Biography

Dr. Chris Marufu is a veterinary parasitologist who obtained a BVSc degree (2006) from the University of Zimbabwe, an MSc degree (2009) with distinction from the University of Fort Hare, and a PhD degree (2014) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He was appointed Senior Lecturer: Veterinary Parasitology in the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases (University of Pretoria) in 2019. Dr. Marufu is involved in the teaching of undergraduate Veterinary Science and Veterinary Nursing courses in Helminthology, ticks and tick-borne diseases, and graduate students' supervision. Dr. Marufu’s research focuses on finding sustainable solutions to animal health challenges caused by parasites in different animal production systems, thus improving food security. He is a National Research Foundation Y2 (Young Promising) rated scientist. As of September 2020, he has published 23 articles with 294 citations and a Scopus h-index of 11.

Discipline/s

Veterinary Parasitology, Helminthology, Production Animal Health

Research description

The current research aims to determine the molecular prevalence of bovine fasciolosis in cattle slaughtered at abattoirs and associated risk factors for human fascioliasis and improve awareness in cattle farmers in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It will fit in the One Health context by applying a transdisciplinary approach to investigate the neglected zoonotic disease fasciolosis, identifying its risk factors, and raising awareness on the disease amongst farmers and abattoir workers. Jaja et al. (2017) conducted abattoir-based studies in the Eastern Cape and published findings on the prevalence of fasciolosis in cattle using morphological tests. The current study will continue epidemiological studies on bovine fasciolosis with a shift towards utilizing molecular approaches to determine the Fasciola species infecting cattle. It will focus on farmers' participation in a survey to identify the risk factors of human fascioliasis, which will enable information transfer from researchers to farmers on the risk and transmission of the disease to humans. Ultimately, the study will lead to a better understanding of the epidemiology of bovine fasciolosis and set the tone for the formulation of preventative and control strategies for fasciolosis in cattle and people in the Eastern Cape Province.

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