James Wabwire Oguttu

• BVM (MUK), BVSc (Vet Sc. Hons) MSc (Vet Sc.), PhD
• Professor (Associate) at University of South Africa

Although South Africa is food secure at the national level, food insecurity is still experienced at the household and individual levels. In 2005, the Mpumalanga Provincial Government introduced the Phezukomkhono Mlimi (PKM) programme to help alleviate household food insecurity. However, the recent food security status of the beneficiaries has not b...

Objective This study aimed to investigate the presence of ESKAPE organisms on the hands of students working in the intensive care unit (ICU) at a veterinary academic hospital. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among students working in an ICU at a veterinary academic hospital in South Africa. Students were sampled before the start of t...

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant worldwide health challenge associated with prolonged illnesses, increased healthcare costs, and high mortality rates. The present study examined the patterns and predictors of AMR among human Staphylococcus isolates obtained from diagnostic laboratories in South Africa between 2012 and 2017. This s...

There is a scarcity of published studies on the occurrence of Staphylococcus spp. Among dogs in South Africa. The objective of the study was to characterise the Staphylococcus spp. Isolated from dog samples submitted to a veterinary diagnostic laboratory in South Africa in terms of time, place, and person. This study utilised a dataset of 1627 posi...

Meat is a great source of vital nutrients and important proteins for human health. But at the same time, it serves as a conducive environment for the development of microbes and their transfer to humans. This is exacerbated if the recommended safety procedures are not strictly adhered to. The aim of this research was to assess the level of knowledg...

BACKGROUND: Parasite infections, unlike regulated animal diseases, do not often receive attention. In fact, parasites are major sources of financial losses in pig enterprises, particularly in subsistence and small-scale pig production systems. OBJECTIVE: To identify and quantify the prevalence of ecto- and endo-parasites among peri-urban free-roami...

Drought is a major concern in the agricultural sector, especially due to its recurrence and adverse effects on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Vulnerability of smallholder farmers to drought is higher in developing countries such as South Africa than in developed countries. This is due to the high dependence on rainfall by farmers in develo...

Here, we present the genome assembly of E. coli strain HMVC1 isolated from rectal fecal samples of healthy cattle in South Africa. The genome size of HMVC1 consisted of 5,043,843 bp, with G + C content of 50.5%. The strain harbors marA, mdtM, acrF, acrD, and other antimicrobial resistance genes.

We present draft genome sequences of 12 Enterobacter hormaechei strains from feces isolated from cow rectums in the North West province, South Africa. The genome sizes ranged from 4.43 to 5.02Mb, with G + C contents of 55.5–56%, and contained 16–262 contigs. These data will contribute to our knowledge of the ecology and diversity of this species in...

Background Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae are opportunistic bacterial pathogens responsible for hospital-acquired infections in veterinary medicine. Infection with these bacteria always requires urgent antimicrobial therapy. However, there is no evidence of studies that have investigated the antimicrobial drug resistance profile...

Mobile colistin resistance (mcr) genes (mcr-1 to mcr-10) are plasmid-encoded genes that threaten the clinical utility of colistin (COL), one of the highest-priority and critically-important antibiotics (HP-CIAs), used in treating infections caused by multidrug-resistant and extensively-drug resistant bacteria in humans and animals. For more than si...

Background Pre-slaughter stress or the welfare condition of food-producing animals (FPAs) and the slaughter practices of slaughterhouse workers (SHWs) are critically important for the safety and quality of meats processed in slaughterhouses (SHs). Consequently, this study determined the pre-slaughter, slaughter, and post-slaughter (PSP) practices o...

Background: Although staphylococci are commensals of the skin and mucosa of humans and animals, they are also opportunistic pathogens. Some coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. (CoNS), such as S. haemolyticus and S. epidermidis, are reported to be zoonotic. Objectives: The prevalence of coagulase positive (CoPS), CoNS and coagulase-variable St...

Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from a total of 360 nasal and groin skin swabs from 180 systematic randomly-selected horses slaughtered for meat at Obollo-Afor, Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria and antimicrobial, methicillin and heavy metal resistance profile and virulence potentials of the isolates established. Baird-Parker agar with egg yolk tel...

Background Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are associated with increased mortality, morbidity, and an economic burden due to costs associated with extended hospital stays. Furthermore, most pathogens associated with HAIs in veterinary medicine are zoonotic. This study used published data to identify organisms associated with HAIs and zoonosis i...

With the advent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), several institutions worldwide have adopted the blended mode of teaching and learning. However, literature on this concept in South Africa and on the African continent is scarce. This scoping review explores the concept of blended approach to training and how to design resources for the bl...

Poverty is a feature of rural households, and as a result, rural folks usually adopt low-input agriculture to alleviate poverty. Many households in Ngaka Modiri Molema District keep animals, particularly sheep and goats, for a variety of reasons, including as source of income, milk, and meat. However, they lack the management skills that are necess...

Background Dietary diversity is a good alternative measure of the nutritional adequacy and food security. The present study assessed the household dietary diversity status and its determinants among agricultural households in the Nkomazi Local Municipality, South Africa. Methods Out of 543 households in the study area that were supported by the Ph...

Mobile colistin resistance (mcr) genes (mcr-1 to mcr-10) threaten the efficacy of colistin (COL), a polymyxin antibiotic that is used as a last-line agent for the treatment of deadly infections caused by multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant bacteria in humans and animals. COL has been used for more than 60 years for the prophylactic c...

Demand for ethnic foods by the immigrant population has led to proliferation of ethnic food shops (shops selling foods eaten by different ethnic groups). However, the status of the food hygiene practices among these vendors is unknown. This study investigated food hygiene practices among informal ethnic food vendors in Gauteng Province (GP), South...

The dose response effect of yeast on productive indices of indigenous Boschveld chickens was investigated. 600 unsexed Boschveld chickens were divided into 6 groups of 100 and each group replicated five times. Chickens received starter mash (1 to 49 days) and grower mash (50-91 days) supplemented with probiotic-yeast at 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 and 1...

Cross-resistance occurs between antimicrobials with either similar mechanisms of action and/or similar chemical structures, or even between unrelated antimicrobials. This study employed a multivariate approach to investigate the associations between the efficacy profile of antimicrobials and the clustering of eleven different antimicrobial agents b...

The study analysed the food security status of agricultural households in Nkomazi Local Municipality, South Africa. Descriptive statistics, the food security index and multivariate analysis were used to realise the objectives of the study. The majority of respondents were females. Furthermore , respondents aged between 61 and 70 years and those who...

Understanding the sources, prevalence, phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of mcr gene-harbouring bacteria (MGHB) in the poultry sector is crucial to supplement existing information. Through this, the plasmid-mediated colistin resistance (PMCR) could be tackled to improve food safety and reduce public health risks. Therefore, we conducted a li...

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing public health problem and a threat to effective treatment and prevention of an array of infections caused by bacteria. Africa is already faced with many socioeconomic and health crises. Many countries in Africa can seldom boast of a standardized health care facility comparable to those in developed countries. Y...

This study aimed to determine the avoidance behaviour of first lactating cows and its effect on milk yield in a pasture-based dairy system. The behavioural response of first lactating Jersey, Friesland and crossbred (Jersey x Friesland) cows to a new environment and human presence were determined by recording their avoidance distance scores (ADS),...

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing public health problem and a threat to effective treatment and prevention of an array of infections caused by bacteria. Africa is already faced with many socioeconomic and health crises. Many countries in Africa can seldom boast of a standardized health care facility comparable to those in developed countries. Y...

Haematological characteristics of Boschveld chickens fed baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)–supplemented diets were investigated. Six hundred, day-old unsexed Boschveld chicks were divided into six equal groups and each group replicated 5 times. Birds aged 1 to 49 days were offered starter diet, whereas those aged 50–91days were offered growe...

Background: In addition to increasing access to fresh and affordable produce, home gardening enhances food security. This notwithstanding, there is no evidence of studies that have investigated factors correlated with home gardening in Gauteng Province (GP), South Africa. The present study investigated home gardening across the GP. Methods: Retr...

This experiment was performed to determine the nutrient content of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and effect on carcass characteristics, relative internal organ weights, digesta pH, and lengths and weights of the different segments of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of indigenous Boschveld chickens. Six hundred-day-old unsexed Boschveld chicks w...

Background Understanding the prescription practices and attitudes of veterinarians towards antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is crucial in guiding efforts to curb AMR. This study investigated prescription practices and attitudes towards AMR among veterinarians in the City of Tshwane, South Africa. Methods Out of the 83 veterinarians invited to partic...

Background: While surveillance of antimicrobial drug resistance is ongoing in human medicine in South Africa, there is no such activity being performed in veterinary medicine. As a result, there is a need to investigate antimicrobial resistance among enterococci isolated from dogs in South Africa to improve understanding of the status of antimicrob...

Background and aim: Staphylococcus aureus infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in mastitis cases are both of clinical and economic importance. This study investigated the prevalence and AMR patterns of S. aureus isolated from composite milk samples of dairy cows submitted to the Onderstepoort Milk Laboratory for routine diagnosis. Materi...

Background From 2012, Limpopo province experienced extremely dry conditions that culminated in a meteorological drought between 2014 and 2016. There is no evidence of studies that have documented how the smallholder livestock farmers in the area were impacted. This study investigated factors that were associated with loss of livestock and the copin...

Background: Although anthrax occurs globally, the burden of the disease remains particularly high in Africa. Furthermore, the disease anthrax has significant public health and economic implications. However, sufficient attention has not been given to the geographic distribution of anthrax outbreaks and cases in Lesotho. Therefore, this study inves...

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel disease pandemic that emerged in late 2019 in China, and later spread to other parts of the world, including Nigeria. This review analyzes the preparedness of Nigeria to the COVID-19 pandemic and recommends strategies that could be useful in controlling the disease. Published articles on COVID-19 world...

Although Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) can infect both animals and humans, there is a paucity of veterinary studies on antimicrobial resistance of P. aeruginosa in South Africa. Secondary data of canine clinical cases presented at the hospital from January 2007 to December 2013 was used. The following information was recorded: type of samp...

Background: Foodborne diseases (FBD) caused by resistant pathogens are a global public health problem. One main driver of the increasing FBD incidence is the transfer of pathogenic organisms from animal guts to carcasses during processing and subsequent transfer from meat products to consumers. Methods: In this study, meat samples from abattoirs...

Background and aim: Leptospirosis is one of the major emerging global economic and health problems affecting donkeys, thereby reducing their work output. Furthermore, the disease has public health importance because of its zoonotic nature. Despite the significant contribution donkeys make to the national economy, less attention is given to disease...

Background and aim: Abattoir processes from skinning, evisceration, to chilling usually lead to meat contamination by foodborne pathogens. Hence, continual microbial surveillance of slaughter carcasses by veterinary public health officials is key to preventing contamination and outbreak of meat-related foodborne diseases. This study was conducted...

Background: Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) associated with Pasteurella multocida, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Streptococci, Staphylococci, and Pseudomonas species have been reported in dogs. The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence and predictors of bacterial RTIs and antimicrobial resistance among samples from dogs with lo...

Objective This study aimed to characterise antibiotics resistance of Escherichia coli isolates from the formal meat sector (FMS) and informal meat sectors (INMS). Method A total of 162 and 102 E. coli isolates from the FMS, and INMS respectively were isolated by standard culture-based, and biochemical reactions. The isolates were further confirmed...

Although social capital has been linked to population health, there is a dearth of studies on the phenomenon especially in sub-Saharan Africa. We investigated the individual and contextual effects of social capital on the health of residents of Gauteng province using retrospective data from the Quality of Life (QoL) survey conducted in 2015. We emp...

Haemato-biochemical values of Ross 308 broiler chickens fed diets with different supplementation levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) were determined. A total of 500, day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were used for the study. They were divided into 5 groups (T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5) of 100 chicks each, and each group was replicated five times. B...

The growing population of free-roaming dogs in informal communities in South Africa may increasingly place humans at risk of possible zoonotic infections including, but not limited to, Brucella canis. Worldwide, the prevalence of B. canis infection has increased during the last two centuries, resulting in increased reports of dog and human infectio...

The problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in veterinary medicine is increasing globally. Unfortunately, little is known regarding the patterns of AMR in dairy farms in South Africa and how farming practices may be contributing to the problem. For instance, infection with mastitis-causing pathogens is an important problem in the dairy industry i...

The high cost of feed materials and feed additives in developing nations has elicited interest in the search for sustainable alternatives having in mind the human food security. Moringa (Moringa oleifera), one of such sustainable alternatives, is a tropical plant with excellent nutritive and phytochemical content. It is one of the species in the fa...

Objective This study aimed to characterise antibiotics resistance of Escherichia coli isolates from the formal meat sector (FMS) and informal meat sectors (INMS). Method A total of 162 and 102 E. coli isolates from the FMS, and INMS respectively were isolated by standard culture-based, and biochemical reactions. The isolates were further confirmed...

The objective of this study was to investigate spatial patterns of staphylococcal infections and resistance patterns of clinical isolates from dogs from Gauteng province in South Africa. Data from records of 1,497 dog clinical samples submitted to a veterinary teaching hospital between 2007 and 2012 were used in the study. Spatial empirical Bayesia...

Salmonella enterica is a leading cause of human gastroenteritis in both developed and developing countries, causing significant economic losses on humans and animals worldwide. There are several routes for contracting salmonellosis, but the consumption of contaminated foods is by far the most frequent cause of human infections. This study aimed to...

Background Although anthrax is endemic in Lesotho, limited information is available on the patterns of the disease among livestock animals. This study investigated temporal patterns of anthrax outbreaks and cases among livestock animals in Lesotho. Methods Secondary data of anthrax outbreaks reported to the Department of Livestock Services between...

Vaccination records. (DOCX)

Background: This study investigated the burden and predictors of canine E. coli urinary tract infections (UTI) and antimicrobial resistance among dogs presented at a veterinary teaching hospital in South Africa, 2007-2012. Methods: The Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to investigate temporal trends while logistic regression models were used...

Abstract. The adverse effects of migration on eating habits are well documented. Accessing healthy, culturally appropriate food is essential for achieving food security and overall health. However, less is known about the factors that affect post-immigration dietary choices. This scoping review assesses current findings regarding factors determinin...

Three hundred and ninety two (n = 392) blood samples from randomly selected cattle were subjected to the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test to test for antibodies against Babesia spp. The proportions of males (49%) and females (51%) included in the study did not differ significantly. Cattle that were ³5 years constituted 63% of the sampled an...

Background Antimicrobial resistance is becoming increasingly important in both human and veterinary medicine. This study investigated the proportion of antimicrobial resistant samples and resistance patterns of Staphylococcus isolates from cats presented at a veterinary teaching hospital in South Africa. Records of 216 samples from cats that were s...

Background Antimicrobial resistant Staphylococcus are becoming increasingly important in horses because of the zoonotic nature of the pathogens and the associated risks to caregivers and owners. Knowledge of the burden and their antimicrobial resistance patterns are important to inform control strategies. This study is an exploratory descriptive in...

Background Staphylococci are commensals of the mucosal surface and skin of humans and animals, but have been implicated in infections such as otitis externa, pyoderma, urinary tract infections and post-surgical complications. Laboratory records provide useful information to help investigate these infections. Therefore, the objective of this study w...

Background Antimicrobial resistance in staphylococci, often associated with treatment failure, is increasingly reported in veterinary medicine. The aim of this study was to investigate patterns and predictors of antimicrobial resistance among Staphylococcus spp. isolates from canine samples submitted to the bacteriology laboratory at the University...

Background: This study assessed the occupational health and food safety risks associated with the traditional slaughter of goats and the consumption of such meat in Tshwane, South Africa. Methods: A convenience sample of 105 respondents agreed to be interviewed using structured questionnaires. Results: A high proportion (62.64%) of practitione...

South African pig sector is a contributor to the agricultural industry. A study was conducted to identify the production constraints and compare the management practices in smallholder pig farms in Mpumalanga, South Africa. A total of 220 selected smallholder pig farmers were interviewed. Smallholder pig farming was predominated by male (64 %), age...

Migration often leads to the loss of what is known as the “healthy immigrant effect” due to the adoption of unhealthy eating habits upon resettlement in host countries. A descriptive study was conducted to assess the current food practices of sub-Saharan immigrants residing in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Questionnaires were administered to 194...

Goats are traditionally slaughtered to celebrate marriages and births, venerate ancestors, address personal problems, or perform a ritual during funerals. The objective of this study was to assess nonhuman animal welfare issues associated with the traditional slaughter of goats in and around Pretoria, South Africa. Participatory research methods we...

We assessed the status of pig farming and its contribution to the livelihoods of rural households in the study area. Snowball sampling was used to sample respondents (n=533), and data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA. The majority (62%) of respondents were females over 46 years...

BACKGROUND:Bovine Taenia saginata cysticercus infections (also called bovine cysticercosis or beef measles) is usually diagnosed in cattle only during post-mortem meat inspection. The aim of this study was to investigate the identification rates of these infections in and to identify predictors/determinants of variations in the identification rates...

The majority of small-holder pig farmers in Mpumalanga had between 1- and 10-sow herds. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the current government agricultural intervention (supply of 10 sows and a boar) in terms of technical and economic feasibilities and ascertain whether the small-scale pig value chain system alleviates poverty. Data were...

The objective of the study was to better understand the informal markets for ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken in Tshwane Metropole, Gauteng Province, South Africa, and in particular the links between the formal and informal sector. As part of this, we assessed the risk of a common food poisoning (staphylococcal) through consumption of RTE chicken sold by...

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that predominantly affects children. Measles is transmitted via droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of an infected persons. Guinea is part of other African countries that accounted for half of the deaths due to measles in 2004. Guinea had severally encountered outbreaks of measles, the most recent wa...

In African societies, traditional slaughter is linked to celebrations like weddings or births, as well as funerals and ancestor veneration. Participants in traditional slaughter of goats are at risk of exposure to hazards during slaughter, food preparation and consumption of goat meat. For risk mitigation strategies to be implemented, identificatio...

The South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries estimated in 2012 that there were 2.033 million goats in the country. Of these animals, less than 0.5% are slaughtered at registered abattoirs. Although informal and traditional slaughter of goats for home consumption is permitted under the South African Meat Safety Act 40 of 2000,...

A survey was conducted at Mandlethu FET School in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa to determine factors that affect teaching and learning of Agriculture Science at the school. The study also sought to identify possible support from the learners’ view point that are needed to improve on the teaching and learning of Agriculture Science at the same...

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess pre-slaughter risk mitigation strategies for food safety risks employed by practitioners of traditional/informal slaughter in Tshwane, South Africa. Methods: Structured interviews were conducted with 105 purposively selected respondents who had been involved in traditional goat slaughter. Results:...

The present study seeks to improve on the understanding of the informal markets for ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken in in Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng Province, South Africa, and particularly to investigate links between the formal and informal sector. The study also assesses the risk of staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP) through consumpt...

The calpain and calpastatin proteolytic enzyme system is believed to be the main contributor to the tenderness of meat at post mortem. However, little is known about the enzyme calpain and its inhibitor calpastatin and how the two influence meat tenderness. This could be due to the fact that the study of the technology to understand calpain system...

Poultry abattoir workers who carry out eviscerate do pick up resistance from broiler enteric organisms. To test this hypothesis, the prevalence of and the association of antimicrobial drug resistance between enterococci from broilers and workers who carry out evisceration, washing and packing of broiler intestines were investigated. Broiler caecae...

Topic: Export risk assessment for the export of deboned beef from South Africa to Egypt Purpose: Member states of the World Trade Organization (WTO) cannot impose trade restrictions on trade in animal products without valid scientific evidence. In this study we undertake a quantitative risk assessment of introducing the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)...

Purpose We investigated the prevalence and association of antimicrobial drug resistance among Enterococcus spp. from the caecae of healthy broilers and abattoir workers. Method Broiler caecae (n = 240) from 6 farms were aseptically collected and transported on ice to the laboratory. Caecal content and faeces from 29 abattoir workers and 28 human co...

Antimicrobial usage in food animals increases the prevalence of antimicrobial drug resistance among their enteric bacteria. It has been suggested that this resistance can in turn be transferred to people working with such animals, e.g., abattoir workers. Antimicrobial drug resistance was investigated for Escherichia coli from broilers raised on fee...