Prevalence and Transmission Dynamics of Zoonotic Diseases Among Livestock Farmers A Case Study from Rural Pakistan
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18843280
Keywords:
Zoonotic Diseases, Livestock Farmers, Rural Pakistan, Brucellosis, Leptospirosis, Q Fever, Transmission Dynamics, One Health, Occupational Risk, Seroprevalence.Abstract
Background: Zoonotic disease refers to the occurrence of diseases that are communicated between human beings and animals; the instigation is dire in low-resource situations where the interaction between humans and the animal sources is intensive. The risk of the livestock farmers in rural Pakistan is aggravated by traditional methods of farming, low standards of hygiene, and difficulty in obtaining Veterinary and Public Health services. In spite of this, very limited information exists on the prevalence and modes of transmission of zoonotic diseases.
Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the epidemiology of the most important zoonotic infections, in addition to determining behavioral, occupational, and environmental risk factors affecting transfer among livestock farmers in rural Pakistan.
Method: The study was a cross sectional research conducted on livestock farmers in 400 districts in currently selected rural districts in Serengeti. The structured questionnaires, clinical observations, and serological samples included Brucella spp., Leptospira spp. and Coxiella burnetii to aid data collection. Risk factors were identified by descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression.
Results: The seroprevalence rates were 21 percent in brucellosis, 17 percent in leptospirosis, and 9 percent in Q fever. The prominent risk factors were the involvement in birth of animals without wearing gloves, the consumption of raw milk, the poor hand hygiene, the low awareness related to zoonoses (p p Level of education had a significant relationship with awareness of diseases and prevention activities. The odds of infection were 3.45 more likely to be expressed by farmers who had no formal education.
Conclusion: Critical aspects of awareness, hygiene, and occupational safety are essential factors since the prevalence of zoonotic infections among livestock farmers is high. Strong community-based action is necessary that can be achieved by means of community education, public health surveillance, and One Health to reduce the risk and enhance health outcomes in rural areas.
