Browsing by Author "Amani, Nelson"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Complete genome sequence of Brucella abortus isolated from a human blood culture sample in Tanzania
    (American society for microbiology, 2024-01-30) Mbwambo, Gershom; Zwetselaar, Marco; Sonda, Tolbert; Lukambagire, AbdulHamid; Njau, Judith; Wadugu, Boaz; Ignass, Ignass; Amani, Nelson; Hugho, Ephrasia; Rubach, Matthew; Sakasaka, Philoteus; Oisso, Rose; Mkenda, Nestory; Shirima, Gabriel; Ashford, Roland; Haydon, Daniel; Maro, Venance; Kazwala, Rudovick; Kumburu, Happiness; Mmbaga, Blandina; Halliday, Jo E.
    Brucella abortus causes infections in humans and livestock. Bacterial isolates are challenging to obtain, and very little is known about the genomic epidemiology of this species in Africa. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of a Brucella abortus isolate cultured from a febrile human in northern Tanzania
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Draft genome sequences of six Brucella melitensis isolates collected from humans and livestock in Tanzania
    (American Society for Microbiology, 2025-06) Middlebrook, Earl; Hugho, Ephrasia; Lyimo, Beatus; Mathew, Coletha; Mayenga, Charles; Li, Lingling; Amani, Nelson; Lukambagire, AbdulHamid; Kumburu, Happiness; Munuo, Lidia; Lyimo, Samson; Shirima, Gabriel; Kazwala, Rudovick; Byukusenge, Maurice; Mmbaga, Blandina; Makondo, Zachariah; Kapur, Vivek; Buza, Joram; Fair, Jeanne; Katani, Robab
    We present genome assemblies of six Brucella melitensis strains isolated from goats and humans in Tanzania’s Kagera region. These sequences provide insight into circulating Brucella strains in Tanzania and East Africa. These data will support future comparative genomics, epidemiological investigations, and regional brucellosis control strategies.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Molecular detection and genetic characterization of Bartonella species from rodents and their associated ectoparasites from northern Tanzania
    (PLOS ONE, 2019-10-15) Theonest, Ndyetabura; Carter, Ryan; Amani, Nelson; Doherty, Siaˆn; Hugho, Ephrasia; Keyyu, Julius; Mable, Barbara; Shirima, Gabriel; Tarimo, Rigobert; Thomas, Kate; Haydon, Daniel; Buza, Joram; Allan, Kathryn; Halliday, Jo
    Background Bartonellae are intracellular bacteria, which can cause persistent bacteraemia in humans and a variety of animals. Several rodent-associated Bartonella species are human pathogens but data on their global distribution and epidemiology are limited. The aims of the study were to: 1) determine the prevalence of Bartonella infection in rodents and fleas; 2) identify risk factors for Bartonella infection in rodents; and 3) characterize the Bartonella genotypes present in these rodent and flea populations. Methods and results Spleen samples collected from 381 rodents representing six different species were tested for the presence of Bartonella DNA, which was detected in 57 individuals (15.0%; 95% CI 11.3–18.5), of three rodent species (Rattus rattus n = 54, Mastomys natalensis n = 2 and Paraxerus flavovottis n = 1) using a qPCR targeting the ssrA gene. Considering R. rattus individuals only, risk factor analysis indicated that Bartonella infection was more likely in reproductively mature as compared to immature individuals (OR = 3.42, p <0.001). Bartonella DNA was also detected in 53 of 193 Xenopsylla cheopis fleas (27.5%: 95% CI 21.3– 34.3) collected from R.rattus individuals. Analysis of ssrA and gltA sequences from rodent spleens and ssrA sequences from fleas identified multiple genotypes closely related (� 97% similar) to several known or suspected zoonotic Bartonella species, including B. tribocorum, B. rochalimae, B. elizabethae and B. quintana. Conclusions The ssrA and gltA sequences obtained from rodent spleens and ssrA sequences obtained from fleas reveal the presence of a diverse set of Bartonella genotypes and increase our understanding of the bartonellae present in Tanzanian. Further studies are needed to fully characterise the prevalence, genotypes and diversity of Bartonella in different host populations and their potential impacts on human health.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Prospective cohort study reveals unexpected aetiologies of livestock abortion in northern Tanzania
    (Springer Nature Limited, 2022-07-08) Thomas, Kate; Kibona, Tito; Claxton, John; de Glanville, William; Lankester, Felix; Amani, Nelson; Buza, Joram; Carter, Ryan; Chapman, Gail; Crump, John; Dagleish, Mark; Halliday, Jo; Hamilton, Clare; Innes, Elisabeth; Katzer, Frank; Livingstone, Morag; Longbottom, David; Millins, Caroline; Mmbaga, Blandina; Mosha, Victor; Nyarobi, James; Nyasebwa, Obed; Russell, George; Sanka, Paul; Semango, George; Wheelhouse, Nick; Willett, Brian; Cleaveland, Sarah; Allan, Kathryn
    Livestock abortion is an important cause of productivity losses worldwide and many infectious causes of abortion are zoonotic pathogens that impact on human health. Little is known about the relative importance of infectious causes of livestock abortion in Africa, including in subsistence farming communities that are critically dependent on livestock for food, income, and wellbeing. We conducted a prospective cohort study of livestock abortion, supported by cross-sectional serosurveillance, to determine aetiologies of livestock abortions in livestock in Tanzania. This approach generated several important findings including detection of a Rift Valley fever virus outbreak in cattle; high prevalence of C. burnetii infection in livestock; and the first report of Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii, and pestiviruses associated with livestock abortion in Tanzania. Our approach provides a model for abortion surveillance in resource-limited settings. Our findings add substantially to current knowledge in sub-Saharan Africa, providing important evidence from which to prioritise disease interventions.