Daniel Muasya, PhD candidate in epidemiology, will defend his doctoral thesis, “Bovine viral diarrhoea testing and vaccination on smallholder dairy farms in Kenya,” on Wednesday, January 4, 2023. He will give a public seminar at 11 am on January 4 in Room 287N, Atlantic Veterinary College. Those interested in attending the seminar may do so in person or virtually at https://upei.zoom.us/j/67889372989?pwd=YkZNNjBObk1EZkVlMC9VQjhLTGFUQT09. An examination will follow in the AVC Dean’s Boardroom.

Abstract:

Smallholder dairy (SHD) farming is a critical sector supporting millions of households' income in rural Kenya. The sector is faced with numerous challenges, among which are diagnosis and prevention of diseases such as Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD). This study had the following primary objectives: to determine possible antigen and antibody cross-reactivity between BVDV and classical swine fever virus using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay among SHD cattle, and to determine associations between disease occurrence and multivalent BVD vaccination on Kenyan SHD farms.