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Introduction

 

PiroVac is a major international research project designed to develop control measures to combat two major tick-borne diseases of small ruminants, namely theileriosis and babesiosis. This EU-funded research programme aims at improving existing vaccines, designing new vaccines and capacity building in partner laboratories both in Europe and in endemic areas.

Small ruminant piroplasmosis is a major threat to livestock production in many areas of the developing world. Theilerosis and babesiosis, caused by the protozoan parasites Theileria lestoquardi, T. uilenbergi and Babesia ovis, infect sheep and goats causing disease, production loss and sometimes death. Consequently, these diseases have a major impact on animal welfare and stock-holder prosperity throughout the world.

Goats in the Himalayas
Shepherd and sheep

By developing effective measures to control these important diseases, the PiroVac project represents a major contribution to achieving the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals of food security, food safety, poverty alleviation, animal welfare and environmental sustainability.

PiroVac is a collaborative effort among a number of established research groups working on theileriosis and babesiosis. The consortium also encompasses laboratories involved in malaria research in order that scientific and technological knowledge in that field can be translated into tools and reagents for small ruminant piroplasms. Industrial expertise in vaccine development and delivery systems has also been incorporated in order to maximise the potential for translational application.