Browsing by Author "Drago Kato, Charles"
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Item Disinfectant Susceptibility of Bacteria Isolated from Salon Tools in Ishaka Town, Bushenyi District, Uganda(IAA Journal of Biological Sciences, 2022) Solange, Gahongayire; Namatovu, Alice; Drago Kato, CharlesBacterial infections are on rising especially resistant strains which cause increase of economic burden to both patients and healthcare providers. Salons shops are recently reported as one of the route for transmitting bacterial pathogens including resistance strains and this was linked to the lack of awareness of salons shop operators on biosafety practices in salons. This study determined prevalence and disinfectant susceptibility patterns of bacteria isolated from salon tools in Ishaka town, Bushenyi District, Uganda. Twenty-five (25) Salon owners/ Head operators were enrolled in this study to determine the level of awareness about the biosafety practice of salons operation using semi-structured questionnaire. Additionally, total of 125 swab samples were collected from different salons tools (combs, brushes, scissors, clippers and shaving machines) and processed using standard Microbiological methods for isolation of bacteria. The isolated bacteria were identified using standard phenotypic methods including analytical profile index (API). Susceptibility patterns of the isolated bacteria to disinfectant were determined using agar well diffusion method. Results obtained from this study showed that a significant number of salon operators (p≤0.05) were aware about the important of disinfectant usage, disinfect tool(s) after use and washing hands /tools after use. Among the 125 swabbed samples collected from the salons, 78 (65.5%) were contaminated with different bacterial species. Clippers were found to have higher (25.6%) contamination among the salon tools from which samples were collected. Of all the tested disinfectants, most resistance was shown with Sodium hypochloride1%. In conclusion, this study showed that, majority of the salon operators were aware about the biosafety practice of salon operation despite the higher contaminations of salons tools.Item Disproportionate Distribution of HBV Genotypes A and D and the Recombinant Genotype D/E in the High and Low HBV Endemic Regions of Uganda: A Wake-Up Call for Regional Specific HBV Management(International journal of hepatology, 2022) Mukasa Kafeero, Hussein; Ndagire, Dorothy; Ocama, Ponsiano; Drago Kato, Charles; Wampande, Eddie; Kajumbula, Henry; Kateete, David; Walusansa, Abdul; Kudamba, Ali; Edgar, Kigozi; Ashaba Katabazi, Fred; Namaganda, Maria Magdalene; Ssenku, Jamilu E.; Sendagire, HakimHepatitis B virus (HBV) is the leading cause of liver-related diseases. In Uganda, there is a regional disparity in the HBV burden. Our study was aimed at establishing the circulating genotypes in a low and a high endemic region to give plausible explanations for the differences in regional burden and guide the future management of the disease. Methods. A total of 200 HBsAg-seropositive subjects were recruited into the study by convenience sampling. The HBsAg Rapid Test Strip (Healgen Scientific Limited Liability Company, Houston, TX77047- USA) was used to screen for HBsAg while the Roche machine (Roche, Basel Switzerland/Abbot Technologies (USA)) was used to determine the viral load. The Chemistry Analyzer B120 (Mindray, China) was used for chemistry analysis. For HBV genotyping, total DNA was extracted from whole blood using the QIAamp® DNA extraction kit. Nested PCR amplification was performed using Platinum Taq DNA Polymerase (Invitrogen Corporation, USA) to amplify the 400 bp HBV polymerase gene. Purification of nested PCR products was performed using Purelink PCR product purification kit (Life Technologies, USA). Automated DNA sequencing was performed using BigDye Terminator v3.1 Cycle Sequencing Kit on 3130 Genetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystems, USA). The NCBI HBV genotyping tool (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/projects/genotyping/formpage.cgi) was used for determination of genotype for each HBV sequence. Pearson’s chi-square, multinomial logistic regression, and Mann–Whitney U tests were used for the analysis. All the analyses were done using SPSS version 26.0 and MedCalc software version 19.1.3 at 95% CI. A p < 0:05 was considered statistically significant. Results. Majority of our study subjects were female (64.5%), youth (51.0%), and married (62.0%). Overall, genotype A was the most prevalent (46%). Genotype D and the recombinant genotype D/E were proportionately more distributed in the high endemic (38.2%) and low endemic (36.5%) regions, respectively. Genotype D was significantly more prevalent in the high endemic region and among the elderly (p < 0:05). Genotype D was significantly associated with elevated viral load and direct bilirubin (p < 0:05). The recombinant genotype D/E was significantly associated with elevated viral load (p < 0:05). Similarly, genotype A was significantly associated with elevated AST and GGT, lowered viral load, and normal direct bilirubin levels (p < 0:05). Conclusion. There is disproportionate distribution of genotypes A and D and the recombinant genotype D/E in the low and high endemic regions of Uganda. This probably could explain the differences in endemicity of HBV in our country signifying the need for regional specific HBV management and control strategies.Item Identification of genes associated with resistance to disinfectants in the most common resistant bacteria strain of Bacteria isolated from Salon Tools in Ishaka Town, Bushenyi District, Uganda(IAA Journal of Biological Sciences, 2022) Solange, Gahongayire; Namatovu, Alice; Drago Kato, CharlesThis study identified the genes associated with resistance to disinfectants in the most common resistant bacteria strain of Bacteria isolated from Salon Tools in Ishaka Town, Bushenyi District, Uganda. Twenty-five (25) Salon owners/ Head operators were enrolled in this study to determine the level of awareness about the biosafety practice of salons operation using semi-structured questionnaire. Additionally, total of 125 swab samples were collected from different salons tools (combs, brushes, scissors, clippers and shaving machines) and processed using standard Microbiological methods for isolation of bacteria. The isolated bacteria were identified using standard phenotypic methods including analytical profile index (API). Quaternary ammonium compounds (qac) genes (qacA/B and C) associated with disinfectant resistances were detected from disinfectant resistant Staphylococcus aureus using Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Sanger sequencing methods. Results obtained from this study showed that a significant number of salon operators (p≤0.05) were aware about the important of disinfectant usage, disinfect tool(s) after use and washing hands /tools after use. Among the 125 swabbed samples collected from the salons, 78 (65.5%) were contaminated with different bacterial species. Clippers were found to have higher (25.6%) contamination among the salon tools from which samples were collected. Of all the tested disinfectants, most resistance was shown with Sodium hypochloride1%. Out of the eight (8) bacterial isolates that were analyzed for qac genes, 2(25%) isolates (STP6 and STP9) were found to be qac A/B positive while 2 (25%) isolates (STP8 and STP9) were found to be qac C gene positive. In conclusion, this study showed that, majority of the salon operators was aware about the biosafety practice of salon operation despite the higher contaminations of salons tools. qac A and qac C were detected among some S. aureus isolated. As recommendations, further study should be done and biosafety guideline should be reviewed.Item Multiple persistent organic pollutants in mothers' breastmilk: Implications for infant dietary exposure and maternal thyroid hormone homeostasis in Uganda, East Africa(Science of The Total Environmen, 2021) Matovu, Henry; Li, Zhong-Min; Henkelmann, Bernhard; Bernhöft, Silke; De Angelis, Meri; Schramm, Karl-Werner; Sillanpää, Mika; Drago Kato, Charles; Ssebugere, PatrickPersistent organic pollutants (POPs) are ubiquitous contaminants with adverse health effects in the ecosystem. One of such effects is endocrine disruption in humans and wildlife even at background exposure concentrations. This study assessed maternal breastmilk concentrations of POPs; brominated flame retardants (BFRs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs), and the potential health risks posed to the nursing infants. We also evaluated the association of these POPs with total 3,3′,5- triiodo-L-thyronine (T3), L-thyroxine (T4), and 3,3′,5′-triiodo-L-thyronine (rT3) levelsmeasured in human breast milk. Thirty breastmilk samples were collected from Kampala, Uganda between August and December 2018. Hexabromobenzene was not detected while the maximum level of 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexabrombiphenyl was 64.7 pg/g lw. The median levels of total indicator PCBs, PBDEs, dioxin-like PCBs, and PCDD/Fs in the samples were 159 pg/g lw, 511 pg/g lw, 1.16 pg TEQ/g lw, and 0.4 pg TEQ/g lw, respectively. These levels were lower than those reported in other countries. Owing to their bio accumulative nature, PCBs −81, −169, andΣPCDD/Fs increased with increase in maternal age. Estimated dietary intakes for dioxin-like PCBs and PCDD/Fs were lower than those reported elsewhere but were higher than the WHO tolerable daily intakes suggesting potential health risks to nursing infants. In adjusted single pollutant models, PCB-126, PCB-169, andΣPCBTEQ were negatively associated with T3, while 1,2,3,4,5,7,8-HpCDF was positively associated with rT3. Although these associations did not persist in multi pollutant models, our findings suggest potential thyroid hormone disruption by POPs in mothers. This may reduce the levels of thyroid hormones transferred from the mother to the neonates and, hence, adversely influence infant growth. A temporal study with a bigger sample size is required to corroborate these findingsItem Prevalence and Detection of qac Genes from Disinfectant-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Salon Tools in Ishaka Town, Bushenyi District of Uganda(Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology, 2020) Gahongayire, Solange; Aliero, Adamu Almustapha; Drago Kato, Charles; Namatovu, AliceBacterial infections are on a rise with causal-resistant strains increasing the economic burden to both patients and healthcare providers. Salons are recently reported as one of the sources for transmission of such resistant bacterial strains. )e current study aimed at the identification of the prevalent bacteria and characterization of quaternary ammonium compound (qac) genes from disinfectant-resistant S. aureus isolated from salon tools in Ishaka town, Bushenyi District of Uganda. A total of 125 swabs were collected from different salon tools (combs, brushes, scissors, clippers, and shaving machines), and prevalent bacteria were isolated using standard microbiological methods. Identification of isolated bacteria was done using standard phenotypic methods including analytical profile index (API). Susceptibility patterns of the isolated bacteria to disinfectant were determined using the agar well diffusion method. Quaternary ammonium compound (qac) genes (qacA/B and qacC) associated with disinfectant resistances were detected from disinfectant-resistant S. aureus using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Sanger sequencing methods. Of the 125 swab samples collected from salons, 78 (62.4%) were contaminated with different bacteria species. Among the salon tools, clippers had the highest contamination of 20 (80.0%), while shaving machines had the lowest contamination of 11 (44.0%). )e most prevalent bacteria identified were Staphylococcus epidermidis (28.1%) followed by S. aureus (26.5%). Of all the disinfectants tested, the highest resistance was shown with sodium hypochlorite 1%. Out of the eight (8) disinfectant-resistant S. aureus analysed for qac genes, 2 (25%) isolates (STP6 and STP9) were found to be qacA/B positive, while 2 (25%) isolates (STP8 and STP9) were found to be qacC gene positive. )is study has shown that bacterial contamination of salon tools is common, coupled with resistance to disinfectants with sodium hypochlorite resistance being more common. Furthermore, observed resistance was attributed to the presence of qac genes among S. aureus isolates. A search for qac genes for disinfectant resistance from other bacteria species is recommended.Item Sub-Acute Toxicity Effects of Methanolic Stem Bark Extract of Entada abyssinica on Biochemical, Haematological and Histopathological Parameters in Wistar Albino Rats(Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2021) Obakiro, Samuel Baker; Kiprop, Ambrose; Kigondu, Elizabeth; K’owino, Isaac; Kiyimba, Kenedy; Drago Kato, Charles; Gavamukulya, YahayaWhereas the efficacy of Entada abyssinica (fabaceae) extracts against various ailments has been scientifically validated, its safety has not been established. This study was undertaken to evaluate the toxicity effects of methanolic stem bark extract of E. abyssinica on biochemical, haematological and histological parameters of Wistar albino rats following repeated oral administration. Methods: Wistar albino rats of both sexes were randomized into groups and orally administered daily with determined doses (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg) of E. abyssinica methanolic extract using 1% tween 80 in distilled water as a control for 28 days. On the 29th day, all the animals were sacrificed and dissected to collect blood and selected organs. The serum and whole blood were assayed for biochemical and haematological parameters respectively while selected organs were examined for histopathological lesions. Numerical data was analyzed using graph pad prism and expressed as mean ± standard error of mean. The differences between the treatment and control groups were tested for statistical significance using one-way analysis of variance and/or Student’s t-test. Results: In repeated daily oral doses (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg), the methanolic stem bark extract of E. abyssinica did not cause significant alteration in majority of the biochemical and hematological indices. However, the extract significantly elevated the level of uric acid (all doses), aspartate aminotransferase (300 and 600 mg/kg), low density lipoproteins (150 mg/kg) and mean corpuscular heamoglobin concentration (all doses). On the other hand, the extracts reduced high density lipoproteins (150 and 300 mg/kg), mean corpuscular volume (all doses), haematocrit (150 and 600 mg/kg), mean platelet volume (150 and 600 mg/kg) and procalcitonin (150 mg/kg). In the vital organs, there were no significant lesions observed except at the highest dose (600 mg/kg) where there was mild evidence of lymphocyte infiltration in the liver and focal interstitial nephritis. Conclusion: The methanolic stem bark extract of E. abyssinica is relatively safe in Wistar albino rats when repetitively administered orally in small doses for a prolonged period of time. We recommend more chronic toxicity studies and clinical trials on herbal remedies containing this plant to ensure that its use is free of potential toxicity to humans.