Browsing by Author "Nakavuma, Jessica"
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Item Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin as an endophyte in tissue culture banana (Musa spp.)(Journal of invertebrate pathology, 2007) Akello, Juliet; Dubois, Thomas; Gold, Clifford S.; Coyne, Daniel; Nakavuma, Jessica; Paparu, PamelaBeauveria bassiana is considered a virulent pathogen against the banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus. However, current field application techniques for effective control against this pest remain a limitation and an alternative method for effective field application needs to be investigated. Three screenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the ability of B. bassiana to form an endophytic relationship with tissue culture banana (Musa spp.) plants and to evaluate the plants for possible harmful effects resulting from this relationship. Three Ugandan strains of B. bassiana (G41, S204 and WA) were applied by dipping the roots and rhizome in a conidial suspension, by injecting a conidial suspension into the plant rhizome and by growing the plants in sterile soil mixed with B. bassiana-colonized rice substrate. Four weeks after inoculation, plant growth parameters were determined and plant tissue colonization assessed through re-isolation of B. bassiana. All B. bassiana strains were able to colonize banana plant roots, rhizomes and pseudostem bases. Dipping plants in a conidial suspension achieved the highest colonization with no negative effect on plant growth or survival. Beauveria bassiana strain G41 was the best colonizer (up to 68%, 79% and 41% in roots, rhizome and pseudostem base, respectively) when plants were dipped. This study demonstrated that, depending on strain and inoculation method, B. bassiana can form an endophytic relationship with tissue culture banana plants, causing no harmful effects and might provide an alternative method for biological control of C. sordidus.Item Cholera in endemic districts in Uganda during El Niño rains: 2002 – 2003(African health sciences, 2006) Alajo, Scholastica O.; Nakavuma, Jessica; Erume, JosephEl Niño phenomenon causing increased rainfall and flooding has been linked to flare ups and emergence of several disease outbreaks including cholera. The latter has been reported in many districts in Uganda in recent years. Therefore an understanding of factors influencing its pattern of occurrence is needed for effective control. Objectives: To determine cholera disease status during six months of El Niño rains and assess serotypes and antibiotic sensitivity of isolates. Methods: A prospective study was conducted in five cholera “endemic districts” in Uganda. Results: Cholera outbreaks occurred in all the study districts coincident with the onset of the El Niño rains. There were 924 cholera suspect cases reported with 95 fatalities (case fatality rate 10.3%). A total of 388 clinical specimens were analyzed by culture and of these, 168 were positive for V. cholerae. Biochemical and serological analysis identified the isolates as V. cholerae O1, biotype EL Tor serotype Ogawa. Antibiotic sensitivity revealed that isolates were 100% sensitive to ciprofloxacin, tetracycline and erythromycin, whereas sensitivity was variable for other tested antibiotics. Unlike Kampala, where the disease was contained within three months, persistence occurred in other districts only dying out with end of El Niño rains, suggesting differences in disease control. Conclusion: These results show that El Niño rains cause increase in the number of cholera cases in Uganda, calling for preparedness and a need to emulate Kampala response incase of outbreaks in other districtsItem Evaluation of Growth and Yield of Indian Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) Quél. on Three Agricultural Wastes Supplemented with Cottonseed Hulls (CSH) in Uganda(International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 2005) Serunjogi, Stephen K.; Rwakaikara-Silver, Mary; Nakavuma, Jessica; Isikhuemhen, Omoanghe S.The main economic activity in Uganda is agriculture, which provides livelihood for over 80% of the country’s population. However, the ever rising population on static land resources has led to decline in agricultural productivity. Consequently, there is a decline in household incomes, thus compromising government eff orts to fi ght poverty and food insecurity. To avert this scenario, Ugandan farmers and the Ugandan Government are keen to explore and develop alternative livelihood strategies. Mushroom cultivation offers a viable solution because currently there is a strong demand for mushrooms, locally and internationally. In order to sustain production to meet this demand, improvement of cultivation practices is paramount. Locally, cottonseed hulls (CSH) is the major substrate commonly used for cultivation, especially in urban areas, where most farmers are located. Supply of this substrate is limited as a result of decline in cotton productivity. There is scarcity of the substrate (CSH) mainly because of its multipurpose use in agricultural communities coupled with high costs of transportation from the remote cotton producing areas. Therefore, it became necessary to evaluate other alternative abundant substrates in whole or in combination with CSH in mushroom production.Item Helicobacter pylori among patients with symptoms of gastroduodenal ulcer disease in rural Uganda(Infection Ecology & Epidemiology, 2015) Tsongo, Lawrence; Nakavuma, Jessica; Mugasa, Claire; Kamalha, EdwinTo meet key millennium development goals, the rural population needs to be reached for health assessment and service delivery. Gastroduodenal ulcer disease is a common ailment affecting the health of people in Uganda. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Bwera Hospital in Kasese district of western Uganda, to establish the prevalence and predisposing factors of Helicobacter pylori among gastroduodenal ulcer disease patients. Methods: A sample of 174 patients with symptoms of gastroduodenal ulcer disease was purposively obtained. Using two laboratory test methods, the prevalence of H. pylori among these patients was determined. A structured questionnaire was administered to participants to establish their demographic background and selected aspects of their lifestyle. Finally, the results obtained by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunochromatographic rapid test (IRT) were compared. Results: We established the prevalence of H. pylori as 29.9% (52/174) by ELISA and 37.4% (65/174) by IRT. Cigarette smoking, poor sanitation, and lack of formal education were the significant predisposing factors with p-values B0.05. The two tests gave identical results in 87.9% of the patients. Discussion: The prevalence of H. pylori by IRT and ELISA test methods was similar to what has been reported elsewhere in developed countries; but was lower than previously reported in developing countries including Uganda. The previous studies in Uganda were carried out in the urban population and on young children; and some used antibody-detection methods only, therefore leading to different prevalence as a result of difference in study population and methods.Item Mercury concentration in muscle, bellyfat and liver from Oreochromis niloticus and Lates niloticus consumed in Lake Albert fishing communities in Uganda(Cogent Food & Agriculture, 2016) Tamale, Andrew; Ejobi, Francis; Muyanja, Charles; Naigaga, Irene; Nakavuma, Jessica; Ocaido, Micheal; Kato, Charles D.; Sente, CelsusWithout surveillance studies on mercury (Hg) levels in predominant fish species and parts eaten in a fishing community, the FAO/WHO guidelines might be surpassed, hence health risk. A monitoring study in a developing country with 29 Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) and 34 Lates niloticus (Nile perch) from landing sites provided muscle, bellyfat and liver samples for Mercury detection using Inductive Couple Plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. The study shows that fish eaten in the fishing community are small with fewer risks from mercury. Tilapia accumulated more mercury in muscle and liver than Nile perch. Fish consumed has mercury levels higher than FAO/WHO guidelines, and the bellyfat of Nile perch bioaccumulated more mercury than Tilapia. Based on the above, it is clear that some fish species should not be eaten by the vulnerable groups due to levels of Hg found in the muscle and bellyfat. This research will serve as a base for future studies, sensitization campaigns and policy design on mercury uptake through fish in fishing communities of developing countries.Item Sociocultural factors associated with fish consumption in Lake Albert fishing community: Guidelines for lead and mercury(Cogent Environmental Science, 2017) Tamale, Andrew; Ejobi, Francis; Muyanja, Charles; Naigaga, Irene; Nakavuma, Jessica; Kato, Charles D.; Amulen, Deborah R.Fish consumption in subsistence fishing community is a life style associated with lead and mercury uptake for humans. Fish consumption is influenced by sociocultural factors, exposure and health risks. Unfortunately, no sociocultural study in the Lake Albert fishing community in light of lead and mercury exists. A crosssectional sociocultural study was carried out between March and June 2015. A total of 270 household heads in four landing sites in Hoima district completed structured questionnaires and data analyzed using SPSS version 20. The majority of the households (74.8%) had primary education or below, 51.1% drank unboiled water, and 30% perceived lake water safe for drinking. Children under five ate soup (15%) and middle piece of the fish (29%). The Poisson general linear model predicting weekly fish consumption amounts against sociocultural factors showed that household size (p = 0.047), male child presence (p = 0.007), methods of preparation i.e. salting (p < 0.0001), fish parts consumed by adults (p < 0.0001), fish preference (p < 0.0001), awareness about the beach management unit (p < 0.0001), and income from charcoal selling (p < 0.0001) were positive predictors. The negative predictors of weekly fish consumption amounts were awareness about fish consumption benefits (p < 0.0001), eating young fish (p = 0.002), donor agency presence (p < 0.0001), and frying as the method of fish preparation (p = 0.002). In conclusion, knowledge of