Zoonotic Disease Risk Mapping at the Wildlife–Human Interface in Mole National Park, Ghana

Faculty Mentors

Dr. Heather Broughton and Dr. Richard G. Boakye

Project Description

Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) of zoonotic origin are a major global health concern, with most recent EIDs linked to wildlife reservoirs (Allen et al., 2017). In sub-Saharan Africa, expanding agriculture, livestock grazing, and human settlement near protected areas create complex interfaces where humans and wildlife share space and resources, elevating the risk of cross-species pathogen transmission (Mgba, 2024). At Mole National Park, this interface is particularly intense and constitutes a clear conservation challenge: increasing overlap among wildlife, livestock, and people around park boundaries and shared water points creates pathways for disease spillover. The park supports diverse wildlife, including elephants, antelopes, primates, warthogs, and carnivores, yet surrounding communities depend heavily on farming and free-ranging livestock, often grazing along its edges. Limited surveillance and baseline data on zoonotic pathogens further constrain effective management.  In this study, structured survey will be performed using non-invasive methods to detect potential zoonotic pathogens of human and livestock concern in the park. The first phase will utilize fecal material collected via scat transects, and identified according to source species and location, for pathogen discovery via genetic sequencing, and visual identification of gastrointestinal parasites, to identify future pathogens/parasites of interest to explore in phase 2.

Skills and Prereqs

Two students are required, preferably with the following backgrounds:

• Student 1: Microbiology or molecular biology laboratory experience.
• Student 2: Interest or experience in wildlife ecology, zoonotic disease, One Health, or conservation biology.

Travel

Students will travel from the United States to Ghana during the summer research period, with onward ground travel to Mole National Park and surrounding communities. Students should be prepared for long-distance international and ground travel, fieldwork in warm outdoor conditions, walking wildlife/scat transects, collecting biological samples, and working in and around protected-area and community landscapes.

Notes for Applicants

Number of students

Two

Project ID - Format

27-004-27- CRP Year

Interested in this project?

Review the CRP application requirements and submit your application by October 25, 2026.