program for enhancing the health and productivity of livestock
Andrew Chota
PhD Student
Andrew studies respiratory diseases of small ruminants, specifically peste des petits ruminants, contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, and Pasteurella multocida.
ABOUT ME
Andrew Chota is a holder of Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Masters of Science in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Vaccine Development specialty) of Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania. He is a government employee, working as a Senior Veterinary Research Officer at the Tanzania Vaccine Institute (TVI). Before being employed by the government, Andrew successfully worked in a private veterinary pharmaceutical firm for about six years.
Andrew is interested and works on research in the areas of vaccines and epidemiological surveys of neglected zoonotic diseases. He is currently working on epidemiology of diseases with respiratory signs. In his free time Andrew likes cooking, watching movies, and reading newspapers and novels.
Epidemiology and diagnostic accuracy of diseases with respiratory signs in domestic small ruminants in Tanzania
Thesis Research Project
RESEARCH
Small ruminants in Tanzania are highly affected by diseases that manifest with respiratory signs. So far these are the major causes of deaths of small ruminants in Tanzania. Diseases that are frequently mentioned include Peste des petits ruminants and Contagious caprine pneumonia. Little is known about Pneumonic pasteurellosis and other diseases. My research aims at understanding the epidemiology of the diseases, the level of co-infections and more so devising an optimum diagnostic approach and advice on proper control strategies. The research is done by Andrew Chota under supervision of Dr. Gabriel Shirima, Prof. Lughano Kusiluka, and Prof. Sara Cleaveland. The research is conducted in northern Tanzania in pastoral farming systems and in the Southern Highlands in agro-pastoral farming systems. Additionally, case follow up will be done to establish the microbiome of the respiratory signs niche.
The gap in the information on the risk factors, surveillance, and pathogens involved in disease occurrence results in poor management and control strategies. There is a need to elucidate the epidemiology of the diseases presenting with respiratory signs and devise an optimum diagnostic system to facilitate surveillance, management, and control strategies.
