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

毒蛇咬伤构成了一项重大的全球公共卫生危机，每年的发病率高达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。蛇咬伤是目前世界卫生组织列出的唯一一种被忽视的非传染性热带疾病。最近的研究表明，将蛇咬伤模拟为人畜共患病提供了更机械性的理解和可靠的预测。这是因为仇恨与人畜共患疾病，如土地利用变化、农业、城市扩张、人口增长和气候变化，导致人与蛇接触。然而，毒蛇的生态、人为土地利用和气候变化之间的复杂相互作用仍然没有得到充分的探索，因为毒蛇的位置偏远，报告不足，以及社会耻辱。这项名为“在不断变化的世界中重新定义减轻全球毒蛇咬伤负担的方法：人畜共患病视角”的研究项目致力于弥合这一知识鸿沟，与英国研究与创新中心(UKRI)倡导的战略和核心技能保持一致。这项研究提出了基本的研究问题，探索了毒蛇的生态分布、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反应。这一点很重要，因为许多蛇类物种，如毒蛇，在进化上是不同的物种(边缘)，并出现在IUCN红色名单上。这项研究还将考察社会经济因素，如贫困、教育和医疗保健可获得性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，以降低毒蛇咬伤的发生率。我们的研究采用多学科的“同一健康”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和空间建模，试图获得对蛇咬伤负担的洞察。这位博士生的目标是发展大数据分析、解释和多方面数据分析方面的专业知识，包括生态、医学和人类学角度。以及在沟通、公众参与和外联、民族志和生态田野调查以及技术创新方面获得技能。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结果，提供了基本背景，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。这些社区主导的战略可以有效地减轻蛇咬负担，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，在制定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的领先专家的支持下，以及伦敦动物学会(ZSL)和‘边缘’等组织的合作下，该项目强调社区参与和全球视角。该项目的预期成果包括对蛇毒与蛇生态、土地利用和气候变化之间错综复杂的关系的全面洞察，以及确定实用的、以人为本的解决方案，以减少蛇咬伤的负担及其对蛇的生态、保护和分布的影响。这项研究对一个健康和一个动物园CDT框架做出了贡献，并解决了全球健康危机，与保护生物学、公共卫生和气候变化研究产生了共鸣。

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.