ViECo Project

Background

The occurrence and spread of viral infectious diseases with pandemic potential occur regularly throughout history. Several viral infectious diseases in Tanzania have already in some way afflicted farmed and wild animals.

• African swine fever (ASF), an arboviral hemorrhagic disease of domestic pigs caused by the ASF virus, has become, in recent years, a global threat to the pig industry due to its incursion in areas where it never existed. 
• Tilapia lake virus disease (TiLVD), caused by Tilapia lake virus (TiLV), has been shown to cause significant mortality of up to 90% in infected populations of both farmed and wild tilapia Oreochromis niloticus.
• Suspected viral infection in tilapias, which are also a source of food for Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor in the Lake Natron Ramsar site, Tanzania, has been reported.

The control of such viral epidemics is essential. It can be achieved through rapid diagnosis, surveillance, and understanding of the role of hosts in the transmission and persistence of such diseases.

 Research project

The aim of this project is to study viral genomics in ASFV hosts and tilapia in Tanzania. The knowledge of viral genomics will lead to effective diagnosis, epidemiology, and control of such epidemics. Moreover, the project will enhance household animal protein, ensuring food security, health well-being, and household income through improved and sustained domestic pig and tilapias market access by rural women and fishing communities.