session 2: diagnostics in africa
TRANSCRIPT
SESSION 2: MORE ACCURATE AND TIMELY DIAGNOSTICS TO BETTER INFORM BIOSECURITY DECISIONS
Diagnostics in Africa
Bill Magee
biosecurity built on science
Diagnostics in AfricaBill Magee
Project Leader (Australia)Australia – Africa Plant Biosecurity
Partnership
Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre
biosecurity built on science
The Australia-Africa Plant Biosecurity Partnership (AAPBP) is a capacity development program using Australian expertise to strengthen skills and capacity of professionals within sub-Saharan African plant biosecurity agencies and private sector organisations. The project is funded by ACIAR and is being delivered by a consortium led by PBCRC, the Crawford Fund and CAB International (CABI).
biosecurity built on science
In 2015, fifteen Senior Fellows from East and Southern Africa were selected to participate in an intensive six week study program with Australian biosecurity institutions.
Another thirty Associate Fellows were selected for training in Africa
Project team: Bill Magee, Roger Day, Dennis Bittisnich, Naomi Thomson.
biosecurity built on science
Australian host organisations AgriBio (Victoria) Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Murdoch University Plant Health Australia Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of
Queensland Queensland University of Technology South Australia Research and Development Institute University of Western Australia
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THROUGH THE AAPBP, AUSTRALIAN DIAGNOSTICIANS AND PLANT BIOSECURITY SPECIALISTS ARE HELPING SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN NATIONS TO REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF TARGET PESTS AND DISEASES THREATENING PRODUCTION AND MARKET ACCESS.
DIAGNOSTICS – A PRIORITY THEME FOR THE PARTNERSHIP
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High Level Diagnostics lectures & practicals (Dr Sabine T Perrone, Dr Brendan Rodoni, Dr Fiona Constable, Dr Linda Zheng and Dr Rachel Mann)
Morphological tools: keys, key builders, visual libraries (PaDIL, Lucid etc…)
Serological and molecular tools (PCR, qPCR, RT-PCR), field deployable options andpoint-of-care, (latest lateral flow devices, LAMP etc….)
A practical hands-on exercise on thrips identification
CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
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Panama disease
Fruit flies
Seed-borne diseases
Tomato leaf miner
PLANT BIOSECURITY THREATS AND CHALLENGES
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Senior Fellows with hosts at Biosecurity Queensland
biosecurity built on science
Large monoculture Two Senior AAPBP Fellows hosted
by the Panama program in Biosecurity Queensland (Mable, Zambia and Antonia, Mozambique)
Panama disease in Mozambique
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Mentoring and diagnostic support provided by Rebecca Sapuppo, Suzy Perry and Mike Ashton.
Also working with panama expert in South Africa, Professor Altus Viljoen. Aim is to prevent spread within Mozambique and to neighbouring countries
biosecurity built on science
Widespread production loss and market access loss in many African countries.
Three Senior Fellows, Epitace Bizimungu from Burundi, Katemani Mdili from Tanzania and Armando Marcos Come from Mozambique were hosted in Australia
- a special arrangement between Dr Peter Leach (QDAF) , Dr Peter Crisp (SARDI) and Professor Tony Clarke (QUT)
Diagnostic skills an important component of the training.
Fruit flies
biosecurity built on science
Seed-borne diseases
• Unregulated movement of seed in Africa leading to spread and establishment of disease.
• Dr Andrew Geering, University of Queensland, hosted a Senior Fellow from Malawi, Johnny Masangwa.
• Dr Brendan Rodoni and his team at Agribio also hosted Senior Fellows George Ngundo from Kenya and Doreen Chomba from Zambia.
biosecurity built on science
Seed-borne diseases - continued
•
Doreen Chomba is implementing seed testing procedures in Zambia for imported seed, with an emphasis on fungal, bacterial and viral diseases of maize seed.
George Ngundo is implementing seed testing procedures in Kenya with an emphasis on viruses and viroids of tomato seed. Skills learnt at Agribio and the mentoring support from scientists are integral to
the adoption of improved seed testing in these countries
biosecurity built on science
Micro lepidopteran moth, massive production loss in tomato crops. Originated from South America, has spread to Europe then down to North
Africa and in recent years Eastern and Southern African nations. Dr Kirsty Bayliss and her team from Murdoch University hosted Senior Fellow
Lucien Masabarakiza , Lucien is implementing diagnostics, surveillance and farm management for Tuta absoluta in Burundi.
Tuta absoluta – tomato leaf miner
biosecurity built on science
Senior Fellows and Associate Fellows to work with private sector to adopt action plans.
Incremental steps. What is realistic and achievable in the context of each country? – immediate, short term and long term. Maintain close contact with Australian mentors and specialists.
NEXT STEPS