Browsing by Author "Alinaitwe, Lordrick"

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    Bovine leptospirosis in abattoirs in Uganda: molecular detection and risk of exposure among workers
    (Zoonoses and Public Health, 2019) Alinaitwe, Lordrick; Kankya, Clovice; Allan, Kathryn J.; Rodriguez-Campos, Sabrina; Torgerson, Paul; Dreyfus, Anou
    Leptospirosis is a zoonotic bacterial disease reported worldwide. In Uganda, seropositivity has been reported in both humans and domesticated animals, including cattle. However, it remains unknown whether cattle are shedding leptospires and thus acting as potential source for human leptospirosis. We conducted this cross-sectional study in two cattle abattoirs in Kampala, Uganda between June and July 2017. Kidney and urine samples from 500 cattle sourced from across the country were analyzed by real-time PCR to establish the prevalence of Leptospira positive cattle and risk of exposure to abattoir workers. The species of infecting Leptospira was determined by amplification of secY gene and compared to reference sequences published in GenBank. Of 500 cattle tested, (7.2%) had Leptospira DNA in their kidneys (carriers), (5.8%) in their urine (shedders); with an overall prevalence (kidney and/or urine) of 8.8%. Leptospira borgpetersenii 2 was confirmed as the infecting species in three cattle and Leptospira kirschneri in one animal. Male vs female cattle (OR= 3, P–value 0.003), exotic vs local breeds (OR= 21.3, P–value 0.002) or cattle from Western Uganda (OR= 4.4, P–value 0.001) and from regions across the border 28 (OR= 3.3, P–value 0.032) vs from the central region were more likely to be Leptospira positive. The daily risk of exposure of abattoir workers to ≥1 (kidney and/or urine) positive carcass ranged from 27% (95% credibility interval 18.6 – 52.3) to 100% (95% CI 91.0 – 100.0), with halal butchers and pluck inspectors being at highest risk. In conclusion, cattle slaughtered at abattoirs in Uganda carry and shed pathogenic Leptospira species; and this may pose occupation-related risk of exposure among workers in these abattoirs, with workers who handle larger numbers of animals being at higher risk.
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    Cross-Sectional Serological Survey for Leptospira spp. in Beef and Dairy Cattle in Two Districts in Uganda
    (International journal of environmental research and public health, 2017) Dreyfus, Anou; Odoch, Terence; Alinaitwe, Lordrick; Rodriguez-Campos, Sabrina; Tsegay, Amanuel; Jaquier, Valentine; Kankya, Clovice
    Seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. in cattle is unknown in Uganda. The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of L. interrogans Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pomona, L. kirschneri Butembo, Grippotyphosa, L. borgpetersenii Nigeria, Hardjo, Wolfii, and Kenya and an overall seroprevalence in cattle from Kole and Mbale districts. Two hundred-seventy five bovine sera from 130 small holder farms from Kole (n = 159) and Mbale (n = 116), collected between January and July 2015, were tested for antibodies against eight Leptospira strains by Microscopic Agglutination Test. A titer of 100 was considered seropositive, indicating past exposure. Overall, the seroprevalence was 19.27% (95% CI 14.9–24.5%). Pomona seroprevalence was highest with 9.45% (6.4–13.7%), followed by Kenya 5.09% (2.9–8.6%), Nigeria 4.00% (2.1–7.2%),Wolfii 3.27% (1.6–6.3%), Butembo 1.86% (0.7–4.4%), Hardjo 1.45% (0.5–3.9%), and Icterohaemorragiae and Grippotyphosa with less than 1% positive. Seroprevalence did not differ between districts and gender (p 0.05). Seven animals had titers 400. Cross-reactions or exposure to 1 serovar was measured in 43% of serum samples. Seroprevalence of 19% implies exposure of cattle to leptospires.
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    Leptospira Seroprevalence Among Ugandan Slaughter Cattle: Comparison of Sero-Status With Renal Leptospira Infection
    (Frontiers Veterinary Sciences, 2020) Alinaitwe, Lordrick; Kankya, Clovice; Namanya, Dianah; Pithua, Patrick; Dreyfus, Anou
    Leptospirosis is one of the most wide spread zoonotic bacterial diseases that is endemic in subtropical and tropical countries; accounting for a global annual incidence of 1.03 million human cases and 58,900 deaths (1). The etiological agents of the disease are spirochetes of the genus Leptospira, comprising over 250 pathogenic serovars (2). Certain serovars are known to be regionally endemic and reserved in certain species of wild mammals and domesticated animals. These carrier animals may remain asymptomatic but capable of transmitting leptospires to other animal species (incidental hosts) and humans, via direct contact with contaminated urine or indirectly through contaminated water and soil (3). Particularly, cattle have been reported to maintain serovars Hardjo, Sejroe and at times Pomona (3–5).
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    Leptospira Seroprevalence and Risk Factors in Health Centre Patients in Hoima District, Western Uganda
    (PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2016) Dreyfus, Anou; Dyal, Jonathan W.; Pearson, Raewynne; Kankya, Clovice; Kajura, Charles; Alinaitwe, Lordrick; Kakooza, Steven; Pelican, Katharine M.; Travis, Dominic A.; Mahero, Michael; Boulware, David R.; Mugisha, Lawrence
    The burden of human leptospirosis in Uganda is unknown. We estimated the seroprevalence of Leptospira antibodies, probable acute/recent leptospirosis, and risk factors for seropositivity in humans in rural Western Uganda. Methodology and Principal Findings 359 non-pregnant adults visiting the Kikuube and Kigorobya Health Centers were sequentially recruited during March and April 2014. A health history survey and serum were collected from consented participants. Overall, 69% reported having fever in the past year, with 49% reporting malaria, 14% malaria relapse, 6% typhoid fever, 3% brucellosis, and 0% leptospirosis. We tested sera by microscopic agglutination test (MAT) against eight Leptospira serovars representing seven serogroups. Leptospira seroprevalence was 35% (126/ 359; 95%CI 30.2–40.3%) defined as MAT titer 1:100 for any serovar. The highest prevalence was against L. borgpetersenii Nigeria (serogroup Pyrogenes) at 19.8%(71/359; 95% CI 15.9–24.4%). The prevalence of probable recent leptospirosis (MAT titer 1:800) was 1.9% (95%CI 0.9–4.2%) and uniquely related to serovar Nigeria (serogroup Pyrogenes). Probable recent leptospirosis was associated with having self-reported malaria within the past year (p = 0.048). Higher risk activities included skinning cattle (n = 6) with 12.3 higher odds (95%CI 1.4–108.6; p = 0.024) of Leptospira seropositivity compared with those who had not. Participants living in close proximity to monkeys (n = 229) had 1.92 higher odds (95%CI 1.2–3.1; p = 0.009) of seropositivity compared with participants without monkeys nearby. Conclusions/Significance The 35% prevalence of Leptospira antibodies suggests that exposure to leptospirosis is common in rural Uganda, in particular the Nigeria serovar (Pyrogenes serogroup). Leptospirosis should be a diagnostic consideration in febrile illness and “smear-negative malaria” in rural East Africa.
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    Toxicity Studies on Anti-fungal Essential Oils Extracted from Selected Aromatic Plants from Mabira and Kakamega Forests, East Africa
    (European Journal of Medicinal Plants, 2016) Nakavuma, Jesca L.; Matasyoh, Josphat C.; Wagara, Isabel N.; Kalema, John; Alinaitwe, Lordrick
    In a bid to explore for grain bio-preservatives, essential oils extracted from Cymbopogon citratus, Rosmarinus officinalis, Monanthataxis littoralis and Aframomum angustifolium, that were earlier established to have anti-mold activity, were evaluated for their biosafety by determining the oral LD50. Methods: The essential oils were extracted by hydro-distillation from aromatic plants collected from Kakamega and Mabira forests in Kenya and Uganda, respectively. Acute oral toxicity was established using mice by determining the LD50; after which sub-acute toxicity studies were performed. The animals were observed for behavioural changes; and the gross and histopathological effects, if any, on the intestinal mucosa, spleen, lungs, liver, kidney and heart were noted. Results: The oral LD50 for Cymbopogon citratus, Rosmarinus officinalis, Monanthataxis littoralis and Aframomum angustifolium essential oils were established as 7,046.90; 4,723.33; 13,335.82; and 17,539.82 (mg/kg body weight), respectively. In all cases, increased breathing rates were observed, however Rosemary also caused lethargy and convulsions. Grossly, no changes were seen in the liver, kidney, lungs, heart and spleen from both the control and the treated mice except for Monanthataxis littoralis where the lungs and liver seemed changed; and the urinary bladder distended. However, the latter effects were noted at higher doses than the established oral LD50. Histopathologically, thickened intestinal mucosa lining; tubular degeneration and proteinuria in the kidneys; vascular congestion, focal necrosis and hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes in the liver, were encountered. Conclusion: Basing on the oral LD50 in mice, all oils were safe and can be explored further as antimold grain preservatives. However, Rosmarinus officinalis was marginally safe as per the OECD guidelines. The histopathological effects of Monanthataxis littoralis essential oil need to be investigated further.