An integrated One Health methodology to study Rift Valley fever, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever and brucellosis at the human-livestock-wildlife interface in Uganda
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Zoonotic diseases pose a significant public health challenge, with most emerging diseases originating from animal populations. In Uganda, Rift Valley fever (RVF), Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) and brucellosis are endemic, yet critical gaps remain in understanding their transmission dynamics, key vectors and reservoirs, environmental drivers, community knowledge and behaviours and the implementation of One Health policies. The Collaborative One Health Research Initiative on Epidemics-Uganda (COHRIE-Uganda) study developed an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to investigate these diseases across ecologically diverse areas characterised by intense human-livestock-wildlife interaction. The study methodology comprised sequential cross-sectional surveys combining quantitative and qualitative methods, involving community members, livestock, wildlife and vectors across six conservation areas in Uganda. Household surveys and blood sampling were obtained from 3018 individuals and 35 focus group discussions were conducted across 96 villages. 67 in-depth interviews with community leaders and 26 interviews with national policymakers were conducted to evaluate One Health policy implementation. Livestock practices were assessed through farmer questionnaires and blood sampling of 2199 cattle, 343 sheep, 78 pigs and 1582 goats. Invertebrate vector sampling was undertaken of 72,744 mosquitoes and 9273 ticks on livestock hosts with vertebrate host sampling of 612 small mammals. 233 large wildlife were sampled by blood and nasal swabs. Real-time monitoring and detection of zoonotic outbreaks was provided by 127 trained Community One Health Volunteers embedded at each site. COHRIE-Uganda presents a novel interdisciplinary methodology to study zoonotic disease, applying a One Health approach integrating molecular epidemiology, ecology, social sciences and community participatory methods involving humans, livestock, vectors, and wildlife to inform culturally sensitive zoonotic disease interventions.
Source: One Health
Authors: Dennison Kizito, Sam Tweed, Joseph Mutyaba, Nackson Babi, Swaib Abubaker Lule, Gladys Nakanjako Kiggundu, Rory Gibb, Charity Angella Nassuna, Ronald Ssali Ogwal, Ebenezer Paul, Mercy Haumba, Collins Agaba, Phiona Katushabe, Eric Morris Enyel, Stephen Balinandi, Lydia Franklinos, Naomi Fuller, Leah Owen, Elise Ringwaldt, Laura Ferguson, Deo Birungi Ndumu, Musa Sekamatte, Patrick Atimnedi, Luke Nyakarahuka, Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, Ibrahim Abubakar, Nigel Field, Janet Seeley, Julius Julian Lutwama
Institutions: Uganda Virus Research Institute, University College London, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Uganda Wildlife Authority, MRC University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, University of Southern California, Ministry of Health, Makerere University, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,080
Award: G7931076974
OpenAlex ID: W7214344604