Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
Agrarian School of Elvas, Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, Portalegre, Portugal.
Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports. 2022 Sep;34:100759. doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2022.100759. Epub 2022 Jul 9.
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE) are among the most relevant zoonoses in Europe. According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato causing CE is the most significant foodborne parasite in South-Western Europe, followed by Echinococcus multilocularis, the etiological agent of AE. Among the challenges and opportunities highlighted in the literature to combat these diseases are the need to evaluate and increase awareness of stakeholders. In Portugal, Municipal Veterinary Practitioners (MVP) are the animal health authority at the municipality level, playing a crucial role in diagnosis, prevention and control of infectious diseases in animals, helping to mitigate transmission to humans. However, their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards CE, as well as awareness of AE expansion across Europe, remain overlooked. In this work, a cross-sectional study was conducted for the first time in Portugal to bridge knowledge gaps concerning CE and AE, using an online self-administered questionnaire collecting information on the municipal kennel, KAP towards CE, and understanding of AE epidemiology. Eighty-three MVP from mainland and islands completed the questionnaire, with highest representability from the central-northern region. MVP had, on average, a medium to high level of knowledge of CE but acquaintance with AE was insufficient, although echinococcosis was frequently mentioned as target of health education sessions (77.0%). A high rate (60%) of reported entries into municipal kennels of stray dogs originating from countries with AE endemic areas was registered, suggesting that the presence of these potentially AE-infected stray dogs pose public health risks. Most kennels did not perform routine coprological analysis or faecal matter disinfection after dog internal deworming. The lack of proper training and well-conceived written plans of infection control and prevention were evidenced in several kennels. Altogether, our findings highlight the need to update knowledge and practice of MVP under the One Health approach, through reinforced education, training and communication involving all stakeholders.
包虫病（CE）和泡型包虫病（AE）是欧洲最重要的人畜共患病之一。根据欧洲食品安全局（EFSA）的说法，引起 CE 的细粒棘球绦虫亚种是南欧最重要的食源性寄生虫，其次是引起 AE 的多房棘球绦虫。文献中强调的防治这些疾病的挑战和机遇之一是需要评估和提高利益相关者的认识。在葡萄牙，市立兽医（MVP）是市一级的动物卫生当局，在动物传染病的诊断、预防和控制方面发挥着至关重要的作用，有助于减轻向人类的传播。然而，他们对 CE 的知识、态度和实践（KAP）以及对 AE 在欧洲扩张的认识仍然被忽视。在这项工作中，葡萄牙首次进行了一项横断面研究，以填补有关 CE 和 AE 的知识空白，使用在线自我管理问卷收集有关市立犬舍、对 CE 的 KAP 以及对 AE 流行病学的理解的信息。来自大陆和岛屿的 83 名 MVP 完成了问卷，来自中北部地区的代表性最高。MVP 对 CE 的平均知识水平较高，但对 AE 的了解不足，尽管包虫病经常被提及作为健康教育课程的目标（77.0%）。报告有来自 AE 流行地区的流浪狗进入市立犬舍的比例很高（60%），这表明这些可能感染 AE 的流浪狗的存在对公共卫生构成威胁。大多数犬舍在给狗内部驱虫后没有进行常规粪便分析或粪便消毒。在几个犬舍中，发现缺乏适当的培训和精心制定的感染控制和预防书面计划。总的来说，我们的研究结果强调需要通过强化教育、培训和涉及所有利益相关者的沟通，根据“同一健康”方法更新 MVP 的知识和实践。
