Page 494 - The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition

Wildlife health and disease surveillance 431

For more information on the application information derived from sampling can guide
of participatory wildlife health and disease the collection of local knowledge (for example,
surveillance, refer to Tomaselli (2018) in the focused questions to understand the ecology of
bibliography. a specific disease and its impact).

11.4 Additional practical Hunter-based sampling
considerations for data
gathering through local The sample collection process must be practical,
knowledge, hunter-based straightforward, and doable under the environ-
sampling and field disease mental conditions and other constraints that
investigations exist in the setting. Sampling kits and samples
must be easily transportable in rough condi-
Local knowledge gathering using PE tions and must maintain their integrity during
tools any transport or storage that will be required.
If the system involves incentives for local par-
Selection of the correct key informants is of ticipants, the incentive distribution process
paramount importance in order to collect good must be simple, smooth and immediate upon
quality data. Collaboration with local organi- sample submission. Co-design of the sampling
zations and leaders is essential in this phase. programme, including the training, with hunt-
Methods for gathering local knowledge can ers and other stakeholders, is essential. Keep in
vary depending on the objective of the surveil- mind that sampling wildlife is inherently dif-
lance/monitoring. To collect robust data on ficult and circumstances or conditions beyond
health parameters as well as diseases of the the collector’s control often compromise sam-
targeted species, it is advisable to interview par- ples. Preparing as much as possible for non-ideal
ticipants until thematic saturation is reached, samples can help optimize results. For example,
apply triangulation techniques, and validate if multiple filter-paper blood strips are collected
the information with participants. The research but not all are perfectly saturated, at the time of
team must be knowledgeable about the ethical analysis it may be possible to combine two fully
principles that apply when gathering knowledge saturated halves to make ‘one whole’ strip.
from people (and possibly from different ethnic
groups). In addition, the team must be familiar
with social science and PE methods and tech- targeted field investigation
niques. Relevant additional resources listed at
the end of the section are the website of the In case of reported abnormalities in the sam-
Participatory Epidemiology Network for Animal pled/harvested animals or observations of
and Public Health (PENAPH) and Tomaselli unusual mortalities, a specialized team should
et al. (2018a). Local knowledge can inform the act promptly and implement field disease inves-
components of the surveillance that are based on tigation activities whenever possible. Rapid
sampling and vice versa. For example, informa- follow-up and action are key to detecting disease
tion from local knowledge holders can trigger outbreaks in wildlife.
a targeted disease survey or investigation (for
example, the above-described observation and
ultimate identification of orf virus); conversely,

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