Seroprevalence of hepatitis E in swine abattoir workers.

Background: Hepatitis E (HE) caused by Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging global public health threat. It has been identified as potentially zoonotic and swine act as main reservoirs.Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with HEV in swine abattoir workers.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study where 45 workers were sampled (N=50), serum collected and tested for presence of anti HEV IgM using ELISA.Results: A seroprevalence of 13.3% was obtained with the highest 50% among slaughterers and the lowest amongst sanitary cleaner, cloth cleaners and inspector. Those in direct contact with live pigs, their carcasses and tissues were at a higher risk compared to those in indirect contact. Seroprevalence was seen to increase with age, with the highest rate among those above 24 years.Conclusion: There is silent HE virus infection in abattoir workers at Wambizi as reflected by presence anti HEV IgM in 13% of the tested serum. However, no single case of HE has ever been reported in swine abattoir workers or general population in Kampala city. This silent maintenance of HEV infection amongst swine abattoir workers is an occupational risk that could challenge public health systems.Keywords: Hepatitis E, seroprevalence, swine abattoir worker

Gray (Oreochromis niloticus x O. aureus) and Red (Oreochromis spp.) Tilapia Show Equal Susceptibility and Proinflammatory Cytokine Responses to Experimental Tilapia Lake Virus Infection

Tilapia is the second most farmed fish species after carp in the world. However, the production has come under threat due to emerging diseases such as tilapia lake virus (TiLV) that causes massive mortalities with high economic losses. It is largely unknown whether different tilapia strains are equally susceptible to TiLV infection. In the present study we compared the susceptibility of gray (Oreochromis niloticus x O. aureus) and red tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) to experimental TiLV infection. Virus was injected intraperitoneally at a concentration of 104 TCID50/mL. Our findings show that gray tilapia had a lower mortality, 86.44%, but statistically not significantly different (p = 0.068) from red tilapia (100%). The duration of the mortality period from onset to cessation was similar for the two species, starting at 2–3 days post challenge (dpc) with a median at 10–11 dpi and ending on 20–22 dpi. In addition, there was no difference between species in mean viral loads in brain, liver and headkidney from fish collected soon after death. As for host response, expression levels of IL-1β and TNFα were equally high in brain and headkidney samples while levels in liver samples were low for both red and gray tilapia, which coincides with lower viral loads in liver compared to brain and headkidney for both species. We find that red and gray tilapia were equally susceptible to TiLV infection with similar post challenge mortality levels, equal virus concentration in target organs and similar proinflammatory cytokine responses in target and lymphoid organs at time of death. Nonetheless, we advocate that the search for less susceptible tilapia strains should continue with the view to reduce losses from TiLV infection in aquaculture

Occurrence and antibiotic susceptibility of fish bacteria isolated from Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) and Clarias gariepinus (African catfish) in Uganda.

The intention of this study was to identify the bacterial pathogens infecting Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) and Clarias gariepinus (African catfish), and to establish the antibiotic susceptibility of fish bacteria in Uganda. A total of 288 fish samples from 40 fish farms (ponds, cages, and tanks) and 8 wild water sites were aseptically collected and bacteria isolated from the head kidney, liver, brain and spleen. The isolates were identified by their morphological characteristics, conventOccurrence and antibiotic susceptibility of fish bacteria isolated from Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) and Clarias gariepinus (African catfish) in Uganda.publishedVersio

Gray (Oreochromis niloticus x O. aureus) and Red (Oreochromis spp.) Tilapia Show Equal Susceptibility and Proinflammatory Cytokine Responses to Experimental Tilapia Lake Virus Infection

publishedVersio

Gray (Oreochromis niloticus x O. aureus) and Red (Oreochromis spp.) Tilapia Show Equal Susceptibility and Proinflammatory Cytokine Responses to Experimental Tilapia Lake Virus Infection

publishedVersio

Occurrence and antibiotic susceptibility of fish bacteria isolated from Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) and Clarias gariepinus (African catfish) in Uganda.

The intention of this study was to identify the bacterial pathogens infecting Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) and Clarias gariepinus (African catfish), and to establish the antibiotic susceptibility of fish bacteria in Uganda. A total of 288 fish samples from 40 fish farms (ponds, cages, and tanks) and 8 wild water sites were aseptically collected and bacteria isolated from the head kidney, liver, brain and spleen. The isolates were identified by their morphological characteristics, conven