A review of wildlife tourism and meta-analysis of parasitism in Africa's national parks and game reserves

Potential zoonotic pathogens hosted by endangered bonobos

Few publications, often limited to one specific pathogen, have studied bonobos (Pan paniscus), our closest living relatives, as possible reservoirs of certain human infectious agents. Here, 91 stool samples from semicaptive bonobos and bonobos reintroduced in the wild, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, were screened for different infectious agents: viruses, bacteria and parasites. We showed the presence of potentially zoonotic viral, bacterial or parasitic agents in stool samples, sometimes coinfecting the same individuals. A high prevalence of Human mastadenoviruses (HAdV-C, HAdV-B, HAdV-E) was observed. Encephalomyocarditis viruses were identified in semicaptive bonobos, although identified genotypes were different from those identified in the previous fatal myocarditis epidemic at the same site in 2009. Non-pallidum Treponema spp. including symbiotic T. succinifaciens, T. berlinense and several potential new species with unknown pathogenicity were identified. We detected DNA of non-tuberculosis Mycobacterium spp., Acinetobacter spp., Salmonella spp. as well as pathogenic Leptospira interrogans. Zoonotic parasites such as Taenia solium and Strongyloides stercoralis were predominantly present in wild bonobos, while Giardia lamblia was found only in bonobos in contact with humans, suggesting a possible exchange. One third of bonobos carried Oesophagostomum spp., particularly zoonotic O. stephanostomum and O. bifurcum-like species, as well as other uncharacterized Nematoda. Trypanosoma theileri has been identified in semicaptive bonobos. Pathogens typically known to be transmitted sexually were not identified. We present here the results of a reasonably-sized screening study detecting DNA/RNA sequence evidence of potentially pathogenic viruses and microorganisms in bonobo based on a noninvasive sampling method (feces) and focused PCR diagnostics.

Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on mammals at tourism destinations: a systematic review

The COVID‐19 outbreak is having an unprecedented effect on human society, but how is it affecting the mammals that people live with? Mammals that were part of tourism experiences are of concern, because they impact on people’s health and livelihoods and, since many of them are now dependent on people, we urge consideration of the status of these mammals as a result of the pandemic.

We provide a systematic review of the impacts the COVID‐19 outbreak has had on mammals in tourism venues. We examine reports of diverse species in various settings responding to changes in their environments that are occurring because of the pandemic.

We searched the scholarly literature, preprints, and online news sources using combinations of the search terms ‘tourism’, ‘animals’, ‘wildlife’, ‘coronavirus’, and ‘COVID‐19’. We searched Web of Science, SCOPUS, EBSCOHost, JSTOR, bioRxiv, OSFPREPRINTS, GDELT, Google News, and National Public Radio, and analysed a total of 39 news articles, one peer‐reviewed article, and six preprints.

In total, we identified 92 distinct animal reports representing 48 mammal species. We used an existing tourism classification schema to categorise each article based on the situation reported, with the new addition of one context. We classified 92 separate animal reports in 46 articles into four (of six possible) contexts: mammals as attractions (n = 40 animal reports), mammals as commodities (n = 33), mammals as threats (n = 2), and unusual sightings of mammals (n = 17). Shortage of food, in danger of losing home, having an enriched/relaxed environment, spatial expansion, disease transmission, and poaching are the major impacts or events reported in these contexts.

We suggest changes for each context with respect to how people interface with mammals, with the goal of improving the lives of mammals and the people dependent on them.

Epidemiological dynamics and associated risk factors of S. haematobium in humans and its snail vectors in Nigeria: a meta-analysis (1983-2018)

Schistosoma haematobium, a major pathogen of urogenital schistosomiasis, has been reported to be affecting an estimated 30 million people in Nigeria. Current national estimates of S. haematobium and its cercariae, in humans and snail vectors respectively, are lacking in Nigeria, hence systematic meta-analyses were conducted to understand the disease dynamics in the endemic country over a period of 35 years based on publications from five databases (AJOL, Ovid MEDLINE, Google Scholar, PubMed and Web of Science). The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRIMSA) checklist were used as the standard guide for the analyses. The prevalence of S. haematobium in human hosts in Nigeria using quality effects model was 32.1% (27.3-37.2), while schistosome cercariae were observed at 3.5% (0.0-11.9), 18.2% (4.7-36.8) and 18.7% (0.0-46.1) and for B. forskalii, Bulinus globosus and B. truncatus, respectively. The high report of schistosome cercariae indicates the continuous transmission of S. haematobium in humans especially with individuals who have frequent contact with freshwater. Heterogeneity of subgroup analyses (regions, zones, sex, age groups, diagnostic techniques) and risk factors (pathological signs, occupation, water sources, anthropogenic activities, treatment) were determined. The result showed prevalence of an endemic moderate class infection that has been linked to several risk factors. Therefore, there is need for increased awareness on the prevalence, transmission routes and treatment strategies to mitigate the disease in this endemic area.

A meta-analysis of Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence, genotypes and risk factors among food animals in West African countries from public health perspectives

Toxoplasma gondii has been incriminated as an important opportunistic zoonotic protozoan parasite in food animals. A West African meta-analysis was conducted to assess the seroprevalence, genotypes and risk factors of T. gondii infection in food animals. Databases were searched electronically, considering T. gondii infection in cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and chickens. These were conducted to estimate overall pooled seroprevalence, confidence intervals at 95 % (CI) and heterogeneity using quality effects model. Qualitative data on risk factors to determine effects on human populace and possible control strategies were evaluated. Pooled seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies for food animals was 25.5 % (18.9-32.8); and for each animal namely cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and chickens were 16.3, 29.1, 18.1, 35.9 and 36.0 %, respectively. Most studied food animals were observed in Nigeria, while the highest seroprevalence was observed in examined goats from Republic of Benin, the lowest was in cattle from the same country. Substantial variability (Q = 2759.5; I² = 98.3; Qi = 17.3; df = 48) among studies and lack of publication bias (LFK index = -0.08) in overall assessment was observed. In spite of the high seroprevalence in food animals, awareness and research activities in most endemic West African countries is low. Failure to associate the common risk factors have limited the reliable estimation of T. gondii infection. Therefore, more efforts are needed in awareness campaign, management practises, careful treatment of contaminated environment with cat faeces, among other measures to assist in the prevention of T. gondii in food animals.

Infectious Disease Risk Across the Growing Human-Non Human Primate Interface: A Review of the Evidence

Most of the human pandemics reported to date can be classified as zoonoses. Among these, there is a long history of infectious diseases that have spread from non-human primates (NHP) to humans. For millennia, indigenous groups that depend on wildlife for their survival were exposed to the risk of NHP pathogens' transmission through animal hunting and wild meat consumption. Usually, exposure is of no consequence or is limited to mild infections. In rare situations, it can be more severe or even become a real public health concern. Since the emergence of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), nobody can ignore that an emerging infectious diseases (EID) might spread from NHP into the human population. In large parts of Central Africa and Asia, wildlife remains the primary source of meat and income for millions of people living in rural areas. However, in the past few decades the risk of exposure to an NHP pathogen has taken on a new dimension. Unprecedented breaking down of natural barriers between NHP and humans has increased exposure to health risks for a much larger population, including people living in urban areas. There are several reasons for this: (i) due to road development and massive destruction of ecosystems for agricultural needs, wildlife and humans come into contact more frequently; (ii) due to ecological awareness, many long distance travelers are in search of wildlife discovery, with a particular fascination for African great apes; (iii) due to the attraction for ancient temples and mystical practices, others travelers visit Asian places colonized by NHP. In each case, there is a risk of pathogen transmission through a bite or another route of infection. Beside the individual risk of contracting a pathogen, there is also the possibility of starting a new pandemic. This article reviews the known cases of NHP pathogens' transmission to humans whether they are hunters, travelers, ecotourists, veterinarians, or scientists working on NHP. Although pathogen transmission is supposed to be a rare outcome, Rabies virus, Herpes B virus, Monkeypox virus, Ebola virus, or Yellow fever virus infections are of greater concern and require quick countermeasures from public health professionals.

Epidemiology of Cryptosporidium infection in different hosts in Nigeria: A meta-analysis

Cryptosporidium is a medical and veterinary significant protozoan parasite that infects all classes of vertebrates. Environmental contamination with infective oocyst increases the risk of transmission to susceptible host. Estimates of Cryptosporidium prevalence in humans and animals are lacking in Nigeria, therefore a systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to understand the epidemiology of the disease over a period of 30 years using publications from EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE, Web of Science, AJOL and Google Scholar databases. Studies that met the inclusion criteria of Cryptosporidium infections under the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) checklist were analysed. Point estimates prevalence and subgroup analyses based on potential risk factors and diagnostic techniques were evaluated at 95% confidence interval (CI). A total of 64 eligible studies published between 1987 and 2017 were selected for meta-analysis. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection using quality effects model among human, cattle, sheep, goat, pigs, laboratory animals and birds was estimated as 15.0, 26.1, 16.6, 26.0, 20.1, 9.0 and 7.2%, respectively. The high report of C. parvum subtype family IIc indicates the importance of anthroponotic transmission of Cryptosporidium in Nigeria. Heterogeneity of subgroup (regions, species) and risk factors (HIV status, age, gender, faecal type) analyses were determined. The pooled prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in different hosts were high and linked with several risk factors such as environmental contamination and animal contact. There is need for increased awareness on the prevalence of the disease to provide strategies that mitigate the disease in humans and animals.