title: Prevalence and associated risk factors of mycobacterial infections in slaughter pigs from Mubende district in Uganda.
abstract: To date, the public health relevance of mycobacterial infections in pigs is not well investigated despite high risk of infection. Recently, there has been a documented increase in opportunistic infections and risk of acquiring opportunistic mycobacterial infections in HIV/AIDS patients in Mubende district; unfortunately, there has been no published information on the epidemiology of mycobacterial infections in this area. This study was carried out between September 2008 and February 2009. Investigations were done to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of mycobacterial infections in slaughtered pigs in Mubende district of Uganda. A total of 997 pigs (53.7% male and 46.3% female) from 31 different slaughterhouses were examined for the presence of lesions compatible with TB and mycobacterial infections. Pathologic tissue specimens were collected for culturing and isolation of mycobacteria. A cross-sectional technique was used based on convenient visits to slaughterhouses but random selection of individual slaughtered pigs for a detailed post-mortem inspection on a daily basis. The results reflected a 9.3% and 3.1% (95% CI) prevalence of Mycobacterium species based on necropsy examinations and culture isolation, respectively. The highest prevalence of mycobacterial infection was recorded in Buwekula County (the mixed agro-zone) whilst the lowest was in Kassanda County (pastoral zone). A multivariable logistical regression analysis identified age (P < or = 0.001) and sex (P < or = 0.05) as risk factors for mycobacterial infections in pigs. Post-estimation statistics of the regression model evaluation and validation fit it well into the data (HL, chi (2) = 5.9; P = 0.69 for necropsy, HL chi (2) = 2.9; P = 0.94 for culturing). This study documented a high prevalence of mycobacterial infections in slaughter pigs in Mubende district. The fact that pigs and human often share common housing and environment poses a high risk of zoonotic transmission. This then warrants further molecular investigation to identify the specific Mycobacterium species and their public health importance in this area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, P.O. Box 8146 Dep., 0033, Oslo, Norway. Adrian.muwonge@veths.no
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muwonge
authors.forename: Clovice
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kankya
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Godfroid
authors.forename: Berit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Djonne
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Opuda-Asibo
authors.forename: Demelash
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Biffa
authors.forename: Takele
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ayanaw
authors.forename: Musso
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Munyeme
authors.forename: Eystein
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skjerve
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology