Trypanosomosis in goats in Zambia.

ILRI is one of 16 centres in a worldwide agricultural research network sponsored by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ILRI conducts strategic research in the biological, animal and social sciences to improve livestock productivity in sustainable agricultural systems throughout the developing world. The objectives of the institute’s research programmes are to improve animal health, nutrition and productivity (milk, meat, traction) in ways that are sustainable over the long term, to characterise and conserve the genetic diversity of indigenous tropical forage species and livestock breeds, to promote sound and equitable national policies for animal agriculture and natural resource management, and to strengthen the animal husbandry research programmes of developing countries. The Regional Tsetse and Trypanosomosis Control Programme (RTTCP) is a project of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). In 1986 the European Commission provided funding to the Programme to help it develop and apply new methods of tsetse and trypanosomosis monitoring and control in Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Funding was extended in 1992 and the Programme was evaluated in 1995. The Programme’s goal is the control of tsetse to help achieve sustainable rural development in southern Africa. The RTTCP assists national programmes in strategic planning, research and development, training, information , and technical coordination of tsetse and trypanosomosis control operations. Since 1988 the RTTCP has provided funds to Kakumbi Tsetse Research Station in eastern Zambia, where the research described in this report was done. the work and encouraged their staff. Their interest made the work possible. The series of experiments provided a demanding daily workload which had to be completed under difficult conditions; only during the second year’s work was a reliable water supply reinstated at the station and a mains electricity supply connected. The successful completion of the research is due to the sustained efforts of Mr A. Chilenga, Mr H.K. Chisanga, Mr J. Silutongwe and their assistants. We warmly acknowledge their contributions. The station was rehabilitated as part of the strategy of the Regional Tsetse and Trypanosomosis Control Programme (RTTCP) of Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe to improve the region’s research capacity. Rehabilitation was completed with funds provided to the RTTCP by the European Development Fund. We are grateful to Dr D. who ensured that rehabilitation was completed and that scientific materials were provided throughout the four years. A large amount of information was collected during the course of the experiments.