The Animal Production and Health Division of FAO has much pleasure in being associated with the first Internet Conference on Salivarian Trypanosomes, and to be afforded the opportunity to participate through contributing to the publication of these proceedings.
The Animal Health Service, within the Division, has a long history of involvement in Trypanosomosis research and control with particular emphasis on the African problem. However, as substantiated by the information provided through this conference, there is no doubt that parasitic trypanosomes impose a major constraint to livestock production throughout many regions of the world. There are also strong indications that the geographical range affected by the disease is also increasing, as witnessed by the current spread of T. Vivax into new areas of South America.
In recognition of the increasing importance of livestock in agriculture and sustainable food production, FAO has recently undertaken two significant initiatives. The first is the EMPRES Programme which aims at providing assistance to member states in the prediction, prevention and reaction to emergency enzootic and transboundary diseases with emphasis on those of viral origin. The second, the Programme Against African Trypanosomiasis (PAAT), opens up new opportunities for trypanosomosis control through providing the technical and structural basis for effective collaboration and coordinated interaction of all those concerned, ranging from donors and international organisations to research institutes, national governments and the farming communities.
Although primarily focused on the Trypanosomosis/tsetse problem in Africa, PAAT offers the potential for extension not only to other regions but also vector borne diseases in general. We hope that in this way we will be able to better serve our members through the more effective use of. limited resources.
We extend our congratulations to EMBRAPA and particularly to Drs. Davila and Silva for their initiative in organising this historical conference with such success. We hope that this publication will not only serve a useful and practical purpose but will also stand as a record to this initiative.
Y. Cheneau & B.S. Hursey
Animal Health Service
FAO
