Abstract The emergence of new diseases, both zoonotic and wildlife pathogens, poses significant risks to human and animal populations, especially in megadiverse regions. In Brazil, the Amazon, the Atlantic Rain Forest, and the Brazilian Savannah are home to extensive biodiversity, but there are deficiencies in the implementation of adequate surveillance systems for emerging pathogens. Biorepositories are valuable tools for tracking emerging pathogens and helping the health surveillance systems, ensuring scientific collaboration. The National Biodiversity Biorepository (BIONABIO) was implemented as a collaborative network for the surveillance of pathogens in Brazilian fauna, linking different stakeholders, including wildlife care services, rehabilitation centres, zoos, field researchers, collection curators, and wildlife and veterinary public health managers. BIONABIO will be a virtual biorepository, with no centralized storage structure; instead, existing samples will remain in their original locations until there is a need for diagnosis or research. Two workshops have been held to define data requirements, storage rules, and strategies for attracting partners, in addition to creating a strategic plan and governance structure for BIONABIO. Despite infrastructure challenges, including limited storage capacity and diagnostic resources, the network aims to address these gaps through improved training, collaboration, open sample sharing, and risk-based surveillance. By institutionalizing its structure, BIONABIO hopes to secure funding and long-term sustainability for emerging pathogen surveillance in Brazil.
Dias et al. (2025) studied this question.