Investigating pathogens in wildlife in Kenya to tackle neglected zoonoses

Wild animals harbour many pathogens that can infect livestock and people. Because of this, epidemiological studies on these pathogens should include wildlife sampling to generate data on their distribution patterns in natural ecologies. This has been the overriding interest under the Co-infection project, which is led by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).

It uses a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach to determine the burden of Rift Valley fever, Q fever, and brucellosis in livestock, wildlife, and humans in Kenya.

Collecting samples from wild animals in their natural habitat can be both a rewarding and challenging experience. In this blog, we share experiences from our recent survey conducted between 28 October 2021 and 16 March 2022 in Isiolo, Meru and Samburu Counties, where we collected blood samples from 200 wild animals.