Co-Surveillance of Rotaviruses in Humans and Domestic Animals in Central Uganda Reveals Circulation of Wide Genotype Diversity in the Animals

Rotavirus genotypes are species specific. However, interspecies transmission is reported to result in the emergence of new genotypes. A cross-sectional study of 242 households with 281 cattle, 418 goats, 438 pigs, and 258 humans in Uganda was undertaken between 2013 and 2014. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and genotypes of rotaviruses across co-habiting host species, as well as potential cross-species transmission. Rotavirus infection in humans and animals was determined using NSP3 targeted RT-PCR and ProSpecT Rotavirus ELISA tests, respectively. Genotyping of rotavirus-positive samples was by G- and P-genotype specific primers in nested RT-PCR assays while genotyping of VP4 and VP7 proteins for the non-typeable human positive sample was done by Sanger sequencing. Mixed effect logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with rotavirus infection in animals. The prevalence of rotavirus was 4.1% (95% CI: 3.0-5.5%) among the domestic animals and 0.8% (95% CI: 0.4-1.5%) in humans. The genotypes in human samples were G9P[8] and P[4]. In animals, six G-genotypes, G3(2.5%), G8(10%), G9(10%), G11(26.8%), G10(35%), and G12(42.5%), and nine P-genotypes, P[1](2.4%), P[4](4.9%), P[5](7.3%), P[6](14.6%), P[7](7.3%), P[8](9.8%), P[9](9.8%), P[10](12.2%), and P[11](17.1%), were identified. Animals aged 2 to 18 months were less likely to have rotavirus infection in comparison with animals below 2 months of age. No inter-host species transmission was identified

Molecular Characterization and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Edwardsiella tarda isolated from Farmed Nile Tilapia and African Catfish from Wakiso, Uganda

This study was conducted to isolate and characterize Edwardsiella tarda (E. tarda) and assess its antimicrobial susceptibility. The bacterium was isolated in Wakiso District, Uganda, from symptomatic and asymptomatic Nile tilapia and African catfish raised in earthen ponds, tanks and cages between September 2016 and February 2017. The bacterium was then identified using conventional biochemical tests and API 20E test kits and characterized by sequencing 16S rRNA gene. The antibiotic susceptibility of 16 drugs was established using the Kirby BeurDisc diffusion method. Eight E. tarda isolates were identified using conventional biochemical tests but only one isolate was confirmed to be E. tarda by PCR. Phylogenetic analysis indicated a distant relationship with other 16S rRNA gene sequences retrieved from the GenBank. Six virulence genes (CitC, muk, gadB, katB, esaV, and fimA) that enhance bacterial survival and pathogenesis in the host were detected. The isolate registered low levels of antibiotic resistance as it was resistant only to Oxacillin, Vancomycin and Penicillin, to which it is intrinsically resistant. This implies low antibiotic usage in aquaculture in the area. Despite its low occurrence, presence of virulent genes in E. tarda indicates its potential to affect fish and human health

Whole strains vs MGEs in short and longterm transmission of ESBL genes between healthcare and community settings in Uganda

Abstract Multidrug-resistant ESBL-producing Escherichia coli are a leading cause of infections in hospital and community settings. Based on samples from two hospitals in Uganda and households of inpatients we tested the hypothesis that ESBL E. coli and/or their resistance determinants could spread within the healthcare and community settings through discharged patients that were still colonized. We used bacterial culture, susceptibility testing whole genome sequencing and detailed bioinformatics analysis to test the above hypothesis. Genome analysis revealed presence of predominantly bla CTX-M-15 and bla OXA-1 genes with a total resistome with genes belonging to 14 different classes of antimicrobials. Short-term cases of strain sharing were reported within each setting and strains from the two settings were found to cluster together based on their overall resistome. Long-term horizontal transfer of ESBL genes by various IncF and IncY types of plasmids shared between healthcare and community settings was demonstrated. Based on hybrid assembly, plasmid reconstruction and phylogenetic analyses, our study suggests that while the dissemination of AMR between healthcare and community settings in the short-term is possible at whole strain level, the long-term transmission between healthcare and communities is sustained by the transfer of plasmids circulating across niches and disseminating related resistomes

Co-Surveillance of Rotaviruses in Humans and Domestic Animals in Central Uganda Reveals Circulation of Wide Genotype Diversity in the Animals.

Rotavirus genotypes are species specific. However, interspecies transmission is reported to result in the emergence of new genotypes. A cross-sectional study of 242 households with 281 cattle, 418 goats, 438 pigs, and 258 humans in Uganda was undertaken between 2013 and 2014. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and genotypes of rotaviruses across co-habiting host species, as well as potential cross-species transmission. Rotavirus infection in humans and animals was determined using NSP3 targeted RT-PCR and ProSpecT Rotavirus ELISA tests, respectively. Genotyping of rotavirus-positive samples was by G- and P-genotype specific primers in nested RT-PCR assays while genotyping of VP4 and VP7 proteins for the non-typeable human positive sample was done by Sanger sequencing. Mixed effect logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with rotavirus infection in animals. The prevalence of rotavirus was 4.1% (95% CI: 3.0-5.5%) among the domestic animals and 0.8% (95% CI: 0.4-1.5%) in humans. The genotypes in human samples were G9P[8] and P[4]. In animals, six G-genotypes, G3(2.5%), G8(10%), G9(10%), G11(26.8%), G10(35%), and G12(42.5%), and nine P-genotypes, P[1](2.4%), P[4](4.9%), P[5](7.3%), P[6](14.6%), P[7](7.3%), P[8](9.8%), P[9](9.8%), P[10](12.2%), and P[11](17.1%), were identified. Animals aged 2 to 18 months were less likely to have rotavirus infection in comparison with animals below 2 months of age. No inter-host species transmission was identified

Co-Surveillance of Rotaviruses in Humans and Domestic Animals in Central Uganda Reveals Circulation of Wide Genotype Diversity in the Animals.

Peer reviewed: TrueRotavirus genotypes are species specific. However, interspecies transmission is reported to result in the emergence of new genotypes. A cross-sectional study of 242 households with 281 cattle, 418 goats, 438 pigs, and 258 humans in Uganda was undertaken between 2013 and 2014. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and genotypes of rotaviruses across co-habiting host species, as well as potential cross-species transmission. Rotavirus infection in humans and animals was determined using NSP3 targeted RT-PCR and ProSpecT Rotavirus ELISA tests, respectively. Genotyping of rotavirus-positive samples was by G- and P-genotype specific primers in nested RT-PCR assays while genotyping of VP4 and VP7 proteins for the non-typeable human positive sample was done by Sanger sequencing. Mixed effect logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with rotavirus infection in animals. The prevalence of rotavirus was 4.1% (95% CI: 3.0-5.5%) among the domestic animals and 0.8% (95% CI: 0.4-1.5%) in humans. The genotypes in human samples were G9P[8] and P[4]. In animals, six G-genotypes, G3(2.5%), G8(10%), G9(10%), G11(26.8%), G10(35%), and G12(42.5%), and nine P-genotypes, P[1](2.4%), P[4](4.9%), P[5](7.3%), P[6](14.6%), P[7](7.3%), P[8](9.8%), P[9](9.8%), P[10](12.2%), and P[11](17.1%), were identified. Animals aged 2 to 18 months were less likely to have rotavirus infection in comparison with animals below 2 months of age. No inter-host species transmission was identified