Browsing by Author "Kakooza, Steven"

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    A retrospective analysis of antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. isolates from poultry in Uganda
    (International Journal of Veterinary Science and Medicine, 2021-05) Kakooza, Steven; Muwonge, Adrian; Nabatta, Esther; Eneku, Wilfred; Dickson, Dickson; Wampande, Eddie; Munyiirwa, Damian; Kayaga, Edrine; Tumwebaze, Maria Agnes; Afayoa, Mathias; Ssajjakambwe, Paul; Tayebwa, Dickson Stuart; Sayaka, Tsuchida; Okubo, Torahiko; Kazunari, Ushida; Sakurai, Ken’ichi; Mutebi, Francis
    There are increasing reports of antimicrobial treatment failures for bacterial diseases of poultry in Uganda. The paucity of data on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of pathogenic bacteria in Uganda is a major setback to AMR control. This study investigated the occurrence of fowl typhoid, colibacillosis, and AMR in associated pathogens from 2012 to 2018. Laboratory records from the Central Diagnostic Laboratory (CDL), a National Veterinary Diagnostic Facility located at Makerere University, were reviewed. Archived isolates of the causative bacteria for the two diseases were also evaluated for AMR. The frequencies of the two disease conditions, their clinical and necropsy presentations and the demographic data of the diagnostic samples were summarized from the records. Archived bacterial isolates were revived before antimicrobial susceptibility testing. This was done on Mueller Hinton agar using the disk diffusion method, against 16 antimicrobials of medical and veterinary importance according to the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. A total of 697 poultry cases were presented for bacteriological investigations in the review period. Colibacillosis and salmonellosis had prevalence rates of 39.7% (277/697) and 16.2% (113/697), respectively. A total of 63 and 92 isolates of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp., respectively, were archived but 43 (68.3%) E. coli and 47 (51.1%) Salmonella spp. isolates were recovered and evaluated for AMR. Multidrug resistance was more frequent in E. coli (38; 88.4%) than salmonellae (25; 53.2%), (p < 0.001). The high prevalence of colibacillosis, salmonellosis and the AMR of associated pathogens warrants immediate institution of appropriate disease control measures.
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    Case of clinical canine leptospirosis in Uganda
    (Veterinary Record Case Reportshttps://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1136/vetreccr-2017-000484, 2017) Alinaitwe, Lordrick; Kakooza, Steven; Eneku, Wilfred; Anou, Dreyfus; Sabrina, Rodriguez-Campos
    In this report, we present the first confirmed case of clinical leptospirosis in a dog in Uganda. A five-year-old entire male German shepherd dog from a kennel of 25 guard dogs was admitted to the animal clinic and presented hypothermia, lethargy and jaundice of the mucous membranes. The body temperature remained low during the three days post admission until death. The postmortem examination and histological findings led to suspicion of acute leptospirosis. The diagnosis was confirmed by demonstration of pathogenic Leptospira spp DNA in homogenates of the kidney, liver and lungs by real-time PCR. This case highlights that accurate diagnostic methods are needed to clarify if clinical leptospirosis is to date underestimated in Uganda and if it has an impact on public health. Awareness should be raised among veterinarians to consider leptospirosis more often as a differential diagnosis as a consequence of the non-specific signs observed in the presented case.
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    Integrating multi-wet laboratory diagnostics to study staphylococci in animals in Uganda
    (BMC Microbiology, 2024) Kakooza, Steven; Eneku, Wilfred; Nabatta, Esther; Wampande, Eddie M.; Ssajjakambwe, Paul; Wanyana, Mariam; Munyiirwa, Damien F. N.; Ndoboli, Dickson; Namuyinda, Dorcus; Athieno, Grace; Kayaga, Edrine; Okwasiimire, Rodney; Sayaka, Tsuchida; Kazunari, Ushida; Ken’ichi, Sakurai; Mutebi, Francis
    Background Several diagnostic environments in Uganda lack real-time, robust and high-throughput technologies for comprehensive typing of microbes, which is a setback to infectious disease surveillance. This study combined various wet laboratory diagnostics to understand the epidemiology of pathogenic staphylococci isolated from animals in Uganda and the implications for global health security priorities. Methods A retrospective study was conducted employing records and pathogenic staphylococci (from animals) archived at the Central Diagnostic Laboratory (CDL), Makerere University, Uganda, between January 2012 and December 2019. The bacteria were speciated by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and tested for virulence factors [beta lactamases, lecithinase, deoxyribonuclease (DNase), haemolysins] and resistance to ten antimicrobials of clinical and veterinary relevance. Tetracycline and methicillin resistance genes were also tested. Results The prevalent diseases were mastitis in cattle and skin infections in dogs. Of the 111 staphylococci tested by MALDI-TOF MS, 79 (71.2%) were Staphylococcus aureus, 27 (24.3%) were Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and 5 (4.5%) were Staphylococcus schleiferi. All these strains expressed haemolysins. The prevalence of strains with lecithinase, penicillinase, cephalosporinase and DNase was 35.9% (14/39), 89.7% (35/39), 0.0% (0/39) and 87.2% (34/39), respectively. Staphylococci were primarily resistant to early penicillins (over 80%), tetracycline (57.7%), and chloramphenicol (46.2%). Minimal resistance was noted with cloxacillin (0.0%), ciprofloxacin (9.6%), and cefoxitin (3.8%). The prevalence of multidrug resistance (MDR) was 78.8% for general staphylococci, 82.2% for S. aureus, 73.1% for S. pseudintermedius, and 60.0% for S. schleiferi. Multidrug resistant staphylococci were significantly more prevalent in the cattle isolates than in the dog isolates (P < 0.05). The prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) tested by resistance to cefoxitin and mecA carriage was 3.8%. These four strains were all isolated from dog skin infections. The tetK gene was the most predominant (35.4%), followed by tetM (25.0%). Conclusion In resource-constrained settings, the approach of integrated diagnostics promises sustainable disease surveillance and the addressing of current capacity gaps. The emergence of MRS (zoonotic bacteria) in companion animals creates a likelihood of reduced treatment options for related human infections, a threat to global health.
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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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    Reflections on Drivers for the Emergence and Spread of Antimicrobial Resistant Bacteria Detected from Chickens reared on Commercial Layer Farms in Mukono District, Uganda
    (Veterinary Medicine: Research and Reports, 2023) Kakooza, Steven; Tayebwa, Dickson Stuart; Njalira, Kassim Rashid; Kayaga, Edrine Beatrice; Asiimwe, Ismail; Komugisha, Mariam; Wanyana, Mariam; Kisekka, Raymond; Kyabarongo, Alex; Kiryabwire, David H.; Nabatta, Esther; Eneku, Wilfred
    Purpose We investigated the fecal carriage of antimicrobial resistant Escherichia coli and potential practices influencing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) dynamics among poultry farm settings in Mukono District, Uganda. Methods Twenty-nine commercial layer farms were visited and samples collected from 10 birds. The samples were then subjected to culture and sensitivity testing. The investigative framework for antimicrobial stewardship practices (IFAP) was used as a participatory tool to generate data through interviews and observations on antimicrobial use, drivers for use, players, and actions following non-responsive treatment outcomes. Results The cultures done on 290 cloacal swabs yielded a total of 273 Escherichia coli isolates (94.1% recovery rate) which were tested in vitro for their sensitivity to different antibiotics. The prevalence of multi-drug resistant E. coli was 59.3% (162/273). A high prevalence of resistance to tetracycline (91.6%, n = 250) and trimethoprim sulphamethoxazole (70.3%, n = 192) was noted. In this collection of isolates, the prevalence of molecular determinants associated with the predominant phenotypes was; tetA (79.3%; 138/174), tetB (17.2%; 30/174), tetC (7.5%; 13/174), sul1 (11.5%; 20/174), and sul2 (60.3%; 105/174). Responses derived using the IFAP revealed several vices related to misuse and overuse of antibiotics, a threat to the poultry industry. The farmers also reported habits of selling off sick birds for slaughter when treatment outcomes were non-responsive. Such a practice could drive dissemination of antimicrobial resistant organisms and antibiotic residues to the consumers of those poultry products. Conclusion The IFAP tool was useful and can be modified, and adopted for use in engaging agricultural communities in participatory AMR surveillance. A high carriage of multi-drug resistant E. coli was detected in the birds. On these farms, the worrying antimicrobial stewardship practices discovered could be sponsoring the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in the Ugandan context.
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    Retrospective study on cattle and poultry diseases in Uganda
    (International Journal of Veterinary Science and Medicine, 2017) Byaruhanga, Joseph; Tayebwa, Dickson S.; Eneku, Wilfred; Afayoa, Mathias; Mutebi, Francis; Ndyanabo, Susan; Kakooza, Steven; Okwee-Acai, James; Tweyongyere, Robert; Wampande, Eddie M.; Vudriko, Patrick
    Cattle and poultry enterprises are among the major contributors to food security and socioeconomic empowerment of households in Uganda. However, various diseases constrain their productivity. A two-year retrospective study between April 2012 and March 2014 was conducted using records for cattle and poultry diseases diagnosed at the Central Diagnostic Laboratory (CDL) to determine prevalent diseases in Uganda. The laboratory received 836 samples from poultry (36.3%) and cattle (63.7%). Of the 836 samples, 47.5% had a definitive diagnosis of disease causation. Most of the cattle and poultry diseases diagnosed were protozoan diseases (39.3%) followed by bacterial (21.4%), viral (17.1%), helminthiasis (11.1%), nutritional diseases (4%) and others (7.1%). For poultry, viral diseases (29.5%) and protozoan diseases (27.1%) especially newcastle disease (44.3%) and coccidiosis (100%) respectively, were the most diagnosed. While for cattle, hemo-protozoan parasites (52.1%) were the most prevalent, of which 92.9% were east coast fever infection. Bacterial infection (20.5%) in cattle were the second most diagnosed diseases and mastitis was the most diagnosed (46.2%). In summary, coccidioisis, collibacillosis, newcastle disease, gumboro disease, and avian helminthiasis were the most prevalent poultry diseases while in cattle, east coast fever, helminthiasis, mastitis, brucellosis and rabies were the most frequently diagnosed diseases. This study has identified the major diseases that hinder poultry and cattle production in Uganda. The data generated by CDL could be used for surveillance, monitoring and designing strategic interventions for control of poultry and cattle diseases in Uganda.