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Establishment of baseline values of copper, zinc and manganese in ostriches in Zimbabwe: a preliminary study.
No full textJournal article from Vol. 31, No. 2/3 of Zimbabwe Vet Journal (2000).Ostrich (Struthio came/us) sera from apparently 302 healthy birds on 32
different fanns around the country were analysed for three essential trace elements (copper, zinc and manganese) by atomic absorption spectrometry with the objective establishing baseline values which could be used as guidelines in the diagnosis of deficiency or toxicity of the trace elements in ostriches. Trace elements levels in ostrich sera were also detennined according to age groups i.e chicks, growers and b~eeders. Comparisons were also done to determine whether the geographical regions had any influence on the levels of the trace elements in the different categories of birds. Results indicated significant variations with regard to age and geographical region variations in the level of copper. No significant age variations were evident for manganese levels but regional differences were noted. Zinc levels did not show significant geographical differences but variation in the concentration of the trace element according to age was strongly evident
Socio-economic aspects of animal power: a diagnostic study in Zimbabwe
No full textThis paper is published in: Starkey P and Kaumbutho P (eds), 1999. Meeting the challenges of animal traction. A resource book of the Animal
Traction Network for Eastern and Southern Africa (ATNESA)Harare, Zimbabwe. Intermediate Technology Publications, London. 326p.A diagnostic participatory and questionnaire survey of
451 farmers was conducted in Tsholotsho, Chinyika and
Mutoko Communal Areas in Zimbabwe to understand
farmers? crop production constraints in relation to draft
power. Nearly half (49%) of all the farmers had no draft
animals but 55% of these had access to neighbours? or
relatives? animals. The rest hired or worked in others?
fields in exchange for draft use. Animal diseases and
shortage of grazing land were noted as the major
problems in animal production. Both farmer education
and experience as well as household herd were found to
vary between districts (p<0.001). Tsholotsho had the
largest number of farmers (53%) with more than 10
years? experience and Mutoko had the largest proportion
(43%) of ?master farmers?. Farmer education and
experience were found to be independent of gender. The
average land holdings per farmer for Tsholotsho,
Chinyika and Mutoko were 6.2, 4.2 and 1.6 ha,
respectively. Tsholotsho is a dry area whilst Chinyika is
a resettlement area. Mutoko is a typical communal area
with a high population pressure. Maize is the main crop
in Chinyika and Mutoko whilst millet is common in
Tsholotsho
Seismic hazard assessment in Eastern and Southern Africa.
No full textSeismic hazard assessment for the Eastern and Southern Africa region was done using the probabilistic approach.
Seismic hazard maps for 10% exceedance in 50 years, 10% exceedance in 100 years, as well as for 50 and 100
years return periods were prepared using the FRISK88M software. The area involved covers a wide region bounded
by latitudes 400 S-25?N and longitudes 100E and 55?E. Input parameters for the computations were obtained using
the recent earthquake catalogue compiled by Turyomurugyendo. The catalogue which covers the time period
627-1994, contains earthquakes within the area bounded by 400 S-25?N and 100 E-55?E, with homogeneous
magnitudes (M). Since a Poisson model of earthquake occurrence is assumed, dependent events were cleaned
from the catalogue. Attenuation relations for the Eastern and Southern Africa region based on the strong motion
data are virtually non-existent. However, attempts have been made recently by Jonathan 'and Twesigomwe to
establish an average attenuation relation for the region. These relations were used in the computations. Possible
uncertainties in the attenuation relations were accounted for using the logic-tree formalism. The results are presented
in seismic hazard maps in terms of Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) for the mean and the 85th percentile. The
distribution ofPGA values indicate relatively high hazard along the EastAfrican rift system. In the northern segments
of the rift system, they exceed 250 gals for 10% probability of exceedence in 50 years.International Lithosphere Program (ILP) through the Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Program (GSHAP).
UNESCO and lASPE for contributing some funding at various workshops related to the preliminary work on seismic hazard
Regulatory aspects of aflatoxin control in Zimbabwe - a review
No full textAflatoxins are highly toxic and carcinogenic chemicals produced by fungi of the Aspergillus family. As the fungi may be found growing on virtually all stored agricultural commodities and foodstuffs, many
countries have put in place regulations to control the levels of afJatoxins and other mycotoxins that may be found contaminating foodstuffs and stock feeds. Current regulations and aflatoxin control in Zimbabwe is based on a voluntary code of conduct drawn in 1971 which putthe action
limit at between 4f,glkg to 20!.glkg aflatoxin G, (AFG,J or Sf,glkg to 2Sf,glk9
aflatoxin B, (AFB1) for human consumption. Any commodity contaminated by Aflatoxin greater than these limits should be used for
stock feed and those below these limits could be used for the export market. The 2Sfl9/kg AFB, action limit has been levi sed to 20f'9/kg by the statutory instrument of 1990 under the Food Standard Act of 1971.
This paper reviews work that has been done in the past ten years in the monitoring and control of aflatoxin in foodstuffs and feeds. Aflatoxin levels in foods, stock feeds, urine and human milk from a cross section of the population have shown that the population and livestock are exposed to aflatoxin. Disease outbreaks in livestock have also been linked to aflatoxins and other mycotoxins. It is recommended that
aflatoxin monitoring be intensified in support of the Food Standards Act and the voluntary code of conduct be made into a legal instrument to control transmission of aflatoxin in the food chain
Socio-economic aspects of animal power: a diagnostic study in Zimbabwe.
No full textA diagnostic participatory and questionnaire survey of
451 farmers was conducted in Tsholotsho, Chinyika and
Mutoko Communal Areas in Zimbabwe to understand
farmers? crop production constraints in relation to draft
power. Nearly half (49%) of all the farmers had no draft
animals but 55% of these had access to neighbours? or
relatives? animals. The rest hired or worked in others?
fields in exchange for draft use. Animal diseases and
shortage of grazing land were noted as the major
problems in animal production. Both farmer education
and experience as well as household herd were found to
vary between districts (p<0.001). Tsholotsho had the
largest number of farmers (53%) with more than 10
years? experience and Mutoko had the largest proportion
(43%) of ?master farmers?. Farmer education and
experience were found to be independent of gender. The
average land holdings per farmer for Tsholotsho,
Chinyika and Mutoko were 6.2, 4.2 and 1.6 ha,
respectively. Tsholotsho is a dry area whilst Chinyika is
a resettlement area. Mutoko is a typical communal area
with a high population pressure. Maize is the main crop
in Chinyika and Mutoko whilst millet is common in
Tsholotsh
Effect of schistosome infection on hepatic drug metabolising enzymes
No full textJournal article from South African Journal of Science pages 301-302Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that affects over 200 million
persons worldwide.' The disease is caused by infection with
any one of several species that are known to affect humans.
Infected persons are likely to be consuming a wide spectrum of
xenobiotics such as drugs and environmental toxins. The drugs
consumed would not only include praziquantel and other schistosomicides,
but also those used for the treatment of other parasitic
diseases such as antimalarials, anthelmintics and antibiotics.
Experiments involving humans and experimental animals suggest
that infection with schistosomes causes a reduction in the
host's ability to metabolise and remove drugs from the body
The Effect of Schistosoma Mansoni Infection on the Hepatic Drug Metabolizing Enzymes of Mice and Hamsters
No full textPresented at the Research Seminar, University of Zimbabwe,1987Discusses the effect of schistosome infection on hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes. Examples of drug metabolizing enzymes; Effect of liver disease of drug metabolism; Alterations in enzyme activity caused by infection; Perturbations in hepatic drug metabolizing enzyme activity with S. mansoni infection
Effect of schistosome infection on hepatic drug metabolising enzymes
No full textSchistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that affects over 200 million
persons worldwide.' The disease is caused by infection with
any one of several species that are known to affect humans.
Infected persons are likely to be consuming a wide spectrum of
xenobiotics such as drugs and environmental toxins. The drugs
consumed would not only include praziquantel and other schistosomicides,
but also those used for the treatment of other parasitic
diseases such as antimalarials, anthelmintics and antibiotics.
Experiments involving humans and experimental animals suggest
that infection with schistosomes causes a reduction in the
host's ability to metabolise and remove drugs from the b~dy.~.~
The metabolic fate of drugs is dependent to a large extent on
the expression and activity of the microsomal drug metabolising
enzyme^.^^^ These enzymes include the microsomal cytochrome
P-450 dependent monooxygenase system and the uridine diphosphate
glucuronosyl transferases as well as other cytosolic
enzymes such as glutathione S-transferases. This article reviews
the effects of experimental Schistosoma mansoni infection on
hepatic drug metabolising enzyme activity.Research Board,
University of Zimbabwe, and the International Programs in the Chemical
Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
Alteration of paracetamol pharmacokinetics in BALB/C mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni
No full textObjective: To determine whether the BALBIC mouse is a suitable model for the study of drug pharmacokinetics
in S.rnansoni infection.
Design: Male and female BALBIC mice were exposed to cercariae of Smansoni. At the acute (eight weeks
post infection) and chronic (14 weeks post infection) stages of infection the animals were treated (i.p.) with
a single injection of paracetamol. The pharmacokinetics of paracetamol were then determined for each group and compared to their respective controls.
Subjects/Mode1: B ALBIC mice.
Setting: Laboratory study.
Main Outcome Measures: The altered pharamacokinetics observed in Smansoni infected mice are similar to those observed for humans.
Results: Our data indicate that in both sexes of mice at both stages of infection with S.mansoni the Cmar was not dramatically reduced while the Tmax was delayed. The alterations are more pronounced at the chronic stage of infection. These results are similar to those obtained by other workers studying humans.
Conclusion: The BALBIC mouse is likely to be a suitable model for the study of pharmacokinetics of selected drugs in schistosome infection.Research Board, University of Zimbabwe and the International Programme in Chemical Sciences, Uppsala Univerity, Sweden