Newly emergent diseases have been found to strongly correlate with specific geographic areas (Amazon, Congo basin, Gangetic region and the Southeast Asia region), specific animal species or hosts (rats, bats and non-human primates), specific microbial agents and high-risk populations (hunters, miners, bush meat traders, wild honey collectors, traditional herbalists and people that co-exist with wildlife) (Wang & Anderson, 2019; Letko et al., 2020). These are therefore referred to as “HOT SPOTS” for the emerging pandemic threats and should provide the basis for targeting surveillance (Lessler et al., 2017). Tanzania is located in the tropics along the same latitude of the Congo basin and directly sharing borders with the Congo basin countries. Consequently, the regularity of relations between people, domestic animals, and wildlife is increasing leading to prospects for new diseases to emerge. Given the high increase in global travel and trade, these interactions can easily drive a pandemic. Moreover, the rich ecosystem in the country entertains the specific animal species and hosts, disease vectors, and microbial agents tagged for the emergence of pandemics (Tazerji et al., 2022). In addition to this, some practices such as the use of wild birds and bat manure for agriculture (Sakoui et al., 2020; Dimande et al., 2023), the high consumption of wild animals including rats as a source of protein (Hoffman & Cawthorn, 2012), and the increased demand for traditional medicines (Vats & Thomas, 2015; Du et al., 2019), puts this population at a higher risk of viral epidemics from the novel and re-emerging viral diseases. Focusing on the project’s intention, rats and bats, including their oral fluid and feces will be screened for the presence of the novel viruses of zoonotic importance and development of a molecular assay to facilitate prompt detection of the suspected viral pathogens in case of viral epidemics.

The rationale is that we do not understand most of the hot spot areas and viruses circulating in different arthropods, wild animals, and other hosts. Yet cross-transmission of viruses, bacteria, and fungi from different hosts to humans, domestic, and wild animals can occur causing significant health and food security effects. For this reason, it’s not possible to quickly predict and detect emerging or re-emerging zoonotic diseases and institute proper control measures. In this study, we aim to generate baseline data on the possible hot spot areas and the profile of zoonotic viruses circulating in bats and rats in communities where these animals are used by humans for different economic or nutritive purposes at the wildlife-farm-forest interfaces in Tanzania. Building on these data, we will be able to boldly speak out of the potential hot spot areas, the inventory of the circulating pathogens, and the potential risk for the occurrence of emerging or re-emerging zoonotic disease outbreaks in the region. We additionally, will develop a molecular assay to facilitate prompt detection of the suspected viral pathogens of significant human and food security importance to enhance the livelihood and global health agenda.

To identify, characterize, and design a specific molecular assay for the novel and/or re-emerging zoonotic viruses of human and food security importance, circulating in different potential hosts harboring these viruses that include bats and rats at the farm-wildlife-forest interface in the selected districts of Tanzania