a ILRI Health of Animals, People and Ecosystems theme outputs (2025–)
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Item Ambient environmental conditions and active outdoor play in the context of climate change: A systematic review and meta-synthesis(Journal Article, 2025) Lee, E.-Y.; Park, S.; Kim, Y.-B.; Liu, H.; Mistry, P.; Nguyen, K.; Oh, Y.; James, M.E.; Lam, Steven; Lannoy, L. de; Larouche, R.; Manyanga, T.; Morrison, S.A.; Prince, S.A.; Ross-White, A.; Vanderloo, L.M.; Wachira, L.-J.; Tremblay, M.S.Background: Ambient environmental conditions, both influenced by and contribute to climate change, is affecting many aspects of daily life, including active and playful lifestyle activities. This systematic review and qualitative synthesis investigated the association(s) between ambient environmental conditions and active outdoor play across the lifespan. Methods: Seven databases were used to identify studies measuring ambient environmental conditions (meteorological conditions, atmospheric pressure, land-use/environmental factors) and its associations (null, favorable, unfavorable) with active outdoor play. Narrative synthesis and meta-synthesis were performed. Results: Results across 44 studies encompassed 74,423 individuals, 530,142 observations/counts, and 2,029 households. 91% of studies were derived from high-income countries. The average duration of active outdoor play varied by age groups of early years (0–5 years,133.2 min/day), children (6–12 years, 153.2 min/day), adults (18–64 years, 97.2 min/day), and older adults (65+ years, 47.1 min/day). Meteorological (null), atmospheric (unfavorable), and land-use/environmental (unfavorable) factors were associated with active outdoor play (n = 33 studies). Three studies indicated the potential negative impact of active outdoor play on the environment (unfavorable). Grounded in social-ecological resilience theory, deductive coding was applied to categorize outdoor type, play type, impact of climate change on active outdoor play or vice versa, adaptation, and resilience. Conclusion: This review provides a comprehensive overview of current evidence on associations between ambient environmental conditions and active outdoor play in the context of climate change. The findings offer insights into how a changing climate may influence opportunities for active outdoor play and inform strategies to promote resilient outdoor play practices.Item Village chickens can strengthen community resilience in the face of insecurity and climate change in Burkina Faso(Abstract, 2025-03-12) Dione, Michel M.; Ilboudo, Guy; Ouedraogo, Brice; Ima, S.A.; Kagambèga, A.; Ganser, C.; Boz, Z.; Knight-Jones, Theodore J.D.; Alders, R.In countries like Burkina Faso where climate change and political insecurity are causing displacement of communities to safer areas, village chickens are commonly raised by rural households. Indigenous chickens are well-adapted to local conditions due to their heat tolerance, ability to scavenge when access to feed is limited, and the relative ease of transport to market or to relocate during instability. Chicken production is a potential avenue to strengthen community resilience. To assess the roles and production practices for chickens in the communities, we carried out focus group discussions with 98 men and 99 females in 10 villages and a household survey in 483 chicken keeping households across 23 villages in Boussouma commune, a typical rural setting in Burkina Faso. Results show that the chicken production system is mainly extensive scavenging. The mean size of flocks was 42 birds (min= 1 bird, max=155 birds). However, most farmers (81%) keep 5 to 50 birds with little or no supplementary feeding and rudimentary housing. Seventy-six percent of farmers said that the main reason for keeping chicken is for sale to generate household income; a few indicated they kept chicken for household consumption (9%), and even fewer for egg consumption (2%). There is a significant association between the purpose of chicken keeping and the farmer’s main income generating activity. Most revenue from chicken sales is spent on household health (29%), food (21%) and education (20%). While men spent more revenue from chicken production on agriculture and household equipment, women spent more on food for the household, education and medical expenses. Chicken ownership is not restricted by gender and sex; however, women are more involved in the day-to-day flock husbandry with limited decision-making on chicken sales. Most producers indicated that Newcastle disease (ND) is the main cause of chicken mortality, with 59% of farmers saying their birds had been affected by disease compatible with ND in the three months prior to the survey. Poor or absence of adequate chicken housing, poor feeding and limited access to veterinary services were cited as key challenges. Village chicken plays a major role in strengthening resilience for communities that face high poverty with fragile production systems due to recurrent drought, heat stress and insecurity. This is largely through low-input, flexible means of household income generation, yet this could be greatly enhanced. With locally adapted interventions that employ a One Health approach, production of village chicken has the potential to secure and greatly improve smallholder livelihoods and household food security, while preserving public health in Burkina Faso.Item Gaps and opportunities for data systems and economics to support priority setting for climate-sensitive infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa: A rapid scoping review(Journal Article, 2025-06-11) Delight, E.A.; Brunn, A.A.; Ruiz, F.; Gerard, J.; Falconer, J.; Liu, Y.; Bah, B.; Bett, Bernard K.; Uzochukwu, B.; Oloko, O.K.; Njuguna, E.; Murray, K.A.Climate change alters risks associated with climate-sensitive infectious diseases (CSIDs) with pandemic potential. This poses additional threats to already vulnerable populations, further amplified by social factors such as gender inequalities. Currently, critical evidence gaps, along with inadequate institutional and governance mechanisms, hinder African states’ ability to prevent, detect and respond to CSIDs. Effective responses require transparent and evidence-based decision-making processes, supported by fit-for-purpose data systems and robust economic analyses. The aim of this study was to explore the role of data systems and economics in priority setting for CSID pandemic preparedness in sub-Saharan Africa. We conducted a rapid scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A literature search was performed across six bibliographic databases in November 2023. A list of 14 target CSIDs was produced, informed by the World Health Organization’s Public Health Emergencies of International Concern and R&D Blueprint Pathogen lists, and a database of CSIDs. Studies were included if published between 2010 and 2023, were relevant to sub-Saharan Africa, pandemic preparedness, and a target CSID, and applied or assessed economic evaluations or data systems. Extracted data were synthesised using bibliometric analysis, topic categorisation, and a narrative synthesis including the application of a gender lens. We identified 68 relevant studies. Data system studies (n = 50) showed broad coverage across target CSIDs and the WHO AFRO region but also a high degree of heterogeneity, which may indicate a lack of clearly defined standards or research priorities. Economic studies (n = 18) primarily focused on COVID-19 or Ebola and mostly originated from South Africa. Both data system and economic studies identified limited interoperability across sectors and showed a notable absence of gendered considerations. These gaps present important opportunities to strengthen priority setting during pandemics and may contribute to improved and equitable health outcomes.Item Using the microbiota to study connectivity at human–animal interfaces(Journal Article, 2025) Muloi, Dishon M.; Caron, Alexandre; Berkley, J.A.; Hassell, James M.; Brito, I.L.; King, K.; Moodley, Arshnee; Fèvre, Eric M.Interfaces between humans, livestock, and wildlife, mediated by the environment, are critical points for the transmission and emergence of infectious pathogens and call for leveraging the One Health approach to understanding disease transmission. Current research on pathogen transmission often focuses on single-pathogen systems, providing a limited understanding of the broader microbial interactions occurring at these interfaces. In this review, we make a case for the study of host-associated microbiota for understanding connectivity between host populations at human–animal interfaces. First, we emphasize the need to understand changes in microbiota composition dynamics from interspecies contact. Then, we explore the potential for microbiota monitoring at such interfaces as a predictive tool for infectious disease transmission and as an early-warning system to inform public health interventions. We discuss the methodological challenges and gaps in knowledge in analyzing microbiota composition dynamics, the functional meaning of these changes, and how to establish causality between microbiota changes and health outcomes. We posit that integrating microbiota science with social-ecological systems modeling is essential for advancing our ability to manage health risks and harness opportunities arising from interspecies interactions.Item Developing a food safety consumer experience scale: Qualitative insights from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Vietnam(Journal Article, 2025-05-29) Isanovic, S.; Alonso, Silvia; Frongillo, E.A.; Parvin, A.; Gazu, Lina; Phuong H. Nguyen; Leroy, J.L.Objectives: Unsafe food contributes to 600 million cases of foodborne illness and 420,000 deaths annually. Existing methods used to evaluate food safety risks overlook consumers’ perspectives coming from their everyday experiences that influence their food choices. Our objective was to develop a cross-culturally appropriate and user-friendly scale to assess consumers’ experiences related to food safety in low- and middle-income countries. This study identified the constructs that constitute the experiences of food safety that the scale should reflect. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with urban households in Bangladesh (n=51), Ethiopia (n=50), and Vietnam (n=41). Eligible households had children aged 2–5 years and members serving as primary food purchasers, preparers, and caregivers. Interviews explored attitudes, perceptions, and lived experiences related to food safety. Data were analyzed using a constant comparative method. Results: Respondents expressed awareness of biological and chemical contaminants in foods. Concerns about chemical additives and food adulteration were common, fueled by beliefs that these hazards cause chronic illnesses. Personal and familial experiences with foodborne illness reinforced caution when buying foods. Religious and cultural beliefs shaped how respondents explained and responded to food safety concerns, with some attributing illness symptoms to spiritual causes. Trust in food vendors was rooted in reputation, visible cleanliness, and willingness to rectify issues (e.g., exchange items). Respondents differentiated their extent of scrutinizing safety based on food type: staples such as rice and pulses were assessed more by vendor credibility, whereas perishables such as fish and meat underwent direct, detailed inspections. Low transparency in food sourcing and how vendors prepared foods were persistent concerns. Conclusions: Trust, perceived transparency, risk perceptions, and past incidents shaped consumers’ mental representations and behaviors related to food safety. Interviews underscored the centrality of context and sensory-based quality indicators, suggesting that scenario-based assessments are more appropriate than generic risk-reduction items.Item Eating wild meat carries serious health risks—why it still happens along the Kenya-Tanzania border(Blog Post, 2025-06-08) Patel, Ekta; Fa, J.E.Item Vietnam Food Safety Working Group E-bulletin, 7 June 2025(Newsletter, 2025-06-07) Food Safety Technical Working Group in VietnamItem Economic burden of foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks on farmers and national economies(Presentation, 2025-06-03) Knight-Jones, Theodore J.D.; Jemberu, Wudu T.; Rushton, J.Item Farm-level livestock loss and risk factors in Ethiopian livestock production systems(Journal Article, 2025-06-03) Yin Li; Jemberu, Wudu T.; Mayberry, D.This study aims to explore farm-level losses of cattle, goats and sheep and relevant risk factors in the mixed crop-livestock and pastoral production systems in Ethiopia. Data from 1,528 cattle farms, 868 goat farms and 749 sheep farms, spanning the year 2018/19, were analysed in this study. A farm was defined as a case farm if it lost at least one cattle/goat/sheep in the past 12 months. The 12-month incidence of livestock loss was calculated for each region and production system. Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess risk factors contributing to livestock loss in the farms. Forty-five percent of goat farms, 36% of sheep farms and 23% of cattle farms reported losing at least one animal in the past 12 months. Cattle loss in the pastoral system was associated with not using vaccines (Odds Ratio = 7, P < 0.01). In the mixed crop-livestock system cattle loss was associated with the absence of a roofed house (Odds Ratio = 1.40, P < 0.05). Risk factors for goat loss in the mixed crop-livestock system were selling live goats in the past 12 months (Odds Ratio = 1.58, P < 0.05). For sheep loss in the pastoral system, the identified risk factor was having cattle on farm (Odds Ratio = 2.40, P < 0.05). These findings provide valuable insights into the scale and the drivers of livestock loss within the major cattle and small ruminants production systems in Ethiopia.Item Preventing the next pandemic: One Health researcher calls for urgent action(Blog Post, 2025-06-03) Hung Nguyen-VietItem Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus transmission among smallholder pig farms in Western Uganda(Journal Article, 2025-09) Niwandinda, E.; Hasahya, Emmanuel; Bugenyi, A.W.; Bogere, P.; Byaruhanga, J.; Alarcón, P.; Kirunda, H.; Heo, J.; Masembe, C.Pig production is a rapidly growing sector in Uganda, especially among smallholder farmers to whom it provides a vital source of income. However, the burden of productivity-limiting diseases such as Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) poses a significant challenge. This is exacerbated by the paucity of information on the occurrence of these pathogens within the country, highlighting the need to study their transmission dynamics for effective control. Here, we modelled the transmission of PRRS in western Uganda and evaluated its control under strategies targeting closure of biosecurity gaps related to practices such as equipment sharing, free ranging, boar sharing, farm visits, and restocking. We used data from 398 pig-farming households to assess husbandry practices, and to estimate contact rates and distances for simulating the spread of PRRS among the 44,125 farms in the study area. Biosecurity measures were found to be low among pig farms in the region, with only 0.8% of them keeping their entire herd confined all-year round, limiting access to unauthorized persons, and using disinfectants. Under the current state of biosecurity, a PRRS outbreak would result in 17. 57% of the pig farms in the region being infected within two years, with the medium and large-scale smallholder farms being most affected. The outbreak would persist beyond 2 years (with a 67.80% likelihood), stabilizing around 700 days post-introduction; reaching a prevalence of 5.15%; and with a median of 17 farms being infected daily during this endemic phase. However, eliminating visitor traffic could entirely halt PRRS spread, while eliminating risks associated with boar sharing, restocking, and scavenging would lead to reductions of 99.85%, 99.44%, and 40.67%, respectively. Furthermore, even a moderate adoption of improved biosecurity measures related to farm visits or boar sharing, could significantly reduce the effects of PRRS in the region. For instance, reducing the frequency of farm visits or boar sharing by 25% across all pig farms could reduce PRRS transmission by 99.61% or 73.95% respectively. This outcome could also be achieved through a targeted adoption rate of 50% within large-scale smallholder farms coupled with a 25% rate for medium-scaled ones. Our results highlight the necessity of promoting enhanced on-farm biosecurity practices in smallholder pig farms, given the challenges posed by productivity-limiting diseases such as PRRS, in Uganda’s rapidly growing piggery industry.Item Towards a one health approach to WASH to tackle zoonotic disease and promote health and wellbeing(Journal Article, 2025-05-29) Dickin, S.; Dagerskog, L.; Dione, Michel M.; Thomas, Lian F.; Arcilla, J.There is increasing awareness that exposure to animal faeces contributes to the global burden of diarrheal disease, as well as other zoonotic diseases. This recognition has prompted a re-evaluation of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions to address animal-related transmission pathways. However, current efforts focus primarily on animal faeces within household environments, neglecting other critical human-animal interactions that favour contamination such as animal handling. We advance growing efforts to link One Health and WASH from a risk perspective, reviewing implications for humans, animals, as well as the environment, which has been overlooked. We then discuss how a comprehensive OH-WASH approach can move beyond risks to also enable opportunities to promote health, equity, climate resilience, and other benefits. This framing offers possibilities to reduce disease transmission and enhance biosecurity, while addressing interconnected challenges facing low- and middle-income countries including food insecurity and agricultural livelihoods, animal health and welfare, and ecosystem degradation from excessive nutrients found in excreta.Item Monograph on indigenous chicken breeds/ecotypes in Vietnam(Report, 2025-05-30) Ngo Thi Kim Cuc; Esatu, Wondmeneh; Hoang Hai Hoa; Vu Chi Thien; Nguyen Cong Dinh; Ninh Thi Huyen; Tran Trung Thong; Pham Van Son; Ngo Thi Le Quyen; Unger, Fred; Dessie, TadelleSince mid-2021, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has partnered with the National Institute of Animal Sciences (NIAS) of Vietnam to conduct research on tropically adapted and high-performance chicken strains under both on-station and on-farm conditions in Vietnam. This collaboration is part of a larger initiative known as the Asian Chicken Genetic Gain (AsCGG) project, which is funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and is still ongoing. The project’s overarching goal is to provide smallholder poultry producers in Vietnam with improved chicken breeds better adapted to the tropical climate, thereby increasing their productivity and sustainability. Vietnam is home to a large genetic diversity of indigenous chickens that are well adapted to its various geographical locations. Indigenous chicken genetic improvement programs in the country have yielded promising results but need to emphasize the maintenance and sustainable use of this genetic diversity. This monograph is an output of the AsCGG project. It describes the Vietnamese indigenous chickens’ phenotypic and genetic characteristics, genetic attributes related to egg and meat production, adaptability of promising chicken ecotypes and their socio-economic contributions. This monograph can be used by researchers, breeders, PhD and master students, NGOs and other practitioners involved in supporting chicken genetic improvement for farmers in the chicken value chain and other actors. This monograph is expected to contribute to capacity building along the value chain, leading to improved chicken genetics. This will enable farmers to transition from backyard or semi-intensive farming to more intensive, market-oriented production, enhancing production, food security and livelihoods while benefiting the wider community and countries involved.Item Monograph on indigenous chicken ecotypes in Cambodia(Report, 2025-05-30) Esatu, Wondmeneh; Phem, M.; Hoa Hoang; Ty, C.; Tum, S.; Unger, Fred; Dessie, TadelleThis monograph describes the Cambodian indigenous chickens phenotypic and genetic characteristics, genetic attributes related to egg and meat production, adaptability of promising chicken ecotypes and their socioeconomic contribution. Cambodia is home to a large genetic diversity of indigenous chickens that are well adapted to its various geographical locations. Indigenous chicken genetic improvement programs in the country have yielded promising results but need to emphasize the maintenance and sustainable use of this genetic diversity. This monograph is an output of the Asian Chicken Genetic Gains (AsCGG) project. It describes the Cambodian indigenous chickens’ phenotypic and genetic characteristics, genetic attributes related to egg and meat production, adaptability of promising chicken ecotypes and their socio-economic contributions. This monograph can be used by researchers, breeders, PhD and master students, NGOs and other practitioners involved in supporting chicken genetic improvement for farmers in the chicken value chain and other actors. This monograph is expected to contribute to capacity building along the value chain, leading to improved chicken genetics. This will enable farmers to transition from backyard or semi-intensive farming to more intensive, market-oriented production, enhancing production, food security and livelihoods while benefiting the wider community and countries involved.Item Environmental risk factors associated with community diarrheal disease in Ethiopia(Journal Article, 2025-05-27) LaPolt, D.; Smith, S.; Gazu, Lina; Alonso, Silvia; Teshale, A.M.; Azmeraye, B.M.; Ayana, G.M.; Angaw, D.A.; Degefaw, D.; Garsow, A.V.; Beczkiewicz, A.; Yimer, G.; Krakowski, M.J.; Scharff, R.; Seyoum, E.T.; Kowalcyk, B.Background: Diarrhea is a major contributor to mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, where access to improved sanitation and clean water is limited. Identifying factors associated with diarrhea across geographical regions and age groups can inform resource allocation toward water infrastructure, healthcare, and disease mitigation. The objective of this study was to identify environmental risk factors associated with diarrhea in the general population across multiple communities in Ethiopia. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in three regions in Ethiopia from October 2021-October 2022. REDCAP mobile app was used to collect data during face-to-face interviews using a structured, pretested questionnaire. Descriptive statistics characterized household environmental exposures. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with diarrhea. Results: A total of 2,436 households participated in the study. Of these, 10.3% of households reported at least one case of diarrhea during the previous four weeks. Household animal ownership varied by site, with Addis Ababa reporting the lowest animal ownership and Harar reporting the highest ownership. Across all sites, pit latrines without covers were the most common sanitation facility. Water piped to yard was the most frequent source of drinking water and most households did not use treated water (boiled/filtered) when handling food. No environmental factors were associated with diarrhea in Addis Ababa. In Gondar, drinking water from unprotected wells was associated with increased odds of diarrhea [COR:4.81(95%CI:2.03,11.43)]. Dry season was associated with decreased odds of diarrhea compared to short [COR:0.42(95%CI:0.24,0.75)] and long rains seasons [COR:0.55(95%CI: 0.34,0.88)]. In Harar, drinking water from communal taps was associated with increased odds of diarrhea [COR:2.02(95%CI:1.32,3.09)]. Conclusion: Multiple environmental factors for diarrhea were identified. Given the variation in factors by site, strategies for intervention and management should be community-specific. These factors can be managed through improved water treatment, sanitation practices, and educational programs focused on proper hygiene. Efforts to manage these factors can potentially reduce the burden of diarrheal diseases.Item Spatial and temporal analysis of Rift Valley fever outbreaks in livestock in Uganda: a retrospective study from 2013 to 2022(Journal Article, 2025-05-26) Arinaitwe, E.; Atuhaire, D.K.; Hasahya, Emmanuel; Nakanjako, G.K.; Mwebe, R.; Nizeyimana, G.; Afayoa, M.; Mwiine, F.N.; Erume, J.Background: Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a zoonotic disease caused by the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), primarily affecting livestock and transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. First detected in Kenya in 1930, RVF has since spread across Africa, including Uganda, and to the Arabian Peninsula. Uganda reported its first human cases of RVF in 1968, with sporadic outbreaks continuing since the significant outbreak in 2016, particularly in regions with high livestock populations. Although RVFV was detected in mosquitoes in Uganda as early as 1944, the spatial and temporal distribution of RVF outbreaks has not been thoroughly documented. This study aimed to analyze trends in RVF outbreaks across Uganda from 2013 to 2022 to provide insights for effective control measures. A retrospective study was conducted utilizing archived RVF data from NADDEC, along with rainfall and temperature data from the Uganda Meteorological Centre. Maps were generated using QGIS software to illustrate the spatial distribution of RVF outbreaks. The distribution and trends were analyzed using the R programming language. Results: During the study period, RVF outbreaks were reported in 74.1% of districts surveyed, representing 27.2% of all districts nationwide. The overall RVF seropositivity among tested animals was found to be 13.02% [95% CI: 12.4–13.7%], with bovine exhibiting the highest RVF seropositivity among the commonly raised species, such as cattle, goats and sheep. The year 2017 recorded the highest RVF seropositivity at 19.6%. Notably, the central region had the highest RVF seropositivity at 17.7% [95% CI: 15.8–19.7%] while the eastern region recorded the lowest at 4.6%. Conclusion: This analysis provides crucial insights into the spatial and temporal patterns of RVF outbreaks in Uganda, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions, strengthened surveillance, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Despite significant number of studies on RVF outbreaks and prevalence over recent years, little is known about the virus’s maintenance mechanisms in the absence of visible outbreaks. Potential reservoirs, vector dynamics, and environmental factors that facilitate its survival and re-emergence remain poorly characterized. Addressing these gaps is critical to improving early warning systems, guiding targeted surveillance, and implementing effective control measures to mitigate future outbreaks.Item Impact of livestock vaccination in response to humanitarian crises in dryland pastoral areas: Preliminary findings(Presentation, 2025-05) Temesgen, WuduItem RESTORE: Introducing the project on restoration of livestock systems in drought and conflict affected areas of Ethiopia(Presentation, 2025-05) Gizaw, SolomonItem Operationalizing One Health in pastoralist settings: The HEAL project experience(Presentation, 2025-05) Lemma, MamushaItem Economic impact analysis of PPR—Global burden of animal diseases’ (GBADs’) approach(Presentation, 2025-05-12) Temesgen, Wudu; Knight-Jones, Theodore J.D.