Browsing by Author "Bogere, Paul"

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    Awareness of mycotoxins and occurrence of aflatoxins in poultry feeds and feed ingredients in selected regions of Uganda
    (International Journal of Food Contamination, 2020) Nakavuma, Jesca L.; Kirabo, Angella; Bogere, Paul; Nabulime, Margaret M.; Kaaya, Archileo N.; Gnonlonfin, Benoit
    Background: Aflatoxins are a category of mycotoxins produced by certain molds naturally occurring as food and feed contaminants with toxic effects to both animals and humans. In Uganda, previous studies on aflatoxins mainly considered human foods, but scarce information exists for animal feeds. The study aimed at establishing the current status of aflatoxins contamination of poultry feeds, level of awareness and the existing technological challenges and innovations to mycotoxin control in Uganda. Method: Mycotoxin awareness, predisposing factors and existing strategies for managing mycotoxin contamination were investigated through focus group discussions and questionnaires with selected processors and farmers. Poultry feed and feed ingredient samples were collected and analyzed for total aflatoxins using VICAM Fluorimeter procedure for foods and animal feeds. Results: Majority of the farmers and processors (> 50%) had limited knowledge about aflatoxins; contamination predisposing factors; dangers to animals and humans; and mitigation strategies. The study further revealed poor feed and feed ingredients handling and storage practices that predispose to mold/aflatoxin contamination. Forty feed samples from feed processing plants had aflatoxins in the range 7.5 ± 0.71 to 393.5 ± 19.09 parts per billion (ppb) with only twelve samples being within the generally acceptable limits of 20 ppb as recommended by the Food and Agricultural Organisation and the United States Federal Department of Agriculture. Additionally, all 27 feed samples obtained from the farmers had aflatoxins in the range of 19.0 ± 1.41 to 188.5 ± 2.12 ppb and were above the acceptable limit. Generally, broiler feeds were the most contaminated with aflatoxins. Of the feed ingredients tested, silver fish (Rastrineobola argentea, locally known as “mukene”) had the least concentration (8.7 ± 3.18 ppb) of aflatoxins while maize bran had the highest level of contamination, 103.3 ± 22.98 ppb.
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    Descriptive Analysis of Heavy Metals Content of Beef From Eastern Uganda and Their Safety for Public Consumption
    (Frontiers in Nutrition, 2021) Kasozi, Keneth Iceland; Hamira, Yunusu; Zirintunda, Gerald; Tamale, Andrew; Matama, Kevin; Ssempijja, Fred; Muyinda, Robert; Kawooya, Francis; Kisakye, Hellen; Bogere, Paul; Matovu, Henry; Etiang, Patrick; Ochieng, Juma John
    In this study, we initiated an effort to generate information about beef safety in Uganda. Our entry point was to assess by atomic absorption spectrophotometry the levels of essential elements copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), and non-essential elements lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and cadmium (Cd) in 40 beef samples collected from within and around Soroti (Uganda). The information was used to evaluate the safety of consuming such beef against the World Health Organization (WHO) limits. The latter was accomplished by (i) estimating the daily intake (EDI) of each metal in the study area, (ii) modeling the non-cancer health risk using the target hazard quotient (THQ) and (iii) modeling the cancer risk using the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR). The study finds that the mean concentrations (±95% CI) and EDI were in the order of Fe > Zn > Cr > Ni > Pb > Co > Cu > Cd. Cancer risk was found to be due to Ni > Cr > Cd > Pb and significantly higher in children than adults. The latter particularly demonstrates the importance of Ni poisoning in the study area. Overall, while essential elements in our beef samples were below WHO limits (hence no health risks), non-essential elements had high health and cancer risks due to higher levels of Cr and Ni.
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    Embracing One Health offers practical strategies in management of COVID-19 for Africa
    (The Pan African Medical Journal, 2020) Kasozi, Keneth Iceland; Mujinya, Regan; Bogere, Paul; Ekou, Justine; Zirintunda, Gerald; Ahimbisibwe, Salaviriuse; Matama, Kevin; Ninsiima, Herbert Izo; Ayikobua, Emmanuel Tiyo; Ssimbwa, Godfrey; Musinguzi, Simon Peter; Muyinda, Robert; Ssempijja, Fred; Matovu, Henry; MacLeod, Ewan; Anderson, Neil Euan; Welburn, Susan Christina
    The coronavirus, COVID-19 outbreak has now affected over 60% of African countries in less than two months , gaining a foothold through major economic and transport hubs on the African continent including Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya. Travel restrictions imposed against citizens from countries with major outbreaks including China, USA and those in Europe were too late . African Union member states as of early April 2020 are reporting 6,470 cases and 241 deaths from COVID-19 reporting growth as “close to exponential”. Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledges the virus is an existential threat to African countries and that with local transmission now underway many would pass the 10,000-infection mark by the end of April. While the impact of wearing of face masks for control of COVID-19 remains controversial, it is inarguable that respiratory transmission needs to be prevented. Currently, there is a global shortage of masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) and distribution is being rationed in developed countries to retain this for workers in the health system, showing that developing countries in Africa are bound to suffer more should the pandemic be mismanaged at these early stages. In addition, health systems in developing countries, already crippled from years of underinvestment will be compromised unless practical and realistic prevention strategies are put in place. China, Italy, France, UK and USA, all with sophisticated health systems, have found COVID-19 challenging. Infection is increasing across the African subcontinent and health systems will struggle as the pandemic sweeps into and across Africa.
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    Epidemiology of Trypanosomiasis in Wildlife—Implications for Humans at the Wildlife Interface in Africa
    (Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2021) Kasozi, Keneth Iceland; Zirintunda, Gerald; Ssempijja, Fred; Buyinza, Bridget; Matama, Kevin; Nakimbugwe, Helen N.; Onanyang, David; Bogere, Paul; Ochieng, Juma John; Matovu, Wycliff; Nalumenya, David Paul; Batiha, Gaber El-Saber; Osuwat, Lawrence Obado; Omadang, Leonard; Welburn, Susan Christina
    While both human and animal trypanosomiasis continue to present as major human and animal public health constraints globally, detailed analyses of trypanosome wildlife reservoir hosts remain sparse. African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) affects both livestock and wildlife carrying a significant risk of spillover and cross-transmission of species and strains between populations. Increased human activity together with pressure on land resources is increasing wildlife–livestock–human infections. Increasing proximity between human settlements and grazing lands to wildlife reserves and game parks only serves to exacerbate zoonotic risk. Communities living and maintaining livestock on the fringes of wildlife-rich ecosystems require to have in place methods of vector control for prevention of AAT transmission and for the treatment of their livestock. Major Trypanosoma spp. include Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, and Trypanosoma cruzi, pathogenic for humans, and Trypanosoma vivax, Trypanosoma congolense, Trypanosoma evansi, Trypanosoma brucei brucei, Trypanosoma dionisii, Trypanosoma thomasbancrofti, Trypanosma elephantis, Trypanosoma vegrandis, Trypanosoma copemani, Trypanosoma irwini, Trypanosoma copemani, Trypanosoma gilletti, Trypanosoma theileri, Trypanosoma godfreyi, Trypansoma simiae, and Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) pestanai. Wildlife hosts for the trypansomatidae include subfamilies of Bovinae, Suidae, Pantherinae, Equidae, Alcephinae, Cercopithecinae, Crocodilinae, Pteropodidae, Peramelidae, Sigmodontidae, and Meliphagidae. Wildlife species are generally considered tolerant to trypanosome infection following centuries of coexistence of vectors and wildlife hosts. Tolerance is influenced by age, sex, species, and physiological condition and parasite challenge. Cyclic transmission through Glossina species occurs for T. congolense, T. simiae, T. vivax, T. brucei, and T. b. rhodesiense, T. b. gambiense, and within Reduviid bugs for T. cruzi. T. evansi is mechanically transmitted, and T. vixax is also commonly transmitted by biting flies including tsetse. Wildlife animal species serve as long-term reservoirs of infection, but the delicate acquired balance between trypanotolerance and trypanosome challenge can be disrupted by an increase in challenge and/or the introduction of new more virulent species into the ecosystem. There is a need to protect wildlife, animal, and human populations from the infectious consequences of encroachment to preserve and protect these populations. In this review, we explore the ecology and epidemiology of Trypanosoma spp. in wildlife.
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    The in vitro Efficacy of Two Microbial Strains and Physicochemical Effects on their Aflatoxin Decontamination in Poultry Feeds
    (2020) Tebetyo, Zakia; Bogere, Paul; Nabulime, Margaret M.; Kaaya, Archileo N.; Gnonlonfin, Benoit; Ntale, Mohammed; Nakavuma, Jesca
    Contamination of animal feeds with aflatoxigenic fungi is a challenge to livestock farmers worldwide. Aflatoxins are very toxic fungal metabolites that are associated with carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, and estrogenic effects. The toxins affect animal productivity and may lead to deaths, causing enormous economic losses. Aflatoxin decontamination is a challenge to the feed industry, despite the several approaches available. This study investigated the efficacy of two microbial isolates, Bacillus spp (B285) and Yeast strain (Y833), in reducing Aflatoxin concentration in poultry feeds in comparison with a commonly used commercial chemical binder, Bentonite. The influence of the poultry feed matrix, pH, and temperature on the aflatoxin reducing activity by the two microorganisms was also explored. Results: The in vitro studies showed that the two microorganisms and the chemical binder reduced aflatoxins by over 74% of the original concentration. The chemical binder registered the highest reduction at 93.4%; followed by Y833 (83.6%), then the combination of Y833 and B285 (77.9%); and lastly B285 (74.9%). There was no significant (p>0.05) influence of temperature on the toxin reducing capacity of all the agents tested. The pHs 4.5 and 6.5 did not have a significant effect on the performance of both chemical binder and biological agents, however, the former performed better at pH 6.5 with 95% aflatoxin reduction compared to the microorganisms. The aflatoxin reducing activity was lower in presence of feeds compared to that in Phosphate Buffered Saline except for Y833 where no difference was observed. Conclusions: Although the feed components affected the aflatoxin reducing capacity of the test materials, the chemical binder was more effective than the microbial agents. Yeast strain was more effective than the bacterial strain in reducing the aflatoxin levels, however, both are promising strategies for countering the aflatoxin challenges in animal feeds. In response to the advocacy for use of biological control agents, there is need for more investigations to establish the safety of the microorganisms, the mechanism of decontamination and safety of the products; the optimum concentrations that can reduce aflatoxins in feeds to permissible levels and the effect of the toxin contamination levels on microbial efficiency.
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    Pandemic Panic and Anxiety in Developing Countries. Embracing One Health Offers Practical Strategies in Management of COVID-19 for Africa
    (The Pan African Medical Journal, 2020) Kasozi, Keneth Iceland; Mujinya, Regan; Bogere, Paul; Ekou, Justine; Zirintunda, Gerald; Ahimbisibwe, Salaviriuse; Ninsiima, Herbert Izo
    The coronavirus, COVID-19 outbreak has now affected over 60% of African countries in less than two months [1], gaining a foothold through major economic and transport hubs on the African continent including Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya. Travel restrictions imposed against citizens from countries with major outbreaks including China, USA and those in Europe were too late [2,3]. African Union member states as of early April 2020 are reporting 6,470 cases and 241 deaths from COVID-19 reporting growth as “close to exponential”.
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    Tsetse Fly Distribution and Occurrence of Trypanosoma Species among Cattle and Goats around Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
    (Research square, 2020) Kangume, Mallion; Muhangi, Denis; Byaruhanga, Joseph; Agaba, Aggrey; Sserunkuma, Joachim; Kisembo, Stallon Justus; Bogere, Paul; Vudriko, Patrick; Rwego, Innocent Bidason
    African Animal Trypanosomiasis (AAT) is an infectious disease of economic and veterinary importance in Sub-Saharan Africa. The current study aimed at providing baseline information on tsetse fly distribution and occurrence of Trypanosoma species in cattle and goats within and around Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP), in western Uganda. A minimal entomological survey was conducted in April 2017 while blood samples collected from cattle (n = 576) and goats (n = 319) in June 2015 and May 2017 were subjected to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to determine the occurrence of Trypanosoma species.Glossina pallidipes and G. fuscipes were the only tsetse fly species trapped in the study area with apparent density of 20.6. The overall prevalence of Trypanosoma spp. was 27% for goats and approximately 38% for cattle. The most prevalent Trypanosoma spp. in goats was T. brucei (n = 60, 18.8%) while the most prevalent in cattle was T. congolense (n = 102, 27.1%). In both cattle and goats, a dual infection of T. brucei + T. congolense was most encountered. In goats a triple infection of T. brucei + T. congolense + T. vivax was higher than that in cattle. Current findings show that there are two species of tsetse flies, and three species of Trypanosoma, important in transmission of AAT in both cattle and goats. Control efforts of AAT have mainly focused on cattle and this study proves that prevention and control efforts should also involve goat farmers.