Towards a global One Health index: a potential assessment tool for One Health performance

Background:A One Health approach has been increasingly mainstreamed by the international community, as it provides for holistic thinking in recognizing the close links and inter-dependence of the health of humans, animals and the environment. However, the dearth of real-world evidence has hampered application of a One Health approach in shaping policies and practice. This study proposes the development of a potential evaluation tool for One Health performance, in order to contribute to the scientific measurement of One Health approach and the identification of gaps where One Health capacity building is most urgently needed.Methods:We describe five steps towards a global One Health index (GOHI), including (i) framework formulation;(ii) indicator selection;(iii) database building;(iv) weight determination;and (v) GOHI scores calculation. A cell-like framework for GOHI is proposed, which comprises an external drivers index (EDI), an intrinsic drivers index (IDI) and a core drivers index (CDI). We construct the indicator scheme for GOHI based on this framework after multiple rounds of panel discussions with our expert advisory committee. A fuzzy analytical hierarchy process is adopted to determine the weights for each of the indicators.Results:The weighted indicator scheme of GOHI comprises three first-level indicators, 13 second-level indicators, and 57 third-level indicators. According to the pilot analysis based on the data from more than 200 countries/territories the GOHI scores overall are far from ideal (the highest score of 65.0 out of a maximum score of 100), and we found considerable variations among different countries/territories (31.8–65.0). The results from the pilot analysis are consistent with the results from a literature review, which suggests that a GOHI as a potential tool for the assessment of One Health performance might be feasible.Conclusions:GOHI—subject to rigorous validation—would represent the world’s first evaluation tool that constructs the conceptual framework from a holistic perspective of One Health. Future application of GOHI might promote a common understanding of a strong One Health approach and provide reference for promoting effective measures to strengthen One Health capacity building. With further adaptations under various scenarios, GOHI, along with its technical protocols and databases, will be updated regularly to address current technical limitations, and capture new knowledge.

Projecting the proliferation risk of Oncomelania hupensis in China driven by SSPs:A multi-scenario comparison and integrated modeling study

Climate change has been known to cause variations in the geographically suitable areas for the schistosome-transmitting Oncomelania hupensis(O.hupensis).The spread of snails not only depends on the degree of warming but also on the socioeconomic development of the next few decades.Shared socioeconomic pathways(SSPs)published by CMIP6 consider carbon emission pathways as well as influences of distinct types of social development and land use on the regional climate,providing the possibility to accurately evaluate the impact of socioeconomic development and climate variation on the spread of O.hupensis.This study employed SSP126,SSP245,SSP370,and SSP585 and the correlative approach to explore the impacts of climate change and socioeconomic development on the potential diffusion areas for O.hupensis in China.The results exhibited strong evidence that O.hupensis will spread in the north of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and disappear from a small part of its current southern habitat,whereas in Sichuan and Yunnan,O.hupensis may spread slightly to the southeast.The projection also demonstrated that fossil fuel-driven development(SSP585)will be more conducive to the spread of O.hupensis breeding sites in the 2030s,whereas the continuous increase in snail breeding habitats under the regional rivalry path(SSP370)may lead to great challenges in snail control in the long term(2020-2080).