AOSIS OpenJournalshttp://www.openjournals.netinfo@openjournals.nethttp://www.ojvr.org0030-24652219-0635Surveillance and diagnosis of plague and anthrax in Tanzania and Zambia
Yersinia pestis and Bacillus anthracis are diseases that rarely occur, with devastating consequences. In Africa, despite the diseases being rare, they are reported on a yearly basis in remote areas of the continent due to lack of proper surveillance and detection systems. In Tanzania and Zambia, studies have been ongoing to understand these pathogens in endemic areas.
B.M. Hang’ombe1
1School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Zambia
M. Ziwa2
2Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania
M. Haule2
2Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania
I. Nakamura3
3Hokkaido University Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Japan
K.L. Samui1
1School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Zambia
D. Kaile4
4Namwala District Medical office, Namwala District, Zambia
A.S. Mweene1
1School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Zambia
B.S. Kilonzo5
5Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania
E.F. Lyamuya2
2Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania
M. Matee2
2Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania
C. Sugimoto3
3Hokkaido University Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Japan
H. Sawa3
3Hokkaido University Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Japan
B.W. Wren6
6London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom
B. Hang’ombe
mudenda68@yahoo.com
PO Box 30972, Lusaka, Zambia
72281110.4102/ojvr.v81i2.722Hang’ombe, B.M., Ziwa, M., Haule, M., Nakamura, I., Samui, K.L., Kaile, D. et al.,
2014, ‘Surveillance and diagnosis of plague and anthrax in Tanzania and Zambia’, Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research 81(2), Art. #722, 1 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ojvr.v81i2.722The studies apply the well established polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detecting Yersinia pestis DNA in suspected human specimens, rodents and their fleas by DNA extraction and primers targeting the plasminogen activator gene. In Tanzania, 516 rodent and nine human samples were analysed for the presence of Yersinia pestis DNA. Of these samples, four rodent samples belonging to Mastomys and Tatera species and two human specimens were found positive. As for Zambia, 810 rodent samples were collected and analysed. Yersinia pestis DNA was detected in 33 samples, belonging to the Tatera, Rattus and Mastomys species. As for fleas, the Xenopsylla species from rodents were positive for Yersinia pestis DNA. The isolated bacteria were subjected to antimicrobial sensitivity tests, with results indicating a response pattern as recommended by the World Health Organization in the treatment of plague. In case of anthrax, suspected samples from hippopotamuses, soil and humans were screened through bacteria culture and confirmation by PCR targeting the pXO1 (protective antigen gene) and pXO2 (capsule) virulence plasmids. Anthrax was detected in hippopotamuses, soil and humans, with the epidemiological link being confirmed through Variable Number of Tandem Repeats analysis.
The presence of Yersinia pestis DNA in rodents and fleas may represent evidence that infected rodents and fleas are being maintained in plague endemic areas, consistent with the hypothesised enzootic maintenance of plague elsewhere, whilst Bacillus anthracis is amplified by animals from soil into the human population.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust Grant WT087546MA to the Southern African Centre for Infectious Diseases & Surveillance (SACIDS).