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

毒蛇咬伤是一个重大的全球公共卫生危机，每年发病率高达180万例，死亡人数为20 000至100 000人。尼泊尔和肯尼亚最近的研究表明，由于报告不足，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唯一列出的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。这是因为蛇毒与人畜共患疾病有共同的驱动因素，如土地使用变化、农业、城市扩张、人口增长和气候变化，导致人蛇接触。然而，由于毒蛇出没地点偏远、报告不足和社会耻辱，毒蛇生态、人类土地利用和气候变化之间复杂的相互作用仍然没有得到充分研究。这个研究项目，“重新定义方法，以减轻全球蛇咬伤负担在不断变化的世界：人畜共患病的角度来看，”努力弥合这一知识差距，与英国研究和创新（UKRI）倡导的战略和核心技能。这项研究提出了基本的研究问题，探索毒蛇的生态分布，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反应。这一点很重要，因为许多蛇类，如毒蛇，是进化上不同的物种（EDGE），并出现在世界自然保护联盟的红色名录上。这项研究还将研究社会经济因素的影响，如贫困，教育和医疗保健的获得，对蛇咬伤的发病率和负担，寻找可以在社区一级实施的缓解策略，以降低envenoming的发病率。使用多学科的“一个健康”的方法，包括生态，环境和社会经济数据分析，人种学和生态实地考察，以及空间建模，我们的研究旨在深入了解蛇咬伤负担。通过这个博士生的目标是发展大数据分析，解释和多方面的数据分析，包括生态，医学和人类学的观点的专业知识。以及获得沟通，公众参与和推广，人种学和生态实地考察，以及技术创新的技能。此外，这项研究汇集了最近在莫桑比克和斯里兰卡等地区进行的研究的结果，提供了必要的背景，并强调了预防措施的重要性，如防护服，教育和技术解决方案。这些社区驱动的策略可以有效地减轻蛇咬伤的负担，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发挥着至关重要的作用。在保护生物学、人类学和OneZoo的顶尖专家的支持下，沿着与伦敦动物学会（Zoological Society of London，简称ZOL）和“在边缘”（On the Edge）等组织的合作，该项目强调社区参与和全球视角。该项目的预期成果包括全面深入了解envenoming和蛇生态，土地利用和气候变化之间的复杂关系，沿着确定实用的，以人为本的解决方案，以减少蛇咬伤的负担及其对蛇生态，保护和分布的影响。这项研究有助于一个健康和一个动物园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。

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.