About the project
Scientific Summary
Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) bring a lot of benefits, but can carry and transmit diseases that pose significant health risks to both animals and humans worldwide. Understanding how dogs move, both within and between communities, is essential to controlling the spread of these diseases. This interdisciplinary and multinational research project explores dog movement in Uganda, Chad, India, and Indonesia, examining how it is influenced by human behavior and how these patterns contribute to disease transmission. To ensure that disease control strategies are effective, they must be adapted to the specific cultural, environmental, and social contexts in which they are implemented.
Bringing together expertise from four institutes in veterinary epidemiology, social anthropology, genetics, and mathematical modeling, the project investigates the links between dog movement and disease dynamics. The research team collects data on dog behavior, health, and care practices using tools such as GPS tracking, pathogen screening, genetic analysis, and social research. Working closely with local academic partners and communities, the project aims to develop advanced models to simulate disease spread and assess both the effectiveness and local acceptability of different disease control strategies.
Our Team
Switzerland
Prof. Dr. Salome Duerr
Principal Investigator
Veterinary Public Health Institute
University of Bern
Website
Prof. Dr. Gerald Heckel
Principal Investigator
Instite for Ecology and Evolution
University of Bern
Website
Dr. Silja Griss
Postdoctoral Researcher
Veterinary Public Health Institute
University of Bern
Website
Jolanda Paganoni-Zurbruegg
Project Coordinator
Veterinary Public Health Institute
University of Bern
Website
Côte d'Ivoire
Chad
Uganda
Dr. Terence Odoch
Principal Investigator
College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity
Makerere University
Website
Prof. Clovice Kankya
Principal Investigator
College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity
Makerere University
Website
Dr. Lordrick Alinaitwe
Lab responsible
College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity
Makerere University
Website
Dr. Sam Okech
Project Collaborator
College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity
Makerere University
WebsiteDr. Juliet Kiguli
Project Collaborator
College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity
Makerere University
Website
Felix Opio
Project Associate
College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity
Makerere University
Website
John Paul Nagalila
Project Associate
College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity
Makerere University
Website
Faridah Nalubwama
Masters student
College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity
Makerere University
Website
Martha Taremwa
Masters student
College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity
Makerere University
WebsiteRose Ayebare
Administrative Support
College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity
Makerere University
WebsiteLois Nagagya
Administrative Support
College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity
Makerere University
Website