Vinueza Rommel L, Chungata Luis, Ortega Fernando, Waters William F, Durand Benoît, Mejía Jaime, Díaz Ramiro F, Zanella Gina
University Paris-Est, Anses, Laboratory for Animal Health, Epidemiology Unit, Maisons-Alfort, 94700, France; Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Cumbayá, Quito, 150157, Ecuador.
Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Cumbayá, Quito, 150157, Ecuador.
Prev Vet Med. 2025 Sep;242:106591. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106591. Epub 2025 Jun 3.
Bovine brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that poses significant risks to both livestock and humans, particularly those who come into contact with infected animals or consume unpasteurized dairy products. This disease is enzootic in Ecuador. Although previous studies have primarily examined its prevalence, there is limited understanding of veterinarians' perceptions of the issue and the awareness levels among cattle farmers regarding the associated risks. In this study, we used qualitative methods to examine the perception of bovine brucellosis control among veterinarians in Ecuador, as well as the awareness levels and risk perception of subsistence and medium and large-scale farmers regarding the disease. Four focus groups, two with veterinarians and two with cattle farmers were held between March and May 2022, involving veterinarians from eight Ecuadorian provinces working for the public, private, and academic sectors, as well as subsistence-scale farmers from an indigenous community in the highlands, and medium- and large-scale farmers in the coastal region. The findings showed that veterinarians believe farmers have limited knowledge about brucellosis and are unaware of the health risks associated with this disease. They also identified obstacles related to enforcing current laws, insufficient resources for health education, operational limitations of health organizations, and a lack of incentives for participating in the brucellosis control program. Subsistence- and medium and large-scale farmers displayed a low level of knowledge about brucellosis and limited awareness of associated risks. Risky livestock practices harmful to both animal and human health were also noted among these farmers. Socio-cultural factors, age, educational level, and gender were identified as barriers to accessing technology and information about bovine brucellosis prevention.
牛布鲁氏菌病是一种人畜共患病，对牲畜和人类都构成重大风险，尤其是那些接触受感染动物或食用未经巴氏杀菌的乳制品的人。这种疾病在厄瓜多尔呈地方流行性。尽管先前的研究主要考察了其流行情况，但对于兽医对该问题的看法以及养牛户对相关风险的认知水平了解有限。在本研究中，我们采用定性方法来考察厄瓜多尔兽医对牛布鲁氏菌病防控的看法，以及自给型和中大型养殖户对该病的认知水平和风险认知。2022年3月至5月期间举行了四个焦点小组会议，其中两个小组的参与者是兽医，另外两个小组的参与者是养牛户，涉及来自厄瓜多尔八个省份、在公共、私人和学术部门工作的兽医，以及来自高地一个土著社区的自给型养殖户和沿海地区的中大型养殖户。研究结果表明，兽医认为养殖户对布鲁氏菌病的了解有限，并且没有意识到与这种疾病相关的健康风险。他们还指出了与执行现行法律相关的障碍、健康教育资源不足、卫生组织的运营限制以及参与布鲁氏菌病防控计划缺乏激励措施。自给型以及中大型养殖户对布鲁氏菌病的了解程度较低，对相关风险的认识也有限。在这些养殖户中还发现了对动物和人类健康都有害的危险牲畜养殖行为。社会文化因素、年龄、教育水平和性别被确定为获取有关牛布鲁氏菌病预防的技术和信息的障碍。
