Prevalence of trypanosomes and selected symbionts in tsetse species of eastern Zambia

Insect symbionts have attracted attention for their potential use as anti-parasitic gene products in arthropod disease vectors. While tsetse species of the Luangwa valley have been extensively studied, less is known about the prevalence of symbionts and their interactions with the trypanosome parasite. Polymerase chain reaction was used to investigate the presence of Wolbachia and Sodalis bacteria, in tsetse flies infected with trypanosomes (Trypanosoma vivax, Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma brucei). Out of 278 captured tsetse flies in eastern Zambia, 95.3% (n = 265, 95% CI = 92.8–97.8) carried endosymbionts: Wolbachia (79.1%, 95% CI 73.9–83.8) and Sodalis (86.3%, 95% CI 81.7–90.1). Overall, trypanosome prevalence was 25.5% (n = 71, 95% CI = 20.4–30.7), 10.8% (n = 30, 95% CI 7.1–14.4) for T. brucei, 1.4% (n = 4, 95% CI = 0.4–3.6) for both T. congolense and T. vivax, and 0.7% (n = 2, 95% CI 0.1–2.6) for T. b. rhodesiense. Out of 240 tsetse flies that were infected with Sodalis, trypanosome infection was reported in 40 tsetse flies (16.7%, 95% CI = 12.0–21.4) while 37 (16.8%, 95% CI 11.9–21.8) of the 220 Wolbachia infected tsetse flies were infected with trypanosomes. There was 1.3 times likelihood of T. brucei infection to be present when Wolbachia was present and 1.7 likelihood of T. brucei infection when Sodalis was present. Overall findings suggest absence of correlation between the presence of tsetse endosymbionts and tsetse with trypanosome infection. Lastly, the presence of pathogenic trypanosomes in tsetse species examined provided insights into the risk communities face, and the importance of African trypanosomiasis in the area

Policy and linkages in the application of a one health system for reporting and controlling African trypanosomiasis and other zoonotic diseases in Zambia

The capacity to detect, control and manage emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases in Africa has been limited by a lack of utilisation of available reporting structures and policies to support programmes at national and local levels. This study explored the impact of the Zambian government policies on animal and human disease reporting and management and on One Health opportunities. An in-depth review and analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the existing policies and reporting structures in the departments responsible for Veterinary Services, Health, and Wildlife, was conducted. According to our findings, sub-optimal implementation of existing policies related to the control of zoonotic diseases was impacting disease reporting, and reporting structures play an important role in effective and sustainable reporting of zoonotic diseases. Further, the study explored capacities and strategies in trypanosomiasis control as a case study that could prompt effective adoption of a One Health approach, and as such, the study suggests measures that could help to assess the performance of a One Health system in the control of African trypanosomiasis and other zoonotic diseases

Insights into the control and management of human and bovine African Trypanosomiasis in Zambia between 2009 and 2019-a review

Tsetse transmitted trypanosomiasis is a fatal disease commonly known as Nagana in cattle and sleeping sickness in humans. The disease threatens food security and has severe economic impact in Africa including most parts of Zambia. The level of effectiveness of commonly used African trypanosomiasis control methods has been reported in several studies. However, there have been no review studies on African trypanosomiasis control and management conducted in the context of One Health. This paper therefore seeks to fill this knowledge gap. A review of studies that have been conducted on African trypanosomiasis in Zambia between 2009 and 2019, with a focus on the control and management of trypanosomiasis was conducted. A total of 2238 articles were screened, with application of the search engines PubMed, PubMed Central and One Search. Out of these articles, 18 matched the required criteria and constituted the basis for the paper. An in-depth analysis of the 18 articles was conducted to identify knowledge gaps and evidence for best practices. Findings from this review provide stakeholders and health workers with a basis for prioritisation of African trypanosomiasis as an important neglected disease in Zambia and for formulation of One Health strategies for better control and/or management of the disease

Guidelines and mindlines: why do clinical staff over-diagnose malaria in Tanzania? A qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Malaria over-diagnosis in Africa is widespread and costly both financially and in terms of morbidity and mortality from missed diagnoses. An understanding of the reasons behind malaria over-diagnosis is urgently needed to inform strategies for better targeting of antimalarials. METHODS: In an ethnographic study of clinical practice in two hospitals in Tanzania, 2,082 patient consultations with 34 clinicians were observed over a period of three months at each hospital. All clinicians were also interviewed individually as well as being observed during routine working activities with colleagues. Interviews with five tutors and 10 clinical officer students at a nearby clinical officer training college were subsequently conducted. RESULTS: Four, primarily social, spheres of influence on malaria over-diagnosis were identified. Firstly, the influence of initial training within a context where the importance of malaria is strongly promoted. Secondly, the influence of peers, conforming to perceived expectations from colleagues. Thirdly, pressure to conform with perceived patient preferences. Lastly, quality of diagnostic support, involving resource management, motivation and supervision. Rather than following national guidelines for the diagnosis of febrile illness, clinician behaviour appeared to follow 'mindlines': shared rationales constructed from these different spheres of influence. Three mindlines were identified in this setting: malaria is easier to diagnose than alternative diseases; malaria is a more acceptable diagnosis; and missing malaria is indefensible. These mindlines were apparent during the training stages as well as throughout clinical careers. CONCLUSION: Clinicians were found to follow mindlines as well as or rather than guidelines, which incorporated multiple social influences operating in the immediate and the wider context of decision making. Interventions to move mindlines closer to guidelines need to take the variety of social influences into account

Assessment of Children for Acute Respiratory Infections in Hospital Outpatients in Tanzania: What Drives Good Practice?

Respiratory infections cause significant mortality in developing countries but are frequently undiagnosed. Reasons for this are unclear. We observed 1,081 outpatient consultations with patients less than five years of age in Tanzania. In 554 patients with cough or difficulty breathing the absolute percentages examined were 5% for respiratory rate counted. 14% chest exposed. and 25% stethoscope used. Decisions to conduct particular examinations did appear to follow clinical logic, with odds ratios of 4.28 for counting respiratory rate (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.75-10.47), 2.57 for exposing the chest (95% CI = 1.67-3.95). and 18.91 for using a Stethoscope (95% CI = 9.52-37.57) inpatients With cough Or difficulty breathing. Non-clinical variables, including salary level, Were also associated with examinations, and history taking was more common among clinicians originating Outside the hospital area. Although respiratory examinations are relatively more common in those with cough or difficulty breathing, the absolute rates are low and related to non-clinical and clinical factors

Subscriber Perceptions about the Slogans of GSM Network Providers in Nsukka Urban, Southeast Nigeria

This paper studied subscribers' perception of General System for Mobile Communication (GSM) services, which they receive from network providers in light of their claims, which were encapsulated in their slogans. The study's primary objective was to find out if these GSM operators, mainly AIRTEL, ETISALAT, GLOBACOM and MTN, lived up to their claims in terms of the quality of services rendered to their subscribers. The two independent variables used in the study were age and location, while customers' satisfaction was the dependent variable. The study's findings show that each of these GSM network providers violated the maxims of quantity and quality to various degrees by not providing good quality calls, SMS and internet services to their customers as they claimed in their slogans

Assessment of the phytoreclamation of an oil-contaminated soil cultivated with Cynodon dactylon, Eleusine indica and Eragrostis tenela

The interactions between Cynodon dactylon, Eragrostis tenela and Eleusine indica in the phytoremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon were investigated. Top soil was collected from a marked plot and polluted with spent engine oil (SEO) to obtain a constant 5% w/w concentration. Thereafter, the soils were sown with Cynodon dactylon, Eragrostis tenela and Eleusine indica singly and in combination of two’s and three’s in separate bowls. The set up was left for three (3) months in a screen house. The results revealed that there were reductions in soil concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons, from 26523.76 mg/kg to 19959 mg/kg in the oil-polluted soil. Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus sp., Proteus vulgaris were the prevalent bacteria species found in the soils, while prevalence fungi species included Aspergillus niger, Geotricium sp., Penicillium sp., Rhizopus sp., Aspergillus flavus, and Fusarium solani. Morphological parameters of the three grasses were better enhanced when sown singly than when they were in combinations of two’s and three’s. Remediation was however best when they were sown altogether as one. Ikhajiagbe et al 2017 (PDF

Challenges in the diagnostic performance of parasitological and molecular tests in the surveillance of african trypanosomiasis in Eastern Zambia

African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) control programs rely on active case detection through the screening of animals reared in disease endemic areas. This study compared the application of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and microscopy in the detection of trypanosomes in cattle blood in Mambwe, a rural district in eastern Zambia. Blood samples were collected from 227 cattle and tested for infection with trypanosomes using microscopy and Ribosomal RNA Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS)-PCR. Microscopy on the buffy coat detected 17 cases, whilst thin and thick smears detected 26 cases and 28 cases, respectively. In total, microscopy detected 40 cases. ITS-PCR-filter paper (FP) on blood spots stored on FP detected 47 cases, and ITS-PCR-FTA on blood spots stored on Whatman FTA Classic cards detected 83 cases. Using microscopy as the gold standard, ITS-PCR-FTA had a better specificity (SP) and sensitivity (SE) (SP = 72.2%; SE = 77.5%; kappa = 0.35) than ITS-PCR-FP (SP = 88%; SE = 60%; kappa = 0.45). The prevalence of Trypanosoma brucei s.l. was higher on ITS-PCR-FTA (19/227) than on ITS-PCR-FP (0/227). Our results illustrate the complexities around trypanosomiasis surveillance in rural Africa and provide evidence of the impact that field conditions and staff training can have on diagnostic results, which in turn impact the success of tsetse and trypanosomiasis control programs in the region.http://link.springer.com/journal/11250pm2022Veterinary Tropical Disease