Hunters' acceptability of the surveillance system and alternative surveillance strategies for classical swine fever in wild boar - a participatory approach.
BACKGROUND
Surveillance measures can only be effective if key players in the system accept them. Acceptability, which describes the willingness of persons to contribute, is often analyzed using participatory methods. Participatory epidemiology enables the active involvement of key players in the assessment of epidemiological issues. In the present study, we used a participatory method recently developed by CIRAD (Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement) to evaluate the functionality and acceptability of Classical Swine Fever (CSF) surveillance in wild boar in Germany, which is highly dependent on the participation of hunters. The acceptability of alternative surveillance strategies was also analyzed. By conducting focus group discussions, potential vulnerabilities in the system were detected and feasible alternative surveillance strategies identified.


RESULTS
Trust in the current surveillance system is high, whereas the acceptability of the operation of the system is medium. Analysis of the acceptability of alternative surveillance strategies showed how risk-based surveillance approaches can be combined to develop strategies that have sufficient support and functionality. Furthermore, some surveillance strategies were clearly rejected by the hunters. Thus, the implementation of such strategies may be difficult.


CONCLUSIONS
Participatory methods can be used to evaluate the functionality and acceptability of existing surveillance plans for CSF among hunters and to optimize plans regarding their chances of successful implementation.
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany. katja.schulz@fli.de.
Katja
K
Schulz
Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique Pour le Développement (CIRAD), Département ES, UPR AGIRs, TA C22/E, Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398, Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
Clémentine
C
Calba
Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique Pour le Développement (CIRAD), Département ES, UPR AGIRs, TA C22/E, Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398, Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
Marisa
M
Peyre
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
Christoph
C
Staubach
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
Franz J
FJ
Conraths
D000818:Animals; D006691:Classical Swine Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring / Q000662:veterinary; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013552:Swine
Acceptability; Classical swine fever; Participatory epidemiology; Surveillance; Wild boar