Zoonotic neglected tropical diseases at the animal-human interface in the Greater Mekong Subregion: Two decades of surveillance in Laos and Cambodia.

Authors

Stuart D Blacksell, Michael P Ward, James R Young, Russell D Bush, Peter A Windsor, Syseng Khounsy, Phouvong Phommachanh, Watthana Theppangna, Jarunee Siengsanan-Lamont, Rebekah Burns, Paul Turner, Jeffrey Gilbert, Lida Kong, Sothyra Tum, Erik A Karlsson, James V Conlan, Tom Hughes, Jaison B Kolenchery, Tamalee Roberts, Matthew T Robinson, Manivanh Vongsouvath, Paul N Newton, Mayfong Mayxay, Elizabeth A Ashley, Nicholas P J Day

Published in

PLoS neglected tropical diseases. Volume 20. Issue 7. Pages e0014584. Epub Jul 30, 2026.

Abstract

Zoonotic neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) remain a substantial but under-recognised source of human morbidity and economic concern in the Greater Mekong Subregion, particularly in settings characterised by close human-animal interaction. This article represents a narrative synthesis of zoonotic disease research conducted in Laos and Cambodia between 2000 and 2025. The review integrates published literature with findings from long-term surveillance programmes conducted by the authors and collaborating institutions in Laos, with comparative insights from Cambodia, to examine the presence, distribution, diversity, and drivers of zoonotic pathogens at the human-animal interface. Evidence demonstrates the endemic presence of a wide range of parasitic, bacterial, and viral zoonoses, including Taenia solium, Trichinella spp., Streptococcus suis, rickettsial infections, melioidosis, hepatitis E virus, and Japanese encephalitis virus. Some of these pathogens are sustained within smallholder livestock systems, informal slaughter, farming practises, food networks, and wet market environments, where limited diagnostic capacity and fragmented surveillance obscure true disease presence. Surveillance innovations, including abattoir-based sampling, cross-sectoral serological studies, environmental surveillance approaches, and molecular diagnostic tools, have improved pathogen detection but have also highlighted persistent structural and behavioural barriers to control. Socio-cultural practices, occupational exposure, wildlife trade, and economic dependencies reinforce transmission dynamics, indicating that biomedical interventions alone are insufficient. Instead, zoonotic disease persistence reflects the interaction of livestock production systems, environmental conditions, diagnostic limitations, and entrenched human behaviours. This review emphasises the need for integrated One Health approaches that combine strengthened surveillance, improved diagnostics, behavioural interventions, and regional collaboration. Addressing zoonotic NTDs in Laos and Cambodia requires coordinated strategies that account for both biological complexity and socio-economic context to achieve sustainable disease control and improved public health outcomes.

PMID:
42531271
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 31 Jul 2026.

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