Publications by authors named "Andrew N Mukubesa"
Urogenital schistosomiasis remains a pervasive health challenge in rural Zambian communities. This study explores the molecular epidemiology and genetic diversity of Schistosoma haematobium using mitochondrial genes (cox1 and nadh1). Urine samples from 421 children in Siavonga and Lusaka districts, Zambia, were collected between December 2020 and February 2022.
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- Enteric infections from viral pathogens like rotavirus and adenovirus are a significant public health issue, prompting the need for effective surveillance systems in wastewater to identify risk areas.
- In Zambia, researchers tested wastewater samples using different methods to concentrate viruses, resulting in a high detection rate (90% for HAdV and 70% for RVA) through molecular techniques.
- The study concluded that certain concentration methods, particularly skimmed milk flocculation and bag-mediated filtration, could be beneficial for ongoing surveillance in resource-limited settings, highlighting the importance of monitoring these pathogens in the community.
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- Poultry production is crucial for many rural Zambian households, but it's threatened by infectious diseases, especially Newcastle disease virus (NDV).
- The study sequenced six NDV isolates from poultry in live bird markets and wild waterfowl, discovering that the poultry isolates belonged to virulent strains, while those from wild birds were avirulent and likely introduced from Eurasia.
- This research highlights ongoing NDV circulation in Zambia's live bird markets and emphasizes the need for ongoing surveillance to monitor NDV evolution and potential outbreaks.
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- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasing in Zambia's layer poultry sector, mainly due to improper use of antimicrobials, raising concerns about public health through potential contamination of food sources.
- A study conducted in 2020-2021 collected 365 cloacal swabs from layer hens in Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces, finding a significant prevalence of resistant bacteria.
- Results showed that 96.5% of the bacterial isolates had AMR, with a majority being multidrug-resistant, and highlighted the urgent need for improved antimicrobial management and monitoring in poultry farming.
Transmission dynamics and the maintenance of mammarenaviruses in nature are poorly understood. Using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and RT-PCR, we investigated the presence of mammarenaviruses and co-infecting helminths in various tissues of 182 rodents and 68 other small mammals in riverine and non-riverine habitats in Zambia. The Luna virus (LUAV) genome was the only mammarenavirus detected (7.
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- - Schistosomiasis, specifically urinary schistosomiasis, is a significant public health issue in Zambia, with a prevalence of 9.7% among 421 primary school children studied in the Siavonga and Lusaka districts.
- - The study found that boys (6.2%) were more affected than girls (3.5%), and children aged 11-15 had the highest rates, while those who did not participate in fishing had a much lower likelihood of infection.
- - Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the identified parasite strains closely resemble those from Zimbabwe and other African countries, suggesting a connection and highlighting the zoonotic risk of the disease.
Background: Moraxella catarrhalis is one of the bacterial pathogens associated with childhood pneumonia, but its clinical importance is not clearly defined.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the microbiologic and virulence characteristics of M. catarrhalis isolates obtained from children with pneumonia in Lusaka, Zambia.
Background: The food industry is increasingly becoming more scrutinized, given the frequency and intensity with which zoonotic diseases are being reported. Pathogen tracking has become more applicable with regards food safety. It is in this regard that the present study was formulated to track Listeria species.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFis a public health threat linked to fast foods such as broiler chickens. This study aimed to verify the occurrence of species in chickens from abattoirs and evaluate their antimicrobial resistance. In total, 150 broiler carcass swabs distributed as cloacal ( = 60), exterior surface ( = 60), and environmental ( = 30) were collected.
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- The study investigated the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infections in 490 children under five years old in Zambia, finding a 10% overall infection rate, particularly peaking during the late rainy season in March.
- Key risk factors for infection included not boiling water and having recurrent diarrhoea episodes, with children from households neglecting water treatment being 2.5 times more likely to be infected.
- Genotyping of infected samples revealed a predominance of Cryptosporidium hominis, indicating a significant anthroponotic transmission in both urban and rural areas surrounding Lusaka.
A cross-sectional study was used to identify and assess prevalence and phenotypic antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of and other enterobacteria isolated from healthy wildlife and livestock cohabiting at a 10,000 acres game ranch near Lusaka, Zambia. Purposive sampling was used to select wildlife and livestock based on similarities in behavior, grazing habits and close interactions with humans. Isolates ( = 66) from fecal samples collected between April and August 2018 ( = 84) were examined following modified protocols for bacteria isolation, biochemical identification, molecular detection, phylogenetic analysis, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing by disc diffusion method.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBluetongue (BT) is an arthropod-borne viral disease of ruminants with serious trade and socio-economic implications. Although the disease has been reported in a number of countries in sub-Saharan Africa, there is currently no information on circulating serotypes and disease distribution in Zambia. Following surveillance for BT in domestic and wild ruminants in Zambia, BT virus (BTV) nucleic acid and antibodies were detected in eight of the 10 provinces of the country.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe detected West Nile virus (WNV) nucleic acid in crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) in Zambia. Phylogenetically, the virus belonged to lineage 1a, which is predominant in the Northern Hemisphere. These data provide evidence that WNV is circulating in crocodiles in Africa and increases the risk for animal and human transmission.
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