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
The West African Dwarf or Djallonké is an African breed or group of breeds of domestic sheep. It is the dominant breed of West and Central Africa. This breed is primarily raised for meat. The Cameroon or Cameroon Dwarf is a breed within this gr ...
(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 - 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