Introduced by T.T. Dolan
The idea of a network for the exchange of information within the region affected by East Coast fever had been discussed at previous workshops. In the October 1984 workshop ten countries had expressed their interest in participating in such a network. The September 1985 workshop on collection, handling and analysis of performance and productivity data had the development of a network specifically in mind. At this latter meeting standardized data recording sheets were presented and analyses discussed and types of computer hardware and software that would allow the easy exchange of data were suggested. Despite the enthusiasm of some countries for this approach, no formal network has been established. However, informal exchanges have continued among workers in different countries and between these workers and others in international institutes or donor-funded projects in national institutes. The most consistent exchange has been between the various programmes of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and associated national programmes in the region. Some countries or workers within countries felt that they did not want their data handed around freely or they felt competent to handle their data independently. This was particularly so for countries with very active programmes. Countries, of course, must decide what they will do with their data and the aim of the network was not to use other people's data but to provide a framework within which ideas could be exchanged and data analysed using standardized methods.
One form of exchange is through workshops such as this, organized by ILRAD, FAO and OAU. They provide an opportunity to present recent research findings with a practical application and, in the case of this workshop, to highlight problems encountered with immunization. The formal presentations are complemented by informal exchanges, which may be more useful for individual workers.
The session was then opened for discussion and the following is a summary reported by Dr. J. Crees.
1) Dr. Dolan proposed that another meeting should be held. Dr. Masiga said that the Organization of African Unity (OAU) would be keen to support this meeting. Topics proposed included immunization against babesiosis and against ticks, in addition to theileriosis. Dr. Young proposed that more emphasis be given to chemotherapy and economics. Dr. McHardy said that the Co-ordination Committee's recommendation that requests for buparvaquone should be submitted through national authorities was acceptable to him only in so far as requests did not exceed supply. He did not wish to be personally responsible for allocating priorities among applicant countries.2) Dr. Dolan referred back to his undertaking to co-ordinate the re-designing of the standard recording forms. Dr. Young drew attention to ILRAD's software for analysis of data from immunization trials. Dr. Gettinby advised that people do their own data analysis as far as possible and added that copies of the analytical programme could be made available by ILRAD. He suggested that potential users might be able to come to ILRAD for training in its use. He stressed that IBM-compatible hardware would be needed to run it.
Dr. Perry stressed that data on the economic aspects of ECF control should be collected.
3) Dr. Dolan recommended mapping confirmed outbreaks of tick-borne disease to give more accurate and detailed data on distribution. It will be essential to have better information on ticks and disease distribution if changes in tick or disease control policies are to be recommended. Dr. Masiga confirmed that disease reporting by member states of the OAU left much to be desired. It had been agreed that member states would submit copies of reports being prepared for the Office International des Epizooties, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization under pre-existing schemes to OAU/IBAR. A course has been held in Dakar for francophone countries on improving reporting standards and a course for anglophone countries is to be held in Tanzania. Dr. Perry proposed that the meeting should support the OAU's initiative, which was accepted.
Dr. Mkandawire drew attention to the poor state of within-country reporting, and suggested that every effort be made to improve national disease-reporting systems.
Dr. Norval proposed that maps that exist on the distribution of ticks and tick-borne diseases should be circulated among conference participants.
4) Dr. Kariuki stressed that there is a need for a test for the immunogenic nature of specific national parasite stocks for purposes of international certification, and asked when one might be available. Dr. Dolan said that work would continue on the characterization of stocks and clones from selected stocks of Theileria parva, but the process of developing characterization reagents for use in vitro would take time. Other institutions expected ILRAD to lead in such matters, but he noted that the characterization achieved so far, with monoclonal antibodies and other methods, did not correlate with the immunizing properties observed in vivo. These laboratory techniques provided reliable markers for individual stocks within the laboratory, but no laboratory test of immunizing capacity is available.
5) Dr. Dolan proposed that a sub-committee be formed specifically to define criteria of severity of disease reactions so that control animals and breakthrough cases in immunization trials may be classified and salvaged by therapy rather than left to die. Dr. Young was selected as chairman, with Drs. Mutugi, Morzaria, Musisi and Gettinby as observers. (See Appendix 2.)
