Hunting, Food Preparation, and Consumption of Rodents in Lao PDR

<div><p>A cross-sectional study was conducted in 29 villages of Khamkeuth District in Bolikhamxay Province in the Lao PDR during March to May 2013. The study aimed to determine the characteristics associated with rodent consumption and related behaviors among different ethnic groups, ages, and genders. Five-hundred-eighty-four (584) males and females from 18-50 years of age participated in this study. Half of them were Hmong (292, 50%) while 152 respondents were Lao-Tai (26%) or other ethnic groups (140, 24%). Most of the respondents (79.5%) had farming as their main occupation. Prevalences of the studied outcomes were high: 39.9 for hunting or capturing rodents in the previous year, 77.7% for preparing rodents as food, and 86.3% for rodent consumption. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that likelihood of these types of rodent contact was more consistently associated with behavioral factors (gathering things from the forest and elsewhere, cultivation-related activities, and taking measures to prevent rodent-borne disease) than with socio-demographic, environmental, or cultural factors. The strongest associations were observed for gathering things; these associations were consistently positive and statistically significant. Although this study did not directly assess rodent-borne zoonosis risk, we believe that study findings raise concern that such risk may be substantial in the study area and other similar areas. Further epidemiological studies on the association between rodent-borne disease infection and rodent hunting, preparation for food, and consumption are recommended. Moreover, further studies are needed on the association between these potential exposure factors (i.e., rodent hunting, preparation for food, and consumption) and rodent-borne infections, especially among ethnic groups like the Hmong in Lao PDR and those in neighboring countries with similar socio-demographic, environmental, behavioral and cultural contexts.</p></div

First multiple logistic regression model for reporting preparing rodents in the past year.

<p>* As compared to ethnic group = other.</p><p>First multiple logistic regression model for reporting preparing rodents in the past year.</p

First multiple logistic regression model for reporting eaten rodents in the past year.

<p>* As compared to ethnic group = other.</p><p>First multiple logistic regression model for reporting eaten rodents in the past year.</p

First multiple logistic regression model for reporting hunting or capturing rodents in the past year.

<p>First multiple logistic regression model for reporting hunting or capturing rodents in the past year.</p

Second multiple logistic regression model for reporting hunting or capturing rodents in the past year.

<p>Second multiple logistic regression model for reporting hunting or capturing rodents in the past year.</p

Second multiple logistic regression model for reporting eating rodents in the past year.

<p>* As compared to ethnic group = other.</p><p>Second multiple logistic regression model for reporting eating rodents in the past year.</p

Average number of alive or fresh dead animals per day for markets A-G.

<p>Mammals (Mammalia), wild birds (Aves) and reptiles (Reptilia) are shown. The seven high volume markets are listed and Lao PDR province for each corresponding market are provided.</p

List of significant zoonoses capable of infecting mammals globally, for which a potential wildlife host was identified in Lao PDR.

<p>List of significant zoonoses capable of infecting mammals globally, for which a potential wildlife host was identified in Lao PDR.</p

Comparison of average price of fresh dead wildlife (February–April 2012) to the price of domestic pork in Lao PDR.

<p>Bars represent standard deviation. Where wildlife was priced per individual, price was converted to Kip/kg using average body weight for wildlife species. The average price was based on observations of sales of: nine common palm civet, 33 Pallas’s squirrel, 14 Indian giant flying squirrel, 17 Pteropodidae, 40 Muridae and six domestic pork samples. For sales observations of the brush-tailed porcupine (n = 10), muntjac (n = 10) and wild boar (n = 3), wildlife was priced per kilogram. The price of rice (used as an indicator for the expected level of price variation across the country) did not vary significantly between vendors in markets or between different markets; the average across all markets was 4,982 Kip/kg.</p

Surveillance summary.

<p>Surveillance summary.</p