Veterinary Medicine
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- ItemAssessment of nonbiological determinants of African swine fever and porcine cysticercosis in free range pig value chains in the Gwembe valley of Southern Zambia : a systems thinking approach.(The University of Zambia, 2024) Dzombe, Catherine BesnartThe pig production sector in Zambia, particularly in Southern province, has exhibited consistent growth owing to the substantial pig populations in these regions. However, the industry faces significant challenges primarily arising from diseases such as African Swine Fever (ASF) and porcine cysticercosis (PCC), which hinder its expansion and sustainability. Consequently, the aim of this study was to conduct an assessment of nonbiological determinants of ASF and PCC in free range pig value chains in the Gwembe valley of Southern Zambia. A cross-sectional study that incorporated the Spatial Group Model Building (SGMB) process, using the LayerStack tool, was conducted in October 2023. This participatory method engaged 11 members of the Gwembe pig value chain in a focus group discussion using a semi-structured guide as well as two District Veterinary Officers (DVOs) as key informants. The study revealed that socio-economic factors, traditional farming practices, and market dynamics significantly contribute to the persistence and spread of these diseases. Poor access to veterinary services, especially in remote areas, delayed disease management, while traditional free-range farming practices facilitated disease transmission through unsanitary environments and contact with contaminated human waste. Cultural practices, such as pig movement during ceremonies, and economic pressures, including the sale of infected pigs in informal markets, further exacerbated the situation. The study also identified gaps in biosecurity measures, inadequate disease awareness, and financial constraints as major barriers to effective disease control. A systems thinking approach, using the SGMB, highlighted the spatial and socio-economic dynamics that sustain the prevalence of ASF and PCC, underscoring the need for integrated, multi-dimensional interventions that address both cultural and economic challenges. It is recommended that efforts be focused on improving access to veterinary services in remote areas. To address the delay in disease interventions, veterinary outreach programs should be strengthened, ensuring timely disease prevention and control measures. Based on the findings that traditional free-range farming practices significantly contribute to disease transmission, it is recommended that pig farming practices be modernized through the promotion of confined and semi-confined farming systems. Going forward, exploring the socio-cultural factors that influence farmers' acceptance and adoption of modern biosecurity measures could shed light on ways to bridge the gap between traditional practices and disease control.
- ItemEvaluation of the public health significance of escherichia coli and klebsiella pneumoniae in milk and soil from environment on dairy farms in Lusaka, Zambia.(The University of Zambia, 2024) Kaluba, Ciluvya KavimbaEscherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. are the most common coliforms that cause clinical mastitis and are responsible for the disease in about 40% of cases in dairy animals. The presence of E. coli and K. pneumoniae in raw milk poses a threat to human health as consumption of contaminated raw milk may cause diseases such as diarrhoea, haemolytic colitis, haemolytic uremic syndrome, urinary tract infections (UTIs), wound infections, nosocomial infections, meningitis in infants, pyogenic liver abscess, necrotizing fasciitis, endophthalmitis and severe pneumonia. This cross-sectional study aimed to generate knowledge on the presence of E. coli and K. pneumoniae in dairy cattle milk and soil. A total of 180 (90 milk and 90 soil environmental) samples were collected from 30 farms around Lusaka province. Samples were collected and processed using standard microbiological and molecular laboratory procedures. A total of 69 isolates were identified, of which (62) were E. coli (51.6%: milk and 48.4%: soil) and (7) K. pneumoniae (85.7%: milk and 14.3%: soil) and confirmed using uidA and KP-27 genes, respectively. The isolates were subjected to eight antimicrobials for susceptibility testing, with the highest resistance recorded for E. coli and K. pneumoniae to ampicillin (84%) and ceftazidime (86%), respectively. Isolates that were resistant to tetracycline, cephalosporins and trimethoprim- were subjected to PCR to detect resistance genes and these showed that 33%of them had tet (A), 27% blaCTX-M, 37.8% blaTEM-1, 21.6% blaTEM-2 and 80% for dfrA7, encoding tetracycline, cephalosporin, and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole resistance, respectively. In order to presumptively screen for Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamases (ESBLs), isolates resistant to cephalosporins were sub-cultured onto MacConkey agar supplemented with cefotaxime. Isolates that grew on MacConkey cefotaxime agar were further tested for the detection of ESBL genes using PCR. Three out of five isolates (60%) showed the presence of ESBL resistance genes blaCTX-M (1/3) and blaTEM-1 gene (2/3). The presence of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolated from milk and the environment indicates poor hygienic conditions and the importance of the One Health approach. In addition, the findings demonstrate the need to control the usage of antibiotics in veterinary medicine better and implement effective surveillance programs.
- ItemIn vitro evaluation of different temperatures attained during steam inhalation with and without eucalyptus saligna fresh leaves crude extract on SARS-COV-2 infectivity.(The University of Zambia, 2024) Chipanta, ChisangaCoronavirus disease of 2019 is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. It is a highly transmissible emerging pathogen in humans. Primarily, infection happens when the spike glycoprotein on the surface of the virus binds to the host cell receptors resulting in a variate of asymptomatic and symptomatic infections. The disease’s global case fatality, though dependent on the viral variant, ranged between 1.7% to 39% at the peak of the pandemic and there was no known medication to counter such effects. As a result, there was an urgent need for remedies to counter the disease. Among alternative remedies to conventional ones was steam inhalation, a notably typical home-setting remedy locally called Ukufutikila in Zambia. Studies have indicated that certain temperatures of steam when inhaled could inactivate SARS-CoV-2 although this information remains scanty. This study endeavored to determine the effects of temperatures attained during steam inhalation, a home remedy, both in the presence and absence of Eucalyptus saligna fresh leaves crude extract on the in vitro infectivity of SARS-CoV-2. Eight participants were recruited to each undergo steam inhalation for 20 minutes in which temperature variations were determined and ranged from 94.7°C to 54.4°C. These temperatures, based on the activity of Alkaline phosphatase (a surrogate glycoprotein), were then used to determine the in vitro infectivity of SARS-CoV 2. The SARS-CoV-2 material was inoculated into Vero T2 cells both in the presence and absence of E. saligna fresh leaves crude extract (13% in culture). Prior to inoculation, the SARS-CoV-2 material was heat treated following the determined temperature profile from steam inhalation. When SARS-CoV-2 material was heat treated or when inoculated in the presence of E. saligna fresh leaves crude extract, no observable cytopathic effects (0% of assays) were seen on the Vero T2 cells over a period of 72 hours. Withal, there was no significant virus growth (p = 0.771) estimated after exposure to the two treatments. The results observed in this study shed light on the possibility of steam inhalation being an efficient regimen in the management of COVID-19. In order to have more knowledge on the effects of steam inhalation temperatures on SARS-CoV-2 in vitro infectivity, this study recommends clinical trials involving COVID-19 asymptomatic patients and exposed frontline workers prior to onset of symptoms or immediately following exposure. Also, that further analyses on E. saligna fresh leaves crude extract be carried out to understand which phytochemicals are responsible for inhibitory effects on SARS-CoV-2 in vitro infectivity.
- ItemSeroprevalence of human Brucella antibodies and associated risk factors among patients seeking medical attention in selected health facilities in western province of Zambia.(The University of Zambia, 2024) Mambote, Armand MayinduBrucellosis is a neglected zoonotic disease that affects humans and animals and can lead to severe illness in humans and financial losses for households that rear livestock. In human cases, the disease presents with fever, fatigue or malaise, flu-like symptoms, weight loss, headaches and back pains. Most human brucellosis occurs in rural regions where individuals live in close proximity to their livestock and ingest contaminated raw milk and milk products. In Zambia, there is a paucity of information on the seroprevalence of human brucellosis and its risk factors in the human population. The study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of human Brucella antibodies and associated risk factors among patients seeking medical attention at community hospitals. A cross-sectional seroepidemiological study was conducted from 21st April 2023 to 12th January 2024 among patients seeking medical attention at health facilities in selected districts of Western province in Zambia. 225 blood samples were collected from consenting participants. Sera were separated and analysed for anti-Brucella antibodies using the Rose Bengal Test (RBT) and Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) in serial interpretation. A questionnaire was administered to obtain epidemiological data related to exposure to the Brucella pathogen. The data obtained were coded and entered in the Micro Soft Excel 2013® and analysed using STATA version 15® (Stata Corp., College Station, TX, USA). The odds ratio, 95% confidence interval, and Fisher's exact tests were computed to see the degree of association of the risk factors with Brucella seropositivity. Using the cut-off of P.I.< 30% and P.I. ≥ 30% for c-ELISA respectively negative and positive. Only 197 sera samples were found acceptable for testing and analysis for this study, out of these, the seroprevalence of Brucella antibodies was 18.3% (n=36, 95% CI=12.8-23.6) on RBT and 4.57% (n=9, 95% CI=3.25-14.8) on c-ELISA (p-value=0.412) respectively. Among the risk factors considered only the number of animals was statistically significant to Brucella seropositivity (OR 6.49, 95% CI=1.10-38.13, p-value = 0.039). Brucella antibodies are prevalent among patients attending health facilities in the Western province of Zambia. To reduce the risk of exposure, the general public needs to be educated about the brucellosis disease. Additionally, farmers should be encouraged to vaccinate their animals.
- ItemEffectiveness of malaria case management in under-five children by community health workers in Thyolo and Chikwawa districts in Malawi from 2017 to 2021.(The University of Zambia, 2024) Pendame, Mwayi WinstoneMalaria is one of the infectious diseases that causes a lot of deaths in under-five children in sub Saharan African countries and continues to be a public health problem. Most of these deaths occur in under-five children residing in remote and hard-to-reach areas where access to healthcare is a challenge because of long distances to the health facilities. The use of community health workers (CHWs) was introduced to improve access to healthcare and to reduce the under-five children’s deaths due to malaria. However, there is limited information in terms of the effectiveness of CHWs in malaria case management in Malawi. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of CHWs in malaria case management in Thyolo and Chikwawa districts of Malawi. This was a retrospective descriptive study design where eight (8) health centres were randomly selected within the catchment area and clusters in each of the selected districts where the CHWs are based. Malaria mortality trends and malaria admission trends were analysed before and after the introduction of malaria community case management. Analysis was done using SPSS, STATA, and R Studio. Tests used were independent t-tests, multiple linear regression, and time trend analysis tests such as Moving Average and Mann-Kendall Trend tests. The results from the years 2017 to 2021 showed that 53% of under-five malaria cases were seen in village clinics in Thyolo district and 38.5% in Chikwawa from the year 2017 to 2021. Further, there was a significant decline in the trends of malaria death rates over time (p = value 0.036). Thyolo district had a decline in mortality from 72.8 per 100,000 in 2013 to 24.7 per 100,000 in 2021, whereas Chikwawa district saw a decline from 99.4 per 100,000 to 36.2 per 100,000. Additionally, a significant mean difference (p = 0.035) was found between the two districts, with Chikwawa district having more cases (M = 9142) than Thyolo district (M = 2235). Admission trends also statistically declined (p = value: 0.034) after the community case malaria programme from 2017 to 2021. Country-wide study will help to establish the effectiveness of CHW for the whole of Malawi. The study recommends a need to continuously support the CHWs, more sensitisation meetings to the communities to continuously access the health services rendered by the CHWs and to consider increasing the age group accessing services by CHWs.