Abstract

ALBERCA CASTILLO, Vilma; LEON CORDOVA, Daphne  and  FALCON PEREZ, Néstor. Pet Ownership and Cultural Aspects associated with Exposure to Zoonoses in La Coipa, Cajamarca, Peru. Rev. Med. Vet. [online]. 2021, n.43, pp.25-35.  Epub Apr 07, 2022. ISSN 0122-9354.  https://doi.org/10.19052/mv.vol1.iss43.3.

Irresponsible dog and cat ownership and lack of knowledge about the diseases they transmit can put people's health at risk and make it difficult to implement control programs. The aim of the present study was to describe companion animal ownership and knowledge and practices related to zoonosis exposure among villagers in La Coipa district, Cajamarca, Peru, in 2019. The study, undertaken on a survey basis, collected information on the characteristics of dog and cat ownership, as well as knowledge and practices regarding exposure to zoonoses from companion animals, biting accidents, and the presence of stray dogs. A total of 280 people were interviewed: 46.4% from urban areas and 53.6% from rural areas. Respectively, 70.7% and 50.7% owned dogs and cats. The person: dog ratio was 3 and person: cat ratio was 5. The main use of the dog was as a guardian and of the cat was as a biological rodent controller. The 83.3 % of dog owners vaccinated their dogs against rabies. 64.4% controlled the reproduction of dogs and cats by confinement. 60.9% stated that they had suffered a dog bite. The 98.2% indicated that stray dogs were a problem and 70% considered that these dogs had owners. It is concluded that the population studied requires training in pet ownership to improve animal welfare, as well as to reduce the exposure of people to zoonosis, bite accidents and environmental contamination.

Keywords : preventive medicine; public health; rabies; parasites.

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