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Ecology of rodent pest species in maize agro-ecosystems in semi-arid areas in Tanzania
No full textTHESIS FOR DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHYThe ecology of rodent pest species is an important aspect that enables understanding of population characteristics and the type of crop damage caused by rodents in different locations. It is a basis for effective Ecologically-Based Rodent Management (EBRM) strategies. Rodent pest species are found in different parts of the world and have adapted to different life-styles such as terrestrial, aquatic, arboreal and underground dwellings. Rodent pests are seed/seedlings predators and cause high crop yield losses in the field and the storage. They also transmit many diseases to humans and animals.
Studies carried out in areas with bimodal rainfall patterns in Tanzania and elsewhere have reported that rodent pests are generalists as well as omnivorous. Their breeding patterns depend on food availability and/or rainfall. The current research aimed at understanding the ecology and population characteristics of the dominant rodent pest species in semi-arid areas of Tanzania as a basis for effective EBRM.funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation
Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) anatomy
No full textThe ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) is primarily distributed in south and south-western Madagascar. It is classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. The ring-tailed lemur is a species commonly kept in zoological gardens. Diseases involving various body systems such as musculoskeletal, digestive, circulatory, respiratory and urogenital systems have been reported in the ring-tailed lemur, which threatens their survival. This review describes the normal anatomy of the ring-tailed lemur as a reference for clinical use and species identification. Variations exist in the normal anatomy of different animal species. Knowledge of the normal anatomy of individual species is important for accurate diagnosis and treatment of diseases
Case report: Suspected Piscine Chlamydia like infection in Tanzania
No full textTen moribund fish were received at pathology laboratory to establish the cause of sponteneous mortalities of farmed tilapia recorded in Kilosa District, Morogoro region. Post-mortem examination revealed macroscopic mucous bands connecting gills and operculum; and oval to round grey-white cysts on the gill lamella. Gill samples were collected for microscopic and bacteriological investigation. Histopathological investigation revealed gill epithelial hyperplasia and characteristic enlargement of epithelial cells infected with pale and basophilic cytoplasmic inclusions. The gross pathological changes coupled with histopathological findings recorded in this case are typical features of epitheliocystis. Furthermore, fish mortalities ceased in the farm after water replacement and reconnection of all fish ponds with direct supply of fresh water from the source. This is the first report in Tanzania describing characteristic epitheliocystis lesions. Furthermore, this report re-affirm previous findings that epitheliocystis can be managed through routine management of water quality
An examination of oome key issues on legal and policy environment in the mining sector after the economic reforms in Tanzania
No full textInternational and Public Affairs, 2019; 3 (2): 33-42.Due to the economic hardships Tanzania has been undergoing since the early 1980s, a wide-ranging reforms in numerous sectors of the economy have been instigated. These reforms aimed at overcoming such hardships in order to improve the prospects for development. This article examines some key issues on legal and policy environments in the mining sector after the economic reforms in Tanzania, it specifically:-(i) analyses the mining sector before the reforms, (ii) examines the legal and policy responses after the economic reforms; (iii) analyses how these policies and legislations have impacted the socioeconomic and political aspects related to mining in Tanzania; and, (iv) identify the lessons learnt. A documentary review (documentary research method) was used in collecting relevant information. It was revealed that prior to the reforms the extent
of minerals extraction in Tanzania was low, dominated by mineral sector development operations which were largely state owned and run by government enterprises. The legal and policy responses examined include the Mineral Policy of 1997, Mineral Act of 1998, Mining Act of 2010, New Investment Policy and the Tanzania Investment Act No. 26 of 1997, Mining (Environmental Management and Protection) Regulations of 1999, Natural Wealth and Resources (Permanent Sovereignty) Act, 2017; Natural Wealth and Resources Contracts (Review and Re-Negotiation of Unconscionable Terms) Act, 2017, the Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2017; Extractive Industry Transparency and Accountability Act, 2015 and the Finance
Act of 2017. These legal and policy responses in the mining sector were found to have both positive and negative impacts. It
has been observed that reforms in the sector have not fully captured the expectations of Tanzanians. The role of mining sector in economic development and socio-economic wellbeing is very obvious; hence transforming this resource wealth into wellbeing remains essential matter for Tanzania’s economy. It is recommended that conducive legal and policy framework enhanced to transform mineral resources into wellbeing
Challenges of school libraries and quality education in Tanzania: A review
No full textLibrary Philosophy and Practice (e-journal 2019Quality education is fundamental for pupils’ advancement in any country.
School libraries are said to be the second class for pupils because of the
important role they play in enhancing the quality of education. School libraries
are the avenues for cultivating pupils’ morals, the important facade for
improving pupils’ education quality and for effective facilities for developing
special technical education, serving as a friendly place for increasing pupils’
total education quality. The general idea for school libraries is to intensify the
quality of education in schools through provision of adequate facilities such as
chairs, tables, textbooks and qualified library staff to guide pupils in
appropriate usage of libraries for better performance and hence lead to quality
education in the country. Despite of the tremendous contribution of school
libraries in increasing the students’ performance it has been discovered that
this role is not recognized by most of the government officials. The challenges
such as staffing, funding, lack of standard library building and frequent change
in curriculum that affects collection development need to be addressed by the
government if at all the country has to provide quality education to her citizens
Building Commitment in Supplier–Retailer Relationship in Developing Economies: The Case of Tanzania
No full textThis article investigates the establishment of commitment in developing economies between suppliers and retailers. Previous studies in
supplier–retailer commitment relationship used data only from one side. Furthermore, knowledge of institutions governing relational
exchanges was limited. Network relationship theory and cross-case analysis of sixteen cases that comprised retailers and suppliers
were used. The study shows that affective and behavioural commitments are important in understanding the level of relationship
between retailers and suppliers in Tanzania. Implications of the study and areas for further research were provided
The contribution of wildlife management areas on womens’ Well-being in enduimet division, Longido district, Tanzania
No full textWildlife management and conservation in Tanzania has passed several stages from
colonial management programmes, to the establishment of the Wildlife Act of 1974. In
addition, Wildlife Management Areas were established in 2003 as a way of ensuring
communities bordering wildlife areas benefit from them. The Wildlife Management Areas
are expected to contribute to the well-being of the surrounding communities. This study
was undertaken to assess the contribution of Enduimet Wildlife Management Area on
women’s well-being. Specifically, the study aimed at identifying the economic activities
supported by it in the study area, assessing its contribution to women’s well-being and to
examine the challenges faced by the women who are engaged in it. The study employed
multistage sampling whereby Enduimet was purposefully selected and simple random
sampling was used to select the study wards, villages and the respondents. The study used
a cross-sectional research design to collect data from 120 respondents from Olmolog and
Tinga Tinga villages. The findings show that the main economic activities supported by
Enduimet Wildlife Management Area (EWMA) include provision of financial grants, road
construction support, and provision of torches for scaring crops destructive animals. The
study finding further show that EWMA contributes significantly (p ≤ 0.001) to women’s
income at p=0.001. In addition, it also contributes to the women’s social well-being
through provision of water services, gender training, building of classrooms and provision
of scholarships to some families. The main challenges found in this study include
destruction of crops by wild animals, injuries, and death of people and livestock. The
study concludes that EWMA contributes to women’s well-being economically and
socially. Based on the finding of the main challenges it is recommended that Wildlife
Village Game Scout, District Game Officers, and Livestock and Extension officers should
design, develop and advise communities on better methods of preventing destructive wild
animals from destroying people’s crops and livestock.Famil
Chemical composition and deposition fluxes of water-soluble inorganic ions on dry and wet deposition samples in Wuhan, China
No full textJournal articleMeasurement of PM2.5 concentration, dry and wet deposition of water-soluble inorganic
ions (WSII) and their deposition flux was carried out. During sampling, a total number of 31 samples
of PM2.5, five wet deposition samples and seven dry deposition samples were collected. The analyses
results showed that the average concentration of PM2.5 was 122.95 g/m3 whilst that of WSII was
51.63 g/m3, equivalent to 42% of the total mass of PM2.5. The correlation coefficients between WSII in
samples of PM2.5 was significant (r = 0.50 and p-value of 0.0019). Ions of SO2
4 , NO
3 , Cl, and NH+
4
were dominant in the entire samples (PM2.5, dry and wet depositions), nevertheless, the average
concentration of both SO2
4 and Cl were below the China environmental quality standard for surface
water. The ratio of dominant anions in wet deposition (SO2
4 /NO
3 ) was 1.59, whilst that for dry
deposition (SO2
4 /Cl) was 1.4, indicating that acidity was mainly derived from sulphate. In the case
of dominant cations, the dry and wet deposition ratios (Ca2+/NH+
4 ) were 1.36 and 1.37, respectively,
suggesting the alkaline substances were mainly dominated by calcium salts. Days with higher
recorded concentrations of PM2.5 were accompanied by dry and warm boundary layer structure,
weak low-level wind and strong inversion layer
Economic analysis of alternative sources of energy for tobacco curing in Tabora urban district, Tabora region.
No full textA Dissertation 2019The growth of tobacco production in Tanzania has become a threat to the woodlands due
to the amount of firewood used for curing the crop. The overall objective of the research
was to assess the economic feasibility of substituting firewood with sawdust and/or rice
husks in curing tobacco. The specific objectives were to: (1) determine calorific values of
sawdust briquettes, rice husk briquettes and firewood, (2) examine quality of tobacco
cured by sawdust briquettes, rice husk briquettes and firewood, (3) compare curing costs
for the three biomass. A Bomb Calorimeter was used to determine the calorific values of
all energy sources. The grade indices were determined by dividing the value of tobacco in
each harvest/reaping per hectare to the weight of dry tobacco per hectare. The grade
indices produced by each biomass was compared by using t-test to see if they were
statistically different. The curing costs were compared by using t-test to see if they were
statistically different. The results indicated that there was no significant difference at
p>0.05 between the quality of tobacco cured by sawdust briquettes and that which was
cured by firewood. There was significant difference in curing costs at p<0.05. The study
therefore concludes that the heat content within the sawdust briquette was able to remove
the amount of water in green tobacco leaf, the quality of tobacco cured by sawdust
briquettes was the same as the quality of tobacco cured by firewood and the difference in
curing cost was brought about by the differences in amount of biomass required to cure
tobacco, the differences in distance where these biomass were collected and the
differences in labour days required in curing tobacco. The study recommended the
adoption of the use of sawdust briquettes in curing tobacco in order to reduce
deforestation rate
Evaluation of microbial quality and safety of milk in smallholder dairy production system in Mbeya and Mbozi Districts, Tanzania
No full textPhD ThesisSmallholder dairy farmers produce about 70% of cow milk in Tanzania. As the dairy
industry grows, it is increasingly becoming important to focus on milk quality and safety in
order to produce and retain the existing markets. This study was conducted in order to
assess the milk quality and safety in smallholder dairy farming systems in Mbeya rural and
Mbozi districts. A cross sectional study was conducted using a structured questionnaire,
observation as well as collection of milk samples from smallholder dairy farmers (n=96),
milk collection points (n=18) and milk shops (n=36) during the wet and dry seasons of the
year 2015 to 2016. A total of 192, 36 and 216 fresh and processed bovine milk samples
were collected from individual farmer’s herds, milk collection points and milk shops,
respectively. Data on existing practices, general microbial quality of the milk, prevalence
of Staphylococcus aureus and risk of human exposure to Staphylococcus enterotoxins gene
through raw and ready to consume milk were collected. The results showed that 96.9% of
the respondents washed hands and cleaned the cow udders before milking. About 42.2% of
the respondents used individual cloth for drying the udder and teats while the rest (57.8%)
used one cloth to dry subsequent cows. Milk samples collected from cows kept in barn
with concrete floor were significantly (p<0.001) associated with lower Total Bacteria
Counts (TBC) and Total Staphylococcus Counts (TSC). Frequency of cleaning of cow’s
barn had significantly (p<0.05) lower TBC, TSC and Total Coliform Counts (TCC). The
practice of not fore milking and not discarding first strips of milk was significantly
(p<0.05) associated with higher TBC. Milking practices which included washing of hands,
udder and teat, drying of teats using individual cloth/towel per cow and followed by fore
milking yielded milk with significantly (p<0.05) lower bacteria counts than other practices.
Similarly, cow barns with concrete floors and cleaned twice or more daily produced milk
with lower bacteria counts than cows kept on floors made from timber and mad. The overall mean for bacteria contamination showed that, TBC, TCC and TSC in the milk were
5.86, 3.47, 4.79 and 5.72, 3.40, 4.25 log 10 cfu/ml in Mbeya rural and Mbozi districts,
respectively. Mean TBC and TCC were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the wet than in dry
season. Total bacteria counts increased significantly (p<0.05) from farms to milk shops.
Total staphylococcus counts was comparable (p>0.05) between farms, seasons and
collection points. Fermented and “boiled-milk-served-hot” sold in the milk shops had
significantly (p<0.05) higher TCC in the wet than in the dry season in both districts, while
TSC in fermented and boiled-milk-served-hot was significantly (p<0.05) higher in Mbozi
district. The results of the current study indicated that the 58.7% of raw cow milk produced
and sold in the study area in wet season exceeded the East Africa Standards (EAS) limits
for TBC.
The overall prevalence of S. aureus in milk was 12.4%. At the farm, milk collection points
and milk shops were 3.2, 4.0 and 5.2%, respectively. The antibiotic resistance of S. aureus
isolates showed that, resistance to Penicillin was higher (57.1%) than in other antibiotics
and 57.1% of the isolates were resistant to three or more antibiotics tested in this study.
Staphylococcus aureus isolates demonstrated multiple antimicrobial resistances (MAR)
pattern, particularly with respect to Penicillin, Ampicillin, Erythromycin and Tetracycline.
The results on the prevalence of Staphylococcal Enterotoxins (SEs) gene in S. aureus
isolates showed that 36.4% of the total S. aureus isolates (n=55) had SEs coding genes.
The most frequently observed gene was Sea (32.6%) while Sej was not detected in any of
the isolates. The distribution of the SEs coding genes along the milk market channel
showed that 35, 15 and 50% came from samples collected at farm level, milk collection
points and milk shops, respectively. Hence, 65% of SEs coding genes were detected after
the milk left the farm. Exposure assessment results showed that 1197 litres (L) (90% CI,
987-1 416) of ready to consume milk was sold per day in the study area, of which 860 L (90% CI, 645-1 071) and 337 L (90% CI, 168-530) were boiled-milk-served-hot and
fermented milk, respectively. Out of the ready to consume milk, 490 L (90% CI; 464-516)
of boiled-milk-served-hot was contaminated with SEs gene compared to 77.5 L (90% CI,
67-88) of fermented milk. Number of daily consumers of milk and milk products was 2
394 (90% CI, 2 000 – 2 788).
Exposure assessment shows that the probability of consuming boiled-milk–served-hot and
fermented milk contaminated with SEs coding genes at milk shop was 0.42 (90% CI,
0.071-0.838) and 0.17 (90% CI, 0-0.62), respectively. It was estimated that every day, 363
(90% CI, 341-385) and 58 (90% CI, 49-66) people were likely to consume respectively,
boiled-milk-served-hot and fermented milk contaminated with SEs coding gene in the
study areas. The finding shows that exposure to SEs coding gene for the people who
consume boiled-milk-served-hot was two times more (OR. 2.21 (90% CI, 0.6-6.16) likely
to occur than people who consume fermented milk. Generally, the findings of this study
shows that milk produced and marketed in the study area was contaminated with S. aureus
expressing gene for enterotoxins production and MAR which pose a potential health risk to
milk consumers. The high level of microbial counts found in the sampled cow milk
represent a poor keeping quality of milk and public health risk to the consumer. This
suggests the need for improved hygienic practice at all levels of milk production in the
smallholder dairy production system