Establishment of a multi-sectoral strategy for the control of brucellosis in the main peri-urban dairy production zones of West and Central Africa
Lead Research Organisation:
Royal Veterinary College
Department Name: Clinical Sciences and Services
Abstract
Brucellosis is the world's most widespread zoonosis, imposing a substantial burden on the livelihoods of poor people as a result of human disease and reduced livestock productivity. However, brucellosis is rarely a priority for health systems and for this reason the WHO classifies brucellosis as a "neglected endemic zoonosis". The main routes by which people can be infected are consumption of contaminated dairy products and direct contact with infected animals. Therefore, the control of human brucellosis depends on its control in animals, mainly ruminants, while its detrimental effects include both animal and human disease. Although a range of tools (diagnostics, vaccines) are available and have been used, sometimes successfully, to control brucellosis in different parts of the world the disease remains present at high levels in others. It is likely that failure to control the disease is due to a combination of factors, some of them technical (e.g. quality and appropriateness of different vaccines for different settings), others socioeconomic (livestock keepers perceptions towards the disease and incentives for its control) or institutional (priority given by veterinary services to the disease, lack of interaction between animal health and public health services).
In this project we target one of the livestock systems in which Brucellosis is likely to pose the heaviest burden on vulnerable populations in Sub-Saharan Africa: dairy farms supplying milk to rapidly growing urban populations in West and Central Africa, and we will do it by integrating a range of disciplines so that we consider the different biological, social and institutional dimensions of the disease that are relevant for its control. We will focus on the first phase of control of the disease: the reduction of its prevalence by means of vaccination, since total eradication requires conditions that are not currently met in the target area. The so-called peri-urban dairy farms are an important source of wealth in poor settings and a source of protein in increasingly urbanised African populations. Furthermore, there is evidence that this region has the highest prevalence of ruminant brucellosis in Sub-Saharan Africa.
We will carry out a series of field studies to measure the burden of brucellosis in livestock productivity and human health in the main areas for peri-urban dairy production in the 15 target countries, to identify routes by which people become infected, to quantify the economic consequences of the disease for farmers and to understand farmers' perceptions and attitudes toward the disease. In parallel we will carry out a series of training activities and we will work with local institutions to identify barriers for effective and sustainable control and to overcome those. The results will be used to design and carry out 2-year control programs based on vaccination in a small number of settings. The effectiveness of these control programs will be carefully monitored and the results widely shared within and outside the region.
Central to this project is the Interstate School of Veterinary Science and Medicine of Dakar (EISMV) a regional educational hub that involves 15 West and Central African countries. EISMV academics will work in partnership with UK-based researchers from two leading veterinary and medical educational institutions: Royal Veterinary College and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and with the international reference laboratory for brucellosis at Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency. The Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed), an organization which works globally to facilitate access of poor livestock keepers to affordable livestock vaccines, medicines and diagnostics will also be an essential part of the consortium contributing to the translation of our research findings into tangible benefits for vulnerable populations and livestock keepers in poor countries.
In this project we target one of the livestock systems in which Brucellosis is likely to pose the heaviest burden on vulnerable populations in Sub-Saharan Africa: dairy farms supplying milk to rapidly growing urban populations in West and Central Africa, and we will do it by integrating a range of disciplines so that we consider the different biological, social and institutional dimensions of the disease that are relevant for its control. We will focus on the first phase of control of the disease: the reduction of its prevalence by means of vaccination, since total eradication requires conditions that are not currently met in the target area. The so-called peri-urban dairy farms are an important source of wealth in poor settings and a source of protein in increasingly urbanised African populations. Furthermore, there is evidence that this region has the highest prevalence of ruminant brucellosis in Sub-Saharan Africa.
We will carry out a series of field studies to measure the burden of brucellosis in livestock productivity and human health in the main areas for peri-urban dairy production in the 15 target countries, to identify routes by which people become infected, to quantify the economic consequences of the disease for farmers and to understand farmers' perceptions and attitudes toward the disease. In parallel we will carry out a series of training activities and we will work with local institutions to identify barriers for effective and sustainable control and to overcome those. The results will be used to design and carry out 2-year control programs based on vaccination in a small number of settings. The effectiveness of these control programs will be carefully monitored and the results widely shared within and outside the region.
Central to this project is the Interstate School of Veterinary Science and Medicine of Dakar (EISMV) a regional educational hub that involves 15 West and Central African countries. EISMV academics will work in partnership with UK-based researchers from two leading veterinary and medical educational institutions: Royal Veterinary College and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and with the international reference laboratory for brucellosis at Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency. The Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed), an organization which works globally to facilitate access of poor livestock keepers to affordable livestock vaccines, medicines and diagnostics will also be an essential part of the consortium contributing to the translation of our research findings into tangible benefits for vulnerable populations and livestock keepers in poor countries.
Technical Summary
As one of the most prevalent zoonoses, brucellosis is an important constraint on the livelihoods of poor people acting both directly on human health causing chronic disability and indirectly via decreased livestock productivity. The heaviest burden is currently on vulnerable populations in Sub-Saharan Africa where emergent livestock systems (per-urban dairy farms) as increasingly required to supply milk to the rapidly growing urban populations. Transmission to humans is mostly by the consumption of contaminated dairy products and contact with infected animals. A range of diagnostic tools and vaccines are used in developed settings and have successfully controled brucellosis in animals and hence humans in different parts of the world. Their use however in LMIC animal health programmes are hampered by several technical, social and economic factors g. quality and appropriateness of different vaccines for different settings, livestock keepers perceptions towards the disease, competing demands lack of incentives for its control, unrecognised human burden from the disease. This project will be on peri-urban farm systems in collaboration with the Interstate School of Veterinary Science and Medicine of Dakar (EISMV) a regional educational hub in 15 West and Central African countries. A multidisciplinary research and development programme linking appropriately to industry is proposed to provide biological, social and institutional answers to the effective control of the disease by vaccination. Field studies will measure the burden of brucellosis in livestock, productivity and human health peri-urban areas identify routes by which people become infected, assess farmers' perceptions and attitudes toward the disease, assess vaccines for effectiveness in livestock, and explore key stakeholder and institutional relationships to identify how to effectively deliver use control measures for Brucella. Training and capacity building will be a central part of the work.
Planned Impact
The main beneficiaries from this research will be:
1. Dairy farmers in the main peri-urban dairy production zones of the 15 West & Central African countries targeted by the project.
All of them will benefit from more effective and sustainable ways of reducing the prevalence of brucellosis in their animals, including improved access to vaccines, improved local diagnostic capacity and improved awareness of veterinary and public health services of the burden of disease and of livestock keeper's priorities. These benefits will gradually build along the 4.5 years duration of the project. Furthermore, we expect the subset of farmers from areas selected for implementation of 5 control programs as part of the project to directly benefit from a reduction in the prevalence of infection towards the end of the project (years 4-5). Peri-urban dairy farmers from the target countries but located in areas not targeted by the 5 control programs, could benefit from the expansion of programs to their areas after the conclusion of the project. In summary, peri-urban dairy farmers will benefit from enhanced and more effective public and private services in relation to brucellosis control and from higher productivity as a result of lower prevalence of an infection that compromises reproductive efficiency and milk production of their cattle. Eventually, keepers of livestock of all ruminant species could benefit if our project succeeds at instigating national control programs for brucellosis in their countries.
2. The local population exposed to direct contact with dairy cattle in the above systems (livestock keepers, farm workers and their families) will benefit from a decreased risk of infection as prevalence in cattle is reduced. Brucellosis is associated with a considerable burden to the local population through subacute disease and chronic disability and its control in ruminants is likely to reduce direct transmission to humans.
3. Similarly to the previous group, the much larger population of consumers of milk and dairy products from the above livestock systems will benefit from a lower risk of exposure to Bucella spp via consumption of contaminated products.
Other beneficiaries will include:
Governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations involved in animal health, livestock production and public health, which, at the end of the project, will be in a better position to fulfil their mandates with regard to this important disease as a result of the empirical evidence generated by the field studies, the capacity building activities and the institutional work.
Private actors across the vaccine chain (manufacturers, retailers, vaccinators), veterinary and public health services and diagnostic laboratories will benefit from capacity building activities associated to the project.
Private actors across the emerging local dairy production chains in West & Central Africa will benefit from increased consumer confidence in the safety of their products.
The Interstate School of Veterinary Science and Medicine of Dakar, which is a major regional hub for veterinary education that actively engages 15 countries, will greatly benefit from acting as a key partner in this project through the establishment of functional links with leading educational institutions (LSHTM & RVC).
Similarly, diagnostic laboratories in the 15 target countries will establish links with the OIE international reference centre for brucellosis at AHVLA.
We are targeting countries and a production system with the highest prevalence of brucellosis in Sub-Saharan Africa and therefore with maximum potential impact from enhanced disease control. However, our project aims at enabling the implementation of a new generation of sustainable prevalence reduction programs for brucellosis that could be applied in other resource-scarce endemic settings beyond the target area and we will devote the last months of the project to maximize dissemination and impact.
1. Dairy farmers in the main peri-urban dairy production zones of the 15 West & Central African countries targeted by the project.
All of them will benefit from more effective and sustainable ways of reducing the prevalence of brucellosis in their animals, including improved access to vaccines, improved local diagnostic capacity and improved awareness of veterinary and public health services of the burden of disease and of livestock keeper's priorities. These benefits will gradually build along the 4.5 years duration of the project. Furthermore, we expect the subset of farmers from areas selected for implementation of 5 control programs as part of the project to directly benefit from a reduction in the prevalence of infection towards the end of the project (years 4-5). Peri-urban dairy farmers from the target countries but located in areas not targeted by the 5 control programs, could benefit from the expansion of programs to their areas after the conclusion of the project. In summary, peri-urban dairy farmers will benefit from enhanced and more effective public and private services in relation to brucellosis control and from higher productivity as a result of lower prevalence of an infection that compromises reproductive efficiency and milk production of their cattle. Eventually, keepers of livestock of all ruminant species could benefit if our project succeeds at instigating national control programs for brucellosis in their countries.
2. The local population exposed to direct contact with dairy cattle in the above systems (livestock keepers, farm workers and their families) will benefit from a decreased risk of infection as prevalence in cattle is reduced. Brucellosis is associated with a considerable burden to the local population through subacute disease and chronic disability and its control in ruminants is likely to reduce direct transmission to humans.
3. Similarly to the previous group, the much larger population of consumers of milk and dairy products from the above livestock systems will benefit from a lower risk of exposure to Bucella spp via consumption of contaminated products.
Other beneficiaries will include:
Governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations involved in animal health, livestock production and public health, which, at the end of the project, will be in a better position to fulfil their mandates with regard to this important disease as a result of the empirical evidence generated by the field studies, the capacity building activities and the institutional work.
Private actors across the vaccine chain (manufacturers, retailers, vaccinators), veterinary and public health services and diagnostic laboratories will benefit from capacity building activities associated to the project.
Private actors across the emerging local dairy production chains in West & Central Africa will benefit from increased consumer confidence in the safety of their products.
The Interstate School of Veterinary Science and Medicine of Dakar, which is a major regional hub for veterinary education that actively engages 15 countries, will greatly benefit from acting as a key partner in this project through the establishment of functional links with leading educational institutions (LSHTM & RVC).
Similarly, diagnostic laboratories in the 15 target countries will establish links with the OIE international reference centre for brucellosis at AHVLA.
We are targeting countries and a production system with the highest prevalence of brucellosis in Sub-Saharan Africa and therefore with maximum potential impact from enhanced disease control. However, our project aims at enabling the implementation of a new generation of sustainable prevalence reduction programs for brucellosis that could be applied in other resource-scarce endemic settings beyond the target area and we will devote the last months of the project to maximize dissemination and impact.
Organisations
- Royal Veterinary College (Lead Research Organisation)
- Dakar Main Hospital (Collaboration)
- Institute of Development Research (IRD) (Collaboration)
- Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, Cameroon (Collaboration)
- Ministry of Livestock (Collaboration)
- Senova Gesellschaft für Biowissenschaft und Technik (Collaboration)
- University of Ngaoundéré (Collaboration)
- Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (Collaboration)
- CZ Veterinaria (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- University of Rwanda (Collaboration)
- Technical University of Denmark (Collaboration)
- Government of Togo (Collaboration)
- Marien Ngouabi University (Collaboration)
- Heifer International (Collaboration)
- Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) (Collaboration)
- Government of Burundi (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA (Collaboration)
- Center for Research on Filariasis and Other Tropical Diseases (Collaboration)
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) (Collaboration)
- Rwanda Agriculture Board (Collaboration)
- Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) (Collaboration)
- Laboratoire National d'élevage et recherche vétérinaire (LNERV) (Collaboration)
- CARI (Collaboration)
- National Institute of Hygiene, Togo (Collaboration)
Publications
| Description | Through the initial situation analysis and the two international workshops, we identified knowledge gaps and barriers to control of brucellosis in the region and we established a solid network of people with a range of skills and experience to work together towards sustainable disease control programmes. Through this network we have been able to carry out a number of field studies on brucellosis in periurban dairy farms of several countries. A total of 18 studies in the same number of study areas in 12 countries has been completed. The results of these studies demonstrate that dairy cattle in several of these study areas are frequently infected by Brucella spp, creating conditions for human exposure to the pathogen, they have also highlighted livestock keeper practices that may contribute to the maintenance of the infection and to zoonotic transmission risk. We have also identified intensive dairy farming systems (as opposed to traditional transhumant systems) as likely to pose higher risk for Brucella transmission among cattle. Ongoing longitudinal studies have allowed us to isolate Brucella spp. so far in two countries (Senegal and Togo), confirming that the species Brucella abortus infects dairy cattle in the studied areas of these two countries. Our studies on human patients have shown a relatively high prevalence of human infection in areas of Cameroon and the KAP studies have identified key practices that should be tackled by public health education programs. Our pilot intervention studies, based on the use of vaccine in cattle, have demonstrated to veterinary services of Togo, Cameroon and Burundi the practicality of vaccine-based control and may facilitate implementation of vaccine-based controls, which are currently being considered in Cameroon. Prevalence estimates for bovine brucellosis were obtained in 22 dairy production periurban areas in 14 countries. Identification of production and husbandry practices associated with higher risk for brucellosis seropositivity (e.g. regular purchase of new animals in Bamenda area of Cameroon) allows better understanding of disease transmission and potential measures to mitigate infection transmission. In addition to the variation in the obtained seroprevalence estimates, variation in the knowledge, attitudes and practices of livestock keepers regarding brucellosis in the study areas has been demonstrated, for example, around 58% of the interviewed livestock keepers in Chad declare that they knew about brucellosis, this percent drops to 4% in RCA. Differences in levels of awareness of the disease and in high-risk practices suggest the presence of farm typologies which can be targeted by the public health component of any future control program. Isolation of Brucella abortus from dairy herds in Senegal and Togo strengthens the current knowledge about the circulating Brucella spp in the study area. Further molecular characterisation of these isolates, which is ongoing, will provide evidence on the genetic variation of these isolates when compared with other African strains or other B. abortus biovars from other parts of the world. Seroprevalence estimates of human brucellosis were obtained in groups at occupational risk in Cameroon and Senegal. Data obtained from the survey on the end users of services (i.e. farmers) in four countries (Ivory Coast, Rwanda, Senegal and Togo) provided information about social, regulatory and institutional barriers for the implementation of a control strategy based on vaccination in the study countries. Administration of S19 brucella live attenuated vaccine in the 5 areas designated for the vaccination pilot study in 3 countries (Burundi, Cameroon and Togo) has demonstrated the practicality of implementing brucellosis vaccination in the study area, it has also demonstrated some related difficulties and concerns such as: the unwillingness of owners to participate (mainly because they don't want their animals to be injected), movement of the herds (transhumance) during the dry season and the political instability /security concerns in some countries. UPDATE: A total of 25 studies (23 on dairy cattle herds and 2 on beef herds) in the same number of study areas in 13 countries have been completed. Prevalence estimates obtained by the project provide provide up-to-date evidence that fills in an important gap regarding the presence and frequency of brucellosis in the local dairy systems in the study areas. Results obtained are of importance for the countries' veterinary services in order to formulate control programs in most cases for the first time. Newly obtained seroprevalence estimates confirm our initial findings that brucellosis is present in most of study areas at varying degrees of endemicity. Furthermore, Identification of husbandry and management practices associated with higher risk (ex. borrowing bulls for breeding in dairy herds in Nyagatare periurban zone) or lower risk (ex. transhumance in dairy herds in Abidjan, Bamako, Bamenda, Bujumbura, Cotonou-Ouidah and Mango periurban zones) for brucellosis seropositivity would allow better understanding of disease transmission and potential measures to mitigate infection transmission. In addition to the variation in the obtained seroprevalence estimates, variation in the knowledge, attitudes and practices of livestock keepers regarding brucellosis in the study areas has been demonstrated, for example around 90% of the interviewed livestock keepers in periurban Mango/Togo declare that they knew about brucellosis, while none of the interviewees in periurban Lome/Togo were aware of brucellosis. Such variation in the level of awareness of the disease in addition to high risk practices suggest the presence of farm typologies which can be targeted by the public health component of any future control program. The project has assessed understanding of bovine brucellosis, its zoonotic potential and control strategies in addition to identifying main concerns (ex. cost of vaccination, community noncompliance with vaccination and vaccines interference with serological testing) of the key informants (KIs) interviewed in countries where vaccine pilot studies were conducted (Burundi and Togo). Such knowledge will inform policy makers in these countries upon vaccination as a potential control strategy for bovine brucellosis. Using iELISA assays manufactured by the OIE brucellosis reference centre Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) for the detection of anti-Brucella antibodies in both bulk and individual milk samples in the study area provided valuable information needed for the evaluation of the diagnostic sensitivity of the existing milk ELISA to ensure that the GB national brucellosis surveillance programme in the UK remains effective. It also provides an incentive to assess novel methods that could increase the sensitivity whilst maintaining specificity. In peri-urban farming systems of Senegal, economic modelling predicted that little advantage would be gained economically by farmers if they were to employ brucellosis control through two defined vaccination programmes under the current farming conditions and minimal gross margins with which they work. Focus group discussions in Senegal found that structural barriers such as governance and environmental challenges as well as other diseases are prioritised over brucellosis by farmers. Transformative and collaborative agreements in private-public partnerships where found to be promising avenues for cattle healthcare delivery to farmers, particularly in countries such as Burkina Faso which have higher proportions of commercially driven farmer practices. UPDATE: Identification and molecular characterization of Brucella isolates obtained from dairy farms within the study countries provides new knowledge about the circulating Brucella spp. in the region; this knowledge fills in an important knowledge gap and contributes to better understanding of the molecular epidemiology of brucellosis in Africa. Importantly, we have confirmed B. melitensis infection in cattle in Rwanda. Applying qualitative (i.e. interviews with stakeholders and participatory activities) and quantitative survey methodologies allowed detailed characterization of the currently functioning supply chain of veterinary products (including vaccines) in West and Central African (WCA) countries, which is of relevance for the potential implementation of vaccine-based control programs. For example it could be identified that ruminant vaccines are produced locally in some countries (Cameroon and Senegal) while they are imported (mainly from Europe and Asia) in other countries and none of the study countries produces vaccines for brucellosis. Furthermore, importation and distribution processes go through official channels under the control of the local Veterinary Services. In addition to the official channels, unofficial or illegal channels are present. Trading of under-quality, adulterated or fake veterinary products practiced by unauthorized or disqualified people is a key challenge facing veterinary products' market in the area. On the other hand, data collected during a quantitative survey in four countries (Ivory Coast, Rwanda, Senegal and Togo) provided important additional insights regarding practices and costs of animal health services. Some of the findings from the quantitative survey are: 1) being a member of livestock associations in Senegal and Rwanda is positively associated with using government veterinary services for animal treatment, 2) having large number of cattle (100-500) in the farm is positively and significantly associated with using private veterinary services in Ivory Coast and Rwanda, and 3) the length of time farmers have kept cattle for is positively and significantly associated with the use of private veterinary services. Prevalence estimates obtained in the additional areas (e.g. Woleu-Ntem and Estuaire/ Gabon) provided up-to-date evidence on the level of Brucellosis in cattle for the first time in some countries (e.g. Gabon). As pointed out previously, heterogeneities in prevalence estimates were found not only in different periurban dairy production areas across the study countries but also in different areas within the same country. Furthermore, variation in the knowledge, attitudes and practices of livestock keepers regarding brucellosis was found between different countries and in different areas within the same country. For example around 89% of the interviewed participants in periurban Namaro-Torodi/ Niger were aware of brucellosis while none of the interviewees in periurban Hamdallaye/Niger was aware of it. Moreover, high risk actions such as unhygienic disposal of aborted feti were practiced frequently in some areas. The findings of this component of the project are already influencing awareness / education campaigns, e.g. in Togo. Testing of samples from milk collection centers across the whole country provides for the first time nationwide estimates of frequency of disease in Rwanda. Such estimates will be utilized and used to inform bovine brucellosis control program in the country. Prevalence estimates obtained in urban population of Lome, where 1600 human subjects were recruited, provide up-to-date evidence about the level of brucellosis infection in the area. This knowledge is expected to inform health providers and policy makers in Togo about the current situation of brucellosis and to guide future plans for its control. Interestingly, our project has found surprisingly low levels of human infection in settings where brucellosis is highly prevalent in dairy cattle and where high-risk practices are common. Preliminary analysis of the results obtained from the interlaboratory proficiency study showed i) important differences in performance between laboratories, with the laboratory in Rwanda showing best performance, ii) the main discrepancy with expected results is misclassification of positive samples as negative (false negatives). Results obtained from testing serum samples collected from different groups of animals (naturally infected animals, vaccinated animals that were previously uninfected, and uninfected and unvaccinated animals) during the longitudinal and vaccine pilot studies by using both traditional and novel brucellosis serological tests developed at APHA provided a unique opportunity to evaluate the performance of these tests and is expected to contribute to the ongoing evaluation process of the GB national brucellosis surveillance programme in the UK. High rates of seroconversion following pilot vaccination (nearly 80%) supports the effectiveness of vaccine-based control programs in endemic areas in the targeted countries. Retesting of samples collected during cross-sectional and longitudinal studies at APHA broadly agreed with in-country results, validating the testing carried out at local laboratories. Furthermore, the interlaboratory evaluation study involving laboratories from 6 different countries provided an opportunity for these laboratories to assess their current laboratory procedures for serological diagnosis of brucellosis. By working with national laboratories the project has enhanced local diagnostic capacity for Brucellosis and other livestock diseases. Through in-depth discussions of the relevance of project results for each of 10 individual countries, we have been able to stimulate debates around the pathway towards brucellosis control in each country. In the final stages of the project, in one of the target countries (Rwanda) a census based cross-sectional study of milk collection centres (MCCs) was conducted. Results from this study demonstrated the value of MCC testing in improving the current brucellosis surveillance system. The findings have resulted in the Rwanda Agriculture Board exploring the use of milk testing further in collaboration with the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency, which can potentially lead to practical changes enhancing surveillance and control of brucellosis in Rwanda. |
| Exploitation Route | The findings of the situation analysis show the main gaps and areas where more research is required to effectively tackle this disease in this livestock system in West and Central Africa. By identifying barriers such as i) the lack of reagents for diagnostic testing, ii) lack of baseline knowledge to design bespoke control programs or iii) lack of access to vaccines, researchers, governmental agencies, NGOs and international agencies aiming to support brucellosis control are in a better position to target specific issue that preclude effective control. We have filled in some of the key gaps namely the baseline prevalence of brucellosis in selected periurban dairy areas. This is a keystone for the implementation of control programs and now available to the animal health services of the different countries. Beyond specific results for each of the study areas, the cross-sectional studies show i) the heterogeneous status of brucellosis between periurban dairy areas across the region, which can indicate a potential for prioritising control programs in some areas, ii) specific local practices and beliefs that should be considered in the design of control programs in animals and prevention strategies for the population and iii) the variation in the typologies of dairy farms. These findings fill in key knowledge gaps that were identified during the situation analysis and provide decision and policy makers (national, international and NGOs) with scientific evidence needed for implementing control programs. Our pilot intervention studies, based on the use of vaccine in cattle, have demonstrated to veterinary services of Togo, Cameroon and Burundi the practicality of vaccine-based control and may facilitate implementation of vaccine-based controls, which are currently being considered in Cameroon. The knowledge obtained from the findings of this award fills in an important gap and provides up-to-date evidence regarding the presence and frequency of brucellosis in the local dairy systems in the study area. Results obtained are of great importance for the countries' veterinary services in order to formulate control programs in most cases for the first time. Update: Professional training and capacity building opportunities provided throughout the course of this project for laboratory technicians involved in the serological diagnosis of brucellosis in the study area either through their involvement in local training sessions or through involvement in an external interlaboratory evaluation study using test samples and diagnostic kits manufactured and provided by the OIE brucellosis reference centre Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), will greatly improve their skills in brucellosis diagnostics (i.e. increase confidence in results, capability to interpret testing results and trouble shouting). In addition to laboratory technicians, training opportunities were provided for field veterinarians to improve their skills in epidemiological studies design and implementation (i.e. improve skills in epidemiology principles, data collection and laboratory test interpretation etc.). Ultimately, such improvements in laboratory diagnostic and field epidemiology capacities will enhance brucellosis surveillance programs currently in place in some countries by providing reliable tools for brucellosis surveillance and is expected to improve the performance of Veterinary Services in the study countries not only for monitoring and control of brucellosis but also for other zoonotic diseases. Findings from focus group discussions and economic modelling are of great value to bodies looking to develop the dairy industry and considering different brucellosis disease control options. Update: Findings from the different components of this research project (e.g. up-to-date prevalence estimates, KAPs of livestock keepers and molecular identification of Brucella causing infection in livestock) provided valuable evidence for local Veterinary Services in some of the study countries and simulated further actions towards the control of brucellosis. For example in Togo brucellosis was reconsidered among the zoonotic diseases to be prioritized for surveillance and control, it was declared a notifiable disease and a new surveillance approach has been introduced. Furthermore, in Rwanda, the strengthening of diagnostic capacity for brucellosis has led to the piloting of a new strategy for nationwide surveillance based on regular testing for the presence of antibodies across milk collection centres with promising results. Understanding and characterising the currently functioning supply chain of veterinary drugs (including vaccines) is expected to benefit any future vaccination-based control programs in study countries given that Brucella vaccines, once being adopted and made available, will be distributed locally following the currently applied supply chain. The established network of connections with a multidisciplinary international team, involved in this project, with different expertise (i.e. epidemiologists, laboratory experts, public health specialists and bovine vaccines experts) will provide a unique opportunity for researchers from the study countries to exchange experiences and ideas for future research in the area. Evaluation and validation of both traditional and novel brucellosis serological tests developed at APHA using different groups of biological samples collected during the course of this project is expected to contribute to the ongoing evaluation process of the GB national brucellosis surveillance programme in the UK. The successful piloting of diagnostic assays to detect the presence of antibodies in milk collection centres across Rwanda could facilitate integration of this highly cost-effective approach as part of surveillance programs in other endemic countries, where surveillance is limited partly because individual-animal testing is costly and logistically challenging. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | As a result of the workshop on Brucellosis Diagnostics held in Dakar in June 2015, all participating laboratories across the region (15 countries) received training in appropriate serological techniques and laboratory procedures for Brucella diagnostics in both humans and animals. This has been an important contribution towards much needed standardization of diagnostic activities in this setting. These laboratories have now increased capacity to diagnose brucellosis in the livestock sector of their countries. Involvement of the UK laboratory in charge of brucellosis diagnosis (APHA) as the provider of training and technical advise as part of this project has benefited the UK lab by gaining access to samples and test results from endemic areas, which may eventually improve the way brucellosis surveillance is carried out in the UK. The project has carried out field studies in 9 different African countries. These studies have involved veterinarians, field technicians and laboratory technicians in the different countries who made use of standardized data collection tools and laboratory techniques for diagnosis of brucellosis. As a result the veterinary services of these countries are in a better position to carry out similar studies for this or other livestock diseases. The studies have generated prevalence data that is now available to animal health services and is expected to be used in the near future as part of control programs. The project is contributing to some countries initiating discussions on brucellosis control programs. An example is Cameroon, where after conclusion of pilot vaccination program carried out as part of the project the government is considering broader use of vaccines to control the disease. This is an ongoing process. Through extensive field and laboratory work in cattle and humans, the project is filling key knowledge gaps that until now have precluded target countries from taking action against brucellosis. Extensive capacity building provides countries with key capabilities to implement their own surveillance and control e.g. the project has very significantly improved diagnostic capability of veterinary laboratories in several countries through, for example, an inter-laboratory evaluation supported by a reference laboratory for OIE, FAO and WHO. Identification of social, regulatory and institutional barriers for implementation of vaccination programs is providing key lessons that, together with improved understanding of the epidemiology of the disease and enhanced diagnostic capacity, is likely to stimulate target countries taking action against brucellosis in the near future. Update: Serological surveys on human and animal brucellosis conducted in the study areas as part of this project provided much-needed reliable baseline prevalence estimates on brucellosis and have informed the Veterinary Services in some countries to enhance brucellosis surveillance (e.g. Togo) or to test different surveillance approaches (e.g. Rwanda). Furthermore, vaccine pilot studies and the subsequent small-scale perceptions and perspectives qualitative studies, demonstrated the practicality and feasibility of delivering and administering Brucella abortus vaccine in the study areas and spotted the main concerns (e.g. cost of vaccination, community noncompliance with vaccination and vaccines interference with serological testing) of the interviewed key informants (KIs). Such knowledge informed policy makers in the Veterinary Services in the study areas upon vaccination as a potential control strategy for bovine brucellosis. Update: Isolation and molecular characterisation of Brucella spp circulating in the study area fills in an important knowledge gap and contributes to better understanding of the epidemiology of bovine brucellosis in the area. Mapping and characterising the supply chain of veterinary drugs (including vaccines) currently functioning in the study area is expected to benefit future vaccination-based control programmes that could be adapted and will contribute to their sustainability. The country-specific in-depth discussions hold at the end of the project with delegates from 7 individual countries stimulated debates around the pathway towards brucellosis control in each country. In Togo, as a result of the ZELS related activities conducted in the country, The Veterinary Services included brucellosis among the zoonotic diseases to be prioritized for surveillance and control and a new surveillance approach was introduced. Furthermore, brucellosis is now a notifiable disease in the country. The vaccine pilot studies and knowledge gained through the subsequent qualitative studies has informed policy makers in The Veterinary Services upon vaccination as a potential control strategy for bovine brucellosis. This is currently being considered as a component of the brucellosis control strategy in Togo. In Cameroon, as a result of the ZELS related activities conducted in the country, our local project partners have been asked to contribute in the advisory committee to elaborate Cameroon's national strategy for brucellosis control. In Rwanda, at the inception of our ZELS project, Rwanda was the only country with an official brucellosis control program in place that included vaccination. However, the program faced important challenges among them low vaccination coverage and very limited surveillance capacity, with veterinary services only able to test a small fraction of the dairy herd of the country every year. In the final stages of the project, we were able to pilot an innovative nation-wide surveillance strategy based on testing of milk samples from milk collection centres across the country. We demonstrated how with very limited resources it was possible to generate a snapshot of brucellosis prevalence across the country. The potential inclusion of regular serological testing of milk collection centres as part of Rwanda's brucellosis surveillance and control strategy is currently being discussed and over the last months a joint small project has been initiated between Animal and Plant Health Agency, Rwanda Agriculture Board and UK Animal and Plant Health Agency. |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |
| Description | Capacity building and Transfer of competence on laboratory serological techniques (standardisation and deployment of ELISA techniques for the diagnosis of Brucellosis) |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | We have trained laboratory technologist at our partner institution in Cameroon (CRFilMT - www.crfilmt.org) on deployment, standardisation and performance of ELISA diagnostic for brucellosis. No routine diagnostic for Brucella was previously offered in country, and the centre now has the platform and capacity to perform the test as well as train more local staffs, including in hospitals. This will give them the ability to contribute to the national brucellosis control strategy being elaborated and supporting the MoH. The general improvement in ELISA technique has also been used to implement new ELISA diagnosis test for other disease, notably Onchocerca, and the partner is currently leading in using those techniques in supporting Onchocerca elimination efforts in Cameroon. |
| Description | Capacity building and Transfer of competence on laboratory serological techniques (standardisation and deployment of ELISA techniques for the diagnosis of Brucellosis) in Togo |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | We have trained laboratory technologist at our partner institution in Togo (the National Public Health laboratory (Institut National d'Hygiene du Togo)) on deployment, standardisation and performance of ELISA diagnostic for brucellosis. No routine diagnostic for Brucella was previously offered in country, and the centre now has the platform and capacity to perform the test as well as train more local staff, including in hospitals. This will give them the ability to contribute to the national brucellosis control strategy being elaborated and supporting the MoH. |
| Description | Contribution to the elaboration of Cameroon's national strategy for brucellosis control (Ongoing) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | MSc research project for Methode Gasana Ngabo |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Ongoing PhD project |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | PI appointed a member of the Expert Committee for a programme establishing Brucella-free villages in India and attended committee meeting in India |
| Geographic Reach | Asia |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Presentation |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Routine serological diagnosis of brucellosis using the Rose Bengale agglutination Test (RBT) in 1st and 2nd category health facilities across Lomé in Togo |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Ten health facilities across Lomé now have capacity and are routinely offering laboratory diagnosis (Rose Bengale agglutination Test) for Brucellosis, which was not available before. Patients are sensitised to the disease during pre-test counselling, thus increasing awareness of food-borne zoonotic infections linked to dairy products. Healthcare practitioners at these health facilities have been trained to consider brucellosis as a differential diagnosis to fevers of unknown aetiology / recurrent fevers in their outpatient clinics. The RBT has added to the arsenal of tests at these 1st level health facilities, thus improving diagnosis capabilities and management of fevers. |
| Description | Standardisation of brucellosis diagnostic techniques across the region |
| Geographic Reach | Africa |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | As a result of the Diagnostics of Brucellosis workshop held in Dakar in June 2015, all participating labs across the region received training in appropriate serological techniques and laboratory procedures for Brucella diagnosics in both humans and animals. This has lead to a standardised approach in this setting which is currently being evaluated by way of proficiency testing in all participating countries. |
| URL | https://zelsbrucellosis.wordpress.com/activities-so-far/diagnostics-workshop-dakar-june-2015/ |
| Description | Standardization of the epidemiological tools used by field veterinary epidemiologists |
| Geographic Reach | Africa |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | The workshop on Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Aspects of Brucellosis that was held in Dakar between 13th - 15th December 2017, aimed to share practical aspects of the implementation of cross-sectional studies of dairy herds in dairy production areas of the region and build capacity on specific epidemiological skills required to implement similar studies for brucellosis or other diseases. Delegates from the 15 participating countries have the chance to meet and to exchange knowledge about technical aspects related to field epidemiological studies which was carried out in a set of 7 countries. The workshop included training sessions on epidemiological principles, data collection methods, epidemiological analysis using EpiInfo, spatial epidemiology and practical aspects of Brucellosis control. Participants responses to the post-workshop survey showed that around 90% of them found this workshop useful and the knowledge obtained during it can be used in the field for other diseases. |
| Description | Evaluation of the use of bulk milk for brucellosis surveillance in Rwanda |
| Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Animal and Plant Health Agency |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2022 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | Impact Accelerator Award |
| Amount | £80,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2017 |
| End | 06/2017 |
| Description | International One Health Congress Fellowship |
| Amount | $4,000 (CAD) |
| Organisation | One Health Platform |
| Sector | Private |
| Start | 06/2018 |
| End | 07/2018 |
| Description | MRC London Intercollegiate DTP Studentships |
| Amount | £78,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | MRC Doctoral Training Program |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2018 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | Zoonosis and Emerginig Livestock Systems Associated Studentships |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2018 |
| End | 09/2018 |
| Title | Assessment of novel tests used for serological diagnosis of brucellosis and developed by APHA (UK project partner) |
| Description | Novel tests for serological diagnosis of brucellosis developed by APHA with a potential to differentiate between naturally infected and vaccinated animals were assessed using serum samples collected during the course of this project. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Results obtained from testing serum samples collected from different groups of animals (naturally infected animals, vaccinated animals that were previously uninfected, and uninfected and unvaccinated animals) during the longitudinal and vaccine pilot studies by using both traditional and novel brucellosis serological tests developed at APHA provided a unique database that can be used to evaluate the performance of these novel tests and is expected to contribute to the ongoing evaluation process of the GB national brucellosis surveillance programme in the UK. |
| Title | Questionnaire development in open data kit and training of research fellows |
| Description | For the purpose of data collection in the study area, a questionnaire has been structured and translated in to electronic data collection forms using Open Data Kit (https://opendatakit.org). The questionnaire was uploaded into a tablet and was available in English and French. The data collection system that we have used in this project is applicable to other projects involving field data gathering in this and other settings. Data gathered in the field were uploaded on an android app ODK Collect and subsequently uploaded to RVC's sharepoint. All field researchers and technicians involved in data collection received training on using the tabs for data collection. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The use of ODK tool for data collection increased the quality of the collected data by reducing errors and it enhanced timely back-up of the data on SharePoint server. |
| Title | Study protocol |
| Description | A study protocol aiming to evaluate the performance of the laboratories engaged in the serological diagnosis of bovine brucellosis in West and Central Africa and to evaluate the performance of a novel portable lateral flow device (LFD) which will be used for brucellosis diagnosis in the field with the potential of being part of a DIVA system was drafted and distributed for six laboratories that were engaged in the laboratory testing of Brucella. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Improve the diagnostic capability and proficiency of the engaged labs in the field of serological diagnosis of bovine brucellosis. |
| Title | Study protocol |
| Description | Laboratory methods for the serological diagnosis of human brucellosis |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Laboratory methods for the serological diagnosis of human brucellosis have been developed and established at the local partner institutions, with clear standard procedures and manuals that can be shared with local scientists and health practitioners. This includes the Rose Bengal rapid agglutination test (RBT) and indirect ELISA in both English and French. They have already been used extensively in Cameroon and at early stages in Senegal |
| Title | Study protocol |
| Description | Study protocol was developed to explore and evaluate the perceptions and perspectives of veterinary services workers (i.e. field veterinarians, para-vets, field technicians, veterinary pharmacists) and farmers on bovine brucellosis vaccination in peri-urban dairy production zones of three West and Central African countries |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | It is expected that the data generated from this study will provide better understanding of the perceptions and perspectives of the people involved in brucellosis vaccination in West and Central Africa which will impact the decision to adapt vaccination as a control strategy for bovine brucellosis. |
| Title | Study protocol for data collection, sampling and testing of milk from collection centers across Rwanda. |
| Description | A study protocol was developed to assess sampling and testing of milk from collection centers for the purpose of brucellosis surveillance and describe the frequency of bovine brucellosis among dairy cattle across the country. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | It is expected that this study will: - Develop proof of concept for national scale brucellosis surveillance using bulk milk samples from milk collection centers. - Provide seroprevalence estimates of brucellosis at level of milk collection centers and to assess geographical differences. - Infer likely individual animal prevalence from bulk milk tank results using existing data on the correlation between the results of bulk milk ELISA testing and proportion of infected cows contributing to the milk tank. |
| Title | Study protocols |
| Description | Study protocol for a pilot vaccine study prepared, discussed and agreed with veterinary services in Burundi, Cameroon and Togo and currently being applied. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | These study protocols standarized vaccine administration and samples collection procedures |
| Title | Study protocols |
| Description | Study protocols for the cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of Brucella available in English and French through dedicated project website and shared across network of institutions. The protocol includes procedures for biological samples collection and isolation of Brucella from different biological samples. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | These study protocols standerised biological samples collection and microbiological procedures within the study area |
| Title | Biobank of frozen human serums from community-based randomly selected participants in Bamenda Cameroon |
| Description | This is a biobank of 2000 serums stored at -80oC, collected from participants (aged >= 5 years) to large representative community-based surveys in Bamenda, Cameroon, and linked to basic demographic and socio-economic data. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This dataset is currently used to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of brucellosis in one of the main dairy farming urban areas of this country, but could also provide a rapid and affordable means to evaluate the burden and distribution of several other infectious diseases and vaccine history by serological methods, using a representative sample of the population. |
| Title | Biobank of frozen human serums from community-based randomly selected participants in Dakar and Niakhar Senegal |
| Description | This is a biobank of about 4000 serums stored at -80oC, collected from participants (aged >= 5 years) to large representative community-based surveys in Dakar and Niakhar, Senegal, and linked to basic demographic and socio-economic data. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This dataset is currently used to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of brucellosis in large urban areas of this country, but could also provide a rapid and affordable means to evaluate the burden and distribution of several other infectious diseases by serological methods, using a representative sample of the population. |
| Title | Biobank of frozen human serums from community-based randomly selected participants in Lome/Togo |
| Description | This is a biobank of 1600 serums stored at -80oC, collected from participants (aged >= 5 years) to large representative community-based surveys in Lome, Togo, and linked to basic demographic and socio-economic data. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This dataset is currently used to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of brucellosis in one of the main dairy farming urban areas of this country, but could also provide a rapid and affordable means to evaluate the burden and distribution of several other infectious diseases and vaccine history by serological methods, using a representative sample of the population. |
| Title | Brucella isolates from dairy cattle herds in periurban areas of Senegal and Togo |
| Description | This database includes data Brucella spp. which was isolated from hygroma samples collected from Senegal and Togo. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This database will allow us to identify and molecularly characterize at subspecies level, Brucella species infecting cattle in the study countries. |
| Title | Collection of Brucella spp. isolates and DNA extracts |
| Description | Brucella spp. isolates (n= 58) and DNA extracts (n= 61) obtained from different bovine tissues (milk, whole blood, lymph nodes, cotyledon, after birth fluids and vaginal swab) collected from different locations in Rwanda and the subsequent molecular characterization conducted at APHA comprise a valuable database of value to fill in an important knowledge gap regarding Brucella spp. causing infection in the study area. Molecular characterization of these isolates can contribute to better understanding of the molecular epidemiology of brucellosis in Africa. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Identification and molecular characterization of Brucella isolates obtained from dairy farms within the study countries is providing new knowledge about the circulating Brucella spp. in the region; this knowledge fills in an important knowledge gap and contributes to better understanding of the molecular epidemiology of brucellosis in Africa. Importantly, we have confirmed B. melitensis infection in cattle in Rwanda. |
| Title | Dairy farmers focus groups |
| Description | Dairy farmer focus group discussion transcripts from Senegalese dairy farmers regarding their thoughts and perceptions on dairy farming in the area. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Informed design and implementation of further research questions and techniques. |
| Title | Database generated from bulk milk samples collected from 116 milk collection centers (MCC) in Rwanda |
| Description | Database generated from bulk milk samples collected from 116 milk collection centres (MCC) in Rwanda and the dataset related to these MCCs in addition to the subsequent laboratory testing results of bulk milk samples. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This database will provide proof of concept for national scale brucellosis surveillance in Rwanda. |
| Title | Database generated from testing pre and post vaccination bovine serum samples |
| Description | Results obtained from testing serum samples collected from different groups of animals (naturally infected animals, vaccinated animals that were previously uninfected, and uninfected and unvaccinated animals) during the longitudinal and vaccine pilot studies by using both traditional and novel brucellosis serological tests developed at APHA. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This unique database can be used to evaluate the performance of these tests and is expected to contribute to the ongoing evaluation process of the GB national brucellosis surveillance programme in the UK. |
| Title | Database on diagnostic tests results |
| Description | This database includes the optical density values obtained from testing milk samples (bulk and individual samples) and serum samples, collected during the the cross-sectional and longitudinal studies in different countries, by using different types of serological tests for brucellosis (I-ELISA, C-ELISA and RBT). |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The analysis of this data set will enable the OIE reference laboratory for brucellosis-The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), UK to evaluate the performance of the used diagnostic tests under in different settings. |
| Title | Database on vaccine value chain generated from questionnaires, participatory activities, and animal health structures of five countries: Senegal, Togo, Rwanda, Cote d'Ivoire and Burundi. |
| Description | Data were collected by means of, interviews with stakeholders, participatory activities and quantitative survey. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The database will be used to identify and address the social, regulatory and institutional barriers for the implementation of a control strategy based on vaccination in the study countries |
| Title | Dataset on laboratory performance of serological diagnosis of bovine brucellosis in West and Central Africa. |
| Description | The dataset was obtained after conducting an external quality assessment study for laboratory performance of serological diagnosis of bovine brucellosis in six laboratories in six West and Central African countries. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Upon completeing the analysis of this dataset, it will enable us to: - Evaluate the performance of the laboratories engaged in the serological diagnosis of bovine brucellosis in West and Central Africa. - Evaluate the performance of a newly developed novel test, portable lateral flow devices (LFD) which will be used for brucellosis diagnosis in the field with the potential of being part of a DIVA system. |
| Title | Dataset on perceptions of veterinary services workers on bovine brucellosis vaccination in peri-urban dairy production zones of West and Central Africa |
| Description | The dataset was collected during a small scale qualitative study utilizing Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) by using a form designated for each group of the key informants, each form includes open-end questions which was replied by the selected key informants. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The dataset enabeled us to explore and evaluate the perceptions and perspectives of veterinary services workers (i.e. field veterinarians, para vets, field technicians, veterinary pharmacists and farmers) about bovine brucellosis vaccination in peri-urban dairy production zones of two West and Central African countries (Togo and Burundi). |
| Title | Herd level infectious disease economic impact model |
| Description | A farm level economic model to assess costs and benefits of brucellosis control through vaccination, utilising epidemiological model outputs and production/economic parameters from situation appropriate datasets. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Interest from other groups in utilising the model adapted for different geographical areas and diseases |
| Title | Livestock healthcare provision dataset |
| Description | Questionnaire data from Senegalese farmers regarding access to and utilisation of healthcare for their livestock. Questionnaire data is complemented by participatory activity data gathered prior to questionnaire administration. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Methods and scripts are being utilised for further work in other West African countries. |
| Title | Longitudinal dataset on production parameters of Brucella positive and negative herds colocated in 10 periurban dairy production zones of 7 West and Central African |
| Description | The dataset was collected during a longitudinal study which was conducted in two sets of herds (Brucella positive and negative) that were identified durin the cross sectional studies. Each group include approximately 10 herds. All herds were followed-up for 10 months and data was collected using a form designed for this purpose |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The analysis of this dataset will enabe us to evaluate the occurrence of reproductive events in brucella positive and Brucella negative herds in West and Central Africa. |
| Title | Seroprevalence of human brucellosis in a group at occupational risk (livestock keepers, dairy farm workers and abattoir workers) in Cameroon an Senegal. |
| Description | Data collected from a cross-sectional survey of livestock keepers, dairy farm workers and abattoir workers in the Bamenda peri-urban area in Cameroon, and Dakar, Thies and Niakhar areas in Senegal. Data include questionnaire of basic demographics and some key routes of exposure to brucellosis, and small serum sample used for serological diagnosis of exposure to Brucella spp. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The database was used to: - Promote local capacity development - final year medical students in both countries where involved in the data collection, analysis and used the dataset for their MD thesis, as part of their initiation to research. It was also an opportunity to introduce them to One Health and its principles, through their interaction with their DVM peers involved in the livestock surveys. - The data served as a pilot to further develop and adapt data collection tools and procedures (including laboratory serological diagnosis of brucellosis) for the main cross-sectional study, as well as transfer of competences - Analysis will provide an idea of the prevalence of brucellosis in groups at relatively higher risk and allow to investigate main routes of exposure. |
| Title | Updated and documented set of biological samples (bulk, individual milk and serum samples) collected during cross-sectional, longitudinal and vaccine pilot studies conducted in different countries. |
| Description | The set of biological samples (bulk, individual milk and serum samples) collected during cross-sectional, longitudinal and vaccine pilot studies conducted in different countries has been updated after completing the new cross-sectional studies in Koulikoro/ Mali and in Woleu-Ntem and Estuaire/ Gabon. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The updated set of samples provides valuable bank of samples from Africa that can be utilised in any future research on bovine infectious diseases. |
| Title | Updated database -human study |
| Description | This database includes data on individuals sampled during the human pilot study which was carried out in two areas (Dakar -Senegal and Bamenda-Cameroon) as part of the whole project. This database includes demographic information, data regarding contact with animals and consumption of milk and other dairy products, and data on the previous expouser to brucellosis. This database has been updated after the extraction of data from medical records for participants recruited in health facilities during the case-control study in Togo. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This database will facilitate a large community-based cross-sectional study of the age and gender-specific sero-prevalence of human brucellosis in the general population n the two ares, it will be followed by mathematical modelling to estimate the incidence of infection in each setting and at the end a case-control study will be conducted to investigate potential main routes of exposures for acute brucellosis (animal contacts vs consumption of contaminated animal products) in respective settings. Analysis of this database will provide an idea on the prevalence of brucellosis in groups at relatively higher risk and will allow investigation of potential main routes of exposures for acute brucellosis (animal contacts vs consumption of contaminated animal products) in respective settings |
| Title | Updated dataset on dairy herds located in peri-urban areas in West and Central Africa. |
| Description | This database includes the data that was collected during a set of 24 cross-sectional studies that were conducted in 13 West and Central African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo and Rwanda). This database includes information about dairy farms characteristics (type, size and structure), husbandry practices, knowledge of livestock owners about brucellosis, milk hygiene practices, milk consumption practices, and has been updated after completing the new cross-sectional studies in Koulikoro/ Mali and in Woleu-Ntem and Estuaire/ Gabon. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This database is being used to identify the typologies of dairy herds in this area, this piece of information will bridge the knowledge gaps identified by the situation analysis. Ultimately this will provide policy makers in the area with the necessary tools to adopt suitable control strategy. Moreover this database can be used to investigate other diseases in the area. |
| Description | CENTRE FOR RESEARCH ON FILARIASIS AND OTHER NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES |
| Organisation | Center for Research on Filariasis and Other Tropical Diseases |
| Country | Cameroon |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The research team will be responsible for planning, designing and monitoring field activities related to the project |
| Collaborator Contribution | Implementation, monitoring and supervision of field data collection for two human studies in Cameroon, according to the study protocol and agreed study SOPs; |
| Impact | 1. seroprevalence estimates of human brucellosis in Bamenda, Cameroon. 2. Potential Risk factors for human infection |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | CZ Veterinaria |
| Organisation | CZ Veterinaria |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Improve understanding of the status of brucellosis in the region. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Participation as trainers in the diagnostic workshop in Dakar. Provision of advise on current status of Brucella vaccine technology. |
| Impact | Staff from the company participated as trainer in diagnostics workshop. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Agronomie et de Foresterie (ENSAF) |
| Organisation | Marien Ngouabi University |
| Department | Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Agronomie et de Foresterie |
| Country | Congo |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The main contribution was the design and implementation of an epidemiological study of dairy farms in peri-urban zones of Brazzaville - Congo-Brazzaville to ascertain i) the frequency and distribution of brucellosis in dairy cattle ii) identify risk factors for brucellosis and iii) assess the Knowledge attitudes and practices of livestock owners regarding brucellosis in this area. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Implementation, monitoring and supervision of field data collection for cross-sectional and KAPs studies in peri-urban zones of Kinshasa in Democratic Republic of the Congo according to the study protocol. |
| Impact | 1) Herd level seroprevalence of brucellosis in the area will be obtained. 2) Data collection related to herd level risk factors and livestock keepers' KAPs in the area is going on. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | FADH BBSRC- Indian Department of Biotechnology initiative |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Department | Farmed animal disease and health (FADH) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Knowledge and methodology sharing between the two projects which have broadly similar aims in different settings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Knowledge and methodology sharing between the two projects which have broadly similar aims in different settings. |
| Impact | Enhancement of current diagnostic protocols for brucellosis serology |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | FAO regional office |
| Organisation | Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Staff from FAO regional office participated in diagnostics workshop and we have established a communication channel for the exchange of information related to the ZELS project topic and relevant for FAO. Recently, FAO staff have been advising a PhD student associated to the project and we expect their involvement to intensify as the project progresses. Specifically, FAO has a number initiatives to promote the safety of animal derived foods including milk, and our work on a milk-borne pathogen is highly relevant in this context. Furthermore, the focus of one of the PhD projects associated to this project is microbiological hygiene of milk produced in periurban dairy farms in Senegal. The collaboration with FAO will facilitate engagement with local stakeholders and eventually the dissemination and impact of findings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Participation in diagnostic workshop and information exchange. Advise on aspects of milk hygiene in periurban dairy farms in Senegal. |
| Impact | Nothing to report. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | FAO's Centre d'Urgence pour les Maladies Animales Transfrontières - Sénégal (ECTAD). |
| Organisation | Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The center has received support from USAID to develop a regional Field Epidemiology Training Program for Veterinarians (FETPV) across the same countries targeted by this ZELS project. The UK and Senegalese PIs (Guitian and Akakpo) have provided advise on the structure of the program and discussed the potential for the training workshops planned as part of the ZELS project to be integrated with the new regional training program. Both RVC and EISMV have been invited to be part of the regional training initiative. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The center has received support from USAID to develop a regional Field Epidemiology Training Program for Veterinarians (FETPV) across the same countries targeted by this ZELS project |
| Impact | 1. Holding a Workshop on Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Aspects of Brucellosis in Dakar between 13th - 15th December 2017. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung - BfR) |
| Organisation | Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We will make some of the collected biological samples available to this collaborator. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This collaborator has expertise in molecular approaches to diagnosis of human Brucellosis. This collaboration may help expand the diagnostic platform, as well as capacity development and technology transfer to the Southern partners. |
| Impact | No out come at the moment. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Hôpital Principal de Dakar, Senegal. |
| Organisation | Dakar Main Hospital |
| Country | Senegal |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | The main contribution was the assistance provided by expert from Hôpital Principal de Dakar to microbiology laboratory technicians in EISMV regarding the microbiological culture and PCR work |
| Collaborator Contribution | Laboratory assistance for the isolation of Brucella spp. from hygroma samples which were collected from Senegal and Togo. |
| Impact | Isolation of Brucella spp. from hygroma samples which were collected from Senegal and Togo. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Heifer International Rwanda Dairy Cluster Leader - Kayonza |
| Organisation | Heifer International |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Our main contribution is the design and implementation of an epidemiological study of dairy farms in two peri urban areas in Rwanda to ascertain i) the frequency and distribution of brucellosis in dairy cattle ii) identify risk factors for brucellosis in and iii) assess the Knowledge attitudes and practices of livestock owners regarding brucellosis in this area. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This partner has facilitated all the logistics needed for the fieldwork and to start with data collection in Rwanda |
| Impact | Logistics for data collection including collection of biological samples in Rwanda are being liaised. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Institut National d'Hygiène, TOGO |
| Organisation | National Institute of Hygiene, Togo |
| Country | Togo |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The research team will be responsible for planning, designing and monitoring field activities related to the project |
| Collaborator Contribution | Implementation, monitoring and supervision of field data collection for human study in Togo, according to the study protocol and agreed study SOPs; |
| Impact | Potential Risk factors for human infection |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Institut de Recherche en Elevage pour le Déceloppement (IRED), Chad |
| Organisation | Institute of Development Research (IRD) |
| Department | Livestock Research Institute for Development, Chad |
| Country | Chad |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The main contribution was the design and implementation of an epidemiological study of dairy farms in peri-urban zones of N'Djamena to ascertain i) the frequency and distribution of brucellosis in dairy cattle ii) identify risk factors for brucellosis and iii) assess the Knowledge attitudes and practices of livestock owners regarding brucellosis in this area. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Implementation, monitoring and supervision of field data collection for cross-sectional and KAPs studies in peri-urban zones of N'Djamena in Chad according to the study protocol. |
| Impact | 1) Herd level seroprevalence of brucellosis in the area was obtained. 2) Data collection related to herd level risk factors and livestock keepers' KAPs in the area has been finished. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD) |
| Organisation | Institute of Development Research (IRD) |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Exchange of information on brucellosis and brucellosis diagnostics, including participation of staff involved in IRD,s Demographic Surveillance System in the workshop on diagnosics organized via the ZELS project. Collaboration in the implementation of field studies in dairy farms and a pilot study of human subjects. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Exchange of information on Demographic Surveillance System (DSS) in Niakhar and discussions about potentially running some of the human field studies of the ZELS project within the catchment are of the DSS. Share use of resources including existing databases established by the DSS, use of field enumperators for purpose of our field studies and use of laboratory facilities for sample preparation. |
| Impact | As a result of this colaboration the area of Niakhar in Senegal has been selected as one of our focus areas where to conduct field studies in dairy farms and human subjects. A cross-sectional and KAP study of dairy farms is about to start and will be continued with a longitudinal study of dairy farms. In parallel, a pilot of study of human cases of brucellosis will be carried out in the same target area. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Laboratoire Central de l'Elevage NIGER (LABOCEL) (Niamey) |
| Organisation | Ministry of Livestock |
| Department | Central Laboratory of Livestock |
| Country | Niger |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Our main contribution is the design and implementation of an epidemiological study of dairy farms in a peri urban area in Niamey-Niger to ascertain i) the frequency and distribution of brucellosis in dairy cattle ii) identify risk factors for brucellosis in and iii) assess the Knowledge attitudes and practices of livestock owners regarding brucellosis in this area. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This partner has facilitated all the logistics needed for the fieldwork and started data collection in Niamey-Niger |
| Impact | Logistics for data collection including collection of biological samples in Niamey-Niger have been started. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Laboratoire Centrale Vétérinaire |
| Organisation | Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries |
| Department | Central Veterinary Laboratory |
| Country | Mali |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Our main contribution is the design and implementation of an epidemiological study of dairy farms in a peri urban area in Bamako-Mali to ascertain i) the frequency and distribution of brucellosis in dairy cattle ii) identify risk factors for brucellosis in and iii) assess the Knowledge attitudes and practices of livestock owners regarding brucellosis in this area. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This partner has facilitated all the logistics needed for the fieldwork and started data collection in Bamako |
| Impact | Logistics for data collection including collection of biological samples in Bamako-Mali have been started. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Laboratoire National d'élevage et recherche vétérinaire (LNERV) Senegal |
| Organisation | Laboratoire National d'élevage et recherche vétérinaire (LNERV) |
| Country | Senegal |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project's overseas partener (EISMV) provided Brucella spp. isolates whchi was abtained during the longitudinal studies in Togo and Senegal. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration with LNERV involves technical support to EISMV for Brucella app culture, isolation and freeze-drying. |
| Impact | This will help us in achieving our objective in isolatation and moleculer characterisation of Brucella spp. circulating in the regon. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Laboratoire de recherches zootechniques et vétérinaires de Farcha, Chad |
| Organisation | CARI |
| Department | Farcha zootechnical and veterinary research laboratory |
| Country | Chad |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The main contribution was to carry out ELISA testing for milk samples collected during the epidemiological study of dairy farms in peri-urban zones of N'Djamena to ascertain the frequency of brucellosis in dairy cattle. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Implementation of all serological testing of milk samples collected during the cross-sectional study in peri-urban zones of N'Djamena in Chad according to the provided protocol. |
| Impact | 1) Herd level seroprevalence of brucellosis in peri-urban zones of N'Djamena in Chad was obtained. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Laboratoire national vétérinaire, Bujumbura, Burundi |
| Organisation | National Veterinary Laboratory |
| Country | Burundi |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Our main contribution is the design and implementation of an epidemiological study and vaccine pilot study of dairy farms in a peri urban area in Bujumbura-Burundi to ascertain i) the frequency and distribution of brucellosis in dairy cattle ii) identify risk factors for brucellosis in and iii) assess the Knowledge attitudes and practices of livestock owners regarding brucellosis in this area, iv) isolate the circulating Brucella spp in the area and vi)implement a vaccine pilot study |
| Collaborator Contribution | This partner has facilitated all the logistics needed for the fieldwork and started data collection in Bujumbura-Burundi. |
| Impact | 1) Herd level prevalence of brucellosis in the area was obtained. 2)Data collection in the area has been finished, 3) longitudinaal study for the isolation of Brucella in going on 4) Vaccine pilot study is going on. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Le Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), Gabon |
| Organisation | Institute of Development Research (IRD) |
| Department | Centre international de recherches médicales de Franceville |
| Country | Gabon |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The main contribution was the design and implementation of an epidemiological study of beef farms in peri-urban zones of Nyanga to ascertain i) the frequency and distribution of brucellosis in cattle ii) identify risk factors for brucellosis and iii) assess the Knowledge attitudes and practices of livestock owners regarding brucellosis in this area. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Implementation, monitoring and supervision of field data collection for cross-sectional and KAPs studies in peri-urban zones of Nyanga in Gabon according to the study protocol. |
| Impact | Individual level seroprevalence of brucellosis in beef cattle in the area was obtained |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Hydraulics, Togo |
| Organisation | Government of Togo |
| Department | Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Hydraulics |
| Country | Togo |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The research team prepared a detailed protocol for the vaccine pilot study in the country |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborator assisted with issuing the official authorization needed for vaccine importation and administration in the country. |
| Impact | Vaccine was successfully imported and administered to animals in two study areas. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Ministry of livestock, fisheries and animal industries, Cameroon |
| Organisation | Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, Cameroon |
| Country | Cameroon |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The research team prepared a detailed protocol for the vaccine pilot study in the country |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborator assisted with issuing the official authorization needed for vaccine importation and administration in the country. |
| Impact | Vaccine was successfully imported and administered to animals in two study areas. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture, and Livestock, Burundi |
| Organisation | Government of Burundi |
| Department | Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture, and Livestock, Burundi |
| Country | Burundi |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The research team prepared a detailed protocol for the vaccine pilot study in the country |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborator assisted with issuing the official authorization needed for vaccine importation and administration in the country. |
| Impact | Vaccine was successfully imported and administered to animals in two study areas. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Rwanda Agricultural Board |
| Organisation | Rwanda Agriculture Board |
| Country | Rwanda |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Our main contribution is the design and implementation of an epidemiological study of dairy farms in a peri urban area in Kigali and Nyagatare--Rwanda to ascertain i) the frequency and distribution of brucellosis in dairy cattle ii) identify risk factors for brucellosis in and iii) assess the Knowledge attitudes and practices of livestock owners regarding brucellosis in this area. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This partner has facilitated all the logistics needed for the fieldwork and started data collection in Kigali and Nyagatare- Rwanda |
| Impact | Logistics for data collection including collection of biological samples in Kigali and Nyagatare- Rwanda have been started and almost finished. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Senova Gesellschaft für Biowissenschaft und Technik |
| Organisation | Senova Gesellschaft für Biowissenschaft und Technik |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The main contribution was the collaboration with Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to develop a selected Brucella antigen in to a format that supports the construction of portable lateral flow devices (LFD). LFD's will be applied in the countries where vaccination is taking place. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Technical assistance for the development and validation of the LFDs. |
| Impact | Development of a novel bin-side test for the detection of antibodies against Brucella spp, with a potential to differentiate between naturally infected and vaccinated animals. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | University of Ngaoundéré, School of Science and Veterinary Medicine |
| Organisation | University of Ngaoundéré |
| Country | Cameroon |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Our main contribution is the design and implementation of an epidemiological study of dairy farms in two peri urban areas in Cameroon to ascertain i) the frequency and distribution of brucellosis in Ngaoundere and Bamenda dairy cattle ii) identify risk factors for brucellosis in Ngaoundere and Bamenda and iii) assess the Knowledge attitudes and practices of livestock owners regarding brucellosis in this area. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This partner has facilitated all the logistics needed for the fieldwork and started data collection in Cameroon |
| Impact | Data collection including collection of biological samples in the two study areas. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | University of Pretoria-technical support |
| Organisation | University of Pretoria |
| Department | Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases |
| Country | South Africa |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | ZELS team provided technical support for the PhD student who is involved in this research project on Brucella isolation and molleculer characterisation in Rwanda. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration with University of Pretoria involved technical support from the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, for culture, isolation and molecular characterization of Brucella in Rwanda. |
| Impact | Successful culture and isolation of Brucella from samples colleted in Rwanda. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | University of Rwanda PhD studentship |
| Organisation | University of Rwanda |
| Country | Rwanda |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Research project related to this PhD studentship is going on under the supervision of ZELS project network of partners and it utilises some of the data collected during field studies. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The PhD student who was offered this studentship (Christine Kanyandekwe ) holds a senior position at the Rwandan veterinary services, someone who was part of the project collaboration since 2017 and facilitated and monitored all fieldwork activities related to the project in Rwanda. |
| Impact | This collaboration is still on going and no out come at the moment. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Title | Bovine brucellosis vaccine pilot intervention |
| Description | A total of 1,467 animal in 176 herds were vaccinated in 5 areas of Burundi, Cameroon and Togo. The intervention has provided the veterinary services of these countries with an opportunity to assess the feasibility of a larger intervention, including identification of barriers that may compromise such a potential large scale program. |
| Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Vaccines |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2019 |
| Development Status | Closed |
| Impact | Demonstration to veterinary services and farmers of the practicality of implementing vaccination for brucellosis in peri-urban dairy production zones of West and Central African countries |
| Title | Improvement of serological testing technique for brucellosis |
| Description | Dr John McGiven of APHA has been looking to utilize the field testing from this project to improve diagnostic protocols. He says; 'The situation with the milk ELISA presents a strong and specific example of tangible benefits these projects bring back to GB. There is some concern in GB that the ever increasing number of animals contributing to bulk milk samples presents a risk that individual infected animals will not be detected. The best way to study this is to try the milk ELISA in a situation where brucellosis is present in some herds and where we can test individual milk samples (and sera ideally) for the animals contributing to the bulk tank. This is clearly not possible in the UK but will be achieved through the ZELS project. Additionally, a redesign of the milk ELISA aimed at increasing sensitivity and robustness whilst maintaining specificity that will directly address the concerns related to the sensitivity of the surveillance of the GB dairy can now be evaluated in the field though the ZELS project as described.' |
| Type | Diagnostic Tool - Non-Imaging |
| Current Stage Of Development | Early clinical assessment |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2015 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Impact | Further enhanced the collaboration with FADH BBSRC- Indian Department of Biotechnology initiative who are using the same techniques. |
| Title | Lateral Flow Device diagnostic assay for bovine brucellosis |
| Description | As part of the this project, The Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency-OIE reference center for Brucellosis (APHA), has develop diagnostic assay for bovine brucellosis using purified rough lipopolysaccharide and glycoconjugate antigens with a potential to differentiate between infected and vaccinated animals. Assays are being evaluated using sera from the APHA serum bank and from partners within this Project. The selected Brucella antigens were developed in to a format that is suitable for the construction of portable lateral flow devices (LFD) that may be applied within the local surveillance laboratory and provide training to aid in their implementation. APHA provided the LFD manufacturer with the chosen Brucella antigen and assist in the serological evaluation of the development process. |
| Type | Management of Diseases and Conditions |
| Current Stage Of Development | Early clinical assessment |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2017 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Impact | The use of the portable LFDs will enhance brucellosis diagnosis in the study countries. |
| Description | A series of in-depth country-specific discussions |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Series of country-specific discussions on the situation of the country with respect to brucellosis, needs, challenges, opportunities and future plans with 2-3 participants from each country (7 countries). The discussions also aim to identify the benefits generated by the project and impact it may have had. Discussions were held through Zoom meetings for each country separately and one or more stakeholders, who were involved in the project, were interviewed by the ZELS team. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | Actively maintained project website: https://www.brucellosis.info/ |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Actively maintained webpage presents general information about project's activities, collaborators and outputs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | An online presentation delivered by Dr John McGiven from OIE brucellosis reference center - APHA |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | An online presentation delivered by Dr John McGiven from OIE brucellosis reference center - APHA about "Diagnostic tools for the monitoring and control of brucellosis in low-resource settings" followed by open discussion attended by laboratory staff involved in brucellosis serological diagnosis. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Brucellosis Workshop Dakar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Between 15th and 18th June 2015, a four-day workshop was delivered at The Interstate School of Veterinary Science and Medicine of Dakar (EISMV). The focus of the workshop was diagnostic of brucellosis in the West and Central region of Africa. However, other broader aspects such as current disease burden, diagnostic capacity, access to vaccines and barriers to control of the disease in each country where discussed in detail. A total of 28 participants from both human and animal health sectors in |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | https://zelsbrucellosis.wordpress.com/activities-so-far/diagnostics-workshop-dakar-june-2015/ |
| Description | Epidemiology training workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A training workshop was hold in Rwanda Agricultural Board with attendees from different factions of the veterinary services including the director of the veterinary services and other senior management, field veterinarians, disease control experts as well as laboratory workers. The aim of the workshop was to provide an overview of what expertise our team could provide, give a taster session in each, and receive feedback in decision on one topic for an in depth future training. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Formal meeting of The Management Board of the EISMV, with representatives from different West and Central African countries |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A formal meeting of the EISMV Management Board, including representatives of different West and Central African countries, was held in Dakar. During this meeting one of the project's co-investigators (Prof Alambedji) presented results of different studies that were conducted in different study countries. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | International brucellosis conference, Delhi, Nov 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Aims and objectives of the project were disseminated at this meeting, which brings together Brucella experts from all over the world. The meeting also contained several discussions on the sustainable control of the disease in Central and West Africa. The PI for this project (J. Guitian) gave a keynote speech and chaired a panel discussion on the control of brucellosis. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.dbtbrucellosis.in/brucellosis2016/invitation.php |
| Description | Meetings with the FAO's Centre d'Urgence pour les Maladies Animales Transfrontières - Sénégal (ECTAD). |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The center has received support from USAID to develop a regional Field Epidemiology Training Program for Veterinarians (FETPV) across the same countries targeted by our ZELS project. The UK and Senegalese PIs (Guitian and Akakpo) have provided advise on the structure of the program and discussed the potential for the training workshops planned as part of the ZELS project to be integrated with the new regional training program. Both RVC and EISMV have been invited to be part of the regional training initiative. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | One Health many perspectives: Emerging Research from LMICs, Post Graduate & Early Career Researcher Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This two-day Postgraduate (PGR) and Early Career Researcher (ECR) symposium was held at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) on the 29th and 30th August 2018. The event was organised by the students of the Zoonoses and Emerging Livestock Systems - Associated Studentship (ZELS-AS) program and kindly funded by BBSRC, DFID, MRC, NERC, ESRC and DSTL. The general consensus of delegates and invited speakers was that it was a resounding success. With a combination of keynote speakers, oral and poster presentations and interactive discussion sessions, the symposium allowed plenty of time for enthusiastic engagement and interaction among future One Health scientists. It is hoped that the networks and collaborations formed during the symposium will enable a sustained and supportive arena for those wishing to remain connected One Health research and researchers in the future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://zelspgrsymposium.wordpress.com/ |
| Description | PI Interviewed as part of an article published in the International Animal Health Journal (Vol. 4, Issue 2) entitled "Innovation and Collaboration: Combating the Endemic Threat of Brucellosis". |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Interviewed in relation to the threat posed by brucellosis and the challenges associated with its control in LMICs. The interview took place in the context of an international initiative aimed at promoting the development of improved vaccines for their deployment in low income settings with funding from a range of donors and under the AgResults Initiative. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://issuu.com/mark123/docs/iahj_may_2017_web |
| Description | Participatory meetings |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | As part of the activities related to this project, focus group discussions (FGD) were held in Senegal, these FGDs were attended by 179 participants among them 103 women In line with the FGDs, meetings and interviews were conducted with Policy Makers (Chief veterinary officer and Head of food safety), Academics (Medical professors of Infectious diseases (n = 2), Veterinary professors (n =1)) and Stakeholders (FAO regional office (n = 2)). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Poster and presentation at the Royal Society: A New Era in Brucellosis Diagnosis and Control. J. McGiven, L. Duncombe, L. Howells, P. J. Hogarth, A. Dell, S. Haslam, P. Hitchen, N. V. Ganesh, S. S. Mandal, S. Sarkar, J. M. Sadowska, D. Bundle'. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dissemination of challenges related to brucellosis control and new opportunities for improved control informed by recent scientific developments. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Poster and short presentation at the Royal Society |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | John McGiven, a collaborator from APHA, presented a poster and short presentation at the Royal Society: A New Era in Brucellosis Diagnosis and Control. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Presentation on Brucellosis in West and Central Africa and ZELS project activities |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation at 50th aniversary of Interstates Veterinary School of Dakar attended by representatives from the different member states. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Presentation: Brucellosis as an evolving zoonotic infection risk. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A key note presentation entitled "Brucellosis as an evolving zoonotic infection risk" was delivered during the 17th Montenegro International Veterinary Congress in Porto, Portugal. This was an opportunity to present to a broad audience the approaches, challenges and main lessons learned from our work on Brucellosis in Africa, including the need for transdisciplinary research and for holistic approaches and the dynamic relationship between livestock, people and pathogens mediated by rapidly changing food chains. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Project Facebook group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Project Facebook group called (zels.brucellosis), www.facebook.com/zels.brucellosis, aiming to share different project activities through social media. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Public Engagement (Milk and my community) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | This was a public engagement in Lomé (Capital city of Togo where 20% of the country population lives and ~60% of the country urban population). The event aimed to 1) To better understand the perceptions of local health care workers and community-based workers of brucellosis and related issues such as dairy consumption and disease in unpasteurised dairy products 2) To share knowledge with community health care workers of the health risks of dairy products and contact with animals of Brucellosis. About 60 participants were engaged using a World Café approach with facilitated discussions in small groups and general feedback. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Research Highlights event, RVC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | On the 30th November 2015 the project was presented alongside other RVC projects looking at brucellosis worldwide as a poster and stand at the half-day event. University researchers as well as members of the public attended this event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.rvc.ac.uk/research/researchers/researcher-association/research-highlights |
| Description | Student Internship |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A high school graduate with an interest in applying for veterinary medicine approached us for work experience. Mulisa Allen had already done work experience for the veterinary services and wanted to expand her knowledge in fieldwork. She was paired up with one of the field veterinarians working for the ZELS project, and she made an excellent effort to gather a vast quantity of individual animal milk samples and assisting with the longitudinal study farm visits and questionnaires. She also spent some time in the laboratory learning about brucellosis testing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Training on laboratory serological diagnosis |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Three young researchers directly involved in project activities (one from Rwanda: Lydia Murerwa and two from Senegal; A. Ndour and K. Diagne) attended laboratory training sessions about serological diagnosis of brucellosisat RVC and APHA. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Training session on epidemiology in practice |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Training session on epidemiology in practice and epidemiology in the context of one health have been delivered during the reporting year building on the experience generated by this project. The session was delivered romotely in November 2020 in the UK, at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, by J. Guitian and I. Musallam to approximately 50 MSc students with veterinary and medical backgrounds. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Training sessions |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Training sessions and ongoing support in core epidemiology skills and survey implementation / monitoring were provided to 3 research assistants based at the INH in Togo. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Training sessions on epidemiology in practice and epidemiology in the context of one health |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A training session has been delivered building on the experience generated by this project. The session was delivered in the UK, at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, by J. Guitian and I. Musallam to approximately 50 MSc students with veterinary and medical backgrounds. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Training workshop in Togo |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Training workshop for 12 field personnel in electronic data collection using the Open Data Kit (ODK) platform, and basic cartography in Togo |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Training workshop in Togo |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Training workshop for staff at the serology laboratory of Togo's INH in the serological diagnosis of brucellosis using the Rose Bengal Test (November 2019) and indirect ELISA assays (February 2020). Routine brucellosis tests were not offered before, and these techniques were not available. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Training workshop in Togo |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Training workshop for laboratory technologists at nine (9) 1st level health facilities across the city of Lomé in the serological diagnosis of brucellosis using the Rose Bengal Test |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Workshop in Kigali-Rwanda |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | 1. After this workshop a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between RVC and Rwanda Agricultural Board that sets up the basis for collaboration including field studies to ascertain prevalence of infection in different areas. 2. The MOU will facilitate wide dissemination of the results of the Rwanda brucellosis control program across the region. This is of relevance because the Rwanda control program is the only well-established, formal brucellosis control program across the countries we are targeting. We will provide the Rwanda Agricultural Board with assistance to analyze the results of their control program and monitor its effectiveness and these findings will be of interest to other countries. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |