Considered a neglected disease, visceral leishmaniasis (also known as kala-azar or black fever) annually kills thousands of people, overwhelmingly in underprivileged communities. Of the upwards to 90,000 new cases each year globally, over 90% occur in India, Bangladesh, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Brazil, with the Indian subcontinent representing the largest focus for the disease.
Genesis has worked to control the local sand fly vector in India, Phlebotomus argentipes, and had a branch laboratory in Bihar for nearly 10 years, equipped with full PCR capabilities and sand fly colonies, conducting an array of studies on sand fly ecology and control. With experience in product development, and the use of systemic insecticides, and insect growth regulators (IGRs), the Genesis team is developing low-cost products that can be used by farmers in the Bihar state where the average annual income is only $500. These products have potential to control sand fly vectors, breaking the cycle of disease transmission, alleviating local disease burden.
Malaria is the most prevalent vector-borne disease in the world with over 250 million cases per year. In the last few decades, improved access to healthcare, anti-malarial drugs, insecticide treated bed net (ITN) programs; indoor residual spraying (IRS) programs have greatly reduced the burden of malaria in Africa. However, malaria is still one of the leading causes of death in young African children.
Therefore, Genesis Laboratories, in collaboration with researchers at the Kenyan Medical Research Institute, embarked on a project to develop new products to reduce malaria transmission in Africa. These products target vectors that infrequently, come in contact with current malaria vector control methods. These products have the potential to be effective tools, to be integrated into malaria eradication programs throughout Africa, helping to reduce disease transmission caused by malaria vectors with behaviors that make them difficult to target with conventional technologies.
Ticks and tick-borne diseases of cattle cause enormous economic challenges for farmers in Africa, causing upwards to hundreds of millions of dollars in economic loss. Livestock in Africa are susceptible to a number of tick-borne diseases, including bovine babesiosis, anaplasmosis, redwater, and heartwater. The cattle industry in Africa represents a significant part of the agricultural sector, both commercially and communally, and disruption can have catastrophic impacts, particularly for underprivileged communities.
Genesis is currently developing technology to control ticks parasitizing cattle in South Africa and other African regions. These are cost-effective, host-targeted approaches that can be easily applied. Reducing ticks host-feeding on cattle will reduce tick-borne disease incidence in livestock, helping to safeguard an industry that is vital to African economies. We continue to work in Africa with various partners.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a disease caused by a parasitic protozoa transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies. It is common in the middle east, including Asia and north Africa and there are upwards to 1.2 million new cases annually. While not fatal, the lesions and ulcers resulting from this disease can be disfiguring scars, which can create social stigmas, particularly in the under privileged communities where incidence are most common. Additionally, US military personnel deployed to these regions are at risk of exposure to cutaneous leishmaniasis vectors.
With the support of federal funding, Genesis set out to develop means for controlling blood feeding sand flies to reduce local sand fly populations and pathogen prevalence, reducing risk of infected bites in humans. This involved laboratory and field-based research targeting local reservoir hosts with products aimed at eliminated blood feeding sand flies. Results indicated the ability to control host-feeding sand fly vectors, providing a means of preventing cutaneous leishmaniasis infection in local communities and US troops deployed in these regions.
In Central Asia, the great gerbil is a keystone species vital to the desert ecosystems. However, it also serves as a reservoir for zoonotic plague and cutaneous leishmaniasis, being blood fed on by fleas and phlebotomine sand flies.
Genesis has worked extensively in the republic of Kazakhstan to develop a systemic approach to concurrently control blood feeding fleas and sand flies. Results indicate systemic baits to be palatable to the gerbil and a promising means for controlling fleas and sand flies. Such an approach has potentially to substantially reduce the risk of plague and cutaneous leishmaniasis outbreaks in treated areas within this region.
Rodent trapping and flea collections were performed over an extended period of time in this region. This project was conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization, and areas with known plague were provided with rodenticide baits and insecticides. Approximately, 60 local technicians were trained during this project.
Worked to alleviate agricultural damage caused by the chestnut-capped blackbird. Developed a natural bird repellent for mature rice to reduce damage by this species. The product was approved for use in Uruguay.
Developed management plans to alleviate damage caused by greater bandicoot rats in deep water rice. Developed bird damage mitigation strategies for birds to protect sprouting rice. Evaluated the impact of golden jackals on crop production. Extensive research on the impact of lesser bandicoot rats on yield reduction in wheat fields.
In the Herbei province of southern China, Genesis conducted extensive surveys of rodent activity. Surveys were followed by application of baits in cities where severe rodent infestations were identified. This project involved the training of 1200 field technicians in rodent monitoring, safe use of rodenticides, and control maintenance efforts.
Through surveys of wildlife-related problems in agriculture, this project aimed to quantify the problems and formulate recommendations for mitigation of crop damage. Findings indicated that Nile rats were damaging crops in fields and birds were damaging cereal crops such as millet and sorghum. Control of rodents was conducted through introduced methods and safe, chemically treated baits. Bird control was conducted through use of repellents and frightening devices.
By discerning critical pest problems in agriculture, we worked to protect harvested crops from damage. The focus of this project was rodent and bird control to prevent damage to field crops and stored commodities. Methods of pest control were taught to local farmers, along with the use of natural control measures using products from neem trees. Field tests were conducted to determine the most effective and affordable control techniques/products.
A nation-wide survey of rodent and bird problems impacting agriculture was conducted in Egypt. The species involved were identified and appropriate control measures implemented to reduce crop loss. Local agricultural-extension agents were trained in the use of rodent control baits and bird repellents.
Through international cooperation among three countries, this large-scale project’’s aim was to combat poaching, develop a national parks management plan for a reserve that overlapped these countries, compile a list of wildlife species common to the park (including small mammals, bats, birds, and large ungulates), develop a wildlife monitoring system, develop a plan to increase tourism revenue, train local populations in park management, and secure funding for equipment such as vehicles and wildlife management supplies.
This program, which was coordinated by individual Forest and Waters agencies, involved the development of village tree nurseries primarily, for the production of neem trees. Firewood and construction timber is in shortage in much of the Sahel of Africa. Neem trees grow rapidly and regenerate after cutting, making them an ideal source of wood for these purposes.
By working with Peace Corps volunteers focused on agriculture, this project initiated steps to increase local farm yield of millet and control pests. This also involved evaluating new varieties of crops being developed by research stations.
In cooperation with the German Government, tsetse fly distributional maps were developed and species composition surveys were conducted. Through this project, it was discovered that native water buffalo and antelopes can tolerate the tsetse fly, whereas, livestock cannot. This project demonstrated that these flies serve as a barrier preventing livestock from overtaking rangelands within National Parks.
In conjunction with the Department of Forests and Waters, this project involved pond culture of tilapia and river fisheries research. Villagers, along the Niger River were trained in methods of fish farming including construction of ponds, diversion of Niger River waters for filling, fish culture techniques, harvest methods, and marketing strategies.
Through this project, we trained technicians in various aspects of agriculture. By assessing farmer needs, we communicated various aspects of crop science, methods of farming, use of approved pesticides, and product marketing.
This project involved collection of mammal and bird specimens for verification of species ranges in relatively unknown areas of West Africa. Following completion of the project, specimens were prepared and submitted to museum collections for further scientific research.
Volunteers were recruited, trained, and assigned to five areas of Niger and Burkina Fasso to assess current range conditions, and grazing patterns, and to formulate management plans to protect existing pastures and maximize production of livestock.
Through this project, a system of developing village-level apiculture was established. Interested local populations were trained in the basics in establishing beehives and management of the hives, marketing of the honey, and pest control.
Hand augers were used to drill wells in many smaller villages throughout southern Niger. Materials and supplies were obtained from numerous donor agencies, and villagers assisted with the construction of the wells.
Performed for a major chemical company, rodent damage surveys were conducted and the species of concern were identified. A variety of methods for control were tested, modified, and communicated to locals in an attempt to curtail rodent damage in fields and stored grain. Methods were effective and damage was reduced significantly.