Browsing by Author "Afayoa, Matthias"

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    Seroprevalence of brucellosis in humans, knowledge and practices among patients and medical practitioners in Wakiso district, Uganda
    (2023) Namuwonge, Alice Joy; Vudriko, Patrick; Michel, Dione; Afayoa, Matthias; Kibirige, Gordon; Mugizi, Denis Rwabiita; Kungu, Joseph M.
    Background In Uganda, brucellosis remains an endemic public health concern that requires adequate knowledge among the public and medical practitioners to reduce risk of transmission, correctly diagnose and manage infected humans. This study investigated the seroprevalence of human brucellosis, assessed knowledge of patients and medical practitioners about human brucellosis, and evaluated factors that influence good self-reported practices of medical practitioners towards the disease. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire and key informant guide among 300 patients and 30 medical practitioners respectively from May to July 2019 at Zia Angelina Health Centre, Wakiso district. Serum samples were tested for Brucella antibodies using Rose Bengal Plate Test. Cross tabulation between the five categories of professionals (nurses, laboratory personnel, medical doctors, clinicians, and pharmacists) and their responses to knowledge and practices was performed using Chisquare test. Logistic regression analysis was performed to measure the strength of association between overall knowledge and practice scores and demographic characteristics of study participants using odds ratios at 95% confidence intervals. Variables with p-value < 0.05 were considered as predictors of outcome. Results Human brucellosis seroprevalence was 0.3% (n = 1, CI: 0.0-2.4). Only 6.3% (n = 19, CI: 4.1–9.7) of patients were knowledgeable about human brucellosis, and having secondary education [AOR = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.01–0.47, p = 0.007] was significantly associated with good knowledge. Overall, 26.7%, (n = 8, p = 0.414) of medical practitioners were considered to have good knowledge of human brucellosis, however, no predictor to good knowledge was found. About a third (33.3%, n = 10, p = 0.047) of respondents had an overall good self-reported practice score towards human brucellosis. Being at a certificate education level [AOR = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.00-0.78, p = 0.033], and level of knowledge about brucellosis [AOR = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.00-0.59, p = 0.020] were identified as predictors of good practices. Conclusions The prevalence of human brucellosis was very low among patients who participated in the study, with participants having poor overall knowledge and practices towards the disease. These findings suggest a need for sensitization programs to improve human brucellosis awareness, and to enhance management of the disease in the health facilities.
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    Taenia solium cysticercosis survey at a slaughterhouse in Kampala, Uganda
    (Journal of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine in Tropical Countries, 2020) Kungu, Joseph Morison; Afayoa, Matthias; Dione, Michel Maïnack
    A survey was conducted at Wambizi slaughterhouse in Kampala City, Uganda, to ascertain the prevalence of Taenia species infection in pigs via serology, as well as the role of meat inspection in control of these parasitic conditions in carcasses of slaughtered pigs. A total of 620 pigs were sampled using simple random selection during three months. Individual pig data including sex, breed, district of origin, antemortem clinical signs and postmortem lesions were recorded. Blood samples were collected for serological assays. A questionnaire was used to capture perceptions of meat inspectors and pig traders on T. solium cysticercosis. Of the 620 pig inspected carcasses, only four were observed with T. solium cysts and none had T. hydatigena cysts. Up to 67 (10.8%) pigs tested positive by B158C11A10/B60H8A4 Ag-ELISA serology. Seroprevalences were significantly different between districts (χ2 = 45.98; p < 0.001) with pigs from the Eastern districts having the highest seroprevalence. The two meat inspectors at the slaughterhouse had knowledge of pork inspection protocol for Taenia spp. infections, although they did not follow it properly because of the high number of carcasses to be inspected daily. All the 15 traders interviewed had heard about porcine cysticercosis but only five had ever seen cystic pork. T. solium cysticercosis is still prevailing in pigs in Uganda. Meat inspection is not a reliable diagnostic tool for efficient detection of T. solium cysticercosis.