Moredun scientists win £1m in grants to study diseases

SCIENTISTS at one of the world's leading animal health research institutes are celebrating after being awarded grants totalling more than £1 million to investigate two of the most prevalent, damaging and costly diseases of livestock.

Parasitic worms are a major cause of production loss among sheep and goats in sub-tropical regions of India and Africa, and malignant catarrhal fever is a fatal viral disease of cattle in Africa.

Over the next three years, animal scientists at Moredun Research Institute in Edinburgh will work with researchers around the world to control these diseases in developing countries.

In the first project, Moredun scientists will focus on parasitic worm control. Gut worm infections are normally controlled using drugs, but these are expensive for farmers in developing countries and worms are increasingly becoming drug-resistant. The Moredun researchers will work in partnership with scientists in Bristol, Canada, India and South Africa to develop ways for farmers to control worms in their animals and thus safeguard their food security.

Scientific director Professor Julie Fitzpatrick said: "Moredun is delighted to have the opportunity to work with partners in overseas institutes to help develop practical and sustainable solutions to the challenges posed by livestock diseases in developing countries."

The second project involves testing a vaccine for malignant catarrhal fever, a major problem for Maasai farmers in Africa, who rely on cattle for their economic and social welfare. Working with partners in Glasgow, Nottingham and Africa, Moredun researchers will test a potential MCF vaccine they helped to develop under field conditions in Tanzania.