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Browsing by Author "Dione, Michel M."

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African swine fever: Uganda smallholder pig value chain capacity development training manual
(ILRI Manual, 2015) Nantima, Noelina; Dione, Michel M.; Brandes-van Dorresteijn, Diana; Kawuma, Brian; Smith, Jeff
Pork production and consumption have risen rapidly in Uganda over the past decade, driven by population growth, urbanization, increasing incomes, and changing tastes. In 2011, Uganda had the highest per capita consumption of pork in East Africa (3.4 kg/person per year). The number of pigs has increased more than tenfold from less than 200,000 three decades ago to roughly 3.2 million. More than 1 million households in Uganda raise those pigs. The majority of the pigs are kept by women in rural areas, with limited access to technology, services and markets
Correlations between lung pneumonic lesions and serologic status for key respiratory pathogens in slaughtered pigs in northern Uganda
(Porcine health management, 2021) Oba, Peter; Dione, Michel M.; Wieland, Barbara; Mwiine, Frank N.; Erume, Joseph
A cross-sectional study of slaughtered pigs was conducted in Lira district, Uganda, to (1) determine the prevalence and severity of pneumonia and (2) establish relationships between pneumonia types and the serological status for key respiratory pathogens. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), sera were screened for antibodies against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo), Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2). Postmortem, lungs were grossly scored for pneumonia types and pneumonic lesions. Pneumonia types were characterized as catarrhal purulent bronchopneumonia (CPBP), pleuropneumonia (PLP) and pleuritis. The percent of lung surface affected by pneumonia was determined by estimating the affected surface area of each lung lobe. Each lobe was assigned scores based on the approximate volume represented and the total percentage of lung surface affected obtained as a sum of individual lobe scores. Metastrongylus spp. helminth infection was determined by examining lungs for gross presence or absence. RStudio was used for data analysis and presentation. Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to compare median pneumonia lesion scores and serostatus for each studied pathogen. An ordinal logistic regression model was fitted to evaluate the odds of multiple pneumonia, with pathogen serostatus and Metastrongylus spp. infection as predictors. Results: One hundred sixty-seven (n = 167) lungs were examined for pneumonic lesions. The prevalences of CPBP, PLP and pleuritis were 29.9% (95% CI 22.9–36.9), 74.2% (95% CI 67.5–80.9) and 17.3% (95% CI 22.4–36.3), respectively. The true prevalence of PCV2 was 9.7% (95% CI 4.5–16.8), that of PRRSv was 7.5% (95% CI 2.7–14.2), that of M. hyo was 11.5% (95% CI 7.2–18.0), that of App was 25.1% (95% CI 18.5–38.0), and that of Metastrongylus spp. was 29.3% (95% CI 22.9–36.6). The odds of multiple pneumonia forms increased in pigs with multiple pathogens (ORs 2.6, p = 0.01) and Metastrongylus spp. infestation (OR 2.5, p = 0.003), suggesting synergistic effects of coinfections in the induction of lesions. Conclusions: This study revealed a high prevalence and severity of pneumonic lesions in slaughtered pigs. It provides baseline information and evidence for the magnitude of pneumonia associated with the studied pathogens and justifies future studies on their potential economic impacts on Ugandan pigs.
Field report on the Participatory Training of smallholder pig farmers on biosecurity measures for the control of African swine fever (ASF) in Masaka and Lira districts of Uganda
(International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), 2015) Dione, Michel M.; Lule, Peter; Opio, Felix
African swine fever (ASF) is among the major production constraints for smallholder pig farmers in Uganda (Atuhaire et al., 2013, Dione et al., 2014). There is no vaccine or treatment for the disease. The only control measure is implementation of biosecurity along the pig value chain. However, adoption and implementation of biosecurity measures is challenging in the current context of pig production, because of the nature of the production systems which are characterized by poor housing, husbandry practices and hygiene during pig handling and slaughtering process. Low level of knowledge and awareness of value chain actors about the ways to control the disease is also a big constraint (Dione et al., 2014) . Following an ASF outbreak, farmers operate “panic sales” and slaughters in order to avoid financial losses attributed the death of the pigs. Such practices contribute to the spread of the diseases within and outside their community. However, farmers complain about lack of knowledge about pig management and biosecurity (Dione et al., 2014);yet implementation of proper biosecurity measures requires farmers to be well equipped with a minimum package of knowledge on how to apply these measures. In order to address this knowledge gaps, ILRI and partners developed a training of trainers (ToT) manual on biosecurity for the control and prevention of ASF, which module is tailored to smallholder pig keepers in Uganda. To test the efficiency of this tool, a Randomised Control Trial (RCT) was designed in two districts namely Masaka and Lira. A second version of the training manual was established to meet the training requirements. The later version was in a form of Participatory Training (PT) module. It is in this context that the pig farmers in villages of Masaka and Lira were trained using a PT tool. This report highlights observations and discussions with farmers of the treatment groups during the training sessions.
First Report of the Occurrence of Trichinella- Specific Antibodies in Domestic Pigs in Central and Eastern Uganda
(PLoS ONE, 2016) Roesel, Kristina; Nockler, Karsten; Baumann, Maximilian P. O.; Fries, Reinhard; Dione, Michel M.; Clausen, Peter-Henning; Grace, Delia
Previous research on trichinellosis in Africa focused on isolating Trichinella from wildlife while the role of domestic pigs has remained highly under-researched. Pig keeping in Uganda is historically recent, and evidence on zoonotic pig diseases, including infection with Trichinella species, is scarce. A cross-sectional survey on Trichinella seroprevalence in pigs was conducted in three districts in Central and Eastern Uganda from April 2013 to January 2015. Serum from a random sample of 1125 pigs from 22 villages in Eastern and Central Uganda was examined to detect immunoglobulin G (IgG) against any Trichinella spp. using a commercially available ELISA based on excretory-secretory antigen. ELISA positive samples were confirmed using Western Blot based on somatic antigen of Trichinella spiralis as recommended in previous validation studies. Diaphragm pillar muscle samples (at least 5 g each) of 499 pigs from areas with high ELISA positivity were examined using the artificial digestion method. Overall, 78 of all 1125 animals (6.9%, 95% CI: 5.6±8.6%) tested positive for antibodies against Trichinella spp. in the ELISA at significantly higher levels in Kamuli district compared to Masaka and Mukono districts. Thirty-one percent of the ELISA positive samples were confirmed IgG positive by the Western Blot leading to an overall seroprevalence of 2.1% (95% CI: 1.4±3.2%). The large proportion of ELISA positive samples that could not be confirmed using Western blot may be the result of cross-reactivity with other gastrointestinal helminth infections or unknown host-specific immune response mechanisms in local pig breeds in Uganda. Attempts to isolate muscle larvae for species determination using the artificial digestion method were unsuccessful. Due to the large number of muscle samples examined we are confident that even if pigs are infected, the larval burden in pork is too low to pose a major risk to consumers of developing trichinellosis. This was the first large systematic field investigation of Trichinella infection in domestic pigs in Uganda
Force‑of‑infection of Taenia solium porcine cysticercosis: a modelling analysis to assess global incidence and prevalence trends
(Scientific reports, 2020) Dixon, Matthew A.; Winskill, Peter; Harrison, Wendy E.; Whittaker, Charles; Schmidt, Veronika; Sarti, Elsa; Bawm, Saw; Dione, Michel M.; Thomas, Lian F.; Walker, Martin; Basáñez, Maria‑Gloria
The World Health Organization (WHO) called, in 2012, for a validated strategy towards Taenia solium taeniasis/cysticercosis control and elimination. Estimating pig force-of-infection (FoI, the average rate at which susceptible pigs become infected) across geographical settings will help understand local epidemiology and inform effective intervention design. Porcine cysticercosis (PCC) ageprevalence data (from 15 studies in Latin America, Africa and Asia) were identified through systematic review. Catalytic models were fitted to the data using Bayesian methods, incorporating uncertainty in diagnostic performance, to estimate rates of antibody seroconversion, viable metacestode acquisition, and seroreversion/infection loss. There was evidence of antibody seroreversion across 5 studies, and of infection loss in 6 studies measured by antigen or necropsy, indicating transient serological responses and natural resolution of infection. Concerted efforts should be made to collect robust data using improved diagnostics to better understand geographical heterogeneities in T. solium transmission to support post-2020 WHO targets.
Guideline for participatory training on African swine fever control for smallholder pig farmers in Uganda
(ILRI Manual, 2018) Dione, Michel M.; Ochago, Robert; Lule, Peter; Mayega, Lawrence
African swine fever (ASF) is among the major production constraints for smallholder pig farmers in Uganda (Atuhaire et al. 2013; Dione et al. 2014). There is no vaccine or treatment for the disease. The only way to control the disease is proper application of biosecurity along the pig value chain. However, adoption and implementation of biosecurity measures is challenging in the context of the smallholder pig production, because of the nature of the production systems which is characterized by poor housing and husbandry practices; poor hygiene during slaughtering and pork handling; and low level of knowledge and awareness of value chain actors about the disease. Also there is lack of incentive and capacities of value chain actors for reporting outbreaks of ASF to authorities, as well as observing movement control during outbreak seasons (Dione et al. 2014). Hence, farmers operate ‘panic sales’ and slaughters to avoid financial losses attributed to the death of the pigs, with most farmers ignoring the implication of such practice in spreading the disease. Proper application of biosecurity measures require that farmers be well equipped with knowledge of their principles, when and how to apply them and why? To address this gap in knowledge, ILRI and partners developed a training guide for smallholder farmers on biosecurity and control of ASF. This guide will be delivered through participatory training. Here, the authors are describing the process for an effective training of farmers using participatory training methods, step by step.
Modeling the Spread of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Among Pig Farms in Lira District of Northern Uganda
(Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2021) Hasahya, Emmanuel; Thakur, Krishna K.; Dione, Michel M.; Wieland, Barbara; Oba, Peter; Kungu, Joseph; Lee, Hu Suk
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is a viral swine disease that causes reproductive failure in breeding sows and respiratory distress in growing pigs. The main objectives were to simulate the transmission patterns of PRRS in Uganda using North American Animal Disease Spread Model (NAADSM) and to evaluate the potential effect of prevention and control options such as vaccination and movement control. The median number of infectious farms at the end of 52 weeks for the baseline scenario was 735 (36.75% of the 2,000 farms). The best effects of vaccination were observed in scenarios 60% farm coverage and 80% farm coverage, which resulted in 82 and 98.2% reduction in the median number of infectious farms at the end of the simulation, respectively. Vaccination of all medium and large farms only (33% of the farms) resulted in a 71.2% decrease in the median number of infectious farms at the end of 52 weeks. Movement control (MC) results showed that the median number of infectious farms at the end of 52 weeks decreased by 21.6, 52.3, 79.4, and 92.4%for scenariosMC 20,MC 40, MC 60, and MC 80%, respectively. This study provides new insights to the government of Uganda on how PRRS can be controlled. The large and medium farms need to be prioritized for vaccination, which would be a feasible and effective way to limit the spread of PRRS in Uganda. Scavenging pigs should be confined at all times, whether in the presence or absence of any disease outbreaks.
Molecular Characterization of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSv) Isolated From Slaughtered Pigs in Northern Uganda
(Research Square, 2021) Oba, Peter; Dione, Michel M.; Erume, Joseph; Wieland, Barbara; Mutisya, Christine; Ochieng, Linnet; Cook, Elizabeth A. J.; Mwiine, Frank N.
A cross sectional study was conducted to determine genotypes of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv) isolated from slaughtered pigs in Lira district, northern Uganda. The study was conducted from March to September 2019 in three selected slaughter slabs. Pigs brought for slaughter were randomly sampled. At necropsy, lungs were extracted from the thoracic cavity and examined for pneumonic lesions. Seventy-three (73) pigs with gross lung lesions were sampled, from which one hundred and one (101) tissue samples were taken. A real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to characterize PRRSv genotypes. Results A total of 20 samples tested positive for PRRSv. The respective prevalence of PRRSv type 1 and type 2 were 24.65% (n = 18) and 2.73% (n = 2) respectively. Of the pigs sampled (n = 73), only two pigs, 2.73% (n = 2) tested positive to both strains. The likelihood of PRRSv detection decreased with pig age, but increased with gross pneumonic pathology. Conclusions This study demonstrated dual circulation of both genotypes in northern Uganda. The association between PRRSv and lung pathology suggests that it may be an important cause of lung disease in pigs in Uganda and hence loss of production. This calls for further investigations on potential economic impacts of PRRSv on pig productivity. These findings contribute to discussions about the need of surveillance and possible vaccination strategies against PRRSv in Uganda.
Parasite control in pigs: Uganda smallholder pig value chain capacity development training manual
(ILRI Manual, 2015) Nakatudde, Patricia; Dione, Michel M.; Roesel, Kristina; Kawuma, Brian; Brandes-van Dorresteijn, Diana; Smith, Jeff
Pork production and consumption have risen rapidly in Uganda over the past decade, driven by population growth, urbanization, increasing incomes, and changing tastes. In 2011, Uganda had the highest per capita consumption of pork in East Africa (3.4 kg/person per year). The number of pigs has increased more than tenfold from less than 200,000 three decades ago to roughly 2.3 million. More than 1 million households in Uganda raise those pigs. The majority of the pigs are kept by women in rural areas, with limited access to technology, services and markets. The CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish,2 led by the International Livestock Research Institute, started the Smallholder Pig Value Chain Development Project to improve the livelihoods of smallholder pig producers, particularly women, through increased productivity, reduced risk from disease, and improved market access. A key activity of the project is to enhance the capacity of women and men pig producers, and help them transform subsistence-level pig-keeping into viable, profitable businesses. A companion project, ‘Safe Food, Fair Food’, under the CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health,3 is working to improve pork safety and market access. These efforts, in turn, should enhance food security, help preserve natural resources and reduce poverty. Poverty in Uganda currently stands at 37.8% (people living on less than USD 1.25/day). This training modules are targeted to extension workers, veterinarians and para-veterinarians, and policy makers responsible for animal disease surveillance and control and for livestock market development and regulation. Improved knowledge should help provide incentive for decision-makers to help poor pig farmers, and promote the sector.
Participatory assessment of animal health and husbandry practices in smallholder pig production systems in three high poverty districts in Uganda
(Preventive veterinary medicine, 2014) Dione, Michel M.; Ouma, Emily A.; Roesel, Kristina; Kungu, Joseph; Lule, Peter; Pezo, Danilo
While animal health constraints have been identified as a major limiting factor in small-holder pig production in Uganda, researchers and policy makers lack information on the relative incidence of diseases and their impacts on pig production. This study aimed to assess animal health and management practices, constraints and opportunities for intervention in smallholder pig value chains in three high poverty districts of Uganda.Semi-qualitative interview checklists through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were administered to 340 pig farmers in 35 villages in Masaka, Kamuli and Mukono districts.Quantitative data was obtained during the exercise through group consensus. Results of FGDs were further triangulated with secondary data and information obtained from key informant interviews. Findings show that pig keeping systems are dominated by tethering and scavenging in rural areas. In peri-urban and urban areas, intensive production systems are more practiced, with pigs confined in pens. The main constraints identified by farmers include high disease burden such as African swine fever (ASF) and parasites, poor hous-ing and feeding practices, poor veterinary services, ineffective drugs and a general lack of knowledge on piggery management. According to farmers, ASF is the primary cause of pig mortality with epidemics occurring mainly during the dry season. Worms and ectopara-sites namely; mange, lice and flies are endemic leading to stunted growth which reduces the market value of pigs. Diarrhoea and malnutrition are common in piglets. Ninety-three percent of farmers say they practice deworming, 37% practice ecto parasite spraying and 77%castrate their boars. Indigenous curative treatments include the application of human urine and concoctions of local herbs for ASF control and use of old engine oil or tobacco extractst o control ectoparasites. There is a need for better technical services to assist farmers with these problems.
Risk factors, perceptions and practices associated with Taenia solium cysticercosis and its control in the smallholder pig production systems in Uganda: a cross-sectional survey
(BMC infectious diseases, 2017) Kungu, Joseph M.; Dione, Michel M.; Ejobi, Francis; Ocaido, Michael; Grace, Delia
Prevalence studies report Taenia solium cysticercosis in pig and human populations in Uganda. However, the factors influencing occurrence in smallholder pig production systems are not well documented and little is known about farmers’ perceptions of T. solium cysticercosis or farmer practices that could reduce transmission. Methods: To determine the risk factors, perceptions and practices regarding T. solium cysticercosis, a household survey using a semi-structured questionnaire was conducted in 1185 households in the rural and urban pig production systems in Masaka, Mukono and Kamuli Districts. Logistic regression was used to measure associations of risk factors with infection. Performance scores were calculated to summarise perceptions and practices of farmers regarding taeniosis, human cysticercosis and porcine cysticercosis as well as farmer behavior related to control or breaking transmission. Results: Pig breed type, farmers’ knowledge about transmission, sources of water used, and pig keeping homes where family members were unable to use the latrine were all significantly associated with T. solium cysticercosis in pigs. Performance scores indicated that farmers were more aware of taeniosis (63.0%; 95% Confidence Interval 60.0-65.8) than human or porcine cysticercosis; only three farmers (0.3%, 95% CI = 0.1–0.8) had knowledge on all three conditions. More farmers reported that they dewormed pigs (94.1%) than reported deworming themselves and their family members (62.0%). Albendazole was the most commonly used drug for deworming both pigs and humans (85.0 and 81.5% respectively). Just over half (54.6%) of the farmers interviewed had clean water near the latrines for washing hands. Of these, only 41.9% used water with soap to wash hands after latrine use. Conclusion: Factors that significantly influenced occurrence of T. solium cysticercosis in pigs were identified. Farmers had some knowledge about the disease but did not link taeniosis, human cysticercosis, and porcine cysticercosis. Therefore, there is need to employ strategies that raise awareness and interrupt transmission.
Sero-prevalence of Taenia Solium cysticercosis in rural and urbansmallholder pig production settings in Uganda
(Acta tropica, 2017) Kungu, Joseph M.; Dione, Michel M.; Ejobi, Francis; Harrison, Leslie J.S.; Poole, Jane; Pezo, Danilo; Grace, Delia
The pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, is prevalent in Uganda although the prevalence has not been deter-mined in all areas of the country. A cross-sectional study, to determine the sero-prevalence of the parasitein pigs kept under rural and urban production settings, was carried out in three Ugandan districts, Masaka, Mukono and Kamuli. Serum samples from 1185 pigs were tested for the presence of T. solium cysticer-cosis antigen using the HP10 antigen-ELISA (Ag-ELISA) and the ApDia Ag-ELISA assays. Using parallel interpretation of the two tests showed lower levels of observed prevalence of T. solium in rural pro-duction settings (10.8%) compared to urban (17.1%). Additionally, Maximum Likelihood Estimation forevaluating assays in the absence of a gold standard, using TAGS on the R platform, estimated the true sero-prevalence to be lower in rural production setting, 0.0% [0.0–3.2%; 95% confidence interval (CI)] thanin urban production setting, 12.3% (4.2–77.5% CI). When the sensitivity/specificity (Se/Sp) of the assays were estimated, assuming conditional independence of the tests, HP10 Ag-ELISA was more sensitive and specific [(Se = 53.9%; 10.1–100% CI), (Sp = 97.0%; 95.9-100% CI)] than the ApDia assay [(Se = 20.2%;1.5–47.7% CI), (Sp = 92.2%; 90.5–93.9% CI)]. Subject to parasitological verification, these results indicate there may be a need to implement appropriate control measures for T. solium in the study areas.
Serological and molecular investigation for brucellosis in swine in selected districts of Uganda
(Tropical Animal Health and Production, 2016) Erume, Joseph; Roesel, Kristina; Dione, Michel M.; Ejobi, Francis; Mboowa, Gerald; Kungu, Joseph M.; Akol, Joyce; Pezo, Danilo; El-Adawy, Hosny; Melzer, Falk; Elschner, Mandy; Neubauer, Heinrich; Grace, Delia
Brucellosis is a notifiable zoonotic disease affecting livestock, humans, and wildlife in Uganda. Pigs can be infected with human pathogenic Brucella suis biovars 1 and 3 and can be a significant source of brucellosis for humans. Uganda has a rapidly growing pig population, and the pork consumption per capita is the highest in East Africa. The objective of this work was to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis in Ugandan pigs. A cross-sectional serosurvey of pigs was conducted in three of the major pig-keeping districts in Uganda (Masaka (n= 381 samples), Mukono (n = 398), and Kamuli (n = 414)). In addition, pigs originating from these districts were sampled in the major pig abattoir in Kampala (n =472). In total, 1665 serum samples were investigated by serological and molecular tests. Only three putative brucellosis-positive samples were detected serologically using indirect ELISA. These sera were found negative for Brucella antibodies by CFT; however, two had antibodies against Yersinia enterocolitica as determined by SAT. Presence of antibodies against Yersiniae was confirmed by Y. enterocolitica antibody-specific ELISA. The two Yersiniae ELISA-positive samples were brucellosis negative using real-time PCR. We tested additional 142 sera from the 1665 samples with real-time PCR. All tested negative. Under this type of production system, we expect a maximum B. suis prevalence of less than 1 % at 95 % confidence level, and therefore, the risk of acquiring brucellosis from the pigs or their products is negligible. However, pigs may harbor the zoonotic Y. enterocolitica. This is the first study to investigate the occurrence of brucellosis in pigs in Uganda and the first study to report Y. enterocolitica antibodies in swine in Uganda.
Status of Taenia solium cysticercosis and predisposing factors in developing countries involved in pig farming
(International Journal of One Health, 2015) Kungu, Joseph M.; Dione, Michel M.; Ocaido, Michael; Ejobi, Francis
Taenia solium cysticercosis is a disease of pigs and humans populations considered endemic in many developing countries of Latin America, Africa, and South East Asia having serious impact on public health and agriculture. We conducted an in-depth comparative analysis of literature on the disease situation and predisposing factors in selected countries known to be at the interface of poverty-emerging livestock systems-zoonoses and with a growing small holder pig industry. Transmission, methods of diagnosis and employed control strategies of T. solium infection in pig and human populations in these countries are also discussed. Limited knowledge on porcine cysticercosis (PC) by various stakeholders expected to be key players in its control has undermined efforts for eliminating this potentially eradicable condition. Poor pig production practices, poor hygiene, and sanitation habits have also been important in the maintenance of the T. solium life-cycle. The major gaps identified in this review include scanty current information on PC prevalence in pigs with hardly any reports on the condition in humans in most developing countries. Factors affecting pattern of the infection and how they interact at the different levels of the pig value chain have not been exhaustively studied. Information on socioeconomic and public health impact is inadequate and not current.

Browsing by Author "Dione, Michel M."

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