Post on 13-Jul-2015
Zoonotic infections among cattle in urban and peri urban areas in
Uganda -Brucella abortus bacteria in milk
Kim Rock, DVM, MSc Presenter with input from Denis Rwabiita Mugizi, DVM, MSc
Makerere University
Uganda
Why Gulu & Soroti?
•Civil strife, now a post-conflict area •Little is known about disease status...
Why brucellosis? • B. abortus is a bacteria that infects both animals
& humans • Causes economic losses • Decreased milk production & abortions • Human infections from contact with infected
animals or milk products • Cripples work force Control of brucellosis = Control of brucellosis in animals in humans
Livestock
...are a source of livelihood to rural poor. • Meat • Milk • Dowry • School fees • Cash • Drought power
Objectives of the studies
• Is B. abortus present in Gulu & Soroti? – Determine the prevalence of antibodies against B.
abortus in bulk milk – Identify the bacterium in milk via culture and PCR
• What are the risk factors of brucellosis transmission in cattle? – Communicate, share & educate
• Bulk Milk samples collected at: – 3 collecting centers – 6 boiling points – street vendors
• Questionnaires to milk deliverers
Methodology
• Blood collected from 1007 cows from 166 herds
• Milk collected from 207 cows
• Herd level questionnaires
Results
Gulu •142 milk samples •142 questionnaires
Percent Prevalence = 11.7%
•Intensive farming •Women farmers •Cattle are European mixes
Soroti •188 milk samples •140 questionnaires Percent Prevalence = 35.3% •Extensive herds •Men farmers •More native breeds
A. 69% in Gulu & Soroti
answer, no.
yes Q. Have heard of Brucella or
brucellosis?
1
2
3no
yes
no yes
don’t know
Risk factors of transmission established • Sharing of grazing grounds • Keeping a large herd
•Outsourcing replacement stock •Keeping mixed breeds •Using hired animal attendants
Present
• Molecular typing & biotyping (PCR) of bacteria
• Map milk value chain • Explore differences in
brucella dynamics in Gulu & Soroti
• Disseminate results along
with Makerere University
Take home message • Brucella is present and it is a real human &
animal public health threat!
• How can we best reduce Brucella’s threat to a safe and economically successful food supply?
• Communication of new scientific knowledge to reduce human and animal infection.
• Collaboration with Ugandan partners and researchers to encourage sustainability.
• Exploration of other species’ roles in infection (sheep & goats.)
Acknowledgments
This study was supported by the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of its special allocation on global food security,
UD 40.
Makerere University