Elizabeth (Annie) Cook

Annie is a senior scientist in epidemiology with a focus on One Health and veterinary public health research in East Africa. 

Annie has a degree in veterinary science from the University of Sydney and spent 8 years in clinical practice in Australia and the UK before focusing full time on research. She also has a Masters in Wild Animal Health from the Royal Veterinary College and a Masters in Public Health in Developing Countries. from LSHTM.  

Annie's PhD research at the University of Edinburgh investigated the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases in slaughterhouse workers in western Kenya. This research reported on Q fever, leptospirosis, brucellosis and Rift Valley fever seroprevalence in slaughterhouse workers.

Since 2010 Annie has conducted a number of One Health projects in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda investigating zoonotic, foodborne, and livestock diseases. She has a particular interest in zoonotic disease epidemiology at the wildlife-livestock-human interface and impact assessment of interventions to improve animal health and food safety. 

Current projects

• Intervention for hygiene improvement in slaughterhouses - Randomised controlled trial in 140 slaughterhouses to assess the impact of an intervention training meat handlers in personal, process and environmental hygiene

  Ambler, Kate; Cook, Elizabeth; Hoffmann, Vivian; Kiarie, Alice; Otoigo, Lilian; and Wagner, Julia. 2024. Impact of a slaughterhouse hygiene intervention in western Kenya. IFPRI Project Note December 2024. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/168522

  https://www.fao.org/animal-health/news-events/events/detail/impacts-of-…

• Mapping wild meat value chain in Kenya and Nigeria - Value chain mapping and risk assessment for zoonoses and foodborne pathogens along the wild meat value chain in around Nairobi, Kenya and Lagos, Nigera

  https://alliance-health-wildlife.org/projects/health-risks-associated-w…

• MoreMilk: More milk for lives and livelihoods in Kenya - on farm intervention to improve milk quality and safety

  https://www.ilri.org/research/projects/moremilk-more-milk-lives-and-liv…

• Longitudinal study on morbidity, mortality and green house gas emission intensity in dairy cattle - three year study to determine the causes of morbidity and mortality in dairy cattle with a specific focus on abortions, mastitis and calf mortality. Develop interventions to improve animal health and reduce green house gas emission intensity. 

  Gurmu EB, Bronsvoort B, Cook EAJ, Lankester F, Özkan Ş, Rosenstein PK, Semango G, Wheelhouse N, Wilkes A and Arndt C (2024) Environmental and food security implications of livestock abortions and calf mortality: a case study in Kenya and Tanzania. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 8:1390047. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1390047

Completed projects

• Foodborne risks in children aged 6-24months - determine the carriage of pathogens in infant foods and pilot a hygiene intervention to reduce foodborne pathogens

  Okumu NO, Muloi DM, Moodley A, Ochieng L, Watson J, Kiarie A, Ngeranwa JJN, Cumming O, Cook EAJ. Epidemiology of antimicrobial resistant diarrheagenic Escherichia coli pathotypes from children, livestock and food in Dagoretti South, Nairobi Kenya. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2024 Dec 24:107419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2024.107419

  Watson J, Okumu NO, Wasonga JO, Majiwa H, Kiarie A, Masudi SP, et al. (2024) A proof-of-concept randomised controlled trial of an intervention designed to improve food hygiene behaviours among caregivers of young children living in low-income areas of Nairobi, Kenya. PLOS Water 3(7): e0000223. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pwat.0000223

  Okumu NO, Ngeranwa JJN, Muloi DM, Ochien'g L, Moodley A, Mutisya C, Kiarie A, Wasonga JO, Watson J, Amon-Tanoh MA, Cumming O, Cook EAJ. Risk factors for diarrheagenic Escherichia coli infection in children aged 6-24 months in peri-urban community, Nairobi, Kenya. PLOS Glob Public Health. 2023 Nov 22;3(11):e0002594. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0002594

  Kiarie A, Bebora L, Gitao G, Ochien'g L, Okumu N, Mutisya C, Wasonga J, Masudi SP, Moodley A, Amon-Tanoh MA, Watson J, Cumming O, Cook EAJ. Prevalence and risk factors associated with the occurrence of Campylobacter sp. in children aged 6-24 months in peri-urban Nairobi, Kenya. Front Public Health. 2023 Sep 22;11:1147180. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1147180

• Epidemiology and control of porcine cysticercosis  - investigate the epidemiology of porcine cysticercosis and develop a farmer training intervention to improve pig keeping practices 

  Gulelat Y, Eguale T, Kebede N, Aleme H, Fèvre EM, Cook EAJ. Epidemiology of Porcine Cysticercosis in Eastern and Southern Africa: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Public Health. 2022 Mar 16;10:836177. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.836177

  Chege B, Ndambuki G, Owiny M, Kiyong'a A, Fèvre EM, Cook EAJ. Improved latrine coverage may reduce porcine cysticercosis: a comparative cross-sectional study, Busia County, Kenya 2021. Front Vet Sci. 2023 Jul 5;10:1155467. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1155467

• Tolerance to East Coast Fever in Boran cattle - identify the gene region associated with tolernace to East Coast fever (ECF) in cattle

  Wragg D, Cook EAJ, Latré de Laté P, Sitt T, Hemmink JD, Chepkwony MC, Njeru R, Poole EJ, Powell J, Paxton EA, Callaby R, Talenti A, Miyunga AA, Ndambuki G, Mwaura S, Auty H, Matika O, Hassan M, Marshall K, Connelley T, Morrison LJ, Bronsvoort BMD, Morrison WI, Toye PG, Prendergast JGD. A locus conferring tolerance to Theileria infection in African cattle. PLoS Genet. 2022 Apr 21;18(4):e1010099. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1010099

  Cook EAJ, Sitt T, Poole EJ, Ndambuki G, Mwaura S, Chepkwony MC, Latre de Late P, Miyunga AA, van Aardt R, Prettejohn G, Wragg D, Prendergast JGD, Morrison WI, Toye P. Clinical Evaluation of Corridor Disease in Bos indicus (Boran) Cattle Naturally Infected With Buffalo-Derived Theileria parva. Front Vet Sci. 2021 Sep 29;8:731238. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.731238

• Genetic determinants for resistance to zoonotic diseases in dairy cattle including brucellois, Q fever and leptospirosis - investigate the epidemiology of zoonoses in dairy cattle

  Mengele IJ, Akoko JM, Shirima GM, Bwatota SF, Motto SK, Hernandez-Castro LE, Komwihangilo DM, Lyatuu E, Bronsvoort BMC, Cook EAJ. Brucella Species Circulating in Smallholder Dairy Cattle in Tanzania. Pathogens. 2024 Sep 21;13(9):815. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13090815

  Mengele IJ, Shirima GM, Bwatota SF, Motto SK, Bronsvoort BMC, Komwihangilo DM, Lyatuu E, Cook EAJ, Hernandez-Castro LE. The Status and Risk Factors of Brucellosis in Smallholder Dairy Cattle in Selected Regions of Tanzania. Vet Sci. 2023 Feb 14;10(2):155. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10020155

  Motto SK, Hernandez-Castro LE, Shirima GM, Mengele IJ, Bwatota SF, Bronsvoort BMC, Lyatuu ET, Komwihangilo DM, Cook EAJ. Seroepidemiology of Leptospira serovar Hardjo and associated risk factors in smallholder dairy cattle in Tanzania. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2023 Apr 5;17(4):e0011199. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0011199

  Bwatota SF, Shirima GM, Hernandez-Castro LE, Bronsvoort BMC, Wheelhouse N, Mengele IJ, Motto SK, Komwihangilo DM, Lyatuu E, Cook EAJ. Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Q fever (Coxiella burnetii) Exposure in Smallholder Dairy Cattle in Tanzania. Vet Sci. 2022 Nov 28;9(12):662. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9120662

• Veterinary public health component of the BUILD Uganda project - determine the prevalence of Brucella, Leptospira and Salmonella in slaughterhouse workers and livestock at slaughter. Pilot an intervention to improve hygiene in pork restaurants and reduce contamination of pork meals.

  Alinaitwe L, Wainaina MK, Dürr S, et al. Molecular detection and typing of pathogenic Leptospira species from livestock and small mammals in Uganda. Epidemiology and Infection. Published online 2025:1-24. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268825000044

  Alinaitwe L, Aturinda CJ, Lubega A, Kivali V, Bugeza J, Wainaina M, Richter MH, Hoona JJ, Roesel K, Mayer-Scholl A, Cook EAJ, Kankya C, Dürr S. Cross-sectional serosurvey of Leptospira species among slaughter pigs, goats, and sheep in Uganda. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2024 Mar 15;18(3):e0012055. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012055

  Bugeza J, Roesel K, Moriyon I, Mugizi D, Alinaitwe L, Kivali V, Kankya C, Cook EAJ. Sero-prevalence and factors associated with anti-Brucella antibodies in slaughter livestock in Uganda. Front Epidemiol. 2023 Jun 29;3:1213592. https://doi.org/10.3389/fepid.2023.1213592

  Bugeza JK, Roesel K, Mugizi DR, Alinaitwe L, Kivali V, Kankya C, Moriyon I, Cook EAJ. Sero-prevalence and risk factors associated with occurrence of anti-Brucella antibodies among slaughterhouse workers in Uganda. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2024 Mar 18;18(3):e0012046. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012046

  Kivali V, Roesel K, Dohoo I, Alinaitwe L, Bugeza JK, Hoona JJ, Mugizi DR, Kankya C, Dang-Xuan S, Szabo I, Rösler U, Friese A, Cook EAJ. Non-typhoidal Salmonella among slaughterhouse workers and in the pork value chain in selected districts of Uganda. Front Vet Sci. 2024 Sep 17;11:1427773. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1427773

• Investigating the efficacy and safety of a novel vaccine for malignant catarrhal fever in cattle  - randomised controlled trial to determine the efficacy of vaccine against MCF

  Cook E, Russell G, Grant D, Mutisya C, Omoto L, Dobson E, Lankester F, Nene V. A randomised vaccine field trial in Kenya demonstrates protection against wildebeest-associated malignant catarrhal fever in cattle. Vaccine. 2019 Sep 20;37(40):5946-5953. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.08.040

• Immunogenicity and safety of ChAdOX1 RVF vaccine in cattle, camels, sheep and goats

   

• Epidemiology of zoonoses in slaughterhouse workers in western Kenya - determine the prevalence and risk factors for zoonoses in slaughterhouse workers
  Cook EAJ, de Glanville WA, Thomas LF, Kiyong'a A, Kivali V, Kariuki S, Bronsvoort BMC, Fèvre EM. Evidence of exposure to C. burnetii among slaughterhouse workers in western Kenya. One Health. 2021 Aug 10;13:100305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100305

  Cook EA, de Glanville WA, Thomas LF, Kariuki S, Bronsvoort BM, Fèvre EM. Risk factors for leptospirosis seropositivity in slaughterhouse workers in western Kenya. Occup Environ Med. 2017 May;74(5):357-365. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2016-103895

  Cook EAJ, Grossi-Soyster EN, de Glanville WA, Thomas LF, Kariuki S, Bronsvoort BMC, Wamae CN, LaBeaud AD, Fèvre EM. The sero-epidemiology of Rift Valley fever in people in the Lake Victoria Basin of western Kenya. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2017 Jul 7;11(7):e0005731. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005731

  Cook EA, de Glanville WA, Thomas LF, Kariuki S, Bronsvoort BM, Fèvre EM. Working conditions and public health risks in slaughterhouses in western Kenya. BMC Public Health. 2017 Jan 5;17(1):14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3923-y