1. 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

2. Uganda
Why Gulu & Soroti?
•Civil strife,
now a post-conflict area
•Little is known about
disease status...

3. 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

4. Livestock
...are a source of livelihood to rural poor.
• Meat
• Milk
• Dowry
• School fees
• Cash
• Drought power

6. Aim
To improve food security in peri-urban regions
of Gulu & Soroti, Uganda.

7. 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

8. • Bulk Milk samples
collected at:
– 3 collecting centers
– 6 boiling points
– street vendors
• Questionnaires to milk
deliverers
Methodology

9. • Blood collected from
1007 cows from 166
herds
• Milk collected from
207 cows
• Herd level
questionnaires

10. Challenge = lack of milk
Gulu- Nov 2011

11. 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

12. A. 69% in Gulu & Soroti
answer, no.
yes
Q. Have heard of Brucella or
brucellosis?
1
2
3
no
yes
no
yes
don’t know

13. yes
no
no answer given
no
no
A. 29% in Gulu & Soroti answer,
yes.
yes no
Q. Do you take fresh milk?

14. Risk factors of transmission established
• Sharing of grazing grounds
• Keeping a large herd
•Outsourcing replacement stock
•Keeping mixed breeds
•Using hired animal attendants

15. 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

16. 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.)

17. 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

18. Thank You!