The Department of Microbiology, Parasitology, and Biotechnology is delighted to announce to the scientific community and extend its congratulations to Dr. Isidore Nsengimana, on the successful defence of his PhD on 8th May 2025 at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA). His PhD thesis is titled “Epidemiological investigation of Rift Valley fever virus circulation in Rwanda: Molecular epidemiology, potential mosquito vectors, seroprevalence in humans, and associated risk factors”.
Dr. Isidore Nsengimana began his PhD program at the Department of Microbiology, Parasitology, and Biotechnology within the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (CVMBS) in October 2020. Employed by Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA), Dr. Isidore serves as an Inspector of Animal Products and Feeds. He was guided and supervised by Prof. Christopher Kasanga (SUA, Tanzania), Dr. Augustino Chengula (SUA, Tanzania), and Prof. Gillian Eastwood of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT), with Dr. Emmanuel Hakizimana serving as candidate’s home country mentor. Dr. Isidore’s primary research focuses on virology and epidemiology.
List of members of the panel for the viva voce examination
| 1 | Chairperson | Prof. Claudius Luziga |
| 2 | Appointee of the Principal, CVMBS | Dr. Ernatus Mkupasi |
| 3 | Appointee of the Head of Department | Dr. Isihaka Haji Juma |
| 4 | Independent Internal Examiner 1 who did not supervise | Prof. Philemon Wambura |
| 5 | Independent Internal Examiner 2 who did not supervise | Dr. Athumani Lupindu |
Summary of findings
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an emerging mosquito-borne, zoonotic hemorrhagic fever caused by Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), which periodically causes devastating and recurrent outbreaks in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It is associated with significant economic losses and public health impact. The control of the disease depends on the availability of scientific data, which are crucial for the formulation of appropriate control strategies. The study generated for the first time in Rwanda, the data on RVFV genome sequences, potential mosquito vectors as well as seroprevalence in humans. The findings show that RVFV lineage C circulates in the country and its introduction likely resulted from the expansion of the 2006/7 largest East Africa RVF outbreak that occurred in Kenya, Tanzania and Somalia and spread to Sudan and Uganda. The entomological survey of RVFV mosquito vectors, showed that several potential mosquito vectors exist in the country and Culex quinquefasciatus, the predominant species, seems to play a major role in RVFV persistence, alongside other candidate vectors. Humans were found to be at a notable risk of exposure to RVFV with an overall prevalence of 9.6%. People involved in animal-contact practices such as slaughtering, assisting birthing animals and milking were at higher risk of RVFV infections.
Publications
- Nsengimana, I., Juma, J., Roesel, K., Gasana, M. N., Ndayisenga, F., Muvunyi, C. M., Hakizimana, E., Hakizimana, J. N., Eastwood, G., Chengula, A. A., Bett, B., Kasanga, C. J., & Oyola, S. O. (2024). Genomic epidemiology of Rift Valley fever virus involved in the 2018 and 2022 outbreaks in livestock in Rwanda. Viruses, 16(7), 1148. https://doi.org/10.3390/v16071148
- Nsengimana I., Hakizimana E., Mupfasoni J., Hakizimana J.N., Chengula A.A., Kasanga C.J., & Eastwood, G. (2025). Identification of potential vectors and detection of Rift Valley fever virus in mosquitoes collected before and during the 2022 outbreak in Rwanda. Pathogens, 14(1): 47. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14010047
- Isidore Nsengimana, David Kelvin, Evodie Uwibambe, Edison Rwagasore, Claude M. Muvunyi, Gillian Eastwood, Augustino Chengula, Christopher J. Kasanga. Inter-epidemic seroprevalence of Rift Valley fever virus and associated risk factors in humans in Eastern Rwanda. Submitted to PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases