Résumé
Background and Aims: Zoonotic diseases are challenging to control because untreated animalreservoirs sustain transmission. In southern Benin, rodents and livestock have been implicated in thecirculation of Schistosoma haematobium, S. bovis, and their hybrids. This study aimed to assess thecontribution of livestock and rodents to the local transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis insouthern Benin, and to evaluate its zoonotic potential.Methods: Urine samples from 117 humans and faeces from 44 cattle were collected in Késsounouand examined for Schistosoma infection. Ninety-six rodents were captured and examined forschistosome after perfusion and dissection. Molluscs vectors were collected monthly and tested forcercarial shedding. Miracidia and cercariae were preserved on FTA cards and used for RADseq libraryconstruction. Experimental infections of naïve Mastomys natalensis F1 and cattle are ongoing toassess interspecific variation in transmission competence.Results: Overall, 23.9% of humans were positive, with higher prevalence in men (p = 0.041) and adults(p < 0.00001). Infection prevalence in cattle was 38.6%. No infections were detected in rodents (M.natalensis, R. rattus, C. olivieri). A total of 798 Bulinus forskalii and 57 B. globosus were collected.Mollusc abundance varied by month and season (p < 0.001), but infection prevalence remained low.Genomic analyses and experimental infections are ongoing.Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest a limited or highly seasonal role of rodents intransmission, likely due to rapid population turnover and short lifespan compared with humans andcattle. Integrating genomic and experimental data into mathematical models will help quantifyreservoir contributions, zoonotic potential, and guide control strategies.