Browsing by Author "Opiro, Robert"

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    An ethnobotanical survey of plant species used for medicinal purposes in Amuru district, northern Uganda
    (Ilia State University, 2024-09-12) Gum, Bornfree; Opoke, Robert; Akwongo, Betty; Oloya, Benson; Omony, John Bosco; Opiro, Robert; Andama, Morgan; Anywar, Godwin; Malinga, Geoffrey Maxwell
    Background: Medicinal plants provide health care to rural communities that have limited access to modern medicine in Uganda. Thus, documenting medicinal plants is important for their sustainable utilisation and conservation of medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge. Methods: A cross-sectional ethnobotanical survey was conducted in August 2021 to assess the knowledge and use of medicinal plants in Lamogi Sub-County, Amuru district. We randomly sampled and interviewed 334 household heads using semi-structured questionnaires. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, familiarity index (FI), fidelity level (FL) and informant consensus factor (ICF). Results: Most of the respondents (90%) had knowledge of medicinal plants used for treating ailments in their community (high ICF values above 0.9). Plant with the highest FI value was Gymnanthemum amygdalinum (Delile) Sch.Bip. indicating its wide use in the community. Chi-square tests showed significant associations between the knowledge of medicinal plants and education level, occupation, age, marital status and monthly income of respondents (p < 0.05). Forty-nine medicinal plants from 30 families were documented, with Fabaceae and Asteraceae having the most species. Leaves were the most frequently used plant parts (65.4%), followed by roots (13.6%). Herbal remedies were mostly prepared by crushing and smearing on the body, infusion, decoction and administered orally. Conclusion: The people of Amuru district have rich indigenous knowledge of diverse medicinal plants used for treating ailments. Most medicinal plants are harvested from the wild, threatening their survival and this requires putting in place practical conservation measures.
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    Apparent density, trypanosome infection rates and host preference of tsetse flies in the sleeping sickness endemic focus of Northwestern Uganda.
    (Springer Nature, 2021-11-29) Opiro, Robert; Opoke, Robert; Angwech, Harriet; Nakafu, Esther; Oloya, Francis A; Openy, Geoffrey; Njahira, Moses; Macharia, Mercy; Echodu, Richard; Malinga, Geoffrey M.; Opiyo, Elizabeth A.
    African trypanosomiasis, caused by protozoa of the genus Trypanosoma and transmitted by the tsetse fly, is a serious parasitic disease of humans and animals. Reliable data on the vector distribution, feeding preference and the trypanosome species they carry is pertinent to planning sustainable control strategies. We deployed 109 biconical traps in 10 villages in two districts of northwestern Uganda to obtain information on the apparent density, trypanosome infection status and blood meal sources of tsetse flies. A subset (272) of the collected samples was analyzed for detection of trypanosomes species and sub-species using a nested PCR protocol based on primers amplifying the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA. 34 blood-engorged adult tsetse midguts were analyzed for blood meal sources by sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) and cytochrome b (cytb) genes. We captured a total of 622 Glossina fuscipes fuscipes tsetse flies (269 males and 353 females) in the two districts with apparent density (AD) ranging from 0.6 to 3.7 flies/trap/day (FTD). 10.7% (29/272) of the flies were infected with one or more trypanosome species. Infection rate was not significantly associated with district of origin (Generalized linear model (GLM), χ2 = 0.018, P = 0.895, df = 1, n = 272) and sex of the fly (χ2 = 1.723, P = 0.189, df = 1, n = 272). However, trypanosome infection was highly significantly associated with the fly’s age based on wing fray category (χ2 = 22.374, P < 0.001, df = 1, n = 272), being higher among the very old than the young tsetse. Nested PCR revealed several species of trypanosomes: T. vivax (6.62%), T. congolense (2.57%), T. brucei and T. simiae each at 0.73%. Blood meal analyses revealed five principal vertebrate hosts, namely, cattle (Bos taurus), humans (Homo sapiens), Nile monitor lizard (Varanus niloticus), African mud turtle (Pelusios chapini) and the African Savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana). We found an infection rate of 10.8% in the tsetse sampled, with all infections attributed to trypanosome species that are causative agents for AAT. However, more verification of this finding using large-scale passive and active screening of human and tsetse samples should be done. Cattle and humans appear to be the most important tsetse hosts in the region and should be considered in the design of control interventions.
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    Prevalence of diarrhoea and associated risk factors among children under five years old in Pader District, northern Uganda
    (BMC Infectious Diseases, 2020-01-13) Omona, Stephen; Malinga, Geoffrey M.; Opoke, Robert; Openy, Geoffrey; Opiro, Robert
    Background: Diarrhoea remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children under 5 years in sub-Saharan Africa. Of the three East African countries, Uganda has the worst mortality rate in children < 5 years, with 22% of these deaths attributed to diarrhoea. For proper planning and implementation of control, an understanding of the prevalence and determinants of the disease is crucial. This study assessed the prevalence of diarrhoea and related risk factors among children < 5 years in Pajule Subcounty, Pader District in northern Uganda. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in April 2018, covering 244 randomly selected households having children < 5 years old in the study area. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview the households about diarrhoeal history in their children in the last 2 weeks preceding the survey, and on the risk factors predisposing children to diarrhoeal infections. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses with a 95% confidence interval and p < 0.05 was used to identify the risk factors associated with childhood diarrhoeal disease. Results: We found a prevalence of diarrhoea of 29.1% [95% CI (23.7–35.0)] among children < 5 years in Pajule Subcounty during the 2 weeks preceding the survey. Use of unprotected water sources, age of child caretaker, child weaning time and family size had significant associations with diarrhoeal morbidity. Conclusion: The prevalence of childhood diarrhoea among children < 5 years of age in rural settings of Pajule Subcounty was higher than the Ugandan national average. Use of unprotected water sources, age of child caretaker, child weaning time and family size were identified as predictors of diarrhoeal occurrence. These findings underscore the need for improving access to clean water and providing community health education as the best methods for fighting childhood diarrhoea in the study area.
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    Prevalence of malaria and associated risk factors among febrile under-five refugee children attending Panyadoli Health Centre III, Kiryandongo District, Mid-western Uganda
    (Springer Nature, 2025-05-25) Acan, Dorcus; Opiro, Robert; Musinguzi, Benson; Agaba, Bosco B.; Alarakol, Simon Peter
    Background: Malaria presents a big threat to the health of refugees, internally displaced persons, returnees and other such persons affected by humanitarian emergencies, with almost two thirds of these groups of persons living in malaria endemic regions. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria and associated risk factors among refugee children < 5 years attending a Health Centre in Panyadoli Refugee Settlement Camp, Kiryandongo District, Uganda. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was done between February to April 2022, targeting refugee children < 5 years old seeking healthcare at Panyadoli Health Centre III in Kiryandongo District. Simple random sampling was employed to select 380 participants, who were then tested for the presence of malaria parasites using malaria rapid diagnostic tests and microscopy techniques. Data on risk factors of malaria was collected using a pre-tested and standardized semi-structured questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses was used to identify the risk factors for malaria infections, at 95% confidence interval and p < 0.05. Results: Malaria prevalence among the refugee children < 5 years attending Panyadoli HCIII was 12.6% [95% CI: 8.7–18.0]. The associated risk factors for malaria infection included: non-application of indoor residual spraying over the last 12 months [AOR = 4.323; 95% CI 1.231–7.212], history of malaria in children (AOR = 5.861; 95% CI 1.562—8.433], and not sleeping under insecticide-treated nets (AOR = 3.141; 95% CI 0.865—5.221). Conclusion: Malaria remains a threat to refugee children < 5 years old at Panyadoli Refugee Settlement Camp. Sustained implementation of IRS should be pursued through expanded geographic coverage and increased application frequency, in conjunction with complementary malaria control measures such as enhanced ITN distribution and IPT for pregnant women, to support long-term malaria reduction.
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    Spatial distribution of tsetse flies and trypanosome infection status in a vector genetic transition zone in northern Uganda
    (Journal of Parasitology Research, 2022-06-01) Opiro, Robert; Okello, Allele Moses; Opoke, Robert; Oloya, Francis A.; Nakafu, Esther; Iwiru, Teresa; Echodu, Richard; Malinga, Geoffrey M.; Bargul, Joel L.; Opiyo, Elizabeth A.
    Background. Tsetse flies are vectors of the genus Trypanosoma that cause African trypanosomiasis, a serious parasitic disease of people and animals. Reliable data on the vector distribution and the trypanosome species they carry is pertinent for planning sustainable control strategies. This study was carried out to estimate the spatial distribution, apparent density, and trypanosome infection rates of tsetse flies in two districts that fall within a vector genetic transition zone in northern Uganda. Materials and Methods. Capturing of tsetse flies was done using biconical traps deployed in eight villages in Oyam and Otuke, two districts that fall within the vector genetic transition zone in northern Uganda. Trapped tsetse flies were sexed and morphologically identified to species level and subsequently analyzed for detection of trypanosome DNA. Trypanosome DNA was detected using a nested PCR protocol based on primers amplifying the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA. Results. A total of 717 flies (406 females; 311 males) were caught, all belonging to the Glossina fuscipes fuscipes species. The overall average flies/trap/day (FTD) was (). Out of the 477 (201 male; 276 females) flies analyzed, 7.13% (34/477) were positive for one or more trypanosome species. Three species of bovine trypanosomes were detected, namely, Trypanosoma vivax, 61.76% (21/34), T. congolense, 26.47% (9/34), and T. brucei brucei, 5.88% (2/34), and two cases of mixed infection of T. congolense and T. brucei brucei, 5.88% (2/34). The infection rate was not significantly associated with the sex of the fly (generalized linear model (GLM), , , ) and district of origin (, , , ). However, trypanosome infection was highly significantly associated with the fly’s age based on wing fray category (, , , ), being higher among the very old than the young. Conclusion. The relatively high tsetse density and trypanosome infection rate indicate that the transition zone is a high-risk area for perpetuating animal trypanosomiasis. Therefore, appropriate mitigation measures should be instituted targeting tsetse and other biting flies that may play a role as disease vectors, given the predominance of T. vivax in the tsetse samples.