One health one world Congo project

The African continent is not immune to the global transformations that are taking place and it is very likely that environmental changes will lead to the emergence of infectious diseases. This is of particular concern in tropical Africa, a region with a great diversity of pathogens and considered an epidemiological hot spot.

Nevertheless, the infrequency of visitors and the low mobility of the inhabitants of some regions of Africa have preserved wildlife from environmental threats. An example of this is the Lossi Wildlife Reserve in the Republic of Congo. This reserve and its stands offer an excellent opportunity to study human health and the health of natural resources in an integrated way before changes occur. It also makes it possible to detect possible changes in advance and take preventive measures.

In March, an IRBIO team led by Jordi Serra-Cobo and José Domingo Rodriguez-Teijeiro started a One Health project in the Republic of Congo. The aim is to carry out a joint analysis of human health in the Lossi region and natural resources, taking into account environmental factors. The first field work is being carried out by Marc López-Roig and José Domingo Rodríguez-Teijeiro. Magdalena Bermejo, co-director of the project, is already in the field. The mission consists of prospecting caves used by mice to collect biological samples as well as samples of arthropods and micromammals (the main transmitters of diseases). The project is sponsored by the Barcelona Zoo Foundation and Sabine Plattner African Charities (SPAC), with the collaboration of the University of Brazzaville and health professionals from the region.