Kickoff Meeting and Training Held in Zambia!
Nagasaki University, in collaboration with the Hokkaido University Zambia research station, the University of Zambia (Hokudai Center for Zoonosis Control in Zambia), and the Central Veterinary Laboratory of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, has taken the first step toward nationwide implementation of a new rabies diagnostic system by holding a kickoff meeting and conducting field training sessions.
Introduction of Rapid Diagnostic Testing and Innovative Genomic Surveillance System
In Africa, rabies still claims thousands of lives every year. One of the main challenges in controlling the disease is the difficulty of conducting diagnostic testing. Many regions lack sufficient laboratory facilities and transport infrastructure, making it nearly impossible to grasp the actual extent of rabies infections. Moreover, frequent spillover transmission between domestic animals such as dogs and cattle, and wild animals, adds another layer of complexity to control efforts.
In response to these challenges, Associate Professor Saito of the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University – Kenya Research Station, is working to implement in Africa a model that proved successful in the JICA/AMED SATREPS project in the Philippines. This model is based on two innovative approaches:
LFD (lateral flow device) rabies test kits that can be used anywhere, and genomic surveillance using positive LFD. LFD (Rabies Ag Test Kit, ADTEC Inc., Japan)
Traditionally, rabies diagnosis requires brain samples from dead animals to be frozen and transported under strict biosafety regulations. However, this process poses significant logistical barriers in many African regions. To overcome this, Dr. Saito developed a system in which used rapid diagnostic kits that show positive results—being non-infectious—can be safely transported under normal conditions to a central laboratory, where genomic analysis is conducted.
Kickoff Meeting Held in Zambia
On June 19, 2025, a kickoff meeting for the project was held in Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia. The meeting was attended by key stakeholders, including senior officials from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, faculty members from the University of Zambia School of Veterinary Medicine, and two experts from the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), a leading international organization in rabies control.
Lively discussions took place regarding strategies for rolling out the new system across Zambia.
Rapid Diagnostic Training for Local Staff
(Lusaka and Central Provinces)
On June 20, the day after the kickoff meeting, a training session was conducted for 15 rabies control staff from Lusaka Province to introduce the rapid diagnostic method. A second session was held on June 22 in Central Province, bringing the total number of trained local staff to 30.
The training focused not only on simplified brain sample collection and the use of rapid diagnostic kits, but also emphasized biosafety procedures. Participants received practical instruction on the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, gowns, and face shields; safe handling of potentially infectious brain specimens; and appropriate biohazard management of used test kits and waste materials.
At the end of the training, each participant was provided with a diagnostic kit set—including rapid test kits and PPE—by the project, which will be used in future field-based diagnostic activities.
This training marks the first step toward the nationwide rollout of the diagnostic system across all provinces in Zambia. Additional training sessions will be conducted in other provinces, aiming to strengthen the local diagnostic capacity and build a sustainable network of trained personnel.
The project is jointly led by Nagasaki University and the University of Zambia, and is being implemented in collaboration with the Hokkaido University Zambia Base and the Kenya Research Station of the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University.
It is supported by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) under the Strategic International Collaborative Research Program on Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (Utilizing Overseas Research Centers).
The project title is:
“Research on Rabies Virus Spillover and Transmission Dynamics in Zambia”
(Principal Investigator: Dr. Nobuo Saito)