Laga Ecosystem, Species Entanglements and the Risk of Zoonotic Disease Transmission: A Multi-Site, Multi-Method Ethnographic Study

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> Dry riverbeds, also called <italic>Iaga</italic>, are a complex ecosystem of multispecies interactions between livestock, humans, microorganisms, and their environment. Despite <italic>laga’s</italic> One Health entanglement of species and environment, few studies have explored the risks of transmission of diseases through direct herd-herd or herd-human contact or indirect contact with fomites surrounding the <italic>laga</italic>. This study focuses on ethnographic and epidemiological investigations on <italic>lagas</italic> within Kenya. The study deploys qualitative multimethod-walking interviews, in-depth interviews, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and observations to collect the data from Marsabit and Kajiado Counties in Kenya. Results point to the comingling of infected and healthy herds, cross-livestock species mixing, sharing of watering troughs, and feeding dogs placental and parturition materials at the herd level. The human transmission risks include non-protective parturition assistance, the use of camel urine as an antiseptic substance, humans sharing animal-watering troughs, and consuming non-processed milk. Further, the fomites comprise contaminated excreta, infected placental materials on <italic>laga</italic> stones, deposition of infected aborted fetuses on the <italic>laga</italic> body, and bacteria in the sand that end up ingested or inhaled as dust during dry seasons. The study concludes that intensified water insecurity due to climate variability will deepen multispecies interactions at the <italic>laga</italic> given that it holds a lifeline in drylands for pastoralists, hence, heightening brucellosis transmission risks. The study's results recommend a reinvention of brucellosis preventive measures that consider the pathogen flux within <italic>laga</italic> systems and multispecies interactions. Such an approach should consider the multidimensional-clinical, environmental, and cultural co-production of solutions where preventive behaviors are prioritized.