Research grant from the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene awarded to PIIVeC early career researcher Francine Sado

PIIVeC early career researcher Francine Sado has been awarded a competitive research grant worth £5000 from the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene for her project "Xenomonitoring of ticks and tick-borne diseases in the Vina department, Adamawa region of Cameroon."

Little is known about the impact of ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBD) on the livestock industry in Cameroon. The last study, released in 1982, showed that 63% of cattle mortality was due to TBD. In this study, Francine aims to assess tick infestation and TBD in the main cattle production site of the country, the Adamawa region. She will measure the level of infestation of the herd and identify the infesting tick species and the main tick-borne pathogens involved in cattle diseases. Findings from this project will be communicated to stakeholders so that the data can inform policy on tick control.