ZOONOTIC ENCOUNTERS AT THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE: PATHWAYS AND POSSIBILITIES FOR THE CONTROL OF CYSTIC ECHINOCOCCOSIS IN NORTHERN MOROCCO.
J Biosoc Sci
; 48 Suppl 1: S92-S115, 2016 09.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27428068
ABSTRACT
This study traces the biosocial dynamics of Echinococcus granulosus - a zoonotic tapeworm spread between dogs, livestock and people - at slaughterhouses in Morocco. One of the most important parasitic zoonoses worldwide, this neglected cestode is responsible for a debilitating, potentially life-threatening, human disease and significant livestock production losses. Transmission can be interrupted, among other ways, by restricting dogs from eating cyst-infected livestock viscera. Recent epidemiological studies in Sidi Kacem province, northern Morocco, found that government-operated slaughterhouses were 'hotspots' for hydatid cysts in livestock and infection in dogs. An ethnographic approach was used to compliment these studies, exploring 'how' and 'why' cysts were being openly discarded. All seven visited slaughterhouses had low levels of hygiene, oversight and infrastructure. This was described locally as perpetuating a sense of 'chaos' that normalized (un)hygienic practices and justified the ignoring of state rules and regulations. However deference to 'poor' infrastructure, both physically and symbolically, served to under-emphasize local institutional logics, which were mediated by prevailing risk perceptions, economic practices and local socio-political norms. These included inter-departmental government relationships, the motivation of veterinary technicians, the political lobbying of butchers and market-based mitigation strategies. The study shows the importance of understanding E. granulosus from a biosocial perspective, and the need for more long-term, participatory and integrated 'One Health' approaches for neglected zoonotic diseases.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Zoonosis
/
Control de Enfermedades Transmisibles
/
Mataderos
/
Transmisión de Enfermedad Infecciosa
/
Equinococosis
Tipo de estudio:
Qualitative_research
Límite:
Animals
/
Female
/
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Biosoc Sci
Año:
2016
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido