Browsing by Author "Omadang, Leonard"

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    Epidemiology of Trypanosomiasis in Wildlife—Implications for Humans at the Wildlife Interface in Africa
    (Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2021) Kasozi, Keneth Iceland; Zirintunda, Gerald; Ssempijja, Fred; Buyinza, Bridget; Matama, Kevin; Nakimbugwe, Helen N.; Onanyang, David; Bogere, Paul; Ochieng, Juma John; Matovu, Wycliff; Nalumenya, David Paul; Batiha, Gaber El-Saber; Osuwat, Lawrence Obado; Omadang, Leonard; Welburn, Susan Christina
    While both human and animal trypanosomiasis continue to present as major human and animal public health constraints globally, detailed analyses of trypanosome wildlife reservoir hosts remain sparse. African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) affects both livestock and wildlife carrying a significant risk of spillover and cross-transmission of species and strains between populations. Increased human activity together with pressure on land resources is increasing wildlife–livestock–human infections. Increasing proximity between human settlements and grazing lands to wildlife reserves and game parks only serves to exacerbate zoonotic risk. Communities living and maintaining livestock on the fringes of wildlife-rich ecosystems require to have in place methods of vector control for prevention of AAT transmission and for the treatment of their livestock. Major Trypanosoma spp. include Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, and Trypanosoma cruzi, pathogenic for humans, and Trypanosoma vivax, Trypanosoma congolense, Trypanosoma evansi, Trypanosoma brucei brucei, Trypanosoma dionisii, Trypanosoma thomasbancrofti, Trypanosma elephantis, Trypanosoma vegrandis, Trypanosoma copemani, Trypanosoma irwini, Trypanosoma copemani, Trypanosoma gilletti, Trypanosoma theileri, Trypanosoma godfreyi, Trypansoma simiae, and Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) pestanai. Wildlife hosts for the trypansomatidae include subfamilies of Bovinae, Suidae, Pantherinae, Equidae, Alcephinae, Cercopithecinae, Crocodilinae, Pteropodidae, Peramelidae, Sigmodontidae, and Meliphagidae. Wildlife species are generally considered tolerant to trypanosome infection following centuries of coexistence of vectors and wildlife hosts. Tolerance is influenced by age, sex, species, and physiological condition and parasite challenge. Cyclic transmission through Glossina species occurs for T. congolense, T. simiae, T. vivax, T. brucei, and T. b. rhodesiense, T. b. gambiense, and within Reduviid bugs for T. cruzi. T. evansi is mechanically transmitted, and T. vixax is also commonly transmitted by biting flies including tsetse. Wildlife animal species serve as long-term reservoirs of infection, but the delicate acquired balance between trypanotolerance and trypanosome challenge can be disrupted by an increase in challenge and/or the introduction of new more virulent species into the ecosystem. There is a need to protect wildlife, animal, and human populations from the infectious consequences of encroachment to preserve and protect these populations. In this review, we explore the ecology and epidemiology of Trypanosoma spp. in wildlife.
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    Knowledge, Attitude, and Beliefs of Communities and Health Staff about Echinococcus granulosus Infection in Selected Pastoral and Agropastoral Regions of Uganda
    (Journal of parasitology research, 2018) Othieno, Emmanuel; Ocaido, Michael; Mupere, Ezekiel; Omadang, Leonard; Oba, Peter; Okwi, Andrew Livex
    According to World Health Organization (WHO) [1] cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a neglected zoonotic infection found throughout the world and is associated with high morbidity and mortality in poor resource countries especially in pastoral communities in Africa (Macpherson et al. [2]). In Uganda, the prevalence ofCE has been found to vary between pastoral and agropastoral communities, with pastoral communities being at higher risk than agropastoral communities (Othieno et al. [3]). High prevalence of CE has equally been reported in livestock (Chamai et al. [4] and Magambo et al. [5]) and in dogs (Inangolet et al. [6] and Oba et al. [7]). Cystic echinococcosis is caused by a species of Echinococcus, namely, Echinococcus granulosus, whose definitive hosts are the carnivores such as dogs. Usually dogs become infected with Echinococcus granulosus by eating infected internal organs such as liver and lungs from dead animals that contain tape worm embryos. The dogs pass out tapeworm eggs in their stool, which can cause infection in other animals and/or in humans who accidentally swallow the eggs. In humans, Echinococcus granulosus forms slow-growing cysts (called hydatid cysts) in different organs of the body which can be very difficult to remove or treat in some cases (Nahmias et al. [8]).
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    Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards cystic echinococcosis in livestock among selected pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in Uganda
    (Tropical animal health and production, 2018) Omadang, Leonard; Chamai, Martin; Othieno, Emmanuel; Okwi, Andrew; Olaki Inangolet, Francis; Ejobi, Francis; Oba, Peter; Ocaido, Michael
    A cross-sectional study was done from March 2013 to May 2014 to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards cystic echinococcosis (CE) or hydatidosis among selected pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in Uganda. A structured questionnaire was administered to 381 respondents. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to find the relationship between knowledge about CE and factors such as age, sex, and level of education across all regions. The odds ratio and confidence interval were used to determine the difference in responses across regions. It was shown that age above 36 years was significantly (p < 0.001) associated with awareness about CE in livestock. Likewise, uneducated (p < 0.0001) and agro-pastoralists (p = 0.01) were significantly less knowledgeable than the educated and pastoralists across all regions. The overall knowledge towards CE in livestock was low 17.8% (95% CI = 14.0–21.6). Dog ownership was high and they never dewormed their freely roaming dogs. Dogs shared water with livestock. In conclusion, knowledge about CE in livestock was low across all regions. Therefore, public health education and formulation of policies towards its control by the relevant stakeholders should be done. Also, the true prevalence of CE in livestock needs to be done so that the magnitude and its public health significance are elucidated
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    Prevalence of Cystic Echinococcosis in Selected Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral Districts of Uganda
    (Annals of Clinical Cytology and Pathology, 2016) Othieno, Emmanuel; Okwi, Andrew; Mupere, Ezekiel; Bimenya, Gabriel; Zeyhle, Eberhard; Oba, Peter; Chamai, Martin; Omadang, Leonard; Inangolet, Francis O.; Siefert, Ludwing; Ejobi, Francis; Ocaido, Michael
    A cross sectional ultrasound screening survey for human cystic echinococcosis (CE) was undertaken in the pastoral dist ricts of Moroto, Napak, Nakapiripirit and Amudat in Karamoja sub-region; and agro-pastoral communities of Teso region, in the districts of Kumi and Bukedea. Other areas of the survey included: Nakasongola in Central region and Kasese district in the Western region of Uganda. A total of 3,636 participants were screened and 67 cases (1.84%) had CE. The organ most affected was the liver 61.2% (41/67), followed by the kidney 17.9% (12/67), spleen 10.44% (7/67), omentum 8.95% 6/67) and lungs 1.5% (1/67). All districts screened had positive cases with the highest prevalence occurring in Napak (3.9%) and the lowest in Nakapiripirit (0.45%). The prevalence of CE (0.5±0.3%) in South Karamoja (Amudat and Nakapiripirit) was significantly lower (P<0.001, χ2= 18.98) than in Central Karamoja (Napak and Moroto, 3.32±1.3%). The prevalence of CE in Teso region was found to be 1.21±0.8%, Kasese 2.15±1.2 % and Nakasongola 2.7±1.3%. The prevalence in south Karamoja was lowest. Overall, there was no significant difference (P<0.05; χ2= 0.12) in prevalence between males (1.7%) and females (1.9%). However, in Karamoja females (2.2% CI: 0.8-3.6) were more likely to be infected (χ2= 16; P<0.05) with CE than males (0.9% CI: 0.1-1.7). Sixty four percent (n=43) of the cysts detected were viable.
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    Risk factors associated with cystic echinococcosis in humans in selected pastoral and agro-pastoral areas of Uganda
    (Int J One Health, 2017) Othieno, Emmanuel; Okwi, Andrew Livex; Mupere, Ezekiel; Zeyhle, Eberhard; Oba, Peter; Chamai, Martin; Omadang, Leonard; Olaki Inangolet, Francis; Siefert, Ludwing; Ejobi, Francis; Ocaido, Michael
    It was to determine the risk factors responsible of occurrence of cystic echinococcosis (CE) of humans in the pastoral and agro-pastoral (PAP) in Uganda. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in districts: Moroto, Napak, Nakapiripirit and Amudat in Karamoja region; in agro-pastoral communities of Teso region, in the districts of Kumi and Bukedea; Nakasongola district in Central region and in Kasese district in the Western region. People were subjected to voluntary ultrasound screening for CE. Those found positive to CE on ultrasound screening were interviewed using a special designed form to find out the probable predisposing factors for acquisition of CE infection. Predisposing factors considered were location, age, sex, dog ownership, occupation, water source, and religion. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify key risk factors. Results: In Karamoja region, being female, age beyond 40 years and open spring water sources were the risk factors. While for Nakasongola age beyond 40 years was a risk factor. In Kasese dog ownership, age >60 years and being a Muslim were risk factors. In Teso region dog ownership and age >60 years were the risk factors. Conclusion: Being a pastoralist, a female, increasing age beyond 40 years, open spring water sources, dog ownership and being a Muslim were the risk factors for CE in PAP areas in Uganda.