One health research in Northern Tanzania – challenges and progress

East Africa has one of the world’s fastest growing human populations—many of whom are dependent on livestock—as well as some of the world’s largest wildlife populations. Humans, livestock, and wildlife often interact closely, intimately linking human, animal, and environmental health. The concept of One Health captures this interconnectedness, including the social structures and beliefs driving interactions between species and their environments. East African policymakers and researchers are recognising and encouraging One Health research, with both groups increasingly playing a leading role in this subject area. One Health research requires interaction between scientists from different disciplines, such as the biological and social sciences and human and veterinary medicine. Different disciplines draw on norms, methodologies, and terminologies that have evolved within their respective institutions and that may be distinct from or in conflict with one another. These differences impact interdisciplinary research, both around theoretical and methodological approaches and during project operationalisation. We present experiential knowledge gained from numerous ongoing projects in northern Tanzania, including those dealing with bacterial zoonoses associated with febrile illness, foodborne disease, and anthrax. We use the examples to illustrate differences between and within social and biological sciences and between industrialised and traditional societies, for example, with regard to consenting procedures or the ethical treatment of animals. We describe challenges encountered in ethical approval processes, consenting procedures, and field and laboratory logistics and offer suggestions for improvement. While considerable investment of time in sensitisation, communication, and collaboration is needed to overcome interdisciplinary challenges inherent in One Health research, this can yield great rewards in paving the way for successful implementation of One Health projects. Furthermore, continued investment in African institutions and scientists will strengthen the role of East Africa as a world leader in One Health research

Molecular detection and genetic characterization of coxiella burnetii and bartonella spp infections in small mammals from Moshi, Northern Tanzania

A dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Life Sciences of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologyZoonotic pathogens, including Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella species, are known causes of febrile illness globally; however, knowledge on their animal hosts is still limited in many countries including Tanzania. This study aimed to: 1) determine the presence and prevalence of C. burnetii and Bartonella spp in small mammal; 2) identify risk factors for C. burnetii and Bartonella infection in small mammals; and 3) characterize the Bartonella genotypes present in small mammals and their fleas. Spleen samples were tested for the presence of C. burnetii (n=382) and Bartonella spp (n=381) DNA. Overall, 12 (3.1%) of 382 (95% CI: 1.6-5.4) spleens from small mammal tested were positive for C. burnetii DNA. Coxiella burnetii DNA was detected in five (71.4%) of seven (95% CI: 29.0-96.3) small mammal species; Rattus rattus (n=7), Mus musculus (n=1), Acomys wilsoni (n=2), Paraxerus flavovottis (n=1) and Atelerix albiventris (n=1). Eleven (91.7%) of twelve (95% CI: 61.5-99.8) C. burnetii DNA positive were trapped within Moshi Urban District. Overall, 57 (15.0%) of 381 (95% CI: 11.3-18.5) small mammal spleens tested positive for Bartonella DNA. Bartonella DNA was detected in three species (R. rattus n = 54, M. natalensis n = 2 and P. flavovottis n = 1) using qPCR targeting the ssrA gene. Analysis of R. rattus species only for risk of Bartonella infection indicated that Bartonella infection was more likely in reproductively mature as compared to immature small mammal (OR = 3.42, p<0.001). Multiple Bartonella genotypes closely related to known zoonotic Bartonella species were identified in the tested small mammals and fleas. These findings demonstrate that small mammal in Moshi, are hosts of C. burnetii and Bartonella spp and may act as a source of these pathogens to humans and animals. Further studies covering broad range of potential hosts should be considered in order to understand the distribution of these pathogens in other animals. Efforts are needed to determine the clinical impact of C. burnetii and Bartonella infection in humans. Further studies are needed to fully characterize the prevalence, genotypes and diversity of Bartonella spp and C. burnetii in different host populations and their potential impacts on human health

Molecular detection and genetic characterization of Bartonella species from rodents and their associated ectoparasites from northern Tanzania

Three excel files that include rodent, flea and genotype level data (as indicated in file names). These together provide the source data for the work presented in the paper