Browsing by Author "Kazwala, R."
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Item Characterisation of mycobacteria isolated from slaughter cattle in pastoral regions of Uganda(2007-10-25) Oloya, J.; Kazwala, R.; Lund, A.; Opuda-Asibo, J; Demelash, B.; Skjerve, E.; Johansen, T. B; Djønne, B.Bovine tuberculosis is a zoonotic problem in pastoral cattle and communities in Uganda. Tuberculin tests in pastoral cattle had shown a high herd but low animal prevalence, with a high proportion of avian reactors. No work had been done to identify the mycobacterial species involved. The objective of the study was to isolate and characterise Mycobacterial species causing tuberculous lesions in slaughtered animals. Lesioned organs compatible with bovine tuberculosis in slaughtered cattle from pastoral areas in Uganda were collected and cultured to isolate mycobacteria. AccuProbe culture identification kits for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, M. avium complex and M. avium were used to identify the isolates. Spoligotyping and Insertion Sequence (IS) 1311 and IS1245 Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism analysis (RFLP) were used to further characterise the isolates. Results: Of the 61 lesioned organs and tissues cultured, 19 isolates were identified as M. bovis, 3 as M. avium subsp.hominissuis, 1 as M. intracellulare, 1 as a mixed culture of M. bovis and M. avium sp. and 1 as M. avium sp. and unidentified mycobacteria. Eleven other mycobacteria outside the tuberculosis and avium complex groups were also isolated. Ten new spoligopatterns grouped into three clusters were identified from M. bovis isolates. Two of the three M. avium subsp.hominissuis isolates showed similar patterns on the IS1311 RFLP but all were different on the IS1245 RFLP. Conclusion: The isolation of M. bovis confirms the ongoing infection with spoligotypes unique to Uganda. Isolation of environmental mycobacteria could explain the high avian or non specific tuberculin reactor patterns commonly observed in pastoral cattle and suggests their pathogenic or opportunistic role in the infection of cattle with disseminated bovine tuberculous lesions.Item Clinical implication of novel drug resistance-conferring mutations in resistant tuberculosis(Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2017) Mnyambwa, N. P.; Kim, J.; Ngadaya, E. S.; Kazwala, R.; Petrucka, P.; Mfinanga, S. G.Evolving novel and/or unfamiliar mutations are revolutionizing the pathways of antibiotic resistance of clinical tuberculosis. The accumulation and interaction of these poorly characterized mutations augment the complexity of resistant pathogenic strains and raise public health concerns. This article reviews our current understanding of the genetic changes that characterize drug resistance in tuberculosis and highlights the imperative for further investigations focusing on the effects of an individual mutation and interacting mutations with detailed strain epidemiology, particularly as these pertain to technologylimited countries with high tuberculosis incidence rates. Concomitantly, there is a need for the development, testing, and uptake of new tools for studying the effects of these mutations in drug resistance and fitness cost of the pathogen. Such genetic data are critical for effective localized and global tuberculosis control interventions and for accurate epidemiological predictions.Item Comparing methods of assessing dog rabies vaccination coverage in rural and urban communities in Tanzania(Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2017) Sambo, M.; Johnson, P.; Hotopp, K.; Changalucha, J.; Cleaveland, S.; Kazwala, R.; Lembo, T.; Lugelo, A.; Lushasi, K.; Maziku, M.Rabies can be eliminated by achieving comprehensive coverage of 70% of domestic dogs during annual mass vaccination campaigns. Estimates of vaccination coverage are, therefore, required to evaluate and manage mass dog vaccination programs; however, there is no specific guidance for the most accurate and efficient methods for estimating coverage in different settings. Here, we compare post-vaccination transects, school-based surveys, and household surveys across 28 districts in southeast Tanzania and Pemba island covering rural, urban, coastal and inland settings, and a range of different livelihoods and religious backgrounds. These approaches were explored in detail in a single district in northwest Tanzania (Serengeti), where their performance was compared with a complete dog population census that also recorded dog vaccination status. Post-vaccination transects involved counting marked (vaccinated) and unmarked (unvaccinated) dogs immediately after campaigns in 2,155 villages (24,721 dogs counted). School-based surveys were administered to 8,587 primary school pupils each representing a unique household, in 119 randomly selected schools approximately 2 months after campaigns. Household surveys were conducted in 160 randomly selected villages (4,488 households) in July/August 2011. Costs to implement these coverage assessments were $12.01, $66.12, and $155.70 per village for post- vaccination transects, school-based, and household surveys, respectively. Simulations were performed to assess the effect of sampling on the precision of coverage estimation. The sampling effort required to obtain reasonably precise estimates of coverage from household surveys is generally very high and probably prohibitively expensive for routine monitoring across large areas, particularly in communities with high human to dog ratios. School-based surveys partially overcame sampling constraints, however, were also costly to obtain reasonably precise estimates of coverage. Post-vaccination transects provided precise and timely estimates of community-level coverage that could be used to troubleshoot the performance of campaigns across large areas. However, transects typically overestimated coverage by around 10%, which therefore needs consideration 2 Sambo et al. Assessing Dog Rabies Vaccination Coverage Frontiers in Veterinary Science | www.frontiersin.org March 2017 | Volume 4 | Article 33 inTrODUcTiOn Rabies is a fatal viral disease transmitted to humans by animal bites, usually from domestic dogs. Although under control in most industrialized countries, rabies continues to kill an estimated 59,000 people each year in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) (1). Reliable estimates of the proportion of dogs vaccinated against rabies are crucial to determine the performance of vaccination programs and their impact on disease transmission. Empirical and theoretical evidence shows that mass dog vaccination campaigns that reach at least 70% of the dog population can control rabies (2, 3). While achieving this coverage in all communities can lead to elimination, even small gaps in coverage can delay the time to elimination (4). As progress is made toward reaching global targets of zero human rabies deaths from dog-mediated rabies through the implementation of mass dog vaccinations (5), there is a clear need to identify reliable, cost-effective, and feasible approaches that can be used, at scale, to assess community-level vaccination coverage. Limited population data on owned and free-roaming dogs in most LMICs make estimation of vaccination coverage challenging. Several methods have been used to estimate coverage including (i) the use of pre-campaign estimates of dog population size through human to dog ratios (HDRs) as the denominator, and the number of dogs vaccinated during the campaign as the numerator (6); (ii) post-vaccination household surveys to estimate the proportion of vaccinated dogs (7–11); and (iii) post-vaccination transects to estimate the proportion of marked (vaccinated) dogs (4, 12–14). However, these methods all have limitations. If dog populations are estimated from data on HDRs, inaccuracies in estimates of the human population will invariably affect the accuracy of dog population estimates. This may occur, for example, through errors in extrapolating current human population sizes from census data (for example, using average population growth rates) or from administrative/boundary changes that affect village demarcations across different time periods. Furthermore, published data on HDRs usually reflect a sample from surveys across several communities (15), and even a small degree of variation in HDRs can have a major effect on dog population estimates at the community level. Household surveys are restricted to capturing estimates of vaccination coverage in owned dog populations and are relatively intensive to complete. Moreover, there is known to be wide variability in patterns of dog ownership within communities—for example, in Tanzania, a much smaller proportion of Muslim and urban households own dogs in comparison with rural, livestockkeeping communities (15). This variability and the highly skewed pattern of dog ownership in some communities make household surveys prone to selection and measurement biases (16). Additional uncertainty from household surveys arises in relation to validation of dog vaccination status. In Tunisia, for example, about 14% of dog owners who claimed their dogs were vaccinated were unable to provide certificates (17). Post-vaccination transects are limited to observations of freeroaming dogs and will, therefore, be biased toward dogs that are more likely to be observed from transects. For example, young puppies are likely to be less visible and are known to represent an age group that typically has a low vaccination coverage (9, 18, 19), thus resulting in the potential for overestimating coverage. In a recent study from Tanzania, post-vaccination transects were shown to overestimate coverage by approximately 7% in comparison with household surveys, although it was unclear in this study which of the approaches was most accurate (19). Here, we present a detailed assessment of three methods to estimate dog vaccination coverage across settings in Tanzania. We use a complete household census as reference data for a simulation experiment to determine the impacts of sampling on the precision of coverage estimates. Specifically, we aim to answer the following questions: (i) What are the resources (personnel, time, and money) required to implement these methods? (ii) Which methods provide the most precise estimates of coverage? and finally (iii) Which approaches, therefore, generate acceptable coverage estimates to provide operational guidance to improve the performance of current or future campaigns? MaTerials anD MeThODs study sites The study was conducted in 29 districts across Tanzania: 24 districts from southeast Tanzania, 4 districts from Pemba island, and 1 district (Serengeti district) from northwest Tanzania (Figure 1). These areas are inhabited by an estimated 9.1 million people (20% of the Tanzanian population) according to the 2012 national census (20) and represent districts that span a wide range of settings, comprising rural, urban, coastal and inland areas, and a range of livelihoods and religious backgrounds. Mass dog vaccination campaigns were conducted in all these districts by local government teams, with support of WHO and collaborating institutions. Various methods of estimating vaccination coverages achieved during campaigns were compared. Table 1 summarizes the methods used in different locations and the rationale for data collection. Post-Vaccination Transects To generate rapid estimates of village-level vaccination coverage, post-vaccination transects were conducted on the same day as when evaluating the impacts of campaigns. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these different methods and make recommendations for how vaccination campaigns can be better monitored and managed at different stages of rabies controlItem The efficacy of alcelaphine herpesvirus-1 (AlHV-1) immunization with the adjuvants Emulsigen and the monomeric TLR5 ligand FliC in zebu cattle against AlHV-1 malignant catarrhal fever induced by experimental virus challenge(Veterinary Microbiology, 2016-11-15) Lankester, F.; Lugelo, A.; Werling, D.; Mnyambwa, N.; Keyyu, J.; Kazwala, R.; Grant, D.; Smith, S.; Parameswaran, N.; Cleaveland, S.; Russell, G.; Haig, D.Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a fatal disease of cattle that, in East Africa, follows contact with wildebeest excreting alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 (AlHV-1). Recently an attenuated vaccine (atAlHV-1) was tested under experimental challenge on Friesian-Holstein (FH) cattle and gave a vaccine efficacy (VE) of approximately 90%. However testing under field conditions on an East African breed, the shorthorn zebu cross (SZC), gave a VE of 56% suggesting that FH and SZC cattle may respond differently to the vaccine. To investigate, a challenge trial was carried out using SZC. Additionally three adjuvant combinations were tested: (i) Emulsigen®, (ii) bacterial flagellin (FliC) and (iii) Emulsigen® + bacterial flagellin. We report 100% seroconversion in all immunized cattle. The group inoculated with atAlHV-1 + Emulsigen® had significantly higher antibody titres than groups inoculated with FliC, the smallest number of animals that became infected and the fewest fatalities, suggesting this was the most effective combination. A larger study is required to more accurately determine the protective effect of this regime in SZC. There was an apparent inhibition of the antibody response in cattle inoculated with atAlHV-1 + FliC, suggesting FliC might induce an immune suppressive mechanism. The VE in SZC (50 – 60%) was less than that in FH (80 – 90%). We speculate that this might be due to increased risk of disease in vaccinated SZC (suggesting that the vaccine may be less effective at stimulating an appropriate immune response in this breed) and/or increased survival in unvaccinated SZC (suggesting that these cattle may have a degree of prior immunity against infection with AlHV-1).Item A field vaccine trial in Tanzania demonstrates partial protection against malignant catarrhal fever in cattle(Elsevier, 2016) Lankester, F; Lugelo, A; Ndabigaye, A; Mnyambwa, N; Keyyu, J.; Kazwala, R.; Grant, D; Percival, A.; Deane, D; Haig, D.M.; Cleaveland, S.; Russell, G. C.Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a fatal lymphoproliferative disease of cattle that, in East Africa, results from transmission of the causative virus, alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 (AlHV-1), from wildebeest. A vaccine field trial involving an attenuated AlHV-1 virus vaccine was performed over two wildebeest calving seasons on the Simanjiro Plain of northern Tanzania. Each of the two phases of the field trial consisted of groups of 50 vaccinated and unvaccinated cattle, which were subsequently exposed to AlHV-1 challenge by herding toward wildebeest. Vaccination resulted in the induction of virus-specific and virus-neutralizing antibodies. Some cattle in the unvaccinated groups also developed virus-specific antibody responses but only after the start of the challenge phase of the trial. PCR of DNA from blood samples detected AlHV-1 infection in both groups of cattle but the frequency of infection was significantly lower in the vaccinated groups. Some infected animals showed clinical signs suggestive of MCF but few animals went on to develop fatal MCF, with similar numbers in vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. This study demonstrated a baseline level of MCF-seropositivity among cattle in northern Tanzania of 1% and showed that AlHV-1 virus-neutralizing antibodies could be induced in Tanzanian zebu shorthorn cross cattle by our attenuated vaccine, a correlate of protection in previous experimental trials. The vaccine reduced infection rates by 56% in cattle exposed to wildebeest but protection from fatal MCF could not be determined due to the low number of fatal cases.Item The global one health paradigm: Challenges and opportunities for tackling infectious diseases at the human, animal, and environment interface in low- resource settings(PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases., 2014) Gebreyes, W. A.; Dupouy-Camet, J.; Newport, M. J.; Oliveira, C. J. B.; Schlesinger, L. S.; Saif, Y. M.; Kariuki, S.; Saif, L. J.; Saville, W.; Wittum, T.; Hoet, A.; Quessy, S.; Kazwala, R.; Tekola, B.; Shryock, T.; Bisesi, M.; Patchanee, P.; Boonmar, S.; King, L. J.Zoonotic infectious diseases have been an important concern to humankind for more than 10,000 years. Today, approximately 75% of newly emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are zoonoses that result from various anthropogenic, genetic, ecologic, socioeconomic, and climatic factors. These interrelated driving forces make it difficult to predict and to prevent zoonotic EIDs. Although significant improvements in environmental and medical surveillance, clinical diagnostic methods, and medical practices have been achieved in the recent years, zoonotic EIDs remain a major global concern, and such threats are expanding, especially in less developed regions. The current Ebola epidemic in West Africa is an extreme stark reminder of the role animal reservoirs play in public health and reinforces the urgent need for globally operationalizing a One Health approach. The complex nature of zoonotic diseases and the limited resources in developing countries are a reminder that the need for implementation of Global One Health in low-resource settings is crucial. The Veterinary Public Health and Biotechnology (VPH-Biotec) Global Consortium launched the International Congress on Pathogens at the Human-Animal Interface (ICOPHAI) in order to address important challenges and needs for capacity building. The inaugural ICOPHAI (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2011) and the second congress (Porto de Galinhas, Brazil, 2013) were unique opportunities to share and discuss issues related to zoonotic infectious diseases worldwide. In addition to strong scientific reports in eight thematic areas that necessitate One Health implementation, the congress identified four key capacity-building needs: (1) development of adequate science-based risk management policies, (2) skilled-personnel capacity building, (3) accredited veterinary and public health diagnostic laboratories with a shared database, and (4) improved use of existing natural resources and implementation. The aim of this review is to highlight advances in key zoonotic disease areas and the One Health capacity needs.Item In-feed use of heavy metal micronutrients in U.S. Swine production systems and its role in persistence of multidrug-resistant Salmonellae(ASM News- American Society for Microbiology, 2014) Medardus, J. J.; Molla, B. Z.; Nicol, M.; Morrow, W. M.; Rajala-Schultz, P. J.; Kazwala, R.; Gebreyes, W. A.The study aimed to characterize the role of heavy metal micronutrients in swine feed in emergence of heavy-metal-tolerant and multidrug-resistant Salmonella organisms. We conducted a longitudinal study in 36 swine barns over a 2-year period. The feed and fecal levels of Cu2+ and Zn2+ were measured. Salmonella was isolated at early and late finishing. MICs of copper sulfate and zinc chloride were measured using agar dilution. Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested using the Kirby-Bauer method, and 283 isolates were serotyped. We amplified pcoA and czcD genes that encode Cu2+ and Zn2+ tolerance, respectively. Of the 283 isolates, 113 (48%) showed Cu2+ tolerance at 24 mM and 164 (58%) showed Zn2+ tolerance at 8 mM. In multivariate analysis, serotype and source of isolates were significantly associated with Cu2+ tolerance (P < 0.001). Fecal isolates were more likely to be Cu2+ tolerant than those of feed origin (odds ratio [OR], 27.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8 to 250; P = 0.0042) or environmental origin (OR, 5.8), implying the significance of gastrointestinal selective pressure. Salmonella enterica serotypes Typhimurium and Heidelberg, highly significant for public health, had higher odds of having >20 mM MICs of Cu2+ than did “other” serotypes. More than 60% of Salmonella isolates with resistance type (R-type) AmStTeKm (32 of 53) carried pcoA; only 5% with R-type AmClStSuTe carried this gene. czcD gene carriage was significantly associated with a higher Zn2+ MIC (P < 0.05). The odds of having a high Zn2+ MIC (≥8 mM) were 14.66 times higher in isolates with R-type AmClStSuTe than in those with R-type AmStTeKm (P < 0.05). The findings demonstrate strong association between heavy metal tolerance and antimicrobial resistance, particularly among Salmonella serotypes important in public health.Item Landscape Factors Associated with Livestock Disease Deaths in Idodi and Pawaga Divisions, Tanzania(Global Livestock Collaborative Research Support Program, University of California, 2009-05) Coppollillo, P.; Clifford, D.; Dickman, A.; Masozera, M.; Kazwala, R.; Erickson, J.; Mazet, J.In sub-Saharan Africa, livestock deaths due to disease have large impacts on household income and nutrition. As part of the larger Health for Animals and Livelihood Improvement (HALI) project assessing the impact of zoonotic disease and water scarcity on rural livelihoods, the authors examined the association between landscape factors and livestock deaths attributed to disease in pastoralist households living near Ruaha National Park, Tanzania. Preliminary results suggest that households located farther from the center of the village and farther from water sources suffered greater livestock losses due to disease. Livestock disease losses were greater in Pawaga than in Idodi Division, underscoring the importance of localized factors that may influence disease. The presence of wildlife and close proximity to roads were not associated with livestock disease losses. However, that is not to say the perception of disease from wildlife is not important, nor can it be said that interactions in the opposite direction (from livestock to wildlife) are not important. These assessments will require further investigation, which is currently underway. Study data also support the importance of water availability for livestock health and productivity. In conclusion, both local and regional strategies to increase livestock productivity should consider within-village disease variation and ensure that more remote households have access to extension and veterinary services.Item Mycobacterium genotypes in pulmonary tuberculosis infections and their detection by trained African giant pouched rats(Springer Science+Business, 2015) Mgode, G. F.; Cohen-Bacrie, S.; Bedotto, M.; Weetjens, B. J.; Cox, C.; Jubitana, M.; Kuipers, D.; Machang’u, R. S.; Kazwala, R.; Mfinanga, S.G.; Kaufmann, S. H. E.; Drancourt, M.Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis in low-income countries is mainly done by microscopy. Hence, little is known about the diversity of Mycobacterium spp. in TB infections. Different genotypes or lineages of Mycobacte- rium tuberculosis vary in virulence and induce different inflammatory and immune responses. Trained Cricetomys rats show a potential for rapid diagnosis of TB. They detect over 28 % of smear-negative, culture-positive TB. How- ever, it is unknown whether these rats can equally detect sputa from patients infected with different genotypes of M. tuberculosis. A 4-month prospective study on diversity of Mycobacterium spp. was conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 252 sputa from 161 subjects were cultured on Lowenstein-Jensen medium and thereafter tested by rats. Mycobacterial isolates were subjected to molecular iden- tification and multispacer sequence typing (MST) to determine species and genotypes. A total of 34 Mycobac- terium spp. isolates consisting of 32 M. tuberculosis, 1 M. avium subsp. hominissuis and 1 M. intracellulare were obtained. MST analyses of 26 M. tuberculosis isolates yielded 10 distinct MST genotypes, including 3 new genotypes with two clusters of related patterns not grouped by geographic areas. Genotype MST-67, shared by one- third of M. tuberculosis isolates, was associated with the Mwananyamala clinic. This study shows that diverse M. tuberculosis genotypes (n = 10) occur in Dar es Salaam and trained rats detect 80 % of the genotypes. Sputa with two M. tuberculosis genotypes (20 %), M. avium homin- issuis and M. intracellulare were not detected. Therefore, rats detect sputa with different M. tuberculosis genotypes and can be used to detect TB in resource-poor countries.Item Prevalence of Brucella infection and associated risk factors among children in livestock keeping communities of Morogoro, Tanzania(East African Journal of Science, Technology and Innovation, 2022) Hildegalda, C.; Komba, E.; Kazwala, R.; Mathew, ColethaBrucellosis is among the most common bacterial zoonotic diseases worldwide. It is estimated that up to 500,000 new human cases occur each year. Brucellosis is a priority zoonosis in most East African countries. In Tanzania, the disease is one of six priority zoonoses, however, little disease burden information is available especially in children. Children are of particular interest especially in pastoral communities due to increased risk of exposure in their routine activities associated with handling of livestock and their products. This study investigated brucellosis exposure status and associated risk factors among non-febrile children in pastoral communities. A cross-sectional design was used involving a total of 361 non-febrile children of six months to 14 years old, randomly selected from households and schools. Risk practices were evaluated using focus group discussions among selected children and thematic analysis was performed. Serum samples were collected and analyzed using Rose Bengal Test (RBT) and indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (iELISA) in parallel. The overall seroprevalence of Brucella infection was 3.3% (95%CI, 2%-5%) determined by both RBT and iELISA. Risk practices observed and cited by children comprised of direct and indirect contact with animals and their products. These include: consumption of raw milk and their products, unhygienic handling of animals and their waste especially assisting cows during parturition. Girls/female respondents were more likely to test brucella positive than boys (male) respondents (2.23 OR, 95%CI 66%-754%). Brucellosis among non-febrile children in the study area was present at a relatively low prevalence. Risk practices for transmission of this zoonosis were also identified which included consumption of raw milk, contact with animals, their products and discharges including abortion materials which represent the basis for increased pathogen circulation in the area. General education on the epidemiology of brucellosis and prevention of infection spread should be provided to the community including children.Item Progress towards rabies elimination from Pemba Island, Southern Tanzania.(Online Journal of Public Health Informatics ., 2017) Lushasi, K. S.; Cleaveland, S.; Changalucha, J. J.; Haydon, D.; Kazwala, R.; Lembo, T.; Masoud, M.; Maziku, M.; Mchau, G.; Mtema, Z.; Omar, K.; Maganga, S.; Rysava, K.; Hampson, K.Using active surveillance approaches to investigate the transmission dynamics of rabies on Pemba Island and across Southern Tanzania, whilst a large-scale dog vaccination program was underway1 , to gain a greater understanding of the dynamics of infection as the disease is driven towards eliminationItem Quantifying risk factors for human brucellosis in rural northern Tanzania(PLoS ONE, 2010-04-01) John, K.; Fitzpatrick, J.; French, N.; Kazwala, R.; Kambarage, D.; Mfinanga, G. S.; MacMillan, A.; Cleaveland, S.Background: Brucellosis is a zoonosis of veterinary, public health and economic significance in most developing countries. Human brucellosis is a severely debilitating disease that requires prolonged treatment with a combination of antibiotics. The disease can result in permanent and disabling sequel, and results in considerable medical expenses in addition to loss of income due to loss of working hours. A study was conducted in Northern Tanzania to determine the risk factors for transmission of brucellosis to humans in Tanzania. Methods: This was a matched case-control study. Any patient with a positive result by a competitive ELISA (c-ELISA) test for brucellosis, and presenting to selected hospitals with at least two clinical features suggestive of brucellosis such as headache, recurrent or continuous fever, sweating, joint pain, joint swelling, general body malaise or backache, was defined as a case. For every case in a district, a corresponding control was traced and matched by sex using multistage cluster sampling. Other criteria for inclusion as a control included a negative c-ELISA test result and that the matched individual would present to hospital if falls sick. Results: Multivariable analysis showed that brucellosis was associated with assisted parturition during abortion in cattle, sheep or goat. It was shown that individuals living in close proximity to other households had a higher risk of brucellosis. People who were of Christian religion were found to have a higher risk of brucellosis compared to other religions. The study concludes that assisting an aborting animal, proximity to neighborhoods, and Christianity were associated with brucellosis infection. There was no association between human brucellosis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) serostatus. Protecting humans against contact with fluids and tissues during assisted parturition of livestock may be an important means of reducing the risk of transferring brucellosis from livestock to humans. These can be achieved through health education to the communities where brucellosis is common.Item Revealing the history of sheep domestication using retrovirus integrations(2009-04-24) Chessa, B.; Pereira, F.; Arnaud, F.; Amorim, A.; Goyache, F.; Mainland, I.; Kao, R. R.; Pemberton, J. M.; Beraldi, D.; Stear, M.; Alberti, A.; Pittau, M.; Lannuzzi, L.; Banabazi, M. H.; Kazwala, R.; Zhang, Y. P.; Arranz, J. J.; Ali, B. A.; Wang, Z.; Uzun, M.; Dione, M.; Olsaker, I.; Holm, L. E.; Saarma, U.; Ahmad, S.; Marzanov, N.; Eythorsdottir, E.; Holland, M. J.; Ajmone-Marsan, P.; Bruford, M. W.; Kantanen, J.; Spencer, T. E.; Palmarini, M.The domestication of livestock represented a crucial step in human history. By using endogenous retroviruses as genetic markers, we found that sheep differentiated on the basis of their “retrotype” and morphological traits, dispersed across Eurasia and Africa via separate migratory episodes. Relicts of the first migrations include the Mouflon, as well as breeds previously recognized as “primitive” on the basis of their morphology, such as the Orkney, Soay and the Nordic short-tailed sheep now confined to the periphery of NW Europe. A later migratory episode, involving sheep with improved production traits, shaped the vast majority of present-day breeds. The ability to differentiate genetically primitive sheep from more modern breeds provides valuable insights into the history of sheep domestication.Item Self-reported health effects among short and long-term pesticide sprayers in Arusha, Northern Tanzania: A cross sectional Study(2015) Lyche, J.V.; Manyilizu, W. B.; Mdegela, R. H.; Manyilizu, W. B.; Mdegela, R. H.; Kazwala, R.; Müller, M.; Skjerve, E.Background: The aim of the present study was to assess whether long-term exposure to pesticides is associated with adverse health effects in professional pesticide sprayers. Methods: The study was conducted in Lake Eyasi Basin and Ngarenanyuki in Arusha region, during the dry season in September-October 2013. In a cross-sectional study, 97 short-term exposed men with at most three months as professional sprayers were compared with 60 long-term exposed men with experience of at least five years as professional sprayers. The study participants were aged 18-30 years, drawn from the same source population and interviewed using semi structured questionnaire. The questions focused on spraying procedures and on present and recurrent medical history including presence of selected six known pesticide induced health conditions. Results: Organophosphates, carbamates, dithiocarbamates and pyrethroids were the most applied insecticides but also organochlorine fungicides and endosulfan were frequently applied. The majority of the sprayers reported unsafe pesticide use. Mean pesticide uses in litres, spray frequency per crop and per week were 637, and 1.3 respectively for about 270 days a year. Respiratory disease symptoms were the most frequently reported (46/157; 29.3%) followed by skin (27/157; 17.2%), and sight (24/157; 15.3%). When adjusted for age and other predictors, long-term exposed sprayers had significantly higher self-reported occurrences of peripheral neuropathy (OR=7.7, CI95%: 1.045-56.728, p=0.045) and respiratory disorders (OR=0.2, CI95%: 0.067-0.501, p=0.001) compared with short-term exposed. Furthermore, 10 sprayers, all long-term exposed reported poor libido and erection problems. Conclusions: These findings document lack of safety knowledge, safe pesticide management and the implementation of protective measures as well as suggesting that long-term exposure to pesticides increase the risk of experience disease conditions compared to short-term exposure.Item Seroprevalence of leptospira infection from agro pastoralist communities in Katavi ecosystem, Tanzania(2014-04-14) Muller, S. K.; Asenga, L. F.; Matemba, L.; Misinzo, G.; Kazwala, R.Background: Leptospirosis is a neglected zoonotic disease of worldwide public health importance which affects both humans, domestic and wildlife. Our previous study in Katavi ecosystem showed that prevalence of leptospirosis in livestock was 28%. This predisposes the agro-pastoralist communities at high risk of the diseases. Microscopic agglutination test (MAT) is the gold standard technique for diagnosis of Leptospirosis. This cross sectional study intended to provide serological data for the circulating Leptospira species in Western part of Tanzania. Methods & Materials: 265 blood samples from healthy partici- pants living in Katavi ecosystem were collected in plain vacutainer tubes, centrifuged for sera collection and stored in liquid nitro- gen. Urine samples were also collected and cultured in Fletcher Leptospira media for isolation of live organism. To be certain of other causes of febrile illness in the region; Screening tests for malaria and brucellosis (mRDT and Rose Bengal) were done respec- tively. All samples were processed at Mpanda District Hospital and transported to Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) for further analysis. (MAT) was done using six known Leptospira interrogans serovars: Pomona, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Ballum, Tarassovi, Grippotyphosa and Hardjo. Starting with Serovar Grippothy- posa. Resulting agglutination titers were read using dark field microscopy. Results: Confirmed leptospirosis was outlined as a ≥ 4-fold increase in microscopic agglutination test (MAT) titer. Out of 265 participants, 3.8% were exposed to Leptospira Serovar Gryppoty- phosa, 5.6% (15) had significant positive titer for Leptospira Serovar Gryppotyphosa. Apart from Leptospirosis; 13.8% of participants were malaria positive and 1.4% were brucellosis positive. Among those negative for malaria and brucellosis; 13 (5.7%) had high pos- itive titer for Leptospirosis. 2 participants were co- infected with malaria and Leptospirosis. This is just preliminary results, results of other serovars will be completed in December 2013 Conclusion: This study detected the circulating Leptospira Serovars in agro-pastoralist communities living in Katavi ecosys- tem. Serovar Gryppotyphosa is among the circulating Leptospira serovars in Katavi region. This information is significant for better understanding of epidemiology of Leptospirosis in Katavi Region. Molecular techniques like PCR, whole order sequencing ought to be thought of in future studies.Item Toward Elimination of Dog-Mediated Human Rabies: Experiences from Implementing a Large-scale Demonstration Project in Southern Tanzania(Original research article., 2017) Mpolya, E. A; Lembo, T.; Lushasi, K.; Mancy, R.; Mbunda, E. M.; Makungu, S.; Maziku, M.; Sikana, L.; Jaswant, G.; Townsend, S.; Meslin, F. X.; Abela, B.; Ngeleja, C.; Changalucha, J.; Mtema, Z.; Sambo, M.; Mchau, G.; Rysava, K.; Nanai, A.; Kazwala, R.; Cleaveland, S.; Hampson, K.A Rabies Elimination Demonstration Project was implemented in Tanzania from 2010 through to 2015, bringing together government ministries from the health and veterinary sectors, the World Health Organization, and national and international research institutions. Detailed data on mass dog vaccination campaigns, bite exposures, use of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and human rabies deaths were collected throughout the project duration and project areas. Despite no previous experience in dog vaccination within the project areas, district veterinary officers were able to implement district-wide vaccination campaigns that, for most part, progressively increased the numbers of dogs vaccinated with each phase of the project. Bite exposures declined, particularly in the southernmost districts with the smallest dog populations, and health workers successfully transitioned from primarily intramuscular administration of PEP to intradermal administration, resulting in major cost savings. However, even with improved PEP provision, vaccine shortages still occurred in some districts. In laboratory diagnosis, there were several logistical challenges in sample handling and submission but compared to the situation before the project started, there was a moderate increase in the number of laboratory samples submitted and tested for rabies in the project areas with a decrease in the proportion of rabies-positive samples over time. The project had a major impact on public health policy and practice with the formation of a One Health Coordination Unit at the Prime Minister’s Office and development of the Tanzania National Rabies Control Strategy, which lays a roadmap for elimination of rabies in Tanzania by 2030 by following the Stepwise Approach towards Rabies Elimination (SARE). Overall, the project generated many important lessons relevant to rabies prevention and control in particular and disease surveillance in general. Lessons include the need for (1) a specific unit in the government for managing disease surveillance; (2) application of innovative data collection and management approaches such as the use of mobile phones; (3) close cooperation and effective communication among all key sectors and stakeholders; and (4) flexible and adaptive programs that can incorporate new information to improve their delivery, and overcome challenges of logistics and procurement.Item Zoonotic tuberculosis and brucellosis in Africa: Neglected zoonoses or minor public-health issues? The outcomes of a multi-disciplinary workshop(Annals of Tropical Medicine & Parasitology, 2009) Marcotty, T.; Matthys, F.; Godfroid, J.; Rigouts, L.; Ameni, G.; Van Pittius, N. G.; Kazwala, R.; Muma, J.; Van Helden, P.; Walravens, K.; De Klerk, L. M.; Geoghegan, C.; Mbotha, D.; Otte, M.; Amenu, K.; Samra, N. A; Botha, C.; Ekron, M.; Jenkins, A.; Jori, F.; Kriek, N.; McCrindle, C.; Michel, A.; Morar, D.; Roger, F.; Thys, E.; Den Bossche, P. V.Late in 2007, veterinary, medical and anthropological professionals from Europe and Africa met in a 2-day workshop in Pretoria, South Africa, to evaluate the burden, surveillance and control of zoonotic tuberculosis and brucellosis in sub-Saharan Africa. Keynote presentations reviewed the burden of these diseases on human and livestock health, the existing diagnostic tools, and the available control methods. These presentations were followed by group discussions and the formulation of recommendations. The presence of Mycobacterium bovis and Brucella spp. in livestock was considered to be a serious threat to public health, since livestock and animal products are the only source of such infections in human beings. The impact of these pathogens on human health appears to be relatively marginal, however, when compared with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections and drug resistance, HIV and malaria. Appropriate diagnostic tools are needed to improve the detection of M. bovis and Brucella spp. in humans. In livestock, the ‘test-and-slaughter’ approach and the pasteurization of milk, which have been used successfully in industrialized countries, might not be the optimal control tools in Africa. Control strategies should fit the needs and perceptions of local communities. Improved intersectoral and international collaboration in surveillance, diagnosis and control, and in the education of medical and veterinary personnel, are advocated.