Live vaccines for Theileria parva: deployment in eastern, Central and Southern Africa. Proceedings of an FAO/OAU-IBAR/ILRI workshop

The aim of this workshop was to consider methods of immunisation against East Coast Fever (ECF) and other forms of T. parva infection using the infection and treatment method or infection without treatment, and to identify needs for further research to improve vaccine quality and suitability; to consider present and future demands for T. parva vaccine and how these can be met; to review recent progress in developing alternative vaccines for the control of theileriosis caused by T. parva, to consider related research needs, and to identify training and information needs. The workshop participants discussed the deployment of live ECF vaccines and focused on the problems associated with their delivery and the solutions to these problems. These proceedings provide a record of all the country presentations, invited papers, group discussions and recommendations of the workshop. Topics of discussion include production of Theileria parva stabilates and preparation of a composite stabilate for immunisation, application of molecular tools in support of development, standards for live vaccines, infection and delivery method, vaccine delivery, socio-economics and impact assessment, alternative vaccines, and training requirements for vaccine delivery

Genome analysis of protozoan parasites. Proceedings of a workshop

This workshop proceeding reviews the current state of some of the major genome programs in the world, reviews recent developments in the genome analysis of the important protozoan parasites such as leishmania, toxoplasma, trypanosoma and theileria; reviews major technological advancements contributing towards eukaryotic genome analysis; identifies major applications of the knowledge gained from the genome analysis projects; identifies ILRAD's (International Laboratory for Research on Animal Diseases) needs for theileria and trypanosoma genome analysis, and explores possibilities of collaboration with an international group of scientists involved in genome analysis projects. Topics of discussion include molecular dissection of genomes, establishing a laboratory for parasite genome analysis, genetic analysis of theileria and plasmodium, genetic analysis of trypanosomes and techniques for physical and functional analysis

Monitoring the efficacy of immunisation against theileriosis caused by Theileria parva

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) caused by different protozoan and rickettsial species occur all over the world but their greatest impact is in the tropics and subtropics where they cause huge losses mainly in improved breeds of cattle. The economically important tick-transmitted diseases of cattle are caused by the protozoan parasites Babesia bigemina and B. bovis, and Theileria parva and T. annulata, and by the rickettisial organisms Anaplasma marginale and Cowdria ruminantium. In the tropics, countries in the eastern and central regions of Africa are probably most affected. In these regions theileriosis, caused by T. parva, combined with babesiosis, anaplasmosis and cowdriosis, continues to restrict the introduction of improved breeds of cattle. Live vaccines for babesiosis, anaplasmosis and cowdriosis have been available and used for several years. Despite this, the intensive application of acaricides on cattle has been required mainly to control the brown ear tick, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, the principal vector of T. parva, for which no vaccine was available. In the last 20 years, a significant research effort has been put into the development of a vaccine against T. parva. This has resulted in the infection-and-treatment method of immunisation, which has opened up the possibility of reducing the use of acaricides. The FAO Regional Programme on Control of Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases is deploying live vaccines to control TBDs (particularly theileriosis) as part of the integrated control of ticks and TBDs in the predominantly small holder dairy sector in the region. The live vaccines for tick-borne diseases other than theileriosis have been used for several decades and their efficacies have been well defined. However, the infection-and-treatment method immunisation against T. parva has only been used on a limited scale and the need to assess efficacy evaluate delivery systems and measure the long-term impact of immunisation is clearly recognised. This paper identifies the problems of producing and delivering a live vaccine against theileriosis and the parameters that need to be monitored to evaluate the efficacy and long-term biological impact of immunisation. The paper also briefly describes the technologies that are available to monitor immunisation