Welcome to the Autumn Edition of the BCOMING Newsletter!

Once again, we’re excited to bring you the latest updates from the field, upcoming workshops, and insights from our conservation efforts in Cambodia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, and beyond. In this edition, we’ll explore recent developments, initial findings, and collaborative milestones that have pushed us forward in our commitment to understanding and preserving biodiversity in tropical hotspots.

Fieldwork Updates from Our Biodiversity Hotspots

Cambodia Field Studies Our team has been working in diverse areas across Cambodia, studying bat and other wildlife populations to assess zoonotic risks. Fieldwork is underway across four distinct zones.

So far, eight field missions have captured over 1,600 bats representing 27 species, with biological sampling underway. We’ve also initiated monthly guano collection, bat acoustic recordings, and sampling of both rodents and domestic animals. Concurrently, environmental sampling and mosquito trapping have provided additional insights into the ecosystem’s dynamics.

Fieldwork Highlights! In addition to capturing bats, we are:

• Collecting and analysing bat guano to monitor viruses.
• Conducting rodent and poultry sampling near bat habitats.
• Preparing for a social survey on paramyxoviruses with community involvement in early 2025.

Lab Work Progress The collected samples are undergoing rigorous testing, with initial findings revealing specific virus prevalence rates. In parallel, our team is advancing on virus detection through real-time and conventional PCR methods.

Participatory Modeling Workshops

This autumn, workshops have resumed to engage local communities and gather critical input for our models and scenarios:

• Cambodia: Workshops will resume in November to develop adaptive models and survey updates.
• Guinea: Surveys are underway, with the second round of workshops planned for January to discuss solutions in surveillance systems.
• Guadeloupe: Surveys and participatory mapping workshops are progressing, aimed at early next year for completion.

We’ve gathered over 500 survey responses, with analysis on track for a comprehensive community-centered evaluation by January.

Conservation Actions

In Guinea, we’re actively working with communities on forest access guidelines, restoration, and clean water initiatives. Efforts like the "Chickens Project" aim to reduce bushmeat dependency, while our educational programs focus on sustainable practices.

In Cambodia, biodiversity surveys continue, with new findings on bat species and their habitats. We’re also creating educational resources for guano collectors to raise awareness on sustainable cave use.

Research and Surveillance Insights

Across BCOMING’s field sites, significant advancements have been made in surveillance and virus detection. In Guinea, 77 out of 171 rodent spleens tested positive for Lassa virus, with genome analysis in progress. In Guadeloupe, mosquito trapping and horse serological studies provide valuable data on West Nile Virus.

Our laboratory efforts reveal positive initial findings for coronaviruses and paramyxoviruses in bats, with over 13,000 samples analysed so far. Collaborative work on these results will continue through 2025, with an emphasis on biodiversity and climate implications.

Workshop and Survey Progress

The first wave of Participatory Systems Mapping (PSM) workshops has been completed in Cambodia, Guinea, and Guadeloupe!

These steps are vital for engaging local voices and refining our models to reflect real-world dynamics in our study regions.

Annual Meeting Recap

In September, BCOMING partners convened virtually and in person to share progress and plan future directions. With productive discussions on data sharing and upcoming workshops, the meeting strengthened our vision for impactful outcomes!

New Results & Publications!

We’re excited to share our latest results on our website, including:

• D8.5 Policy Brief on One Health (under review): A synthesis of local stakeholder feedback and NGO insights for embedding One Health approaches.
• D7.2 Visions and Values Report (under review): Findings from psychometric indicators across study sites.
• D6.1 Surveillance Systems Assessment (under review): A detailed evaluation of One Health surveillance in Cambodia and Guinea.

Explore more on our website for the full range of publications and updates on ongoing research!

Blog Highlights

Catch up on our recent stories:

• Bats & Ectoparasites: Examining the ecological roles of bats’ ectoparasites and their impact on zoonotic disease dynamics.
• Cambodia Takeover with Fauna & Flora: Celebrating Cambodia’s unique biodiversity with weekly features in collaboration with Fauna & Flora .
• Protect Insects, Protect Biodiversity: We took advantage of World Migratory Bird Day to raise awareness on insect conservation’s critical role in biodiversity preservation.

Thank you for following along with the latest updates from BCOMING. We’re grateful for your continued support and look forward to sharing more progress with you in the coming months. Stay connected and explore more on our website!