As the week marking World Zoonoses Day comes to a close, GHTM | IHMT NOVA highlights two research initiatives that reinforce its commitment to the One Health approach, promoting the integration of human, animal and environmental health to address zoonotic diseases.
As part of an ongoing collaboration with the Municipality of Alenquer, GHTM | IHMT NOVA is developing a scientific research project focused on canine leishmaniasis and leptospirosis, two zoonotic diseases with significant public health implications. The study aims to assess the prevalence of these parasitic and bacterial infections in the municipality, strengthening research, diagnostic capacity and public awareness, while contributing to a better epidemiological understanding of these diseases and supporting the development of effective prevention and control strategies.
In parallel, researchers from the Leptospirosis and Lyme Borreliosis Group at GHTM | IHMT NOVA have, for the first time in Portugal, successfully isolated viable saprophytic Leptospira from urban waters, soils and biofilms in several areas of the municipality of Lisbon. The team also detected pathogenic and intermediate Leptospira species in these environmental samples.
This important finding demonstrates that the urban environment may serve as a potential ecological niche for the persistence of Leptospira species, reinforcing the need for integrated surveillance that connects human, animal and environmental health, in line with the principles of the One Health approach.
GHTM | IHMT NOVA researchers Ana Armada, from PRIME-GHTM Research Group, and Sofia Cortes, from VBD-GHTM Research Group are involved in these research activities, contributing to the advancement of knowledge on zoonotic diseases and to the development of evidence-based strategies to protect public health.
This article is published as part of the World Zoonoses Day celebrations. To learn more about our work on neglected tropical diseases, see our related news:
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World Zoonoses Day | mil3DSkin: Understanding Canine Leishmaniasis Through a One Health Perspective
