Global joint forces to help farmers with animal disease

Dar es Salaam. A number of global organisations have entered into a partnership with a leading pharmaceutical firm to address African Animal Trypanosomiasis (AAT) disease which affects millions of cattle on the continent.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the UK Government Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, Boehringer Ingelheim and Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed) said in a joint statement that through the partnership, they will conduct research and collaborate with other academic and international projects to promote and develop solutions to address AAT.

“The development of new veterinary products takes many years. The partnership aspires to launch a solution for AAT before 2030,” it stated.

AAT is estimated to threaten more than 50 million cattle in known tsetse endemic areas with as many as 90 million cattle threatened if cattle outside the tsetse belt — potentially at risk because of cattle movements, transhumance and mechanical transmission of parasites — are also considered.

AAT is estimated to kill three million cattle annually and is directly attributed to reduced meat and milk production while the cost of treatment and tsetse control estimated to be more than $1 billion annually.

Losses in agricultural gross domestic product in all affected areas in Africa are believed to be around $4.5 billion annually, according to the statement.

AAT disease, also known as Nagana, is a substantial socio-economic burden to livestock farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa including Tanzania.

AAT is a disease that affects vertebrate animals such as cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, horses, pigs, dogs, and other species.

AAT is caused by the protozoan parasites Trypanosoma congolense, Trypanosoma vivax and, to a lesser extent, Trypanosoma brucei brucei, and is a major problem in Africa where it is mainly spread by tsetse flies.

Infectious parasites enter the bloodstream of the host animal and multiply, causing fever, weakness, lethargy, and anaemia which lead to weight loss, reduced fertility and milk production, and may result in death.

Thanks to strong collaborations, great progress has been made in the control of African human Trypanosomiasis which is targeted for elimination by the World Health Organization (WHO).