Molecular epidemiology of anaplasmosis in small ruminants along a human-livestock-wildlife interface in Uganda
Keneth Iceland Kasozi,
Susan Christina Welburn,
Gaber El-Saber Batiha,
Najat Marraiki,
David Paul Nalumenya,
Monica Namayanja,
Kevin Matama,
Kelly Katenta Zalwango,
Wycliff Matovu,
Gerald Zirintunda,
Justine Ekou,
Stellamaris Kembabazi,
Claire Mack Mugasa,
Annah Kitibwa,
Dickson Stuart Tayebwa,
Simon Peter Musinguzi,
Michael Mahero,
Ibrahim Ssengendo,
Anne Nanteza,
Enock Matovu,
Ewan Thomas MacLeod
Affiliations
Keneth Iceland Kasozi
Infection Medicine, Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, 1 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom; Department of Animal Production and Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences, Busitema University Arapai Campus, Box 203 Soroti, Uganda; School of Medicine, Kabale University, Box 317 Kabale, Uganda; Corresponding author.
Susan Christina Welburn
Infection Medicine, Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, 1 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom; Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, International Campus, 718 East Haizhou Road, Haining 314400, China
Gaber El-Saber Batiha
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour 22511, AlBeheira, Egypt
Najat Marraiki
Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
David Paul Nalumenya
College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda
Monica Namayanja
College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda
Kevin Matama
Kampala International University Western Campus, Box 71 Bushenyi, Uganda
Kelly Katenta Zalwango
College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda
Wycliff Matovu
College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda
Gerald Zirintunda
Department of Animal Production and Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences, Busitema University Arapai Campus, Box 203 Soroti, Uganda
Justine Ekou
Department of Animal Production and Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences, Busitema University Arapai Campus, Box 203 Soroti, Uganda
Stellamaris Kembabazi
Kampala International University Western Campus, Box 71 Bushenyi, Uganda
Claire Mack Mugasa
College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda
Annah Kitibwa
College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda
Dickson Stuart Tayebwa
College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda
Simon Peter Musinguzi
Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Kabale University, Box 315 Kabale, Uganda
Michael Mahero
Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, USA
Ibrahim Ssengendo
Kampala International University Western Campus, Box 71 Bushenyi, Uganda
Anne Nanteza
College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda
Enock Matovu
College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda
Ewan Thomas MacLeod
Infection Medicine, Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, 1 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom
Background: Information as regards the epidemiology of the Anaplasmataceae in small ruminants in several low- and middle-income countries is scarce. Methods: In this study a total of 712 DNA samples collected from small ruminants were analyzed for Anaplasmataceae and Anaplasma ovis using the 16S rRNA and MSP4 genes respectively. Infection risk was assessed by location, sex and age of the animals and qGIS® was used to construct spatial maps. Results: The prevalence of Anaplasmataceae spp was 89.1% (95% CI: 77.5–95.9) and 79.1% (95% CI: 75.9–82.1) in ovines and caprines respectively (RR = 1.1, 95% CI: 1.0–1.3); higher than those previously reported in other eastern African countries. The prevalence of A. ovis was 26.1% and 25.4% for both ovines and caprines respectively with ovines showing significantly higher levels of infection than caprines (P < 0.05). The risk of Anaplasma ovis infections was not affected by age (OR = 1.2, 95% CI: 0.9–1.7) or sex (OR = 1.1, 95% CI: 0.6–2.0). Small ruminants located at the forest edge (<0.3 km) showed higher A. ovis prevalence than those found inland with infections present in the midland regions associated with increased agricultural activity. Conclusion: Anaplasma ovis remains a major challenge for small ruminant husbandry in Uganda and infections are under-reported. Policy efforts to prioritize management of Anaplasmataceae for small ruminant health would promote livestock productivity in vulnerable communities, improving livelihoods and ecosystem health.
