Tropical theileriosis (T. annulata) and East Coast fever (Theileria parva) are a major constraint for development of livestock where the diseases are endemic. Currently, management of theileriosis is primarily through control of tick vector using acaricides, therapy and to a certain degree immunization. Based on data generated during the first phase of the DFG-project, vaccine formulations are planned to be improved and implemented. A live vaccine for T. annulata based on inoculation of attenuated schizont-infected leukocytes has been deployed in North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, but has not been established in Egypt and Sudan. The aim of the project is to: 1. Elaborate whether attenuated vaccines can protect the animals from tropical theileriosis under field conditions in Egypt and Sudan, 2. Assess whether attenuated vaccines can be improved by combining them with subunit vaccines using parasite molecules, 3. Elucidate if a combination of attenuated vaccine, parasite molecules and tick molecules can enhance the level of protection against both parasite and vector. Regarding East Coast fever, we propose to continue our DFG collaboration in support of the deployment of a live vaccine in the small-holder dairy sector of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The aim will be to improve infection and treatment method (ITM) by: 1. Finding strains of T. parva, which can fit as a universal vaccine, 2. Applying molecular markers to characterize parasite populations, 3. Exploration of an attenuated vaccine based on T. parva-infected B-lymphocytes.

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