Journal of Infectious Diseases and Public Health

Articles

Overlooked Hotspots for Fasciola and Schistosoma Parasite Trans‑ mission at the Livestock‑Wildlife Interface around Lake Mburo Na‑ tional Park, Uganda

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https://doi.org/10.54963/jidph.v1i1.2413
Volume 1 Issue 1 (2025)
Copyright (c) 2025 Daisy Namirembe, Rapheal Wangalwa, Anke Weisheit, Jovan Ssemanda, Jeninah Atwebe‑ mbeire, David Mubiru, Casim Umba Tolo, Julius Tumusiime
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors

  • Daisy Namirembe

    Department of Biology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara P.O. Box 1410, Uganda
    School of Biological Science, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK
  • Rapheal Wangalwa

    Department of Biology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara P.O. Box 1410, Uganda
  • Anke Weisheit

    Pharm‑Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine Center of Excellence (PHARMBIOTRAC), Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara P.O. Box 1410, Uganda
  • Jovan Ssemanda

    Department of Biology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara P.O. Box 1410, Uganda
  • Jeninah Atwebe‑ mbeire

    Department of Biology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara P.O. Box 1410, Uganda
  • David Mubiru

    Department of Biology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara P.O. Box 1410, Uganda
  • Casim Umba Tolo

    Department of Biology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara P.O. Box 1410, Uganda
    Pharm‑Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine Center of Excellence (PHARMBIOTRAC), Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara P.O. Box 1410, Uganda
  • Julius Tumusiime

    Department of Biology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara P.O. Box 1410, Uganda

Received: 7 September 2025; Revised: 18 October 2025; Accepted: 18 October 2025; Published: 25 October 2025

Fasciola and Schistosoma parasites are of public health and economic importance. However, most inter‑ventions target human disease control, neglecting animal reservoir hosts. A cross‑sectional study was conducted at Lake Mburo National Park (LMNP) livestock‑wildlife interface, to determine the prevalence of Fasciola and Schis‑ tosoma parasites in cattle and wild mammals and assess watering points’ potential as breeding sites for aquatic snail‑vectors. Animals in ranch‑lands were tracked along transects, and fresh faecal samples collected. In LMNP, samples came from animal paths and grazing areas. Parasite eggs were concentrated using the formal‑ether sedi‑ mentation method and examined microscopically. Animal watering points were surveyed for 30 min to collect snail vectors, and water physicochemical conditions recorded. Differences in prevalence and snail abundance between sites were assessed using chi‑square test and odds ratios were computed from binary logistic regression. Fasciola  parasites were prevalent among buffaloes (79.6%), waterbucks (54.1%), impalas (51.6%), and cattle (45.1%), but were not detected in baboons and topis. Animals foraging in ranch‑lands were more likely to contract liver‑flukes (38.9%, OR = 3.374, CI: 1.73–6.561) than those in LMNP. Schistosoma bovis was only detected in cattle (2.2%) and buffaloes (2.2%). Watering points, especially valley dams (66.7%) in ranch‑lands, harbored more snails on aver‑ age. Shared grazing and water points could increase risk of parasite cross‑transmission between livestock and wild mammals, as each could be reservoir for the other complicating disease control. We recommend targeted mollus‑ ciciding and fencing off open water sources to reduce contact with snail‑infested habitats on farmlands.

Keywords:

Cross Transmissions Aquatic Snails Valley Dams Livestock‑Wildlife Interface Fasciola Species Schis‑ tosoma bovis Hotspots Bulinus Species

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