Curriculum

Dr Norman Mukarati is a specialist wildlife veterinarian of many years experience spanning from 1993 to present. At present, he is a lecturer in Wildlife & Exotic Medicine in the Department of Clinical Veterinary Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Zimbabwe (from November 2010). His research interests are on the epidemiology of anthrax at the wildlife –livestock –human interface. Prior to this post, Dr Mukarati has held a number of posts in public service in Zimbabwe and with a stint in Botswana (Department of Wildlife & National Parks). He has also consulted for a number of organizations including Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO, UN), Campfire Association (Zimbabwe), Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority, among others. Dr Mukarati is a member of professional bodies which include: Council of Veterinary Surgeons of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Veterinary Association Wildlife Group – Committee member, IUCN Wild Animal Health Specialist Group, IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group. Apart from undergraduate veterinary training, Dr Mukarati is also active in continued professional development program (CPD) in wild animal health for the veterinary profession in Zimbabwe and the region. This has culminated in the establishment of a wild animal health course for veterinarians hosted by the Department of Clinical Veterinary Studies, University of Zimbabwe in collaboration with local and regional partners. This course is envisaged to be an annual event. 

Summary

Zimbabwe, alongside other southern African countries, is considered an anthrax endemic area. In this region, anthrax outbreaks has been reported to cause massive deaths of wildlife in local populations and domestic livestock, yet in general this disease is under-reported in wildlife. The relatively high incidence of reported anthrax in domestic livestock attest to this since these animals share the range with wildlife at the interface. This undermines the basis for informed disease containment measures including policy formulation. 

The role of wildlife in the epidemiology of anthrax in Zimbabwe is not known due to sub-optimal surveillance and lack of adequate documentation of disease in both wildlife and domestic livestock. Yet anthrax has serious impact on wildlife and livestock causing high mortality, sometimes with human fatalities. The transmission and epidemiology of B. anthracis in various animal species at the interface is yet to be understood for tracing origin of disease outbreaks, and therefore modify disease preventive measures. The disease impact on wildlife populations and domestic livestock at the interface is not precisely known or appreciated due to under-reporting and sub-optimal surveillance for anthrax. Indeed, it is not clear what role, if any, does proximity of wildlife to domestic livestock play in the incidence of anthrax outbreaks in either species.

The overall goal is to understand the epidemiology, ecology, socio-economic impact and strains of anthrax, for better control of the disease in all animals including human beings at the interface. The specific objectives therefore are:

 i) To determine, retrospectively the patterns and impact of anthrax outbreaks in animals and humans at selected interface areas in Zimbabwe.

 ii) To determine the B. anthracis strain differences associated with anthrax outbreaks in animals at selected interface areas in Zimbabwe.

 iii) To determine the role of environmental and other factors in anthrax outbreaks in wildlife and domestic livestock at selected interface areas in Zimbabwe.

iv) To determine the potential use of anthrax serology in carnivores as a surveillance tool for anthrax at the wildlife / domestic livestock interface.

 v) To determine the role of wildlife and/or domestic animals in the transmission cycle of anthrax at selected wildlife/domestic interfaces. 

The methodology used will be literature review, questionnaires with farmers, strain isolation from burial sites and use of wild carnivore serobank to test it for serology.