Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania.

African animal trypanosomosis (AAT) is a major constraint on livestock health in sub-Saharan Africa. With no vaccine, trypanocidal drugs are the mainstay of control. Recently there have been step change advances towards more effective AAT control, through research on treatment failure, drug resistance and quality of trypanocidal drugs, and development of new trypanocides. There have also been advances that facilitate studying the disease-relevant parasites, and findings that show significant promise for improving the spectrum of tools to diagnose, treat or prevent AAT. However, there is often a gulf between research and the uptake of innovations in the field. Against this backdrop, there is a need, and a timely opportunity, to better link stakeholders and decision-makers in AAT control with recent research progress and to accelerate research momentum on AAT.

The SALT-Tz meeting will focus on AAT control, bringing researchers active in AAT research together with relevant stakeholders from AAT-affected countries, pharmaceutical companies and funders, to stimulate discussions and collaborations, and to work towards identifying how to optimally deploy innovations. Additionally, the meeting will inform the guidelines on trypanocide use and resistance that FAO is developing in the framework of the progressive control pathway (PCP) for AAT.

The meeting is organized by the University of Glasgow, the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh and the Vector and Vector Borne Research Institute, with support from FAO in the framework of the Programme Against African Trypanosomosis (PAAT). Focus countries will be Tanzania, Malawi and Ghana, but additional AAT endemic countries will be represented and issues of regional and continental relevance will be addressed.