School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources (SVAR) Collection
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ItemPrevalence of tapeworm parasites in mountain gorillas (Gorilla Beringei Beringei) and olive baboons (Papio Anubis) in Bwindi-Mghahinga Conservation Area(Makerere University, 2026)Cestode are common gastrointestinal parasites of non-human primates and may influence wildlife health and conservation. Cestodes are gastrointestinal parasites that infect a wide range of vertebrate hosts, including rodents, ungulates, primates, elephants, and hyraxes. Although the epidemiology of cestode infections has been well documented in some host species, information on free-ranging primates remains limited. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Bwindi– Mgahinga Conservation Area (BMCA), Uganda, between November and December 2025 to determine the prevalence, diversity and egg burden of tapeworm infestations among mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) and olive baboons (Papio anubis). A total of 273 fecal samples were collected, comprising 245 samples from mountain gorillas obtained from fresh night nests and 28 samples from olive baboons collected during daytime by following troop trails. Tapeworm eggs per gram (EPG) were quantified using the Mini-FLOTAC® technique, and cestode eggs were identified morphologically to the genus level. Mountain gorillas exhibited a markedly higher prevalence of tapeworm infection than olive baboons. Overall prevalence was 94.1% (222/236) in BINP and 100% (9/9) in MGNP for gorillas, compared with 25.0% (7/28) in olive baboons. Within BINP, gorilla prevalence ranged from 87.0% in Buhoma to 98.0% in Rushaga. Adults showed the highest prevalence (95.7%), while females had slightly higher prevalence (97.0%) than males (93.6%). Three tapeworm genera—Anoplocephala, Moniezia, and Bertiella—were identified in mountain gorillas, whereas only Bertiella species were detected in olive baboons. Mean tapeworm egg counts were significantly higher in gorillas from MGNP than BINP (319.20 ± 39.51 vs. 162.17 ± 11.80 EPG; p = 0.011). Within BINP, gorillas had significantly higher mean EPG than olive baboons (162.17 ± 11.80 vs. 4.29 ± 2.91; p < 0.001). Tapeworm egg burdens also differed significantly among gorilla sectors, with Rushaga recording the highest median EPG (p < 0.0001), while differences by age and sex were not statistically significant. These findings indicate a higher occurrence of tapeworm infections in mountain gorillas than in olive baboons and provide information on the distribution of cestode genera in sympatric primate populations within BMCA. However, because parasite identification was based on morphological characteristics of eggs, future studies incorporating molecular techniques are recommended to enable species-level identification and improve understanding of cestode diversity and transmission dynamics.
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ItemEvaluation of reproductive performance of breeding sows within selected parishes of Makindye Division, Kampala District(Makerere University, 2026)Reproductive efficiency and pre-weaning piglet survival are critical determinants of productivity and profitability in intensive pig production. However, limited data exist on these parameters among small-scale intensive farms in urban-peri-urban areas of Uganda. This study was set to; i. Characterise the litter size, age at weaning, weaning-to-service interval, Non- productive days, Inter- farrowing interval, litter index and the Piglets weaned per sow per year of sows managed under intensive production systems within selected parishes of Makindye Division, Kampala District. ii. Determine the prevalence and likely causes of pre-weaning piglet mortality in breeding herds within the study area. A cross-sectional study was conducted in selected parishes of Makindye Division, Kampala District. Ninety pig farmers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire, and reproductive data were collected from 151 breeding sow. Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, medians, and ranges) and frequency distributions were generated using STATA software. Chi-square tests were used to assess associations with pre-weaning mortality. All farms used intensive, confined housing, with crossbred sows predominating (91.1%). Mean litter size was 9.46 ± 1.95 total born (9.09 ± 1.88 born alive), and 8.78 ± 4.66 piglets were weaned per litter, yielding 14.09 ± 3.56 piglets weaned per sow per year. Pre-weaning mortality was reported by 54.4% of farms (n=49). Among affected farms, 69.4% of mortalities occurred within 0–2 days of life. The leading causes were diarrhea (42.9%) and crushing by the sow (38.8%). Reproductive performance was moderate but significantly limited by high early neonatal mortality. Strengthening farrowing supervision, hygiene, creep feeding, and neonatal care can substantially reduce losses. Extension services should prioritize practical training on these aspects to enhance productivity in urban- and peri-urban pig farming systems in Uganda.
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ItemFactors influencing the utilisation of poultry feed additives and farmer’s perceptions of their quality in selected parishes of Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso District(Makerere University, 2026)Poultry production constitutes a critically important enterprise in Uganda, contributing substantially to household food security, income generation and rural employment. Although feed additives are widely recognized for their potential to enhance growth performance, feed conversion efficiency, and disease resistance, their utilization among small holder farmers remains inconsistent and the quality of products available on local markets is poorly regulated. Against this background, the present study was designed to assess the factors influencing the utilization of poultry feed additives and to evaluate farmers’ perceptions of their quality among poultry producers in selected parishes of Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso District. Across sectional survey design was adopted, and primary data were collected from 100 poultry farmers selected through a multistage purposive sampling from five parishes. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered via kobo Toolbox, and all analyses were carried out using SPSS version 26, employing descriptive statistics, multiple response analysis and chi square tests. The findings revealed that vitamins, growth promoters and minerals were the most widely utilized additive categories, whereas probiotics and antioxidants were never used. Expected benefits for birds, price and professional advice emerged as the primary drivers of Utilizations, while high cost was most frequently cited barrier. Although farmers generally held positive perceptions of additive quality, a substantial proportion reported encountering poor quality products, checked only limited label information, and rarely reported quality concerns to regulatory authorities. It is concluded that, despite generally favorable perceptions of feed additive quality, significant challenges persist, including cost barriers, product quality inconsistencies, unsupervised use of growth promoters and week regulatory enforcement.it is recommended that the Animal feed Act ,2024 be expedited, that complaint reporting mechanisms be strengthened, and that targeted farmer training on responsible additive use be prioritized.
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ItemKnowledge, attitudes and practices of veterinary drug shop attendants regarding antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance in Wakiso District, Uganda(Makerere University, 2026)Antimicrobial resistance is a major global health threat that hits low- and middle-income countries hardest, and in Uganda the veterinary drug-shop attendants who control antimicrobial dispensing remain an understudied yet influential group in the AMR problem. Objective: This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of veterinary drug-shop attendants regarding antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance in selected areas of Wakiso District, Uganda, in order to identify gaps and inform targeted stewardship interventions. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 30 attendants from licensed veterinary drug shops across three peri-urban areas of Wakiso District used a WHO-adapted structured questionnaire to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices on AMR, with three key informant interviews and thematic analysis triangulating the descriptively analyzed quantitative findings. Results: Regarding knowledge, attendants demonstrated only moderate understanding of antimicrobial use and resistance (mean 9.77/15), with just 33.3% reaching a high level. Regarding attitudes, responses were contradictory: 90.0% accepted a responsibility to educate clients about AMR, yet only 30.0% rejected the use of antibiotics for growth promotion. Regarding practices, a pronounced knowledge–practice gap emerged, with 43.3% of attendants always dispensing antibiotics without a veterinarian’s prescription and none dispensing only after a confirmed diagnosis; notably, a demand-side driver of inappropriate use was farmer peer-discussion forums fueling self-formed diagnoses and dose modification. Conclusions: Veterinary drug-shop attendants in Wakiso District showed moderate knowledge but consistently inappropriate dispensing practices, a gap structurally explained by pharmaceutical-company-dominated training and a novel demand-side driver in farmer peer-discussion forums, providing the first baseline data for this stakeholder group and an evidence platform for targeted AMR interventions spanning independent training, strengthened NDA enforcement, levy consolidation, and stewardship engagement of farmer networks.
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ItemPrevalence of helminths in mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - community interface(Makerere University, 2026)Gastrointestinal helminth infections are among the most common parasitic diseases affecting wild primates and may compromise individual health, population viability, and conservation efforts, particularly in the endangered mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei). The close proximity between mountain gorillas and surrounding human communities at the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park community interface may increase chances for parasite transmission through shared environments. This study assessed the prevalence and diversity of helminths in mountain gorillas at the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park community interface. A cross-sectional study was conducted using 36 fresh faecal samples collected noninvasively from four habituated mountain gorilla groups (Habinyanja, Rushegura, Binyindo, and Katwe). Samples were examined using sedimentation, flotation and the McMaster faecal egg-counting technique to identify helminth eggs and determine faecal egg counts (eggs per gram, EPG) of faeces. Overall, 20/36 of the faecal samples (55.6%) were positive for at least one gastrointestinal helminth. Four helminth groups were identified: Strongyle, Strongyloides, Moniezia and Anoplocephala. Strongyle had the highest prevalence (47.2%), followed by Moniezia (25.0%), Strongyloides (13.9%), and Anoplocephala (2.8%). Strongyle also recorded the highest mean faecal egg count (1422.5 ± 1467.1 EPG), indicating the greatest infection burden among the detected helminths. The study demonstrates that gastrointestinal helminths remain common among mountain gorillas at the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park community interface, with Strongyle representing the predominant parasites in terms of both prevalence and infection intensity. Continued parasitological surveillance, strengthened One Health approaches and improved management of human–livestock–wildlife interactions are recommended to reduce parasite transmission risks and support the long-term conservation of mountain gorillas.