Objective
The project involves 5 centres: The International Trypanotolerance Centre (ITC) in The Gambia, Centre de Recherches sur les
Trypanosomoses Animales (CRTA) in Burkina Faso, Institut d'Elevage et de Medecine Veterinaire des Pays Tropicaux (IEMVT), in France, the University of Glasgow Veterinary School (UGVS) and the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) in the United Kingdom. The overall objective of the project is to improve the sustainability of livestock production in tsetse infested areas by maximising the use of animal genetic and forage resources through a better
understanding of the interaction between nutrition and genetic resistance to disease. Trypanosomiasis is an important disease which limits the productivity of animals in many parts of Africa which are infested with tsetse flies which can carry the infection. Certain breeds of West African cattle, notably the N'Dama and Baoule are genetically resistant to trypanosomiasis and hence have enormous potential as a sustainable resource for enhancing cattle production in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, the stability and expression of this resistance is influenced by a number of external factors, particularly nutrition. The project will attempt to quantify the exact nature of the interaction between nutrition and genetic resistance to trypanosomiasis through the conduct of experiments with trypano -tolerant and -sensitive cattle at the internationally renowned trypanotolerance centres in The Gambia and Burkina Faso. The animals (both growing and lactating) will be offered varying levels of nutrition, with and without infection with trypanosomes. Traditional herds will also be monitored in Burkina Faso to relate the results of controlled experiments on-station to the situation in the field. The pathogenesis of
trypanosomiasis will be studied at the University of Glasgow, Where strict control over the nutrients ingested can be maintained more easily than in West Africa. Back-up laboratory analysis will be conducted at IEMVT and NRI and the project will be co-ordinated by NRI.
Fields of science
Topic(s)
Data not availableCall for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
ME4 4TB Chatham
United Kingdom