Rat-atouille: A Mixed Method Study to Characterize Rodent Hunting and Consumption in the Context of Lassa Fever

Bonwitt, Jesse; Kelly, Ann H.; Ansumana, Rashid; Agbla, Schadrac C.; Sahr, Foday; Mari-Sáez, Almudena; Borchert, Matthias; Kock, Richard; Fichet‐Calvet, Elisabeth

doi:10.1007/s10393-016-1098-8

Cited by 47 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…We previously showed that hunting of small rodents is more widely distributed across age, gender lines and social groups than previously appreciated [ 14 ]. In our present study, we sought to determine whether such observations were also pertinent to other species of wild animals, in particular those species that are not present in domestic spaces (as small rodents are) and might be associated with different hunting norms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Participation of women and children in hunting activities in Sierra Leone and implications for control of zoonotic infections

Bonwitt

Kandeh

Dawson³

et al. 2017

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

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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.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Participation of women and children in hunting activities in Sierra Leone and implications for control of zoonotic infections

Bonwitt

Kandeh

Dawson³

et al. 2017

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

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“…Patterns of contact that occurs during hunting and consumption of rodents were also explored as part of this study but are described in a separate paper 13. Assuming that the presence of peri-domestic rodents is related to the physical set up of domestic spaces, we paid particular attention to the construction and spatial organization of houses.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Secondary human-to-human transmission follows contact with human bodily fluids in the household or health-care facilities, and is estimated to occur in 20% of LF cases 9. Risk factors for primary (zoonotic) transmission are unclear and possibly linked to housing10 and hunting and consumption of rodents 11–13…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

At Home with Mastomys and Rattus: Human-Rodent Interactions and Potential for Primary Transmission of Lassa Virus in Domestic Spaces

Bonwitt¹,

Sáez²,

Lamin³

et al. 2017

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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The multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis) is the reservoir for Lassa virus (LASV). Zoonotic transmission occurs when humans are directly or indirectly exposed to fluids of the multimammate mouse, such as urine, saliva, and blood. Housing characteristics and domestic organization affect rodent density in and around households and villages, and are likely to be a risk factor for Lassa fever in humans where the reservoir exists. We use semi-structured interviews (N = 51), a quantitative survey (N = 429), direct observations, and a rodent ecology study to provide new insights into how the organization of domestic spaces brings together humans and rodents and creates pathways for infection in rural settlements in Bo District, Sierra Leone. Rodents were frequently reported inside houses (92.4% of respondents), in which we predominantly trapped M. natalensis (57% of trapped rodents) and Rattus rattus (38% of trapped rodents). Building design and materials provide hiding and nesting places for rodents and lead to close proximity with humans. Patterns of contact are both unintentional and intentional and research participants reported high levels of contact with rodents (34.2% of respondents) and rodent fluids (52.8% of respondents). Rodents are also perceived as a serious threat to food security. These results present detailed knowledge about how humans live with and come into contact with rodents, including the LASV reservoir. Our results argue for further collaborative research in housing and environmental modification such as ceiling construction, food storage, and sanitation as prevention against zoonotic LASV transmission.

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“…Transmission occurs when humans come into close contact with the mouse specifically through ingestion or inhalation of mouse urine, faeces or blood. Risk factors include living in close proximity to the mice, butchering and consumption (Bonwitt et al, 2016(Bonwitt et al, , 2017.…”

Section: Lassa Fevermentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Change and the Neglected Tropical Diseases

Booth

2018

Advances in Parasitology

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Climate change is expected to impact across every domain of society, including health. The majority of the world's population is susceptible to pathological, infectious disease whose life cycles are sensitive to environmental factors across different physical phases including air, water and soil. Nearly all so-called neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) fall into this category, meaning that future geographic patterns of transmission of dozens of infections are likely to be affected by climate change over the short (seasonal), medium (annual) and long (decadal) term. This review offers an introduction into the terms and processes deployed in modelling climate change and reviews the state of the art in terms of research into how climate change may affect future transmission of NTDs. The 34 infections included in this chapter are drawn from the WHO NTD list and the WHO blueprint list of priority diseases. For the majority of infections, some evidence is available of which environmental factors contribute to the population biology of parasites, vectors and zoonotic hosts. There is a general paucity of published research on the potential effects of decadal climate change, with some exceptions, mainly in vector-borne diseases.

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Rat-atouille: A Mixed Method Study to Characterize Rodent Hunting and Consumption in the Context of Lassa Fever

Cited by 47 publications

References 29 publications

Participation of women and children in hunting activities in Sierra Leone and implications for control of zoonotic infections

Participation of women and children in hunting activities in Sierra Leone and implications for control of zoonotic infections

At Home with Mastomys and Rattus: Human-Rodent Interactions and Potential for Primary Transmission of Lassa Virus in Domestic Spaces

Climate Change and the Neglected Tropical Diseases

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