Browsing by Author "Mgode, Georgies"

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    New Leptospira serovar Sokoine of serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae from cattle in Tanzania
    (Microbiology Society) Mgode, Georgies; Machang'u, Robert S; Goris, Marga; Engelberts, Mirjam F M
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    New Leptospira serovar Sokoine of serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae from cattle in Tanzania
    (Microbiology Society, 2006-04) Mgode, Georgies; Machang'u, Robert S; Goris, Marga; Engelberts, Mirjam F M
    The prevalence of leptospirosis is generally high in domestic animals and rodents in Tanzania. Identification of Leptospira isolates from cattle was carried out to establish prevalent Leptospira serovars. Serological typing was done based on monoclonal antibodies and the standard cross-agglutination absorption test. Molecular typing involved pathogenic- and saprophytic-specific PCRs and a PCR specifically amplifying DNA from the species Leptospira kirschneri. DNA fingerprinting with primers derived from sequences of insertion elements IS1500 and IS1533 was carried out. Both serological and molecular characterization indicated that one of the Leptospira isolates, coded RM1, represents a new serovar of the species L. kirschneri of serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae. The serovar name Sokoine is proposed for this new Leptospira isolate.
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    Potential mammalian reservoirs in a bubonic plague outbreak focus in Mbulu District, northern Tanzania, in 2007
    (Walter de Gruyte) Makundi, Rhodes H.; Massawe, A. W.; Mulungu, L.S.; Katakweba, Abdul; Mbise, Thomas; Mgode, Georgies
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    Potential mammalian reservoirs in a bubonic plague outbreak focus in Mbulu District, northern Tanzania, in 2007
    (Walter de Gruyte, 2008) Makundi, Rhodes H.; Massawe, A. W.; Mulungu, L.S.; Katakweba, Abdul; Mbise, Thomas; Mgode, Georgies
    This study investigated mammalian involvement in an outbreak of bubonic plague in Mbulu District, northern Tanzania, in March 2007. Plague is a rodent-borne zoo- notic disease that spreads to humans through fleas infected with Yersinia pestis. Live trapping of rodents and shrews was conducted in fallow and crop fields, peri- domestic areas, houses and the neighboring forest reserve. Serum was separated from blood of captured animals. A rapid diagnostic test (RDT) was used for diag- nosis of plague infection. An ELISA technique was used to detect antibodies against Yersinia pestis fraction 1 antigen. Wild and commensal rodents tested positive by RDT, indicating current infection in clinically healthy ani- mals. The ELISA showed that wild rodents (Lophuromys flavopunctatus, Praomys delectorum, Graphiurus muri- nus, Lemniscomys striatus) and commensal rats (Rattus rattus, Mastomys natalensis, Mus minutoides) were Y. pestis-positive. Two potential vectors, Xenopsylla brasi- liensis and Dinopsyllus lypusus, were found on wild and commensal rodents with a flea index of 1.8. We conclude that diverse potential mammalian reservoirs and efficient vectors of Y. pestis are present in abundance in Dongo- besh and could lead to persistence and future plague outbreaks.
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    Short report: using giant African pouched rats to detect tuberculosis in human sputum samples: 2009 finding
    (The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygien) Poling, Alan; Weetjens, Bart J.; Cox, Christophe; Mgode, Georgies; Jubitana, Maureen; Kazwala, Rudovic; Mfinanga, Godfrey S.; Huis, Diana
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    Short report: using giant African pouched rats to detect tuberculosis in human sputum samples: 2009 finding
    (The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygien, 2010) Poling, Alan; Weetjens, Bart J.; Cox, Christophe; Mgode, Georgies; Jubitana, Maureen; Kazwala, Rudovic; Mfinanga, Godfrey S.; Huis, Diana
    In 2009, giant African pouched rats trained to detect tuberculosis (TB) evaluated sputum samples from 10,523 patients whose sputum had previously been evaluated by smear microscopy. Microscopists found 13.3% of the patients to be TB-positive. Simulated second-line screening by the rats revealed 620 new TB-positive patients, increasing the case detection rate by 44%. These data suggest that the rats may be useful for TB detection in developing countries, although further research is needed.