Walking around the African Continent: One Health experiences

The One Health approach integrates human, animal, and environmental health to address several social issues, including zoonotic diseases. The concept, introduced to the veterinary domain in Italy by Adriano Mantovani and developed by his students, emphasizes the interconnectedness of species and their shared environment. The paper traces several research projects performed in Africa that illustrate this approach. In Somalia, Italian cooperation in Mogadishu led to studies on helminths in stray cats and chickens, revealing significant zoonotic threats, particularly from Ancylostomatidae species. A 2008 investigation into 1400 land turtles from North Africa uncovered a high prevalence of various Salmonella serotypes and Hyalomma aegypticum ticks, underscoring the risks of exotic pets. Research in Sahrawi refugee camps revealrd ultrasonography evidence of echinococcosis in humans and parasitological findings in animals, while a seropositivity rate of 32% for toxoplasmosis, necessitating further study despite limited funding. A study on wild ruminants in South African game preserves linked poor body condition scores to high parasite loads, emphasizing the need for effective management practices to conserve biodiversity and prevent zoonotic diseases. For the first time, Echinococcus equinus was reported in a white rhinoceros in Kruger National Park, expanding knowledge on wildlife parasitology. At Songea slaughterhouse in Tanzania, a high prevalence of fasciolosis in cattle was linked to water sources, revealing significant economic and zoonotic impacts, furthermore, the laboratory analyses allowed to exclude some important zoonotic diseases in the slaughtered animals. A study in Limpopo National Park, Mozambique, identified Echinococcus ortleppi in cattle, highlighting the challenges of disease monitoring in rural areas. The paper underscores the value of integrating local knowledge and international cooperation in advancing the One Health agenda and addressing neglected zoonotic diseases in Africa.