Snake species assemblages across habitat types in four departments of the Republic of Congo, with emphasis on medically-relevant venomous species.

Snakebite is a neglected public health crisis in sub-Saharan Africa. There is a particular lack of data (on snakes and snakebite) from the central African region. This study was conducted in the departments of Likouala, Sangha, Cuvette-Ouest and Kouilou, in the Republic of Congo. The objective was to inventory snakes in the four localities with particular emphasis on medically relevant venomous snakes in order to improve knowledge of snakes in order to minimize the risks of snakebite envenomation to humans. Two methods (active and passive) were used to collect specimens from different habitats. Fifty-one (51)snake specimens including 14 medically relevant snake specimens representing 3 families, 3 subfamilies, 5 genera, and 6 species, in addition to 22 harmless species, were collected. We found a high number of medically important venomous species in Okoyo, Mokéko and Mvouti districts with 3 species each. The highest number of medically important venomous species was recorded in natural forests and human habitations, five and four species respectively. The species obtained (, , , , and ) are medically relevant toxic species according to the WHO classification. Further studies would be necessary to assess the epidemiology of bite risks snakes and educate the public to minimize accidental human-snake contact.