Demelash Biffa

University of Arizona

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Eystein Skjerve

Norwegian University of Life Sciences

Adrian Muwonge

University of Edinburgh

Berit Djønne

Norwegian Veterinary Institute

James Oloya

University of Georgia

Clovice Kankya

Makerere University

Jacques Godfroid

UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Tone Bjordal Johansen

Norwegian Institute of Public Health

Asseged Bogale

Tuskegee University

J. Opuda‐Asibo

Makerere University

Bekele Megersa

Hawassa University

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Norwegian University of Life Sciences

Addis Ababa University

Norwegian Veterinary Institute

Hawassa University

Makerere University

Armauer Hansen Research Institute

University of Zambia

University College Dublin

Norwegian Institute of Public Health

Imperial College London

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Mycobacterium bovis infections in slaughter pigs in Mubende district, Uganda: a public health concern

BMC Veterinary Research (2012)

Adrian Muwonge Tone Bjordal Johansen Vigdis Edvardsen Jacques Godfroid Francisco Olea‐Popelka

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium bovis is primarily a disease of ruminants, particularly cattle (Bos primigenius) and buffalo (Syncerus caffer), and is endemic in most developing countries. To date, studies done in Uganda have documented the prevalence of M. bovis in cattle, humans and wild life, in addition to non-tuberculous mycobacteria in pigs. Pigs are increasingly becoming an important component of the livestock sector and share the human ecosystem in rural Uganda. It is therefore of public health interest that they are not a source of human infections. As a follow up to previously published findings on mycobacteria in pigs, this study was aimed at investigating the occurrence and molecular characteristics of M. bovis detected in slaughter pigs in Mubende district, Uganda. One hundred fifty mesenteric lymph nodes with lesions suggestive of mycobacterial infections were collected from approximately one thousand slaughtered pigs in Mubende district over a period of five months. The isolation and identification of M. bovis was done using conventional mycobacteriological methods. Mycobacteria belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) were identified to species level using deletion analysis. Molecular typing was done using Spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR analysis. Molecular data were analysed and interpreted using MIRU-VNTR plus, SpolDB4.0 and the Mycobacterium bovis spoligo database. Of the examined animals, one boar and two sows from Madudu Sub County were infected with M. bovis which presented as lesions of a deep yellow colour and a grit-like texture in the mesenteric lymph nodes. This represents 2% (3/150) of the lymph nodes where lesions suggestive of mycobacterial infections were detected. Molecular analysis revealed that the isolates from the infected pigs showed identical MIRU-VNTR profile and spoligotype (SB1469). This is the first study documenting the occurrence of M. bovis in slaughter pigs in Uganda, revealing that one in fifty slaughter pigs with suspected lesions in mesenteric lymph nodes were infected. Molecular analysis revealed that the isolates were identical, showing a spoligotype previously reported from humans and cattle in the north eastern part of the Uganda cattle corridor. This finding is of public health importance, therefore there is a need for close cooperation between medical and veterinary professionals in designing and implementing control and prevention measures that safeguard the public from this potential source of zoonotic TB in Uganda.

Bovine tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex

10.1186/1746-6148-8-168

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Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria in Uganda: A Problem or Not?

InTech eBooks (2011)

Adrian Muwonge Ashemeire Patience Clovice Kankya Demelash Biffa Eystein Skjerve

Adrian Muwonge1, Ashemeire Patience4, Clovice Kankya2, Demelash Biffa5, Eystein Skjerve1 and James Oloya3 1Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science 2Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Makerere University 3Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics/ Population Health, college of Public health, 132 Coverdell centre, University of Georgia Athens, 4Faculty of Community Psychology, Makerere University, 5Schools of Veterinary Medicine, Hawassa University, 1Norway 2,4Uganda 3USA 5Ethiopia

10.5772/22995

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Citations (1)

Molecular investigation of multiple strain infections in patients with tuberculosis in Mubende district, Uganda

Infection Genetics and Evolution (2013)

Adrian Muwonge Clovice Kankya Francisco Olea‐Popelka Demelash Biffa Willy Ssengooba

Molecular Epidemiology

Strain (injury)

10.1016/j.meegid.2013.03.039

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Seroprevalence of brucellosis and its contribution to abortion in cattle, camel, and goat kept under pastoral management in Borana, Ethiopia

Tropical Animal Health and Production (2010)

Bekele Megersa Demelash Biffa Fufa Abunna Alemayehu Regassa Jacques Godfroid

Seroprevalence

Complement fixation test

Flock

10.1007/s11250-010-9748-2

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Prevalence and associated risk factors of mycobacterial infections in slaughter pigs from Mubende district in Uganda

Tropical Animal Health and Production (2009)

Adrian Muwonge Clovice Kankya Jacques Godfroid Berit Djønne J. Opuda‐Asibo

10.1007/s11250-009-9506-5

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Factors associated with bovine udder infections in smallholder dairy farms in Ethiopia<br><br>Facteurs lies aux infections de la mamelle bovine dans les petites exploitations laitieres en Ethiopie

Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa (2006)

Demelash Biffa Etana Debela Fekadu Beyene Moges Woldemeskel

A cross sectional study to elucidate the prevalence and factors associated with udder infection was carried out from February 2002 to December 2002. A total of 336 milking cows of Arsi breed in Adame-Tulu district, Ethiopia were studied using California Mastitis Test (CMT) and clinical examination of udder. The study involved a multistage sampling with fifteen randomly selected villages from the district. Milking cows from six households selected randomly from each village were sampled by cluster sampling. Of the total milking cows examined, 131(38.9%) showed positive signs of mastitis; 41(12.2%) clinical and 90 (26.8%) sub clinical mastitis. Mastitis was reported to be significantly (χ2=10.5, P

Udder

Milking

California mastitis test

10.4314/bahpa.v53i4.32719

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Citations (1)

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria isolated from slaughter pigs in Mubende district, Uganda

BMC Veterinary Research (2012)

Adrian Muwonge Clovice Kankya Tone Bjordal Johansen Berit Djønne Jacques Godfroid

The importance of infections caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in animals and humans has gained considerable recognition during the past few years. In the developed world, where pig production is extensively practiced, studies on mycobacterial infections and related control strategies have received increasing attention. The infections are reported to be caused by a wide spectrum of NTM. Unfortunately, these infections have been less recognized in sub-Saharan Africa owing to lack of awareness and systematic studies. In this study we aimed at isolating and identifying species of mycobacteria involved in causing infections in slaughter pigs in Mubende district of Uganda. Furthermore we wanted to identify factors associated with infection prevalence in the study area. A total of 363 lymph nodes were collected and cultured for the presence of mycobacteria. Isolates were identified by 16S rDNA gene sequencing. A questionnaire survey was administered to identify production related factors associated with infection prevalence. Data were assembled and analysed using descriptive statistics and mixed effects logistic regression analysis. Mycobacteria were detected in 39 % (143/363) of the examined lymph nodes, 63 % (59/93) of lymph nodes with gross lesions typical of mycobacteriosis and 31% (84/270) of lymph nodes with no visible lesions. Nineteen per cent of the isolated mycobacteria were identified as Mycobacterium (M) avium, of these 78% and 22% were M. avium sub sp. Hominissuis and avium respectively. Other mycobacterial species included M. senuense (16%), M. terrae (7%) and M. asiaticum (6%). This study found free range systems (OR = 3.0; P = 0.034) and use of water from valley dams (OR = 2.0; P = 0.049) as factors associated with high prevalence of mycobacteria in slaughter pigs. This study demonstrated a high prevalence of NTM infections among slaughter pigs in Mubende district of Uganda. M. avium was the most prevalent of all NTM isolated and identified. Free range system of pig management and valley dam water were the most significant factors associated with NTM prevalence in Mubende district. These findings could be of a major public health concern given that it is in a predominantly pork consuming population with 18% HIV/AIDS prevalence. Therefore, stringent post-mortem inspection at the slaughter houses is of paramount importance to reduce human exposure.

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection

10.1186/1746-6148-8-52

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Citations (21)

Factors associated with severity of bovine tuberculosis in Ethiopian cattle

Tropical Animal Health and Production (2012)

Demelash Biffa Asseged Bogale Jacques Godfroid Eystein Skjerve

Bovine tuberculosis

Cattle Diseases

10.1007/s11250-011-0031-y

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Citations (18)

Ovine helminthosis, a major health constraint to productivity of sheep in Ethiopia

Animal Health Research Reviews (2006)

Demelash Biffa Yilma Jobre Hassen Chakka

Small ruminants represent an important component of the Ethiopian livestock production system, providing 12% of the value of livestock products consumed at the farm level and 48% of the cash income generated. Ethiopia is second in Africa and sixth in the world in terms of sheep population. The country has, however, benefited little from this enormous resource owing to a multitude of problems, disease being the most important. Disease alone accounts for mortalities of 30% in lambs and 20% in adults. Productivity losses attributable to helminth parasites are often substantial. A loss of US[dollar] 81.8 million is reported annually due to helminth parasites. In a country confronted with challenges of an ever-rising human population and food shortage, such enormous losses caused by helminth parasites, ‘the silent predators’, are intolerable. Therefore, helminth control should receive special attention in poverty reduction strategies through improved productivity of livestock if the present and future challenges of food shortage are to be addressed. Productivity loss due to helminth infections can be substantially reduced through implementation of effective disease control strategies, which require an understanding of the epidemiology and ecology of parasites and parasitic infections under local conditions. This paper reviews extensive evidence demonstrating that helminthosis is a major constraint to productivity of sheep in Ethiopia. It also discusses epidemiology and ecology of major helminth parasites in the country and suggests strategies for improved control in various agro-ecological zones and production systems.

10.1017/s1466252307001132

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Citations (82)

Causes and Factors Associated With Occurrence of External Injuries in Working Equines in Ethiopia

Demelash Biffa Moges Woldemeskel

Equines are the most important animals in the farming and transport systems of Ethiopia. Though disease and related prob

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Citations (62)