PSIII-28 Veterinary Syndromic Surveillance in Africa: Challenges, opportunities, and strategies for sustainable implementation: A scoping review.

Abstract Veterinary Syndromic Surveillance (VSS) is a critical tool for early disease detection and control in Africa, where livestock play a central role in food security, economic stability, and public health. The region’s high prevalence of transboundary and zoonotic diseases necessitates timely disease monitoring to prevent outbreaks and ensure sustainable livestock production. However, the implementation of VSS in Africa faces numerous systemic challenges, including socio-economic constraints, cultural resistance, geographic inaccessibility, and inadequate diagnostic infrastructure. These barriers hinder the effectiveness and sustainability of VSS systems, requiring a comprehensive evaluation of obstacles, opportunities, and strategic interventions. This scoping review analysed 300 peer-reviewed journal articles, case studies, and international reports on VSS across North, West, Central, East, and Southern Africa. Literature was sourced from CAB Abstracts, Agricola, and Web of Science using a structured search strategy. A two-stage screening process was conducted, where five reviewers assessed study titles, abstracts, and full texts. Standardized data extraction captured key study characteristics, including surveillance system types, identified challenges, implemented interventions, and observed outcomes. Findings reveal several major barriers to VSS adoption. In Nigeria, underreporting of animal diseases stems from cultural hesitancy and limited awareness. In Kenya, mobile phone-based surveillance encounters challenges with unreliable network coverage and data submission delays. Zambia’s digital livestock information management systems face data validation concerns and reliance on field officers. Internationally, laboratory-based surveillance systems struggle with standardization issues, affecting diagnostic consistency across regions. Financial limitations and insufficient policy support further impede large-scale VSS adoption. Despite these challenges, several interventions have shown promise in enhancing VSS effectiveness. Community-driven disease reporting programs, such as Participatory Animal Disease Surveillance (PADS) in Nigeria, have improved early detection by engaging local farmers. Integration of VSS with digital livestock information management systems in Zambia has reduced data transmission delays, improving response time. Mobile-based reporting tools, though constrained by infrastructure limitations, have demonstrated potential in Kenya when complemented by community health workers and local veterinary personnel. Additionally, adherence to international health monitoring standards has improved laboratory diagnostic reproducibility. A thematic analysis categorized challenges into cultural, socio-economic, and logistical barriers, identifying scalable solutions such as mobile reporting platforms, farmer engagement strategies, and innovative financing models. Future research should focus on scalability, policy integration, and regional cooperation to strengthen VSS frameworks. By leveraging technology, fostering community participation, and improving cross-sector collaboration, VSS can play a transformative role in enhancing livestock disease surveillance and response across Africa.