Browsing by Author "Swidiq Mugerwa"

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Identification of a New Domestic Pig Cell Line for Growth of African Swine Fever Viruses for Vaccine Production in Uganda
(National Agricultural Research Organisation, 2024-05-17) Samuel Mulondo; Richard Ezinga; Daisy Iwutung; Richard M Kabaka; Moses Tefula Dhikusooka; Swidiq Mugerwa; Tonny Kabuuka
In this study, a basis for the feasibility of a successful ASF vaccine design program using live attenuated vaccines was sought. One of the challenges to African swine fever (ASF) vaccine development is having a cell line that will provide commercial utility for vaccine production. We set out to address this problem by innovatively identifying possible cell lines from local domestic pigs in the country. Eight tissue types from ASF-negative animals were identified for incorporation into cell line development. These were degraded, incubated, and monitored for cell growth. One cell line, the SIR2-P, grew consistently and confluently and was tested for the ability to grow and isolate field ASF viruses. We report the isolation of ASF viruses in our laboratory for the first time. The P9C virus from Namayingo district exhibited the largest plaque sizes compared to the SQ517B virus from Mukono. The innovative identification of the SIR2-P cell line is proof of concept that newer species- specific cell lines can be developed in the Infectious Animal Disease Laboratory (IADL), and utilized to study other animal viruses like Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) virus, Foot and mouth disease (FMD) virus, and Swine Influenza. Such cells can be used in vaccine production for other endemic diseases in Uganda. The SIR2-P cell line is currently at passage 65.
Inspiring Anti-Tick Vaccine Research, Development and Deployment in Tropical Africa for the Control of Cattle Ticks: Review and Insights
(Vaccines, 2022-12-31) Paul D. Kasaija; Marinela Contreras; Halid Kirunda; Ann Nanteza; Fredrick Kabi; Swidiq Mugerwa; José de la Fuente
Ticks are worldwide ectoparasites to humans and animals, and are associated with numerous health and economic effects. Threatening over 80% of the global cattle population, tick and tick-borne diseases (TTBDs) particularly constrain livestock production in the East, Central and Southern Africa. This, therefore, makes their control critical to the sustainability of the animal industry in the region. Since ticks are developing resistance against acaricides, anti-tick vaccines (ATVs) have been proposed as an environmentally friendly control alternative. Whereas they have been used in Latin America and Australia to reduce tick populations, pathogenic infections and number of acaricide treatments, commercially registered ATVs have not been adopted in tropical Africa for tick control. This is majorly due to their limited protection against economically important tick species of Africa and lack of research. Recent advances in various omics technologies and reverse vaccinology have enabled the identification of many candidate anti-tick antigens (ATAs), and are likely to usher in the next generation of vaccines, for which Africa should prepare to embrace. Herein, we highlight some scientific principles and approaches that have been used to identify ATAs, outline characteristics of a desirable ATA for vaccine design and propose the need for African governments to investment in ATV research to develop vaccines relevant to local tick species (personalized vaccines). We have also discussed the prospect of incorporating anti-tick vaccines into the integrated TTBDs control strategies in the sub-Saharan Africa, citing the case of Uganda.
Monitoring the Subolesin Vaccine Field Trial for Safer Control of Cattle Ticks Amidst Increasing Acaricide Resistance in Uganda
(Vaccines, 2022-09-22) Fredrick Kabi; Moses Dhikusooka; Moses Matovu; Swidiq Mugerwa; Paul Kasaija; Patrick Emudong; Halid Kirunda; Marinela Contreras; Christian Gortazar; Jose De la Fuente
A collaboration program was established between the group of Health and Biotechnology (SaBio) of the IREC Institute of Game and Wildlife Research (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Spain) and the National Agricultural Research Organization of Uganda (NARO) for the development of vaccines for the control of cattle ticks in Uganda. Controlled pen trials identified a tick protective antigen, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Subolesin, and a cross-species-effective vaccine formulation. As the next step, a controlled vaccine field trial has been approved by Ugandan state regulatory authorities, the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) and the National Drug Authority (NDA), to evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of the vaccine formulation for the control of cattle tick infestations under field conditions. The results of this trial may lead to the approval of the vaccine for application in Uganda to improve cattle health and production while reducing the use of acaricides.
The Role of Bentonite Clays in AflatoxinDecontamination, Assimilation and Metabolism in Commercial Poultry
(Journal of Scietific & Technical Research, 2022-04-27) Nviiri Geofrey; Abasi R Kigozi; Laban Turyagyenda; Swidiq Mugerwa
Most of the poultry feeds in Uganda are highly contaminated with aflatoxins (65-1000 ppb) far beyond the acceptable limits of 20 ppb. Due to the dependence on such feeds, commercial poultry in Uganda is highly susceptible to aflatoxicosis, which is reflected in the reduced growth and health performance. As a result, severe losses due to poor poultry productive performance and health defects are common due to the consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated feeds. The purpose of this review, therefore, is to bring to attention the dangers of aflatoxicosis in the Uganda poultry industry, human-related consequences, and the possible mitigation opportunities. As a consequence of reviewing 105 research articles, it is observed that consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated feeds poses vast aflatoxicosis-related production deficits as well as contamination of poultry products. The resultant aflatoxicosis, which is associated with compromised feed conversion efficiency, reduced vaccine efficacy, and histological organ deterioration, becomes a key production challenge. Such challenges not only increase the cost of production but also the risk of losing birds due to highly infectious diseases like Newcastle and infectious bursal disease, which are known to cause up to 100% chicken mortality. For that reason, poultry productivity and aflatoxicosis-associated risks in human populations cannot be improved without embracing aflatoxin-decontamination technologies from the feeds. The use of high- affinity non-nutritive adsorbents like bentonite clays is one of the most promising decontamination techniques that can be used to combat the toxic effects of aflatoxins on feed utilization, organ health, and toxin carry-over in poultry products. Moreover, according to several authors, feed intake (DMI), weight gain, and organ health are key in assessing broiler response to aflatoxin decontamination. Whereas Uganda is well endowed with a diversity of such clays in the Albertine region, there is inconsistent and insufficient information about the inclusion levels of the different bentonite clay in poultry diets. In addition, none of the previous studies has compared commercial aflatoxin binders with other bentonite clays as well as established the optimum inclusion levels of Albertine bentonite clays. Yet, beyond certain optima, bentonite clays are hypothesized to hinder nutrient utilization alongside the negative effects of excess calcium in the case of calcium bentonite. Furthermore, due to the transfer of aflatoxins and their metabolites to poultry edible products and their effect on human health.