Pharma to farmer: field challenges of optimizing trypanocide use in African animal trypanosomiasis

Control of African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) is hampered by limited diagnostics, inappropriate trypanocide use, poor drug quality, and drug resistance.

The scope and quality of current literature on AAT incidence, control, and resistance does not allow for robust comparisons or assessment of the validity of extrapolating to other populations.

A united effort is needed to address AAT at local, national, and international settings to ensure a greater chance for success.

AAT control programmes must be sustainable through funding, cross-sectoral engagement, and fostering sustainable behavioural change through incentives and accountability.

Trypanocides are a key control component of African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) in tsetse-infested areas of sub-Saharan Africa. While farmers are dependent upon trypanocides, recent research highlights their inappropriate and ineffective use, problems with drug quality, and treatment failure. There are currently gaps in knowledge and investment in inexpensive AAT diagnostics, understanding of drug resistance, and the effective use of trypanocides in the field. Without this important knowledge it is difficult to develop best practice and policy for existing drugs or to inform development and use of new drugs. There needs to be better understanding of the drivers and behavioural practices around trypanocide use so that they can be incorporated into sustainable solutions needed for the development of effective control of AAT.