{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,30]],"date-time":"2026-10-30T17:43:28Z","timestamp":1793382208701,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":51,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,2,17]],"date-time":"2022-02-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1645056000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Fiscal Year 2019.","award":["Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Fiscal Year 2019."],"award-info":[{"award-number":["Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Fiscal Year 2019."]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Veterinary Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This sequential explanatory mixed-method study consisted of analytical, cross-sectional, and qualitative studies. The research was conducted in the Khao Nor and Khao Kaew areas of the Banphot Pisai districts of Nakhon Sawan Province in 2019. Here, we examined the rodent contact characteristics of villagers in these areas and determined the potential characteristics\/risk factors associated with rodents using a semi-structured questionnaire, key informant interview (KII), and focus group discussion (FGD). Results of the quantitative study (N1 = 372) characterized participants that contacted rodents per gender, age, occupation, knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP), including their cultural contexts, and beliefs. Ninety participants (24.2%) reported contact with rodents, and the reasons for their direct physical rodent contact were hunting (35, 9.4%), killing (41, 11.0%), preparing rodents as food (33, 8.9%), consuming cooked meats (12, 3.2%), feeding food (4, 1.1%), cleaning feces (17, 4.6%), and cleaning carcasses (33, 8.9%). Moreover, logistic regression results showed that males encountering rodents were statistically significant (Adjusted OR = 3.137, 95% CI 1.914\u20135.139, p &lt; 0.001). Low monthly household income (&lt;THB 15,000 or &lt;USD 450) was also negatively statistically significant with encountering rodents (Adjusted OR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.33\u20130.99, p = 0.04). Additionally, the villagers had a low level of knowledge toward zoonotic diseases and inappropriate attitudes and practices toward contacting rodents and zoonotic diseases. Thirty-five qualitative study participants (N2) participated in the KIIs and FGDs. Various rodent contact activities were also reported among the qualitative research participants, such as hunting, consumption, and selling them to their friends and neighbors. However, these rodents also destroyed their belongings, crops, and plants. Some participants also reported that rodents accounted for leptospirosis transmission. As a result, communication intervention should be planned to provide appropriate knowledge and attitude to the villagers, especially among those who have close contact with rodents in the understudied area.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci9020085","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,2,17]],"date-time":"2022-02-17T20:26:41Z","timestamp":1645129601000},"page":"85","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":20,"title":["Rodent\u2013Human Interface: Behavioral Risk Factors and Leptospirosis in a Province in the Central Region of Thailand"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"9","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8212-9307","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kanokwan","family":"Suwannarong","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand"},{"name":"SUPA71 Co., Ltd., Bangkok 10230, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1031-7979","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ngamphol","family":"Soonthornworasiri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Pannamas","family":"Maneekan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Surapon","family":"Yimsamran","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Karnsunaphat","family":"Balthip","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Nursing, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1505-2810","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Santi","family":"Maneewatchararangsri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Watcharee","family":"Saisongkorh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Muang District, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chutarat","family":"Saengkul","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Public Health, Nakhon Sawan Campus, Mahidol University, Nakhon Sawan 60130, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Suntaree","family":"Sangmukdanun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nittaya","family":"Phunta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ban Dan Health Promotion Hospital (under Ministry of Public Health Thailand), Ban Phot Pisai District, Nakhon Sawan 60180, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Pratap","family":"Singhasivanon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,2,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"796","DOI":"10.1172\/JCI21370","article-title":"Emerging infectious diseases","volume":"113","author":"Racaniello","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Clin. Investig."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"983","DOI":"10.1098\/rstb.2001.0888","article-title":"Risk factors for human disease emergence","volume":"356","author":"Taylor","year":"2001","journal-title":"Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. Ser. B Biol. Sci."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1822","DOI":"10.3201\/eid1112.040789","article-title":"Bushmeat Hunting, Deforestation, and Prediction of Zoonotic Disease Emergence","volume":"11","author":"Wolfe","year":"2005","journal-title":"Emerg. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"990","DOI":"10.1038\/nature06536","article-title":"Global trends in emerging infectious diseases","volume":"451","author":"Jones","year":"2008","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1016","DOI":"10.3201\/eid\/1706.100880","article-title":"Wild birds and increased transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) among poultry, Thailand","volume":"17","author":"Keawcharoen","year":"2011","journal-title":"Emerg. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"288","DOI":"10.1111\/zph.12563","article-title":"Understanding Ebola virus and other zoonotic transmission risks through human-bat contacts: Exploratory study on knowledge, attitudes and practices in Southern Cameroon","volume":"66","author":"Baudel","year":"2019","journal-title":"Zoonoses Public Health"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"41","DOI":"10.1016\/0168-1605(91)90046-R","article-title":"Epidemiological studies and proposed preventive measures in the fight against human salmonellosis","volume":"12","author":"Oosterom","year":"1991","journal-title":"Int. J. Food Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"432","DOI":"10.1007\/s10393-011-0725-7","article-title":"Rodent-borne hantaviruses in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Thailand","volume":"8","author":"Blasdell","year":"2011","journal-title":"Ecohealth"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Victoriano, A.F., Smythe, L.D., Gloriani-Barzaga, N., Cavinta, L.L., Kasai, T., Limpakarnjanarat, K., Ong, B.L., Gongal, G., Hall, J., and Coulombe, C.A. (2009). Leptospirosis in the Asia Pacific region. BMC Infect. Dis., 9.","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2334-9-147"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Quinn, E.K., Massey, P.D., Cox-Witton, K., Paterson, B.J., Eastwood, K., and Durrheim, D.N. (2014). Understanding human-bat interactions in NSW, Australia: Improving risk communication for prevention of Australian bat lyssavirus. BMC Vet. Res., 10.","DOI":"10.1186\/1746-6148-10-144"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1446","DOI":"10.3201\/eid2309.161922","article-title":"Convergence of Humans, Bats, Trees, and Culture in Nipah Virus Transmission, Bangladesh","volume":"23","author":"Gurley","year":"2017","journal-title":"Emerg. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Robertson, K., Lumlertdacha, B., Franka, R., Petersen, B., Bhengsri, S., Henchaichon, S., Peruski, L.F., Baggett, H.C., Maloney, S.A., and Rupprecht, C.E. (2011). Rabies-related knowledge and practices among persons at risk of bat exposures in Thailand. PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis., 5.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0001054"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"30","DOI":"10.1007\/s12529-008-9008-2","article-title":"Perceived threat, risk perception, and efficacy beliefs related to SARS and other (emerging) infectious diseases: Results of an international survey","volume":"16","author":"Veldhuijzen","year":"2009","journal-title":"Int. J. Behav. Med."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"450","DOI":"10.1128\/jcm.35.2.450-454.1997","article-title":"Human babesiosis in Taiwan: Asymptomatic infection with a Babesia microti-like organism in a Taiwanese woman","volume":"35","author":"Shih","year":"1997","journal-title":"J. Clin. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"678","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph6020678","article-title":"Parasite zoonoses and wildlife: Emerging issues","volume":"6","author":"Thompson","year":"2009","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"221","DOI":"10.1080\/10408410902989837","article-title":"Rodent-borne diseases and their risks for public health","volume":"35","author":"Meerburg","year":"2009","journal-title":"Crit. Rev. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_17","first-page":"445","article-title":"Zoonotic risk of rodents in livestock production","volume":"131","author":"Meerburg","year":"2006","journal-title":"Tijdschr. Voor Diergeneeskd."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2067","DOI":"10.3201\/eid1012.040707","article-title":"Wildlife as source of zoonotic infections","volume":"10","author":"Kruse","year":"2004","journal-title":"Emerg. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"160498","DOI":"10.1098\/rsos.160498","article-title":"Bushmeat hunting and extinction risk to the world\u2019s mammals","volume":"3","author":"Ripple","year":"2016","journal-title":"R. Soc. Open Sci."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ordaz-Nemeth, I., Arandjelovic, M., Boesch, L., Gatiso, T., Grimes, T., Kuehl, H.S., Lormie, M., Stephens, C., Tweh, C., and Junker, J. (2017). The socio-economic drivers of bushmeat consumption during the West African Ebola crisis. PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis., 11.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0005450"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1168","DOI":"10.1126\/science.335.6073.1168-a","article-title":"Asian medicine: Exploitation of wildlife","volume":"335","author":"Meng","year":"2012","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"220","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biocon.2014.01.030","article-title":"Bat pest control contributes to food security in Thailand","volume":"171","author":"Wanger","year":"2014","journal-title":"Biol. Conserv."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"219","DOI":"10.20506\/rst.30.1.2035","article-title":"The spread of pathogens through trade in wildlife","volume":"30","author":"Travis","year":"2011","journal-title":"Rev. Sci. Tech."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e01457-18","DOI":"10.1128\/MRA.01457-18","article-title":"First Complete Genome Sequence of Human Coronavirus HKU1 from a Nonill Bat Guano Miner in Thailand","volume":"8","author":"Joyjinda","year":"2019","journal-title":"Microbiol. Resour. Announc."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bbrc.2020.10.028","article-title":"Biodiversity loss and COVID-19 pandemic: The role of bats in the origin and the spreading of the disease","volume":"538","author":"Platto","year":"2021","journal-title":"Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun."},{"key":"ref_26","first-page":"148","article-title":"Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with leptospirosis in dogs","volume":"37","author":"Meeyam","year":"2006","journal-title":"S. Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"948","DOI":"10.1111\/tbed.13110","article-title":"Leptospira infection and shedding in cats in Thailand","volume":"66","author":"Sprissler","year":"2018","journal-title":"Transbound. Emerg. Dis."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"146","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rvsc.2017.03.017","article-title":"Molecular detection and isolation of pathogenic Leptospira from asymptomatic humans, domestic animals and water sources in Nan province, a rural area of Thailand","volume":"115","author":"Kurilung","year":"2017","journal-title":"Res. Vet. Sci."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"497","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.13-0334","article-title":"Household characteristics associated with rodent presence and Leptospira infection in rural and urban communities from Southern Chile","volume":"90","author":"Mason","year":"2014","journal-title":"Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg."},{"key":"ref_30","first-page":"29941","article-title":"Bat consumption in Thailand","volume":"6","author":"Suwannarong","year":"2016","journal-title":"Infect. Ecol. Epidemiol."},{"key":"ref_31","first-page":"1209","article-title":"Rodent consumption in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand","volume":"45","author":"Suwannarong","year":"2014","journal-title":"S. Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Suwannarong, K., Chapman, R.S., Lantican, C., Michaelides, T., and Zimicki, S. (2015). Hunting, Food Preparation, and Consumption of Rodents in Lao PDR. PLoS ONE, 10.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0133150"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8542","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph110808542","article-title":"Human leptospirosis trends: Northeast Thailand, 2001\u20132012","volume":"11","author":"Thipmontree","year":"2014","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"784","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.14-0195","article-title":"Characteristics associated with contact with rodents in, around, and outside homes in khon kaen province, Thailand","volume":"92","author":"Suwannarong","year":"2015","journal-title":"Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Suwannarong, K., Chanabun, S., Kanthawee, P., Khiewkhern, S., Boonyakawee, P., Suwannarong, K., Saengkul, C., Bubpa, N., and Amonsin, A. (2020). Risk factors for bat contact and consumption behaviors in Thailand; a quantitative study. BMC Public Health, 20.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-020-08968-z"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"464","DOI":"10.1111\/zph.12833","article-title":"Coronavirus seroprevalence among villagers exposed to bats in Thailand","volume":"68","author":"Suwannarong","year":"2021","journal-title":"Zoonoses Public Health"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1609406917733847","DOI":"10.1177\/1609406917733847","article-title":"Thematic analysis: Striving to meet the trustworthiness criteria","volume":"16","author":"Nowell","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int. J. Qual. Methods"},{"key":"ref_38","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2003). Human Leptospirosis: Guidance for Diagnosis, Surveillance and Control, World Health Organization."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"233","DOI":"10.1007\/s10393-020-01478-9","article-title":"Gender Roles and One Health Risk Factors at the Human-Livestock-Wildlife Interface, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa","volume":"17","author":"Coyle","year":"2020","journal-title":"Ecohealth"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"661","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.1996.55.661","article-title":"Hunting of peridomestic rodents and consumption of their meat as possible risk factors for rodent-to-human transmission of Lassa virus in the Republic of Guinea","volume":"55","author":"Lukashevich","year":"1996","journal-title":"Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"630","DOI":"10.15252\/embr.201642306","article-title":"Rodent meat\u2014A sustainable way to feed the world? Using rodents as food has a long tradition in many parts of the world","volume":"17","author":"Gruber","year":"2016","journal-title":"EMBO Rep."},{"key":"ref_42","first-page":"11","article-title":"Importance of rodents as a human food source in Benin","volume":"135","author":"Assogbadjo","year":"2005","journal-title":"Belg. J. Zool."},{"key":"ref_43","first-page":"1","article-title":"A Cross-Sectional Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Toward Leptospirosis among Rural and Urban Population of a South Indian District","volume":"16","author":"Rathinam","year":"2019","journal-title":"Ocul. Immunol. Inflamm."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijid.2014.06.013","article-title":"Leptospirosis in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review","volume":"28","author":"Visser","year":"2014","journal-title":"Int. J. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chadsuthi, S., Bicout, D.J., Wiratsudakul, A., Suwancharoen, D., Petkanchanapong, W., Modchang, C., Triampo, W., Ratanakorn, P., and Chalvet-Monfray, K. (2017). Investigation on predominant Leptospira serovars and its distribution in humans and livestock in Thailand, 2010\u20132015. PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis., 11.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0005228"},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1682","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.17-0163","article-title":"Nationwide Seroprevalence of Leptospirosis among Young Thai Men, 2007\u20132008","volume":"97","author":"Gonwong","year":"2017","journal-title":"Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1495","DOI":"10.1292\/jvms.15-0493","article-title":"A nationwide survey of pathogenic leptospires in urine of cattle and buffaloes by Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method in Thailand, 2011\u20132013","volume":"78","author":"Suwancharoen","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Vet. Med. Sci."},{"key":"ref_48","first-page":"281","article-title":"Leptospirosis: An emerging health problem in Thailand","volume":"36","author":"Tangkanakul","year":"2005","journal-title":"S. Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_49","first-page":"277","article-title":"Serological study of hantavirus in the rodent population of Nakhon Pathom and Nakhon Ratchasima Provinces Thailand","volume":"31","author":"Nitatpattana","year":"2000","journal-title":"S. Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"204","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.2000.63.204","article-title":"Risk factors associated with leptospirosis in northeastern Thailand, 1998","volume":"63","author":"Tangkanakul","year":"2000","journal-title":"Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hinjoy, S., Kongyu, S., Doung-Ngern, P., Doungchawee, G., Colombe, S.D., Tsukayama, R., and Suwancharoen, D. (2019). Environmental and Behavioral Risk Factors for Severe Leptospirosis in Thailand. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis., 4.","DOI":"10.3390\/tropicalmed4020079"}],"container-title":["Veterinary Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2306-7381\/9\/2\/85\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T22:21:40Z","timestamp":1760134900000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2306-7381\/9\/2\/85"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,2,17]]},"references-count":51,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,2]]}},"alternative-id":["vetsci9020085"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/vetsci9020085","relation":{},"ISSN":["2306-7381"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2306-7381","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,2,17]]}}}