Redefining Approaches to Mitigate Global Snakebite Burden in a Changing World: A Zoonotic Perspective

在不断变化的世界中重新定义减轻全球蛇咬伤负担的方法：人畜共患病的视角

• 批准号: 2887276
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2887276
• 关键词: Redefining; Approaches; Mitigate; Global; Snakebite

Snakebite envenoming constitutes a significant global public health crisis, with an annual incidence of up to 1.8 million cases and 20,000 to 100,000 deaths. Recent studies from Nepal and Kenya suggest that the actual burden of snakebites may be higher due to underreporting, as many people do not receive treatment at health centres. Snakebites are currently the only WHO listed non-infectious neglected tropical disease. Recent research indicates that modelling snakebite as a zoonosis provides a more mechanistic understanding and reliable predictions. This is because envenoming shares drivers with zoonotic diseases, such as land use change, agriculture, urban expansion, population growth, and climate change, leading to human-snake contact. However, the complex interplay between venomous snakes' ecology, anthropogenic land use, and climate change remains underexplored due to remote locations of envenoming's, underreporting, and societal stigmas. This research project, "Redefining Approaches to Mitigate Global Snakebite Burden in a Changing World: A Zoonotic Perspective," endeavours to bridge this knowledge gap, in alignment with the strategy and core skills advocated by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). This study poses fundamental research questions, exploring the ecological distribution, behaviour and abundance of venomous snakes, the impact of anthropogenic land use changes, and snakes' response to climate change. This is of importance as many snake species, such as vipers, are evolutionarily distinct species (EDGE) and appear on the IUCN red list. This study will also examine the influence of socioeconomic factors, such as poverty, education, and healthcare access, on snakebite incidence and burden, looking to find mitigation strategies that could be implemented at a community level, to lower the incidence of envenoming's. Using a multidisciplinary "One Health" approach, encompassing ecological, environmental, and socioeconomic data analysis, ethnographic and ecological fieldwork, and spatial modelling, our research seeks to gain insights into snakebite burden. Through this the PhD candidate aims to develop expertise in big data analysis, interpretation, and multifaceted data analysis, including ecological, medical, and anthropological perspectives. As well as gaining skills in communication, public engagement and outreach, ethnographic and ecological fieldwork, and technological innovations. Moreover, this study brings together findings from recent studies conducted in regions like Mozambique and Sri Lanka, providing essential context and highlighting the importance of preventive measures, such as protective clothing, education, and technological solutions. These community-driven strategies may effectively mitigate snakebite burden and reduce the socioeconomic impacts, which are especially prominent in rural regions. Additionally, the local context, including human behaviour and snake biology, plays a crucial role in designing effective preventative measures. With the support of leading experts in conservation biology, anthropology, and OneZoo, along with collaboration from organizations like the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and 'On the Edge,' this project emphasizes community engagement and global perspectives. This project's expected outcomes include comprehensive insights into the intricate relationship between envenoming and snake ecology, land use, and climate change, along with the identification of practical, people-centred solutions to reduce snakebite burden and their effects on snake ecology, conservation, and distribution. This research contributes to the One Health and One Zoo CDT framework and addresses a global health crisis, resonating with conservation biology, public health, and climate change studies.

蛇咬伤是一项重大的全球公共卫生危机，年发病率高达180万例，死亡人数为2万至10万人。尼泊尔和肯尼亚最近的研究表明，由于漏报，蛇咬伤的实际负担可能更高，因为许多人没有在卫生中心接受治疗。蛇咬伤是目前世卫组织列出的唯一被忽视的非传染性热带病。最近的研究表明，将蛇咬伤建模为人畜共患病提供了更机械的理解和可靠的预测。这是因为环境污染与人畜共患疾病有共同的驱动因素，如土地利用变化、农业、城市扩张、人口增长和气候变化，导致人蛇接触。然而，由于地处偏远、报告不足和社会耻辱，毒蛇生态、人为土地利用和气候变化之间的复杂相互作用仍未得到充分探讨。这个名为“在不断变化的世界中重新定义减轻全球蛇咬伤负担的方法：动物传染病的视角”的研究项目，努力弥合这一知识差距，与英国研究与创新（UKRI）倡导的战略和核心技能保持一致。本研究提出了基本的研究问题，探讨了毒蛇的生态分布、行为和丰度、人为土地利用变化的影响以及蛇对气候变化的响应。这一点很重要，因为许多蛇类，如毒蛇，都是进化上独特的物种（EDGE），出现在世界自然保护联盟的红色名录上。本研究还将研究社会经济因素（如贫困、教育和医疗保健）对蛇咬伤发生率和负担的影响，寻找可以在社区层面实施的缓解策略，以降低蛇咬伤的发生率。采用多学科的“同一个健康”方法，包括生态、环境和社会经济数据分析，民族志和生态实地调查以及空间建模，我们的研究旨在深入了解蛇咬伤负担。通过这种方式，博士候选人的目标是发展大数据分析、解释和多方面数据分析的专业知识，包括生态学、医学和人类学的观点。同时获得沟通、公众参与和外联、民族志和生态实地考察以及技术创新方面的技能。此外，本研究汇集了最近在莫桑比克和斯里兰卡等地区开展的研究的结果，提供了基本背景，并强调了防护服、教育和技术解决方案等预防措施的重要性。这些社区驱动的策略可以有效减轻蛇咬伤负担并减少社会经济影响，这在农村地区尤为突出。此外，当地环境，包括人类行为和蛇的生物学，在设计有效的预防措施方面起着至关重要的作用。在保护生物学、人类学和OneZoo领域领先专家的支持下，以及伦敦动物学会（ZSL）和“On the Edge”等组织的合作下，该项目强调社区参与和全球视野。该项目的预期成果包括全面了解蛇类生态、土地利用和气候变化之间的复杂关系，以及确定切实可行的、以人为本的解决方案，以减少蛇咬伤负担及其对蛇类生态、保护和分布的影响。这项研究有助于“同一个健康和同一个动物园”CDT框架，并解决全球健康危机，与保护生物学、公共卫生和气候变化研究产生共鸣。