This study will evaluate the overlap between the intestinal microbiome and virome of wild and domesticated animals and human beings living in close proximity in three sites along an ecotone (ecological gradient) in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The MICROTONE study sheds light on zoonotic disease emergence by examining social and ecological pathways facilitating microbial and viral flows between people and selected wild and domesticated animals along a gradient of ecological change in a forest-savanna mosaic in the Democratic Republic of Congo, an epicenter of zoonotic disease emergence. The investigators analyze potential viral and bacterial overlap among humans and animals and explain this overlap (or not) through social sciences and ecological analyses of human and animal mobilities, practices and contacts. This multi-disciplinary, multi-species investigation in an ecotone (a transitional ecological zone linked to zoonotic disease emergence) offers a "pre-history" of spillover and emergence, tracing an ecological zeb of virome and microbial sharing among humans and animals. It will elucidate why such microbial and viral flows occur. To conduct this investigation,there are two human sub-studies: the social sciences participatory study; and the clinical study. The clinical study will involve 30 human subjects from whom blood and stool samples will be collected. The social sciences participatory study will involve self-collected activity and animal contact data and oral interviews among 60 human subjects.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
60
5ml blood sampling
self stool collection (2g)
30 human subjects will self-report daily activities and contacts with selected wild and domesticated animals for five months.
INRB
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Percentage of gut bacterial genera shared by included people
The investigators will evaluate the gut bacteria shared by humans on a daily basis.
Time frame: 2 years (March 13, 2019 to March 13, 2021)
Percentage of gut bacterial genera shared by selected wild animals
The investigators will evaluate the gut bacteria shared by wild animals on a daily basis.
Time frame: 2 years (March 13, 2019 to March 13, 2021)
Percentage of gut bacterial genera shared by selected domesticated animals
The investigators will evaluate the gut bacteria shared by domesticated animals living in proximity on a daily basis.
Time frame: 2 years (March 13, 2019 to March 13, 2021)
Percentage of overlap (of viral genera) between human subjects and great apes
The percentage of overlap (of viral genera) between human subjects and great apes will be measured.
Time frame: 2 years (March 13, 2019 to March 13, 2021)
Description of Contact type
The investigators will evaluate the type of physical contact between human beings, wild animals and domesticated animals from data collected in self-reported daily activity tool. This outcome will be measured through identified categories of physical contact. We will also estimate how contact types have changed over time through an analysis of the historical, anthropological interview data.
Time frame: 2 years (March 13,2019 to March 13, 2021)
Contact frequency investigation
The investigators will evaluate the frequency of physical contact between human subjects and wild animals and domesticated animals from data collected in the self-reported daily activity collection tool. Frequency will be measured by the number per category of physical contact.
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Oral interviews on current and past practices and engagements with wild and domesticated animals will be conducted with the 30 human subjects who are recruited to self-report their activities (Participatory activity and contact investigation) and to provide blood and stool samples. Another 30 human subjects will be recruited only to participate in the same type of interviews, addressing past and present activities and relations with wild and domesticated animals.
Time frame: 2 years (March 13, 2019 to March 13, 2021)