Reviewing the Role of Vultures at the Human-Wildlife-Livestock Disease Interface: An African Perspective

Vultures are a key component of an effective scavenger guild and have evolved number adaptations that allow them to locate dispose carcasses quickly efficiently. The continuing decline African vultures is threatening the stability guild, which may result in increased carcass decomposition times thus, more rapid development pathogenic bacteria. absence competitive regulation by these apex scavengers also changes composition vertebrate with increase mammalian giving rise contact rates at carcasses, risk viral disease transmission humans, livestock, other wildlife. Although economic value terms sanitation services they provide has been evaluated, their contribution economics human health veterinary care remains be quantified. Efforts do so hampered lack data, as well confounding factors mask causality, such improved prevention surveillance systems. However, circumstantial nature link between should not deter efforts conserve them, place firmly within sphere One Health, thereby warranting urgent protection. restoration vulture populations ecosystem will benefit welfare all but particularly those who most vulnerable instability spillover human-wildlife-livestock interface.