Foodborne Pathogens at the Livestock–Wildlife–Human Interface in Rural Western Uganda

Foodborne pathogens are an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. To assess the presence of Salmonella, Campylobacter and Arcobacter spp. in livestock, wildlife, and humans from different regions across western Uganda, 479 faecal samples were tested by PCR. Salmonella and Campylobacter spp. were more frequently detected in livestock (5.1% and 23.5%, respectively) compared to wildlife (1.9% and 16.8%, respectively). Wildlife from remote areas showed lower Salmonella and Campylobacter spp. occurrence than in areas where interactions with livestock are common, suggesting that spill-over may exist from livestock or humans. Further studies are needed to better understand the transmission dynamics of these pathogens at the wildlife-livestock-human interface in western Uganda.This work has received financial support from Daktari NGO (Andorra). We are grateful to the personal staff of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, to the Makerere University veterinary students, and farmers that helped in field work. We are also grateful to Yonah Kajuna for his valuable help with sample collection. Andrea Dias-Alves acknowledges the Government of Andorra from a predoctoral grant (ATC020-AND-2020/2021 and ATC020-AND-2021/2022). CERCA Programme from the Generalitat de Catalunya is also acknowledged.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Multisectoral prioritization of zoonotic diseases in Uganda, 2017: A One Health perspective

<div><p>Background</p><p>Zoonotic diseases continue to be a public health burden globally. Uganda is especially vulnerable due to its location, biodiversity, and population. Given these concerns, the Ugandan government in collaboration with the Global Health Security Agenda conducted a One Health Zoonotic Disease Prioritization Workshop to identify zoonotic diseases of greatest national concern to the Ugandan government.</p><p>Materials and methods</p><p>The One Health Zoonotic Disease Prioritization tool, a semi-quantitative tool developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was used for the prioritization of zoonoses. Workshop participants included voting members and observers representing multiple government and non-governmental sectors. During the workshop, criteria for prioritization were selected, and questions and weights relevant to each criterion were determined. We used a decision tree to provide a ranked list of zoonoses. Participants then established next steps for multisectoral engagement for the prioritized zoonoses. A sensitivity analysis demonstrated how criteria weights impacted disease prioritization.</p><p>Results</p><p>Forty-eight zoonoses were considered during the workshop. Criteria selected to prioritize zoonotic diseases were (1) severity of disease in humans in Uganda, (2) availability of effective control strategies, (3) potential to cause an epidemic or pandemic in humans or animals, (4) social and economic impacts, and (5) bioterrorism potential. Seven zoonotic diseases were identified as priorities for Uganda: anthrax, zoonotic influenza viruses, viral hemorrhagic fevers, brucellosis, African trypanosomiasis, plague, and rabies. Sensitivity analysis did not indicate significant changes in zoonotic disease prioritization based on criteria weights.</p><p>Discussion</p><p>One Health approaches and multisectoral collaborations are crucial to the surveillance, prevention, and control strategies for zoonotic diseases. Uganda used such an approach to identify zoonoses of national concern. Identifying these priority diseases enables Uganda’s National One Health Platform and Zoonotic Disease Coordination Office to address these zoonoses in the future with a targeted allocation of resources.</p></div

Multisectoral prioritization of zoonotic diseases in Uganda, 2017: A One Health perspective - Fig 1

<p>Comparison of disease prioritization scores obtained from weighted criteria and (a) equal criteria weights or (b) excluding each of the five criteria.</p

Ranking criteria and weights, associated categorical questions, and response options used for prioritizing zoonotic diseases in Uganda.

<p>Ranking criteria and weights, associated categorical questions, and response options used for prioritizing zoonotic diseases in Uganda.</p

Final prioritized disease rankings from the Ugandan One Health Zoonotic Disease Prioritization Workshop, 2017.

<p>Final prioritized disease rankings from the Ugandan One Health Zoonotic Disease Prioritization Workshop, 2017.</p

Heterogeneity in patterns of helminth infections across populations of mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei)

Conservation efforts have led to the recovery of the endangered mountain gorilla populations. Due to their limited potential for spatial expansion, population densities increased, which may alter the epidemiology of infectious diseases. Recently, clinical gastrointestinal illnesses linked to helminth infections have been recorded in both gorilla populations. To understand drivers and patterns of helminth infections we quantified strongylid and tapeworm infections across both Virunga Massif and Bwindi populations using fecal egg counts. We assessed the impact of age, sex, group size, season and spatial differences used as a proxy, which reflects observed variation in the occurrence of gastrointestinal problems, vegetation types, gorilla subpopulation growth and associated social structure on helminth infections. We revealed striking geographic differences in strongylid infections with higher egg counts mostly in areas with high occurrences of gastrointestinal disease. Increased helminth egg counts were also associated with decreasing group size in some areas. Observed spatial differences may reflect mutual effects of variations in subpopulation growth rates, gorilla social structure, and vegetation associated with altitude across mountain gorilla habitat. Helminth infection intensities in Virunga gorillas were lowest in the youngest and the oldest animals. Elucidating parasite infection patterns of endangered species with low genetic diversity is crucial for their conservation management