Cockroaches as reservoirs, vectors, and potential sentinels of multidrug‐resistant bacteria in ugandan communities : a retrospective analysis

2025
journal article
article
4
dc.abstract.enBackground: Cockroaches could play a role in the transmission dynamics of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) at variable interfaces in Ugandan communities, acting as both reservoirs and vectors. This study investigated the burden and diversity of ARB carried by cockroaches in human settlements in Uganda, so as to understand their role in the spread of these pathogens and their potential as sentinels in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance programs. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on two unpublished studies by Makerere University students. Study one and study two sampled 58 and 110 cockroaches, respectively, from secondary schools in Kampala. Cockroach species identification was determined based on physical characteristics. Bacterial isolation and characterization were performed through microbiological analyses including standard culture methods, biochemical tests, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), disc diffusion method, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Majority of the cockroaches (over 80%) were Periplaneta americana. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was prevalent among the isolates, with over 30% of the isolates being resistant to three or more antibiotic classes. Specifically, MDR (over 90%) was rampant in the extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)– or AmpC-producing Escherichia coli and enterococci isolates. Critical World Health Organization (WHO) priority pathogens, such as ESBL-/AmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae, and carbapenem-resistant E. coli, were also identified. The most abundant resistance determinants (tetracycline and sulphonamide) were tetA, sul1, and sul2 for E. coli, and tetM and tetL for enterococci. Conclusion: The findings accentuate the potential role of cockroaches: (1) in transmitting multidrug-resistant bacteria at the human–animal–environment interface and (2) as sentinels in the surveillance of community-generated AMR.
dc.affiliationSzkoła Doktorska Nauk Ścisłych i Przyrodniczych
dc.contributor.authorKakooza, Steven
dc.contributor.authorSsajjakambwe, Paul
dc.contributor.authorNalubega, Rebecca
dc.contributor.authorNamazi, Betty
dc.contributor.authorNantume, Aisha
dc.contributor.authorSsentamu, Geoffrey
dc.contributor.authorNabatta, Esther
dc.contributor.authorNalumenya, David - 523443
dc.contributor.authorWanyana, Mariam
dc.contributor.authorMunyiirwa, Damien F. N.
dc.contributor.authorNamuyinda, Dorcus
dc.contributor.authorTsuchida, Sayaka
dc.contributor.authorUshida, Kazunari
dc.contributor.authorKaneene, John Baligwamunsi
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-15T08:23:27Z
dc.date.available2026-06-15T08:23:27Z
dc.date.createdat2026-05-29T10:32:44Zen
dc.date.issued2025
dc.date.openaccess0
dc.description.accesstimew momencie opublikowania
dc.description.versionostateczna wersja wydawcy
dc.description.volume2025
dc.identifier.articleid5940509
dc.identifier.doi10.1155/ghe3/5940509
dc.identifier.eissn2054-4200
dc.identifier.issn2054-4200
dc.identifier.projectDRC AI
dc.identifier.urihttps://ruj.uj.edu.pl/handle/item/575069
dc.languageeng
dc.language.containereng
dc.rightsUdzielam licencji. Uznanie autorstwa 4.0 Międzynarodowa
dc.rights.licenceCC-BY
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.pl
dc.share.typeotwarte czasopismo
dc.source.integratorfalse
dc.subject.enantimicrobial resistance
dc.subject.enbacteria
dc.subject.encockroaches
dc.subject.enpathogen reservoirs and vectors
dc.subject.enpublic health
dc.subject.ensentinels
dc.subject.enUganda
dc.subtypeArticle
dc.titleCockroaches as reservoirs, vectors, and potential sentinels of multidrug‐resistant bacteria in ugandan communities : a retrospective analysis
dc.title.journalGlobal Health Epidemiology and Genomics
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typePublicationen
dc.abstract.en
Background: Cockroaches could play a role in the transmission dynamics of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) at variable interfaces in Ugandan communities, acting as both reservoirs and vectors. This study investigated the burden and diversity of ARB carried by cockroaches in human settlements in Uganda, so as to understand their role in the spread of these pathogens and their potential as sentinels in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance programs. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on two unpublished studies by Makerere University students. Study one and study two sampled 58 and 110 cockroaches, respectively, from secondary schools in Kampala. Cockroach species identification was determined based on physical characteristics. Bacterial isolation and characterization were performed through microbiological analyses including standard culture methods, biochemical tests, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), disc diffusion method, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Majority of the cockroaches (over 80%) were Periplaneta americana. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was prevalent among the isolates, with over 30% of the isolates being resistant to three or more antibiotic classes. Specifically, MDR (over 90%) was rampant in the extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)– or AmpC-producing Escherichia coli and enterococci isolates. Critical World Health Organization (WHO) priority pathogens, such as ESBL-/AmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae, and carbapenem-resistant E. coli, were also identified. The most abundant resistance determinants (tetracycline and sulphonamide) were tetA, sul1, and sul2 for E. coli, and tetM and tetL for enterococci. Conclusion: The findings accentuate the potential role of cockroaches: (1) in transmitting multidrug-resistant bacteria at the human–animal–environment interface and (2) as sentinels in the surveillance of community-generated AMR.
dc.affiliation
Szkoła Doktorska Nauk Ścisłych i Przyrodniczych
dc.contributor.author
Kakooza, Steven
dc.contributor.author
Ssajjakambwe, Paul
dc.contributor.author
Nalubega, Rebecca
dc.contributor.author
Namazi, Betty
dc.contributor.author
Nantume, Aisha
dc.contributor.author
Ssentamu, Geoffrey
dc.contributor.author
Nabatta, Esther
dc.contributor.author
Nalumenya, David - 523443
dc.contributor.author
Wanyana, Mariam
dc.contributor.author
Munyiirwa, Damien F. N.
dc.contributor.author
Namuyinda, Dorcus
dc.contributor.author
Tsuchida, Sayaka
dc.contributor.author
Ushida, Kazunari
dc.contributor.author
Kaneene, John Baligwamunsi
dc.date.accessioned
2026-06-15T08:23:27Z
dc.date.available
2026-06-15T08:23:27Z
dc.date.createdaten
2026-05-29T10:32:44Z
dc.date.issued
2025
dc.date.openaccess
0
dc.description.accesstime
w momencie opublikowania
dc.description.version
ostateczna wersja wydawcy
dc.description.volume
2025
dc.identifier.articleid
5940509
dc.identifier.doi
10.1155/ghe3/5940509
dc.identifier.eissn
2054-4200
dc.identifier.issn
2054-4200
dc.identifier.project
DRC AI
dc.identifier.uri
https://ruj.uj.edu.pl/handle/item/575069
dc.language
eng
dc.language.container
eng
dc.rights
Udzielam licencji. Uznanie autorstwa 4.0 Międzynarodowa
dc.rights.licence
CC-BY
dc.rights.uri
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.pl
dc.share.type
otwarte czasopismo
dc.source.integrator
false
dc.subject.en
antimicrobial resistance
dc.subject.en
bacteria
dc.subject.en
cockroaches
dc.subject.en
pathogen reservoirs and vectors
dc.subject.en
public health
dc.subject.en
sentinels
dc.subject.en
Uganda
dc.subtype
Article
dc.title
Cockroaches as reservoirs, vectors, and potential sentinels of multidrug‐resistant bacteria in ugandan communities : a retrospective analysis
dc.title.journal
Global Health Epidemiology and Genomics
dc.type
JournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeen
Publication
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