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Diagnosis and likely spread of Trypanosoma evansi in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Australia

Project ID

AS1/1996/150

Project Country

Commissioned Organisation

James Cook University, Dept Biomedical & Tropical Vet Science, Australia

Project Leader

Dr Gareth Hutchinson

Email

Gareth.hutchinson@jcu.edu.au

Phone: 

07 4781 4488

Fax: 

07 4779 1526

Collaborating Institutions

Department of Agriculture and Livestock, Papua New Guinea
Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Indonesia
Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries, Northern Territory, Australia

Project Budget

$149,629.00

Start Date

01/01/1997

Finish Date

30/06/1998

Extension Start Date

30/06/1998

ACIAR Research Program Manager

Dr John Copland

Overview Objectives

Surra is a serious animal disease caused by Trypanosoma evansi, a parasite that is transmitted from the mouthparts of biting flies. The disease is endemic in parts of Indonesia and there is a strong possibility that it has spread to Irian Jaya with livestock introduced by transmigrants. This raises quarantine concerns for Papua New Guinea and Australia, and this project will commence a program of research and training in Indonesia and PNG to gather evidence of the spread of the parasite. The scientists will determine the effectiveness of available serological tests for detecting T.evansi in pigs, dogs, horses, deer and cattle in Australia, PNG and Indonesia. They will also determine whether the benign T. theileri, which is already present in northern Australia, can be used as a reliable indicator of where T. evansi would spread should it enter Australia.

Location

There are no project locations defined for this project.