Morphological and genetic characterization of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) in the Kayunga and Luwero districts of Uganda.

Background: Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is an economically valuable fruit tree in Uganda. However, the production of jackfruit in Uganda is low. Additionally, because of deforestation, genetic erosion of the resource is predicted before its exploitation for crop improvement and conservation.

Viruses associated with measles-like illnesses in Uganda.

Objectives: In this study, we investigated the causes of measles-like illnesses (MLI) in the Uganda national surveillance program in order to inform diagnostic assay selection and vaccination strategies.

Methods: We used metagenomic next-generation sequencing (M-NGS) on the Illumina platform to identify viruses associated with MLI (defined as fever and rash in the presence of either cough, coryza or conjunctivitis) in patient samples that had tested IgM negative for measles between 2010 and 2019.

Results: Viral genomes were identified in 87/271 (32%) of samples, of which 44/271 (16%) contained 12 known viral pathogens.

Potential persistence mechanisms of the major Anopheles gambiae species complex malaria vectors in sub-Saharan Africa: a narrative review.

The source of malaria vector populations that re-establish at the beginning of the rainy season is still unclear yet knowledge of mosquito behaviour is required to effectively institute control measures. Alternative hypotheses like aestivation, local refugia, migration between neighbouring sites, and long-distance migration (LDM) are stipulated to support mosquito persistence. This work assessed the malaria vector persistence dynamics and examined various studies done on vector survival  via these hypotheses; aestivation, local refugia, local or long-distance migration across sub-Saharan Africa, explored a range of methods used, ecological parameters and highlighted the knowledge trends and gaps.

Proportion of Ugandans with pre-pandemic SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses: A pilot study.

The estimated mortality rate of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic varied greatly around the world. In particular, multiple countries in East, Central, and West Africa had significantly lower rates of COVID-19 related fatalities than many resource-rich nations with significantly earlier wide-spread access to life-saving vaccines. One possible reason for this lower mortality could be the presence of pre-existing cross-reactive immunological responses in these areas of the world.

Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites and molecular identification of beta-tubulin mutations associated with benzimidazole resistance in Haemonchus contortus in goats from selected districts of Uganda.

Gastrointestinal parasites are among the most economically important pathogens of small ruminants causing serious economic losses and animal welfare problems for the livestock industry worldwide. The emergence of anthelmintic resistant H. contortus in small ruminants is a serious problem because it undermines effective helminth control and results in reduced productivity.

East Coast Fever Carrier Status and Breakthrough Strains in Recently ITM Vaccinated and Non-Vaccinated Cattle in Iganga District, Eastern Uganda.

East Coast fever (ECF) is a tick-borne disease of cattle that hinders the development of the livestock industry in eastern, central and southern Africa. The 'Muguga cocktail' live vaccine, delivered by an infection and treatment method (ITM), remains the only immunisation strategy of controlling ECF. However, there are challenges of the live vaccine inducing ECF carrier status in immunised animals and the possibility of lack of protection from parasite strains that are antigenically different from the vaccine strains.

High proportion of Ugandans with pre-pandemic SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses.

The estimated mortality rate of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic varied greatly around the world with multiple countries in East, Central, and West Africa having significantly lower rates of COVID-19 related fatalities than many resource-rich nations with significantly earlier wide-spread access to life-saving vaccines. One possible reason for this lower mortality could be the presence of pre-existing cross-reactive immunological responses in these areas of the world. To explore this hypothesis, stored peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from Ugandans collected from 2015-2017 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (n=29) and from hospitalized Ugandan COVID-19 patients (n=3) were examined using flow-cytometry for the presence of pre-existing SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell populations using four T-cell epitope mega pools.

Inspiring Anti-Tick Vaccine Research, Development and Deployment in Tropical Africa for the Control of Cattle Ticks: Review and Insights.

Ticks are worldwide ectoparasites to humans and animals, and are associated with numerous health and economic effects. Threatening over 80% of the global cattle population, tick and tick-borne diseases (TTBDs) particularly constrain livestock production in the East, Central and Southern Africa. This, therefore, makes their control critical to the sustainability of the animal industry in the region.

Assessment of the Impact of Early Diagnosis and Early Treatment in the Integrated Control of East Coast Fever (ECF) Involving Acquired Immunity Induced by Natural Infection in Ankole Cattle.

The integrated control of East Coast fever (ECF) by early diagnosis and treatment involving acquired immunity induced by natural infection in Ankole cattle was assessed. A longitudinal study was carried out in Kiruhura district, southwestern Uganda for six months on 244 Ankole breed of cattle from 18 herds under natural tick challenge and relaxed tick control measures. Calves aged three to six months old were recruited and monitored daily by farmers for detection of ECF clinical symptoms.

Genome Sequences of Bacteriophages UPEC01, UPEC03, UPEC06, and UPEC07 Infecting Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli.

Here, we present the genome sequences of four bacteriophages that infect avian pathogenic Escherichia coli. The phages were isolated from raw sewage in Kampala, Uganda. The genome sizes of the phages ranged between 143,140 bp and 178,307 bp, with an average G+C content of 41.

Plasma Neuron-Specific Enolase is not a reliable biomarker for staging Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense sleeping sickness patients.

Objective: Currently, the only available staging criterion for T. b. rhodesiense requires a lumber puncture to collect and later examine cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Associations between Aminoquinoline Resistance Genotypes and Clinical Presentations of Plasmodium falciparum Infection in Uganda.

Mutations that mediate resistance of to aminoquinoline antimalarials are selected by prior drug use and may alter parasite fitness, but associations with clinical presentations are uncertain. We evaluated genotypes in samples from a case-control study of determinants of severe malaria in Ugandan children 4 months to 10 years of age. We studied 274 cases with severe malaria matched by age and geography to 275 uncomplicated malaria controls and 179 asymptomatic parasitemic controls.

Plasma cytokine profiles associated with sleeping sickness and malaria co-infection in North Eastern Uganda.

Background: Immunological Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) studies often exclude malaria, although both infections overlap in specific endemic areas. During this co-infection, it is not known whether this parasitic interaction induces synergistic or antagonistic cytokine response among humans. This study determined prevalence of malaria among HAT and plasma cytokine profile levels associated with HAT and/or malaria infections.

Bacterial Aetiology and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Post-Operative Sepsis among Surgical Patients in a Tertiary Hospital in Rural Eastern Uganda.

Background: Post-operative wound sepsis remains a surgical challenge of public health concern constituting approximately 20% of the health care-associated nosocomial infections. This study aimed at determining the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of bacterial pathogens isolated from post-operative wound infections at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital.

Materials And Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from June to October 2015.

Phylogenetic Groups and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of from Healthy Chicken in Eastern and Central Uganda.

Antimicrobial resistance is an emerging problem in both humans and animals due to misuse and excessive use of drugs. Resistance in commensal isolates can be used to predict emergence of resistance in other gut microflora. The aim of this study is to determine the phylogenetic groups and antimicrobial resistance patterns of from healthy chickens in Uganda.

Relationship between Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense genetic diversity and clinical spectrum among sleeping sickness patients in Uganda.

Objective: Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) due to Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in East and southern Africa is reported to be clinically diverse. We tested the hypothesis that this clinical diversity is associated with a variation in trypanosome genotypes.

Results: Trypanosome DNA isolated from HAT patients was genotyped using 7 microsatellite markers directly from blood spotted FTA cards following a whole genome amplification.

Population genetic structure and temporal stability among Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense isolates in Uganda.

Background: The population structure and role of genetic exchange in African trypanosomes have been previously analyzed albeit with contradictory findings. To further investigate the role of genetic polymorphism on the population genetic structure of Trypanosoma b. rhodesiense, we hypothesized that parasite genotypes are clonal and stable over time.

The role of cytokines in the pathogenesis and staging of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense sleeping sickness.

Human African trypanosomiasis due to Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense is invariably fatal if untreated with up to 12.3 million people at a risk of developing the disease in Sub-Saharan Africa. The disease is characterized by a wide spectrum of clinical presentation coupled with differences in disease progression and severity.

Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 Are Up Regulated in Late Stage Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense Sleeping Sickness.

Background: Sleeping sickness due to Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense has a wide spectrum of clinical presentations coupled with differences in disease progression and severity across East and Southern Africa. The disease progresses from an early (hemo-lymphatic) stage to the late (meningoencephalitic) stage characterized by presence of parasites in the central nervous system. We hypothesized that disease progression and severity of the neurological response is modulated by cytokines.

Clinical profiles, disease outcome and co-morbidities among T. b. rhodesiense sleeping sickness patients in Uganda.

Background: The acute form of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT, also known as Sleeping sickness) caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense has been shown to have a wide spectrum of focus specific clinical presentation and severity in East and Southern Africa. Indeed HAT occurs in regions endemic for other tropical diseases, however data on how these co-morbidities might complicate the clinical picture and affect disease outcome remains largely scanty. We here describe the clinical presentation, presence of co-infections, and how the latter impact on HAT prognosis.

Identification of coding sequences from a freshly prepared Trypanosoma brucei brucei expression library by polymerase chain reaction.

Animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) also known as Nagana is a devastating disease among domestic animals in large parts of Sub-Saharan Africa causing loses in milk and meat production as well as traction power. However, there is currently no commercial vaccine against AAT. The parasites have also developed resistance to some of the drugs in use.

Epidemiological Overview of African Swine Fever in Uganda (2001-2012).

African swine fever (ASF) is a contagious viral disease, which can cause up to 100% mortality among domestic pigs. In Uganda there is paucity of information on the epidemiology of the disease, hence a study was carried out to elucidate the patterns of ASF outbreaks. Spatial and temporal analyses were performed with data collected monthly by the district veterinary officers (DVOs) and sent to the central administration at MAAIF from 2001 to 2012.

Prevalence of virulence determinants in Staphylococcus epidermidis from ICU patients in Kampala, Uganda.

Introduction: Staphylococcus epidermidis is often considered a non-pathogenic organism but it causes nosocomial infections. To distinguish invasive strains, comparative studies of patient and community isolates may offer some clues. We investigated the distribution of virulence determinants in patient isolates from Uganda.