Multi-host epidemiology of brucellosis in northern Tanzania
Dr Jo Halliday; Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow
Summary:
Dr Halliday's work is focused on the epidemiology and surveillance of several zoonotic pathogens in East Africa. For this talk, Dr Halliday will focus on a current research project on brucellosis. Brucellosis is one of most widespread human diseases acquired from animals, and is one of the highest priority animal diseases in Africa. Brucellosis infects many animal species, including key livestock species - cattle, sheep, and goats - and most human infections are acquired through direct contact with livestock or via indirect transmission through untreated milk products. Brucellosis has wide-ranging impacts that include animal losses due to abortion, lost milk production, killing of infected animals, and human illness causing reduced work capacity.
Control programmes implemented previously demonstrate that the use of existing tools for brucellosis control can markedly improve the livelihoods of the poor communities that are most affected by brucellosis. However important gaps remain in our understanding of the epidemiology of brucellosis in sub-Saharan Africa. To develop practical plans for brucellosis control it is crucial to understand which host species are infected by which Brucella species, and which routes are most important in transmitting brucellosis to humans. The aims of this ongoing project are to generate data, and tools, provide training, and establish and enhance partnerships necessary for the development of a brucellosis control program for Tanzania
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