UGANDA – The National Agriculture Research Organisation (NARO) has embarked on a pilot program for a new anti-tick vaccine, paving the way for its anticipated full-scale production next year.
According to Andrew Kiggundu, NARO’s Principal Research Officer, the initial batch of vaccines has been manufactured following successful clinical trials and is now being distributed to selected farmers.
The new vaccine comes in two forms: an injectable and an oral version. Both are based on a protein named Subolesin, which was extracted from native tick species.
The injectable vaccine is administered into the muscle of cattle, typically around the neck area, while the oral version can be given directly to the cattle or mixed into their feed.
The vaccine was trialed across five farms in Uganda, representing the country’s diverse ecological zones.
These sites included the Mbarara ZARDI farm in Mbarara, Kiburara Prison farm in Ibanda District, Isimba Prison farm in Masindi District, Maruzi Livestock Research Station in Apac District, and Nabuin ZARDI farm in Nabilatuk District.
Kiggundu, who also oversees vaccine production, stated that the production facility is expected to be fully operational by mid-next year.
However, he noted that the process is still subject to regulatory approvals from the National Drug Authority.
Dr. Appolinaire Djikeng, Director General of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), emphasized the importance of such innovations in reducing reliance on acaricides.
These chemicals not only harm the environment but also pose risks of drug resistance. Djikeng, who was in Uganda to sign a new Memorandum of Understanding with NARO, highlighted that the new vaccine could help mitigate the significant economic losses incurred from tick-borne diseases.
Uganda reportedly loses over US$1.1 billion annually to diseases such as East Coast fever, cowdriosis, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis, which are transmitted by ticks.
Additionally, tick-borne disease control consumes about 80% of annual farm management expenses.
The development of this anti-tick vaccine began a decade ago when NARO collaborated with the Institute for Game and Wildlife Research in Spain.
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