Community-Based Surveillance of Zoonotic Diseases in Nigeria: A Scoping Review of One Health Collaboration, Systems Leadership, and Implementation Gaps
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Nigeria has been recognised as a global hotspot for zoonotic diseases, with more than 60% of human infectious diseases being zoonotic in origin. Despite the adoption of One Health policies and frameworks, significant gaps persist in community-level surveillance, undermining early detection and response to zoonotic threats. This scoping review examines the evidence on community-based zoonotic disease surveillance in Nigeria, focusing on One Health collaboration, systems leadership, and implementation gaps. A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework. Systematic searches were performed across PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and institutional websites (NCDC, WHO Afro, FAO) for peer-reviewed literature, policy documents, and grey literature published between 2000 and 2026. Studies examining zoonotic disease surveillance, One Health collaboration, or community-based surveillance in Nigeria were included. Data extraction captured epidemiological indicators, surveillance system characteristics, stakeholder roles, identified gaps, and policy commitments. A systems leadership framework guided the analysis. Twenty-six documents met inclusion criteria: 14 peer-reviewed articles, 8 policy documents, and 4 technical reports. As of Epidemiological Week 26, 2026, Nigeria recorded 922 confirmed Lassa fever cases and 221 deaths (CFR 24.0%), with outbreaks spreading to 23 states. Rabies causes an estimated 1,000-2,000 human deaths annually, with children under 15 disproportionately affected. Stakeholder mapping revealed fragmented coordination across human health, animal health, and environmental sectors. Critical gaps identified include: (1) weak intersectoral coordination at local government levels; (2) inadequate community engagement and health promotion; (3) limited veterinary sector participation (only 3.6% of veterinarians demonstrated good IDSR practice); (4) fragmented data systems with limited interoperability; and (5) substantial under detection of zoonotic diseases, including evidence of silent mpox transmission. This scoping review reveals persistent implementation gaps between Nigeria's comprehensive One Health policy frameworks and community-level practice. Strengthening community-based zoonotic surveillance requires addressing structural, cultural, and institutional barriers through systems leadership approaches. Recommendations include establishing formalised One Health coordination mechanisms at local government levels, integrating community health and animal health workers into unified surveillance systems, investing in interoperable digital platforms, and implementing regular joint training programmes. Future research should examine the effectiveness of community-based participatory surveillance models and the political economy of intersectoral coordination in resource-constrained settings
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7207864579