Bryce Westbrook
This year marked a significant milestone in the ongoing projects that I and fellow collaborators from UC Davis, University of Pretoria, and Eastern Cape veterinarians have been dedicated to for three years. While the first two years focused on gaining valuable experience and conducting research, this summer brought me to South Africa for an intensive eight weeks of data collection and research. Our work centres around the Addo to Fish Biodiversity Corridor (ABC) project in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Initially, the project was primarily driven by conservation goals; recently, it has shifted its focus to a One Health approach, necessitating essential disease surveillance to monitor the well-being of wildlife in the region.
The ABC project encompasses roughly two million acres of ex-farmland and now houses the world's largest concentration of black rhinos. Our focus for the past three years has been to facilitate the collection of samples and diagnostic data and develop diagnostic tools to better manage and protect black and white rhinos in this area. With over 200 free-ranging rhino samples collected and the development of a real-time PCR test and microscopic identification to detect and quantify the parasitaemia of Babesia bicornis & Theileria bicornis this summer, it all came to a head.
I spent the first two weeks at the Tropical Disease Lab at the University of Pretoria veterinary school, where we compared a new qPCR test developed in the UCD One Health Institute Laboratory with existing assays on the rhino samples we had collected. This was a humbling experience; there was a lot to do, and it stretched my understanding of Diagnostic testing while exposing me to the various capacities this lab had to offer.
After this, I spent time in my hometown of Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape. I focused on processing each microscope slide we had collected and stored at the Ikhala Veterinary Clinic. This primary practice services all the wildlife in the area and is the central ABC research hub. My task was first to stain each slide and then to begin counting and recording the concentration of both Babesia and Theileria on each slide. The task was gruelling and time-consuming but rewarding for many reasons. Firstly, there is little to no research on microscopic identification for both these parasites. In addition, we were able to facilitate the implementation of these techniques into the practice, not just for rhinos but the various other species the practice sees.
The different diagnostic assays we tested did show some difference. With parasitemia across the newly developed diagnostic assays, qPCR and Microscopic Identification show roughly a 30% prevalence, whilst the assay established and consistently used in South Africa showed a 93% prevalence. With these results there are still many questions to answer and plenty of work to sypher through these differences. One possible conclusion is that the assays have varied sensitivity. I am dedicated to transforming this valuable data into a publishable contribution that will positively contribute to the conservation of rhinos. Extensive planning was essential to set the stage for this research endeavor, and there were several learning curves along the way. Nevertheless, my experience resulted in substantial personal and professional growth in a field where I initially had limited experience.
South Africa is a wonderful place with cultural and natural diversity. The individuals who work tirelessly on the frontlines to conserve and protect the wildlife in this area are inspiring. And working with them once again has been a humbling experience. This experience has illuminated the potential for research and clinical medicine to synergize with the ultimate goal of conserving rhinos for generations to enjoy.
