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Trends in communication strategies through traditional medicine: Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania
No full textResearch articleThis study sought to establish trends in communication strategies through traditional
medicine in Tanzania. The study employed the descriptive content analysis design as it was crucial for
gaining insights into how language and communication strategies impact the utilization of traditional
medicine in the context of COVID-19 management in Tanzania. The study involved a comprehensive
documentary review of COVID-19 communication materials used in Tanzania to establish how
language and communication strategies impact the utilization of traditional medicine in the context of
COVID-19 management in Tanzania. Data was analyzed through the qualitative content analysis
approach.The study concludes that COVID-19 communication materials made commendable efforts to
reach the diverse linguistic communities in Tanzania, taking into account the country's linguistic
diversity. Kiswahili and English emerged as the dominant languages, which aligns with the linguistic
distribution of the population. This approach promotes inclusivity and ensures access to information.
The materials demonstrated effective translation and interpretation, highlighting a commitment to
accurate translation and cultural sensitivity. It is advisable to incorporate multiple languages, including
local languages, to make the campaigns more accessible and relatable to linguistically diverse
communities in Tanzania. Secondly, it is imperative to maintain clear communication strategies that
empower individuals with varying levels of health literacy. Furthermore, when discussing traditional
remedies, adopting an objective approach and stressing the significance of consulting healthcare
providers for well-informed decision-making is essential. Moreover, the strategic use of visual
elements should be employed to ensure a consistent and well-structured presentation of crucial
information
Diversity and temporal fluctuations in abundance of rodents, shrews and their flea- ectoparasites in an extensive agricultural landscape of Mgeta division, Morogoro region, Tanzania
No full textMSc. Public Health Pest ManagementRodents and shrews play an important role in a variety of
ecosystems including crop farming and the keeping of food animals.
Increasing cultivation of crops and livestock keeping in Mgeta
division, along the western slopes of Uluguru Mountain, is
threatening the survival of rodents and shrews, and consequently,
changes in the likelihood of these animals in their disease
transmission patterns, which involves also their ectoparasites,
particularly fleas, due to changes in their abundance and distribution
in the ecosystem. This study was conducted from December 2021
to May 2022, and intended to investigate the diversity and temporal
fluctuations in abundance of rodents, shrews and their flea-
ectoparasites in Mgeta, an area with extensive agriculture in south-
east Tanzania. Three habitats (forest, fallow and cultivated lands),
each, were selected and defined as low (1,100 - 1,500 m a.s.l) and
high (1,600 - 1,900 m a.s.l) elevations and subsequently sampled for
rodents, shrews and their flea-ectoparasites. Removal trapping with
baited live Sherman®, Harvahart® and locally made traps was carried
out. A total of 192 rodents and 15 shrews were captured, and 199
fleas were collected. Identification of the rodents, shrews and fleas
was done up to their species levels. Captured rodents included:
Rattus rattus (1.45%), Mastomys natalensis (9.66%), Beamys hindei
(1.45%), Lophuromys flavopunctatus (21.74%), Lophuromys kilonzoi
(2.42%), Praomys delectorum (40.58%), Grammomys ibeanus
(8.7%), Graphiurus murinus (1.45%), Mus minutoides (3.38%), Mus
musculus (1.45%) and Dasmys spp (0.48%), whereas, the shrew
species included: Crocidura olivieri (3.86%) and Crocidura hirta
(3.38%). A Total number of 95 (45.89%) rodents and 6 (2.8%)
shrews were infested by Dinopsyllus lypusus, Nosopsyllus fasciatus
or Ctenopthalmus calceatus. The mean abundance of fleas
presented a significant variation among the host species (F (12, 194) =
11.82, P < 0.001), habitats (F (2, 204) = 9.935, P < 0.001) and along
the elevation gradient (F (1, 205) = 10.15, P = 0.02). Similarly, the
prevalence varied significantly between the hosts (F (12, 194) = 22.44, P < 0.001) and habitats (F (2, 204) = 4.837, P = 0.009) but not with
elevation (F (1, 205) = 0.291, P = 0.59). The mean intensity of flea
infestation, on the other hand, varied significantly among the hosts
(F (12, 194) = 9.257, P < 0.001) and along the elevation gradient (F (1,
205) = 47.91, P < 0.001), but not habitats (F (2, 204) = 0.75, P = 0.474).
Furthermore, while rainfall intensity was strongly associated with
mean abundance of fleas (r = 0.054, P < 0.05), neither temperature,
elevation, nor humidity were correlated with either mean intensity or
prevalence of fleas on the hosts. However, rainfall, temperature, and
relative humidity had a significant effect on rodent and shrew
abundance (P< 0.05). Given the discovery of D. lypusus, which is a
well-known vector of the plague pathogen, Yersinia pestis, and a
common ectoparasite of M. natalensis and R. rattus. Effective
conservation strategies to preserve the remainder forest patches
and community awareness programs regarding the existence of
potential plague vectors and mitigation measures in the study area
as well as avoidance mechanism should be implemented to ensure
the health of the entire ecosystem.African Centre of Excellence for Innovative Rodent Pest Management and
Biosensor Technology Development (ACE IRPM and BTD) through
Project No 5799-TZ under IMP of the Sokoine University of
Agricultur
Enhancing sustainability of university-based outreach activities through participatory action research: the case of Sokoine University of Agriculture
No full textJournal articleUniversities worldwide are mandated for training, research, consultancy and
outreach. To ensure that they are responsive to community’s needs, as part of
corporate social responsibility, Universities carry out outreach activities and engage
with rural communities. However, many universities' outreach activities in rural
communities face the challenge of sustainability. In addressing sustainability,
Participatory Action Research (PAR) has proved to foster collaboration and
meaningful engagements for community transformation. This is because using PAR
to seek solutions to problems facing society and, simultaneously, meeting outreach
goals fosters sustainability. In this paper, we use the Sokoine University of
Agriculture (SUA) as a case to report findings on achievements, challenges and
critical lessons learned from selected outreach projects that used PAR interventional
strategy. We collected primary data from community members based on our
involvement in selected projects. We employed focus group discussions (FGDs) to
collect primary data. These data were compiled and shared during feedback
meetings and dialogue conferences. In addition, secondary data collected include
information obtained from literature review, project reports and researchers’ field
notes. Data were analyzed by thematic analysis procedure. Our experiences and
results indicate that PAR interventional strategy sustained the University’s outreach
activities, enhanced the University-community linkage and transformed rural
communities in different ways, ranging from individual, economic and organisational
empowerment. In addition, PAR fostered researcher-farmer interactions and
collaboration among partners and actors. Critical lessons learned include long-term
commitment to work with rural communities is necessary to build mutual trust and
strong partnerships; communities perceive researchers as “outsiders” who have
abilities and resources for addressing their felt needs and problems and PAR is
limited by institutional set-up. However, frequent interactions and close involvement of stakeholders in project implementation guaranteed success
Impact of heteropsylla cubana infestation on Leucaena leucocephala in Morogoro and Tanga regions, Tanzania
No full textJournal articleHeteropsylla
cubana
has
damaged
Leucaena leucocephala in Tanzania since
its 1992 outbreak while its impacts remain
unclear to date. This study aimed to assess
the impact of Heteropsylla cubana on L.
leucocephala, a valuable multi-purpose tree
in Tanzania. Using the Point Centre Quarter
method, the study observed L. leucocephala
in Morogoro and Tanga regions to
determine the population density of H.
cubana, infestation density, and shoot
health. Descriptive statistics were used to
calculate the frequency and mean
population density of H. cubana, infestation
density, and shoot health. Analysis of
Variance was used to compare the mean
population density of H. cubana among
different diameter at breast height (dbh)
classes and crown parts. The findings show
that the population density of eggs of H.
cubana differed significantly among crown
levels in Morogoro, but not in Tanga. There
was no significant difference in nymph and
adult population density among crown
levels or dbh classes in both regions. The
infestation density and shoot damage were
slightly higher in Morogoro than in Tanga,
but both regions had good shoot health.
Farmers can safely plant L. leucocephala
without fear of H. cubana, as its population
is below injury level in the study areas.Doreen Samwel
Mvungi Foundatio
Determinants of child undernutrition in Tanzania: agriculture and season perspective: a review
No full textJournal of Food and Nutrition Sciences; pp. 1-19The causes of undernutrition are known to be complex and interrelated which need responses and solutions from different sectors to effectively design proper nutrition interventions. The UNICEF conceptual framework is a useful tool for understanding the causes of undernutrition and serves as a guide for assessing and analysing the causes, particularly among children in developing countries. Identifying determinants of child nutrition status is a necessary step in designing interventions, policies and programme that can support the scaling up of nutrition. This review scrutinizes undernutrition and its determinants based on the UNICEF conceptual framework on malnutrition. Poor feeding practices and characteristic of complementary foods were observed as immediate causes while household’s food insecurity, environmental factors such as agricultural practices and seasonal influences as underlying determinants particularly in rural households. The highlight from this review suggests that seasons had significant impact on both immediate and underlying determinants of undernutrition and therefore intervention to improve nutrition status should consider variation in agriculture seasons. Lastly, multicomponent interventions focusing on agricultural interventions and practices that are affecting immediate changes in nutrition status among infants and young children are emphasized. Future attempt to improve children nutrition status in rural households should be multicomponent addressing nutrition sensitives farming practices including rural livestock intensification, poverty alleviation and considering agricultural seasons in all planning
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
Factors influencing the population density and distribution of udzungwa red colobus monkey (piliocolobus. gordonorum) in magombera forest reserve, Tanzania
No full textMSc DissertationPrimates perform essential roles in forest ecosystems such as
enhancing seed dispersion which is important in the regeneration of
fragmented forests and improving soil quality through defecation.
Despite their important role in forest ecosystem, they are faced with
a greater risk of extinction as a result of massive forest loss and
degradation which are greatly influenced by anthropogenic activities
such as logging, bush fires, agriculture and settlement expansion.
Furthermore, forest loss may be attributed by natural changes such
as climate change, droughts and tree die back which may result to
changes in forest cover or tree species composition. As an outcome
of all these, their population and distribution has been directly
impacted, increasing their risk of becoming extinct. Kilombero cluster
is one of the biodiversity hotspot areas as it comprises of several
protected areas that harbors the vulnerable P. gordonorum such as
Udzungwa National Park and the fragmented Magombera Forest
Reserve (MFR). Therefore, this study was conducted within
Kilombero cluster to identify the population density of P. gordonorum
in MFR, identify factors influencing the population density of P.
gordonorum in MFR and assess the impact of climate change on the
current and future distribution of suitable habitats for P. gordonorum
in Kilombero cluster. Systematic distance sampling technique using
line transect was used to obtain data for estimating population
density. Where a total of 15 transects were established in three
habitat types. Along each transect information about primate
sightings, occurrence locations, human disturbances and vegetation
structure were collected. Furthermore, a combination of field surveys
and data downloaded from Global Biodiversity Information Facility
was used to identify the current and future distribution of P.
gordonorum under the influence of climate change. Shannon Weiner
index was used to compute tree species diversity, Allometric models
was used for above ground biomass estimation, Generalized Linear
Model with Gaussian error function was run to determine the
influence of predictor variables on the density of P. gordonorum and non-parametric Kruskal Wallis test was used to test for significant
differences in every predictor variable. The results from this study
showed that the average density of P. gordonorum in MFR was
(27.4±22.12) individuals per km2 and it varied among the three
habitat types namely semi-evergreen, semi-deciduous and wooded
grassland with a density estimate of (44±11.3) individuals per km2,
(5.5±7.4) individuals per km2 and (1±0.5) individuals per km2
respectively. Vegetation structure, availability of preferred food tree
species and human disturbances was seen to influence the density
of P. gordonorum. Furthermore, findings from this study revealed
that, currently, the distribution of suitable habitats for the Udzungwa
red colobus monkey covers an area of 1 142 400 ha for highly
suitable habitats and these areas will decline to 392 000 ha and to
96 000 ha in 2050 and 2070 respectively according to RCP 8.5.
From the findings, isotherm and precipitation of the wettest month
were seen to greatly influence the current and future potential
distribution of suitable habitats for P. gordonorum. This study has
provided sufficient information on the status of P. gordonorum
population in MFR. And the impact of climate change on the
distribution of P. gordonorum. Furthermore, the study has helped in
the identification of high priority areas for conservation of the
vulnerable P. gordonorum. Finally, the study recommends for strong
management and conservation initiatives for those areas that P.
gordonorum have been predicted to occur. Such initiatives should
involve improved management capacity in the existing nature forest
reserves and village owned forests, protection of the existing wildlife
corridors to ensure habitat connectivity, the balance between socio-
economic gains and conservation and national wise mitigation
strategies such as the reduction of greenhouse gas emission. Thus, this
study calls for further research on mapping the distribution of
P.gordonorum with an account of climatic variables, vegetation
variables such as Normalized Vegetation Index (NDVI), percentage tree
cover, topographic variables, and proximity to human disturbances
Prevalence of parasites in silvery mole rats in Morogoro region, Tanzania
No full textMSc. Science in Public Health Pest ManagementThe silvery mole rat (Heliophobius argenteocinereus) is a
subterranean rodent with a wide distributional range throughout Sub-
Saharan Africa. They are herbivores feeding on underground organs
of a variety of plants. Despite being used as a source of protein by
some local communities in Africa, the rats have been reported to
host several parasites. However, the status of the parasites
infesting/infecting silvery mole rats in Tanzania has not been well
studied. Exploring the ectoparasites and endoparasites species
diversity in silvery mole rats opens up a fascinating avenue for
understanding the intricate relationships between these
underground-dwelling mammals and their parasites. It is intriguing to
consider the potential threat for transmission of parasitic zoonoses
between humans, livestock, and silvery mole rats due to the notable
interactions in the environment. Consequently, the key aim of this
study is to acquire crucial information about the ectoparasites and
endoparasites in silvery mole rats in the Morogoro region, Tanzania.
A survey to establish the status of ectoparasites and endoparasites
in silvery mole rats was conducted in Mlali (Mlali, Mkuyuni, Mongwe
and Kipera villages) and Mji mkuu wards of Mvomero and Morogoro
urban districts in Tanzania, from March to June 2023. Silvery mole
rats were collected manually using hand hoes excavation from their
burrows in agroecological areas. The captured rats were euthanized
using Diethyl Ether, ectoparasites were collected from animal fur,
blood samples were collected directly from the heart, and GIT
contents were collected by flushing the GIT using physiological
saline after opening of the abdominal cavity. During postmortem
adult worms found inside the tract and around the pelvic, thoracic,
and abdominal cavities were collected and preserved in 70%
ethanol. The collected ectoparasites were fixed in a series of
alcohols, cleared in xylene, and mounted on microscopic slides. A
flotation method was adopted for processing gastrointestinal
contents, and the recovered adult helminths were processed by
using lactophenol mounting techniques for nematodes and aceto-carmine staining techniques for cestodes. For hemoparasites
detection, the blood and impression smears from the kidney, liver,
and lungs were prepared and stained with Giemsa stain for
microscopic examination. Using taxonomic keys, ectoparasites,
hemoparasites, and helminths were identified based on their
morphological features. The prevalence of ectoparasites,
hemoparasites, and gastrointestinal parasites was computed, and a
chi-square test was applied to assess the relationship between
parasites and animal body parameters, the association with a p ≤
0.05 was considered significant.
One hundred thirty-seven silvery mole rats were collected, adult
females 65% (89/137) were the dominant among the collected rats.
A total of 1503 ectoparasites were collected, identified, and revealed
to two taxa of mite spp which were Androlaelaps spp 93.15%
(1400/1503) and Echinolaelaps spp 6.19% (93/1503), and one taxon
of tick the Haemaphysalis spp 0.6% (10/1503) with an overall
prevalence of 71.5% (98/137), mite species were the most abundant
(94.98%). Two species of blood parasites were detected with an
overall prevalence of 29.2% (40/137) and identified as Anaplasma
spp 25.5% (35/137) and Babesia spp 16.8% (23/137). Three species
of gastrointestinal helminth were detected including taxa of cestode
and nematode. A taxon of cestode was identified as Hymenolepis
diminuta with an overall prevalence of 20.44% (28/137). A total of
385 adult H. diminuta and 1450 cestode EPG were collected from
the gastrointestinal tract. Two species of nematodes; Physaloptera
spp and Strongyloides spp were revealed with an overall prevalence
of 39.42% (54/137), Physaloptera infection was the most prevalent
at 37.22% (51/137) and the only adult nematode recovered among
the two nematode species. A significant association was shown
between blood parasites and adult silvery mole rats (p = 0.004), and
between ticks and babesiosis, tick and anaplasmosis with p of 0.001
and 0.01, respectively. The cestode infection had a significant
association with both host age and reproductive category (p< 0.05).
Adult silvery mole rats had a lower infection risk than sub-adult rats,
with an odds ratio of 0.6 (95% CI 0.24-1.87). Female silvery mole rats were at higher risk of being infected with nematode parasites
compared to males, with an odds ratio of 1.6 (95% CI 0.78-3.43).
The findings of this study indicate that ectoparasites, hemoparasites,
and gastrointestinal helminths are prevalent among silvery mole rats
in Morogoro region and might be the source of the infection in
humans and livestock. Further studies on the epidemiology of the
parasites identified and others that were not found in this study at
the molecular level for advanced characterization are recommended
to explore their zoonotic potential.African Centre of Excellence for Innovative Rodent Pest Management and Biosensor
Technology Development (ACE II IRPM-BTD) through grant number
5799-T
Regulatory performance of tourist hunting and legal game meat trade in Tanzania
No full textProceedings of the 7th International Conference on Tourism Research, 2024. pp. 140-148Recently, the government of Tanzania has legalized the sale of game meat under special rules namely the Wildlife Conservation (Game Meat Selling) Regulations of 2020 as an effort to curb illegal hunting. The regulations mention tourist hunting as one of the sources of commercial game meat. Other sources include resident hunting; wildlife farms/ranches/zoos; and culling, cropping, and control of problem animals. In this paper we examine the performance of tourist hunting, legal game meat in the country, and its regulatory framework from the perspectives of key stakeholders, including both public and private or non-state stakeholders. We use a variant of Likert’s methods of summated ratings and the cumulative ordinal regression model to analyse and compare the opinions of stakeholders. We found that there are still challenges, especially related to sources of wild animals. Operators of game meat facilities find it difficult to source game meat from tourist hunting companies and the latter are not willing to offer the meat to licensed operators of game meat shops. Our results support the hypothesis that authorization of the game meat trade can serve as one of the boldest conservation tools to mitigate illegal poaching if well-planned and regulated. The results of the cumulative ordinal regression model predict an improvement of 42% in the performance of regulatory framework per unit improvement in the procedures for application and registration of game meat selling facilities (p = 0.010). The paper recommends leveraging stakeholders' active engagement and strengthening cooperation between game meat value chain actors and law-enforcement authorities. An innovative participatory model for enforcing game meat sanitary and safety regulations is also recommended to avoid potential health risks to consumers. It underscores the importance of institutional capacity building, awareness creation, and adequate funding in the fight against illegal hunting and game meat trade. In order for the country to be able to achieve sustainable game meat trade in the country, the challenge of limited wild animal sources has to be addressed, possibly by supporting the establishment of privately owned wild animal farms, ranches, and zoos, this also has its own challenges that need to be addressed too
Epidemiological study of newcastle disease virus in a live bird market in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania
No full textDegree of Master of PhilosophyVillage poultry plays a vital role in providing essential nutrition and
income for rural communities in Africa. In this context, poultry are
typically traded through live bird markets, which serve as central
trading hubs where producers connect with traders and consumers,
facilitating the flow of poultry products along the value chain. While
they serve as important trading hubs, these markets create an
environment where pathogens, like Newcastle disease virus (NDV)
and avian influenza, can easily emerge and spread. To date, half of
NDV class II genotypes have been reported in Africa (I, IV, V, VI, VII,
XI, XIII, XIV, XVII, XVIII, and XXI). The information on the circulating
NDV genotypes is still scarce despite the endemic nature of ND in
most countries on the African continent. Improving our
understanding of the epidemiology of NDV in live bird markets is
important for assessing the circulating genotypes, disease risks and
identifying factors that contribute to its persistence. A one-year
repeated cross-sectional study was employed to survey local
chickens at the Mawenzi live bird market in Morogoro municipality
for NDV presence, its temporal and spatial distribution, and risk
factors for NDV infection. The oro-cloacal and blood samples were
collected from 659 local chickens between June 2020 and May
2021. The sampling was conducted once every week and
questionnaires administered to the middlemen and traders at the
same time. The questionnaire targeted the information on the source
of the chickens, vaccination status, whether homes from where
chickens were bought keep mixed poultry species, transit time from
the villages to the market, time taken from collection of chickens
from the villages to arrival to the market. Newcastle disease virus
was detected by using reverse transcription real-time polymerase
chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and conventional PCR followed by
sequencing of PCR products. Twenty-three percent of 659 local
chickens sampled were positive for NDV based on PCR. Increased
odds of NDV infection were identified in chickens that had been in
the market for two or more days prior to sampling. Four significant spatiotemporal clusters of NDV-positive chickens encompassing 13
villages were detected between August and October 2020,
illustrating geographic hotspots of infection when NDV was most
prevalent. Furthermore, Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis
revealed the presence of sub-genotype VII.2. Similar to other live
bird markets, this market had enclosures with high densities of birds
of mixed species, limited biosecurity, and the presence of birds with
observable illness. Bird traders who source the chickens from the
villages, described long transit times in mixed enclosures with limited
sanitation practices without consideration of sick birds or vaccination
status prior to arriving at the live bird market. The detected sub-
genotype VII.2 has phylogenetic links to Zambian NDV strains
implying a Southeast dissemination of the virus, considering that it
was first detected in Mozambique. This study highlights the need to
invest in infrastructure and biosecurity for live bird markets as well
as training opportunities for increasing traders‘ knowledge on
hygiene, sanitation, animal welfare, and poultry biosecurity
measures. Moreover, the study underscores the need of active NDV
surveillance to determine the distribution of this NDV genotype in the
country and monitor its spread and contribution to the emergence of
new ND virus strains.Feed the Future Innovation
Lab for Genomics to Improve Poultry Projec