Conclusions
We identified an array of pathogens of both veterinary and public health importance in vectors collected from domestic animals at LMs and SHs. Significantly, the host animals were either being traded to destinations that were different from their origin or taken to slaughter, carrying infected vectors. These findings show how the animal trade can be the driver for new foci of infection in new areas, with risks to both domestic animal and human populations. Furthermore, their presence at SHs exposes abattoir workers, meat inspectors, butchers, and consumers to diseases like CCHF and ATBF. The zoonotic pathogens detected here cause febrile illness that can be clinically difficult to differentiate from malaria or other non-specific fevers (Crump et al., 2013). Indeed, a large majority of non-malarial febrile cases are never properly diagnosed. Therefore, evidence of their possible circulation and risk for human infection warrants their inclusion, if not routinely due to limitations in clinical differential diagnostics, at least in routine prospective surveys in health centres receiving febrile patients.