Forty years of immunology research at ILRI: An impact narrative

Over the years, cutting edge tools, technologies and approaches have been implemented to increase understanding of the bovine immune system and mechanisms of pathogen control. Despite limited funding, compared to human immunological research, ILRAD/ILRI have made tremendous progress in bovine immunological research which remains a research focus at ILRI. Continue reading →

The global impact of ILRI’s epidemiology expertise: An impact narrative

ILRI’s integration of epidemiology with agricultural economics and other social sciences has offered a unique approach for assessing the economic impact of animal disease, and for evaluating the implications of intervention options, whether at farm, national or global level. Continue reading →

New study shows that waterbucks are an important source of tick-borne diseases of livestock

A recent study has found that wildlife are an important source of tick-borne diseases of livestock, with 70% of emerging pathogens originating from wildlife. The study found evidence of previously unknown parasite genotypes that may be infective to both small ruminants and equids (horses). Climate change could fuel the spread of such pathogens through the spread of their tick vector further impacting livestock production. Continue reading →

Analysing African Swine fever epidemiology on the Kenya-Uganda border

On 2-3 October 2013 the closing workshop of the BecA‐ILRI‐CSIRO‐AusAID project on Understanding African Swine fever (ASF) epidemiology as a basis for control was held in Nairobi, Kenya. Participants who included project staff and other invited guests of the workshop titled ‘Analysis of African Swine fever epidemiology and pig value chains to underpin design of … Continue reading →

ILRI scientist wins the Basic Research to Enable Agricultural Development (BREAD) Ideas Challenge

Denis Mujibi, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) geneticist is among the 13 winners of the $10,000 Basic Research to Enable Agricultural Development (BREAD) Ideas Challenge announced in July. Mujibi’s submission was among hundreds of submissions received from researchers from all over the world selected for articulating novel or under-studied scientific challenges facing smallholder farmers in … Continue reading →

Study evidences continual waning of cattle genetic diversity in Western Kenya: Interview with Mary Ndila

For the last four years, Mary Ndila has been studying the population structure of indigenous cattle for her PhD project titled, ‘Genomics diversity of East African Shorthorn Zebu cattle of Western Kenya’, a joint program between ILRI and the University of Nottingham and funded by Wellcome Trust. In this article we find out whether breed … Continue reading →

Research shows that domestic pigs are a potential reservoir for Ndumu virus – Highlighting our Publications

An abstract from the ‘Viral metagenomics demonstrates that domestic pigs are a potential reservoir for Ndumu virus‘ report published in the Virology Journal. Background The rising demand for pork has resulted in a massive expansion of pig production in Uganda. This has resulted in increased contact between humans and pigs. Pigs can act as reservoirs … Continue reading →

Originally posted on CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish:
Daniel Kerage, a graduate fellow at ILRI from 2006 to 2008 and now continuing his studies in Canada, has won the prestigious Pfizer President’s Presenter Award. The award will be presented at the annual Society for Gynecologic Investigation meeting to be held in Orlando, Florida…

What is known, what is unknown and what do we need to know in order to better control lung plague in Africa

A successful Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) meeting was held in ILRI-Addis on the 25-26 Jan, 2013.  The meeting was sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), German and international development cooperation (GTZ) and the Livestock and Fish CGIAR Research Program. The purpose of the meeting was to assess the current status of CBPP … Continue reading →

PENAPH holds successful first technical workshop in Thailand

The Participatory Epidemiology Network for Animal and Public Health (PENAPH) first technical workshop was held on Dec 11-13, 2012 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The committee accepted 34 abstracts out of 55 submissions as oral presentations and an additional 13 were accepted as posters.  The workshop brought together trainers, practitioners and others interested in Participatory Epidemiology (PE) … Continue reading →

East Coast fever vaccine national distribution launch

‘For four decades, the Nairobi-based International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and its predecessor (the International Laboratory for Research on Animal Diseases, ILRAD) have conducted research on the lethal tick-borne cattle disease known as East Coast fever. ILRI’s work has focused on developing a new-generation ‘subunit’ vaccine, comprising molecular components of the causative parasite, while also … Continue reading →

Experts discuss strategies for infectious disease pathogen discovery

Scientists conducting research in the area of pathogen discovery, especially virus discovery met for a 4 day workshop on 5-8 Nov 2012. Held at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Nairobi, the aim of the workshop was to enable ILRI to make informed decisions about which technologies to be investing in to support the pathogen … Continue reading →

Enhancing the richness of indigenous information: From global DAGRIs to country DAGRIS

DAGRIS (http://dagris.ilri.cgiar.org) Domestic Animal Genetic Resources Information System, a web-based electronic source of information on selected indigenous farm animal genetic resources (breeds/ecotypes of cattle, sheep, goats, chicken, pigs, buffalo and yak) with options to extend it further to cover camels, geese, turkey and ducks is moving to a new front and stature. This web-based electronic … Continue reading →

ILRI GEF-Asia project participates in two global biodiversity events in India and Pakistan

On 15th October, the ILRI Global Environment Fund (GEF)-Asia project ‘Development and application of decision-support tools to conserve and sustainably use genetic diversity in indigenous livestock and wild relatives’ will participate at a side event during the Convention on Biological Diversity eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CBD COP11). The side event on, … Continue reading →

Republic of Kenya Zoonotic Disease Unit (ZDU) launched

The Kenyan ministries of livestock and development and public health and sanitation yesterday, 3 October 2012 officially launched the Zoonotic Disease Unit (ZDU) in Nairobi. ‘The ZDU is a One Health office in Kenya that was formed to address the gap that exists between animal and human health sectors in terms of prevention and control … Continue reading →