Summary

Dr Ndengu is a full-time lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, Department of Clinical Veterinary Studies where he teaches Theriogenology (Animal Reproductive Diseases). He obtained a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree from the University of Zimbabwe in December 1994. After graduation, Dr Ndengu worked in the department of Clinical Veterinary Studies as a resident for 2 years. In September 1996, he joined the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands as a masters student under the University of Zimbabwe-EU staff development fellowship where he graduated in 1998 with a masters in epidemiology and a certificate in clinical training in Theriogenology. In September 1998, Dr Ndengu rejoined the University of Zimbabwe as a fulltime lecturer, a position he holds up to date. Dr Ndengu obtained Royal Veterinary College membership in 2006 after successfully sitting registration examinations. His research interests are in the areas of bovine infertility particularly infectious infertility.

The primary objective of this project is to investigate the main pathogens causing infertility in cattle and goats at the human/livestock/wildlife interface, their socio-economic impact and zoonotic implications on humans and the role of wildlife hosts in the ecology and transmission of these pathogens to livestock and humans.

Specific Objectives

• Determination of current animal husbandry practices, awareness and extent of infertility causes and zoonoses, impact and mitigatory strategies
• Determination of the seroprevalence of common infectious causes of infertility in domestic ruminants and wildlife
• Investigation of risk factors for diseases between domestic ruminants
   domestic ruminants and wildlife
   humans and animals
• Characterisation of infectious causes of infertility to species and subspecies levels
• Monitor some herds or individuals over two years to determine if contact with wildlife is a risk factor for livestock infection and hence predict if wild hosts can be reservoirs of infection to domestic ruminants

Come up with recommendations for best husbandry practices to reduce disease incidence, human infection and improve livelihoods

Main Research questions

• Is infectious abortion a problem at the human/wildlife interface and if so what are the main pathogens involved?
• What are the major risk factors (animal, environmental and management) for transmission of these pathogens amongst domestic livestock?
• Are the pathogens causing abortion in livestock also present in the wildlife population at the interface and if so, are there comparable subspecies (strain) level?
• Is contact with wildlife a risk factor for transmission of these pathogens to livestock?

 Study design and methodology

The study will be conducted at 4 sites in the Gonarezhou NP/GLTFCA namely non fenced (free interface), fenced but porous (partially restricted interface), fenced (restricted interface) and non interface areas.

Baseline data will be collected through community group discussions, stakeholder consultations and selected household questionnaires.

Sampling of 10% of cattle and goats populations will be conducted in selected areas. A proportion of wildlife ruminants at a study site with highest disease prevalence in livestock will be captured and radio collared and sampled. The following samples will be collected from the selected animals and captured wildlife: blood, fecal samples, preputial washes and penile scrapings (bulls), vaginal mucus (females) and urine samples.  Some canids will also be sampled (blood and faeces) for neospora caninum.  Wildlife serum banks from the department of livestock production and veterinary services will also be used.

Selected sero-negative livestock herds or individuals at porous interfaces will be followed over two years with sampling done quarterly to demonstrate risk of wildlife contact for sero-conversion.

Laboratory testing of the samples will be carried out. Animals that test positive with screening tests will be re-sampled for confirmatory testing.