Community Engagement in Research & Policy Development: A One Health Approach to the Control of Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases in Eastern Bhutan

Livestock farming plays an important role in supporting the livelihood of resource-poor subsistence farmers in Bhutan. However, ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are major constraints on livestock farming due to their negative effect on health and production. In this case study, we illustrate how we engaged communities, academic partners from the University of Calgary (UoC), and the experts and policy makers from the Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) to conduct research and develop policies regarding ticks and TBDs in Bhutan. The team used a transdisciplinary approach to design and conduct an active field-surveillance programme. Live ticks were collected from cattle to determine tick species diversity, infestation prevalence and geographic distribution. Habitat suitability models were also developed for four common tick species identified in Bhutan by engaging environmental modellers from UoC. Further, we conducted face-to-face interviews with 246 farmers in eastern Bhutan to understand their knowledge, management practices and perspectives on ticks and TBDs. Five genera and 13 species of ixodid ticks were identified. Despite a high level of acaricide usage among farmers, we found that the level of knowledge about ticks and TBDs was low. The research results were shared with the communities and other stakeholders to inform and initiate the development and adoption of effective tick prevention and control measures. We conclude that such collaborative research projects using an interdisciplinary approach and involving communities have huge potential to transfer research findings into policy and practice.