Introduction: Campylobacter causes more cases of diarrhoea than Salmonella and pork is considered as a potential source of Campylobacter infection after poultry. This study aims to assess the butchers’ knowledge and hygienic condition of slaughter slabs and retail pork shops of Chitwan district, Nepal focusing campylobacteriosis risk factors. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted from September-2012 to December-2012. Three sets of semi-structured questionnaires were formed each for slaughter slabs, retail pork shops and pork handlers focusing on butchers’ knowledge and hygienic status of pig meat shops. Each of the workers (n=40) of 10 different pork meat shops were interviewed. Results: Sixty-five percent of the pork handlers were aware about pork borne disease but none of them had heard about campylobacteriosis. Chilling practice was adopted only in 16.7% of the slaughter slabs. None of them had separate dirty section. Only 30% of the pork handlers wore apron regularly. None of them wore gloves and masks and 40% even did not wash hands regularly before and after pork handling. The hygienic practices like sanitation of equipments and regular washing of hands were significantly associated (p<0.05) with level of education. Conclusions: Hygienic condition of pig meat shops of Chitwan is poor which exposes workers as well as meat consumers at risk for campylobacteriosis and other meat borne diseases. Since education was found to affect hygienic practices, awareness generation program focusing pig borne zoonotic diseases seems necessary together with trainings on hygienic meat production and selling techniques. DOI: http://doi.dx.org/10.3126/ijim.v2i1.8004 Int J Infect Microbiol 2013;2(1):17-21

INTRODUCTION: Considering the close association of dog and human beings and increasing trend of pet rearing, it is important to know the status of zoonotic helminths of pet and stray dogs and awareness of owners about this in Kathmandu, Nepal. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal zoonotic helminth parasites in dogs and to assess the awareness about canine helminth zoonoses in pet owners. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from September- 2012 to December- 2013. A total of 210 fecal samples (105 each from pet and stray dogs) were collected perrectally and examined by using Formalin-Ether Concentration method. Questionnaire survey was carried out among dog owners. RESULTS: The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths was 46.7% (98/210). Out of 98 positive samples five different parasite species observed were Ancylostoma spp. 52.0% (51/98), Toxocara canis 41.8% (41/98), Taenia/Echinococcus spp. 15/98 (15.3%), Dipylidium caninum, 9.2% (9/98), and Trichuris vulpis, 5.1% (5/98). Prevalence was higher in stray dogs (56.2% vs. 37.1%) (p<0.05); in females (51.6% vs. 39.8%) (p>0.05); in younger dogs up to 2 years of age (56.3% vs. 35.7%) (p<0.05); in non-dewormed dogs (72.7% vs. 33.0%) (p<0.05) and in dogs sharing rooms with owner (46.1% vs. 13.8%) (p<0.05). Only 11.4% of the owners surveyed were aware about canine helminth zoonoses. CONCLUSIONS: Due to potential risk of zoonotic helminths to human beings and low level of zoonoses awareness in pet owners, there is need of generating awareness to pet owners regarding periodic anthelminthic treatment of pet dogs and other prevention and control measures. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijim.v2i3.8211 Int J Infect Microbiol 2013;2(3):91-94