Characterization of Buffalo/Cattle Interactions for Assessing Pathogen Transmission

Abstract

African buffalo and cattle interfaces are expanding on the African continent due to the encroachment of human activities into savanna and forest habitats. These interfaces are especially important for managing the risk of pathogen transmission that can threaten small-scale and commercial livestock production, public health and biodiversity conservation. Recent technological advances in the field of remote sensing and telemetry provided opportunities to characterize buffalo/cattle interfaces with an accuracy allowing the estimation of potential infectious contacts and spillover of pathogens. Integrating environmental drivers, animal movement and pathogen transmission models is now possible, but this has not yet been done for buffalo/cattle interfaces. A better characterization and modelling of these interfaces could provide knowledge to design new management options for disease mitigation and control. The management of the sanitary risk at these interfaces is key to promoting healthy African landscapes in which production and conservation objectives coexist.