Browsing by Author "Makundi, Isaac"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6

Determination of bacterial load and antibiotic Susceptibility testing of bacteria isolated from students’ toilets At Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
(Journal of Health, Medicine and Nursing, 2014) Chengula, Augustino; Lushino, Asha; Mzula, Alexanda; Mafie, Eliakunda; Mwega, Elisa; Makundi, Isaac; Peter, Emma
The circulation of infectious diseases in the community settings in urban and rural areas remains to be a hectic problem. One of the sources of microbial diseases is toilets. This study aimed at isolating, identifying and establishing bacterial loads associated with public restrooms in students’ hostels at Sokoine University of Agriculture in Morogoro, Tanzania. Samples were collected from a total of thirty toilets (60 samples) in different surfaces; (i) surfaces associated with toilets (toilet seats and toilet bowls), (ii) surfaces routinely touched with hands (door handles in and out of the restrooms, faucet handles and toilet flush handles) and (iii) the restroom floors. Samples were inoculated in MacConkey and Blood agar and then incubated at 37 o C for 24 hours. All isolates were sub cultured and identified based on macro- and micro-morphology and Standard Biochemical Tests. The establishment of total bacteria load was done using Standard Plate Count Method. The sensitivity testing of the isolates were carried out using the Disk Diffusion Method on nutrient agar plate. The following bacteria genera and species were isolated from the students’ toilets; Staphylococcus aureus (25.0%), Escherichia coli (36.7%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13.3%), Streptococcus pyogenes (6.7%), Proteus mirabilis (6.7%) and Klebsiella pneumonia (11.6%). The results from total bacterial count indicated that the surfaces routinely touched with hands had highest bacteria load compared to restroom floor and toilet seats. However, the differences of means among the surfaces were not statistically significant (P= 0.6762). Sensitivity testing of the isolates against commonly used antibiotics in the study area showed that all bacterial isolates tested were resistant and intermediate resistant to at least one antibiotic.
Distribution of infectious endogenous retroviruses invading mixed and breeding cats.
(SpringerLink, 2020) Ngo, Minh; Soma, T; Endo, T; Makundi, Isaac; Miyake, A; Nga, B; Nguyen, H; Arnal, M; Fernandez, D; Nishigaki, K; Hatoya, S; Deshapriya, R; Kawasaki, J
Endogenous retroviruses of domestic cats (ERV-DCs) are members of the genus Gammaretrovirus that infect domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus). Uniquely, domestic cats harbor replication-competent proviruses such as ERV-DC10 (ERV-DC18) and ERV-DC14 (xenotropic and nonecotropic viruses, respectively). The purpose of this study was to assess invasion by two distinct infectious ERV-DCs, ERV-DC10 and ERV-DC14, in domestic cats. Of a total sample of 1646 cats, 568 animals (34.5%) were positive for ERV-DC10 (heterozygous: 377; homozygous: 191), 68 animals (4.1%) were positive for ERV-DC14 (heterozygous: 67; homozygous: 1), and 10 animals (0.6%) were positive for both ERV-DC10 and ERV-DC14. ERV-DC10 and ERV-DC14 were detected in domestic cats in Japan as well as in Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, South Korea and Spain. Breeding cats, including Singapura, Norwegian Forest and Ragdoll cats, showed high frequencies of ERV-DC10 (60-100%). By contrast, ERV-DC14 was detected at low frequency in breeding cats. Our results suggest that ERV-DC10 is widely distributed while ERV-DC14 is maintained in a minor population of cats. Thus, ERV-DC10 and ERV-DC14 have invaded cat populations independently.
Feline foamy virus transmission in tsushima leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) on Tsushima island, Japan
(MDPI, 2023-03-24) AbuEed, Loai; Makundi, Isaac; Miyake, Ariko; Kawasaki, Junna; Minoura, Chisa; Koshida, Yushi; Nishigaki, Kazuo
Tsushima leopard cats (TLC; Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) only inhabit Tsushima Island, Nagasaki, Japan and are critically endangered and threatened by infectious diseases. The feline foamy virus (FFV) is widely endemic in domestic cats. Therefore, its transmission from domestic cats to TLCs may threaten the TLC population. Thus, this study aimed to assess the possibility that domestic cats could transmit FFV to TLCs. Eighty-nine TLC samples were screened, and FFV was identified in seven (7.86%). To assess the FFV infection status of domestic cats, 199 domestic cats were screened; 14.07% were infected. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the FFV partial sequence from domestic cats and TLC sequences clustered in one clade, suggesting that the two populations share the same strain. The statistical data minimally supported the association between increased infection rate and sex (p = 0.28), indicating that FFV transmission is not sex dependent. In domestic cats, a significant difference was observed in FFV detection in feline immunodeficiency virus (p = 0.002) and gammaherpesvirus1 infection statuses (p = 0.0001) but not in feline leukemia virus infection status (p = 0.21). Monitoring FFV infection in domestic cats and TLC populations is highly recommended as part of TLC surveillance and management strategies.
Identification of felis catus gammaherpesvirus 1 in Tsushima leopard cats (prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) on Tsushima island, Japan
(MDPI, 2018-07-19) Makundi, Isaac; Koshida, Yushi; Endo, Yasuyuki; Nishigaki, Kazuo
Felis catus gammaherpesvirus 1 (FcaGHV1) is a widely endemic infection of domestic cats. Current epidemiological data identify domestic cats as the sole natural host for FcaGHV1. The Tsushima leopard cat (TLC; Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) is a critically endangered species that lives only on Tsushima Island, Nagasaki, Japan. Nested PCR was used to test the blood or spleen of 89 TLCs for FcaGHV1 DNA; three (3.37%; 95% CI, 0.70–9.54) were positive. For TLC management purposes, we also screened domestic cats and the virus was detected in 13.02% (95% CI, 8.83–18.27) of 215 cats. Regarding phylogeny, the partial sequences of FcaGHV1 from domestic cats and TLCs formed one cluster, indicating that similar strains circulate in both populations. In domestic cats, we found no significant difference in FcaGHV1 detection in feline immunodeficiency virus-infected (p = 0.080) or feline leukemia virus-infected (p = 0.163) cats, but males were significantly more likely to be FcaGHV1 positive (odds ratio, 5.86; 95% CI, 2.27–15.14) than females. The higher frequency of FcaGHV1 detection in domestic cats than TLCs, and the location of the viral DNA sequences from both cats within the same genetic cluster suggests that virus transmission from domestic cats to TLCs is likely.
Knowledge, awareness and post-harvest practices predisposing stored maize to aflatoxin contamination in Morogoro municipality and Makambako district, Tanzania
(Science and Education Publishing, 2022-07-01) Makundi, Isaac; Mabruki, Fadhili; Temba, Benigni A.
Aflatoxin contamination in maize by Aspergillus species negatively affects the quality of food, economy as well as human and animal health worldwide and is hence a globally growing public health problem. This study aimed at assessing knowledge and awareness on aflatoxins as well as post-harvest practices predisposing stored maize to aflatoxin contamination in Morogoro municipality and Makambako district, Tanzania. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 226 stakeholders who responded to questions assessing their knowledge and awareness on aflatoxins and practices predisposing stored maize to aflatoxin contamination. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0 was conducted to determine the statistical significance of the practices predisposing stored maize to aflatoxin contamination by comparison of means among the study groups. Descriptive statistical analysis was employed to describe knowledge and awareness of aflatoxin contamination among respondents. The results based on the assessment criteria revealed that majority (71%) of the studied population in the study areas had low knowledge and awareness in relation to aflatoxin contamination on stored maize. The results also revealed that some aspects of post-harvest handling of maize including storage with other crops, mode of storage and storage duration positively influenced infestation of aflatoxigenic fungi on the maize stored. We recommend the provision of appropriate education via seminars and workshops to the respective stakeholders to help increase their knowledge and awareness on aflatoxin contamination.
Occurence of aspergillus flavus and aspergillus parasiticus in stored maize in Morogoro Municipality and Makambako district,Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture., 2022-10-05) Makundi, Isaac; Mabruki, Fadhili; Temba, Benigni
Maize is an important cash and food crop grown in Tanzania and other parts of the world. The crop is susceptible to fungal infestation and subsequent mycotoxins contamination that negatively affects human and animal health as well as the socio-economic status of the farmers and respective stakeholders. The study was conducted to determine occurrence of aflatoxigenic fungi (A.flavus and A.parasiticus) on maize stored in warehouses found in Morogoro municipality and Makambako district in Tanzania. A total of 226 maize samples were collected from six wards in the selected study areas then analysed for aflatoxigenic fungal infestation. Potato Dextrose Agar was used for isolation of the fungi which were then identified to species level via observation of morphological characteristics with aid of taxonomic keys. The proportional occurrence of A. parasiticus and A. flavus with respect to areas where samples were collected was presented using descriptive statistics. The result showed that only 15% (34/226) of the collected samples were contaminated with Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Among the samples collected, the occurrence of A. flavus was higher than that of A. parasiticus whereby 28 samples were contaminated with A. flavus while 6 samples with A. parasiticus. We found that the methods used in the storage of this major staple food used by majority of Tanzanians makes it vulnerable to infestation and subsequent contamination by aflatoxigenic fungi. We therefore recommend that responsible sectors should implement appropriate intervention strategies designed to reduce occurrence of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species on stored maize.