Browsing by Author "Kusiluka, Lughano"

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African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV): Biology, Genomics and Genotypes Circulating in Sub-Saharan Africa
(MDPI, 2021-11-15) Njau, Emma; Machuka, Eunice; Cleaveland, Sarah; Shirima, Gabriel; Kusiluka, Lughano; Okoth, Edward; Pelle, Roger
African swine fever (ASF) is a highly infectious and fatal haemorrhagic disease of pigs that is caused by a complex DNA virus of the genus Asfivirus and Asfarviridae African suids family. The disease is among the most devastating pig diseases worldwide including Africa. Although the disease was first reported in the 19th century, it has continued to spread in Africa and other parts of the world. Globally, the rising demand for pork and concomitant increase in transboundary movements of pigs and pork products is likely to increase the risk of transmission and spread of ASF and pose a major challenge to the pig industry. Different genotypes of the ASF virus (ASFV) with varying virulence have been associated with different outbreaks in several countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and worldwide, and understanding genotype circulation will be important for ASF prevention and control strategies. ASFV genotypes unique to Africa have also been reported in SSA. This review briefly recounts the biology, genomics and genotyping of ASFV and provides an account of the different genotypes circulating in SSA. The review also highlights prevention, control and progress on vaccine development and identifies gaps in knowledge of ASFV genotype circulation in SSA that need to be addressed.
Animal health management practices in zero grazing dairy units in Arusha City, Tanzania
(African Journals Online (AJOL), 2017-11-05) Sudda, Martha; Kusiluka, Lughano; Kassim, Neema
This study aimed at investigating the animal health management practices in zero grazing dairy units. A questionnaire was used to assess the veterinary practices including the administration of antibiotics and other veterinary inputs to promote growth, prevent and treat diseases. Sixty-five (65) respondents were involved in the study. All the respondents (100%) reported that they did not use growth promoters while 98.5% reported the use of prophylactic vaccines. No withdrawal periods were observed for all the prophylactic vaccines given to animals as instructed by Ward Livestock Officers that the vaccines were not harmful to the health of consumers. Of the 65 respondents, 95.4% (62) reported the use of therapeutic antibiotics. The withdrawal period for therapeutic antibiotics ranged from 1 to 3 days as reported by 60% of the respondents while 24.6% (16) reported the withdrawal period of between 4 to 7 days, 4.6% did not observe withdrawal periods and 6.2% depended on the instructions from the veterinarians. Of the respondents, 53.8% attended animal health management training and 59.6% kept no records for any health interventions made to their animals. Based on the observational findings, majority (84.6%) of the cow’s enclosures were of poor hygiene. Warm water was used by 87.7% of the respondents to wash the udders prior to milking, 93.8% used towels to drain water from the udder(s) and100% of farmers lubricated the teats with udder salve prior to milking. Poor hygiene of the enclosures and washing the udders instead of teats only may predispose animals to infectious disease and this may lead to increased use of antibiotics, which may result into emergence of antibiotic resistance. It is, therefore, recommended that farmers should be trained on best animal health management practices such as teat washing, removal of manure from the animal pens as preventive measures for infectious diseases as well as improving the health and productivity of their animals.
Consumers’ product knowledge and attitudes as determinants of buying intention of processed sardine product: case of lake Victoria basin
(African Journal of Emerging Issues, 2019-08-08) Mkunda, Josephine J.; Chachage, Bukaza; Kusiluka, Lughano; Pasape, Liliane
Purpose of the study: This paper highlights the determinants of consumers’ buying behavior of processed sardine products from Lake Victoria basin by determining consumers’ knowledge and attitudes in relation to buying decision towards processed sardine products. Short introduction of problem statement: Literatures postulated that consumer behavior describes how individuals and groups select, buy, use and dispose goods, services, idea or experience to satisfy their need and wants. Consumer buying behavior is affected by uncontrollable factors that need to be considered while understanding consumers. Since the public health authorities are promoting fish consumption in order to improve public health, in addition it has been shown that the value contributions of sardine product in Lake Victoria basin is not reflecting its landings, therefore it is important to determine the consumers’ knowledge and attitudes in relation to buying decision towards processed sardine products. Method/methodology: Data was collected from 190 consumers in Mwanza, Mara and Kagera regions in Tanzania. After prior testing the data to fit the linear regression model, the multiple linear regression model using SPSS program version 24 was employed to analyze the collected data. Results of the study: The results have indicated that consumers’ product knowledge and attitudes were the main determinants of buying intentions of processed sardine products. Significant result at (p<0.001) on product knowledge and attitude was obtained proving that consumer knowledge on the products creates consumers’ attitudes towards the products. Consumer knowledge predictors were able to explaining the consumer attitude variance by 68.4% and 39.2% for sardine products dried on grass and nets and dried on rocks respectively. In addition, consumers’ attitudes and product knowledge in relation to buying intention was significant at (p<0.001), implying that the predictors were the main determinants for purchasing of products in question. The analysis have indicated that the buying intention had significant correlation with consumers’ eating habits, family preferences and consumers’ attitudes. Conclusion and policy recommendation: Strategic marketing planning of processed sardine products should focus on increasing consumers’ attitudes by creating knowledge through products labelling and improve the value addition technologies. The value addition should focus on determining the nutritional content and shelf life of different processed sardine products. Processors participating in national and international exhibitions will increase subjective and objective knowledge as well as improve the consumers’ attitudes towards processed sardine products.
Detection of African swine fever virus genotype XV in a sylvatic cycle in Saadani National Park, Tanzania
(Wiley Online Library, 2020-07-22) Njau, Emma; Machuka, Eunice; Githae, Dedan; Okoth, Edward; Cleaveland, Sarah; Shirima, Gabriel; Kusiluka, Lughano; Pelle, Roger
African swine fever (ASF) is a severe haemorrhagic disease of domestic pigs caused by ASF virus (ASFV). ASFV is transmitted by soft ticks (Ornithodoros moubata complex group) and by direct transmission. In Africa, ASF is maintained in transmission cycles of asymptomatic infection involving wild suids, mainly warthogs (Phacochoerus afri canus). ASF outbreaks have been reported in many parts of Tanzania; however, active surveillance has been limited to pig farms in a few geographical locations. There is an information gap on whether and where the sylvatic cycle may occur independently of domestic pigs. To explore the existence of a sylvatic cycle in Saadani National Park in Tanzania, blood and serum samples were collected from 19 warthogs se lected using convenience sampling along vehicle-accessible transects within the na tional park. The ticks were sampled from warthog burrows. Blood samples and ticks were subjected to ASFV molecular diagnosis (PCR) and genotyping, and warthog sera were subjected to serological (indirect ELISA) testing for ASFV antibody detection. All warthog blood samples were PCR-negative, but 16/19 (84%) of the warthog sera were seropositive by ELISA confirming exposure of warthogs to ASFV. Of the ticks sampled, 20/111 (18%) were positive for ASFV by conventional PCR. Sequencing of the p72 virus gene fragments showed that ASF viruses detected in ticks belonged to genotype XV. The results confirm the existence of a sylvatic cycle of ASFV in Saadani National Park, Tanzania, that involves ticks and warthogs independent of domestic pigs. Our findings suggest that genotype XV previously reported in 2008 in Tanzania is likely to be widely distributed and involved in both wild and domestic infection cycles. Whole-genome sequencing and analysis of the ASFV genotype XV circulating in Tanzania is recommended to determine the phylogeny of the viruses.
Detection of Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia and Concurrent Diseases in Outbreaks Presenting with Respiratory Signs in Small Ruminants in Tanzania
(International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health, 2020-07-06) Chota, Andrew; Shirima, Gabriel; Kusiluka, Lughano
Aims: To establish the prevalence and concurrent diseases in outbreaks presenting with respiratory signs, major associated clinical signs and postmortem lesions and proportions of those diseases in clinically and autopsied small ruminants for a proper diagnosis and control strategies. Study Design: Purposive outbreaks investigation. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Global Health, School of Life Science and Bio-Engineering (LiSBE), Nelson Mandela Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) between September 2016 and December 2018. Methodology: We included investigations of outbreaks of diseases presenting with respiratory signs in small ruminants reported from five agro-ecological zones in Tanzania. Small ruminats with clinical signs or postmortem lesions suggestive of respiratory involvement were subjected to clinical or postmortem examination. Samples from all examined animals were tested in the laboratory using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to confirm the tentative diagnosis. Results: A total of 205 small ruminats were examined and tested, of these 72.2% and 20.8% were goats and sheep respectively. In goats, 79.1% (117/148) and sheep, 28.1% (16/57) were confirmed to have concurrent infections, and pneumonic pasteurellosis and peste des petits ruminants (PPR) for goats, and PPR for sheep being mostly involved diseases. Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) was detected in 16.1% (n=205) of the animals, and was significantly high in goats (p=0.003, OR=7.3) than sheep. Pneumonic mannheimiosis (prevalence = 9.3%) was less likely to affect goats than sheep (p=0.047, OR=0.38). In goats (n=148), detection of all diseases was significantly (p<0.05) low in clinically examined animals except pneumonic pasteurellosis and PPR, (p =0.056, OR=2.1) and (p=0.096, OR=2.15) respectively, though the difference was not significant. In sheep (n=57), CCPP was significantly (p=0.005, OR=0.17) more likely to be detected in clinically examined animals. Conclusion: In investigations of outbreaks presenting with respiratory signs in small ruminants, it is important to consider concurrent infections in the interventions and control strategies to be deployed, which may include development and use of multivalent vaccines.
Detection of peste des petits ruminants and concurrent secondary diseases in sheep and goats in Ngorongoro district, Tanzania
(Springer, 2018-11-15) Kgotlele, Tebogo; Chota, Andrew; Chubwa, Choby; Nyasebwa, Obed; Lyimo, Beatus; Torsson, Emeli; Karimuribo, Esron; Kasanga, Christopher; Wensman, Jonas; Misinzo, Gerald; Shirima, Gabriel; Kusiluka, Lughano
Small ruminants play an important role in the livelihoods of resource-constrained communities. This study was initiated because of a massive outbreak of a respiratory disease in sheep and goats in Loliondo area in Ngorongoro district of Arusha region in Tanzania in 2016. During flock examination, a total of 240 serum samples and 61 nasal swabs were collected. Antibodies to small ruminant morbillivirus, causative agent of peste des petits ruminants (PPR), were detected from sera using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A multiplex reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction assay was used to detect four pathogens: small ruminant morbillivirus, Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capripneumoniae, Pasteurella multocida, and Capripoxvirus from the nasal swabs. Overall seroprevalence of PPR was 74.6%, with all four pathogens detected from nasal swabs. Co-infections of small ruminant morbillivirus and Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capripneumoniae, small ruminant morbillivirus and Capripoxvirus, small ruminant morbillivirus and Pasteurella multocida, and Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capripneumoniae and Capripoxvirus were also detected. Presence of PPR and the other diseases in this study provided insight into the severity of the outbreak in sheep and goats in Ngorongoro district. Thus, laboratory confirmation is critical for prompt and appropriate interventions to be made for control of diseases in sheep and goats with similar clinical signs. The findings also call for research into development of combined vaccines targeting common diseases of small ruminants in Tanzania.
Diagnosis Challenges and Control Strategies of Transboundary Diseases Presenting with Respiratory Signs in Small Ruminants in Developing Countries: Emphasis on Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia and Peste Des Petits Ruminants
(International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health, 2020-12-31) Chota, Andrew; Shirima, Gabriel; Kusiluka, Lughano
Aims: To review the diagnosis challenges and control strategies of the diseases presenting with respiratory signs. The emphasis being more on two transboundary animal diseases of small ruminants; contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) and peste des petits ruminants (PPR). Clinical signs and postmortem lesions associated with the two diseases were also explicated. Study Design: Review. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Global Health, School of Life Science and Bio-Engineering (LiSBE), Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) from December 2017 to June 2020. Methodology: A comprehensive review was carried out following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 506 articles, handbooks, Master’s and PhD thesis and conference proceedings were collected and after removal of the duplicates 80.6% (424/526) passed the first stage. Of the remaining search materials, (n=291) were removed including handbooks, master’s and PhD thesis which did not originate from the developing countries, 31.4% (133/424) passed the second. Of the articles that passed the second stage, (n=85) were removed from the study, these included all articles that did not involve field diagnosis such as review papers and those not originating from the developing countries, 36.1% (48/133) passed the third stage. In the fourth stage, (n=5) articles which reported on retrospective cases and archived samples were removed and 43 articles were reviewed. Results: Out of the 526 documents retrieved, 43 were eligible for review as they met all criteria for inclusion. Control strategies were recommended in 44.2% (19/43) of the articles of which most of them 63.2%, 12/19) recommended vaccination as a control strategy. Most of the articles reported definitive diagnosis reached following laboratory involvement as majority of them involved outbreak investigation or research works which is not the case in routine diagnosis. The major clinical signs mentioned in the review articles including fever 60.9% (14/23), oculonasal discharge 87.0% (20/23), respiratory distress 82.6% (19/23), erosive stomatitis 43.5% (10/23), diarrhea 56.5% (13/23) and coughing 30.4% (7/23) have been discussed relating to the definitive diagnosis reached in reporting articles. On the other hand, postmortem lesions including lung consolidation 38.1% (8/21), intestinal hemorrhage 38.1% (8/21), lung congestion 28.6% (6/21), serofibrinous pleurisy 28.6% (6/21), pneumonic lungs 23.8% (5/21) and unilateral lung inflammation 14.3% (3/21), have been discussed in relation to the definitive diagnosis reached. Conclusion: Despite the similarities in clinical signs and postmortem lesions associated with diseases presenting with respiratory signs, definitive diagnosis of CCPP was reached in cases that involved clinical signs and postmortem lesions confined in the respiratory system whereas, PPR was more diagnosed in cases that presented with clinical signs and postmortem lesions associating the digestive system. However, presence of respiratory signs in the cases the diagnosed PPR may implicate presence of unidentified secondary bacterial infections. Vaccinations being the most advocated approach of control, require a broader look to make sure that polyvalent vaccines are available against the four common diseases. Also, use of treatment to reduce the effect of secondary infecting bacteria may be of help. Furthermore, for effective outcomes of the control strategies, collaborative efforts among countries at risk should be advocated.
Entomopathogenic fungi (Aspergillus oryzae) as biological control agent of cattle ticks in Tanzania
(Academic Journals, 2022-07-31) Msangi, Sylvia; Zekeya, Never; Kimaro, Esther; Kusiluka, Lughano; Shirima, Gabriel
Ticks are the most important ectoparasites that are responsible for severe economic losses in livestock industry. The use of chemical acaricides is the most common method used to control ticks in livestock. This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of Aspergillus oryzae as an alternative biological agent in controlling ticks to enhance livestock productivity. The efficacy of A. oryzae at different concentrations was evaluated against larvae and adults of the hard tick genera Rhipicephalus, Boophilus, and Amblyomma using an immersion test under laboratory conditions. Field trials were conducted in two purposively selected cattle herds in Monduli district, northern Tanzania. A. oryzae at a concentration of 1 × 106 conidial/ml was sprayed on all cattle tick-infested areas. The results demonstrated a concentration-related increase in mortality for both larvae and adult female engorged ticks. The mean mortality of larvae and female engorged ticks was statistically significant at p ˂ 0.05 and p ˂ 0.001, respectively. Egg production was found to decrease with increased A. oryzae concentration. Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference in egg production index and oviposition reduction (p = 0.009) while there was no significant difference in egg hatching and product effectiveness at p = 0.089 and p = 0.004, respectively between the tested ticks’ genera. Under field conditions, the bio-acaricide demonstrated a statistically significant tick reduction in all the treated cattle. This study concludes that A. oryzae has good acaricidal activity against ticks and hence, is one of the potential tick control methods for sustainable tick control schemes.
The first genotype II African swine fever virus isolated in Africa provides insight into the current Eurasian pandemic
(Scientific Reports, 2021-06-22) Njau, Emma; Entfellner, Jean-Baka; Machuka, Eunice; Bochere, Edwina; Cleaveland, Sarah; Shirima, Gabriel; Kusiluka, Lughano; Upton, Chris; Bishop, Richard; Pelle, Roger; Okoth, Edward
African swine fever (ASF) caused by the African swine fever virus (ASFV) is ranked by OIE as the most important source of mortality in domestic pigs globally and is indigenous to African wild suids and soft ticks. Despite two ASFV genotypes causing economically devastating epidemics outside the continent since 1961, there have been no genome-level analyses of virus evolution in Africa. The virus was recently transported from south-eastern Africa to Georgia in 2007 and has subsequently spread to Russia, eastern Europe, China, and south-east Asia with devastating socioeconomic consequences. To date, two of the 24 currently described ASFV genotypes defined by sequencing of the p72 gene, namely genotype I and II, have been reported outside Africa, with genotype II being responsible for the ongoing pig pandemic. Multiple complete genotype II genome sequences have been reported from European, Russian and Chinese virus isolates but no complete genome sequences have yet been reported from Africa. We report herein the complete genome of a Tanzanian genotype II isolate, Tanzania/Rukwa/2017/1, collected in 2017 and determined using an Illumina short read strategy. The Tanzania/Rukwa/2017/1 sequence is 183,186 bp in length (in a single contig) and contains 188 open reading frames. Considering only un-gapped sites in the pairwise alignments, the new sequence has 99.961% identity with the updated Georgia 2007/1 reference isolate (FR682468.2), 99.960% identity with Polish isolate Pol16_29413_o23 (MG939586) and 99.957% identity with Chinese isolate ASFV-wbBS01 (MK645909.1). This represents 73 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) relative to the Polish isolate and 78 SNPs with the Chinese genome. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Tanzania/Rukwa/2017/1 clusters most closely with Georgia 2007/1. The majority of the differences between Tanzania/Rukwa/2017/1 and Georgia 2007/1 genotype II genomes are insertions/deletions (indels) as is typical for ASFV. The indels included differences in the length and copy number of the terminal multicopy gene families, MGF 360 and 110. The Rukwa2017/1 sequence is the first complete genotype II genome from a precisely mapped locality in Africa, since the exact origin of Georgia2007/1 is unknown. It therefore provides baseline information for future analyses of the diversity and phylogeography of this globally important genetic sub-group of ASF viruses.
Low topotype diversity of recent foot-and-mouth disease virus serotypes O and A from districts located along the Uganda and Tanzania border.
(The Korean Society of Veterinary Science, 2019-03-01) Kerfua, Susan Diana; Kusiluka, Lughano; Ayebazibwe, Chrisostome; Martin, Esau; Arinaitwe, Eugene; Cleaveland, Sarah; Haydon, Daniel; Shirima, Gabriel
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is one of the most important livestock diseases in East Africa with outbreaks reported annually that cause severe economic losses. It is possible to control disease using vaccination, but antigenic matching of the vaccine to circulating strains is critical. To determine the relationship between foot-and-mouth disease viruses circulating in districts along the Uganda and Tanzanian border between 2016 and 2017 and currently used vaccines, phylogenetic analysis of the full VP1 virus sequences was carried out on samples collected from both sides of the border. A total of 43 clinical samples were collected from animals exhibiting signs of FMD and VP1 sequences generated from 11 of them. Eight out of the 11 sequences obtained belonged to serotype O and three belonged to serotype A. The serotype O sequences obtained showed limited nucleotide divergence (average of 4.9%) and belonged to topotype East Africa-2, whereas the most common O-type vaccine strain used in the region (O/KEN/77/78) belonged to East Africa-1. The serotype A viruses belonged to topotype Africa-G1 (average nucleotide divergence 7.4%), as did vaccine strain K5/1980. However, vaccine strain K35/1980 belonged to Africa G VII with an average sequence divergence of 20.5% from the study sequences. The genetic distances between current vaccine strains and circulating field strains underscores the crucial need for regular vaccine matching and the importance of collaborative efforts for better control of FMD along this border area.
Occupational hazards associated with human brucellosis in abattoir settings: A case study of Dodoma abattoir in Tanzania
(Academic Journals, 2019-03-31) Luwumba, Denice; Kusiluka, Lughano; Shirima, Gabriel
Brucellosis is one of the most widespread zoonotic diseases posing a serious obstacle to public health, food safety and security and, socio-economic development in most African countries. A cross-sectional study was conducted to establish practices that may pose occupational risks of transmission of brucellosis to people working in abattoirs in Tanzania. A total of 452 serum samples; 190, 200 and 62 from cattle, goats and human, respectively were collected in animals and workers at Dodoma abattoir, Tanzania. The samples were screened for brucellosis using Rose Bengal Plate test (RBPT) and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA). A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data for assessing the knowledge, awareness and practices related to brucellosis exposure. Data were analyzed to determine the association of brucellosis seropositivity with the knowledge, awareness and practices of the workers. The seroprevalence of brucellosis in cattle, goats and abattoir workers was 7.3, 1.5 and 1.6%, respectively based on Rose Bengal Plate Test. The seroprevalence was 4.7% in cattle, 1.6% in humans and none in goats when samples were tested by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results of this study show that, there is a potential occupational risk of acquisition of brucellosis for abattoir workers and hence, the need for awareness campaigns and taking appropriate precautions to minimize the zoonotic risks is greatly required.
Occurrence of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Serotypes in Uganda and Tanzania (2003 to 2015): A Review and Implications for Prospective Regional Disease Control
(Journal of Agricultural Science, 2020-05-15) Kerfua, Susan; Dhikusooka, Moses; Mulondo, Alice; Bugeza, James; Kabi, Fredrick; Shirima, Gabriel; Kusiluka, Lughano; Ayebazibwe, Chrisostome; Cleaveland, Sarah; Haydon, Daniel
Endemic foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) presents a global economic challenge to the livestock industry. The progressive control pathway for FMD (PCP-FMD) specifies successive steps through which a country/region can reduce FMD virus circulation and impact. These steps are reliant on understanding and obtaining knowledge on FMD epidemiology, to inform development of appropriate disease interventions like vaccination and quarantine programs. Currently, Uganda and Tanzania are in the early stages of the PCP-FMD. This review was undertaken to determine FMDV serotype distribution in Uganda and Tanzania between 2003 and 2015. The paper also presents the vaccine strains used in both countries for the same period viz avis the circulating topotypes. The review highlights four (O, A, SAT 1 and SAT 2) and five (O, A, SAT 1, SAT 2 and SAT 3) serotypes that occurred in Uganda and Tanzania respectively in the thirteen year period. Observations revealed that reported circulating serotypes O and A in the two countries belonged to similar topotypes, East African 2 (EA-2) and AFRICA respectively. The SAT 1 viruses in Tanzania belonged to topotype I and differed from the Ugandan SAT 1s that belonged to topotype IV. Similarly, the SAT 2s in both countries belonged to different topotypes: IV in Tanzania and I in Uganda. This review additionally, underscores the spatial distribution of FMDV serotypes in Uganda and Tanzania and highlights regions in both countries that had high serotype diversity. The paper recommends definitive disease diagnoses, molecular serotype characterisation and matched vaccination deployment for improved disease control.
Prevalence and risk factors associated with subclinical mastitis in lactating dairy cows under smallholder dairy farming in North East Tanzania
(Academic Journals, 2021-03-01) Kilyenyi, Damian; Mdegela, Robinson; Kusiluka, Lughano; Shirima, Gabriel
A cross-sectional survey was carried out between October 2016 and May 2017 to determine the prevalence of subclinical mastitis (SCM), associated bacterial pathogens and risk factors under smallholdersmall holder dairy farms in North East Tanzania. The study involved 195 cross breed dairy cows from 130 dairy farms. Data were collected based on questionnaire interview, direct observation, screening using California Mastitis Test (CMT) and culture of bacteria. The overall prevalence of SCM based on California Mastitis Test (CMT) was 70.8 and 66.4% and bacteria isolation recorded at 56.4 and 38.4% at cow and quarter levels, respectively. Prevalence defined by CMT was significantly (p<0.0001) associated with wet-dirty bedding material (OR=11.61) and poor udder (OR =6.67). Increased culture-positivity at quarter level was significantly associated with CMT-positive cows (OR= 20.59), teat injuries (OR=23.56), wooden floor (OR=2.02) and poor udder hygiene (OR =2.16). Stripping method of hand milking and first and second parity were significantly associated with lower prevalence of CMT-positive cows and culture positive quarters (p<0.05). Major bacteria species isolated included Staphylococcus aureus (55.4%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (10.8%), Escherichia coli (7.9%) and Streptococcus agalactiae (5.9%). This study demonstrated SCM is a major health constraint of dairy cattle in North Eastern Tanzania.
A review of Lake Victoria sardine products business and institutional arrangements for domestic and regional trade
(Strategic Journal of Business & Change Management, 2018-10-24) Mkunda, Josephine J.; Lassen, Jesper; Chachage, Bukaza; Kusiluka, Lughano; Pasape, Liliane
Effective and efficient business and institutional arrangements are essential for every industry to position the business ventures within the value chain, show how transactions are made among stakeholders and underlying economic logic for value creation. This review focused on the existing business and established support institutional arrangements for sardines (Rastrineobola argentea) from Lake Victoria in order to assess their influence on domestic and regional trade. The review established that the business arrangements between the crew members and boat owners in Tanzania influences revenue sharing among players; this was connected to poor performance of crew members, theft of fishing equipment, boat engines and portion of fish products by crew members. Sardines traders had not been able to access the lucrative outlets due to weak institutional support and lack of economies of scale. At the national and regional levels, the authors focused on the co-management of fishery resources through the Beach Management Units, national fishery policies, strategies and support institutional arrangements. At national level, the main limitation identified was poor performance of the Local Government Authorities in the aspects of surveillance, control, fisheries law enforcement as well as close monitoring and inspection of fishing activities which led to depletion of the fishery resources and influenced trade performance. Furthermore, it was observed that at regional level, there was weak formal link between the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) and Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) and this jeopardised the effective and efficiency management of fishery resources and efforts towards poverty alleviation.
Risk factors associated with Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capripneumoniae and morbillivirus infection in small ruminants in Tanzania.
(Springer Nature Switzerland AG., 2019-09-01) Chota, Andrew; Kusiluka, Lughano; Shirima, Gabriel
Mortality of domestic small ruminants caused by contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) and Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is frequently reported in Tanzania. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between June, 2016 and July, 2017 to identify risk factors for small ruminants exposure to Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (M. capripneumoniae), the causative agent of CCPP, and small ruminant morbillivirus (SRMV), the causative agent of PPR. Antibody detection was done using competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (cELISA); similarly, a semi-structured questionnaire was administered in flocks where serum samples were collected. Individual seropositivity for M. capripneumoniae was 6.5% (n = 676) and 4.2% (n = 285) in goats and sheep respectively, whereas SRMV was 28.6% in goats (n = 676) and 31.9% in sheep (n = 285). Multivariable analysis indicated that mixing of flocks was a risk factor for exposure to M. capripneumoniae (χ = 3.9, df = 1, p = 0.05) and SRMV (χ = 6.3, df = 1, p = 0.01) in goats. Age was a protective factor for SRMV seropositivity in both goats (χ = 7.4, df = 1, p = 0.006) and sheep (χ = 10.2, df = 1, p = 0.006). SRMV seropositivity in goats was also influenced by grazing in contact with wild animals (χ = 5.9, df = 1, p = 0.02) and taking animals to the animal markets (χ = 8.2, df = 1, p = 0.004). M. capripneumoniae and SRMV are influenced by several risk factors and their control needs concerted efforts between stakeholders, which may include community involvement in mandatory vaccination and animals' movement control.
Spatial and temporal distribution of foot-and-mouth disease in four districts situated along the Uganda-Tanzania border: Implications for cross-border efforts in disease control.
(AOSIS, 2018-08-27) Kerfua, Susan; Kusiluka, Lughano; Ayebazibwe, Chrisostome; Mwebe, Robert; Cleaveland, Sarah; Haydon, Daniel; Shirima, Gabriel
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is one of the major trans-boundary animal diseases in East Africa causing economic loss to farmers and other stakeholders in the livestock industry. Foot-and-mouth disease occurs widely in both Uganda and Tanzania with annual outbreaks recorded. With the recent introduction of the Progressive Control Pathway for FMD control (PCP-FMD) in eastern Africa, knowledge of the spatial and temporal distribution of FMD at the border area between Uganda and Tanzania is helpful in framing engagement with the initial stages of the PCP. Retrospective data collected between 2011 and 2016 from four districts located along the border areas of Uganda and Tanzania, recorded 23 and 59 FMD outbreaks, respectively, for the entire study period. Analysis showed that 46% of the 82 recorded outbreaks occurred in 20% of sub-counties and wards immediately neighbouring the Uganda-Tanzania border and 69.5% of the outbreaks occurred during the dry months. While the serotypes of the FMD virus responsible for most outbreaks reported in this region were not known, previous research reported South African Territory (SAT) 1, SAT 2 and O to be the serotypes in circulation. The results from this study provide evidence of the endemic status of FMD on the Uganda-Tanzania border and emphasise that the border area should be given due consideration during FMD control drives and that cross-border coordination should be prioritised. With the limited data on circulating serotypes in this area, there is a need for more vigilance on FMD case detection, laboratory diagnostic confirmation and provision of more complete documentation of outbreaks. This work further recommends more studies on cross-border livestock movement coupled with phylogenetics in order to understand the spread of the FMD in the border area.