The intersection of land use and human behavior as risk factors for zoonotic pathogen exposure in Laikipia County, Kenya

Abstract

A majority of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are zoonotic, mainly caused through spillover events linked to human-animal interactions. We conducted a survey-based human behavioral study in Laikipia County, Kenya, which is characterized by a dynamic human-wildlife-livestock interface. Questionnaires that assessed human-animal interactions, sanitation, and illnesses experienced within the past year were distributed to 327 participants among five communities in Laikipia. This study aimed to 1) describe variation in reported high-risk behaviors by community type and 2) assess the relationship between specific behaviors and self-reported illnesses. Behavioral trends were assessed in R via Fisher’s exact tests. A generalized linear mixed model with Lasso penalization (GLMMLasso) was used to assess correlations between behaviors and participants’ self-reported illness within the past year, with reported behaviors as independent variables and reported priority symptoms as the outcome. Reported behaviors varied significantly among the study communities. Participants from one community (Pastoralist-1) were significantly more likely to report eating a sick animal in the past year (p< 0.001), collecting an animal found dead to sell in the past year (p<0.0001), and not having a designated location for human waste (p<0.0001) when compared to participants from other communities. The GLMMLasso revealed that reports of an ill person in the household in the past year was significantly associated with self-reported illness. Sixty-eight percent of participants reported that bushmeat is available within the communities. Our study demonstrates community-level variation in behaviors that may influence zoonotic pathogen exposure. We further recommend development of targeted studies that explore behavioral variations among land use systems in animal production contexts.

Tissue-specific localization of tick-borne pathogens in ticks collected from camels in Kenya: insights into vector competence

“…Laikipia is in the Rift Valley region of Kenya, and occupies an area of about 10,000 km² in size between latitude 0°53’N, 0°16’S and longitude 36°11’E, 37°23’E. The County is classified as a semi-arid region, which is prone to seasonal flooding ( Kamau et al., 2021 ). Livestock species such as camels are kept for milk, meat production, and transportation ( Deem et al., 2015 ; Browne et al., 2017 ).…”

Adding a One Health approach to a research framework for minority health and health disparities

“…Human health is linked to non-human animal health in many ways: some of these links are direct (e.g., food consumption) and some are indirect (e.g., via the environment), and many of these links are not fully understood ( Davis and Sharp, 2020 ; Wolf, 2015 ). Differences in the frequency of human-animal interactions among population groups, ( Rabinowitz and Conti, 2013 ) individual and cultural food practices, ( Wolfe et al, 2005 ; Kamau et al, 2021 ) livelihood systems, ( Woldehanna and Zimicki, 2015 ) and livestock production practices ( Edwards-Callaway, 2018 ; Ducrot et al, 2008 ) could lead to health disparities. These relationships are particularly relevant for populations such as farmworkers, ( Pol et al, 2021 ) people experiencing homelessness, ( Hanrahan, 2019 ) individuals living in agricultural communities, ( Wing and Wolf, 2000 ) and certain racial and ethnic category minorities.…”

EIDs and the Intersectional Health/Livelihoods Paradox in the Rural Global South

“…Forests are often portrayed as spaces of increased risk, such as during the harvest of bush meat for consumption or the illegal wildlife trade (Akem & Pemunta, 2020;Brooks et al, 2022). People living in landscapes amongst livestock and wildlife undertake problematic food and water practices that should be rectified with education based interventions to mitigate risk of infection (Kamau et al, 2021). However, political economic change in these landscapes is leading to contradictory and paradoxical outcomes for people living in these environments.…”