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Brucellosis in India: Comparing exposure amongst veterinarians, para-veterinarians and animal handlers.

ABSTRACT: The exposure to Brucella species is an occupational hazard for veterinary personnel in India. In our previous study, paraveterinarians and animal handlers were found to be at higher risk of being seropositive. In the present study, we further investigate comparative exposure risk to brucellosis amongst the veterinary professionals, identify risk factors, and evaluate the perceptions and practices towards using adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) while attending high risk veterinary interventions. A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst veterinary personnel in the Punjab state of India. Logistic and negative binomial regression models were constructed to interpret the influence of categorical and numerical variables on prevalence of brucellosis and the adequacy of PPE use, respectively. Compared to veterinarians, animal handlers were less likely to consider veterinary practice in sheep and goats (odds ratio [OR] 0.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.2-0.7) or assisting in obstetric interventions (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1-0.8) as potential exposures. They were less aware of the signs and symptoms of the disease in humans (OR 0.05, 95% CI 0.02-0.14) and of the availability of vaccines for cattle (OR 0.07, 95% CI 0.01-0.3) than the veterinarians, and were least likely of the three groups to recommend vaccination of cattle against brucellosis to animal owners (OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.02-0.3). Compared to veterinarians, they were also less likely to consider zoonotic risk (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.8) or better efficiency (OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.05-0.4) as enablers of PPE use during veterinary procedures. Of the three occupational groups, animal handlers were also less likely to use adequate PPE during high-risk veterinary exposures, although they were found to have handled the highest number of cases of abortion. The average use of adequate PPE during high-risk interventions in one month preceding this study was lowest for animal handlers. Veterinary personnel with a higher rate of PPE use during high-risk veterinary interventions were likely to obtain information on brucellosis from government sources (p = 0.06) and felt that PPE use enhanced their professional efficiency (Incidence rate ratio [IRR] 3.3, 95% CI 1.5-8.1) compared to those who were less likely to use adequate PPE. We recommend concerted efforts to increase awareness amongst veterinary personnel, particularly amongst animal handlers, regarding brucellosis and the importance of biosecurity measures in veterinary practice. Designing training courses on the importance of PPE use along with formulation of biosecurity guidelines at local levels could help reduce the prevalence of the disease in veterinary personnel.

SUBMITTER: Tiwari HK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8715116 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:AIM:We aim to investigate local perceptions of animal health challenges; current animal health knowledge; and methods to provide effective, relevant education to animal keepers in the Kanha Tiger Reserve area. MATERIALS AND METHODS:A farmer education programme was undertaken in the Kanha Tiger Reserve area. Local animal health priorities were investigated through participatory village meetings (n = 38), individual animal keeper questionnaires (n = 100) and a written survey of local paravets (n = 16). Educational interventions were: veterinary surgeon led education meeting (VE); paravet led education meeting (PVE); distribution of printed materials (PM). 230 village meetings were carried out across 181 villages, contacting 3791 animal keepers. 20 villages received printed materials. Information was gathered on perceptions of local animal health challenges and current remedies. Efficacy of knowledge transfer was assessed four to five months later using a purposeful sample of 38 villages. RESULTS:Group meetings identified ticks (35/38), foot and mouth disease (FMD) (31/38) and diarrhoea (30/38) as the greatest animal health challenges. Individual interviews identified haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS) (87/100), blackquarter (BQ) (66/100) and plastic ingestion (31/100). Paravets identified FMD (7/16), BQ (6/16) and HS (6/16), and also indicated that animal husbandry and socio-economic factors were important. Current treatments were primarily home remedies and herbalism, but also included contacting a paravet, use of pharmaceuticals and faith healing. Animal treatment knowledge prior to intervention was not significantly different between groups (P = 0.868). Following intervention animal health knowledge was assessed: PVE performed better than controls (P = 0.001) and PM (P = 0.003); VE performed better than controls (P = 0.009). There was no significant difference between VE and PVE (P = 0.666) nor PM and controls (P = 0.060). CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:Open access participatory village meetings are an effective way to provide animal health education. In this region distribution of posters and leaflets did not appear to be an effective way to contact animal keepers. Meetings led by paravets can be as effective as those led by veterinarians and paravets can rapidly and sustainably contact large numbers of animal keepers. Investigation of the local animal health situation is essential to ensure education is relevant and accessible to intended recipients. Interventions must be carefully planned to maximise engagement of all sections of the community, particularly women.

Project description:BackgroundAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat. The indiscriminate use of antibiotics in the animal health sector contributes to increasing rates of AMR and studies involving dairy farmers in India have found knowledge levels regarding antibiotics and AMR to be very low. The purpose of this study was to assess different methods to raise awareness and knowledge about AMR and antibiotic use among dairy farmers, paravets (veterinary assistants), and veterinarians.Materials and methodsThe study was conducted in September-December of 2018 in some parts of Haryana, Assam, Karnataka, and West Bengal. It had two parts: an intervention meeting (September-October 2018) which consisted of focus group discussions (FGD) with farmers, key informant interviews (KII) with veterinary professionals along with distribution of information packages, and then a follow-up survey (November-December 2018). The villages were randomly allocated to either one of the four intervention approaches (1-FGD/KII and information package on AMR; 2-FGD/KI and information on animal health; 3- FGD/KII and information package on animal health plus information on AMR; or 4- only the FGD/KII). A follow-up survey was done to assess the effect of interventions.ResultsIn total, 274 dairy farmers and 51 veterinary professionals (21 veterinarians and 30 paravets) participated in the follow-up survey. Many of the farmers and veterinary professionals who participated in the follow-up survey had been part of the intervention meetings. The average knowledge score of farmers was 7.8. It was found that the knowledge score was higher amongst farmers who had participated in the intervention meetings (p < 0.05), had received intervention approach 2 (p = 0.03) or approach 3 (p = 0.01), and amongst female farmers (p = 0.03) compared to male. The veterinary professionals had good knowledge but lacked interest in training the farmers about antimicrobial resistance.ConclusionOur research demonstrated that a higher percentage of farmers and veterinary professionals who attended the intervention meeting had improved knowledge. Dairy farmers should be regularly educated on antibiotic usage and how to avoid misusing them. Also, veterinary experts should be provided with tools and strategies to educate farmers on the use of antimicrobials.

Project description:The aims of this study were to investigate the role of the veterinarian characteristics (e.g., age, gender, self-estimation, use of the internet), and their attitudes concerning animal owners seeking self-information. A particular focus was laid on any association between shared decision making (SDM), age and gender. In an online survey, 527 German veterinarians were asked about their attitude regarding SDM principles and their experiences with self-informed animal owners. The factors associated with veterinarians' perception of SDM were investigated in a multivariable linear regression model. A recently published structural equation model consolidated the application of SDM, empathic behavior, and veterinarians' evaluation of self-education as latent factors. Interconnected questionnaire items were processed using an exploratory factor analysis to 11 interpretable factors. Veterinarians who assumed therapy failure was associated with themselves had significantly higher rates of SDM (p = 0.002). In contrast, SDM was significantly lower (p = 0.002) if they assumed that therapy failure was due to the animal's owners. SDM was negatively associated with the perceived quality of the pet owners' self-information (p < 0.001) and if skepticism was perceived as the reason for seeking the self-information (p = 0.001). Veterinarians who advised against self-information (p = 0.006) and those who assumed that self-information of animal owners goes along with uncertainty (p = 0.001) had low SDM values (p = 0.006). Asking the animal owner for self-information (p = 0.001), and recommendations of good information sources (p = 0.022) were positively associated with SDM. Looking at the influence of age and gender on the application of SDM, older people and males rated higher. However, the evaluation of the latent factor SDM was based on the self-estimation of the participants. Assuming that younger women were less self-confident, we cannot exclude that young female participants self-evaluated their SDM skills lower than older male participants, although both groups would objectively have the same SDM level. Practitioners who have a positive attitude toward animal owners, who enjoy contact with animal owners and welcome their interest in further (self-)information, show empathic behavior, and have a positive attitude toward SDM are more likely to have better veterinarian-animal owner-relationships.

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Brucellosis in India: Comparing exposure amongst veterinarians, para-veterinarians and animal handlers.

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