Epitope Peptide-Based Predication and Other Functional Regions of Antigenic F and HN Proteins of Waterfowl and Poultry Isolates From Uganda.

Uganda is a Newcastle disease (ND) endemic country where the disease is controlled by vaccination using live LaSota (genotype II) and I (genotype I) vaccine strains. Resurgent outbreak episodes call for an urgent need to understand the antigenic diversity of circulating wild (AAvV1) strains. High mutation rates and the continuous emergence of genetic and antigenic variants that evade immunity make non-segmented RNA viruses difficult to control.

Genotypic characterisation of Avian paramyxovirus type-1 viruses isolated from aquatic birds in Uganda.

Avian paramyxovirus type-1 (APMV-1) viruses of the lentogenic pathotypes are often isolated from wild aquatic birds and may mutate to high pathogenicity when they cross into poultry and cause debilitating Newcastle disease. This study characterised AMPV-1 isolated from fresh faecal droppings from wild aquatic birds roosting sites in Uganda. Fresh faecal samples from wild aquatic birds at several waterbodies in Uganda were collected and inoculated into 9-10-day-old embryonated chicken eggs.

Sociocultural factors associated with fish consumption in Lake Albert fishing community: Guidelines for lead and mercury.

Fish consumption in subsistence fishing community is a life style associated with lead and mercury uptake for humans. Fish consumption is influenced by sociocultural factors, exposure and health risks. Unfortunately, no sociocultural study in the Lake Albert fishing community in light of lead and mercury exists.

Immunogenicity and protection efficacy evaluation of avian paramyxovirus serotype-1 (APMV-1) isolates in experimentally infected chickens.

Vaccine failures after Newcastle disease vaccination with the current commercial vaccines have been reported and are associated with many factors, including genotypic and antigenic differences between vaccine and outbreak strains, although all APMV-1 members belong to one serotype. We assessed the immunoprotection ability of four thermostable, low-virulent Newcastle disease-virus isolates from Ugandan waterfowl against challenge with a virulent strain (MDT = 36.8 h, ICPI = 1.

Mercury concentration in muscle, bellyfat and liver from and consumed in Lake Albert fishing communities in Uganda.

Without surveillance studies on mercury (Hg) levels in predominant fish species and parts eaten in a fishing community, the FAO/WHO guidelines might be surpassed, hence health risk. A monitoring study in a developing country with 29 (Nile tilapia) and 34 (Nile perch) from landing sites provided muscle, bellyfat and liver samples for Mercury detection using Inductive Couple Plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. The study shows that fish eaten in the fishing community are small with fewer risks from mercury.

Disparate thermostability profiles and HN gene domains of field isolates of Newcastle disease virus from live bird markets and waterfowl in Uganda.

Background: Uganda poultry production is still faced with frequent outbreaks of Newcastle disease (ND) in the backyard free-range systems despite the accessibility of cross protective vaccines. Live bird markets and waterfowl has long been reported as a major source of disease spread as well as potential sources of avirulent strains that may mutate to virulent strains. ND-virus has been reported enzootic in Ugandan poultry but limited studies have been conducted to ascertain thermostability phenotypes of the Ugandan ND-virus strains and to understand how these relate to vaccine strains.

Helicobacter pylori among patients with symptoms of gastroduodenal ulcer disease in rural Uganda.

Introduction: To meet key millennium development goals, the rural population needs to be reached for health assessment and service delivery. Gastroduodenal ulcer disease is a common ailment affecting the health of people in Uganda. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Bwera Hospital in Kasese district of western Uganda, to establish the prevalence and predisposing factors of Helicobacter pylori among gastroduodenal ulcer disease patients.

Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oils against Uropathogens Isolated from Patients in Selected Hospitals in Bushenyi District, Uganda.

Aims: To determine antibacterial activity of essential oils against bacterial uropathogens.

Study Design: A cross sectional and experimental study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Six selected hospitals in Bushenyi District, Uganda between June 2012 and July 2013.

High pathogenicity and low genetic evolution of avian paramyxovirus type I (Newcastle disease virus) isolated from live bird markets in Uganda.

Background: Newcastle disease is still a serious disease of poultry especially in backyard free-range production systems despite the availability of cross protective vaccines. Healthy-looking poultry from live bird markets have been suspected as a major source of disease spread although limited studies have been conducted to ascertain the presence of the virulent strains in the markets and to understand how they are related to outbreak strains.

Methods: This study evaluated the occurrence of Newcastle disease virus in samples collected from poultry in live bird markets across Uganda.

Comparison of transformation frequencies among selected Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes.

Although there are over 90 serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae, antimicrobial resistance is predominantly found in a limited number of serotypes/serogroups, namely 6, 9, 14, 19 and 23. There is no compelling mechanism to account for this restriction. We aimed to determine whether serotypes commonly associated with drug resistance have higher transformation frequencies than those that are susceptible to antimicrobial agents.

Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin as an endophyte in tissue culture banana (Musa spp.).

Beauveria bassiana is considered a virulent pathogen against the banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus. However, current field application techniques for effective control against this pest remain a limitation and an alternative method for effective field application needs to be investigated. Three screenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the ability of B.

Cholera in endemic districts in Uganda during El Niño rains: 2002-2003.

Background: El Niño phenomenon causing increased rainfall and flooding has been linked to flare ups and emergence of several disease outbreaks including cholera. The latter has been reported in many districts in Uganda in recent years. Therefore an understanding of factors influencing its pattern of occurrence is needed for effective control.