ILRI MSc Graduate Fellowship at International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

The position

This study will focus on control of the Brown Ear tick, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus. The preference of the R. appendiculatus for feeding on the ears of their hosts makes this species a prime candidate for control by acaricide-impregnated ear tags. Although this tick is not the only tick species commonly found on livestock in East Africa, its presence often dictates the frequency with which cattle should be dipped or sprayed (currently up to twice a week with unsafe products) because of the damage caused to the ears by high tick burdens and the risk for East Coast Fever.

The MSc student will conduct field trials to assess the efficacy of a commercial ear tag to control ticks on cattle. The availability of a convenient, safe, efficient solution to control this tick species would be a game changer in tick- and tick-borne disease control in East Africa serving.

Terms and reference

• Coordinate field data collection activities at remote field site.
• Follow study protocol and VICH GL9 (GCP) guidelines for the implementation of this study.
• Conduct clinical examinations of cattle.
• Administer veterinary medicines as required.
• Collect data following ALCOA+ principles either as hardcopies or electronically.
• Collect biological samples from calves and cattle.
• Carry out tick counts and identification.
• Conduct clinical pathology tests including blood smear analysis and haematocrit.
• Analysis of data.
• Preparation of thesis.

Minimum requirements for the ideal candidate

• Bachelors in veterinary medicine.
• Enrolled in MSc (applied parasitology, public health or epidemiology).
• Experience in preparing and conducting field work.
• Experience using data capturing tools (e.g., paper based DCFs, ODK, Medrio).
• Laboratory experience – such as making blood smears and handling samples.
• Experience with conducting studies under VICH GL9 Good Clinical Practice (GCP).