

Tick Unit
The ILRI Tick Unit is a unique facility and has been selected as Africa’s first outputs for the Tick Cell Biobank. This provides the opportunity for scientists to study tickborne disease using respective cell lines. The parent Tick Cell Biobank is at the Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool housing a collection of 55 cell lines derived from ticks which are both of veterinary and medicinal importance. The Tick Unit has also contributed to animal health research through vaccine development and vector genomics. The unit includes a unique biological resource not found anywhere else in the world, comprising four genera of ticks: Rhipicephalus, Boophilus, Hyalomma and Amblyomma. Laboratory colonies presently under maintenance at the unit are:
- Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (seven different stocks and lines from eastern and southern Africa). The R. appendiculatus tick populations include selected lines derived from the Kiambu stock that differ in susceptibility to Theileria parva infection.
- Rhipicephalus zambeziensis
- Rhipicephalus evertsi
- Amblyomma variegatum
- Boophilus decoloratus
- Boophilus microplus
- Hyalomma sp.
Team
Our partners
You may also like

New science
Study reveals need for more research on burden of pork-borne hazards in eastern and southern Africa

ILRI News
Regional task force explores ways to improve the uptake of East Coast fever vaccines in eastern and southern Africa
Related Publications

Implementing a one health approach to strengthen the management of zoonoses in Ethiopia
- Nyokabi, N.S.
- Moore, H.
- Berg, S.
- Lindahl, Johanna F.
- Phelan, L.
- Worku, G.G.
- Mihret, A.
- Wood, J.L.N.

Food System in Nandi County. A situational and stakeholder focused analysis on low emission food system development
- Jalang’o Anyango, Dorcas
- Habermann, Birgit
- Korir, Daniel

Identifying pig- and pork-associated zoonotic and foodborne hazards in eastern and southern Africa: A systematised review
- Kayano, T.
- Pulford, J.
- Thomas, Lian F.

Assessing disease risk perceptions of wild meat in savanna borderland settlements in Kenya and Tanzania
- Patel, Ekta H.
- Martin, A.
- Funk, S.M.
- Yongo, M.
- Floros, C.
- Thomson, J.
- Fa, J.E.

Seroepidemiology of Leptospira serovar Hardjo and associated risk factors in smallholder dairy cattle in Tanzania
- Motto, S.K.
- Hernandez-Castro, L.E.
- Shirima, G.M.
- Mengele, I.J.
- Bwatota, S.F.
- Bronsvoort, B.M.C.
- Lyatuu, E.T.
- Komwihangilo, D.M.
- Cook, Elizabeth A.J.