Browsing by Author "Kazwala, R. R."

Now showing 1 - 20 of 21

Alcelaphine herpesvirus-1 (Malignant Catarrhal Fever Virus) in wildebeest placenta: Genetic variation of ORF50 and A9.5 alleles
(PLoS ONE) Lankester, F.; Lugelo, A.; Mnyambwa, N.; Ndabigaye, A.; Keyyu, J.; Kazwala, R. R.; Grant, D. M.; Relf, V.; Haig, D. M.; Cleaveland, S.; Russell, G. C.
Bovine tuberculosis in the lake Victoria zone of Tanzania and its possible consequences for human health in the HIV/AIDS era
(Veterinary Research Communications) Jiwa, S. F. H.; Kazwala, R. R.; Aboud, A. A. O.; Kalaye, A. J.
Bovine tuberculosis in the lake Victoria zone of Tanzania and its possible consequences for human health in the HIV/AIDS era
(Veterinary Research Communications, 1997) Jiwa, S. F. H.; Kazwala, R. R.; Aboud, A. A. O.; Kalaye, A. J.
A total of 8190 cattle from 42 well-managed herds in the Lake Victoria zone of Tanzania were tested for bovine tuberculosis by a single comparative intradermal test (SCITT) using avian and bovine puri¢ed protein derivative (PPD) antigens. The prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in this area was found to be 0.2%. There was signi¢cant variation (p50.001) among the herds tested in the four regions in this zone (Kagera, Mara, Mwanza and Shinyanga). The highest prevalence (2.12%) was in a herd of 566 cattle which had recently arrived in Kagera region from Dar-es-Salaam. None of the 915 cattle tested in Shinyanga or of the 254 resident cattle in the Kagera region were positive by SCITT. This area, and particularly the Kagera region, has the highest human morbidity and mortality due to the acquired immunode¢ciency syndrome in Tanzania. Therefore, the presence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle necessitates further investigations on the role of animal-derived tuberculosis in human health.
Demographics and parasites of African buffalo (Syncerus caffer Sparrman, 1779) in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
(African Journal of Ecology) Roug, A.; Muse, E. A.; Smith, W. A; Mazet, J. A. K.; Kazwala, R. R.; Harvey, D.; Paul, G.; Meing’ataki, G. O.; Banga, P.; Clifford, D. L.
Domestic dog demographic structure and dynamics relevant to rabies control planning in urban areas in Africa: The case of Iringa, Tanzania
(BMC Veterinary Research) Gsell, A. S.; Knobel, D. L.; Cleaveland, S.; Kazwala, R. R.; Vounatsou, P.; Zinsstag, J.
Elucidating the phylodynamics of endemic rabies virus in eastern Africa using whole-genome sequencing
(Virus Evolution) Brunker, K.; Marston, D. A.; Horton, D. L.; Cleaveland, S.; Fooks, A. R.; Kazwala, R. R.; Ngeleja, C.; Lembo, T.; Sambo, M; Mtema, Z. J.; Sikana, L.; Wilkie, G.; Biek, R.; Hampson, K.
Epidemiology of Brucella infection in the human, livestock and wildlife interface in the Katavi-Rukwa ecosystem, Tanzania
(BMC Veterinary Research) Assenga, J. A.; Matemba, L. E.; Muller, S. K.; Muller, S. K.; Malakalinga, J. J.; Kazwala, R. R.
Epidemiology of Brucella infection in the human, livestock and wildlife interface in the Katavi-Rukwa ecosystem, Tanzania
(BMC Veterinary Research, 2015) Assenga, J. A.; Matemba, L. E.; Muller, S. K.; Muller, S. K.; Malakalinga, J. J.; Kazwala, R. R.
Background: Brucellosis is a zoonosis of public health importance worldwide. In Tanzania, the disease is underreported due to insufficient awareness, inadequate diagnostic protocols, including lack of appropriate reagents for diagnosis. Livestock and wildlife are considered potential sources of infection to humans; however, the role played by these carriers in the epidemiology of the disease in the ecosystems in Tanzania is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to establish the prevalence of anti-Brucella antibodies in humans, wildlife and livestock; and molecular prevalence of Brucella spp in cattle and goats in the Katavi- Rukwa ecosystem. Results: Anti-Brucella antibodies were detected in humans at 0.6 % (95 % CI: 0.1, 2.1 %); cattle at 6.8 % (95 % CI: 5.4, 8.5 %), goats at 1.6 % (95 % CI: 0.4, 4.1 %) and buffaloes at 7.9 % (95 % CI: 1.7, 21.4 %). One of the two sampled lions tested positive. Cattle had a significantly higher prevalence of anti-Brucella antibodies as compared to goats (P < 0.05). A significantly higher seroprevalence was found in female than in male cattle and in adult than in young cattle (P < 0.05). There was an agreement of 95 and 89 % in cattle and goats, respectively, for the Rose Bengal plate Test (RBPT) and Competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (c-ELISA) in detecting Brucella infection. Eight (3.5 %) out of 231 milk samples tested were positive for Brucella spp on Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and Brucella abortus biovar 1 was detected in cattle milk. However, no Brucella spp were detected in goat milk. Conclusion: This study has shown the presence of anti- Brucella antibodies in humans, livestock, and wildlife in the Katavi- Rukwa ecosystem. Transmission of the infection between wildlife, livestock and humans is likely to continue due to increasing human activities in the human wildlife interface. This information is an important contribution to public health policy development in the human wildlife interface of the Katavi- Rukwa ecosystem.
Isolation of Mycobacterium bovis from human cases of cervical adenitis in Tanzania: A cause for concern?
(The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease) Kazwala, R. R.; Daborn, C. J.; Sharp, J. M.; Kambarage, D. M.; Jiwa, S. F. H.; Mbembati, N. A.
Mobile phones as surveillance tools: Implementing and evaluating a large-scale intersectoral surveillance system for rabies in Tanzania
(PLOS Medicine) Mtema, Z.; Changalucha, J.; Cleaveland, S.; Elias, M.; Ferguson, M. H.; Halliday, J. E. B.; Haydon, D.T.; Jaswant, G.; Kazwala, R. R.; Killeen, G. F.; Lembo, T; Lushasi, K.; Malishee, A. D.; Mancy, R.; Maziku, M.; Mbunda, E. M.; Mchau, G. J. M.; Murray-Smith, R.; Rysava, K.; Said, K.; Sambo, M.; Shayo, E.; Sikana, L.; Townsend, S. E.; Urassa, H.; Hampson, K.
Mobile phones as surveillance tools: Implementing and evaluating a large-scale intersectoral surveillance system for rabies in Tanzania
(PLOS Medicine, 2016-04-12) Mtema, Z.; Changalucha, J.; Cleaveland, S.; Elias, M.; Ferguson, M. H.; Halliday, J. E. B.; Haydon, D.T.; Jaswant, G.; Kazwala, R. R.; Killeen, G. F.; Lembo, T; Lushasi, K.; Malishee, A. D.; Mancy, R.; Maziku, M.; Mbunda, E. M.; Mchau, G. J. M.; Murray-Smith, R.; Rysava, K.; Said, K.; Sambo, M.; Shayo, E.; Sikana, L.; Townsend, S. E.; Urassa, H.; Hampson, K.
Surveillance is critical to manage preventative health services and control infectious diseases. Integrated surveillance involving public health, veterinary, and environmental sectors is urgently needed to effectively manage zoonoses and vector-borne diseases. However, most surveillance in low-income countries is paper-based, provides negligible timely feedback, is poorly incentivised, and results in delays, limited reporting, inaccurate data, and costly processing. • The potential of mobile technologies for improving health system surveillance has been demonstrated through small-scale pilots, but large-scale evaluations under programmatic implementation remain rare. • An intersectoral mobile-phone–based system was developed and implemented for rabies surveillance across southern Tanzania. Since 2011, the system has facilitated near realtime reporting of animal bites and human and animal vaccine use (almost 30,000 reports) by over 300 frontline health and veterinary workers across a catchment area of 150,000 km2 with >10 million inhabitants, improving data quality, timeliness, and completeness while reducing costs. • The surveillance system infrastructure is a platform that can be further developed to improve services and deliver health interventions; for example, generating automated personalized text messages (SMS) to alert patients to their vaccination schedules improved their compliance with regimens. Other interventions targeting patients and health workers can now be implemented easily. • The system has become an integrated, popular, and valuable tool across sectors, used routinely throughout southern Tanzania to evaluate the impacts of rabies control and prevention activities and to improve their management, directly informed by the experiences of frontline users. • We discuss challenges encountered during development and deployment, how we overcame these, and our recommendations for scaling up mobile-phone–based health (mHealth) interventions in low-income countries.
Nontuberculous mycobacteria infections in Katavi Rukwa ecosystems
(Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology) Makondo, Z. E.; Kazwala, R. R.; Mwakapuja, R. S.; Malakalinga, J.; Moser, I.; Tanner, M.
Nontuberculous mycobacteria infections in Katavi Rukwa ecosystems
(Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 2014) Makondo, Z. E.; Kazwala, R. R.; Mwakapuja, R. S.; Malakalinga, J.; Moser, I.; Tanner, M.
A study on nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) was carried out in wildlife-livestock interface of Katavi Rukwa ecosystem (KRE). 328 livestock tissues and 178 wild animals were cultured, wild animals were sampled opportunistically during professional hunting and game cropping operations in the KRE protected areas. The objective of the study was to generate data on epidemiology of NTM in the wildlife-livestock interface of the KRE. Methods used to identify the NTM were: culture and isolation, polymerase chain reaction, protein heat shock 65 kilodalton (hsp65) and sequencing. Mycobacteria were detected on 25.9% and 11.9% of livestock and wildlife tissue cultures, respectively. The most NTM isolated were M. kansasii (30%), M. gastri (30%), M. fortuitum (1%), M. intracellulare (4%), M. indicus pranii (4%), M. nonchromogenicum (6%) and M. lentiflavum (6%). Other NTM in smaller percentages were M. hibernae, M. engbaekii, M. septicum, M. arupense and M. godii. Due to rise of NTM infection in both human and animals, it is recommended that awareness and laboratory facilities be improved to curb the underreporting especially in TB-endemic countries. For species specific identification, a network of national and regional laboratories is promoted.
One Health: A concept led by Africa, with global benefits
(Veterinary Record) Kamani, T. M.; Kazwala, R. R.; Mfinanga, S.; Haydon, D.; Keyyu, J.; Lankester, F.; Buza, J.
One Health: A concept led by Africa, with global benefits
(Veterinary Record, 2015-05-09) Kamani, T. M.; Kazwala, R. R.; Mfinanga, S.; Haydon, D.; Keyyu, J.; Lankester, F.; Buza, J.
One Health evolved from the recognition that an interdisciplinary approach is required to understand complex health problems, and that the health of humans and animals are inextricably linked. Through closer cooperation between the human, veterinary and environmental health sectors, added value, in terms of health metrics, cost savings and environmental services is achievable. Although the One Health concept has been recognised for many years, particularly since the seminal work of Calvin Schwabe (Schwabe 1984), many challenges remain in making it operational.
Pouched rats’ detection of tuberculosis in human sputum: Comparison to culturing and polymerase chain reaction
(Tuberculosis Research and Treatment) Mahoney, A.; Weetjens, B. J.; Cox, C.; Beyene, N.; Reither, K.; Makingi, G.; Jubitana, M.; Kazwala, R. R.; Mfinanga, G. S.; Kahwa, A.; Durgin, A.; Poling, A.
Pouched rats’ detection of tuberculosis in human sputum: Comparison to culturing and polymerase chain reaction
(Tuberculosis Research and Treatment, 2012) Mahoney, A.; Weetjens, B. J.; Cox, C.; Beyene, N.; Reither, K.; Makingi, G.; Jubitana, M.; Kazwala, R. R.; Mfinanga, G. S.; Kahwa, A.; Durgin, A.; Poling, A.
Setting. Tanzania. Objective. To compare microscopy as conducted in direct observation of treatment, short course centers to pouched rats as detectors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Design. Ten pouched rats were trained to detect tuberculosis in sputum using operant conditioning techniques. The rats evaluated 910 samples previously evaluated by smear microscopy. All samples were also evaluated through culturing and multiplex polymerase chain reaction was performed on culture growths to classify the bacteria. Results. The patientwise sensitivity of microscopy was 58.0%, and the patient-wise specificity was 97.3%. Used as a group of 10 with a cutoff (defined as the number of rat indications to classify a sample as positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis) of 1, the rats increased new case detection by 46.8% relative to microscopy alone. The average samplewise sensitivity of the individual rats was 68.4% (range 61.1–73.8%), and the mean specificity was 87.3% (range 84.7–90.3%). Conclusion. These results suggest that pouched rats are a valuable adjunct to, and may be a viable substitute for, sputum smear microscopy as a tuberculosis diagnostic in resource-poor countries.
Prevalence and risk factors for infection of bovine tuberculosis in indigenous cattle in the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania
(BMC Veterinary Research) Katale, B. Z.; Mbugi, E. V.; Karimuribo, E. D.; Keyyu, J. D.; Kendall, S.; Kibiki, G. S.; Godfrey-Faussett, P.; Michel, A. L.; Kazwala, R. R.; Helden, P.; Matee, M.
Prevalence and risk factors for infection of bovine tuberculosis in indigenous cattle in the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania
(BMC Veterinary Research, 2013) Katale, B. Z.; Mbugi, E. V.; Karimuribo, E. D.; Keyyu, J. D.; Kendall, S.; Kibiki, G. S.; Godfrey-Faussett, P.; Michel, A. L.; Kazwala, R. R.; Helden, P.; Matee, M.
Background: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a chronic debilitating disease and is a cause of morbidity and mortality in livestock, wildlife and humans. This study estimated the prevalence and risk factors associated with bovine tuberculosis transmission in indigenous cattle at the human-animal interface in the Serengeti ecosystem of Tanzania. Results: A total of 1,103 indigenous cattle from 32 herds were investigated for the presence of bTB using the Single Intradermal Comparative Tuberculin Test. Epidemiological data on herd structure, management and grazing system were also collected. The apparent individual animal prevalence of tuberculin reactors was 2.4% (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.7 – 3.5%), whereas the true prevalence was 0.6% CI, 0.6 – 0.7% as indicated by a reaction to avian tuberculin purified protein derivatives (PPD) which is more than 4 mm greater than the reaction to avian tuberculin PPD. The results showed that 10.6% (117/1,103) showed non-specific reactions (atypical mycobacterium). The herd prevalence of 50% (16/32) was found. Tuberculin skin test results were found to be significantly associated with age, location, size of the household and animal tested. Of 108 respondents, 70 (64.8%) individuals had not heard about bovine tuberculosis at all. Thirty five percent (38/108) of respondents at least were aware of bTB. About 60% (23/38) of respondents who were aware of bTB had some knowledge on how bTB is spread. Eighty one percent (87/108) of respondents were not aware of the presence of bTB in wildlife. There is regular contact between cattle and wild animals due to sharing of grazing land and water sources, with 99% (107/108) of households grazing cattle in communal pastures. Conclusion: The study has demonstrated a high reported interaction of livestock with wildlife and poor knowledge of most cattle owners concerning bTB and its transmission pathways among people, livestock and wildlife. Although the overall proportion of animals with bTB is relatively low, herd prevalence is 50% and prevalence within herds varied considerably. Thus there is a possibility of cross transmission of bTB at wildlife-livestock interface areas that necessitates use of genetic strain typing methods to characterize them accurately
Tuberculosis in Tanzanian Wildlife
(Journal of Wildlife Diseases) Cleaveland, S.; Mlengeya, T.; Kazwala, R. R.; Michel, A.; Kaare, M. T.; Jones, S. L.; Eblate, E.; Shirima, G. M.; Packer, C.