Understanding tick-borne zoonotic disease epidemiology within the nomadic pastoral systems in Isiolo, Tana River and Garissa counties of Kenya
13Caroline Tigoi, 3Raginald Kavishe 1David Tchouassi, 2Barbara Blacklaws, 2James Wood, 1Rosemary Sang
1International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya. 2Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Tanzania
Introduction:
The practice of moving livestock onto range land favours the convergence of humans, domestic and wild animals, creating potential for disease transmission by vectors such as ticks. Although ticks transmit many zoonotic pathogens, few studies have examined their role in circulation of arbovirus and non-viral pathogens of emergent public health importance in Kenya and East Africa. Consequently, minimal data exist on the exposure levels in humans and knowledge on tick species and ecology.
Objectives:
The main objective of the study is to determine the epidemiology of tick-borne zoonotic diseases along nomadic pastoral systems in Kenya.
Methodology:
The study will utilise retrospective ticks (hard ticks) sampled off-host (cattle) and blood samples collected from healthy populations living a long livestock migratory routes in Isiolo, Tana river, Garissa and West Pokot Counties, as part of a recently ended project. A total of 16,000 Ticks have been identified to species and pooled for screening of arboviruses (Orthomyxoviridae, Bunyaviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Togaviridae and Flaviviridae) by Vero cell culture and molecular methods (RT-PCR, sequencing). Also, Rickettsiosis will be probed by molecular means. Human samples will be screened by serology for Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) and neutralization assays (Thogoto, Dhori, Dugbe and Ngari viruses).
Conclusions:
Overall, the project will contribute to important insights into tick-borne pathogen epidemiology and transmission in this setting and training in several different research methods.