Uganda Develops Vaccine to fight Ticks in Africa.

In order to control ticks that infest cattle in Uganda, a collaboration was established between Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) and a group at the Health and Biotechnology (SaBio), Institute for Game and Wildlife Research (IREC, CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Spain, headed by Prof. Jose de la Fuente.

During the last 10 years, this collaboration has resulted in the development of vaccines specifically targeting ticks that infest cattle in Uganda (brown ear tick (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus) locally known as Engoha, African blue tick (Rhipicephalus decoloratus), locally known as entujo and tropical bont tick(Amblyomma variegatum) locally known as Embarabara.

The vaccines have been derived from a protein called Subolesin which was extracted from native tick species.

Ticks infest cattle negatively impacting health, productivity and development of the dairy and beef industry resulting into huge economic losses,especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

Annually, the total global costs linked to ticks and tick vectored pathogens in cattle range between US$ 13.9 billion and US$ 18.7 billion.

In Uganda studies have estimated that losses of over USD 1.1 billion occur annually due to ticks andtick-borne diseases including East Coast fever (amashuyo amakebe), babesiosis (redwater),anaplasmosis (kashanku) and cowdriosis (kamunguluze).

At farm level, 80% of the total annual expenses incurred in management all cattle diseases are associated with controllingtick-borne diseases.

Frank Mugabi the spokesperson at the National Agricultural Research Organisation says the breakthrough is to save farmers from making such losses.

The first anti-tick vaccines registered (TickGARD in Australia and Gavac in Cuba) were designed for the control of tick species that occur in those countries.Anti-tick vaccines are also cheaper and more sustainable than acaricides.

The best approach is to begin combining vaccination with a rational and not abusive acaricide application. As vaccination proceeds over time and animals are more protected.

This practice translates into a decrease in tick infestations and the incidence of tick-borne diseases together with the reduction in the use of acaricides.