Genetics diversity of theileria parva and muguga cocktail vaccine efficacy in cattle in Kabasha village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
| dc.contributor.author | Simbuwa, Mulonga | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-05-29T14:48:11Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-05-29T14:48:11Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.description | Thesis of Masters of Science Tropical Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis. | |
| dc.description.abstract | East Coast Fever (ECF), caused by the protozoan Theileria parva, is a major constraint to cattle health and productivity in Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa. In Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the disease is endemic, control efforts are challenged by limited knowledge on the genetic diversity of circulating T. parva strains and their relationship to vaccine stocks. The Muguga Cocktail (MC), the most widely used live vaccine, may offer only partial protection in this region due to potential genetic divergence between local field strains and vaccine strains. This study was therefore conducted to characterize the genetic diversity and antigenic similarity of T. parva strains in Eastern DRC, to inform immunization strategies and guide effective deployment of the Infection and Treatment Method (ITM). The main objective was to determine the population structure and diversity of T. parva in vaccinated, unvaccinated, and sentinel cattle. Blood samples from Kabasha village were analysed using PCR targeting the Tp1 and Tp2 antigen coding genes. Sequences were aligned and compared with those of the Muguga Cocktail using phylogenetic trees, haplotype networks, and similarity scoring. Microsatellite and minisatellite genotyping covering six loci provided data on population structure assessed using allele diversity, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Fst statistics. The Tp1 gene was found to be relatively conserved. Out of 43 sequences analysed, 33 had 100% amino acid homology with the Muguga Cocktail epitope. Phylogenetic and haplotype analyses grouped most sequences closely with MC strains, indicating potential coverage by the current vaccine. In contrast, the Tp2 gene was highly polymorphic, with 235 of 258 epitopes being unique. These sequences formed distinct clusters, most of which were divergent from the vaccine strains. Microsatellite analysis revealed 91 unique alleles and 38 shared alleles among the three cattle groups. PCA showed partial clustering of field samples with MC stocks, while some samples formed distinct sub-populations. Fst values ranging from 0.096 to 0.119 indicated moderate genetic differentiation. These findings reveal the presence of multiple T. parva populations in Eastern DRC, some closely related to the Muguga Cocktail and others genetically distinct. The conserved nature of Tp1 epitopes suggests partial vaccine coverage, while the high diversity in Tp2 epitopes and microsatellite loci suggests the existence of local strains not fully protected by the current vaccine. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://dspace.unza.zm/handle/123456789/9173 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | The University of Zambia | |
| dc.title | Genetics diversity of theileria parva and muguga cocktail vaccine efficacy in cattle in Kabasha village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. | |
| dc.type | Thesis |