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Revista de Salud Animal

Print version ISSN 0253-570X

Abstract

MONTEIRO NOEL, Kialanda M et al. Fasciolosis risk factors for public health in Huambo, Angola. Rev Salud Anim. [online]. 2013, vol.35, n.3, pp.164-173. ISSN 0253-570X.

Fasciolosis causes high economical losses for the agricultural sector and it is considered as emerging or re-emerging zoonosis due to its increasing impact on public health. Since there is a high prevalence of bovine fasciolosis in Huambo, despite any case reported in humans, it is important to know the potential risk factors for public health. A questionnaire was made for this purpose, and 195 animal breeders of eight municipalities in Huambo were interviewed. Although the persons dedicated to animal husbandry are women, they only represented the 15.9% among the persons interviewed, thus the sanitary education programs should give them priority. The 57.95% of the breeders (113) referred to parasitism in their animals, and the 86.5% indicated it as death cause. Farms had bovines in 86.2 % and a 24.6% living with ewes, goats, or both species, which influenced in parasitism (84.1%) (p<0.047). The treatment of infected herds (72.6%) (with chemicals or medicinal herbs) was not effective, and it acted as a risk factor (OR: 54.91, p<0.001), as well as the lack of the veterinary assistance (p<0.05). Most of breeders (69.0%) use medicinal herbs for animal treatment, and their potential contamination with metacercaries may be a risk for the persons which use the traditional medicine. There was a relationship between the parasites in leaf form and those localized in the liver (p<0.05). So, the possible presence of Fasciola sp. in the 41.03% of farms was inferred. The reference of parasites like fasciolas showed a strong relationship with the animal parasitism (OR: 7.18, p<0.05). The risks for human fasciolosis commonly using water sources by animals and the consumption of crops with animal access were also discussed. It is highlighted that all breeders referred to familiar parasitism; in both adults and children (71.8%). Also the 76.9% of breeders considered parasitism as an important disease, while the 92.8 % showed interest in more information for its prevention and control. It was shown that parasitism was important either in animals or in persons in Huambo; and it was inferred that Fasciola sp. is a relevant part into the etiological mosaic associated to this sanitary problem. Also, it had a significant impact on public health requiring actions directed for the integral prevention and control of fasciolosis.

Keywords : fasciolosis; parasitism; zoonosis; animals; risks; epidemiology; public health.

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