An ecological study on rodents of natural vegetation and farm lands in Siltie, Central Ethiopia

An ecological study on species composition, distribution, relative abundance and habitat association of rodents was conducted in Siltie natural vegetation and nearby farmlands during July 2008 - March 2009. Five habitat types, three from natural and two from agricultural fields were randomly selected based on representation of the main vegetation zones. In each habitat type, one representative grid was selected for live trapping. In addition, rodents were also snap-trapped from these habitats. A total of 562 captures was made in 2940 live-trap nights and 87 in 1200 snap-trap nights. Species of small mammals trapped were Mastomys natalensis (33.3%), Arvicanthis dembeensis (23.0%), Mastomys erythroleucus (12.1%), Stenocephalemys albipes (8.4%), Desmomys harringtoni (6.0%), Mus mahomet (5.9%), Tatera robusta (5.1%), Lophuromys flavopunctatus (2.8%), Rattus rattus (2.5%) and Arvicanthis niloticus (0.9%). The trap success varied significantly from habitat to habitat. Population density of rodents was high in the bush land and forest habitats. Plant matters were the most common food items revealed from the stomach contents of snap-trapped individuals. A. dembeensis, M. Mahomet, D. harringtoni and M. natalensis were recorded as major pests in the study area. Breeding was seasonal for most of the species trapped. The number of embryos varied both within and among species.An ecological study on species composition, distribution, relative abundance and habitat association of rodents was conducted in Siltie natural vegetation and nearby farmlands during July 2008 - March 2009. Five habitat types, three from natural and two from agricultural fields were randomly selected based on representation of the main vegetation zones. In each habitat type, one representative grid was selected for live trapping. In addition, rodents were also snap-trapped from these habitats. A total of 562 captures was made in 2940 live-trap nights and 87 in 1200 snap-trap nights. Species of small mammals trapped were Mastomys natalensis (33.3%), Arvicanthis dembeensis (23.0%), Mastomys erythroleucus (12.1%), Stenocephalemys albipes (8.4%), Desmomys harringtoni (6.0%), Mus mahomet (5.9%), Tatera robusta (5.1%), Lophuromys flavopunctatus (2.8%), Rattus rattus (2.5%) and Arvicanthis niloticus (0.9%). The trap success varied significantly from habitat to habitat. Population density of rodents was high in the bush land and forest habitats. Plant matters were the most common food items revealed from the stomach contents of snap-trapped individuals. A. dembeensis, M. Mahomet, D. harringtoni and M. natalensis were recorded as major pests in the study area. Breeding was seasonal for most of the species trapped. The number of embryos varied both within and among species

Diurnal activity patterns, habitat use and foraging habits of Egyptian goose (Alopochena egyptiacus Linnaeus, 1766) in the Boyo wetland, southern Ethiopia

Egyptian goose (Alopochena egyptiacus) is a resident bird species in Africa South of the Sahara occurring throughout the entire Nile Valley. Despite the wide distribution, the available information on its behavioral ecology is limited in Ethiopia. A study on the activity patterns, habitat use and foraging  habits  of Egyptian goose was carried out in and around Boyo wetland, Ethiopia, during the dry and wet seasons. Scan sampling method was used to study the activity patterns and habitat use of Egyptian goose in  grassland, mudflat and shallow water habitats of the wetland. The feeding behavior of Egyptian goose was also observed in the surrounding farmland habitats using scan sampling method.  Generally,  Egyptian geese spent most of their time resting (39.81%) followed by foraging (32.64%). They spent 10.43% of their time in comfort movement preening or stretching. The rest of their time was allocated for locomotion (6.63%), vigilance (5.75%), and social behavior (1.59%), and other activities (2.86%). Most of the birds were engaged in foraging activity in the morning (07:00-9:00 h) and afternoon (16:00 - 18:00 h) hours both during the wet and dry seasons.  About 39% of Egyptian geese were scanned in mudflat, 31.5% in grassland, and 30.05% in shallow water habitats engaged in different activities. Most individuals  used the grassland habitat for foraging during the dry (59.5%) and wet (74%) seasons, while they used shallow water and mudflat habitats for resting both during the wet and dry seasons seasons. The birds were observed foraging  mainly  grass during the dry (93.62%) and wet (59.52%) seasons. The Egyptian geese show diurnal activity pattern with feeding peaks in early morning and late afternoon hours as is observed in many other avian taxa. The Boyo wetland is also as an important foraging ground for this species and other birds in the area. Further ecological studies on the species and impact of human activities on the Boyo wetland should be conducted for the conservation of the avifauna

DIURNAL ACTIVITY PATTERNS AND TIME BUDGET OF GRANT’S GAZELLE (NANGER GRANTI) IN NECHISAR NATIONAL PARK, ETHIOPIA

Information on behavior patterns of animals is important to plan wildlife management programs in conservation areas. The Grant’s gazelle (Nanger granti) is one of the major larger mammals in the plains of Nechisar National Park. As behavior patterns of this species were not studied earlier, the present investigation was aimed to study the diurnal activity patterns and time budget of its major activities. Observations on activity patterns were carried out on randomly selected herds during day time and recorded for units of five minutes at intervals of 10 minutes. Major activities such as feeding, movement (walking and running), resting and social behaviors of herds consisting of adult male, adult female, juvenile and young were recorded during 2304 unit observations. The percentage of feeding, movement, resting and social behaviors in which they were engaged during the study period was 43.7, 24.2, 23 and 8.2, respectively. There was variation in the percentage of activities of gazelles during morning, noon and in the afternoon. There was a significant difference in the percentage of different activities among individuals (p<0.05). The overall diurnal activities of gazelles showed a bimodal pattern of intensive foraging in the morning and afternoon hours. There was no marked seasonal variation in their activity levels. This might be related to the drought tolerant behavioral adaptation of the Grant’s gazelle

The Effect of Clerodendrum Myricoides Aqueous Extract on Blood, Liver and Kidney Tissues of Mice

Clerodendrum myricoides is a plant traditionally used for its medicinal value in many parts of the world including Ethiopia. Several human defects are treated in different regions of Ethiopia using the roots, leaves, twigs, fruits and root barks of Clerodendrum myricoides species. The objective of the present study is to investigate the effect of the aqueous extract of Clerodendrum myricoides root on different tissue of mice in chronic administration. The root of the plant were collected in Bale area, Ethiopia dried and crushed into powder and soaked in water to yield aqueous extract. The extract was then administered to mice at doses of 100 and 400mg/kg bw/day for six weeks and 1134mg/kg bw/day (LD50) once. The 400mg/kg bw/day and LD50 treated mice showed hypoactivity (abnormally diminished activity), grooming, prostration (submissively prone position), piloroerection (elevation of hairs) and irritation, while 100mg/kg bw/day treated mice showed no behavioral changes. The dose of 100mg/kg bw/day produced significant weight gain, while 400mg/kg bw/day produced significant weight lost in chronic administration. The extract increased only urea at the dose of 100mg/kg bw/day, whereas it increases most hematological and biochemical parameters at 400mg/kg bw/day. The extract, however did not show significant change in platelet, HGB and MCHC value at both doses. Several histopathological changes in liver and kidney were also observed at both doses of the extract. There were inflammation and hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes at both doses. The LD50 of the extract produced hemorrhages and congestion in the glomeruli of the kidney

Toxicological evaluation of methanol leaves extract of Vernonia bipontini Vatke in blood, liver and kidney tissues of mice

Background: Various medicinal plants have been studied using modern scientific approaches. These plants have a variety of properties and various biological components that can be used to treat various diseases. However, harmful effects of plants are common clinical occurrence.Objective: This study was designed to investigate toxicological assessment of acute and chronic methanol leaf extract of Vernonia bipontini Vatke (V.bipontini V) on blood, liver and kidney tissues of mice.Methods: Lethal dose (LD) at which 50% of experimental mice died and long term toxicity of methanolic leaf extract of V. bipontini V were determined. Some hematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated. Then, liver and kidney tissues of each animal were taken and processed for light microscopy.Results: Almost all mice treated with 800mg/kg methanol leaf extract of V. bipontini V showed swellings on the left part of abdominal region related to location of spleen, mild diarrhea and enlargement of spleen. The LD50 of the methanol leaf extract of V. bipontini V was 2130.6±1.5mg/kg. Treatment with 800mg/kg body weight of methanol leaf extract significantly decreased body, liver and kidney weights, red blood cells (RBC), haemoglobin (Hgb), mean cell haemoglobin (Mch), Mchc, platelet and significantly increased serum aspartate transferance (AST), vatanine tranferance (ALT) and alkaline phosphate (ALP) levels while 400mg/kg dose had no effect on these parameters. The reduced organ weights did not correlate with loss of body weight at 800mg/kg of methanol leaf extract of the plant. Light microscope observations of liver tissue of mice treated with 800mg/kg of the methanol leaf extract revealed dilated sinusoids, nuclear enlargement, lots of bi-nucleation of hepatocytes, peripheral cramped chromatin, shrinkages (single cell death) of hepatocytes, fragmentation of hepatocytes while no histopathological changes were observed in liver and kidney of mice treated at 400mg/kg. Kidney tissue sections of mice did not show significant histopathological changes at 400mg/kg. However, at 800mg/kg kidney sections showed increased cellularity of glomerulus, urinary space obliteration and enlarged macula densa.Conclusion: This study suggests that the methanol leaf extract may have been phytotoxic to liver that resulted in a rise in serum AST, ALT and ALP levels.Key words: V. bipontini Vatke, Swiss Albino mice, liver, kidney, methanol, hematological and biochemica

What factors are associated with pre-pregnancy nutritional status? Baseline analysis of the KITE cohort:A prospective study in northern Ethiopia

OBJECTIVE: To assess a broad range of factors associated with pre-pregnancy nutritional status, a key step towards improving maternal and child health outcomes, in Ethiopia. DESIGN: A baseline data analysis of a population-based prospective study. SETTING: Kilite-Awlaelo Health and Demographic Surveillance Site, eastern zone of Tigray regional state, northern Ethiopia. PARTICIPANTS: We used weight measurements of all 17 500 women of reproductive age living in the surveillance site between August 2017 and October 2017 as a baseline. Subsequently, 991 women who became pregnant were included consecutively at an average of 14.8 weeks (SD: 1.9 weeks) of gestation between February 2018 and September 2018. Eligible women were married, aged 18 years or older, with a pre-pregnancy weight measurement performed, and a gestational age ≤20 weeks at inclusion. OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome measure was pre-pregnancy nutritional status assessed by body mass index (BMI) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). Undernutrition was defined as BMI of <18.5 kg/m(2) and/or MUAC of <21.0 cm. BMI was calculated using weight measured before pregnancy, and MUAC was measured at inclusion. Linear and spline regressions were used to identify factors associated with pre-pregnancy nutritional status as a continuous and Poisson regression with pre-pregnancy undernutrition as a dichotomous variable. RESULTS: The mean pre-pregnancy BMI and MUAC were 19.7 kg/m(2) (SD: 2.0 kg/m(2)) and 22.6 cm (SD: 1.9 cm), respectively. Overall, the prevalence of pre-pregnancy undernutrition was 36.2% based on BMI and/or MUAC. Lower age, not being from a model household, lower values of women empowerment score, food insecurity, lower dietary diversity, regular fasting and low agrobiodiversity showed significant associations with lower BMI and/or MUAC. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of pre-pregnancy undernutrition in our study population was very high. The pre-pregnancy nutritional status could be improved by advancing community awareness on dietary practice and gender equality, empowering females, raising agricultural productivity and strengthening health extension. Such changes require the coordinated efforts of concerned governmental bodies and religious leaders in the Ethiopian setting

Hypertension treatment practices and its determinants among ambulatory patients:Retrospective cohort study in Ethiopia

Objectives We examined determinants of achieving blood pressure control in patients with hypertension and of treatment intensification in patients with uncontrolled blood pressure (BP).Design A retrospective cohort study in six public hospitals, Ethiopia.Participants Adult ambulatory patients with hypertension and with at least one previously prescribed antihypertensive medication in the study hospital.Outcome Controlled BP (&lt;140/90 mm Hg) and treatment intensification of patients with uncontrolled BP.Results The study population comprised 897 patients. Their mean age was 57 (SD 14) years, 63% were females, and 35% had one or more cardiometabolic comorbidities mainly diabetes mellitus. BP was controlled in 37% of patients. Treatment was intensified for 23% patients with uncontrolled BP. In multivariable (logistic regression) analysis, determinants positively associated with controlled BP were treatment at general hospitals (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.26 to 2.83) compared with specialised hospitals and longer treatment duration (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.06). Negatively associated determinants were previously uncontrolled BP (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.43), treatment regimens with diuretics (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.94) and age (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.00). The only significant-positive-determinant for treatment intensification was duration of therapy (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.09).Conclusions The level of controlled BP and treatment intensification practice in this study was low. The findings suggest the need for in-depth understanding and interventions of the identified determinants such as uncontrolled BP on consecutive visits, older age and type of hospital.</p

Postpartum weight change in relation to pre‐pregnancy weight and gestational weight gain in women in low‐income setting:Data from the kite cohort in the northern part of Ethiopia

(1) Background: Postpartum weight may increase compared to pre-pregnancy due to weight retention or decrease due to weight loss. Both changes could pose deleterious effects on maternal health and subsequent pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to assess postpartum weight change and its associated factors. (2) Methods: A total of 585 women from the KIlte-Awlaelo Tigray Ethiopia (KITE) cohort were included in the analysis. (3) Results: The mean pre-pregnancy body mass index and weight gain during pregnancy were 19.7 kg/m(2) and 10.8 kg, respectively. At 18 to 24 months postpartum, the weight change ranged from −3.2 to 5.5 kg (mean = 0.42 kg [SD = 1.5]). In addition, 17.8% of women shifted to normal weight and 5.1% to underweight compared to the pre-pregnancy period. A unit increase in weight during pregnancy was associated with higher weight change (β = 0.56 kg, 95% CI [0.52, 0.60]) and increased probability to achieve normal weight (AOR = 1.65, 95% CI [1.37, 2.00]). Food insecurity (AOR = 5.26, 95% CI [1.68, 16.50]), however, was associated with a shift to underweight postpartum. Interestingly, high symptoms of distress (AOR = 0.13, 95% CI [0.03, 0.48]) also negatively impacted a change in weight category. (4) Conclusions: In low-income settings such as northern Ethiopia, higher weight gain and better mental health during pregnancy may help women achieve a better nutritional status after pregnancy and before a possible subsequent pregnancy

Pre-conception and prenatal factors influencing gestational weight gain:a prospective study in Tigray region, northern Ethiopia

Abstract Background In low-income countries, the high prevalence of pre-pregnancy undernutrition remains a challenge for the future health of women and their offspring. On top of good nutrition, adequate gestational weight gain has been recognized as an essential prerequisite for optimal maternal and child health outcomes. However, good-quality data on factors influencing gestational weight gain is lacking. Therefore, this study was aimed to prospectively identify pre-conception and prenatal factors influencing gestational weight gain in Ethiopia. Methods A population based prospective study was undertaken between February 2018 and January 2019 in the Tigray region, northern Ethiopia. Firstly, the weight of non-pregnant women of reproductive age living in the study area was measured between August and October 2017. Subsequently, eligible pregnant women identified during the study period were included consecutively and followed until birth. Data were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire and anthropometric measurements complemented with secondary data. Gestational weight gain, i.e., the difference between 32 to 36 weeks of gestation and pre-pregnancy weights, was classified as per the Institute of Medicine (IOM) guideline. Linear, spline, and logistic regression models were used to estimate the influence of pre-conception and prenatal factors on gestational weight gain. Results The mean gestational weight gain (standard deviation[SD]) was 10.6 (2.3) kg. Overall, 64.0% (95% CI 60.9, 67.1) of the women did not achieve adequate weight gain. Factors associated with higher gestational weight gain were higher women empowerment (B 0.60, 95% CI 0.06, 1.14), dietary diversity (B 0.39, 95% CI 0.03, 0.76), pre-pregnancy body mass index (B 0.13, 95% CI 0.05, 0.22), and haemoglobin (B 0.54, 95% CI 0.45, 0.64). Additionally, adequate prenatal care (B 0.58, 95% CI 0.28, 0.88) was associated with higher gestational weight gain. Conclusions Adequate gestational weight gain was not achieved by most women in the study area, primarily not by those who were underweight before pregnancy. Interventions that advance women’s empowerment, dietary quality, pre-pregnancy nutritional status, and prenatal care utilization may improve gestational weight gain and contribute to optimizing maternal and child health outcomes

Postpartum weight change in relation to pre‐pregnancy weight and gestational weight gain in women in low‐income setting:Data from the kite cohort in the northern part of Ethiopia

(1) Background: Postpartum weight may increase compared to pre‐pregnancy due to weight retention or decrease due to weight loss. Both changes could pose deleterious effects on maternal health and subsequent pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to assess postpartum weight change and its associated factors. (2) Methods: A total of 585 women from the KIlte‐Awlaelo Tigray Ethiopia (KITE) cohort were included in the analysis. (3) Results: The mean pre‐pregnancy body mass index and weight gain during pregnancy were 19.7 kg/m2 and 10.8 kg, respectively. At 18 to 24 months postpartum, the weight change ranged from −3.2 to 5.5 kg (mean = 0.42 kg [SD = 1.5]). In addition, 17.8% of women shifted to normal weight and 5.1% to underweight compared to the pre‐pregnancy period. A unit increase in weight during pregnancy was associated with higher weight change (β = 0.56 kg, 95% CI [0.52, 0.60]) and increased probability to achieve normal weight (AOR = 1.65, 95% CI [1.37, 2.00]). Food insecurity (AOR = 5.26, 95% CI [1.68, 16.50]), however, was associated with a shift to underweight postpartum. Interestingly, high symptoms of distress (AOR = 0.13, 95% CI [0.03, 0.48]) also negatively impacted a change in weight category. (4) Conclusions: In low‐income settings such as northern Ethiopia, higher weight gain and better mental health during pregnancy may help women achieve a better nutritional status after pregnancy and before a possible subsequent pregnancy.</p