The potentialities of emerging zoonotic diseases from wild to domestic environments Latest reviews on EID show that nearly 75% of zoonotic EID have a wildlife origin. 3, 5, [13] [14] [15] In fact, the number of EID events caused by pathogens coming from wildlife has increased during the past six decades. 3 The majority of pathogens recorded were of viral origin. 16 Therefore viral zoonoses of wildlife origin represent the most significant and growing threat to global health among all EIDs. 3, 13 As anthropogenic activities have been identified as the cause of a significant majority of outbreaks, 16, 17 it is essential to fully understand the mechanisms driving contacts between wildlife and the human population as well as speciesjumping infections to set up public health information campaigns. On the contrary, efforts to conserve areas rich in wildlife diversity (13 National Parks were created in 2002 in Gabon) by reducing anthropogenic activity may have an added value in reducing the likelihood of future zoonotic disease emergence in these areas. 3 EIDs in free-living wild animals can be classified into three major groups on the basis of key epizootiological criteria: 18 (i) EIDs associated with 'spill-over' from domestic animals to wildlife populations living in proximity; (ii) EIDs related directly to human intervention, via host or parasite translocations; and (iii) EIDs with no overt human or domestic animal involvement. These phenomena have two major biological implications: first, many wildlife species are reservoirs of pathogens that threaten domestic animal and human health; second, wildlife EIDs pose a substantial threat to the conservation of global biodiversity, with for example the disappearance of the most great ape populations in protected areas in Central Africa after the 2002-2003 ebola virus outbreaks. [19] [20] [21] [22] Emerging zoonotic diseases in Gabon In Gabon, rainforests cover B80% of the territory. 23 These forests are known for their rich biodiversity of animal and plant species. 23 The human population, estimated at 1.5 million, 24 lives more in cities (54%) than in rural areas. 25 Gabon's economy has relied in the past mainly on petroleum exports, forest exploitation, and mining activities. Forest habitats are now exploited by logging and mining companies, tourism and hunting activities, which produce about 17,500 metric tons per year of game meat. Altogether these human incursions in Gabonese forests for exploitation purposes lead to intensified contacts between humans and wildlife and generate a risk of emergence of zoonotic diseases. 26 This risk is not strictly restricted to the forest but exists countrywide as the urban demand for bush-meat in Gabon is important (45 kg/per/year 27 ). Indeed, every Gabonese city has traditional and local food markets where fresh and smoked bush-meat coming from all around the country are available. Potential EIDs due to wildlife in Gabon are thereby plentiful and need to be inventoried.