D3346: Multiple vector-borne disease exposures in a rural community in Colombia: understanding the One Health approach

Neglected tropical diseases (NTD) are described by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a group of communicable diseases that occur mostly in tropical and subtropical regions affecting people in under-resourced areas. The WHO has recognized twenty conditions as NTDs, such as Chagas disease (CD), however there has been some debate on considering other diseases to be included in the list. Rickettsial infections are a group of vector-borne bacterial pathogens prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions that affect mostly poor communities, and despite not being included in the WHO’s list of NTDs, are understudied and remain a blind spot for public health efforts. Among rickettsioses, spotted fever group rickettsiae are of importance due to the wide species distribution, and with R. rickettsii being the most pathogenic species. Colombia is affected by both infections requiring simultaneous attention and public response. A collaboration with the Boyacá Health Department and the University of Antioquia in Colombia, revealed underdiagnosis and lack of surveillance among a rural community. A serosurveillance study was performed in 2021 in the municipality of Miraflores, Boyacá collecting triatomines, human and canine serological samples, and tissue samples from opossums to better understand the epidemiology of these infections using a One Health approach. Despite different ecology and epidemiology, both infections require concurrent evaluation and understanding to reduce the risk they pose for the community. Our presentation will highlight how using a One Health approach we can optimize the detection of multiple vector-borne disease exposures and discuss the results and limitations of this study.