Biography

Dr. Charles Byaruhanga is a research fellow in the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases since 2019. Charles obtained a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (2003) and a Master of Science in Veterinary Preventive Medicine (2013) from Makerere University (Uganda). He completed his PhD in Veterinary Tropical Diseases from the University of Pretoria in 2017. His research interest is in helminthology and tick-borne diseases, and in this, he has expertise in molecular biology, epidemiology, and statistics. Dr. Byaruhanga has years of experience as a veterinary extension worker and as a research scientist in Uganda. He has published 17 journal articles/book sections as of September 2020 and has supervised several graduate students. His current research focuses on sustainable integrated management of helminth parasites in livestock and the environment to improve livestock production, enhance human and environmental health, and boost communities' livelihoods.

Discipline/s

Parasitology (Helminthology and tick-borne diseases)

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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