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Viral and Microbial Circulation Between Humans, Domesticated and Wild Animals Along an Ecotone, Democratic Republic of Congo

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Zoonotic Disease
Interventions
Biological: blood sampling
Biological: stool collection
Other: Participatory activity and contact investigation
Other: Anthropological and historical interviews
Registration Number
NCT04012164
Lead Sponsor
Institut Pasteur
Brief Summary

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.

Detailed Description

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.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age 18 years or older
  • Accept participation in study
  • Residing in one of three villages selected
  • In good health and able to conduct habitual daily activities
  • Accept self-collection of 2g of stool
  • Accept blood collection (2-2.5 ml) by a medical professional
  • Accept to self-collect daily activities and contacts with selected wild and domesticated animals for five months
  • Accept to participate in an anthropological-historical interview on changing practices and contacts with wild and domesticated animals
Exclusion Criteria
  • Vulnerable adults will not be included
  • Women who are pregnant or nursing at the time of recruitment and inclusion will not be included.
  • Adults declaring themselves ill and unable to conduct their habitual daily activities will not be included.
  • Adults with a chronic illness will not be included
  • Adults who have a family member already included in the study will not be included.
  • Adults refusing either recording of interviews or note-taking during interviews will not be included.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Microbiological, anthropological and historical studyAnthropological and historical interviews30 adult participants will be recruited to self-report daily activities and contacts with domesticated and wild animals for a five month period. Following the five months of data collection, we will collect 5ml blood and 2g stool from each participant. From the fifth month of investigation, an additional 30 adult participants will participate in oral anthropological, historical interviews to develop the socio-historical context of their changing activities and relations with selected domesticated and wild animals. No other intervention will be performed.
Microbiological, anthropological and historical studyblood sampling30 adult participants will be recruited to self-report daily activities and contacts with domesticated and wild animals for a five month period. Following the five months of data collection, we will collect 5ml blood and 2g stool from each participant. From the fifth month of investigation, an additional 30 adult participants will participate in oral anthropological, historical interviews to develop the socio-historical context of their changing activities and relations with selected domesticated and wild animals. No other intervention will be performed.
Microbiological, anthropological and historical studystool collection30 adult participants will be recruited to self-report daily activities and contacts with domesticated and wild animals for a five month period. Following the five months of data collection, we will collect 5ml blood and 2g stool from each participant. From the fifth month of investigation, an additional 30 adult participants will participate in oral anthropological, historical interviews to develop the socio-historical context of their changing activities and relations with selected domesticated and wild animals. No other intervention will be performed.
Microbiological, anthropological and historical studyParticipatory activity and contact investigation30 adult participants will be recruited to self-report daily activities and contacts with domesticated and wild animals for a five month period. Following the five months of data collection, we will collect 5ml blood and 2g stool from each participant. From the fifth month of investigation, an additional 30 adult participants will participate in oral anthropological, historical interviews to develop the socio-historical context of their changing activities and relations with selected domesticated and wild animals. No other intervention will be performed.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Percentage of gut bacterial genera shared by selected wild animals2 years (March 13, 2019 to March 13, 2021)

The investigators will evaluate the gut bacteria shared by wild animals on a daily basis.

Percentage of gut bacterial genera shared by included people2 years (March 13, 2019 to March 13, 2021)

The investigators will evaluate the gut bacteria shared by humans on a daily basis.

Percentage of gut bacterial genera shared by selected domesticated animals2 years (March 13, 2019 to March 13, 2021)

The investigators will evaluate the gut bacteria shared by domesticated animals living in proximity on a daily basis.

Percentage of overlap (of viral genera) between human subjects and great apes2 years (March 13, 2019 to March 13, 2021)

The percentage of overlap (of viral genera) between human subjects and great apes will be measured.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Description of Contact type2 years (March 13,2019 to March 13, 2021)

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.

Contact frequency investigation2 years (March 13, 2019 to March 13, 2021)

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.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

INRB

🇨🇩

Kinshasa, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the

INRB
🇨🇩Kinshasa, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the
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