Project D:

Trypanosomiasis: alleviating the effects of climate change through understanding human-vector-parasite interactions

WHY THIS PROJECT?

Climate change may increase tsetse fly efficacy and distribution, while agricultural encroachment to more remote areas may increase the contact of vulnerable populations with tsetse-transmitted trypanosomes. This could potentially result in increased health vulnerability.

THE AIM

To assess risks of trypanosomiasis infection for marginalised communities in Tanzania, to monitor trypanosomiasis in livestock in marginalised communities in Zimbabwe and to find ways of alleviating infection risks in both countries.

THE SITES

Zimbabwe: Zambezi Valley

Tanzania: western side of the Serengeti National Park

RESEARCH APPROACHES

  • Questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions
  • A variety of entomological techniques for indoor and outdoor vector research
  • Data collection on T. brucei infections in cattle
  • Experiments to measure man-fly contact under different meteorological conditions
  • Climate-driven modeling of vector dynamics

Why this project?