Bats living in close contact with people in Rwanda were tested for evidence of infection with viruses of zoonotic potential. Mucosal swabs from 503 bats representing 17 species were sampled from 2010 to 2014 and screened by consensus PCR for 11 viral families. Samples were negative for all viral families except coronaviruses, which were detected in 27 bats belonging to eight species. Known coronaviruses detected included the betacorona viruses: Kenya bat coronaviruses, Eidolon bat coronavirus, and Bat coronavirus HKU9, as well as an alphacoronavirus, Chaerephon Bat coronavirus. Novel coronaviruses included two betacorona viruses clustering with SARS-CoV, a 2d coronavirus, and an alphacoronavirus.

Background Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an endemic disease in Rwanda, but little is known about its prevalence and causative mycobacterial species. The disease causes tremendous losses in livestock and wildlife and remains a significant threat to public health. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study employing a systematic random sampling of cattle (n = 300) with the collection of retropharyngeal lymph nodes and tonsils (n = 300) irrespective of granulomatous lesions was carried out in six abattoirs to investigate the prevalence and identify mycobacterial species using culture, acid-fast bacteria staining, polymerase chain reaction, and GeneXpert assay. Individual risk factors and the origin of samples were analysed for association with the prevalence. Findings Of the 300 sample pools, six were collected with visible TB-like lesions. Our findings demonstrated the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) in 1.7% (5/300) of sampled slaughtered cattle. M. bovis was isolated from 1.3% (4/300) animals while one case was caused by a rifampicin-resistance (RR) M. tuberculosis. Non-tuberculous mycobacteria were identified in 12.0% (36/300) of the sampled cattle. There were no significant associations between the prevalence and abattoir category, age, sex, and breeds of slaughtered cattle. Conclusions This study is the first in Rwanda to isolate both M. bovis and RR M. tuberculosis in slaughtered cattle indicating that bTB is present in Rwanda with a low prevalence. The isolation of RR M. tuberculosis from cattle indicates possible zooanthroponotic transmission of M. tuberculosis and close human-cattle contact. To protect humans against occupational zoonotic diseases, it is essential to control bTB in cattle and raise the awareness among all occupational groups as well as reinforce biosafety at the farm level and in the abattoirs.

Bovine brucellosis is endemic in Rwanda, although, there is paucity of documented evidence about the disease in slaughtered cattle. A cross-sectional study was conducted in slaughtered cattle (n=300) to determine the seroprevalence of anti- Brucella antibodies using the Rose Bengal Test (RBT), and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (i-ELISA). Corresponding tissues were cultured onto a modified Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria (CITA) selective medium and analysed for Brucella spp. using the 16S-23S ribosomal interspacer region (ITS), AMOS, and Bruce-ladder PCR assays. The RBT seroprevalence was 20.7% (62/300), and 2.9% (8/300) with i-ELISA and 2.9% (8/300) using both tests in parallel. Brucella specific 16S-23S ribosomal DNA interspace region (ITS) PCR detected Brucella DNA in 5.6% (17/300; Brucella culture prevalence). AMOS-PCR assay identified mixed B. abortus and B. melitensis (n=3), B. abortus (n=3) and B. melitensis (n=5) while Bruce-ladder PCR also identified B. abortus (n=5) and B. melitensis (n=6). The gold standard culture method combined with PCR confirmation identified 5.6% Brucella cultures which is higher than the more sensitive seroprevalence of 2.9%. This emphasizes the need to validate the serological tests in Rwanda. The mixed infection caused by B. abortus and B. melitensis in slaughtered cattle indicates cross-infection and poses a risk of exposure potential to abattoir workers. It is essential to urgently strengthen the national bovine brucellosis control program through vaccination as well as test-and-slaughter.

Background: In response to the need for interventions that facilitate the accessibility of medical services in poor communities, an outreach activity was organized in semi-rural areas of Maraba and Simbi sectors located in Huye district, Southern province of Rwanda. The outreach was undertaken by health sciences students and involved the screening of hypertension, risk of diabetes, hepatitis, anemia, eye disease, and HIV.Methods: Clinical assessments and rapid laboratory diagnostic assays were used to screen invited residents from the two selected communities. An observation research was conducted from May 21 to 25 May, 2018, at Maraba and Simbi sector located in Huye district, Southern province, Rwanda. We employed a purposively sampling technique for participants' recruitment in the outreach. The outreach was conducted as part teaching program and community engagement, and was endorsed by college of medicine and health sciences and all the subjects voluntarily participated in this exercise; the ethical approval was not applicable for this outreach activity. Results: The total beneficiaries from those sectors were 1427 citizens of whom females predominated at 72%. During the screening, hypertension was found to be high at 47.8% among adults. Anemia which mostly presumes iron deficiency was observed at 32.5% among under 15 years old children and at 15% in pregnant women. The vision impairment and cataract were observed at 5.66 and 19.59%, respectively. The assessed viral infection indicated a rate of 0.56% for HIV, 1.03% for HBV, and 7.17% for HCV. High blood glucose was found in 10.4% of the screened population.Conclusions: The findings highlight a high burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in rural communities and call for further investigations and interventions to align with the sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly access to affordable health services. Furthermore, the success of this outreach highlights the potential contribution of health care trainees in achieving these goals and calls for integration of such interventions in the health education curriculum.

Tuberculosis (TB), including multidrug-resistant (MDR; i.e., resistant to at least rifampicin and isoniazid)/rifampicin-resistant (MDR/RR) TB, is the most important opportunistic infection among people living with HIV (PLHIV). In 2005, Rwanda launched the programmatic management of MDR/RR-TB. The shorter MDR/RR-TB treatment regimen (STR) has been implemented since 2014. We analyzed predictors of MDR/RR-TB mortality, including the effect of using the STR overall and among PLHIV. This retrospective study included data from patients diagnosed with RR-TB in Rwanda between July 2005 and December 2018. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess predictors of mortality. Of 898 registered MDR/RR-TB patients, 861 (95.9%) were included in this analysis, of whom 360 (41.8%) were HIV coinfected. Overall, 86 (10%) patients died during MDR/RR-TB treatment. Mortality was higher among HIV-coinfected compared with HIV-negative TB patients (13.3% versus 7.6%). Among HIV-coinfected patients, patients aged ≥ 55 years (adjusted odds ratio = 5.89) and those with CD4 count ≤ 100 cells/mm3 (adjusted odds ratio = 3.77) had a higher likelihood of dying. Using either the standardized longer MDR/RR-TB treatment regimen or the STR was not correlated with mortality overall or among PLHIV. The STR was as effective as the long MDR/RR-TB regimen. In conclusion, older age and advanced HIV disease were strong predictors of MDR/RR-TB mortality. Therefore, special care for elderly and HIV-coinfected patients with ≤ 100 CD4 cells/mL might further reduce MDR/RR-TB mortality.