| dc.creator |
Lukambagire, AbdulHamid Settenda |
|
| dc.creator |
Shirima, Gabriel Mkulima |
|
| dc.creator |
Shayo, Damas Davis |
|
| dc.creator |
Mathew, Coletha |
|
| dc.creator |
Yapi, Richard B. |
|
| dc.creator |
Kasanga, Christopher Julius |
|
| dc.creator |
Mmbaga, Blandina Theophile |
|
| dc.creator |
Kazwala, Rudovick Reuben |
|
| dc.creator |
Halliday, Jo E. B. |
|
| dc.date |
2022-06-10T12:51:18Z |
|
| dc.date |
2022-06-10T12:51:18Z |
|
| dc.date |
2022 |
|
| dc.date.accessioned |
2022-10-25T08:53:25Z |
|
| dc.date.available |
2022-10-25T08:53:25Z |
|
| dc.identifier |
Lukambagire AS, Shirima GM, Shayo DD, Mathew C, Yapi RB, Kasanga CJ, et al. (2022) Brucellosis testing patterns at health facilities in Arusha region, northern Tanzania. PLoS ONE 17(3): e0265612. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0265612 |
|
| dc.identifier |
https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/4254 |
|
| dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/93705 |
|
| dc.description |
Background
Brucellosis is listed as one of six priority zoonoses in Tanzania’s One Health strategic plan
which highlights gaps in data needed for the surveillance and estimation of human brucello-
sis burdens. This study collected data on current testing practices and test results for
human brucellosis in Arusha region, northern Tanzania.
Methods
Retrospective data were extracted from records at 24 health facilities in Arusha region for
the period January 2012 to May 2018. Data were captured on: the test reagents used for
brucellosis, procurement and testing protocols, the monthly number of patients tested for
brucellosis and the monthly number testing positive. Generalised linear mixed models were
used to evaluate relationships between health facility characteristics and the probability that
brucellosis testing was conducted in a given month, and the proportion of individuals testing
positive.
Results
Four febrile Brucella agglutination tests were used widely. The probability of testing for bru-
cellosis in a given month was significantly associated with an interaction between year of
testing and facility ownership. Test probability increased over time with more pronounced
increases in privately owned as compared to government facilities. The proportion of individ-
uals testing positive for brucellosis was significantly associated with facility type and district,
with individuals tested in hospitals in Meru, Monduli and Ngorongoro districts more likely to
test positive.
Conclusions
Febrile Brucella agglutination tests, known for their poor performance, were the mainstay of
brucellosis testing at health facilities in northern Tanzania. The study indicates that historical
data on human brucellosis in Arusha and other regions are likely to provide an inaccurate
measure of true disease burden due to poor performance of the tests used and variation in
testing practices. Measures to address these identified shortcomings could greatly improve
quality of testing and surveillance data on brucellosis and ultimately inform prevention and
control of this priority disease. |
|
| dc.format |
application/pdf |
|
| dc.language |
en |
|
| dc.publisher |
PLOS ONE |
|
| dc.subject |
Brucellosis testing patterns |
|
| dc.subject |
Brucellosis |
|
| dc.subject |
Testing patterns |
|
| dc.subject |
Health facilities |
|
| dc.subject |
Arusha region |
|
| dc.subject |
Northern Tanzania |
|
| dc.title |
Brucellosis testing patterns at health facilities in Arusha region, northern Tanzania |
|
| dc.type |
Article |
|