G.A. Thyangathyanga
Veterinary Headquarters
P.O. Box 30372
Lilongwe 3, Malawi
The Organization of African Unity/Scientific Technical and Research Commission (OAU/STRC) passed a resolution in September 1976 recommending that regional centres be set up for training and applied research on ticks and tick-borne diseases. These centres would cover aspects of tick control (dip management, acaricide chemistry, acaricide resistance testing, etc.) and tick-borne disease control (epizootiology, immunization against East Coast fever [ECF], anaplasmosis, babesiosis and heartwater). The OAU then mounted two missions to the countries of East and Central Africa to advise on the most suitable place for this regional centre. Following consultations between the OAU and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), it was proposed that the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL), Lilongwe, be the site for the centre for East and Central Africa.
Since the passing of the above OAU/STRC resolution, the Malawi Government has strengthened the CVL so that the objectives of the resolution can be achieved. Project GCP/MLW/018/DEN established an infrastructure comprising a laboratory, tick-proof housing, a rabbit colony, spacious cattle accommodation and a farm for growing feed for experimental animals. The project then conducted cross-immunity experiments and field trials using the Muguga cocktail, a combination of Theileria parva parva (Muguga), T. p. parva (Kiambu 5) and T. p. lawrencei (Serengeti-transformed) stocks.
After the end of Project GCP/MLW/018/DEN in September 1985, field immunization continued with support from FAO through Projects TCP/MLW/4505 and TCP/MLW/6652. These immunizations were done on government and private farms. The work was also extended to southern Zambia. The immunization experiments have, among other things, established that the Muguga cocktail can confer an effective immunity against ECF in susceptible livestock and that the cocktail is safe to use.
With assistance from the Dutch Government, a two-year ECF Vaccine Production and Quality Control Project has recently been launched. This project will also be preparation for a five-year regional project of the Southern Africa Development Coordination Conference to be funded by the United Nations Development Programme. To address the problems caused by other tick-borne diseases, the Malawi Government has further sought and received assistance from the Danish Agency for International Development to produce Anaplasma, Babesia and heartwater vaccines for East and Central Africa. Work on this project is already under way.
FACTORS CRITICAL TO A REGIONAL SET-UP
With the developments cited above, the Malawi Government is hopeful and positive that CVL will soon be ready to assume operations on a regional basis. There are, however, a number of issues the co-operating countries in the region may wish to have clarified. These are:
a) the proper handling of biologicals
b) research clearance for foreign visitors
c) information dissemination
Biologicals. In the context of the regional project, the term "biologicals" refers to ticks, stabilates, sera and antigens. Most governments have instituted legislation to prevent the introduction of animal diseases into their countries. For the same reason, the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) advises member countries to observe strictly import and export regulations. Accordingly, the Malawi Government prohibits the importation of biologicals without a valid import permit issued by the Chief Veterinary Officer.
Those governments that will deal with the regional centre should bear the following in mind.
a) Stabilates for immunization will be screened for known animal and human tick-associated viral pathogens.b) Biologicals will be kept under lock and key and accurate records about them will be maintained.
c) There will be very clear restrictions on movements of personnel from one section of the centre to another.
d) Both the farm for experimental animals and the vaccine-production laboratories will be double-fenced.
e) Each applicant wishing to export biologicals to the centre will be given specific instructions on how to package and label such parcels.
Some of these requirements are already met by CVL, but in the coming year construction of the new vaccine production laboratories will be completed and additional security measures will be provided. Participants at this meeting are therefore requested to discuss these requirements freely in the spirit of regional cooperation and point out any security measures to which they want the Malawi Government to pay special attention.
Research clearance for official visits. The Malawi Government requires that official international visitors be given clearance before they come to Malawi. To avoid unnecessary paperwork, most visitors who must enter Malawi often are given "block clearance" for a given period. Official visitors to the country must give the following information to receive research clearance: name, date of birth, nationality, passport number and place of issue, education and professional experience.
Information dissemination. The smooth operation of the regional centre will greatly depend on full exchange of information between member countries and interested organizations involved with research in ECF immunization. Furthermore, the Malawi Government requires scientists to send the Chief Veterinary Officer copies of all scientific reports, excluding routine monthly, quarterly or annual reports, to and from the centre. The publication of scientific findings in journals also needs government approval.
CONCLUSIONS
The following conclusions are drawn.
a) ECF is a major constraint to the improvement of cattle production in East and Central Africa.b) An integrated approach to controlling tick-borne diseases and their vectors is needed and this should include immunizing livestock against the major tick-borne diseases.
c) Since parasites cross geographical borders and are prevalent in many of our countries, the integrated approach can best be effected on a regional basis.
d) The Malawi Government upholds the OAU/STRC decision to establish regional centres and strongly supports the choice of CVL, Lilongwe, as the tick and tick-borne disease centre for East and Central Africa.
e) The Malawi Government is committed to strengthening the CVL so that the regional goals regarding tick-borne disease immunizations can be achieved.
