Circulating and emerging zoonotic pathogens

Summary The aim of the EXPRESSE-BIOCAM project is to explore the combined effects of environmental exposure, social inequalities and territorial transitions on mental health in the coastal socio-ecosystems of the Camargue delta. In an interdisciplinary approach rooted in One Health and extended to mental health, the project uses cross-disciplinary tools from geomatics, ecotoxicology, social sciences, public health, psychology and artificial intelligence. 

EXPRESSE-BIOCAM is run by UMR MIVEGEC and is part of the work of the Camargue Health and Environment Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research platform, namely the Zone Atelier « Santé-Environnement Camargue » in french (abbreviated ZACAM or LTSER ZACAM), research Infrastructure of the CNRS, in collaboration with academic, institutional, association and healthcare partners. This pilot project, based in a high-stakes region, is intended to be transferable to other contexts facing critical socio-ecological transitions.

A number of experiments are under way before the project is submitted in response to a targeted call for projects.

See, for example, news from ZACAM (participation in Unoc 3).

Summary The Camargue (Rhône Delta, France) is a temperate ecosystem that is conducive to the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases. Faced with this challenge, and at a time when the One Health approach has focused mainly on tropical and intertropical regions, a CNRS Health-Environment-Camargue Workshop Zone is being set up. The aim is to bring together health-environment research in the Camargue using an integrative, interdisciplinary approach to provide local players with practical solutions. The ZOOCAM project aims to answer the following questions:

1) What are the dynamics of circulating/emerging zoonotic agents in the Camargue?

2) What human and environmental factors influence the spread of zoonotic agents?

3) Can current and emerging zoonotic risks be modelled/predicted?

4) How is the risk perceived by local stakeholders?

ZOOCAM is structured into several Work Packages (WP) dedicated to specific aspects of research. 

WP1This project, led by Fred Thomas and Pierre Becquart (MIVEGEC), is focusing on the study of mammalian viruses in the Camargue, particularly those present in bats, and on establishing a genomic map of these viruses. The aim is to understand which viruses could potentially be transmitted to humans and to monitor their evolution over time. The research also includes an extension to other local mammals, such as coypu and martens, in order to gain a better understanding of zoonotic vectors in the region.

WP2ZOOCAM, directed by Olivier Rey (IHPE), is looking at trematodes, parasites present in aquatic environments that have major health consequences for humans and domestic animals. Although little is known about these parasites, the research carried out as part of ZOOCAM aims to better anticipate trematode-related diseases in a context of environmental change, particularly as a result of increasing anthropisation and the use of pesticides in the Camargue rice fields.

WP3 led by Karen McCoy (MIVEGEC) is exploring the links between microplastic pollution and the vectorial capacity of certain organisms, such as mosquitoes, ticks and freshwater molluscs, on the Mediterranean coast. The aim is to analyse how these pollutants can influence the spread of disease through these biological vectors, an innovative approach that could open up new prospects for environmental and health management.

WP4 The ZOOCAM project, led by Emanuel Fronhofer (ISEM), focuses on modelling the risks associated with zoonoses. The main objective is to predict the evolution of zoonotic diseases as a function of ecological dynamics and interactions between animal species and their environment. WP4 also aims to integrate these results into a health management perspective, by providing tools and recommendations to local stakeholders to anticipate and prevent the risks associated with zoonoses, while promoting a sustainable approach to biodiversity.

The project's ambitions do not stop at fundamental research. ZOOCAM also aims to integrate its results into concrete actions in favour of territorial management and public health. The issue of co-constructing knowledge with local players is a key pillar of the project, implemented at the level of the WP5 directed by Raphaël Mathevet (CEFE). The management of zoonoses cannot be limited to a scientific approach; it requires the involvement of local users, be they farmers, managers of natural areas or local populations. The complexity of the interactions between biodiversity, health and society calls for concerted responses, in which participatory science plays a crucial role. A special effort is being made to raise awareness of zoonotic risks among local stakeholders, while stressing the importance of preserving biodiversity and benefiting from the ecosystem services it provides.

Finally, the ZOOCAM project stands out for its interdisciplinary and collaborative dimension, which is addressed in the WP6 led by Aurélie Binot (MSH Sud). Although the different work packages have been built relatively independently, there is a strong desire to break down barriers, with an effort to build a common epistemological framework between researchers from a variety of disciplines, such as biology, ecology and human and social sciences (SHS). The links between the work packages will gradually be strengthened, particularly in terms of sampling strategies, and also through the interactions between the vector models studied in work package 3 and the health risk analyses in work package 4.

A key aspect of ZOOCAM is its regional focus. The Camargue, with its biodiversity and wetlands, is a particularly suitable area for studying health/environment interactions, with a health ecology observatory and the Tour du Valat (TdV), a pioneering wetland conservation research centre that plays a central role in coordinating field research. In the project, this WP transverse is led by Marion Vittecoq (TdV). Thanks to this local dynamic, ZOOCAM benefits from in-depth local knowledge and solid partnerships with regional players.

ZOOCAM seeks to avoid a simplistic view of nature as a source of health hazards. On the contrary, the project aims to show that biodiversity, if properly managed, can be an asset for public health. This approach requires constant dialogue between scientists and local stakeholders, in particular to find sustainable solutions that reduce health risks while preserving ecosystems. For example, the involvement of WP5 and WP6 in the communication and coordination of scientific results with the social dynamics on the ground is a key dimension of this process.

In conclusion, ZOOCAM has established itself as a major research project on zoonoses and environmental health in the Camargue. Its strength lies in its interdisciplinary approach, its strong local roots and its desire to co-construct solutions with local stakeholders, strengthening the links between science, society and the sustainable management of biodiversity.

A major challenge lies in the ability of those involved in the project to decompartmentalise their approaches between WP and to integrate the heterogeneous knowledge that will be produced.

Authors: Frédéric Thomas (Project extracts), Aurélie Binot (Story draft extracts).