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Putting Rodents at the Center of One Health Programs: A Narrative Synthesis
1Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, Kent, UK.
Integrative Zoology
|May 13, 2026
Summary
Rodents are crucial in One Health, acting as pathogen reservoirs and ecosystem influencers. Integrating rodent ecology into One Health programs is vital for preventing zoonotic diseases and maintaining ecosystem health.
Area of Science:
- Integrative zoology
- Ecology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Rodents are key players in One Health frameworks, bridging humans, animals, and the environment.
- They serve as reservoirs and sentinels for zoonotic pathogens and provide essential ecosystem services.
- Rodent populations influence biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and landscape structure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize current understanding of rodent ecology, pathogen diversity, and environmental change.
- To advocate for placing rodents at the center of One Health programs.
- To highlight the RatZooMan project as a model for rodent-focused One Health.
Main Methods:
- Narrative synthesis of multidisciplinary research over two decades.
- Focus on research from sub-Saharan Africa.
- Integration of ecological, evolutionary, and health perspectives.
Main Results:
- Rodents act as reservoirs, amplifiers, and sentinels for diverse zoonotic pathogens.
- Invasive rodents disrupt ecosystems and contribute to biodiversity loss.
- Rodents are sensitive bioindicators of environmental contamination and degradation.
Conclusions:
- Explicitly centering rodents in One Health programs, particularly within integrative zoology, is essential.
- Reconciling zoonotic disease prevention with ecosystem integrity requires a rodent-focused approach.
- Future research should bridge disciplinary silos for sustainable development and disease control.
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