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

Aim To improve food security in peri-urban regions

of Gulu & Soroti, Uganda.

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

Challenge = lack of milk

Gulu- Nov 2011

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

yes

no

no answer given

no

no

A. 29% in Gulu & Soroti answer,

yes.

yes no

Q. Do you take fresh milk?

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

Thank You!