Minani Salvator, Ntirandekura Jean-Bosco, Peeters Grietens Koen, Gasogo Anastasie, Gabriël Sarah, Trevisan Chiara
Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Burundi, Bujumbura, Burundi.
Laboratory of Foodborne Parasitic Zoonoses, Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
PLoS One. 2025 Jul 2;20(7):e0326238. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0326238. eCollection 2025.
Taenia solium and Toxoplasma gondii are important foodborne zoonotic parasites that cause substantial health and economic impacts worldwide. In Burundi, there was a lack of data on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of stakeholders in the pork value chain. To fill this gap, this study aimed to assess the knowledge of stakeholders in the pork value chain regarding T. solium and T. gondii infections and identify health-seeking routes and factors contributing to parasitic transmissions. A mixed methods study was conducted in Bujumbura city, Kayanza, and Ngozi provinces from January 10 to April 27, 2023. Quantitative data was collected using questionnaire-based interviews with 386 participants, while qualitative data was gathered from 63 participants through focus group discussions, informal conversations, and observations. The majority of the participants in the quantitative study had heard about porcine cysticercosis (94.8%) and pork tapeworm (90.9%), although the transmission and symptoms of these diseases were less known (>60%) and inaccurately described. Most participants were not aware of human cysticercosis (96.4%), its association with epilepsy (78%), and T. gondii infections (91.2%). There was a low proportion of medical consultations for pork tapeworm (30.1%), epilepsy (36.5%), and toxoplasmosis (7%). The qualitative study supported the findings of the quantitative study, revealing low knowledge among participants and misconceptions about the causes, consequences, and treatment-seeking routes related to T. solium and T. gondii infections. The short roasting time of pork (<15 minutes) and low perception of the consequences of consuming pork infected with cysts exposed pork consumers to these parasitic infections. Inadequate knowledge about these parasitic infections, along with inadequate practices in treatment-seeking and pork preparation and consumption, can contribute to continued transmission and pose significant barriers to control programmes. Training and public health education following the One Health approach are urgently needed to better tackle these parasitic infections in Burundi.
猪带绦虫和刚地弓形虫是重要的食源性人畜共患寄生虫,在全球范围内造成了重大的健康和经济影响。在布隆迪,猪肉价值链中利益相关者的知识、态度和行为方面缺乏数据。为填补这一空白,本研究旨在评估猪肉价值链中利益相关者对猪带绦虫和刚地弓形虫感染的了解情况,并确定寻求医疗的途径以及导致寄生虫传播的因素。2023年1月10日至4月27日,在布琼布拉市、卡扬扎省和恩戈齐省开展了一项混合方法研究。通过对386名参与者进行基于问卷的访谈收集定量数据,同时通过焦点小组讨论、非正式交谈和观察从63名参与者那里收集定性数据。定量研究中的大多数参与者听说过猪囊尾蚴病(94.8%)和猪肉绦虫(90.9%),尽管这些疾病的传播和症状鲜为人知(>60%)且描述不准确。大多数参与者不知道人体囊尾蚴病(96.4%)、其与癫痫的关联(78%)以及刚地弓形虫感染(91.2%)。因猪肉绦虫(30.1%)、癫痫(36.5%)和弓形虫病(7%)进行医疗咨询的比例较低。定性研究支持了定量研究的结果,揭示出参与者知识水平较低,对与猪带绦虫和刚地弓形虫感染相关的病因、后果及寻求治疗途径存在误解。猪肉烤制时间短(<15分钟)以及对食用感染囊肿猪肉后果的认知不足,使猪肉消费者面临这些寄生虫感染风险。对这些寄生虫感染的认识不足,以及在寻求治疗、猪肉制备和消费方面的不当做法,可能导致感染持续传播,并给防控计划带来重大障碍。迫切需要遵循“同一健康”方法进行培训和开展公共卫生教育,以更好地应对布隆迪的这些寄生虫感染问题。