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Effect of blood-host plasticity on life history traits of tropical bed bugs species from selected areas of Tanzania
No full textMSc. DissertationBed bug infestations are on the rise worldwide, turning them into a
bothersome pest with serious public health implications.
Furthermore, due to high resistance to insecticides, the control of
bed bugs is increasingly becoming a challenge. However, little is
known about their life history characteristics and microbial
community when they consume different blood meals.
Understanding their life history characteristics as well as bacterial
diversity and composition are necessary in informing their
epidemiology as well as management and control strategies.
Therefore, this study aimed to assess i) the effect of host‘s blood
meals on life history characteristics namely survival, fecundity
hatchability and development and (ii bacteria composition and
diversity. Bed bugs (cimex hemipterus) collected from the field were
reared on mice blood meal source in an insectary and thereafter
second filial generation was used in this study. Each cohort
contained ten (10) bed bugs with a 1:1 sex ratio and was replicated
three (3) times for each of the five different hosts. As such, a total of
30-bed bugs were blood-fed on each of the host species. The bed
bugs were allowed to feed on different host species for 10 minutes
every two days and mortality, fecundity, hatchability and
development were recorded, thereafter. A subset of one-bed bug per
group was selected to assess the bacteria composition. After DNA
extraction, metagenomic was used to sequence the microbiome of
each bed bug group. Human-fed bed bugs had higher survival rate
compared to those fed on mice, rats, guinea pigs and bats (in
decreasing order). Similarly, the fecundity of human-fed bed bugs
(248 eggs) was relatively higher than those fed on mice (212 eggs),
rats (118 eggs), guinea pigs (97 eggs), and bats (88 eggs). The
hatchability of eggs was proportionally higher in bed bugs fed on
humans (n=54, 91%) than those fed on mice (n=44, 73%), rat (n=40,
67%), guinea pig (n=40, 67%) and bats (n=39, 65%). Furthermore,
Human-fed bed bugs (nymph) survival was slightly observed to be
higher on human-fed bed bugs compared to those fed on mice, rats,
guinea pigs and bats ( in descending order) and development from one instar to another was frequently observed on bed bugs fed on
humans, followed by mice rats and bats-nymph was the least.
Hemoglobin concentrations from the host have demonstrated a
significant negative correlation with survival, fecundity and
hatchability. The metagenomic show that only phylum
Proteobacteria was dominant with 158011 sequences of microbial
composition, of which Wolbachia was the most dominant genera
with 136134 (86.15%) sequences, followed by Pectobacterium with
21708 (13.74%) sequences. The Wolbachia genus had three
strains: Wolbachia1, Wolbachia2, and Wolbachia3. These
accounted for 85.03% (134,367 sequences), 1.08% (1,701
sequences), and 0.04% (66 sequences) respectively of the
Wolbachia diversity in our samples. Interestingly, we only found two
pathogenic genera: Salmonella with 158 (0.1%) reads and Massilia
with 11 (0.01) reads. In conclusion, the results herein indicate that
blood-meal source affects the life-history traits of the bed bug
species Cimex hemipterus. Bed bugs fed on humans showed the
highest survival rate, fecundity, hatchability and development
relative to those fed on mice, rats and guinea pigs. Our findings
indicate that bed bugs feeding on humans have greater microbial
diversity compared to those feeding on guinea pigs, rats, mice, or
bats Furthermore, these results will potentially inform further studies
aimed to understand their epidemiology as well as the management
and control strategies
Effectiveness of health education intervention for controlling porcine cysticercosis in Kongwa and Songwe districts, Tanzania
No full textPhD ThesisTaenia solium taeniasis/cysticercosis (TSTC) is a parasitic zoonotic
disease that is endemic in several developing countries in sub-
Saharan Africa, Latin America, and East and Southeast Asia.
Tanzania is one of the developing countries where the parasite has
major negative effects on the economy and public health. Based on
previous reports in Tanzania, the disease is widespread in the central
region,the northern and southern highland regions. Several studies
on disease control have been conducted in Tanzania. Interventions
for health education have been conducted with promising results.
However, prior health education was characterized by limited
community engagement, which could lead to limited sustainability.
This study used a health education package (HEP), which was co-
created with community participation to ensure knowledge uptake and
sustainability for controlling porcine cysticercosis in Kongwa and
Songwe Districts in the central and southern highland regions of
Tanzania, respectively.
Three phases of data collection were used in the study: first, a
baseline survey was conducted between June and September 2019
in 42 villages (28 in Kongwa and 14 in Songwe districts), followed by
a community health education intervention between October and
December 2020 in 21 villages (14 in Kongwa and 7 in Songwe
district). The second survey of data collection was conducted one
year after a community health education intervention between
October and December 2021 in all 42 villages. A cross-sectional
study was conducted in a baseline survey to assess farmers’
knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to the transmission,
prevention, and control of PCC and also assess the seroprevalence
of porcine cysticercosis (PCC). The survey was administered using a
Kobo toolbox. The interview was conducted in the village office,
followed by a household survey to evaluate and verify hygiene and
sanitary practices. A total of 692 smallholder pig farmers were
interviewed. To assess the seroprevalence of PCC, about 5 ml of
blood samples were collected from 692 pigs through a jugular vein
using a plain vacutainer tube. Later, the sera were harvested, and
using a cysticercosis Ag-ELISA kit, the parasite's circulating antigens were detected. The villages were then stratified into three strata
based on the comparability of the PCC seroprevalence measured at
baseline using Ag-ELISA. The first stratum consisted of 10 villages
with zero seroprevalence. The second stratum consisted of 13
villages with a seroprevalence of 4.5% to 9.5%. The third stratum
consisted of 19 villages with a seroprevalence of 10.5% to 33.3%.
Half of the selected villages in each stratum were randomly assigned
to either the intervention or control groups. Twenty-one villages with
361 households were allocated to the intervention (treatment) group,
whereas the other 21 villages with 331 households were allocated to
the control group.
After the baseline study, a community health education intervention
trial was administered to the intervention group using leaflets,
posters, and booklets. The health education was conducted in two
phases. Phase one involved a two-day training of the trainers (ToT),
which included village and ward leaders, livestock, and human health
professionals. Phase two involved a one-day training of the pig
farmers by the selected ToT. A second survey was conducted one
year following the community health education intervention using the
same data collection instruments as in the baseline survey.
The baseline survey showed that 72% (n = 692) of respondents had
heard about porcine cysticercosis (PCC), approximately half (42% (n
= 692) of the respondents had little knowledge regarding PCC, and
only 34% (n = 692) were aware that pigs can acquire PCC by
ingesting human faeces with T. solium eggs. Approximately 36% (n =
692) of the respondents could identify cyst-infected pigs. About 72%
had a positive attitude toward PCC prevention and control measures.
Approximately 64% (n = 692) of the respondents believed that cyst-
infected pork should be outlawed. In addition, 59% of respondents (n
= 692) thought that using latrines with functional doors might reduce
the occurrence of PCC. The majority of smallholder pig farmers (73%)
acknowledged consistently deworming their pigs; 85% of respondents
admitted to deworming themselves and their family members each
year. The two drugs that are frequently used to treat worms in
humans and pigs are albendazole and ivermectin, respectively. In
addition, 92% of households in the districts had latrines, and around 28% (n = 692) of the pigs were raised in free-range environments.
Ag-ELISA results showed that 67 (9.7%) pigs had PCC. In Kongwa
and Songwe districts, the seroprevalence was 7.3% and 14.0%,
respectively. In addition, the baseline seroprevalence of PCC was
10.2% and 9.1% in the intervention and control groups, respectively.
Twelve months after community health education, the differences in
difference analysis found that health education increased the
knowledge level (β = 1.779, p = 0.004), attitude level (β = 1.024, p
=0.038), and practice level (β = 0.719, p = 0.023) over time. In
addition, the study found an increase in knowledge of the
transmission of porcine cysticercosis by 41.5% (p <0.001) and 11.3%
(p = 0.011) in pig farmers in the intervention group and control group,
respectively. Further, the study found improvements of 14.5% (p
<0.001) and 3.5% (p = 0.034) in farmers’ desire to condemn
cysticerci-infected pork in both the intervention and control groups,
respectively. Furthermore, the study observed that PCC
seroprevalence decreased to 0.5% and 3.9% in the control and
intervention villages, respectively, although the decrease was not
statistically significant in both groups. The study showed that PCC
was still prevalent in the area and that farmers’ knowledge about the
disease was poor, and risky practices were present. The community
health education intervention using the HEP has improved the
knowledge, attitudes, and practices of smallholder pig farmers toward
PCC transmission and control; however, the short observation period
compromised the power of the study to definitively attribute the
reduction of PCC seroprevalence to the interventions. Therefore, the
study recommends that, future research to integrate health education
interventions with treatment of human taeniosis, which could be an
important step to immediately interrupt the lifecycle of T.solium which
may have helped to see the larger short-term effects of health
education intervention
Influences of different types of fertilizers on the agronomic characteristics of chloris gayana forage in a selected area of Tanzania
No full textTanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences (2024) Vol. 23 No. 1, pp. 48-60A study was undertaken from January to April 2021 in a commercial dairy farm in Iringa,
Tanzania, to determine the effects of applying different types of fertilizers on the agronomic
characteristics of Chloris gayana (Rhodes grass). Four types of fertilizers, namely cattle farm
yard manure (CFYM), blended Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulphur, and Zinc (NPSZn), Sulphate of
Ammonium (SA), and Urea, were applied in experimental plots using six different combinations
in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The combinations were control (T1) with no
fertilizer, CFYM alone (T2), CFYM and NPSZn (T3), NPSZn alone (T4), NPSZn with SA (T5),
as well as NPSZn with Urea (T6) allocated in four replications per treatment. The physical and
chemical properties of the soil in the experimental plots and the CFYM were also determined. The
application of the fertilizers followed the protocols of the manufacturers. The seeds of C. gayana
were broadcasted in all the experimental plots at a rate of 20 kg/ha. On the 90th day, forages
in their respective sub-plots were clipped to obtain representative samples for the determination
of the agronomic characteristics. Parameters considered were plant population (PP), number of
tillers per plant (NTPP), stem height (SH), number of leaves per plant (NLPP), leaf length per
plant (LLPP), leaf width per plant (LWPP) and stem diameter (SD). Results showed that the soil
texture was primarily sandy clay loam. The soil and manure contained total N (%) of 0.15 and
1.76 respectively. The amounts of extractable P (mg/kg) in soil and manure were 3.38 and 40.35,
respectively. The study showed that the plots fertilized by a combination of NPSZn and Urea (T6)
produced the highest (p<0.05) mean values of PP (85.7 plants/m2), NTPP (24.5), SH (136.6 cm),
NLPP (6.9), LLPP (40.9 cm), LWPP (1.5) and SD (3.1 mm) compared with other fertilizers. The
control treatment (T1) with no fertilizer application had the least (p>0.05) mean values of PP
(27.6 plants/m2), NTPP (5.3), SH (53.9 cm), NLPP (3.7), LLPP (23.4 cm) LWPP (0.5) and SD (1.5
mm). It is concluded that a mixture of blended NPSZn and Urea could improve the soil fertility and
hence promote the growth parameters of C. gayana. Further studies to determine biomass yield
and quality of the forage fertilized with different fertilizers under similar soil and environmental
conditions are recommended.The Livestock Training Agency (LITA),
Dodoma, Tanzania, and the family of
Ahmed Salum and Sons (ASAS group of
companies) located in Iringa, Tanzani
Characterization of selected Rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes tolerance to anaerobic stress during germination
No full textMaster of Science in Crop
ScienceRice is a major food and cash crop in Tanzania, cultivated on
approximately 1.5 million hectares, making it the second largest crop
after maize. The cultivation of rice in Tanzania is primarily carried
out in three major ecosystems: rainfed lowland (71%), rainfed
upland (20%), and irrigated (9%). The majority of rice production
comes from smallholder farmers practicing rainfed agriculture,
accounting for around 90% of the country's total output. Direct
seeding is a widely used, cost-effective, and labor-efficient method
for crop establishment among these farmers. However, Tanzania is
facing the adverse effects of climate change, resulting in a decline inachieve the overall objective, two specific objectives were
formulated: first, to identify potential rice donors for anaerobic stress
tolerance during germination using genomic estimated breeding
values, and second, to explore the degree of coleoptile variability of
directly seeded rice cultivars when subjected to flooding.
To achieve the first objective, we screened 208 rice genotypes,
including four known tolerant and four susceptible checks, for
anaerobic germination in a screenhouse at Sokoine University of
Agriculture (SUA). The screening involved direct seeding of the
seeds and applying 7 cm of standing water above the soil level for
twenty-one days. In the non-flooded (control) treatment, the soil was
appropriately moistened for optimal germination and subsequently
maintained with 2 cm of standing water. Six traits were measured,
including germination and seedling height at 14 and 21 days after
seeding, as well as culm diameter, root length, shoot dry matter, and
root dry matter at 21 days. A multitrait selection index based on the
genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs) obtained from each
trait was able to identify ten potential genotypes that exhibited
tolerance to anaerobic stress during germination. These genotypes
include Afaa Mwanza 1/159, Rojomena 271/10, Kubwa jinga,
Wahiwahi, Magongo ya Wayungu, Mpaka wa bibi, Mwangaza,
Tarabinzona, IB126 (Bug 2013A), and Kanamalia.
In the second objective, variations in coleoptile elongations of 44 rice
genotypes were explored and characterized for flooding adaptability.
The 44 genotypes were only a subset of the 208 genotypes initially
screened for the first objective. To identify the subset, genotypes
were chosen based on their anaerobic germination performance.
Specifically, 33 genotypes exhibited an average percentage
germination of at least 70%, indicating their relatively high tolerance
to anaerobic conditions. The remaining 11 genotypes demonstrated
low anaerobic germination percentages, with values below 20%.
This subset of genotypes was then subjected to coleoptile
elongation measurement. The purpose of this analysis was to
agricultural productivity.
Flooding is one of the major weather events highlighted by farmers
affecting rice production. Future projections indicate an increase in
the frequency and intensity of floods in Tanzania, linked to the
heightened risk of erratic rainfall patterns. Riverine flooding
particularly poses a devastating stress for agriculture in lowland
areas. Consequently, farmers using direct seeding face challenges
such as hypoxia and anoxia, which lead to poor germination and
significant crop losses. While rice exhibits some degree of flood
tolerance compared to other cereal crops, this attribute is dependent
on the variety. Moreover, coleoptile elongation is reported as a major
determinant that can be observed and used for the selection of
donor parents, which has never been characterized for effective
germplasm utilization. Therefore, there is a need to identify rice
genotypes that can germinate under flood stress conditions provided
that Tanzania has vast rice cultivars, particularly landraces, of
untapped potential for this stress.
To address this research gap, we formulated the overall objective
aiming to contribute to the availability of donor parents by screening
and identifying rice genotypes that exhibit tolerance to anaerobic
stress during germination for direct-seeded rice cultivation. Then, toachieve the overall objective, two specific objectives were
formulated: first, to identify potential rice donors for anaerobic stress
tolerance during germination using genomic estimated breeding
values, and second, to explore the degree of coleoptile variability of
directly seeded rice cultivars when subjected to flooding.
To achieve the first objective, we screened 208 rice genotypes,
including four known tolerant and four susceptible checks, for
anaerobic germination in a screenhouse at Sokoine University of
Agriculture (SUA). The screening involved direct seeding of the
seeds and applying 7 cm of standing water above the soil level for
twenty-one days. In the non-flooded (control) treatment, the soil was
appropriately moistened for optimal germination and subsequently
maintained with 2 cm of standing water. Six traits were measured,
including germination and seedling height at 14 and 21 days after
seeding, as well as culm diameter, root length, shoot dry matter, and
root dry matter at 21 days. A multitrait selection index based on the
genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs) obtained from each
trait was able to identify ten potential genotypes that exhibited
tolerance to anaerobic stress during germination. These genotypes
include Afaa Mwanza 1/159, Rojomena 271/10, Kubwa jinga,
Wahiwahi, Magongo ya Wayungu, Mpaka wa bibi, Mwangaza,
Tarabinzona, IB126 (Bug 2013A), and Kanamalia.
In the second objective, variations in coleoptile elongations of 44 rice
genotypes were explored and characterized for flooding adaptability.
The 44 genotypes were only a subset of the 208 genotypes initially
screened for the first objective. To identify the subset, genotypes
were chosen based on their anaerobic germination performance.
Specifically, 33 genotypes exhibited an average percentage
germination of at least 70%, indicating their relatively high tolerance
to anaerobic conditions. The remaining 11 genotypes demonstrated
low anaerobic germination percentages, with values below 20%.
This subset of genotypes was then subjected to coleoptile
elongation measurement. The purpose of this analysis was to assess the variation in coleoptile elongation among the selected
genotypes and determine its association with tolerance to anaerobic
stress during germination. Significant variations in coleoptile
elongation were observed among the 44 selected and studied
genotypes (P<0.05). The genotypes were classified based on the
magnitude of coleoptile elongation, ranging from high to very low
elongating rice. Association analysis revealed a significant positive
and moderately strong correlation between coleoptile elongation and
anaerobic germination. Among the genotypes, NERICA 7,
Kanamalia, Wahiwahi, Rojomena 271/10, Kubwa jinga, Faya
mafuta, and Mwasungo exhibited the highest elongation. In general,
most of the genotypes that exhibited high average percentage
anaerobic germination had an intermediate to high degree of
coleoptile elongation, consistently demonstrating a significant
connection between coleoptile elongation and tolerance to anaerobic
stress during germination.
Overall, these results obtained four top test genotypes: Kanamalia,
Kubwa Jinga, Wahiwahi, and Rojomena 271/10. These genotypes
were consistently selected for a greater selection index for anaerobic
germination and significant coleoptile elongation. The results provide
valuable insights into the significant variations among rice cultivars
regarding their ability to germinate and adapt under flooded
conditions. Further analysis, including starch breakdown and
identification of genes associated with tolerance and coleoptile
elongations, is imperative to confirm and broaden the scope of
tolerance in these genotypes
Development of natural liquid and powdered meat tenderizer based on papaya peel, ginger and garlic
No full textJournal of Food and Nutrition Sciences 2024, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 107-118Recently, the application of exogenous enzymes for meat tenderization has turned the attention of food technologists and meat
scientists. This research investigates the synergistic impact of natural tenderizers derived from the combination of papaya peels
(P), ginger (G), and garlic (Ga) on the sensory attributes of goat meat such as color, aroma, taste, tenderness and overall
acceptability. The tenderizers were formulated in different concentration ratios of 3:2:1 in both liquid and powdered form. The
sensory quality parameters for all tenderized goat meat samples under observation including the control, were evaluated by 60
semi-trained panelists using a five-point hedonic scale. The effect of tenderizers was compared to the control which was devoid
of tenderizing ingredients. Tenderness was greatly improved (p<0.05) by tenderizer P:G:Ga (3:2:1) in both liquid and powder
forms at 45- and 90- minutes of tenderization. Alternatively, liquid and powdered Ga:G:P (3:2:1) were highly significantly rated
(p<0.05) in taste compared to all other tenderizer formulations for 45- and 90-minute tenderization. From the samples tested, the
control sample in both setups was the least rated in all sensory attributes, except for color in powdered tenderization. Generally,
liquid and powdered P:G:Ga (3:2:1) and Ga:P:G (3:2:1) tenderizers received significantly higher (p<0.05) overall acceptability
scores than G:G:aP (3:2:1) and the control sample. While liquid tenderizers mostly performed better compared to powdered
tenderizers for all sample combinations, there was a significant improvement (p<0.05) in tenderness when both liquid and
powdered tenderizers were used for 90 minutes compared to 45-minute marination. This suggests that, the longer the
tenderization time, the greater the effect on tenderness. These findings underscore the importance of natural tenderizers in
enhancing consumer satisfaction with meat products
Influences of different types of fertilizers on the agronomic characteristics of chloris gayana forage in a selected area of Tanzania
No full textTanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences (2024) Vol. 23 No. 1, 48-60A study was undertaken from January to April 2021 in a commercial dairy farm in Iringa, Tanzania, to determine the effects of applying different types of fertilizers on the agronomic characteristics of Chloris gayana (Rhodes grass). Four types of fertilizers, namely cattle farm yard manure (CFYM), blended Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulphur, and Zinc (NPSZn), Sulphate of Ammonium (SA), and Urea, were applied in experimental plots using six different combinations in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The combinations were control (T1) with no fertilizer, CFYM alone (T2), CFYM and NPSZn (T3), NPSZn alone (T4), NPSZn with SA (T5), as well as NPSZn with Urea (T6) allocated in four replications per treatment. The physical and chemical properties of the soil in the experimental plots and the CFYM were also determined. The application of the fertilizers followed the protocols of the manufacturers. The seeds of C. gayana were broadcasted in all the experimental plots at a rate of 20 kg/ha. On the 90th day, forages in their respective sub-plots were clipped to obtain representative samples for the determination of the agronomic characteristics. Parameters considered were plant population (PP), number of tillers per plant (NTPP), stem height (SH), number of leaves per plant (NLPP), leaf length per plant (LLPP), leaf width per plant (LWPP) and stem diameter (SD). Results showed that the soil texture was primarily sandy clay loam. The soil and manure contained total N (%) of 0.15 and 1.76 respectively. The amounts of extractable P (mg/kg) in soil and manure were 3.38 and 40.35, respectively. The study showed that the plots fertilized by a combination of NPSZn and Urea (T6) produced the highest (p0.05) mean values of PP (27.6 plants/m2), NTPP (5.3), SH (53.9 cm), NLPP (3.7), LLPP (23.4 cm) LWPP (0.5) and SD (1.5 mm). It is concluded that a mixture of blended NPSZn and Urea could improve the soil fertility and hence promote the growth parameters of C. gayana. Further studies to determine biomass yield and quality of the forage fertilized with different fertilizers under similar soil and environmental conditions are recommended
Population expansion but limited gene flow in kuhl's blue-spotted maskray along the Tanzanian coast
No full textJournal articleThe blue-spotted maskray Neotrygon kuhlii (Müller & Henle, 1841) is a member of the Dasyatidae family of stingrays which
grows slowly. Members of this group mature late and have a low fecundity rate. The ICUN Red List of Threatened Species lists
N. kuhlii species as data deficient (DD) because information on its ecology and life history is not readily available. The purpose
of this study was to determine the genetic diversity, demographic history and population structure of N. kuhlii, all of which are
critical information for efforts aimed at conserving the species. The investigation was carried out along Tanzania's coastline
using 595 base pairs of partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence. The haplotype diversity ranged
between 0.37 and 0.70 and nucleotide diversity between 0.11% and 0.50%. The findings show that samples from Unguja had
higher mean molecular diversity indices than those from other sampling sites. Nonetheless, samples from Mafia and Unguja
were found to have the largest effective population size. Genetic variations were found between the subpopulations under
study, suggesting limited genetic connectivity among the studied subpopulations. The COI sequences of N. kuhlii from most
subpopulations studied showed signs of past population expansion, which are typical for most Western Indian Ocean (WIO)
fauna. The findings highlight the need for enhanced management and conservation strategies for N. kuhlii and other coastal
stingray species in Tanzania, particularly in areas where sampling sites showed low levels of genetic diversity and effective
population size
Enhancing diagnostic accuracy of drug-resistant tuberculosis on chest x-rays using data-efficient image transformers
No full textArticleTuberculosis is an infectious disease with increasing fatalities around the world. The diagnosis of the disease
is a major challenge to its control and management due to the lack of adequate diagnostic tools, contributing
significantly to the prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis. Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models
have recently been developed to detect drug-resistant tuberculosis by analyzing chest radiograph images from
the TB portal, but the classification results are low. This is because CNNs struggle to capture complex global
and overlapping features in medical imaging, such as chest radiographs of drug-resistant tuberculosis. In
contrast, transformers excel in these areas by utilizing self-attention mechanisms that detect inherent subtle and
long-range dependencies across images. In this study, we used a pretrained data-efficient image transformer
(DEiT) model to enhance the diagnosis of drug-resistant tuberculosis and differentiate it from drug-sensitive
tuberculosis. The new model achieved an AUC of 80% in the detection of drug-resistant tuberculosis, an
improvement of 13% in the AUC compared to current CNN models using data from the same source. The
bootstrap significance test shows that the difference in AUCs is statistically significant. The results of the
study can help healthcare providers improve drug-resistant tuberculosis diagnostic accuracy and treatment
outcome
Above ground biomass, land cover change and regeneration of tree species under different grazing intensities in miombo woodlands,Tanzania
No full textMSc DissertationTanzania's livestock sector faces challenges due to overgrazing,
threatening the ecological balance of critical habitats like Miombo
woodlands. This study investigates the impact of grazing pressure on
land cover changes, tree biomass, and regeneration potential in
these woodlands of Kilosa, Kilombero, and Handeni districts.
Despite existing research on the damaging effects of overgrazing, a
comprehensive analysis specific to Tanzanian Miombo woodlands is
lacking. We address this gap by analyzing high-resolution satellite
imagery (Landsat 5 TM & 8 OLI) from 1995 to 2021 to quantify land
cover changes across the study areas.
Field surveys were conducted to assess grazing intensity,
aboveground biomass (AGB), and tree regeneration within
representative Miombo woodland sites. Allometric models estimated
tree-level AGB, which was then scaled to calculate plot-level AGB
(tonnes/ha). Statistical analyses explored relationships between
grazing intensity and land cover change, biomass dynamics, and tree
regeneration.
Results reveal a negative impact of medium and high grazing
intensities on AGB compared to light grazing. Satellite image
analysis indicates higher tree cover loss under medium grazing
(63.5%) compared to high (61.5%) and light grazing (23.2%)
between 1995 and 2022. Additionally, grazing intensity significantly
affects tree regeneration (number, species richness, diversity, and
evenness) (p < 0.05).
These findings show the damaging effects of overgrazing on
Tanzanian Miombo woodlands. This knowledge can inform
sustainable grazing practices, collaborative management strategies,
and efforts to mitigate forest cover loss. Further research could
explore
optimal
grazing
levels
and
develop
specific
recommendations for policymakers and land managers
Development and rapid assessment of community based health educational package for control of taenia solium cysticercocis/taeniasis in Tanzania
No full textPhD Thesisaenia solium taeniasis/cysticercosis is a neglected parasitic zoonosis with
significant economic and public health impacts worldwide. Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health
Organization ranked it first on the global scale of food-borne parasites. Taenia
solium cysticercosis/taeniasis (TSCT) impacts is more in developing countries,
including Tanzania, where social, economic, and cultural conditions favour its
endemicity. Community knowledge is central in successful disease control in
endemic areas. For control intervention to be effective and sustainable it
should engage the community from planning stage. The study addressed the
gap on knowledge, attitude and practices related to the disease, developed
and conducted rapid assessment of a community-based health educational
package (CHEP) for the prevention and control of TSCT in Tanzania. The
study employed a community-based mixed methods approach involving
different qualitative and quantitative approaches, using questionnaire for the
household survey from 483 selected households, in addition, household
infrastructure observations were conducted to the same 483 randomly
selected households, Focused Group Discussions (FGD) and Key Informants
Interviews (KII) were also conducted in Mbulu, Rungwe, Mbinga and
Mpwapwa districts. The information collected led to the formulation of key
messages for the development of a health education package, which
comprises four components including; a training manual for the training of
trainers (TOTs), a booklet with illustrations and instructions on how to perform
small doable actions, brochure with key messages and poster with a
tapeworm life cycle indicating the areas which can be targeted to interrupt the
transmission. The formative research method was used in the development of
the package. It is expected that the CHEP will be sustainable as it is
development engaged the community in all stages of development.
The CHEP developed was assessed in Babati district. This was done to
assess the effectiveness of the package towards improvement of community
knowledge attitude and practices towards control of TSCT. Qualitative data
were analysed using thematic analysis. Descriptive statistics and chi-square
test were used to analyse quantitative data including data on knowledge,
attitude, and practices. Binary logistic regression was used to examine factors
influencing socio demographic factors on knowledge and related practices,
both independent and dependent variables were used. Socio demographic
factors assessed were sex, age, district/location, education level, age group,
main source of income, period of residence in years, and Savings and Credit
Cooperative Society. The results revealed good knowledge about porcine
cysticercosis, particularly among pig keepers across the districts. Majority of
participants (48%) had heard about the pork tapeworm and the knowledge
about clinical signs/symptoms and treatment was fair, but the means of
transmission and prevention measures were often unknown. The risk
perception of the infection with the pork tapeworm was low too and a similar
trend is reflected in the attitudes toward the low-risk perception of
cysticercosis infection. Hand washing practices was also low, many
participants reported not washing their hands before eating or after using the oilet which highlights potential risks for the transmission of human
cysticercosis. Almost all participants reported using the toilet always, however,
household observations revealed that toilets were either lacking or had no
complete walls, with others showing the sign of not being used for some time.
Generally, household observations revealed a discrepancy between
responses to the questionnaire on one hand and the availability of toilet and
handwashing facilities, and the confinement of pigs on the other hand. This
highlights the importance of including household observation during data
collection. Respondents with tertiary education were more likely to have heard
of tapeworm, be aware of T. solium transmission, be aware of T. solium health
effects, and be aware of human cysticercosis transmission. Male respondents
were more likely to be knowledgeable about porcine cysticercosis
transmission. Lack of standardised education materials about the disease
might influence the quality of health education in different infected
communities. Using the gathered information, the health education package
on knowledge, attitude, and practices reported a statistically significant
improvement in knowledge regarding the link between epilepsy and
cysticercosis and in the practice of washing fruits and vegetables, however,
the long-term effect of the health educational package on knowledge, attitude,
and practices and the disease parameter need to be evaluated. This study has
revealed poor knowledge of T. solium Cysticercosis/Taeniasis with generally
better knowledge about its effects on porcine than on human health. The
limited overall knowledge, together with negative attitudes and practices may
represent an important barrier to TSCT control and elimination efforts. It is
therefore recommended to scale up the efforts of knowledge sharing with the
general population on transmission, TSCT clinical signs/symptoms, control,
treatment, and prevention in Tanzania, preferably adopting one health
approach, to improve favourable knowledge, attitude for control and eventual
eradication of TSCT. The study shows that socio-demographic factors have a
direct influence on knowledge and practices related to TSCT. Education was
the most important factor among the others and contributed significantly to the
overall models that determined knowledge and practices related to TSCT. It is
therefore, recommended that studies that include health education
interventions also consider socio-demographic factors. Another area covered
by this study was the development and rapid assessment of the health
educational package which revealed an improvement in knowledge regarding
tapeworm treatment from 61 (81.3%) pre-intervention to 76 (95.0%) post-
intervention, while the knowledge regarding condemnation of infected pork
increases from 65 (83.3%) pre-intervention to 73 (90.1%) post-intervention.
Practices about washing vegetables and fruits significantly improved
(P=0.025), while, that of pigs’ confinement increased from 45 (77.6%) pre-
intervention to 54 (88.5%) post-intervention. It is recommended that to achieve
the maximum impact of the intervention, the educational package should be
combined with other existing control strategies as well as other intervention
methods such as video, cartoons for school children, and a computer-based
health-education tool such as the vicious worm. It is also recommended that
the interventions preventing TSCT reinfection, such as improvements in
hygiene achieved through health education, are urgently required to augment
the effect of other control strategies as part of an integrated approach.Germany Federal Ministry of Education and Researc