Status of wildlife disease surveillance in the West Africa sub-region

Abstract Africa’s rapidly growing population has led to increased urbanization and encroachment on wildlife habitats, heightening the risk of zoonotic disease transmission. National wildlife disease surveillance programs are essential for monitoring and mitigating these risks. The study provides an...

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Main Authors: Richard Dery Suu-Ire, Henry Asigri Abugri, Richard Kwamena Abbiw, James Kunituo, Amos Sarpong Agyei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-07-01
Series:Discover Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s44338-025-00103-9
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author Richard Dery Suu-Ire
Henry Asigri Abugri
Richard Kwamena Abbiw
James Kunituo
Amos Sarpong Agyei
author_facet Richard Dery Suu-Ire
Henry Asigri Abugri
Richard Kwamena Abbiw
James Kunituo
Amos Sarpong Agyei
author_sort Richard Dery Suu-Ire
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Africa’s rapidly growing population has led to increased urbanization and encroachment on wildlife habitats, heightening the risk of zoonotic disease transmission. National wildlife disease surveillance programs are essential for monitoring and mitigating these risks. The study provides an overview of the situation of wildlife disease surveillance in the West African Region following an assessement performed between 2023 and 2024 using different methods.We conducted a systematic search of peer-reviewed literature using online databases. Additionally, we targeted literature from international and not-for-profit organizations. Surveillance data from member countries were collected using Google form questionnaires.Our findings indicate that seven of the eleven assessed countries had functional wildlife surveillance networks, utilizing general (9 of 11) and targeted (8 of 11) surveillance approaches. However, significant gaps exist, including limited surveillance infrastructure, underdeveloped networks, and inadequate laboratory capacity for molecular testing and sequencing. Our study highlights the urgent need to strengthen wildlife disease surveillance in West Africa through improved funding, laboratory capacity, and regional collaboration to mitigate these challenges.
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spelling doaj-art-4af36bdd3840487f952deefd228429ae2025-08-20T03:42:09ZengSpringerDiscover Animals3004-894X2025-07-012111310.1007/s44338-025-00103-9Status of wildlife disease surveillance in the West Africa sub-regionRichard Dery Suu-Ire0Henry Asigri Abugri1Richard Kwamena Abbiw2James Kunituo3Amos Sarpong Agyei4School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of GhanaSchool of Veterinary Medicine, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of GhanaWest African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, University of GhanaGhana Water Company LimitedSchool of Veterinary Medicine, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of GhanaAbstract Africa’s rapidly growing population has led to increased urbanization and encroachment on wildlife habitats, heightening the risk of zoonotic disease transmission. National wildlife disease surveillance programs are essential for monitoring and mitigating these risks. The study provides an overview of the situation of wildlife disease surveillance in the West African Region following an assessement performed between 2023 and 2024 using different methods.We conducted a systematic search of peer-reviewed literature using online databases. Additionally, we targeted literature from international and not-for-profit organizations. Surveillance data from member countries were collected using Google form questionnaires.Our findings indicate that seven of the eleven assessed countries had functional wildlife surveillance networks, utilizing general (9 of 11) and targeted (8 of 11) surveillance approaches. However, significant gaps exist, including limited surveillance infrastructure, underdeveloped networks, and inadequate laboratory capacity for molecular testing and sequencing. Our study highlights the urgent need to strengthen wildlife disease surveillance in West Africa through improved funding, laboratory capacity, and regional collaboration to mitigate these challenges.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44338-025-00103-9Wildlife surveillanceECOWAS regionZoonotic diseasesOne health
spellingShingle Richard Dery Suu-Ire
Henry Asigri Abugri
Richard Kwamena Abbiw
James Kunituo
Amos Sarpong Agyei
Status of wildlife disease surveillance in the West Africa sub-region
Discover Animals
Wildlife surveillance
ECOWAS region
Zoonotic diseases
One health
title Status of wildlife disease surveillance in the West Africa sub-region
title_full Status of wildlife disease surveillance in the West Africa sub-region
title_fullStr Status of wildlife disease surveillance in the West Africa sub-region
title_full_unstemmed Status of wildlife disease surveillance in the West Africa sub-region
title_short Status of wildlife disease surveillance in the West Africa sub-region
title_sort status of wildlife disease surveillance in the west africa sub region
topic Wildlife surveillance
ECOWAS region
Zoonotic diseases
One health
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s44338-025-00103-9
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