Browsing by Author "Wamala, S. P."

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    Depressive symptoms and lack of social integration in relation to prognosis of CHD in middle-aged women
    (European Heart Journal, 2000) Horsten, M.; Mittleman, M. A.; Wamala, S. P.; Schenck-Gustafsson, K.; Orth-Gome´r, K.
    Several studies have reported that women with coronary heart disease have a poorer prognosis than men. Psychosocial factors, including social isolation and depressive symptoms have been suggested as a possible cause. However, little is known about these factors and their independent predictive value in women. Therefore, we investigated the prognostic impact of depression, lack of social integration and their interaction in the Stockholm Female Coronary Risk Study.Two hundred and ninety-two women patients aged 30 to 65 years and admitted for an acute coronary event between 1991 and 1994, were followed for 5 years from baseline assessments, which were performed between 3 and 6 months after admission. Lack of social integration and depressive symptoms, assessed at baseline by standardized questionnaires, were associated with recurrent events, including cardiovascular mortality, acute myocardial infarction and revascularization procedures (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and coronary artery bypass grafting). Adjusting for age, diagnosis at index event, symptoms of heart failure, diabetes mellitus, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, history of hypertension, systolic blood pressure, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, body mass index, and severity of angina pectoris symptoms, the hazard ratio associated with low (lowest quartile) as compared to high social integration (upper quartile) was 2·3 (95% CI 1·2–4·5) and the hazard ratio associated with two or more (upper three quartiles) as compared to one or no depressive symptoms was 1·9 (95% CI 1·02–3·6).The presence of two or more depressive symptoms and lack of social integration independently predicted recurrent cardiac events in women with coronary heart disease. Women who were free of both these risk factors, had the best prognosis.
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    Molecular Characterization and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Edwardsiella tarda isolated from Farmed Nile Tilapia and African Catfish from Wakiso, Uganda
    (Uganda Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2019) Nantongo, M.; Mkupasi, E. M.; Byarugaba, D. K.; Wamala, S. P.; Mdegela, R. H.; Walakira, J. K.
    This study was conducted to isolate and characterize Edwardsiella tarda (E. tarda) and assess its antimicrobial susceptibility. The bacterium was isolated in Wakiso District, Uganda, from symptomatic and asymptomatic Nile tilapia and African catfish raised in earthen ponds, tanks and cages between September 2016 and February 2017. The bacterium was then identified using conventional biochemical tests and API 20E test kits and characterized by sequencing 16S rRNA gene. The antibiotic susceptibility of 16 drugs was established using the Kirby BeurDisc diffusion method. Eight E. tarda isolates were identified using conventional biochemical tests but only one isolate was confirmed to be E. tarda by PCR. Phylogenetic analysis indicated a distant relationship with other 16S rRNA gene sequences retrieved from the GenBank. Six virulence genes (CitC, muk, gadB, katB, esaV, and fimA) that enhance bacterial survival and pathogenesis in the host were detected. The isolate registered low levels of antibiotic resistance as it was resistant only to Oxacillin, Vancomycin and Penicillin, to which it is intrinsically resistant. This implies low antibiotic usage in aquaculture in the area. Despite its low occurrence, presence of virulent genes in E. tarda indicates its potential to affect fish and human health.
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    Occurrence and antibiotic susceptibility of fish bacteria isolated from Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) and Clarias gariepinus (African catfish) in Uganda
    (Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 2018) Wamala, S. P.; Mugimba, K. K.; Mutoloki, S.; Evensen, Ø.; Mdegela, R.; Byarugaba, D. K.; Sørum, H.
    The intention of this study was to identify the bacterial pathogens infecting Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) and Clarias gariepinus (African catfish), and to establish the antibiotic susceptibility of fish bacteria in Uganda. A total of 288 fish samples from 40 fish farms (ponds, cages, and tanks) and 8 wild water sites were aseptically collected and bacteria isolated from the head kidney, liver, brain and spleen. The isolates were identified by their morphological characteristics, conventional biochemical tests and Analytical Profile Index test kits. Antibiotic susceptibility of selected bacteria was determined by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The following well-known fish pathogens were identified at a farm prevalence of; Aeromonas hydrophila (43.8%), Aeromonas sobria (20.8%), Edwardsiella tarda (8.3%), Flavobacterium spp. (4.2%) and Streptococcus spp. (6.3%). Other bacteria with varying significance as fish pathogens were also identified including Plesiomonas shigelloides (25.0%), Chryseobacterium indoligenes (12.5%), Pseudomonas fluorescens (10.4%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4.2%), Pseudomonas stutzeri (2.1%), Vibrio cholerae (10.4%), Proteus spp. (6.3%), Citrobacter spp. (4.2%), Klebsiella spp. (4.2%) Serratia marcescens (4.2%), Burkholderia cepacia (2.1%), Comamonas testosteroni (8.3%) and Ralstonia picketti (2.1%). Aeromonas spp., Edwardsiella tarda and Streptococcus spp. were commonly isolated from diseased fish. Aeromonas spp. (n = 82) and Plesiomonas shigelloides (n = 73) were evaluated for antibiotic susceptibility. All isolates tested were susceptible to at-least ten (10) of the fourteen antibiotics evaluated. High levels of resistance were however expressed by all isolates to penicillin, oxacillin and ampicillin. This observed resistance is most probably intrinsic to those bacteria, suggesting minimal levels of acquired antibiotic resistance in fish bacteria from the study area. To our knowledge, this is the first study to establish the occurrence of several bacteria species infecting fish; and to determine antibiotic susceptibility of fish bacteria in Uganda. The current study provides baseline information for future reference and fish disease management in the country.