Browsing by Author "Daka Victor"

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    Cross-sectional study to investigate the seroprevalence and risk factors ofToxoplasma gondiiamong women attending the antenatal clinic in Namwala, Zambia
    (2024-6) Daka Victor; Mukosha Moses; Zimba Sharon D; Phiri Andrew M
    BackgroundToxoplasmosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused byToxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). It has a wide host range and is capable of vertical transmission in pregnant women, which may lead to undesirable pregnancy outcomes such as congenital malformations, miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth. This study investigated the seroprevalence ofT. gondiiinfection among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at Namwala District Hospital in Southern Zambia.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study where blood was collected, and the serum was tested forToxoplasmaIgG and IgM. A questionnaire was administered to participants on demographic characteristics and risk factors. Data were entered in Microsoft Excel and exported to STATA version 14 for analysis.ResultsA total of 401 women were enrolled in the study from 3 March to 5 August 2021. The seroprevalence ofToxoplasmaIgG was 4.2% (n=17), while the seroprevalence ofToxoplasmaIgM was 0.7% (n=3). The median age was 27 (IQR: 24–30) years, and a larger proportion had primary-level education (n=223, 55.6%). The majority (81.6%) of the women were married. None of the risk factors investigated in this study were significant forT. gondiiinfection.ConclusionThere was a low seroprevalence ofT. gondiiinfection among pregnant women in the Namwala district of Southern Province, Zambia, and regular screening may not be warranted in this population. Continued research on toxoplasmosis is recommended to understand its epidemiology across Zambia.
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    Emergence of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria at the Human–Livestock–Environment Interface in Zambia
    (2023-3-18) Zulu Mildred; Malama Sydney; Monde Ngula; Kainga Henson; Tembo Rabecca; Mwaba Florence; Saad Shereen Ahmed; Daka Victor; Mukubesa Andrew N.; Ndebe Joseph; Shambaba Obi; Munyeme Musso
    The prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections and disease is rising worldwide due to increased research, diagnostics capabilities, and awareness of the disease. There is limited prevalence data for NTM from different sources in Zambia. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and species distribution of NTM at the human–livestock–environment interface. A cross-section study was conducted in Namwala, Chipata, and Lundazi Districts of Zambia from April 2020 to December 2021. Sputum samples were collected from tuberculosis presumptive patients from different health centers, cattle tissues were collected from different abattoirs during routine post-mortem, and water samples were collected from different drinking points for humans and animals such as taps, boreholes, wells, rivers, dams and ponds, and then cultured following standard mycobacteriology procedures. Capilia TB-Neo assay was used to identify NTM from the positive cultures. DNA was extracted and the 16S to 23S rRNA (internal transcribed spacer region) (ITS) was amplified and sequenced to identify the species. The overall prevalence of NTM from humans, cattle, and water was 9.1% (72/794, 95% CI 7.2–11.3). The prevalence in humans was 7.8% (33/421, 95% CI 5.54–10.94), in cattle it was 10.6% (15/142, 95% CI 6.2–17.1), and in water it was 10.4% (24/231, 95% CI 6.9–15.2). Our study has shown, for the first time in Zambia, simultaneous isolation of NTM at the human–livestock–environment interface; M. avium complex and M. fortuitum were the most commonly isolated species. M. fortuitum and M. gordonae were isolated from all three sources, while M. abscessus was isolated from humans and water. The isolation of similar NTM species at the interface which are potentially pathogenic is a public health problem which merits further investigation.