A trypanotolerant organism is one which is
relatively less affected by
trypanosome infestation.
By host
In humans
In livestock
Some
breed
A breed is a specific group of domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist several slig ...
s are known for their trypanotolerance. This is especially important in
Africa where a
few particular trypanosomes are major economic and agricultural
pest
Pest or The Pest may refer to:
Science and medicine
* Pest (organism), an animal or plant deemed to be detrimental to humans or human concerns
** Weed, a plant considered undesirable
* Infectious disease, an illness resulting from an infection
** ...
s.
Trypanotolerant livestock breeds
*
N'Dama cattle
*
West African Dwarf goats
*
West African Dwarf sheep (Djallonké)
*
Cameroon sheep
History of genetic research
Trypanotolerance had previously been achieved through normal livestock breeding in cattle, but genetic analysis was becoming a serious option in the 1980s. The effort that would eventually bear fruit began with a conversation between Peter Brumby - then at the
International Livestock Centre for Africa
The International Livestock Research Institute or ILRI is an international agricultural research institute within the CGIAR – formerly the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research. It was established in 1994 by merger of th ...
- and
Morris Soller in 1985. This was followed by the opening of the shortlived International Trypanotolerance Center in
the Gambia in 1987 with a seminar on the genome mapping project that would continue beyond the Center itself. The project was then actually completed by the ILRI - the successor to the ILCA - in 2003.
References
{{Parasite-stub
Trypanosomatida
Livestock