Usage patterns of Teachers\u27 Continuous Professional Development Learning Management System in Primary schools in Tanzania

This study aims to understand how primary school teachers in Tanzania use the Teachers\u27 Continuous Professional Development (TCPD) Learning Management System (LMS). There is currently limited information about how effectively the LMS supports teachers\u27 ongoing professional development through structured Communities of Learning. Without clear data on usage patterns, it is difficult to identify barriers to access and measure the success of the LMS in improving teacher training. To fill this knowledge gap, the study examined LMS log data over a period of one year (July 2023–June 2024). It specifically looked at how often teachers logged into the system, which modules they enrolled in, what resources they accessed, and from which regions they logged in. The analysis revealed that usage was highest during key academic periods, such as the start of school terms and exam preparations, suggesting that teachers engage more actively with the LMS during these critical times. Teachers predominantly accessed practical modules, including those related to curriculum guidelines and foundational education training. This indicates that teachers prefer resources directly applicable to their teaching tasks. There was also a noticeable increase in LMS access through mobile devices, highlighting the growing importance of mobile technology in teacher professional development. However, significant challenges remain, such as limited internet connectivity and varying digital literacy levels, particularly in rural areas. These issues create obstacles for equitable LMS usage. The study recommends targeted efforts to enhance internet infrastructure, provide digital literacy training, and improve mobile accessibility. Addressing these challenges can increase the effectiveness of the TCPD LMS, ensuring equitable and widespread professional development support for primary school teachers across Tanzania

Phytochemical profile and acaricidal efficacy of Syzygium cordatum bark extracts against the tick Rhipicephalus evertsi in Tanzania

Tick infestations significantly hinder livestock productivity, especially in small-scale practices across various agro-ecological zones. The primary control method, through application of synthetic acaricides faces challenges such as growing resistance, scarcity, environmental impact, and high costs, particularly for low-income farmers. One of the promising alternatives by livestock keepers is the use of botanical pesticides, derived from herbal plants, in recent times researchers explore these plants for their potential to control tick populations. This study explored the potential of Syzygium cordatum a herbal plant, specifically evaluating its phytochemical profile and the acaricidal effectiveness of hexane, methanol, and water extracts of S. cordatum bark against larval and adult Rhipicephalus evertsi ticks in Tanzania. Extracts were screened for its phytochemical properties by standard laboratory procedures using Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry and tested at 3.13, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/ml concentrations using an immersion technique. The bark extracts contained alkaloids, saponins, tannins, steroids, triterpenes, and phenolic compounds and all extracts achieved nearly 100% mortality at 200mg/ml within 24 hours, except for the negative control. The hexane, methanol, and water extracts caused 100% larval mortality at 25, 50, and 100, and 200 mg/ml concentrations, and adult mortality at 50, 100, and 200 mg/ml concentrations. Hexane extract was the most effective, with an LC50 of approximately 10.23 and 17.38 mg/ml and an LC99 of around 35.48 and 48.92 mg/ml for larvae and adults, respectively. These findings suggest that different extraction solvents selectively capture distinct classes of phytochemicals from S.cordatum barks, potentially offering diverse bioactive compounds for R. evertsi management. Field-based trials are recommended to validate the efficacy of S.cordatum bark extracts under real-world livestock management conditions for tick control

Retail Food Waste and Estimated Nutrient Losses in Urban Areas of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Food waste is a global problem with social, nutritional and environmental implications affecting the sustainability of the food chain. In Tanzania, food waste coexists with food and nutrition insecurity, however, its extent and its nutritional impact remain unclear. This study sought to quantify food waste from selected fresh produce in Dar es Salaam\u27s retail markets and estimate the associated nutrient losses per-vendor per day. Data was collected from three districts namely: Kinondoni, Ubungo and Temeke. A total of 108 fresh food vendors collected their daily food waste of pre-selected fresh food produce items namely bananas, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, cabbage and amaranth for seven days. These waste samples were measured daily on a weighing scale and recorded. Measurement of 108 samples daily for 7 days resulted in a total of 756 sample recordings obtained. Data in mean kilograms of waste was then calculated using standardized conversion factors to nutrient compositions using Tanzania food composition tables to estimate nutrient losses embedded in wasted fresh food. The data was further presented as recommended intakes for additional context. Of the selected foods, bananas produced the highest amount of waste with a daily mean of 13.9 kg ± 13.1 (SD) per-vendor, tomatoes produced a daily mean of 10.1kg ± 6.9 (SD); potatoes 8.5kg ± 6.3 (SD); cabbage 4 kg ± 3.0 (SD); carrots 3.4 kg ± 1.6 (SD), while amaranth was the least wasted with a daily mean of 0.2kg ± 1.0 (SD) wasted. Food wasted at the retail level of the Dar es Salaam food supply contained 3,643 Kcal, 93.4 g protein, 147 g dietary fiber, 6,429 µg vitamin A, 1,371 µg folate, 66.3 mg iron and 20,936 mg potassium per-vendor per day indicating notable nutritional losses embedded in food wasted at the retail level of the Dar es Salaam food supply

Upgrading graphite quality from Chenjere-Ruangwa ore through froth flotation techniques

Tanzania is endowed with graphite deposits found in Mahenge-Morogoro, Bunyu-Mtwara, Nachu and Chenjere-Ruangwa. In Chenjere, the graphite resource is approximately 500 million metric tons with 7.75% of total graphitic carbon grade (TGC) content.  The demand in the global market needs a high-grade graphite of at least 90% TGC content. However, the graphite found in Chenjere is of low grade (7.75%). The present study aims to upgrade Chenjere’s graphite to meet global market standards.  To attain this objective, froth flotation was selected as an upgrading method. The sample was collected at Chenjere-Ruangwa, well prepared, and later upgraded through flotation. Flotation experiments were designed using the Box Behnken design, with controlled variables being particle size, collector, and frother concentrations while the TGC was the response. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was utilized to assess the relationship between the experimental factors and model response. The results revealed that the graphite from Chenjere can be upgraded to > 90% TGC content under the optimal experimental conditions of -75 µm particle size, 990 g/t kerosene as a collector, and 150 g/t methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC) as a frother, hence meeting the required standard.  In addition, the total graphitic recovery of 84% was obtained as the maximum recovery. In light of the potential benefits of graphite in advancing industrialization, this study strongly recommends using froth flotation technology to upgrade the graphite ore from Chenjere to meet the global market specifications in terms of quality

Seroprevalence of Foot and Mouth Disease in apparently healthy beef cattle in Uganda post the 2021 outbreak

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals caused by a picornavirus. There are 7 known serotypes (O, C, A, SAT1, SAT2 and Asia) and more than 60 subtypes of the FMD virus. FMD causes enormous economic losses including reduced animal productivity and restrictions on international trade in animal products. In Uganda, FMD is endemic and caused by mainly O, A, SAT 1, and SAT2 serotypes. The outbreaks are mainly controlled by ring vaccination and restriction of animal movement. These control methods are sometimes not efficient due to lack of regular surveillance. Information on the seroprevalence of FMDV in animal herds post outbreak response is not available to guide policy makers on when to lift quarantine in affected districts. A study was therefore conducted to assess the effectiveness of the 2021 FMD outbreak response in Western Uganda following lifting of the quarantine restrictions. As part of routine herd health checks, blood samples were extracted from sixty-eight apparently healthy beef cattle. Of these, 46 were from Nshaara ranch and 22 from Mbarara city abattoir. The samples were tested for the presence of specific FMDV antibodies using Solid-Phase Competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Overall, out of 68 samples, 51 (75%) tested positive for FMDV. Out of 46 samples taken from Nshaara ranch, 43 (93.5%) were positive and out of 22 samples from Mbarara City abattoir 8 (36.4%) were positive. The study revealed a concerningly high seropositivity of apparently health animals to FMDV antibodies possibly due to early lifting of the quarantine, weak enforcement of control measures or lack of incentive and resources to control the disease. Therefore, the Uganda national outbreak preparedness and response unit should move quickly to put in place a coordinated, effective, and functional preparedness and response mechanism whenever there are such disease outbreaks

Status of aflatoxins contamination in spices produced in Morogoro, Tanzania

Aflatoxins, the toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi under Aspergillus species in foods, are capable of causing adverse health effects in humans and animals. Information on levels of aflatoxins in spices produced and traded in Tanzania is limited. This study investigated aflatoxins contamination levels in black pepper, cinnamon, cloves and turmeric spices produced and vended in Morogoro district, Tanzania. A total of 120 samples were collected and analyzed for aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2 and Total aflatoxins using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detector. Results showed that 24.2% (n=120) of the samples were contaminated with aflatoxins whereby 11.7% (n=120) had AFB1. Spices from Morogoro rural had significantly high (p=0.002) aflatoxins contamination (16.7%; n=120) compared to those from Morogoro Municipality (7.5%; n=120).  In reference to each spice samples, turmeric had no AFBI contamination (0.0%) with lowest Total Aflatoxins (3.3%; n=30) while cloves had the highest contamination with 20% (n=30) and 50.0% (n= 30) for AFB1 and Total aflatoxins, respectively. The lowest detected contamination concentration was 0.201μg/kg in cloves while the highest was 164.86μg/kg in black pepper. The spices; Turmeric (0.0%; 3.3%); Cinnamon (16.7%); (20%); cloves (13.3%; 23.3%) and black pepper (6.7%; 6.7%) (n=30) exceeded Tanzania regulatory limit of 5 µg/kg and 10µg/kg for AFB1 and Total aflatoxins contamination levels, respectively. It is concluded that spices produced and marketed in Morogoro were contaminated with aflatoxins some of them beyond the maximum limit set by Tanzania Bureau of Standards risking the health of spices consumers. Awareness creation to spices traders on aflatoxins contamination and preventive measures need to be considered to safeguard health of spices consumers in Morogoro, Tanzania

Community Awareness of Invasive Alien Plant Species in Ngorongoro, Manyara, and Tarangire Conservation Areas

Invasive alien species are a major driver of biodiversity loss, despite global, regional, and domestic efforts to address them. This study aims to assess community awareness and engagement in combating invasive alien plant species in Tanzania, using a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 208 respondents. Eight villages around Ngorongoro, Tarangire, and Manyara ecosystems were surveyed using questionnaires to gather information on awareness of Invasive Alien Plant Species presence, affected areas, means of spread, harmful effects, and community involvement. Results show that over 65% of respondents were aware of Invasive Alien Plant Species, with impacts observed on farms and grazing lands. However, there was limited knowledge about specific harmful effects. Community involvement in combating Invasive Alien Plant Species was lacking, with minimal direct engagement from authorities and stakeholders. Control methods primarily involved burning and cutting, while biological and chemical approaches were less favored. The study underscores the need for enhanced community involvement and recommends greater collaboration between stakeholders to effectively manage Invasive Alien Plant Species and mitigate their impacts on ecosystems

Consumer Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards meat adulteration in Kilosa, Tanzania

Meat adulteration refers to the intentional or unintentional substitution, mislabeling, or contamination of meat products with lower-quality or undeclared animal species, additives, or non-meat substances. This practice can lead to serious consequences, including food safety risks, economic fraud, loss of consumer trust, and potential health hazards such as allergic reactions or exposure to harmful contaminants. The fight against meat adulteration in most developing countries is still hindered by a lack of consumer awareness of the concepts of meat adulteration and a clear description that constitutes a legal case of this fraudulent act. Limited studies on consumer awareness, perception and buying practices regarding meat adulteration in Tanzania made this study particularly interesting. From December 2023 to March 2024, a survey of 384 individuals in Kilosa District revealed that 95.1% of consumers had a low knowledge of meat adulteration (mean score: 4.8 ± 1.4). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed five significant predictors of consumers’ knowledge: age (31–45 years), education level (tertiary), occupation (butcher and business), employment status, and residency time (1–10 years). Notably, 65.4% were unaware of legislation addressing meat adulteration in Tanzania, and 87.7% linked the upsurge of adulteration practices to economic incentives. Additionally, consumer meat purchasing decisions were primarily influenced by price (86.2%) and appearance (52.9%) of the meat. This study highlights a critical lack of knowledge and practices of identifying adulterated meat in most of the consumers in Kilosa district. Therefore, the urgent need for targeted consumer education and stricter regulatory enforcement to combat meat adulteration in Tanzania is suggested

Antibacterial and antifungal Activities of Crude Ethanolic Extracts of Wild Edible Mushrooms Found in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania

The increasing occurrence of antimicrobial resistance necessitates search for alternative bioactive compounds against microbes, in particular natural products from plants and mushrooms. A cross-sectional investigation was carried out from November 2023 to March 2024 to investigate the antimicrobial properties of crude ethanolic extracts of wild edible mushrooms in Morogoro Municipality. The crude ethanolic extracts tested were from eight wild edible mushrooms namely Afrocantharellus platyphyllus, Amanita sp, Cantharellus sp, Cantharellus luteopunctatus, Craterellus sp, Lactarius kabansus, Lentinus sp, and Termitomyces sp. The mushroom ethanolic extracts were tested against Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Salmonella typhi (ATCC 33459) and Candida albicans (ATCC 90028) using agar well diffusion and tetrazolium microtiter plate bioassay methods. Five of the eight crude ethanolic extracts of mushroom species tested revealed promising antibacterial and antifungal activity. The mean zone of inhibition for extracts of Craterellus sp, Cantharellus sp, C. luteopunctatus, A. platyphyllus, and L. kabansus ranged from 9.70 ± 0.33mm (Mean ± StdDev) to 17.00 ± 0.57 mm. The recorded minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) value for these extracts varied from 5.2 ± 1.11 to 266.67 ± 66.70 mg/ml. Staphylococcus aureus, S. typhi, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans were more susceptible to ethanolic extracts of Craterellus and Cantharellus sp. None of the extracts demonstrated an inhibitory effect on the growth of B. subtilis. This study indicates that some wild edible mushrooms from the Morogoro Municipality exhibit potential antimicrobial effects against both bacterial and fungal species. Therefore, additional research is advised to isolate and identify the bioactive compounds and to evaluate their efficacy and toxicity in animal models to confirm their antibacterial and antifungal properties

Network-based modeling of hoof and mouth disease transmission in animals

The connectivity of ranches facilitates the spread of hoof and mouth disease among livestock, even over long distances. This study aimed to investigate the spread of hoof and mouth disease within animal ranch networks and individual ranches using a network-based modelling approach. Two models were developed: the multi-ranch model and the in-ranch model. The multi-ranch model examined how the topology and connectivity of the ranch network influenced the spread of hoof and mouth disease, while the in-ranch compartmental model captured the disease dynamics within individual ranches. The results indicate that the disease can be contained, and the network can remain disease-free as long as the transmission rate is low and the network is not overly dense. In the in-ranch compartmental model, the basic reproduction number was used to gain insights into the vaccination coverage required to maintain a disease-free state within individual ranches, as well as the coverage needed across a larger ranch network. Additionally, the findings highlight the importance of understanding both network-level transmission dynamics and within-ranch disease progression to effectively model and manage hoof and mouth disease outbreaks. Furthermore, disease control strategies, such as vaccination, to minimize the spread of the disease, which can lead to declines in the production of milk, meat, manure, and raw materials, ultimately reducing both national and individual income due to livestock loss also investigated and recommended that maintaining a transmission rate below 0.044 and offering sufficient immunization coverage are essential for a multi-ranch to stay resilient against HMD illnesses. For individual ranches and ranch networks, applying a vaccination level below 0.195 is not essential since disease will not vanish, but a level over 0.327 keep both a single ranch and larger ranch community in disease-free stat