Faculty of Biomedical Sciences

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http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/14807

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    Efficacy of Lytic Bacteriophages Isolated from Waste Dumpsites in Southwestern Uganda Against Carbapenem-Resistant P. aeruginosa AND E. coli
    (Kampala International University, 2023-05) Ntulume Ibrahim
    The escalating rate of infections due to carbapenem resistant bacteria has led to a revived interest in compassionate use of phage therapy either as a substitute or supplement to conventional antibiotics. The present study aimed at characterizing and determining the lytic efficacy of bacteriophage isolates from selected waste dump sites in Southwestern Uganda against carbapenem-resistant (CR) P. aeruginosa and E. coli. A laboratory experimental study design was conducted. Eighteen samples (soil and leachate) were collected from 3 selected waste dump sites (Kekombe, Kabagarame and Kidodo waste dumpsites). Phage isolation was done using the double agar overlay plaque technique and their lytic activity against CR P. aeruginosa and E. coli was determined using both spot and in vitro therapeutic inhibition assays. Physico-chemical and biological characterization of efficacious phages was done. The phage cocktail (1:1) was assayed for biofilm inhibitory efficacy. Sixteen lytic phages against CR P. aeruginosa and E. coli were identified. Only four (04) phages; KA06ph03KA, KA01C, BU03B, and KE01E exhibited high virulence with mean efficiency of plating (EOP) of 0.169–0.552) and broad-spectrum of activity. These phages produced clear pin point to small sized plaques (0.1 - 1 mm diameter) and formed turbid haloes on E. coli hosts. These phages had short latent periods (5–20 minutes), short adsorption times (5–15 min), variable burst sizes (21–101 PFU/infected cell) and burst times (25–85 min). Their thermal stability ranged between -20°C to 60°C except phages KA01C and KA06ph03KA that retained stability at both 70°C and 80°C for 10 min and shared pH stability range of 2 to 10. The phage cocktail exhibited maximal inhibitory effects within 2 to 3 hours as compared to individual phages. Even so, it was more effective in treating the planktonic cells and 24 hr old biofilms of CR P. aeruginosa and E. coli. The studied waste dumpsites harbored virulent lytic phages against CR P. aeruginosa and E. coli and the phage cocktail had better therapeutic potential over individual phages. The study therefore recommends molecular characterization and in vivo efficacy testing of the isolated in order to ascertain their safety for therapeutic usage in humans as well as use of phage cocktail as opposed to individual phages.
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    Monitoring Multi-Drug Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in Kitagata Hot Spring, Sheema District Southwestern Uganda: A Public Health ImplicatioN
    (Kampala International University, 2023-10) Hambali Kaltume Umar
    Background: The alarming prevalence of Klebseilla pneumoniae in most recreational places such as hot spring waters is concerning, yet this superbug is associated with accelerated dissemination of multi drug resistance genes. The present study aimed at determining the spatial temporal prevalence of multi drug resistant K. pneumoniae in Kitagata hot spring, Sheema district, Southwestern Uganda. Methods: A descriptive longitudinal study design was conducted between May and July, 2023. Eighty water samples were collected in the morning and evening from purposively selected points of the hot spring at an interval of 1 week during the rainy and dry season. Temperatures at each point were measured prior to sample collection and two samples at varying depth were obtained. Five millitres of each homogenized sample was pre-enriched in brain heart infusion broth and then presumptive identification of K. pneumonia isolates was done both blood and violet red bile agars. Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method was performed followed by phenotypic detection of both extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBL) and carbapenemase (CR) production. Polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect resistance genes; blaTEM, blaCTX-M and blaKPC. Data was analyzed using SPSS-20 to obtain chi square tests and Person’s product moment correlation coefficient using regression analysis. Statistical significance was considered at p ≤ 0.05. Results: The prevalence of K. pneumoniae in Kitagata hot spring was 30.0%. 100% isolates exhibited extreme resistance to ampicillin, rifampicin, ceftazidime, and then followed by azithromycin (79.2%). 95.8% harbored blaTEM gene, followed by blaKPC gene (33.3%), both blaTEM + blaKPC genes (25.0%), blaCTX (20.8%), both blaTEM + blaCTX genes (12.5%) while 2 (8.3%) harbored the three resistance genes. A higher prevalence of K. pneumoniae (35.0%) was reported in the dry season as compared to the wet season (25.0%). The occurrence of MDR strains significantly increased overtime during the course of the study. Carriage of the three studied resistance genes was positively correlated with the second phase of sample collection and dry season while negatively correlated with temperature except isolates that harbored either blaTEM only or blaTEM+KPC +CTX genes. Conclusions: Kitagata hot spring serves as hot spot for continuous dissemination and acquisition multi drug resistant K. pneumoniae harboring resistance genes that encode for ESBL and CR production. The health sector should strengthen one health programs, AMR surveillance system, and sturdy stewardship training to provide health education to the communities
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    Effects of Tamarindus indica Seeds’ Aqueous Extract on the Kidney and Liver , Following High-cholesterol diet Exposure in Male Wistar Rats
    (Kampala International University, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences., 2023-04) Ibrahim Ssengendo
    Hypercholesterolemia has been reported by world heart federation (2017) to be prevalent globally to up 39%, and Nakibbuka et al (2015) indicated the rise in elevated cholesterol levels among youth and elderly in rural and urban centers of Uganda. The use of traditional medicine in the management of diseases is on the rise in developing countries. This study aims to evaluate the effects of an aqueous extract of Tamarindus indica seeds (AETI) on the Kidney and Liver of male Wistar rats fed on a high-cholesterol diet (HCD). Thirty Rats were randomly allocated to five groups (n = 6) as follows; Group I (2 ml/ kg distilled water), Group II (HCD and 300mg/kg AETI), Group III (HCD and 500mg/kg AETI), Group IV (HCD and 260mg/kg Questran), Group V (HCD and 2 ml/ kg distilled water). The administration lasted for 61 days, HCD was only introduced for the first forty days. The administration of distilled water, AETI, and Questran were done orally via gastric tube. Blood samples for lipid profile analysis were collected on day 41 and day 62, after which the rats were euthanized to harvest the Kidney and Liver for macroscopic and microscopic examination. There was no significant change in the average body weight of the rats throughout the experiment, except in groupV when compared to normal control. The Liver sections present severe Liver injury in HCD + 2ml/kg distilled water group, moderate Liver injury in the 300mg/kg AETI group, very mild histomorphological changes in the 500mg/kg AETI group and no histomorphological changes in the Questran group. The Kidney sections showed no visible histological changes. The lipid profile analysis showed a significant decrease (P≤0.05) in the levels of total serum cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride in rats treated with AETI, with the 500mg/kg dose showing a better response than the 300mg/kg, when compared to the Questran group. The effects of AETI against elevated cholesterol levels were greater at day 62 than day 41. In conclusion, Tamarindus indica seeds had protective effects against tissue injuries in Liver caused by raised blood cholesterol levels and also lowered the elevated blood cholesterol levels in rats
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    Effects of ethanol root extract of taraxacum officinale (dandelion) on some renal functions in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in male wistar rats
    (Kampala International University, 2023-11) Umar Uthman Shehu
    This study was conducted to investigate the potential protective effects of ethanol root extract of Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) on some renal functions in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in male Wistar rats. Twenty male Wistar rats were equally divided into 5 groups of 4 rats each as follows: Group 1 (normal control) was given distilled water, Group 2 (positive control) was given gentamicin (80 mg/kg, i.p.), Groups 3, 4 and 5 received 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg body weight ethanol root extract of Taraxacum officinale (dandelion), respectively. The extract was administered for seven consecutive days by oral gavage after 7days of gentamicin administration to these groups. After 14 days of treatment with gentamicin and extract the rats were sacrificed and blood samples and kidney were collected for biochemical assays and histopathological examination respectively. The results obtained from this study revealed that treatment with gentamicin increased the serum levels of creatinine and BUN, urine volume and some electrolytes. Treatment with ethanol root extract of Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) significantly (P<0.05) decreased the levels of creatinine, BUN, urine volume and some electrolytes when compared to the positive control group. Also, histopathological examination of the renal tissues showed significant (P<0.05) reduction in the severity of nephrotoxicity induced by gentamicin in Groups 4 and 5 when compared to the positive control group. This study therefore suggests that ethanol root extract of Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) could be beneficial in the management of gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in male Wistar rats.
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    Anatomical variations of brachiocephalic artery among cadaveric population of Uganda and their implications on tracheostomy procedures
    (Kampala International University, 2023-05) Andrew Emmanuel Tito
    The Brachiocephalic artery (BCA) expresses several anatomical variations in different populations, most of which are associated with variations in an aortic arch branching pattern. The variations in origin, branching pattern and the course of the Brachiocephalic artery in relation to the trachea and thyroid gland have profound surgical importance because any alteration in the ordinary course of the Brachiocephalic artery increases the possibility of accidental injury during emergency Tracheostomy or thyroid surgeries which may lead to a haemorrhage that is fatal to the patient. The study was done to examine variations in morphology and morphometry of the Brachiocephalic artery and their clinical implications. Fifty-eight (58) adult cadavers, 57 males and 1 female were dissected to expose the Brachiocephalic artery and the morphological and morphometric variations were recorded. Fifty-one (51) cadavers (87.6%) had the Brachiocephalic artery arising directly from the aortic arch while 7 cadavers (12.4%) had the artery originating from the common trunk with the left common carotid artery. In relation to the trachea, the BCA arose on the left anterolateral to the trachea in 57 cadavers (98.3%) and in one female cadaver (1.7%), the artery arose in the midline anterior to the trachea and ascended to terminate at the posterior surface of right sternoclavicular joint where it bifurcated into right subclavian and right common carotid artery in all 58 cadavers. The mean torso length of cadavers was found to be 45.78±2.93cm and the mean length of Brachiocephalic artery was found to be 4.14±0.58cm. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between cadaveric torso length and BCA length (r=0.33, p<0.05,) which implies that individuals with longer torsos may have longer BCA. In majority of the population in Uganda, the Brachiocephalic artery has a normal origin, course and branching pattern. Occurrence of origin variant of BCA from common trunk may be associated with tracheal compression, aortic dialation and it should be considered as a potential risk factor for thoracic aortic aneurysm. Also, the observed origin of BCA in the midline anterior to trachea can increases chances of accidental to the artery during Tracheostomy and should be taken into consideration during pre-operative planning for Tracheostomy. The observed relationship between torso length and BCA can used for estimation of BCA length for BCA catheterization. Similar studies in living individuals using MRI and angiography is recommended to enable the comparison of cadaveric and living human data.