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DETERMINATION OF PREVALENCE OF TICKS AND TICK- BORNE DISEASES IN INDIGENOUS BREEDS OF CATTLE IN PASTORAL AND MIXED CROP-LIVESTOCK-FARMING SYSTEMS OF NAKASEKE AND NAKASONGOLA DISTRICTS
(2014) Kwesiga Stephen
A cross-sectional study was done between July and September 2011, in the cattle-corridor districts of Nakaseke and Nakasongola to deterrnine prevalence of ticks and tick-borne
diseases (TfBDs) in indigenous breeds of cattle in pastoral and mixed crop-livestock arming systems of Nakaseke and Nakasongola It was also undertaken to understand the
perspective of local conununities and extension workers on 'I*I'BDs and the management practices they employed to control them. The farming systems under study were pastoral and
mixed aop-livestock faming systems. An open ended questionnaire was admninstered to capture information about cormnon cattle diseases, their clinical signs and symptoms,
seasonal occurrence and out-breaks ITBDs, indigenous and modem management and control practices and their effectiveness among others. A total of 3600 questionnaires were
admninistered to 3600 households, 1800 in each that is, of the two districts.
The tick challenge and spectrum of species were assessed on one side of animal body. Thprevalent tick species were collected from different predilection sites and were further
identified to species in the laboratory.The relationship between tick burden and disease out-break, rainfall patterns, seaso~al
outbreaks and efficiency of treatment methods among others was deter·rnined and analysed.The results showed that R.appendiculatus was the most abundant tick species, followed by A.
variegatum and lastly R. evertsi evertsi and their population varied greatly based on the seasons. In pastoral farming system, no ticks were found on calves below 6 months old,
probably due to over-confinement in calf pens. The prevalence of T. parva was below 20% in calves below 4 months old, thereafter rising to 65% at 5 months, and then dropping to 200/0 from the age of 6 to 9 months. In mixed crop-livestock far111ing system, all age groups of I cattle were exposed to tick challenge. The prevalence of T. parva increased from 1 month old
calf reaching a peak in 2-3 months old calves, but drastically dropped in calves 4 months old.
Thereafter, it gradually built up to 70% in animals 7 .months old. licks were managed on a regular basis using acaricides, but the tick load on most animals was high due to application
of under-strength concentration of acaricides. This was probably due to ignorance or financial difficulties, which could result in development of widespread acaricide resistance in ticks.
The research findings can be enriched by conducting more studies to cover all the seasons.
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TSETSE FLY (DIPTERA: GLOSSINIDAE) SPECIES COMPOSITION, AGE STRUCTURE AND SEASONAL ABUNDANCE ALONG ESIA RIVER IN ITIRIKWA SUBCOUNTY, ADJUMANI DISTRICT, NORTH WESTERN UGANDA
(2024) Dramwi Mathias
Background: Tsetse flies are vectors of African trypanosomes that present a threat to animal and human health on the continent. Controlling the vector therefore has the potential to improve agricultural productivity and human health in large parts of the continent. However, vector control requires reliable data on the actual species of the vectors and their dynamics. This study investigated the species composition, seasonal abundance and age structure oftsetse vectors along Esia River in Itirikwa Sub County in Adjumani district, northwest Uganda. Methods: Tsetse surveys were conducted using biconical traps across 10 villages along Esia River in the dry (January 2023) and wet (May 2022) seasons. A total of 50 traps were deployed at a distance of at least 1 OOm apart along riverbanks in each village, and checked after 72 hours. Trapped tsetses were identified using morphological keys, and data on entomological parameter~ assessed for the seasons. Age structure determination was carried out using wing fray analyses of flies. Results: A total of 919· tsetse flies were captured (593 females and 326 males) in the 10 villages in both the dry and wet seasons. All the captured tsetse flies belonged to the G/ossina fuscipes fuscipes subspecies. Average for all sites combined in both seasons was 3.205 ±0.521 (Mean± SE) with significant variations between villages (p = 0.001). Zoka (5.04 FTD)
had the highest average fly abundance while the least was Lukwara ( 1.34 FTD). Generllly more flies were caught during the wet season (n=618; mean FTD 4.11) than dry season
(n=301; mean FTD = 2.225 ;p=0.031 ).Overall, the difference in FTDs between the different vegetation types was not significant (p=0.542) though woodland appeared to have slightly higher number of catches than the other two vegetation types (forest and grassland). Estimated ages of the tsetse for the different villages ranged from 22-29 days for the wet season and from 18-25 days for the dry season implying that there were more old flies during the wet than dry season. Conclusion and Recommendation Glossina fuscipes fuscipes is the main vector for African trypanosomiasis along Esia River, with variable fly densities across villages and seasons. Given the relatively high FTDs in the
area, regular surveillance and control should be instituted to reduce the incidence of African trypanosomiasis.
IMPACTS OF ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITIES ON WATER QUALITY AND BIOTIC ECOSYSTEM IN PAGER RIVER, KITGUM MUNICIPALITY, NORTHERN UGANDA
(Gulu University, 2023) Amono Hope
This study assessed anthropogenic activities along Pager River within Kitgum Municipality and their potential influence on the river water quality and biotic ecosystem. It also evaluated suitability of the river water for domestic and irrigation use. A survey was conducted to identify the anthropogenic activities along the river that are within 30m buffer zone. Water quality and benthic macroinvertebrate were analyzed at 4 selected sites along the river once per month for five months from March 2022 to July 2022. The study sites were selected at the upstream (before themunicipality), within Kitgum municipality and after the municipality (downstream). The water quality parameters analyzed at each sitewere Temperature, pH, Turbidity, Electrical conductivity(EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Hardness, Nitrate, Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Sodium (Na), Total Bacterial Count (TBC) and Fecal Coliform (FC). The Benthic macroinvertebrate metrics/parameters that were analyzed include; Taxonomic richness, Species abundance, Species richness (S), Species evenness (E), Shannon Weiner Index (H’) and Average score per taxa (ASPT). The water quality and benthic macroinvertebrates data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and student t-test. River water suitability for domestic use was determined using Water Quality Index (WQI) and for irrigation by Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Magnesium Adsorption Ratio (MAR) and EC. The finding from the survey conducted revealed that within Kitgum Municipality, the mostly practiced anthropogenic activities along the river bank with noncompliance with river bank regulation guidelines was sandmining, followed by agriculture,waste disposal, sanitary facilities, settlements and car washing. ANOVA and t-test results revealed that Pager River water (in terms of turbidity, FC and TBC) and aquatic environment were greatly compromised within and downstream the Kitgum Municipal area likely due to the anthropogenic activities. The study found that the river water quality was unsuitable for domestic use (WQI>100) but suitable for irrigation (SAR, EC and MAR within acceptable limits). The results of this study inform decision to provide necessary guidelines and policies that can be used to control or stop human activities which were found commonly practiced within the buffer zone along the Pager River to ensure that River Pager is sustainably conserved/protected to provide good quality water and other ecosystem services.
Perinatal death triples the prevalence of postpartum depression among women in Northern Uganda: Acommunity-basedcross sectional study
(PLOS ONE, 2020-10-13) Arach, Anna Agnes Ojok; Nakasujja, Noeline; Nankabirwa, Victoria; Ndeezi, Grace; Kiguli, Juliet; Mukunya , David; Odongkara, Beatrice; Achora, Vincentina; Tongun, Justin Bruno; Musaba, Milton Wamboko; Napyo, Agnes; Zalwango, Vivian; Tylleskar, Thorkild; Tumwine, James K.
Introduction
Deaths during the perinatal period remain a big challenge in Africa, with 38 deaths per 1000
pregnancies in Uganda. The consequences of these deaths can be detrimental to the
women;someendingupwithpostpartum depression. We examined the association
between perinatal death and postpartum depression among women in Lira district, Northern
Uganda.
Methods
We conducted acommunity-basedcross-sectional study of 1,789 women. Trained research
assistants screened women for postpartum depressive symptoms on day 50 postpartum
using the Edinburgh postpartum depression scale (EPDS). Socio-demographic, economic,
birth and survival status of the neonate were collected during pregnancy and within one
weekpostpartum. We usedgeneralized estimating equation for the Poisson family with a
log link using Stata to estimate the prevalence ratio of the association between postpartum
depressive symptoms (EPDS scores �14) and perinatal death. Mothers who lost their
babies between 7–49 days postpartum were excluded.
Results
Of the 1,789 participants symptomatically screened for postpartum depression, 377
(21.1%) [95% confidence interval (95%CI): 17.2%, 23.0%] had probable depressive symp
toms. The prevalence of postpartum depressive symptoms among the 77women who had
experienced perinatal death (37 stillbirths and 40 early neonatal deaths (�7 days of life))
was62.3%[95%CI:50.8%,72.6%] comparedto19.2% [95%CI:17.4%, 21.2%], among
1,712 with live infants at day 50 postpartum. Women who had experienced a perinatal death
were three times as likely to have postpartum depressive symptoms as those who had a live
birth [adjusted prevalence ratio 3.45 (95% CI: 2.67, 4.48)].
Conclusions
The prevalence of postpartum depressive symptoms, assessed by EPDS, was high among
womenwhohadhada perinatal death in Northern Uganda. Womenexperiencing aperinatal
death need to be screened for postpartum depressive symptoms in order to intervene and
reduce associated morbidity.
Physical growth, puberty and hormones in adolescents with Nodding Syndrome; a pilot study
(Bio Med Central, 2014-11-28) Piloya-Were, Theresa; Odongkara-Mpora, Beatrice; Namusoke, Hanifa; Idro, Richard
Background: Nodding syndrome is an epidemic symptomatic generalized epilepsy syndrome of unknown cause in
Eastern Africa. Some patients have extreme short stature. We hypothesized that growth failure in nodding
syndrome is associated with specific endocrine dysfunctions. In this pilot study, we examined the relationship
between serum hormone levels and stature, bone age and sexual development.
Results: We recruited ten consecutive children, 13 years or older, with World Health Organization defined nodding
syndrome and assessed physical growth, bone age, development of secondary sexual characteristics and serum
hormone levels. Two children with incomplete results were excluded. Of the eight remaining, two had severe
stunting (height for age Z [HAZ] score <-3) and three had moderate stunting (HAZ score between-3 and-2). The
bone age was delayed by a median 3(range 0-4) years. Serum growth hormone levels were normal in all eight but
the two patients with severe stunting and one with moderate stunting had low levels of Somatomedin C (Insulin
like Growth Factor [IGF1]) and/or IGF binding protein 3 (IGFBP3), mediators of growth hormone function. A linear
relationship was observed between serum IGF1 level and HAZ score. With the exception of one child, all were either
pre-pubertal or in early puberty (Tanner stages 1 and 2) and in the seven, levels of the gonadotrophins (luteinising
and follicle stimulating hormone) and the sex hormones (testosterone/oestrogen) were all within pre-pubertal
ranges or ranges of early puberty. Thyroid function, prolactin, adrenal, and parathyroid hormone levels were all
normal.
Conclusions: Patients with nodding syndrome may have dysfunctions in the pituitary growth hormone and
pituitary gonadal axes that manifest as stunted growth, delayed bone age and puberty. Studies are required to
determine if such endocrine dysfunction is a primary manifestation of the disease or a secondary consequence
of chronic ill health and malnutrition and if so, whether targeted interventions can improve outcome.
Keywords: Nodding syndrome, Epilepsy, Growth, Puberty, Hormones