title: Participatory epidemiology at the neotropics: study of diseases of backyard livestock and description of hunting patterns in Uaxactún, Maya Reserve Biosphere, Guatemala.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The intention of the following study was to describe the interrelationship between villagers, domestic animals and wildlife at the Community Forestry Concession of Uaxactún, Guatemala by means of participatory epidemiological methods. The main focus was generating information regarding different livestock diseases considered important by villagers and their relevance, as well as obtaining knowledge concerning hunting activities and cooking methods to gain a better understanding of the interrelationship of people and animals and the diseases of their animals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For poultry, an overall prevalence of 41% of Newcastle disease was found by means of the ELISA test by antibody detection, chicken being the most affected species in the village. No samples were positive to avian influenza with the HI test. No virus was isolated by means of the tracheal or cloaca swabbing of ducks.
  All species could be hunted by chance at any time of the year. There was a difference in species hunted between seasons, peccaries being more frequently hunted during the dry season and in contrast, deer and wild avian during the rainy season.
  Villagers did not consume any raw meat. The cooking methods depended on the species. Stewing was the most favoured method for peccaries, wild birds, tepezcuintle and domestic poultry, whereas grilling was preferable for deer, roasting for armadillos and marinating for pork.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the generated information, the most important domestic livestock species in the village are chickens and pigs, chickens being the most affected by diseases. No evident health problems on pigs were observed in this study. Hunting was shown as an activity enhanced by poverty and the lack of employment opportunities in the village and was mostly directed at larger species such as deer and peccaries. From the viewpoint of a transmission of zoonoses from animals to humans cooking methods mostly reflected a protective factor as no raw meat was eaten, stews and broths being the most common forms of cooking, involving an exposure of meat to high temperatures. Nonetheless, both agricultural and hunting activities represent a risk factor for the spread of diseases as hunters may act as mechanical vectors for different pathogens within domestic and wild animal populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Bünteweg 2, 30559, Hannover, Germany. samuel.merida@tiho-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Samuel Alberto
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mérida Ruíz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Science and Ecohealth Investigation, Graduate School, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of San Carlos, Guatemala, Ciudad Universitaria, zona 12, Guatemala City, Guatemala.
authors.forename: Dennis Sigfried
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Guerra Centeno
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoo Sanitary Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food of Guatemala, 7a. avenida, 12-90 zona 13, Edificio Monja Blanca, Guatemala City, Guatemala.
authors.forename: Edgar Leonel
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Bailey Leonardo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Bünteweg 2, 30559, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rohn
authors.affiliation: Department of Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Bünteweg 2, 30559, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kösters
authors.affiliation: Department of Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Bünteweg 2, 30559, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Lothar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kreienbrock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000502:physiology; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000502:physiology; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D002645:Chickens; D003296:Cooking / Q000379:methods*; D065928:Forests; D005843:Geography; D006166:Guatemala / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D058751:Livestock / Q000502:physiology; D008460:Meat; D009521:Newcastle Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D014329:Tropical Climate; D014730:Veterinary Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Cooking methods; Food management; Foodborne diseases; Risk factors; Wildlife