{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,16]],"date-time":"2026-04-16T18:33:53Z","timestamp":1776364433921,"version":"3.51.2"},"reference-count":38,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,1]],"date-time":"2023-11-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1698796800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)","award":["UIDP\/00772\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDP\/00772\/2020"]}]},{"name":"the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)","award":["LA\/P\/0059\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["LA\/P\/0059\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Zoonotic Diseases"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The microbiological contamination of wild boar meat depends on the hygiene practices that hunters apply during its preparation, from the point of collection to its refrigeration. This study assesses Portuguese hunters\u2019 knowledge of hygiene practices when handling wild boar carcasses that can jeopardise meat safety. A general structured survey entitled \u201cPrivate consumption of game meat and good hygiene practices\u201d was distributed to Portuguese hunters. Of the 206 respondents, 95% use wild boar meat for private consumption without prior inspection or initial examination by a veterinarian. This study also revealed that the vast majority of respondents have several risky practices that can compromise the safety of wild boar meat consumed (evisceration, handling, refrigeration, and transport). It is also evident that there is a lack of knowledge related to recognising lesions compatible with zoonotic infections in the hunted animals. These inappropriate knowledge and practices can pose a risk to hunters (occupational zoonotic health) and consumers (foodborne diseases). To reduce this risk, hunters need to be trained and informed about proper game meat handling practices.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/zoonoticdis3040025","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,1]],"date-time":"2023-11-01T11:51:43Z","timestamp":1698839503000},"page":"307-315","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Hygiene Knowledge and Practices of Portuguese Hunters Using Wild Boar Meat for Private Consumption"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"3","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1040-2842","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana Carolina","family":"Abrantes","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes e Alto Douro University (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Jo\u00e3o","family":"Canotilho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Reprovet\u2014Servi\u00e7os Veterin\u00e1rios, 6300-749 Guarda, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8588-7071","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Madalena","family":"Vieira-Pinto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes e Alto Douro University (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"},{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes e Alto Douro University (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"},{"name":"AL4AnimalS\u2014Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Niewiadomska, K., Kosicka-G\u0119bska, M., G\u0119bski, J., Gutkowska, K., Je\u017cewska-Zychowicz, M., and Su\u0142ek, M. 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