Association between Opisthorchis viverrini infection in cats and humans: Non-spatial and spatial analyses
Issued Date
2024-04-01
Resource Type
ISSN
03044017
eISSN
18732550
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85186443013
Pubmed ID
38422711
Journal Title
Veterinary Parasitology
Volume
327
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Veterinary Parasitology Vol.327 (2024)
Suggested Citation
Sota P., Upontain S., Tangkawattana S., Punyapornwithaya V., Nakhapakorn K., Sripa B. Association between Opisthorchis viverrini infection in cats and humans: Non-spatial and spatial analyses. Veterinary Parasitology Vol.327 (2024). doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110150 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/97517
Title
Association between Opisthorchis viverrini infection in cats and humans: Non-spatial and spatial analyses
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Cats are recognized as significant reservoir hosts for human opisthorchiasis, particularly in areas with a high prevalence of infection. Despite this, the precise role of cats in the transmission of Opisthorchis viverrini between humans and felines remains unclear. This study investigates the association between these two hosts through both spatial and non-spatial analyses in the endemic Thanya sub-district of Thailand. A total of 105 owned cats were randomly sampled from 15 villages within the sub-district for stool examination. A questionnaire was administered to 66 cat owners to explore the human-pet relationship. Household locations were collected using GPS devices. Non-spatial analyses revealed a positive association between the two hosts (P= 0.011; OR 7, 95% CI: 1.6–30.9), highlighting two independent significant risk factors: cat owners consuming raw fish (P = 0.028; OR = 4.52, 95% CI: 1.25–19.45) and feeding cats raw fish (P = 0.011; OR = 16.41, 95% CI: 2.78–317.04) according to multivariate analysis. Spatial analysis provided further support to the non-spatial findings (p = 0.0123; OR = 3.45, 95% CI = 0.88–13.61). Multiple autologistic regression confirmed two significant risk factors: cat owners consuming raw fish (p = 0.054; OR = 3.37, 95% CI: 0.98–11.59) and feeding cats raw fish (p = 0.014; OR = 7.43, 95% CI: 1.49–37.05). Risk mapping identified the western part of the study site as a hotspot for O. viverrini infection. Hyper-endemic focusing revealed a union of human and cat buffers at 0.46 km², with an overlapping area of 0.22 km² (47.83%). This study underscores the impact of owners' behaviors, specifically consuming and feeding raw fish to cats, on the increased probability of infection in cats. It emphasizes the need for effective opisthorchiasis control through health education targeting cat owners in endemic areas.