Browsing by Author "Majalija, Samuel"

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    Assessing short evolution brucellosis in a highly brucella endemic cattle keeping population of Western Uganda: a complementary use of Rose Bengal test and IgM rapid diagnostic test
    (BMC public health, 2018) Ezama, Arnold; Gonzalez, Jean-Paul; Majalija, Samuel; Bajunirwe, Francis
    Brucellosis is a worldwide and zoonotic disease often sadly misdiagnosed in endemic areas. Challenges of availability and accessibility of diagnostic tools are common in resource constrained populations where the most vulnerable are found, surveillance and diagnosis are limited too. A cross-sectional study using a simple two stage cluster sampling method was conducted to measure short evolution brucellosis burden among cattle keeping households that are one of the highest risk populations to be exposed to Brucella infection. A total of 216 households were randomly selected from 18 rural villages from the Western Region of Uganda. Household blood samples were tested for Brucella antibodies using the highly sensitive Rose Bengal test (RBT) and IgM ELISA Lateral Flow Assay (LFA).
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    Epidemiology and preclinical management of dog bites among humans in Wakiso and Kampala districts, Uganda: Implications for prevention of dog bites and rabies
    (PloS one, 2020) Kisaka, Stevens; Makumbi, Fredrick E.; Majalija, Samuel; Bangirana, Alexander
    In rabies endemic areas, appropriate management of dog bites is critical in human rabies prevention. Victims must immediately wash bite wound for 15 minutes with water, soap, and a disinfectant before seeking medical care. This study investigated the epidemiology of dog bites and the determinants of compliance to these pre-clinical guidelines requirements among dog bite victims from high rabies-burden areas of Wakiso and Kampala, Uganda. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods study design was used. Quantitative data were collected from 376 dog-bite patients at two healthcare facilities. Qualitative data were also collected through 13 in-depth interviews with patients, healthcare workers, herbalists, and veterinarians. Qualitative data were analyzed using a deductive thematic approach. Generalized linear models were used to determine factors associated with compliance. Nearly half (190, 51%) of the patients were from Wakiso District and 293 (77.9%) had grade II wounds. Most of the wounds (171, 45.5%) were on the legs. Two-thirds of the bites occurred in public places. Only 70 (19%) of the bite patients had complied with pre-clinical guidelines. Nearly half of the patients had applied substances that were not recommended e.g. herbs (47/193), antiseptics (46/193), “black stone” (25/193), and unknown creams (10/193). Factors negatively associated with compliance included: being aged 15 years or older, adjPR = 0.70 (0.47–0.92) and knowing the dog owner, adjPR = 0.65 (0.36–0.93). However, attainment of secondary or higher education, adjPR = 1.76 (1.24–3.79), being in employment, adjPR = 1.48 (1.09–2.31), perception that the dog was sick, adjPR = 1.47 (1.02–2.72) and knowledge about the dog’s subsequent victim(s) adjPR = 0.35 (0.17–0.70) were positively associated with compliance. High occurrence of dog bites in public places by free-roaming dogs suggests the need for deliberate promotion of responsible dog ownership. Additionally, targeted health education may be required to improve the low compliance to pre-clinical guidelines.
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    Inorganic Pollutants in Edible Grasshoppers (Ruspolia Nitidula) of Uganda and their Major Public Health Implications
    (African Health Sciences, 2019) Kasozi, Keneth Iceland; Namazi, Catherine; Basemera, Elizabeth; Atuheire, Collins; Odwee, Ambrose; Majalija, Samuel; Kateregga, John N.
    Inorganic contamination of food products is associated with adverse health effects, however, information on grasshoppers in Africa is sparse. The objective of the study was to determine antioxidant, heavy metal and food safety status of edible grasshoppers of Uganda. A cross-sectional study was conducted in central and southwestern Uganda, in which a questionnaire was administered to grasshopper harvesters. Grasshopper samples were collected from each harvesting point and analyzed in the laboratory for antioxidant and heavy metal content i.e. Lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr), Zinc (Zn) and Cadmium (Cd) using atomic absorbance spectrometric (AAS) method on the heads and abdomen of the insects. Major antioxidants were Catalase > Glutathione > Glutathione peroxidase. In addition concentrations of heavy metals were in the order of Pb > Cr > Zn > Cd in the heads and abdomens of the grasshoppers. Pb concentrations were found to be higher in the heads than the abdomens and the carcinogenic potential of the grasshoppers was over 10 times over the recommended levels. Grasshoppers were found not to be safe especially in children due to their small body weight in comparison to adults. Pb poisoning in the Ugandan children would be propagated through contaminated grasshoppers.
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    Knowledge, perceptions and effects of Ebola virus disease outbreak on the pig value chain in the agro-pastoralist district of Luwero, Central Uganda
    (BMC infectious diseases,, 2021) Birungi, Doreen; Tumwine, Gabriel; Kato, Charles Drago; Ssekamatte, Tonny; Ocaido, Michael; Majalija, Samuel
    Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreaks have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing, and livelihoods of communities. EVD response interventions particularly affect the food value chain, and income security of pig farmers in agro-pastoral communities. Despite the enormous effort of EVD response interventions, there is paucity of information towards EVD among those involved in the pig value chain, as well as the effect of EVD outbreaks on the pig value chain. This study therefore, assessed the knowledge, perceptions on the occurrence of Ebola and its effects on the pig value chain in the agro-pastoral district of Luweero, Central Uganda. A cross sectional study was conducted in two parishes of Ssambwe and Ngalonkulu, Luwero district. A total of 229 respondents were included in the study. Structured questionnaires, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were conducted to collect data. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS version 22 while qualitative data was analysed using thematic content analysis. Of the 229 respondents, 95.6% could recall the occurrence of the last EVD outbreak in their locality. About 24.5% associated EVD with touching pigs or eating pork. Regarding knowledge, 194 (84.7%) correctly associated EVD with handling Ebola infected persons, 191 (83.4%) with migration of people from endemic areas, 148 (64.9%) eating monkey meat, 127 (55.5%) with eating bats, and 198 (64.9%) with conducting public meetings where there is an Ebola infected person. Out of 142 farmers, 55 (38.7%) believed that Ebola outbreaks affected demand and sale of pigs. The EVD outbreak significantly led to a reduction in the average number of pigs sold (P = 0.001), the average number of pigs bought by traders (P = 0.04), and the number of pigs sold/ slaughtered by butcher men at pork eating places (P = 0.03). This study showed that EVD outbreak negatively affected the pig value chain i.e., the demand and supply of pigs and pork. Therefore, there is need to sensitize the stakeholders in the pig value chain on EVD in order to minimize the negative economic impacts associated with EVD outbreaks.
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    Phylogenetic Groups and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Escherichia coli from Healthy Chicken in Eastern and Central Uganda
    (Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 2018) Kabiswa, Winston; Nanteza, Ann; Tumwine, Gabriel; Majalija, Samuel
    Antimicrobial resistance is an emerging problem in both humans and animals due to misuse and excessive use of drugs. Resistance in commensal E. coli isolates can be used to predict emergence of resistance in other gut microfora. Te aim of this study is to determine the phylogenetic groups and antimicrobial resistance patterns of E. coli from healthy chickens in Uganda. Te phylogenetic grouping of 120 fecal E. coli isolates from eastern and central Uganda was derived using the triplex PCR assay and their susceptibility patterns determined by agar disc difusion method to 5 antimicrobial drugs. Most E. coli is segregated into phylogenetic group A comprising 84%, while 12% and 4% were in groups D and B1, respectively. Similarly most E. coli from central (87%) and eastern Uganda (82%) belonged to group A. Overall, 85 (70%) of E. coli were resistant to antimicrobial drugs, of which 72/101 (70%) are in PG A, 10 of 14 (71.4%) in PG D, and 3 of 5 (60%) in PG B1. Signifcantly, most of the isolates in PG A from both central (66.7%) and (60.6%) eastern Uganda were resistant to one antimicrobial. Resistance to tetracycline alone or in combinationwith other drugs for central and eastern Uganda in PG A is 51% and 55%, respectively. Multidrug resistance to tetracycline and ciprofoxacin or nalidixic acid was 10% and 18% in isolates from central and 10% and 12% in isolates from eastern region, respectively. Phylogenetic group A accounts for most of the E. coli in chicken from Uganda. No diference in the resistance rates between the phylogenetic groups of E. coli has been observed. Te high prevalence of resistant E. coli strains from diferent phylogenetic groups in healthy chickens suggests antimicrobial drug selection pressure due to excessive drug in the rearing layer chickens.
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    Seroprevalence of brucellosis and risk factors associated with its seropositivity in cattle, goats and humans in Iganga District, Uganda
    (The Pan African Medical Journal, 2019) Nguna, Joyce; Dione, Michel; Apamaku, Micheal; Majalija, Samuel; Rwabita Mugizi, Denis; Odoch, Terence; Kato, Charles Drago; Tumwine, Gabriel; Kabaasa, John David; Curtis, Kellie; Graham, Michael; Ejobi, Francis; Graham, Thomas
    The burden of brucellosis among smallholder farmers is poorly-documented in Uganda. The disease burden is likely to be high, given the high levels of endemicity, lots of exposures and due to lack of control measures. In order to designate appropriate control measures, the magnitude and risk factors for brucellosis need to be known. We established the burden of and risk factors for Brucella seropositivity in cattle, goats, and humans in Iganga district, eastern Uganda. Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted in in Kigulamo Parish, Iganga District. We enrolled 226 households and administered a structured questionnaire to heads of households to capture data on socio-demographic characteristics, human brucellosis-related risk factors, and livestock farming practices. Human, cattle, and goat blood samples were collected and tested serologically using commercial indirect-ELISA kits manufactured by USDA, USA. Results: of 451 human blood samples, 20 (4.4%) were positive. Among 345 cattle blood samples, 4 (1.2%) were positive and among 351 goat blood samples, one (0.3%) was positive. Persons who reported consuming locally-made dairy products had 4 times higher odds of Brucella seropositivity (OR = 4.0, CI = 1.14-14.03, p = 0.031) than those who did not. None of the risk factors we asked about were significantly associated with seropositivity in cattle and goats. Conclusion: the seroprevalence of brucellosis in humans in smallholder households in Kigulamo was relatively low and associated with consumption of locally made dairy products. No ri sk factors were significantly associated with seropositivity in livestock, likely due to the small number of seropositive animals. We recommend a One Health approach to control brucellosis simultaneously in animals and humans needed to sustainably reduce the burden of brucellosis in Uganda and beyond.
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    Spatially explicit uncertainty modeling of zoonotic pathogen distribution: a case of Listeria monocytogenes in New York State, USA
    (Applied Geomatics, 2017) Mwima, Rita; Gidudu, Anthony; Mazimwe, Allan; Ligmann-Zielinska, Arika; Majalija, Samuel; Khaitsa, Margaret; Bergholz, Peter
    Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that is responsible for causing Listeria, a disease that has a wide range of adverse effects such as meningitis, bacteremia, complications during pregnancy, and other fatal illnesses especially among those whose immune systems are compromised. The purpose of this study was to establish hotspot candidate sites in New York State where the L. monocytogenes pathogen could be found. Several suitability criteria which include proximity to water, pasture, forests, and urban development and slope among others in New York State were considered in this analysis. This study assessed which spatial habitat factors influence habitat suitability of the L. monocytogenes pathogen in the forested areas of New York State. Multicriteria evaluation was used to integrate the different habitat factors using their different weights expressed using probability distributions. Spatially explicit uncertainty and sensitivity analysis (UA and SA) was carried out to examine the robustness of habitat suitability analysis. Suitability maps were generated and summarized using an average suitability map, a standard deviation uncertainty map, and sensitivity maps. Results showed that the shallowest depth to a wet soil layer (measured annually) and proximity to water are the habitat factors which contribute the most and individually to the distribution and survival of this pathogen. The slope gradient is singly insignificant but influential when associated with other factors like temperature, soil organic matter content, volume of water soil can store, proximity to forest, urban development, and pasture among others. It was established that water is the key habitat factor that favors the survival of this pathogen. Also, the ability to spatially model zoonotic pathogen hotspots is important in zoonoses control, informing and influencing policy. From these results, it is important to maintain the water quality of the water sources (lakes, rivers, ponds) and ensure that there is limited runoff from slopes.