Animal health has been the major constraint to livestock production in sub-Saharan Africa. Domestic animals are of economic importance in sub-Saharan Africa as they fulfil multiple roles, ranging from draught power, to providing manure, milk, and meat. However, diseases in these animals affect productivity and food security in most African countries. Also, it is important to investigate diseases in animals as these may serve as potential reservoirs for many parasites that infect humans. My research interest lies in the area of host-pathogen interactions and diagnostic tool development for trypanosomiasis and babesiosis among domestic animals especially cattle.

In line with my research interest, my PhD thesis focused on characterizing trypanosomes over a two-year period and identifying trypanosome immunogenic proteins in cattle in Ghana. I developed an in-house nested PCR protocol targeting trypanosome tubulin to genotype the circulating trypanosomes strains and over a time course to observe the dynamics of the infection in cattle and adaptation of the field trypanosomes to in vitro culturing. In the process, antibody response to trypanosome laboratory strains were determined and a pull down assay performed to identify potential immunogenic trypanosome antigens. These antigens were further identified by mass spectrometry.