ARPHA Preprints, doi: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e114029
Rapid Risk Assessment of plant pathogenic bacteria and protists likely to threaten agriculture, biodiversity and forestry in Zambia
Joseph Mulema‡, Sydney Phiri§, Nchimunya Bbebe|, Rodwell Chandipo¶, Mutibo Chijikwa#, Hildah Chimutingiza¤, Paul Kachapulula«, Francisca Kankuma Mwanda¤, Mathews Matimelo¤, Emma Mazimba-Sikazwe», Sydney Mfune», Mtawa Mkulama», Miyanda Moonga«, Wiza Mphande˄, Millens Mufwaya˅, Rabson Mulenga¤, Brenda Mweemba», Damien Ndalamei Mabote¤, Phillip Nkunika«, Isaiah Nthenga¤, Mathias Tembo¤, Judith Chowa§, Stacey Odunga‡, Selpha Opisa‡, Chapwa Kasoma§, Lucinda Charles¦, Fernadis Makaleˀ, Ivan Rwomushana‡, Noah Anthony Phiri§‡ CABI, Nairobi, Kenya§ CABI, Lusaka, Zambia| Mulungushi University, Kabwe, Zambia¶ Zambia Environmental Management Agency, Lusaka, Zambia# National Biosafety Authority, Lusaka, Zambia¤ Zambia Agriculture Research Institute, Lusaka, Zambia« University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia» Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Service, Lusaka, Zambia˄ Mulungushi University, Lusaka, Zambia˅ Natural Resources Development College, Lusaka, Zambia¦ CABI, Wallingford, United Kingdomˀ cabi, Nairobi, Kenya
Corresponding author: Joseph Mulema ( j.mulema@cabi.org ) © Joseph Mulema, Sydney Phiri, Nchimunya Bbebe, Rodwell Chandipo, Mutibo Chijikwa, Hildah Chimutingiza, Paul Kachapulula, Francisca Kankuma Mwanda, Mathews Matimelo, Emma Mazimba-Sikazwe, Sydney Mfune, Mtawa Mkulama, Miyanda Moonga, Wiza Mphande, Millens Mufwaya, Rabson Mulenga, Brenda Mweemba, Damien Ndalamei Mabote, Phillip Nkunika, Isaiah Nthenga, Mathias Tembo, Judith Chowa, Stacey Odunga, Selpha Opisa, Chapwa Kasoma, Lucinda Charles, Fernadis Makale, Ivan Rwomushana, Noah Anthony Phiri. This is an open access preprint distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Citation:
Mulema J, Phiri S, Bbebe N, Chandipo R, Chijikwa M, Chimutingiza H, Kachapulula P, Kankuma Mwanda F, Matimelo M, Mazimba-Sikazwe E, Mfune S, Mkulama M, Moonga M, Mphande W, Mufwaya M, Mulenga R, Mweemba B, Ndalamei Mabote D, Nkunika P, Nthenga I, Tembo M, Chowa J, Odunga S, Opisa S, Kasoma C, Charles L, Makale F, Rwomushana I, Phiri NA (2023) Rapid Risk Assessment of plant pathogenic bacteria and protists likely to threaten agriculture, biodiversity and forestry in Zambia. ARPHA Preprints. https://doi.org/10.3897/arphapreprints.e114029 |  |
Abstract
A prioritisation study was conducted to address the lack of adequate information about potential pests likely to be introduced in Zambia and become invasive. The study was conducted by subject matter experts from relevant institutions in and outside Zambia. Although this study focussed on major pest categories, this paper only addresses bacteria and Protista. A list of 306 bacterial and 10 Protista species adjudged to affect plants was generated using CABI’s Horizon Scanning Tool. The 316 (total) pest species were refined to focus on pests that affect value chains important to Zambia’s economy. This resulted in a final list of 133 bacteria and 8 Protista. Four additional bacteria species considered of phytosanitary interest were added and all 137 bacteria and 8 Protista species were subjected to a rapid risk assessment using agreed guidelines. Vectors reported to transmit any of the pathogenic organisms were also subjected to a risk assessment. A proportion of 53% (n=77 of 145) comprising 73 bacteria and 4 Protista species were reported as present in Africa. Of these, 42 (57%, n=73) bacterial species and 2 (n=4) Protista species were reported in neighbouring countries. Considering a cut-off of 54, the highest scoring pests were 40 bacteria (highest score of 140) and three Protista (highest score of 125). Three actions were suggested for high-scoring pests, a detection surveillance, a pest-initiated pest risk analysis (PRA) or a detection surveillance followed by pest-initiated PRA. A “no action” was suggested where the risk was very low although for some pathogenic organisms, a “no action” was followed by periodic monitoring. This information will contribute towards proactive prevention and management of biological invasions.
Keywords
invasive alien species, horizon scanning, pest risk, pest prioritization, risk assessment