Establishment of a One-Health research network for controlling neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Sub-Saharan Africa

Collaborative Research between

Zambia, Malawi and Japan

Goal of the project

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group oPublicationsf illnesses that disproportionately affect impoverished communities, and have been largely overlooked, impairing human health and well-being. It is an international responsibility to urgently establish sustainable control schemes for these diseases. Many NTDs are caused by parasitic infections, and a One-Health control approach, which reduces human infection risk through control of animal reservoirs and hematophagous arthropod vectors, is effective for their countermeasures. However, in Sub-Saharan African regions, even basic epidemiological surveys on disease prevalence are insufficient, leading to an overwhelming lack of academic infrastructure for implementing countermeasures. This project aims to form an academic research exchange network in this field, and establishing a NTDs research hub that will promote innovative epidemiological research and lead One-Health control of NTDs. Specifically in this project, the project will first focus on three highly fatal zoonotic parasitic diseases:Leishmaniasis, African Trypanosomiasis, and Echinococcosis, but other NTDs will be also studied. From extensive epidemiological survey, we aim to identify the transmission cycle of these NTDs, and will propose a sustainable evidence-based control measures.Activities

Activities

2025Event１

Surveillance in Malawi

2025July24-Aug8

We conducted a dog survey in Lilongwe and Zomba, Malawi. In August, the weather in Malawi felt slightly cool.

2025Event２

The Vice-Chancellor of LUANAR, Malawi, visited Japan.

The Vice-Chancellor of Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Malawi, visited International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University.
Productive discussions were held with the Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the Director of the Institute on future collaboration in research and educational programs, making the visit a highly meaningful and valuable opportunity.

2025Event３

We held the first symposium

Year 1 project symposium was held at the International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University. The symposium featured presentations and discussions on efforts to control NTDs and the latest research activities in each country.

We also visited Tsukisamu Park, a model site for echinococcosis control through anthelmintic bait distribution. We also encountered foxes at park, making the event both informative and memorable !

1st Core-to-Core Research Symposium on Neglected Tropical Disease Research in Sub-Saharan Africa @Sapporo,2025 Oct 9-10
Program　Detail

2025Event１

Surveillance in ZAMBIA

2025Dec1-Dec13

We conducted field surveys on leishmaniasis and schistosomiasis in Katete, Zambia. We enjoyed collecting snails from the water. Flesh green landscape was beautiful.

Echinococcosis/Taeniasis

African Trypanosomiasis

Leishmaniasis

Funding: JSPS Core-to-Core Program (April 2025 - Mar 2028)