Zoonotic Disease Outbreaks Research Articles

One Health approach and zoonotic diseases in Indonesia: Urgency of implementation and challenges.

The urgency of implementing the One Health approach to overcome zoonotic diseases cannot be overstated. By recognizing the interconnectedness of human health, animal health, and the environment, we can effectively prevent and respond to emerging infectious disease threats. This review article provides information on the importance of generating research on zoonotic diseases, especially in Indonesia, where research is still relatively scarce. The Indonesian government has taken steps to implement the One Health by establishing the One Health Coordinating Unit and the National Zoonosis Committee; however, implementation has not been optimal. The urgency and challenges are focused on critical implementation aspects in the community. The urgency of implementing One Health includes that Indonesia has experienced several outbreaks of zoonotic diseases; high environmental degradation; and the antimicrobial resistance issue in Indonesia has increased. The challenges faced in implementing One Health are overcoming fragmentation due to incohesive communication between important sectors, securing funding and resource investment, aligning policies to eliminate regulation barriers, capacity building to increase awareness and professionals, and addressing critical socioeconomic factors. By prioritizing implementing the One Health approach and addressing existing challenges, Indonesia can build a more resilient and integrated system to protect the well-being of all species, protect ecosystems, and prevent the devastating effects of zoonotic diseases on global health. In this review, we present the urgency of One Health implementation and its challenges comprehensively.

Hotspots of zoonotic disease risk from wildlife hunting and trade in the tropics

AbstractWildlife hunting and trade creates numerous direct human–animal contact opportunities that can facilitate transmission of zoonotic diseases pantropically. Yet, there is a lack of knowledge of which species and areas have a high risk of zoonotic disease spillover due to wildlife hunting and trade. We combined maps of hunting pressure, recent data sets on human‐shared pathogens, and trade volumes for 614 mammalian host species to map zoonotic disease risk from wildlife hunting and trade pantropically. We also assessed the relationship between zoonotic disease risk from hunting and probability of emerging zoonotic diseases using generalised least square regression. We identified hotspots of zoonotic disease risk from hunting in central America, China, and central Africa. When considering wildlife trade frequency, high risk occurs in southern Africa and China. Zoonotic disease risk from wildlife hunting aligns significantly with the risk of zoonotic emerging infectious diseases, suggesting that hunting is a key driver of zoonotic disease outbreaks of pandemic potential. Interventions that regulate the hunting of host species and considers the socioeconomic motivations behind hunting could reduce the risk of zoonotic disease spillover.

Mentorship of the next generation of One Health workers through experiential learning: A case of students of Makerere University

Abstract Multiple zoonotic disease outbreaks occurred in Uganda over the past two decades and have needed operationalization of the One Health (OH) Approach to respond effectively. Between 2016 and 2018, the African One Health University Network (AFROHUN) supported 61 students (25 females, 36 males) to join multisectoral and multidisciplinary government national and district task force disease response teams. The goal of joining these teams was to build and strengthen the students’ disease investigation and response skills in real time using a One Health approach. Qualitative methods were used to collect student and partner responses on their field experiences. The AFROHUN project identified the experiential knowledge and skills that the students gained. Student project reports were reviewed by the joint technical teams from the university and the national/district task forces. These included training materials and disease outbreak investigation and response reports. Partnerships and collaboration between the university One Health networks and the government enabled 35 graduate and 26 undergraduate students to receive joint mentorship from the national or district task force outbreak response teams. Most participants were from degree programs in Public Health, Epidemiology, Environmental Health, Veterinary, Wildlife Sciences, and Infectious Disease Management, while few students were from social sciences. Students were mentored in seven competency-based areas of disease management: (1) biorisk management, (2) community engagement and coordination, (3) epidemiology, (4) leadership, (5) outbreak investigation and response, (6) risk communication, and (7) surveillance. In conclusion, zoonotic outbreaks provided real-life learning opportunities for students in disease outbreak investigation and response using a multidisciplinary and multisectoral approach. The identified skills can be incorporated into educational materials such as curricula and present an ideal opportunity to build partnerships for workforce development. One Health impact statement The next generation of One Health workers, those capable of working across sectors and disciplines to improve the health of animals, humans, plants, and the environment, need soft and technical skills to guarantee optimal preparedness, prevention, and response to disease outbreaks and understand the animal to human transmission dynamics of disease. In countries where emerging, re-emerging, and endemic zoonoses and hemorrhagic fevers are prevalent, it is crucial to provide these real-life or experiential training opportunities for university students, working closely in multidisciplinary teams. The “real-time” joint mentorship by the government’s multidisciplinary and multisectoral outbreak response teams, during disease outbreaks, provides an opportunity to build and strengthen student skills in biorisk management, community engagement and coordination, epidemiology, leadership, outbreak investigation and response, risk communication, and surveillance.

A Cost–Benefit Analysis of Preparing National Veterinary Services for Transboundary Animal Disease Emergencies

The natural, accidental, or deliberate release of pathogens into livestock populations carries with it a range of consequences for society, from zoonotic disease outbreaks, to changes in food security and economic welfare. An important contribution to mitigating the risk of disease outbreaks comes from having well-prepared emergency response plans and agencies with the capacity to put those plans into operation. In the case of animal disease, national Veterinary Services (VS) take a central role. Unknown and uncertain events, such as if, when and where the next disease outbreak will occur makes economic decision-making a challenge. While the costs of preparing for emergencies can be quantified in a conventional manner, the scope, scale, and likelihood of benefits actually accruing are all subject to uncertainty. This study attempts to examine the costs and benefits of preparing national VS for animal disease emergencies, including natural, accidental, or deliberate release of pathogens. Data collected as part of the World Organisation for Animal Health’s Performance of VS program for countries in East and West Africa and South East Asia were used for estimating investment costs. A state-contingent approach is used to constrain the uncertainty space in terms of disease impact. The probability of a disease event occurring and the probability of that event being contained by emergency preparation are used to describe a frontier at which investment breaks-even in a variety of scenarios. An increased probability of breaking-even on investment was found with high livestock numbers per capita and increasing intensification in livestock production systems. The method and findings provide a means to understand the benefits of preparing for uncertain events and are aimed to further the dialogue around policy development for livestock disease emergencies in lower-income countries.

Recombinase Polymerase Amplification-Based Biosensors for Rapid Zoonoses Screening.

Recent, outbreaks of new emergency zoonotic diseases have prompted an urgent need to develop fast, accurate, and portable screening assays for pathogen infections. Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) is sensitive and specific and can be conducted at a constant low temperature with a short response time, making it especially suitable for on-site screening and making it a powerful tool for preventing or controlling the spread of zoonoses. This review summarizes the design principles of RPA-based biosensors as well as various signal output or readout technologies involved in fluorescence detection, lateral flow assays, enzymatic catalytic reactions, spectroscopic techniques, electrochemical techniques, chemiluminescence, nanopore sequencing technologies, microfluidic digital RPA, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated systems. The current status and prospects of the application of RPA-based biosensors in zoonoses screening are highlighted. RPA-based biosensors demonstrate the advantages of rapid response, easy-to-read result output, and easy implementation for on-site detection, enabling development toward greater portability, automation, and miniaturization. Although there are still problems such as high cost with unstable signal output, RPA-based biosensors are increasingly becoming one of the most important means of on-site pathogen screening in complex samples involving environmental, water, food, animal, and human samples for controlling the spread of zoonotic diseases.

Leptospirosis and the Environment: A Review and Future Directions.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of global importance with significant morbidity and mortality. However, the disease is frequently overlooked and underdiagnosed, leading to uncertainty of the true scale and severity of the disease. A neglected tropical disease, leptospirosis disproportionately impacts disadvantaged socioeconomic communities most vulnerable to outbreaks of zoonotic disease, due to contact with infectious animals and contaminated soils and waters. With growing evidence that Leptospira survives, persists, and reproduces in the environment, this paper reviews the current understanding of the pathogen in the environment and highlights the unknowns that are most important for future study. Through a systematic Boolean review of the literature, our study finds that detailed field-based study of Leptospira prevalence, survival, and transmission in natural waters and soils is lacking from the current literature. This review identified a strong need for assessment of physical characteristics and biogeochemical processes that support long-term viability of Leptospira in the environment followed by epidemiological assessment of the transmission and movement of the same strains of Leptospira in the present wildlife and livestock as the first steps in improving our understanding of the environmental stage of the leptospirosis transmission cycle.

Control of emerging and re-emerging zoonotic and vector-borne diseases in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Despite improvements in the detection and control of infectious diseases, many new pathogens are emerging and re-emerging in various parts of the world. Most of these emerging and re-emerging infections are of zoonotic origin, which highlights the importance of the human–animal interface. Similarly, the rate of vector-borne diseases has increased recently due to changes in human habitats, climate change, deforestation, changes in food production practices, and increased population movement. The risk of spread of these zoonotic and vector-borne diseases is higher in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) of the World Health Organization due to its topography and geopolitical situation, fragile health systems, complex humanitarian emergencies, and, in some countries, other socioeconomic risk factors. Many countries in the region have reported outbreaks of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases over the last few decades, and some of these diseases have spread to other WHO regions as well. Avian influenza A (H5N1) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) are among the greatest threats to global health security and both viruses are endemic in the EMR. Countries in the EMR have made significant progress toward the control of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases in recent years, and prevention, preparedness, and response capacities have been improved. However, there are still many challenges associated with the control of these diseases in the EMR, particularly in countries facing humanitarian emergencies. In this paper, we present the current situation of emerging and re-emerging infections in the EMR and discuss progress, challenges, and ways forward.

Contribution of the one health approach to strengthening health security in Uganda: a case study

BackgroundThe One Health approach is key in implementing International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) and the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA). Uganda is signatory to the IHR 2005 and in 2017, the country conducted a Joint External Evaluation (JEE) that guided development of the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) 2019–2023.AimThis study assessed the contribution of the One Health approach to strengthening health security in Uganda.MethodsA process evaluation between 25th September and 5th October 2020, using a mixed–methods case study. Participants were Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from government ministries, departments, agencies and implementing partners. Focus group discussions were conducted for five technical areas (workforce development, real-time surveillance, zoonotic diseases, national laboratory systems and emergency response operations), spanning 18 indicators and 96 activities. Funding and implementation status from the NAPHS launch in August 2019 to October 2020 was assessed with a One Health lens.ResultsFull funding was available for 36.5% of activities while 40.6% were partially funded and 22.9% were not funded at all. Majority (65%) of the activities were still in progress, whereas 8.6% were fully implemented and14.2% were not yet done. In workforce development, several multisectoral trainings were conducted including the frontline public health fellowship program, the One Health fellowship and residency program, advanced field epidemiology training program, in-service veterinary trainings and 21 district One Health teams’ trainings. Real Time Surveillance was achieved through incorporating animal health events reporting in the electronic integrated disease surveillance and response platform. The national and ten regional veterinary laboratories were assessed for capacity to conduct zoonotic disease diagnostics, two of which were integrated into the national specimen referral and transportation network. Multisectoral planning for emergency response and the actual response to prioritized zoonotic disease outbreaks was done jointly.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the contribution of ‘One Health’ implementation in strengthening Uganda’s health security. Investment in the funding gaps will reinforce Uganda’s health security to achieve the IHR 2005. Future studies could examine the impacts and cost-effectiveness of One Health in curbing prioritized zoonotic disease outbreaks.

Advances of Nanotechnology Toward Vaccine Development Against Animal Infectious Diseases

AbstractVaccines are the most effective means of controlling infectious diseases. Increasingly epidemics have driven the development of vaccines for human use. However, insufficient attention has been paid to preventing animal epidemics. The spread of animal epidemics directly affects food and nutritional safety, the economy, and outbreaks of zoonotic diseases, which can eventually threaten human health. Reducing safety risks, saving production costs, adapting to mass vaccination, and improving immunogenicity are important that must be considered in animal vaccines. Nanotechnology in vaccine development provides unique advantages in meeting these challenges, both at in vitro preparation and in vivo immune response levels. In terms of in vitro vaccine formulation, nanoparticles offer the possibility to provide multiple antigen display sites, maintain antigen conformation, and improve vaccine stability, which facilitates the development of vaccines with enhanced immunogenicity and thermal stability. In terms of in vivo vaccine‐induced immunity, nanoparticles show superior immunostimulatory activity which facilitates multiple immune response processes, including antigen delivery, cellular uptake, antigen presentation, and lymphocyte activation, thus markedly augmenting vaccine‐mediated immune responses. Herein, the application of nanotechnology to vaccine development and the characteristics of animal vaccines are reviewed, aiming to provide general guidelines for the design of future vaccines against animal infectious diseases and promote harmonious coexistence of humans and animals.

Promoting landscapes with a low zoonotic disease risk through forest restoration: The need for comprehensive guidelines

Abstract Zoonotic diseases represent 75% of emerging infectious diseases worldwide, and their emergence is mainly attributed to human‐driven changes in landscapes. Land use change, especially the conversion of natural areas to agricultural use, has the potential to impact hosts and vector dynamics, affecting pathogen transmission risk. While these links are becoming better understood, very few studies have investigated the opposite question—how native vegetation restoration affects zoonotic disease outbreaks. We reviewed the existing evidence linking native vegetation restoration with zoonotic transmission risk, identified knowledge gaps, and, by focusing on tropical areas, proposed forest restoration strategies that could help in limiting the spread of zoonotic diseases. We identified a large gap in information on the effects of native vegetation restoration on zoonotic diseases, especially within tropical regions. In addition, the few studies that exist do not consider environmental aspects that can affect the outcomes of restoration on disease risk, such as the land use history and landscape structural characteristics (as composition and configuration of native habitats). Our conceptual framework raises two important points: (1) the effects of forest restoration may depend on the context of the existing landscape, especially the percentage of native vegetation existing at the beginning of the restoration; and (2) these effects will also be dependent on the spatial arrangement of the restored area within the existing landscape. Furthermore, we propose important topics to be studied in the coming years to integrate zoonotic disease risk as a criterion in restoration planning. Synthesis and application. Our results contribute to a more comprehensive forest restoration planning, comprising multiple ecosystem services and resulting in healthier landscapes for both people and nature. Our framework could be integrated into the post‐2020 global biodiversity framework targets.

One Health early warning and response system for zoonotic diseases outbreaks: Emphasis on the involvement of grassroots actors.

Emerging and reemerging zoonotic diseases have become a global concern due to their frequent occurrence. Large delays between onset of emerging zoonotic disease outbreaks and their reporting and control are indicative of weak animal and human health systems. The objective of this paper is to tackle the time delay by suggesting a One Health Early Warning and Response System (OH-EWRS) aiming at improving the surveillance and notification of zoonotic diseases by strengthening 'bottom-up' approaches and systems for early detection, especially in hot spot areas where they emerge. In this conceptual paper, we searched online database including PubMed, Google and Google Scholar to explore the scientific landscape for zoonotic diseases and One Health Early Warning and Response Systems published in English up to December, 2020. In addition, the authors made use of their own expertise and critically reviewed the retrieved papers that were found to be of relevance as the three authors are experts in their own fields, coming from different backgrounds, but are all working to improve the prevention and control of zoonotic disease outbreak. The OH-EWRS advocates for collaboration between relevant stakeholders including nongovernmental organisations, country offices of international and intergovernmental technical organisations, governmental bodies, research institutes, the private sector and local communities with the aim of an integrated One Health prevention and control system. The OH-EWRS considers various priorities and objectives of the different stakeholders, taking into account possible conflict of interests and considering the need for trust, transparency and mutual benefits. Although the operationalisation, governance and institutionalisation of the OH-EWRS should be the responsibility of government bodies, inputs from and feedback to relevant stakeholders through a bottom-up and top-down approach are essential elements for the application of the successful operationalisation of a OH-EWRS.

A multi-country One Health foodborne outbreak simulation exercise: cross-sectoral cooperation, data sharing and communication.

The awareness of scientists and policy makers regarding the requirement for an integrated One Health (OH) approach in responding to zoonoses has increased in recent years. However, there remains an overall inertia in relation to the implementation of practical cross-sector collaborations. Foodborne outbreaks of zoonotic diseases continue to affect the European population despite stringent regulations, evidencing the requirement for better 'prevent, detect and response' strategies. Response exercises play an essential role in the improvement of crisis management plans, providing the opportunity to test practical intervention methodologies in a controlled environment. The One Health European Joint Programme simulation exercise (OHEJP SimEx) aimed at practicing the OH capacity and interoperability across public health, animal health and food safety sectors in a challenging outbreak scenario. The OHEJP SimEx was delivered through a sequence of scripts covering the different stages of a Salmonella outbreak investigation at a national level, involving both the human food chain and the raw pet feed industry. A total of 255 participants from 11 European countries (Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, the Netherlands) took part in national level two-day exercises during 2022. National evaluations identified common recommendations to countries aiming to improve their OH structure to establish formal communication channels between sectors, implement a common data sharing platform, harmonize laboratory procedures, and reinforce inter-laboratory networks within countries. The large proportion of participants (94%) indicated significant interest in pursuing a OH approach and desire to work more closely with other sectors. The OHEJP SimEx outcomes will assist policy makers in implementing a harmonized approach to cross-sector health-related topics, by highlighting the benefits of cooperation, identifying gaps in the current strategies and suggesting actions required to better address foodborne outbreaks. Furthermore, we summarize recommendations for future OH simulation exercises, which are essential to continually test, challenge and improve national OH strategies.

New locality and host records of mites and ticks (Chelicerata: Acari) parasitizing lizards of Morocco

The aim of this study was to investigate the parasitic relationships of mites and ticks infesting lizards in Morocco and their determinant factors. A total of 1498 lizards representing 27 species, 8 families and 18 genera were randomly captured and examined in their natural habitats. The overall prevalence of ectoparasite infestation was 22.4%, with a mean intensity of 14.5 (95% CI: 12.2 – 16.8). Four families of Acari (Chelicerata) were identified: Ixodidae, Macronyssidae, Pterygosomatidae, and Trombiculidae, with eleven new host records and new data on geographical distributions. Trombiculid mites were the most prevalent (17.2%), followed by the Pterygosomatidae (4.1%), the Ixodidae (1.5%), and the Macronyssidae (0.4%). Nevertheless, Macronyssids showed the highest mean intensity 31.7 (14.3 – 54.2), followed by the Pterygosomatidae 22.0 (16.2 – 30.5), the Trombiculidae 12.7 (10.9 – 14.8), and the Ixodidae 1.7 (1.3 – 2.2). In total, nine species of parasites were found, and co-infestations were recorded on three lizard species. Ixodid prevalence and intensity were significantly related to altitude and host species, whereas Macronyssid prevalence and intensity were associated with host age and altitude. Ectoparasite intensity was associated with lizard sex for all mite families, with males carrying heavier loads than females, while prevalence was related to sex only for Pterygosomatid and Trombiculid mites. Season was important for Macronyssid and Trombiculid infestation intensity. Finally, host characteristics (species, size, age class), along with altitude, were determinant factors for infestation prevalence and intensities in Pterygosomatid and Trombiculid mites. The Ixodidae and Macronyssidae were mainly attached to the ventral side of hosts, whereas the Trombiculidae and Pterygosomatidae were attached to different parts of the host body with aggregations in skin folds. This updated information should prove useful for modeling biodiversity and predicting zoonotic disease outbreaks.

Review on important diseases of Dogs: At glance

Dogs are one of the most accepted pet animals in every household. Increasing urbanization and modernization of human life has created a space where people are living in nuclear family or alone. This has created peoples’ perception and acceptance of having pet for companionship. Human- dog interaction and close livelihood confinement emerge as crucial threat of outbreaks of zoonotic disease even a dog’s diseases. To prevent and control diseases of dogs, it requires proper knowledge of vaccination, education of pet health management and pets’ diseases. Therefore, the current review is on describing dog diseases like, Rabies, Canine Parvoviral gastroenteritis, Canine Distemper, Canine Coronaviral infection, Canine Rotavirus infection, Canine Herpesvirus infection, Canine Leptospirosis, Canine Brucellosis, Transmissible venereal tumors (TVT), Kennel cough, Pyoderma at glance which provides concise information regarding the causative agents and other relevant details.

Assessing Behavioral Risk Factors Driving Zoonotic Spillover Among High-risk Populations in Myanmar.

The increasing global emergence of zoonoses warrants improved awareness of activities that predispose vulnerable communities to greater risk of disease. Zoonotic disease outbreaks regularly occur within Myanmar and at its borders partly due to insufficient knowledge of behavioral risks, hindering participatory surveillance and reporting. This study employed a behavioral surveillance strategy among high-risk populations to understand the behavioral risks for zoonotic disease transmission in an effort to identify risk factors for pathogen spillover. To explore behavioral mechanisms of spillover in Myanmar, we aimed to: (1) evaluate the details around animal contact and types of interaction, (2) assess the association between self-reported unusual symptoms (i.e., any illness or sickness that is not known or recognized in the community or diagnosed by medical providers) and animal contact activities and (3) identify the potential risk factors including behavioral practices of self-reported illness. Participants were enrolled at two community sites: Hpa-An and Hmawbi in Southern Myanmar. A behavioral questionnaire was administered to understand participants' animal exposures, behaviors and self-reported illnesses. From these responses, associations between (1) animal contact activities and self-reported unusual illnesses, and (2) potential risk factors and self-reported unusual illness were tested. Contact with poultry seemed to be very frequent (91.1%) and many participants reported raising, handling and having poultry in their houses as well as slaughtering or being scratched/bitten by them, followed by contact with rodents (57.8%) and swine (17.9%). Compared to participants who did not have any unusual symptoms, participants who had unusual symptoms in the past year were more likely to have sold dead animals (OR = 13.6, 95% CI 6.8-27.2), slaughtered (OR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.7-3.3), raised (OR = 3.4, 95% CI 2.3-5.0) or handled animals (OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.2-3.6), and had eaten sick (OR = 4.4, 95% CI 3.0-6.4) and/or dead animals (OR = 6.0, 95% CI 4.1-8.8) in the same year. Odds of having reported unusual symptoms was higher among those involved in animal production business (OR = 3.4, 95% CI 1.9-6.2) and animal-involved livelihoods (OR = 3.3, 95% CI 1.5-7.2) compared to other livelihoods. The results suggest that there is a high level of interaction between humans, livestock and wild animals in communities we investigated in Myanmar. The study highlights the specific high-risk behaviors as they relate to animal contact and demographic risk factors for zoonotic spillover. Our findings contribute to human behavioral data needed to develop targeted interventions to prevent zoonotic disease transmission at human-animal interfaces.

Making Food Safer in Palestine: A One Health Approach to Antimicrobial Resistance

A One Health and transdisciplinary perspective, considering human-animal-environmental interfaces, is central to food safety as it embeds food production systems in their environmental, socio-economic, and public health context. Compared to frameworks that solely concentrate on specific aspects of food safety, integrated One Health approaches add value to improve human, animal, and environmental health. According to the World Health Organization, preventative measures that have been implemented to lower the prevalence of Campylobacter in live poultry have been linked to a corresponding drop in human cases. This highlights the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation and demonstrates how the complex socio-ecological system interacts. One Health pays particular attention to the interaction of food security, human health, and environmental sustainability rather than removing food systems from their context. This case study tries to find a critical methodology to foster food safety by better understanding the zoonotic foodborne illnesses transmission and their resistance to antimicrobials in socio-ecological systems like in Palestine. This project recommends urgently building a national surveillance system in Palestine to efficiently and sustainably monitor and manage zoonotic disease outbreaks, the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and other health threats. It is essential to regularly gather and assess samples from humans, animals, foods, and the environment to check for zoonotic pathogens and their levels of antimicrobial resistance.© The Authors 2023

Propagating Visions of a Forest Reservoir: A Supposed Zoonotic Outbreak in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana

ABSTRACT When examined closely, the backgrounds of some of the most widely cited origin stories for zoonotic disease outbreaks have been found to be irreconcilable with empirical data. Stated simply, these explanatory landscapes do not appear to have existed. Here, I present a detailed case study of one such fictional landscape, that of a monkey-filled forest which was identified as the source of a suspected zoonotic outbreak in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana in 2010. Taking my approach from cultural epidemiology, I elucidate the mechanisms by which this fictional landscape was constructed and transmitted among the professionals involved in the response.

The Role of Sub-National Leaders Implementing the One Health Approach

Successful public health interventions using the One Health (OH) approach require the broad committed collaboration of individuals, institutions and technical and policy organizations from all sectors of society. In many communities, city and district mayors (sub-national leaders) directly control the administrative functions that serve the well-being of their constituents and are important stakeholders in setting and implementing priorities and mobilizing local capacities, resources and concrete action. A multisectoral and transdisciplinary team composed of the Indonesian Ministries of Health, Home and Agriculture and the Association of All Health Offices; the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union); the University of Western Ontario, Canada and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) convinced this established consortium of mayors, the Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT), to join forces and adopt and implement a One Health workshop with fellow Asia Pacific regional city and district mayors and decision-makers in preparation for the November 2022 G20 meeting in Indonesia. The main objective of this workshop was to highlight the pivotal, practical role mayors play in advocacy, action and accountability for current and future diseases at the human-animal-environment interface using the OH approach. The workshop was conducted on 2 June, 2022, with 2544 (1577 on zoom and 967 on YouTube) people attending this virtual event from 16 countries and 431 cities. An overwhelming majority of participants agreed that the OH approach can prevent outbreaks of zoonotic diseases. The mayors committed by signing a political declaration that addressed local challenges through the implementation of local strategies based on international standards using the OH approach. Activities were formulated and initiated to prevent the risks of future disease outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics caused by zoonotic diseases.© The Authors 2023

How Antimicrobial Resistance Is Linked to Climate Change: An Overview of Two Intertwined Global Challenges.

Globally, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and climate change (CC) are two of the top health emergencies, and can be considered as two interlinked public health priorities. The complex commonalities between AMR and CC should be deeply investigated in a One Health perspective. Here, we provided an overview of the current knowledge about the relationship between AMR and CC. Overall, the studies included pointed out the need for applying a systemic approach to planetary health. Firstly, CC increasingly brings humans and animals into contact, leading to outbreaks of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases with pandemic potential. Although it is well-established that antimicrobial use in human, animal and environmental sectors is one of the main drivers of AMR, the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating the current scenario, by influencing the use of antibiotics, personal protective equipment, and biocides. This also results in higher concentrations of contaminants (e.g., microplastics) in natural water bodies, which cannot be completely removed from wastewater treatment plants, and which could sustain the AMR spread. Our overview underlined the lack of studies on the direct relationship between AMR and CC, and encouraged further research to investigate the multiple aspects involved, and its effect on human health.

The relationship of land tenure, land use and land cover changes in Lake Victoria basin

Water basins characterise both physical and social environmental aspects such as land tenure. As such, the basins extend beyond spatial units of physical resources and human relations analysis to policy research and reform units. The comprehensive view of water basins in research goes along with an observed increase in anthropogenic-driven changes, such as land use and land cover changes, and cases of ineffective remedial measures to the adverse change, such as through applying integrated watershed management approaches. The human-induced land cover changes affect the water basin’s biodiversity, for instance, contributing to an increase in zoonotic disease outbreaks like coronaviruses. The Lake Victoria basin exhibits similar patterns of change and effects due to, among other factors, land tenure, whose contribution is less known empirically. Therefore, this paper integrates satellite imagery and catchment survey data to examine the relationship between land tenure and land uses and land cover changes in the Lake Victoria basin of Eastern Africa.Additionally, explore the contextual character and role of three land tenure systems of Customary, Native freehold and Mailo found in the Uganda country segment of the basin in explaining the outcomes. The aim is to provide information that, among other benefits, improves water basin management and governance. The results indicate a statistically significant relationship exists between the perceived extent of land use and land cover change; drivers of change; the extent of adopting sustainable land-use practices, and the prevailing land tenure. Though with different tenure systems, the three case study water catchments experienced adverse land use and cover changes. The changes mainly affected land tenure indicative land use and cover classes, prominently on the Customary, Mailo, and Native freehold land tenure systems. However, marginal differences occur among the land tenure systems, as the systems feature both de jure and de facto systems and an orientation towards customary tenure characters. The situation likely explains the observed closeness in perceptions regarding the role and relationship between land tenure and land use and cover changes, tenure systems character, perceived drivers of change and eventual outcomes, including the sustainable land use practices adoption. In addition to explaining the land use and cover change, land tenure is an essential tool for restoration and sustainable basin development and sustainability. We, thus, recommend land tenure responsiveness in water basin management approaches for sustainable societal development.