Publications by authors named "John B Muma"

Introductions: The low participation of small-scale farmers in livestock markets in sub-Saharan Africa, including Zambia, is a major inhibitor to private sector investment in the livestock subsector. Despite the immense potential of the livestock industry to bolster the economic development of countries in this region, several socioeconomic, environmental, and cultural factors contribute to this hindrance.

Methods: This study was conducted in the Western Province of Zambia and adopted a qualitative research approach to understand the challenges and barriers affecting livestock markets among smallholder cattle farmers.

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Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of pathogens such as is among the top 10 threats to global health. However, clinical and molecular data are scarce in Zambia. We, therefore, evaluated the AMR profiles of nosocomial infections (NIs).

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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a public health problem exacerbated by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics and the inadequate capacity of laboratories to conduct AMR surveillance. This study assessed the capacity of laboratories in seven faith-based hospitals to conduct AMR testing and surveillance in Zambia. This multi-facility, cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted from February 2024 to April 2024.

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Wastewater-based surveillance has emerged as an important method for monitoring the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in Zambia. We conducted a longitudinal study in the Copperbelt and Eastern provinces of Zambia from October 2023 to December 2023 during which 155 wastewater samples were collected.

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Background: The irrational use of antibiotics in humans and livestock has contributed to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study investigated the commonly sold and dispensed antibiotics for prophylaxis in broiler chickens in pharmacy and agro-veterinary shop personnel in the Lusaka District of Zambia.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2023 to October 2023 among 200 veterinary medicine dispensers in the Lusaka District of Zambia using a simulated farmer or mystery shopper approach.

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Article Synopsis
  • * A survey of poultry farmers in ten Zambian districts revealed that medium-/small-scale farmers used more antimicrobials but had fewer prescriptions compared to commercial farmers.
  • * Testing of 150 poultry isolates showed high resistance rates, especially to ampicillin and tetracycline, with the presence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) genes indicating significant AMR concerns in the poultry sector.
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Objectives: This study assessed antibiotic prescribing patterns in primary healthcare facilities and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of commensal and enterococci isolated from pregnant women and children under 5 years of age.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Lusaka and Ndola districts of Zambia. Prescription pattern data were obtained from hospital pharmacies.

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Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health crisis. This study assessed the general public's consumption of antibiotics and associated factors in the Lusaka district of Zambia.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 2038 participants between December 2022 and January 2023.

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Aflatoxins B1 (AFB1) are fungi-produced toxins found in crops like peanuts, maize, and tree nuts. They constitute a public health concern due to their genotoxic and carcinogenic effects. A deterministic exposure risk assessment to AFB1 through the consumption of peanuts was conducted on children using the Margin of Exposure (MOE) and the liver cancer risk approaches.

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Article Synopsis
  • Inappropriate use of antimicrobials in Zambia's layer poultry sector contributes to rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with limited understanding of its drivers in the region.
  • A study involving 77 poultry farms analyzed samples to determine AMR levels and found a significant prevalence of multidrug resistance, particularly high among specific bacterial species.
  • Results indicated that larger farms and those aware of AMR issues had lower resistance levels, highlighting the need for educational efforts to improve AMR awareness among smaller farmers to address this public health concern.
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Article Synopsis
  • 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.
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Bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Third-generation cephalosporins (3GCs) have been used as empiric treatment for BSI and other invasive infections for years; however, their overuse could promote the emergence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs). Thus, this study aimed to determine the epidemiological, clinical and microbiological features and the effects of antimicrobial resistance on the outcomes of BSIs at a referral hospital in Lusaka, Zambia.

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Article Synopsis
  • * It found a high resistance rate (87.9%) to tetracycline and significant levels of resistance to other antibiotics, with a prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at 67.2%, and identified two cases of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production.
  • * Despite the farmers demonstrating awareness about antibiotic resistance, their understanding of its effects on human health was limited, suggesting a need for better education on the topic.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the role of classical MHC class I and II molecules in CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses, focusing on the genetic diversity of cattle's immune system in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs), particularly Zambia.
  • It develops a high-throughput MiSeq-based platform to analyze the BoLA-DQA, BoLA-DQB, BoLA-I, and BoLA-DRB genes in approximately 800 indigenous cattle from three breeds (Angoni, Barotse, Tonga).
  • The findings reveal significant diversity in MHC genotypes within these cattle populations, highlighting potential applications in vaccine development and further research on immune responses in livestock.
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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an emerging challenge to global public health. The use of antibiotics in the veterinary field is one of the contributing factors to AMR mostly due to poor knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of dispensers. Veterinary drug dispensers are expected to guide clients on indications, contraindications, and withdrawal periods of veterinary drugs.

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Article Synopsis
  • * A total of 365 cloacal swab samples were analyzed, finding that 83% of isolates were resistant to multiple antibiotics, with a particularly high resistance rate to tetracycline (80.5%).
  • * The findings highlight a critical situation with 99.4% of enterococci resistant to at least one antibiotic and 86% classified as multidrug-resistant (MDR), emphasizing the need for better AMR monitoring and management in poultry farming.
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Globally, the inappropriate dispensing and use of antibiotics in animals has contributed to the development of bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In Zambia, there is insufficient information among community pharmacy professionals on antibiotic use (ABU) and AMR in food-producing animals. This study assessed community pharmacy professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding poultry antibiotic dispensing, use, and bacterial AMR in the Lusaka district of Zambia.

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Increased antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been reported for pathogenic and commensal , hampering the treatment, and increasing the burden of infectious diarrhoeal diseases in children in developing countries. This study focused on exploring the occurrence, patterns, and possible drivers of AMR isolated from children under-five years in Zambia. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Lusaka and Ndola districts.

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Objectives: This study investigated antimicrobial susceptibility and genomic profiling of isolated from bloodstream infections at a tertiary referral hospital in Lusaka, Zambia, 2018-2019.

Method: This was a prospective hospital-based study involving routine blood culture samples submitted to the microbiology laboratory at the University Teaching Hospital. Identification of and determination of antimicrobial susceptibility profiles was achieved through conventional and automated methods.

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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.

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is 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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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health problem affecting animal and human medicine. Poultry production is among the primary sources of income for many Zambians. However, the increased demand for poultry products has led to a subsequent increase in antimicrobial use.

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Brucellosis is a neglected debilitating zoonosis widely recognized as an occupational health hazard. The seroprevalence of human anti- antibodies in high-risk populations, as well as their risk factors, have not been well-documented in Zambia. This study aimed at estimating the seroprevalence in herdsmen and abattoir workers and assess the associated risk factors.

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Background: Brucellosis is an important disease for both veterinary and public health. A study was conducted to understand the seroprevalence of brucellosis and its associated risk factors in pastoral areas of Kagera, Tanzania.

Methods: Sera from 156 patients with malaria-like symptoms were analyzed using the commercial rapid agglutination test (specific for and detection) and Fluorescence Polarization Assay (FPA).

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Background And Aim: in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods remains consistently under-reported globally. Nevertheless, several independent studies conducted to investigate have elucidated the prevalence and antibiotic resistance profiles of in RTE-associated foods and their antibiotic resistance profiles. Given the rapid increase in consumption of RTE foods of both animal and plant origin, it is imperative to know the prevalence deductive data focusing on how much of is present in RTE foods, which is critical for food safety managers and retailers to assess the possible risk posed to end-users.

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