Knowledge and attitudes of Tunisian dog owners regarding leishmaniasis
Background: Visceral leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease of major public health concern in several countries in the world. The local population awareness would improve prevention, early detection and treatment of both human and animal leishmaniasis. Methods: The aim of this survey was to assess the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2019-05-01
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| Series: | Parasite Epidemiology and Control |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405673118300904 |
| _version_ | 1811223853079199744 |
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| author | Médiha Khamassi Khbou Khawla Najahi Lilia Zribi Karim Aoun Mohamed Gharbi |
| author_facet | Médiha Khamassi Khbou Khawla Najahi Lilia Zribi Karim Aoun Mohamed Gharbi |
| author_sort | Médiha Khamassi Khbou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Visceral leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease of major public health concern in several countries in the world. The local population awareness would improve prevention, early detection and treatment of both human and animal leishmaniasis. Methods: The aim of this survey was to assess the knowledge about visceral leishmaniasis in a sample of dog owners visiting the National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Tunisia, through a structured questionnaire. Findings: Two hundred dog owners were interviewed, 87% were men and 47% had higher education level. Ninety four per cent were from neighbouring districts to Ariana, where the National School of Sidi Thabet is located. Out of 200 respondents, 79 confirmed knowing leishmaniasis. The correct answers concerning canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) (77%) were significantly higher than those concerning human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) (23%). Correct answers concerning CVL were given in part by previously diseased dogs' owners. The respondent could not explain what is exactly leishmaniasis, but the majority of questioned persons know that human and dogs are the most important hosts. Forty-four out 79 (56%) of the persons think that mosquitoes or insects are the vectors of leishmaniasis and 63% (53/79) knows that it is a zoonotic disease but 72% (38/53) were not able to define how. Conclusion: Despite the frequent visits to veterinarians for vaccination or other medical issues and their long experience in dog breeding, the sample of dog owners had not enough knowledge and several misconceptions regarding leishmaniasis. Large education programmes should be implemented in Tunisia to improve the knowledge of the Tunisian population, especially dog owners, concerning leishmaniasis. Keywords: Leishmaniasis, Knowledge, Attitude, Perception, Dog owners, Tunisia |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T08:40:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-649bcb6fba784112ad0e0c4a7f263aa9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-6731 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T08:40:43Z |
| publishDate | 2019-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasite Epidemiology and Control |
| spelling | doaj.art-649bcb6fba784112ad0e0c4a7f263aa92022-12-22T03:39:54ZengElsevierParasite Epidemiology and Control2405-67312019-05-015Knowledge and attitudes of Tunisian dog owners regarding leishmaniasisMédiha Khamassi Khbou0Khawla Najahi1Lilia Zribi2Karim Aoun3Mohamed Gharbi4Laboratory of Infectious Animal Diseases, Zoonosis and Sanitary Regulation, Univ. Manouba, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia; Laboratory of Parasitology, Univ. Manouba, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia; Corresponding author at: Laboratory of Infectious Animal Diseases, Zoonosis and Sanitary Regulation, Univ. Manouba, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia.Laboratory of Parasitology, Univ. Manouba, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, 2020 Sidi Thabet, TunisiaLaboratory of Parasitology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, 13 Pl. Pasteur, BP 74, Tunis 1002, TunisiaLaboratory of Parasitology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, 13 Pl. Pasteur, BP 74, Tunis 1002, TunisiaLaboratory of Parasitology, Univ. Manouba, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, 2020 Sidi Thabet, TunisiaBackground: Visceral leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease of major public health concern in several countries in the world. The local population awareness would improve prevention, early detection and treatment of both human and animal leishmaniasis. Methods: The aim of this survey was to assess the knowledge about visceral leishmaniasis in a sample of dog owners visiting the National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Tunisia, through a structured questionnaire. Findings: Two hundred dog owners were interviewed, 87% were men and 47% had higher education level. Ninety four per cent were from neighbouring districts to Ariana, where the National School of Sidi Thabet is located. Out of 200 respondents, 79 confirmed knowing leishmaniasis. The correct answers concerning canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) (77%) were significantly higher than those concerning human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) (23%). Correct answers concerning CVL were given in part by previously diseased dogs' owners. The respondent could not explain what is exactly leishmaniasis, but the majority of questioned persons know that human and dogs are the most important hosts. Forty-four out 79 (56%) of the persons think that mosquitoes or insects are the vectors of leishmaniasis and 63% (53/79) knows that it is a zoonotic disease but 72% (38/53) were not able to define how. Conclusion: Despite the frequent visits to veterinarians for vaccination or other medical issues and their long experience in dog breeding, the sample of dog owners had not enough knowledge and several misconceptions regarding leishmaniasis. Large education programmes should be implemented in Tunisia to improve the knowledge of the Tunisian population, especially dog owners, concerning leishmaniasis. Keywords: Leishmaniasis, Knowledge, Attitude, Perception, Dog owners, Tunisiahttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405673118300904 |
| spellingShingle | Médiha Khamassi Khbou Khawla Najahi Lilia Zribi Karim Aoun Mohamed Gharbi Knowledge and attitudes of Tunisian dog owners regarding leishmaniasis Parasite Epidemiology and Control |
| title | Knowledge and attitudes of Tunisian dog owners regarding leishmaniasis |
| title_full | Knowledge and attitudes of Tunisian dog owners regarding leishmaniasis |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge and attitudes of Tunisian dog owners regarding leishmaniasis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge and attitudes of Tunisian dog owners regarding leishmaniasis |
| title_short | Knowledge and attitudes of Tunisian dog owners regarding leishmaniasis |
| title_sort | knowledge and attitudes of tunisian dog owners regarding leishmaniasis |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405673118300904 |
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