Journal Articles
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Item Mpox: A case study for a one health approach to infectious disease prevention(Elsevier B V, Amsterdam, 2025-06) Hayman DTS; Koopmans MPG; Cunningham AA; Bukachi SA; Masirika LM; Markotter W; Mettenleiter TCMpox has been declared a global health emergency twice by the World Health Organization due to its impacts within and beyond Africa. Enzootic in Central and West African wildlife, mpox outbreaks have resulted from zoonotic spillover, with recent events revealing increased human-to-human transmission. Factors like population growth and environmental disruption, alongside reduced smallpox immunity, increase emergence risk. In addition, the emergence in South Kivu of a distinct subclade of mpox virus points at a currently understudied aspect of mpox virus lineages and their dynamics in reservoir hosts. A One Health approach—integrating human, animal, and environmental science—is essential for reducing the risk of mpox emergence. This approach should encompass ecological studies to understand putative reservoir population dynamics and the potential for interventions, reducing activities that increase human-animal contacts, respectful community engagement to reduce spillover risk from cultural practices (such as hunting multiple species of wildlife for consumption), and socially acceptable and equitable access to medical and non-medical countermeasures to prevent or control ongoing human-to-human transmission. Politically supported collaborative efforts across disciplines with involvement of stakeholders are critical to promote and strengthen socially and environmentally sustainable practices to mitigate future outbreaks.Item Ectoparasite and bacterial population genetics and community structure indicate extent of bat movement across an island chain.(Cambridge University Press, 2024-05-24) McKee CD; Peel AJ; Hayman DTS; Suu-Ire R; Ntiamoa-Baidu Y; Cunningham AA; Wood JLN; Webb CT; Kosoy MYFew studies have examined the genetic population structure of vector-borne microparasites in wildlife, making it unclear how much these systems can reveal about the movement of their associated hosts. This study examined the complex host-vector-microbe interactions in a system of bats, wingless ectoparasitic bat flies (Nycteribiidae), vector-borne microparasitic bacteria (Bartonella), and bacterial endosymbionts of flies (Enterobacterales) across an island chain in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa. Limited population structure was found in bat flies and Enterobacterales symbionts compared to that of their hosts. Significant isolation by distance was observed in the dissimilarity of Bartonella communities detected in flies from sampled populations of Eidolon helvum bats. These patterns indicate that, while genetic dispersal of bats between islands is limited, some nonreproductive movements may lead to the dispersal of ectoparasites and associated microbes. This study deepens our knowledge of the phylogeography of African fruit bats, their ectoparasites, and associated bacteria. The results presented could inform models of pathogen transmission in these bat populations and increase our theoretical understanding of community ecology in host-microbe systems.Item Prevention of zoonotic spillover: From relying on response to reducing the risk at source.(Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2023-10-05) Authored by the members of the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP); Markotter W; Mettenleiter TC; Adisasmito WB; Almuhairi S; Barton Behravesh C; Bilivogui P; Bukachi SA; Casas N; Cediel Becerra N; Charron DF; Chaudhary A; Ciacci Zanella JR; Cunningham AA; Dar O; Debnath N; Dungu B; Farag E; Gao GF; Hayman DTS; Khaitsa M; Koopmans MPG; Machalaba C; Mackenzie JS; Morand S; Smolenskiy V; Zhou L; Dvorin JDThe devastating impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on human health globally has prompted extensive discussions on how to better prepare for and safeguard against the next pandemic. Zoonotic spillover of pathogens from animals to humans is recognized as the predominant cause of emerging infectious diseases and as the primary cause of recent pandemics [1]. This spillover risk is increased by a range of factors (called drivers) that impact the nature, frequency, and intensity of contact between humans and wild animals. Many of these drivers are related to human impact, for example, deforestation and changes in land use and agricultural practices. While it is clear that the triad of prevention-preparedness-response (P-P-R) is highly relevant, there is much discussion on which of these 3 strategic activities in the field of emerging infectious disease should be prioritized and how to optimally target resources. For this, it is important to understand the scope of the respective activity and the consequences of prioritization.Item Developing One Health surveillance systems(Elsevier B.V., 2023-12-01) Hayman DTS; Adisasmito WB; Almuhairi S; Behravesh CB; Bilivogui P; Bukachi SA; Casas N; Becerra NC; Charron DF; Chaudhary A; Ciacci Zanella JR; Cunningham AA; Dar O; Debnath N; Dungu B; Farag E; Gao GF; Khaitsa M; Machalaba C; Mackenzie JS; Markotter W; Mettenleiter TC; Morand S; Smolenskiy V; Zhou L; Koopmans MThe health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the environment are inter-dependent. Global anthropogenic change is a key driver of disease emergence and spread and leads to biodiversity loss and ecosystem function degradation, which are themselves drivers of disease emergence. Pathogen spill-over events and subsequent disease outbreaks, including pandemics, in humans, animals and plants may arise when factors driving disease emergence and spread converge. One Health is an integrated approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize human, animal and ecosystem health. Conventional disease surveillance has been siloed by sectors, with separate systems addressing the health of humans, domestic animals, cultivated plants, wildlife and the environment. One Health surveillance should include integrated surveillance for known and unknown pathogens, but combined with this more traditional disease-based surveillance, it also must include surveillance of drivers of disease emergence to improve prevention and mitigation of spill-over events. Here, we outline such an approach, including the characteristics and components required to overcome barriers and to optimize an integrated One Health surveillance system.Item One Health: A new definition for a sustainable and healthy future(PLOS, 2022-06-23) One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP); Adisasmito WB; Almuhairi S; Behravesh CB; Bilivogui P; Bukachi SA; Casas N; Cediel Becerra N; Charron DF; Chaudhary A; Ciacci Zanella JR; Cunningham AA; Dar O; Debnath N; Dungu B; Farag E; Gao GF; Hayman DTS; Khaitsa M; Koopmans MPG; Machalaba C; Mackenzie JS; Markotter W; Mettenleiter TC; Morand S; Smolenskiy V; Zhou L; Dvorin JDItem Novel, potentially zoonotic paramyxoviruses from the African straw-colored fruit bat Eidolon helvum(American Society for Microbiology, 2013) Baker KS; Todd S; Marsh GA; Crameri G; Barr J; Kamins AO; Peel AJ; Yu M; Hayman DTS; Nadjm B; Mtove G; Amos B; Reyburn H; Nyarko E; Suu-Ire R; Murcia PR; Cunningham AA; Wood JLN; Wang L-FBats carry a variety of paramyxoviruses that impact human and domestic animal health when spillover occurs. Recent studies have shown a great diversity of paramyxoviruses in an urban-roosting population of straw-colored fruit bats in Ghana. Here, we investigate this further through virus isolation and describe two novel rubulaviruses: Achimota virus 1 (AchPV1) and Achimota virus 2 (AchPV2). The viruses form a phylogenetic cluster with each other and other bat-derived rubulaviruses, such as Tuhoko viruses, Menangle virus, and Tioman virus. We developed AchPV1- and AchPV2-specific serological assays and found evidence of infection with both viruses in Eidolon helvum across sub-Saharan Africa and on islands in the Gulf of Guinea. Longitudinal sampling of E. helvum indicates virus persistence within fruit bat populations and suggests spread of AchPVs via horizontal transmission. We also detected possible serological evidence of human infection with AchPV2 in Ghana and Tanzania. It is likely that clinically significant zoonotic spillover of chiropteran paramyxoviruses could be missed throughout much of Africa where health surveillance and diagnostics are poor and comorbidities, such as infection with HIV or Plasmodium sp., are common.Item Evidence of henipavirus infection in West African fruit bats(Public Library of Science, 2008) Hayman DTS; Suu-Ire R; Breed AC; McEachern JA; Wang L; Wood JLN; Cunningham AAHenipaviruses are emerging RNA viruses of fruit bat origin that can cause fatal encephalitis in man. Ghanaian fruit bats (megachiroptera) were tested for antibodies to henipaviruses. Using a Luminex multiplexed microsphere assay, antibodies were detected in sera of Eidolon helvum to both Nipah (39%, 95% confidence interval: 27-51%) and Hendra (22%, 95% CI: 11-33%) viruses. Virus neutralization tests further confirmed seropositivity for 30% (7/23) of Luminex positive serum samples. Our results indicate that henipavirus is present within West Africa.Item Henipavirus neutralising antibodies in an isolated island population of African fruit bats(Public Library of Science, 2012) Peel AJ; Baker KS; Crameri G; Barr JA; Hayman DTS; Wright E; Broder CC; Fernández-Loras A; Fooks AR; Wang L-F; Cunningham AA; Wood JLNIsolated islands provide valuable opportunities to study the persistence of viruses in wildlife populations, including population size thresholds such as the critical community size. The straw-coloured fruit bat, Eidolon helvum, has been identified as a reservoir for henipaviruses (serological evidence) and Lagos bat virus (LBV; virus isolation and serological evidence) in continental Africa. Here, we sampled from a remote population of E. helvum annobonensis fruit bats on Annobón island in the Gulf of Guinea to investigate whether antibodies to these viruses also exist in this isolated subspecies. Henipavirus serological analyses (Luminex multiplexed binding and inhibition assays, virus neutralisation tests and western blots) and lyssavirus serological analyses (LBV: modified Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralisation test, LBV and Mokola virus: lentivirus pseudovirus neutralisation assay) were undertaken on 73 and 70 samples respectively. Given the isolation of fruit bats on Annobón and their lack of connectivity with other populations, it was expected that the population size on the island would be too small to allow persistence of viruses that are thought to cause acute and immunising infections. However, the presence of antibodies against henipaviruses was detected using the Luminex binding assay and confirmed using alternative assays. Neutralising antibodies to LBV were detected in one bat using both assays. We demonstrate clear evidence for exposure of multiple individuals to henipaviruses in this remote population of E. helvum annobonensis fruit bats on Annobón island. The situation is less clear for LBV. Seroprevalences to henipaviruses and LBV in Annobón are notably different to those in E. helvum in continental locations studied using the same sampling techniques and assays. Whilst cross-sectional serological studies in wildlife populations cannot provide details on viral dynamics within populations, valuable information on the presence or absence of viruses may be obtained and utilised for informing future studieItem The equine Hendra virus vaccine remains a highly effective preventative measure against infection in horses and humans: 'The imperative to develop a human vaccine for the Hendra virus in Australia'.(2016) Peel AJ; Field HE; Reid PA; Plowright RK; Broder CC; Skerratt LF; Hayman DTS; Restif O; Taylor M; Martin G; Crameri G; Smith I; Baker M; Marsh GA; Barr J; Breed AC; Wood JLN; Dhand N; Toribio J-A; Cunningham AA; Fulton I; Bryden WL; Secombe C; Wang L-FItem Bat Flight and Zoonotic Viruses(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014) O Shea TJ; Cryan PM; Cunningham AA; Fooks AR; Hayman DTS; Luis AD; Peel AJ; Plowright RK; Wood JLNBats are sources of high viral diversity and high-profile zoonotic viruses worldwide. Although apparently not pathogenic in their reservoir hosts, some viruses from bats severely affect other mammals, including humans. Examples include severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses, Ebola and Marburg viruses, and Nipah and Hendra viruses. Factors underlying high viral diversity in bats are the subject of speculation. We hypothesize that flight, a factor common to all bats but to no other mammals, provides an intensive selective force for coexistence with viral parasites through a daily cycle that elevates metabolism and body temperature analogous to the febrile response in other mammals. On an evolutionary scale, this host–virus interaction might have resulted in the large diversity of zoonotic viruses in bats, possibly through bat viruses adapting to be more tolerant of the fever response and less virulent to their natural hosts.