Lisa Cavalerie1,2, Maya Wardeh1,3, Ophélie Lebrasseur2,4, Mark Nanyingi1,5, K Marie McIntyre1,6, Mirgissa Kaba7, Daniel Asrat8, Robert Christley1,6, Gina Pinchbeck1, Matthew Baylis1,6, Siobhan M Mor1,2. 1. Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, United Kingdom. 2. International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 3. Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Peach Street, Liverpool, United Kingdom. 4. Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology; School of Histories, Language and Cultures, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom. 5. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Public Health, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya. 6. Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom. 7. School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 8. Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: One Health is particularly relevant to the Horn of Africa where many people's livelihoods are highly dependent on livestock and their shared environment. In this context, zoonoses may have a dramatic impact on both human and animal health, but also on country economies. This scoping review aimed to characterise and evaluate the nature of zoonotic disease research in the Horn region. Specifically, it addressed the following questions: (i) what specific zoonotic diseases have been prioritised for research, (ii) what data have been reported (human, animal or environment), (iii) what methods have been applied, and (iv) who has been doing the research? METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We used keyword combinations to search online databases for peer-reviewed papers and theses. Screening and data extraction (disease, country, domain and method) was performed using DistillerSR. A total of 2055 studies focusing on seven countries and over 60 zoonoses were included. Brucellosis attracted the highest attention in terms of research while anthrax, Q fever and leptospirosis have been comparatively under-studied. Research efforts did not always align with zoonoses priorities identified at national levels. Despite zoonoses being a clear target for 'One Health' research, a very limited proportion of studies report data on the three domains of human, animal and environment. Descriptive and observational epidemiological studies were dominant and only a low proportion of publications were multidisciplinary. Finally, we found that a minority of international collaborations were between Global South countries with a high proportion of authors having affiliations from outside the Horn of Africa. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: There is a growing interest in zoonoses research in the Horn of Africa. Recommendations arising from this scoping review include: (i) ensuring zoonoses research aligns with national and global research agendas; (ii) encouraging researchers to adopt a holistic, transdisciplinary One Health approach following high quality reporting standards (COHERE, PRISMA, etc.); and (iii) empowering local researchers supported by regional and international partnerships to engage in zoonoses research.
BACKGROUND: One Health is particularly relevant to the Horn of Africa where many people's livelihoods are highly dependent on livestock and their shared environment. In this context, zoonoses may have a dramatic impact on both human and animal health, but also on country economies. This scoping review aimed to characterise and evaluate the nature of zoonotic disease research in the Horn region. Specifically, it addressed the following questions: (i) what specific zoonotic diseases have been prioritised for research, (ii) what data have been reported (human, animal or environment), (iii) what methods have been applied, and (iv) who has been doing the research? METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We used keyword combinations to search online databases for peer-reviewed papers and theses. Screening and data extraction (disease, country, domain and method) was performed using DistillerSR. A total of 2055 studies focusing on seven countries and over 60 zoonoses were included. Brucellosis attracted the highest attention in terms of research while anthrax, Q fever and leptospirosis have been comparatively under-studied. Research efforts did not always align with zoonoses priorities identified at national levels. Despite zoonoses being a clear target for 'One Health' research, a very limited proportion of studies report data on the three domains of human, animal and environment. Descriptive and observational epidemiological studies were dominant and only a low proportion of publications were multidisciplinary. Finally, we found that a minority of international collaborations were between Global South countries with a high proportion of authors having affiliations from outside the Horn of Africa. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: There is a growing interest in zoonoses research in the Horn of Africa. Recommendations arising from this scoping review include: (i) ensuring zoonoses research aligns with national and global research agendas; (ii) encouraging researchers to adopt a holistic, transdisciplinary One Health approach following high quality reporting standards (COHERE, PRISMA, etc.); and (iii) empowering local researchers supported by regional and international partnerships to engage in zoonoses research.
Authors: Leonard Nderitu; John S Lee; Jared Omolo; Sylvia Omulo; Monica L O'Guinn; Allen Hightower; Fausta Mosha; Mohamed Mohamed; Peninah Munyua; Zipporah Nganga; Kelli Hiett; Bruce Seal; Daniel R Feikin; Robert F Breiman; M Kariuki Njenga Journal: J Infect Dis Date: 2010-12-14 Impact factor: 5.226
Authors: B Sibhat; B Molla Zewde; A Zerihun; A Muckle; L Cole; P Boerlin; E Wilkie; A Perets; K Mistry; W A Gebreyes Journal: Zoonoses Public Health Date: 2011-03 Impact factor: 2.702
Authors: James A G Whitworth; Gilbert Kokwaro; Samson Kinyanjui; Valerie A Snewin; Marcel Tanner; Mark Walport; Nelson Sewankambo Journal: Lancet Date: 2008-11-01 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Martin Wainaina; David Attuy Vey da Silva; Ian Dohoo; Anne Mayer-Scholl; Kristina Roesel; Dirk Hofreuter; Uwe Roesler; Johanna Lindahl; Bernard Bett; Sascha Al Dahouk Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2022-01-24