Comparative Medicine in the Central African Republic: A Short Report on Regional Zoonotic and Neglected Tropical Disease Dynamics

The Central African Republic carries a substantial burden of zoonotic and neglected tropical diseases, with particular implications for maternal and child health. Comparative medicine studies at the human-animal-environment interface are essential for understanding regional transmission but are inadequately documented for this region. This short report synthesises documented dynamics of key zoonotic and neglected tropical diseases within the Central African Republic. It aims to outline regional patterns and identify surveillance gaps relevant to obstetric and gynaecological outcomes. A narrative synthesis was undertaken using available grey literature, national health reports, and published surveillance summaries. The analysis focused on diseases with recognised implications for reproductive health, including brucellosis, schistosomiasis, and lymphatic filariasis. The synthesis indicates a persistently high prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis in riverine communities, with a notable proportion of cases presenting as female genital schistosomiasis. Surveillance for other zoonoses remains fragmented. Data explicitly linking specific neglected tropical diseases to adverse pregnancy outcomes are scarce. Zoonotic and neglected tropical disease dynamics in the Central African Republic present an ongoing public health challenge with direct consequences for women’s health. A lack of integrated, comparative data hinders effective intervention planning. Enhanced, integrated One Health surveillance systems are required. Future research should prioritise investigating the direct impact of specific zoonoses and neglected tropical diseases on maternal morbidity, infertility, and birth outcomes in this context. Comparative medicine, zoonoses, neglected tropical diseases, Central African Republic, One Health, maternal health This report collates and highlights regional disease dynamics to inform clinicians and public health practitioners in the fields of obstetrics and gynaecology.