIARAN DI BALI)

The aims of this study were to identify and to measure the prevalence of intestinal worm infections in free-ranging domestic cats in Bali. As many as 133 cat fecal samples were collected from Bali and preserved in sodium acetic formaldehyde solution. Coproscopy method (sedimentation concentration and flotation techniques) was used to identify the eggs of helminthes. Based on fecal examination, eggs of four helminthes species : Toxocara, Ancylostoma, Cestoda and Capillaria were identified. This result indicates the prevalence of intestinal worms in free ranging domestic cats were high, consisting of Toxocara sp (71.43%), Ancylostoma  sp (37.59%), Cestoda (19.55%) and Capillaria sp (0.75%). Therefore, it is needed to conduct programs to reduce and eradicate that helminthes. ABSTRAK Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi jenis cacing dan mengukur prevalensi infeksi kecacingan pada kucing yang diliarkan di Bali. Sebanyak 133 sampel feses kucing yang berasal dari seluruh Bali dikumpulkan dan disimpan dalam larutan sodium acetic formaldehide. Seluruh sampel diperiksa secara koproskopi dengan dua metode berbeda yaitu metode konsentrasi sedimentasi dan metode pengapungan untuk mengidentifikasi telur cacing yang terdapat pada feses kucing. Pada penelitian ini teridentifikasi empat jenis cacing yang menginfeksi kucing yang diliarkan di Bali yaitu Toxocara, Ancylostoma, Cestoda dan Capillaria. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa prevealensi infeksi kecacingan pada kucing yang diliarkan di Bali masih tinggi, yaitu Toxocara sp (71,43%), Ancylostoma sp (37,59%), Cestoda (19,55%) dan Capillaria sp (0,75%). Untuk itu diperlukan program pemberantasan dan pencegahan terhadap infeksi kecacingan pada kucing di Bali.