Co-designing a cross-sectoral community-based zoonoses surveillance system in the wild meat value chain of Gabon
Abstract
Background: Approximately 60% of recently emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic, with over 70% originating from wildlife. These diseases have significant public health and economic impacts globally, as exemplified by the Ebola epidemics. Community-based surveillance is increasingly recognized as a corner-stone of early warning and prevention systems of zoonotic spillover. In sub-Saharan Africa, wildlife hunting is a vital livelihood activity for rural communities, positioning hunters as frontline observers of wildlife health and potential early indicators of zoonotic threats. Method: We designed and piloted a community-based zoonoses surveillance system in Ogooué-Lolo, eastern Gabon. The study utilized a participatory co-construction approach aimed at engaging all relevant stakeholders. It proceeded in three steps, namely (1) the assessment of existing actors, resources, and barriers relevant to zoonotic disease surveillance; (2) the co-design process of the pilot surveillance system involving community members and institutional stakeholders; and (3) the implementation of the pilot surveillance system. Results: The assessment phase revealed specific challenges related to zoonoses surveillance among involved actors, including unavailability of local animal health services, limited communication between communities and the administration, and limited knowledge of zoonotic risks and capacity to recognize disease suspicions among communities. A One Health approach relying on the collaboration of different sectors (public health, agriculture, and environmental services) was adopted in response, a research institute being responsible for training local actors in disease suspicion recognition and in conducting investigations and laboratory analyses. The pilot surveillance system successfully detected and managed 10 disease suspicions, demonstrating its operational feasibility. Discussion: We demonstrate the feasibility of early warning zoonotic disease surveillance in the challenging context of wild meat systems of Central Africa, using a community-based One Health approach. Further investment in community training, animal health expertise, and financial and material resources is needed to ensure sustainability and scalability of the system. Continued engagement of stakeholders at all levels will be critical to the long-term success of this One Health surveillance model.
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BibTeX
@article{tomo2026codesigning,
title = {{Co-designing a cross-sectoral community-based zoonoses surveillance system in the wild meat value chain of Gabon}},
author = {Natacha Efoua Tomo and Aude Pouliquen and Gilles Aurélien Boupana Mapeyi and Patrice Makouloutou-Nzassi and Berthe-Nadine N'Dilimabaka and Barthélémy Ngoubangoye and Serge Ely Dibakou and Roland Fabrice Kassa Kassa and Ivan Cyr Moussadji Kinga and Anicet Mouity Matoumba and Hélène Sisraëlla Lembanaka and Thierry Tsoumbou and Jenny Mathouet and Marie-Marie Olive and Daniel Cornelis and Sébastien Le Bel and Hadrien Pierre André Vanthomme and Marie-Isabelle Peyre and Gaël Darren Maganga and Alexis Delabouglise},
journal = {CABI One Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1079/cabionehealth.2026.0022},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05780037v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Co-designing a cross-sectoral community-based zoonoses surveillance system in the wild meat value chain of Gabon
AU - Natacha Efoua Tomo
AU - Aude Pouliquen
AU - Gilles Aurélien Boupana Mapeyi
AU - Patrice Makouloutou-Nzassi
AU - Berthe-Nadine N'Dilimabaka
AU - Barthélémy Ngoubangoye
AU - Serge Ely Dibakou
AU - Roland Fabrice Kassa Kassa
AU - Ivan Cyr Moussadji Kinga
AU - Anicet Mouity Matoumba
AU - Hélène Sisraëlla Lembanaka
AU - Thierry Tsoumbou
AU - Jenny Mathouet
AU - Marie-Marie Olive
AU - Daniel Cornelis
AU - Sébastien Le Bel
AU - Hadrien Pierre André Vanthomme
AU - Marie-Isabelle Peyre
AU - Gaël Darren Maganga
AU - Alexis Delabouglise
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/06
JO - CABI One Health
DO - 10.1079/cabionehealth.2026.0022
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05780037v1
AB - Background: Approximately 60% of recently emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic, with over 70% originating from wildlife. These diseases have significant public health and economic impacts globally, as exemplified by the Ebola epidemics. Community-based surveillance is increasingly recognized as a corner-stone of early warning and prevention systems of zoonotic spillover. In sub-Saharan Africa, wildlife hunting is a vital livelihood activity for rural communities, positioning hunters as frontline observers of wildlife health and potential early indicators of zoonotic threats. Method: We designed and piloted a community-based zoonoses surveillance system in Ogooué-Lolo, eastern Gabon. The study utilized a participatory co-construction approach aimed at engaging all relevant stakeholders. It proceeded in three steps, namely (1) the assessment of existing actors, resources, and barriers relevant to zoonotic disease surveillance; (2) the co-design process of the pilot surveillance system involving community members and institutional stakeholders; and (3) the implementation of the pilot surveillance system. Results: The assessment phase revealed specific challenges related to zoonoses surveillance among involved actors, including unavailability of local animal health services, limited communication between communities and the administration, and limited knowledge of zoonotic risks and capacity to recognize disease suspicions among communities. A One Health approach relying on the collaboration of different sectors (public health, agriculture, and environmental services) was adopted in response, a research institute being responsible for training local actors in disease suspicion recognition and in conducting investigations and laboratory analyses. The pilot surveillance system successfully detected and managed 10 disease suspicions, demonstrating its operational feasibility. Discussion: We demonstrate the feasibility of early warning zoonotic disease surveillance in the challenging context of wild meat systems of Central Africa, using a community-based One Health approach. Further investment in community training, animal health expertise, and financial and material resources is needed to ensure sustainability and scalability of the system. Continued engagement of stakeholders at all levels will be critical to the long-term success of this One Health surveillance model.
SN - 2791-223X
ER -