Bovine tuberculosis is an extremely slow but steadily progressing disease which poses a serious health threat to cattle, wildlife and people especially in developing countries. In the absence of active surveillance the existence of bovine TB typically goes unnoticed for years until it has escalated to a stage where one or more animals present with severe disease. At this point, further spread within and between animal populations is virtually unstoppable, unless all infected animals can be identified and culled, which is infeasible in wildlife populations. The urgent need for alternative control strategies, which are able to reduce and ideally cease disease spread sparked the plans for an important TB vaccination trial in buffalo which has just taken off.

In spite of a paralysing lockdown period, Prof Anita Michel and Dr Jennie Hewlett are excited to announce that this vaccination trial has finally started. The research team has all reasons to be grateful for the generous donation of 26 study buffalo by the Phinda Private Game Reserve and the Manyoni Private Game Reserve in Kwazulu-Natal. They also praise the overwhelming support they received from the great team of local wildlife, veterinary and state veterinary professionals who ensured a safe and efficient operation from capture to testing to translocation and thank each and everyone for their contribution to a successful start of the project. Sincere thanks also go to several buffalo breeders who responded positively to an earlier call for support. This level of commitment is testimony to the insight by stakeholders into the disease challenge at hand.

Buffalo capture at Phinda

What lies ahead?

Going forward, the protective effects of two different anti-TB vaccines will be systematically studied in these buffalo under controlled conditions in the state veterinary quarantine bomas at Skukuza for a period of 9 to 12 months, which explains why the costs for maintaining the buffalo exceed all research expenses. The researchers therefore once again appeal to all buffalo owners to kindly support this project in this crucial period, whether in cash or in kind, all contributions will be highly appreciated and even tax deductible.

Making research matter for conservation and livelihoods.

Buffalo en route	Manyoni boma
Manyoni - walking the buffalo