Browsing by Author "Okwasiimire, Rodney"

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    Heterogeneity in Prevalence of Bovine Trypanosomosis and its Associated Risk Factors in Pastoral and Agro Pastoral Communities Surrounding Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda.
    (Research Square, 2021) Kizza, Daniel; Ocaido, Michael; Mugisha, Anthony; Azuba, Rose; Nalule, Sarah; Onyuth, Howard; Musinguzi, Simon Peter; Okwasiimire, Rodney; Waiswa, Charles
    Bovine trypanosomosis transmitted by tsetse flies is a major constraint to cattle health and productivity in sub- Saharan countries including Uganda. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis and its associated risk factors and the species of trypanosomes associated with the disease. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted around Murchision Falls National Park, Uganda from January 2020 to April 2020. Blood samples were collected from 460 cattle and were screened for trypanosomes using ITS-PCR. Results: From 460 samples collected, 136 (29.6%) of the samples were positive for trypanosomosis infections while 324 (70.4%) samples were negative. The overall trypanosome prevalence was 29.6% (95% CI 25.4-33.8). T. vivax (n = 130, 28.3%) was the most prevalent trypanosome specie detected and two mixed infection types (T.vivax + T. congolense (n = 2, 0.4%) and T.vivax + T. brucei (n = 1.0, 0.2%) were detected during the analysis. There was a significant difference when Trypanosome prevalence was compared with sex, age, breed of the sampled animals (P < 0.05 for sex), (P = 0.0043 for age) and (P = 0.001 for breed). Conclusion; Trypanosomosis is still a major limitation to cattle production around Murchision Falls National Park and interventions are urgently needed .The prevalence of trypanosomosis was high and T.vivax was identified as the major trypanosome species in the cattle herd.
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    Involvement of key stakeholders in controlling animal diseases in rural settings: Experiences with African swine fever in Uganda
    (African Journal of Agricultural Research, 2020) Ogweng, Peter; Masembe, Charles; Mayega, Johnson F.; Keeya, Ibrahim; Tumuhe, Charles; Okwasiimire, Rodney; Muwanika, Vincent B.
    Key stakeholders’ involvement in the design and enforcement of effective African swine fever (ASF) biosecurity measures is very vital. Unfortunately, many times key stakeholders are less involved in the policy designing process. This study analyzed information from stakeholders in Mukono District, to assess the acceptability of enforcing ASF biosecurity measures among key stakeholders. Mukono District has a high density of pigs and a history of frequent ASF outbreaks. Key informants (n = 23) were identified and interviewed in four sub-counties to generate an ASF control stakeholders’ list. Eleven stakeholder groups were identified by the Key Informants. Sixty participants representing different stakeholder groups identified through the Key Informant interviews participated in a workshop to assess stakeholders’ characteristics regarding strict enforcement of ASF control measures. Stakeholder grid analysis revealed 60% as drivers, and 40% as supporters. There were no blockers, abstainers, and bystanders. Despite this, majority of the groups (90%) did not have adequate capacity to implement the intervention due to financial constraints and inadequate technical support. These results show that there is great support for enforcement of biosecurity measures if stakeholders are facilitated with financial and technical support thereby limiting outbreaks of ASF in rural areas of Uganda.
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    Prevalence and risk factors for trypanosome infection in cattle from communities surrounding the Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda
    (Parasites & Vectors, 2021) Kizza, Daniel; Ocaido, Michael; Mugisha, Anthony; Azuba, Rose; Nalule, Sarah; Onyuth, Howard; Musinguzi, Simon Peter; Okwasiimire, Rodney; Waiswa, Charles
    Bovine trypanosomosis transmitted by tsetse flies is a major constraint to cattle health and productivity in all sub-Saharan countries, including Uganda. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis and identify its associated risk factors and the species of trypanosomes associated with the disease. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted around Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda from January 2020 to April 2020. Trypanosomes were detected in blood samples by PCR analysis targeting the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-PCR assays), and trypanosomes in positive blood samples were sequenced. Results: Of 460 blood samples collected and tested, 136 (29.6%) were positive for trypanosome infections and 324 (70.4%) were negative. The overall trypanosome prevalence was 29.6% (95% confidence interval 25.4–33.8%), attributed to three trypanosome species. Of these three species, Trypanosoma vivax was the most prevalent (n = 130, 28.3%) while the others were detected as mixed infections: T. vivax + Trypanosoma congolense (n = 2, 0.4%) and T. vivax + Trypanosoma evansi (n = 1, 0.2%). There were significant differences in trypanosome prevalence according to sex (χ2 = 62, df = 1, P < 0.05), age (χ2 = 6.28, df = 2, P = 0.0043) and cattle breed (χ2 = 10.61, df = 1, P = 0.001). Conclusions: Trypanosomosis remains a major limitation to cattle production around Murchison Falls National Park and interventions are urgently needed. In our study, the prevalence of trypanosome infections was high, with T. vivax identified as the most prevalent species. Age, sex and breed of cattle were risk factors for trypanosome infection.