The Amazonian Tropical Bites Research Initiative, a hope for resolving zoonotic neglected tropical diseases in the One Health era

TAYLOR, EMMA; AGUILAR-ANCORI, ELSA GLADYS; BANYARD, ASHLEY C; ABEL, ISIS; MANTINI-BRIGGS, CLARA; BRIGGS, CHARLES L; CARRILLO, CAROLINA; GAVIDIA, CESAR M; CASTILLO-NEYRA, RICARDO; PAROLA, ALEJANDRO D; VILLENA, FREDY E; PRADA, JOAQUIN M; PETERSEN, BRETT W; FALCON PEREZ, NESTOR; CABEZAS SANCHEZ, CESAR; SIHUINCHA, MOISES; STREICKER, DANIEL G; MAGUINA VARGAS, CIRO; NAVARRO VELA, ANA MARIA; VIGILATO, MARCO A N; WEN FAN, HUI; WILLOUGHBY, RODNEY; HORTON, DANIEL L; RECUENCO, SERGIO E

International Health

Oxford Academic

Año: 2022

1876-3413

Background: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) disproportionately affect populations living in resource-limitedsettings. In the Amazon basin, substantial numbers of NTDs are zoonotic, transmitted by vertebrate (dogs, bats,snakes) and invertebrate species (sand flies and triatomine insects). However, no dedicated consortia exist tofind commonalities in the risk factors for or mitigations against bite-associated NTDs such as rabies, snakeenvenoming, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis in the region. The rapid expansion of COVID-19 has further reducedresources for NTDs, exacerbated health inequality and reiterated the need to raise awareness of NTDsrelated to bites.Methods: The nine countries that make up the Amazon basin have been considered (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia,Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Surinam and Venezuela, plus Argentina) in the formation of a new network.Results: The Amazonian Tropical Bites Research Initiative (ATBRI) has been created, with the aim of creatingtransdisciplinary solutions to the problem of animal bites leading to disease in Amazonian communities. TheATBRI seeks to unify the currently disjointed approach to the control of bite-related neglected zoonoses acrossLatin America.