Reason for choosing pig housing system

Ethnicity of pig raiser Religion of pig raiser

Frequency of teacher service

Frequency of headman service

Frequency of pulic health officer service

Frequency of animal health officer service

Frequency of local pulic health volunteer serviceFrequency of local animal health volunteer service

Frequency of police service

Frequency of Heifer service

Frequency of district officer service

Frequency of sub-district officer service

Awareness of housing system

Objectives of raising pig

Revenue received from pig raising:Total revenue

Type of feed

Feed handling Waste management

Reasons for not using dewormingResponsible person for pig health check upDo you usually clean left over feed after feeding?Accessibility of rat in feed storageType of pig

What will you do with your sick pig DewormingFrequency of pig health check up

Formal education level of pig raiser

Recognition about rat danger

How often you clean pig place?

Gender of pig raiser

Understanding relationship of pig housing and Trichinosis

Trichinosis recognition

Experience in raising pig

Time spent for pig raising:Total time spent on career

Environment cleanlinessWildlife presenceRat abundance

Rat control

Wet garbage handling

Solid garbage handling

Place to slaughter pig

Carcasses left over handling after slaughtering a pig

Dead animal (cat,dog,rat,etc.) handling

Dead pig handling

Frequency of cleaning surrounding

Animal health practices

Source of information

Trichinosis risk in pig

Rearing practices

Benefit from headman

Benefit from teacher

Benefit from pulic health officer

Benefit from animal health officer

Benefit from local public health volunteer

Benefit from local animal health volunteer

Benefit from Heifer

Benefit from sub-district officer

Benefit from district officer

Ethnicity of food preparing person

Religion

Knowledge of danger of having raw/undercooked meat

Formal education of food preparing person

Source of fund

Investment in pig raising

Frequency of having meat (Carnivore/omnivore) in a year

Family welfare

Knowledge of food preparing person

Reasons describing eating habit

Gender of food preparing person

Occasions for killing pig

Raw/undercooked preference

Awareness of eating raw/undercooked meat

Frequency eating outside Place of eating outside

Risk of Eating Outside

Income level

Pig housing system

Benefit from police

Source of pig

Environment suitability for Trichinosis circulation

Source of meat

Benefit from private sector's and public sector services

Convenient products

Knowledge of pig raiser

Possibility of being infected Trichinosis in human

Food Safety Level

Meat Preparation

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

Chalisa Kallayanamitra1 Chalermpol Samranpong4 Bruce A. Wilcox2 Parichat Saenna2 Veerasak Punyapornwithaya3 KhwanchaiKreausukon3 Pisit Leeahtam1 Manoj Potapohn1

1 Faculty of Economics, Chiang Mai University, 2Global Health Asia, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, 3Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, 4Center for Agricultural Resource System Research, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University

One health approach to trichinellosis risk in borderland highlanders of northern Thailand

Project Background

In the highland areas in Northern Thailand culturally distinctive ethnic minorities reside scattered throughout the mountainous Thailand-Myanmar border region. These populations are seen as the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups amongst Thailand’s rural population. They largely depend upon agriculture for income and subsistence. Pig rearing continues to be an important source of food and serves for ritual use, with almost every family keeping pigs. Thus, pig health and production can have a substantial impact on their livelihoods. Previous studies have reported outbreaks of Trichinellosis in Northern Thailand. Yet none differentiate lowland from upland outbreaks though these ecosystems and their human socioeconomic and political circumstances are quite distinct.Our review of outbreak reports from the past 10 years (2003-2012) suggests that more than 90 percent of the outbreaks have occurred in the highlands with several major foci scattered throughout the borderland provinces.

Project Goal and Objectives

Project goal: To understand the transmission of Trichinellosis risk in the Borderland Highlanders as a basis for prevention and control measures.

Source: BOE Thailand (2003-2009)

Figure 1: Trichinellosis in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son During 2003-2012

Figure 2: Subsystems for Trichinellosis Risk Investigation Based on a One Health-Based Transdisciplinary Approach

Overall objective: To develop a transdisciplinary framework using a One Health approach. This framework considers interaction of highlanders with the pigs they grow and their environment as a single system. We identified four subsystems to investigate Trichinellosis risk;

• Animal husbandry • Food chain • Environment • Economy

Specific objectives:

• Recruit a multidisciplinary team and informants

• Develop an integrative framework

• Identify research methods and tools

• Implement a pilot study

Research Methodology Population: Two highlander villages, including one that experienced an outbreak.

• Huai Ma Fueang Village (experienced an outbreak): 118 Households • Huai Chan Si Village: 84 Households

Sampling design: Simple random selection • Huai Ma Fueang Village: 28 Households • Huai Chan Si Village: 26 Households

Data collection: Develop, test and conduct survey instrument • Household survey • Environment survey • Institution survey

Data analysis: We use a Bayesian Belief Network model of Trichinellosis risk developed by experts to explain relationship of the risk factors.

Figure 3: Visited Households in Huai Ma Fueang Village and Huai Chan Si Village for Collecting Pig Data

Animal Husbandry: A range of pig production modes were found, some associated with different levels of Trichinellosis risk. Those of lower risk bore higher costs in terms of capital and time. Food Chain: Our findings suggest that eating raw pork is part of important rituals and belief and likely not subject to behavioral modification. However, we found that most villagers were unaware of the association of raw pork consumption and Trichinellosis. A majority of villagers tend to feed their pig with animal parts left over. Environment: Due to time constraints, most of the villagers rarely or never remove waste and clean pig surroundings. Feed scraps attracts more rats and other animals producing a higher chance of exposure to reservoirs of Trichinella to pigs. Economy: Villagers generally considered investment in improved husbandry a low priority relative to competing livelihood needs.

Preliminary Results

A One Health-based transdisciplinary framework to understand highlander Trichinellosis risk can be developed and implemented that integrates animal husbandry, food-chain, environment and economy. These subsystems are entirely interdependent, and thus must be considered as an integrated whole when devising disease interventions. The preliminary results are being used as basis for expanding the research to include a component of participatory prevention and control measures aimed at reducing Trichinella transmission in the Borderland Highlander’s villages.

Conclusion and Discussion

Acknowledgements

ECONOMY/WELFARE

Figure 4: Trichinellosis Risk Framework

We gratefully acknowledge the administrative assistance of Ecohealth-One Health Research Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University; research funds from the EcoZD program of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI);

guidance and advice provided by Fred Unger (ILRI) and Jeff Gilbert (ILRI); veterinary technical advice from Jenny Steele (Tufts University), Karin Hamilton (University of Minnesota), Warangkhana Chaisowwong (CMU), Jan Hinrichs (FAO),

Wichak Tidchai (DLD Thailand), Pranee Rodtian (DLD Thailand);and field logistical assistance of Isaree Khreusirikul (Heifer International Thailand). We are especially indebted to the headmen of our two study villages, Abhinan Taotao and

Lisor Jalor. Field assistance was provided by Sinh Dang Xuan, Farong Xu, Vu Thi Thu Tra, Hataichanok Wasasiri, Suputsorn Chatsiriyingyong, Pornwimon Pata, Sarocha Sukrinprom, Chanakan Khumpilai, Bhurichaya Pholsote,

Pimchanok Muangchaimoon, Warinda Somrith (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, CMU), Phiangkwaun Padeang, Phuttipong Pookjohn and Nonprabha Buranawut (Faculty of Economics, CMU); GIS and mapping support was provided by

Kongchak Jaidee, Global Health Asia, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University. We are also grateful for the travel support to the lead author provided by USAID RESPOND.

ENVIRONMENT

FOOD CHAIN

October 2012