Associations among Household Animal Ownership, Infrastructure, and Hygiene Characteristics with Source Attribution of Household Fecal Contamination in Peri-Urban Communities of Iquitos, Peru

Abstract

Using previously validated microbial source tracking markers, we detected and quantified fecal contamination from avian species and avian exposure, dogs, and humans on household cooking tables and floors. The association among contamination, infrastructure, and socioeconomic covariates was assessed using simple and multiple ordinal logistic regressions. The presence of Campylobacter spp. in surface samples was linked to avian markers. Using molecular methods, animal feces were detected in 75.0% and human feces in 20.2% of 104 households. Floors were more contaminated than tables as detected by the avian marker Av4143, dog marker Bactcan, and human marker Bachum. Wood tables were consistently more contaminated than non-wood surfaces, specifically with the mitochondrial avian markers ND5 and CytB, fecal marker Av4143, and canine marker Bactcan. Final multivariable models with socioeconomic and infrastructure characteristics included as covariates indicate that detection of avian feces and avian exposure was associated with the presence of chickens, maternal age, and length of tenancy, whereas detection of human markers was associated with unimproved water source. Detection of Campylobacter in surface samples was associated with the avian fecal marker Av4143. We highlight the critical need to detect and measure the burden of animal fecal waste when evaluating household water, hygiene, and sanitation interventions, and the possibility of decreasing risk of exposure through the modification of surfaces to permit more effective household disinfection practices. Animals may be a more important source of household fecal contamination than humans in many low-resource settings, although interventions have historically focused almost exclusively on managing human waste.

Benefits and Risks of Smallholder Livestock Production on Child Nutrition in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

“…Another study in Bangladesh positively associated the animal marker on mothers' hands with levels of common enteric pathogen genes (i.e., Giardia lamblia , pathogenic E. coli ) on these hands ( 239 ). Utilizing markers of three reservoir types (i.e., human, avian, dog), a study in Peru found household floors were more contaminated by the feces from all three species than tables, and wooden tables were more contaminated by the feces from the non-human species ( 243 ). More importantly, an avian marker was associated with the presence of Campylobacter on environmental surfaces ( 243 ).…”

“…Utilizing markers of three reservoir types (i.e., human, avian, dog), a study in Peru found household floors were more contaminated by the feces from all three species than tables, and wooden tables were more contaminated by the feces from the non-human species ( 243 ). More importantly, an avian marker was associated with the presence of Campylobacter on environmental surfaces ( 243 ). Presence of Campylobacter in household surfaces was associated with fecal contamination from poultry, indicated by an avian host-specific marker ( 243 ).…”

“…More importantly, an avian marker was associated with the presence of Campylobacter on environmental surfaces ( 243 ). Presence of Campylobacter in household surfaces was associated with fecal contamination from poultry, indicated by an avian host-specific marker ( 243 ). Increased levels of human and animal markers in household were associated with the occurrence of diarrhea in children ( 241 ).…”

Associations Between Eight Earth Observation‐Derived Climate Variables and Enteropathogen Infection: An Independent Participant Data Meta‐Analysis of Surveillance Studies With Broad Spectrum Nucleic Acid Diagnostics

“…The wind speed and surface pressure results reported here (the fifth and seventh columns of Figure 5 ) also suggest a stronger role for airborne transmission of bacteria and possibly protozoa than has previously been assumed (Gao et al., 2014 ; Hu et al., 2010 ; Nasr‐Azadani et al., 2017 ). Airborne zoonotic transmission of campylobacteriosis has been documented in poultry plant workers (Wilson, 2004 ) and prevalence of household‐scale poultry husbandry is high in many of the settings represented by these data (Schiaffino et al., 2020 ; Sultana et al., 2012 ). Similarly, airborne bioaerosols are a hypothesized secondary transmission mechanism for E. coli and Cryptopsoridium (W. L. Chan et al., 2019 ; Fujiyoshi et al., 2017 ; Sponseller et al., 2014 ).…”

Ruminant-Related Risk Factors are Associated with Shiga Toxin–Producing Escherichia coli Infection in Children in Southern Ghana

“…[11][12][13][14] Several studies have confirmed that domestic livestock and livestock feces in the household environment contribute to microbial contamination of household surfaces, soil, drinking water, food, and caregivers' hands in distinct settings in Southeast Asia, South America, and East and West Africa. [15][16][17][18][19][20] Young children may be particularly at risk of enteropathogen infection from environmental contamination given their frequent hand-to-mouth and exploratory behaviors. 21 Indeed, direct observational studies have shown that infants engage in geophagy and even consumption of chicken feces in normal day-to-day behavior.…”