Symbiotic and phenotypic diversity of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae from Northern Gondar, Ethiopia

Rhizobia that nodulate cool season legumes are widely spread in the Mediterranean and highland agro ecosystems. Faba bean is one of these important crops that represent the major protein source of human nutrition, cash crop for farmers and component of the farming systems. This study is aimed at identifying rhizobia isolates capable of guarantying efficient nitrogen derived from biological nitrogen fixation. Due to this, a total of twenty-one isolates of Rhizobium were isolated from as many sampling sites of northern Gondar using plant infection method. The isolates were characterized morphologically and physiologically and tested on sand and soils to evaluate their symbiotic effectiveness. Studies on symbiotic effectiveness on sand culture indicated that, the strains showed shoot dry matter ranging from 0.4 (AUFR127) to 2.3 g/plant (AUFR124), with negative control (0.2 g/plant) and positive control of 2.4 g/plant. Eighty percent of the isolates were found to be effective and have very effective nitrogen fixers based on their shoot dry matter accumulation (50 to 100%) in relation to the nitrogen fertilized control plants. Culturally, almost all of them displayed large colonies with diameters of 2 to 4.5 mm, generation time of 1.9 to 4.3 h and showed characteristics of fast growing rhizobia. With a few exceptions, isolates grew at temperatures of 15 and 35°C and were found to be sensitive to salt, except AUFR118 that grew up to 5% NaCl. The isolates also grew on a wide range of moderate acidity and alkalinity (pH5.5-9).With the exception of gluconate, citrate and tartarate, almost all isolates grew on all carbohydrates. The pattern of intrinsic antibiotic resistance showed that, almost all of them were tolerant to chloramphenicol, nalidixic acid and erythromycin. Isolates AUFR118, AUFR128 and AUFR132 were found to be resistant to almost all tested antibiotics. These isolates were also included in the effective and very effective symbiotic groups. The trial of the 5 selected effective isolates on two soil types showed that, they performed well without any significant difference on their respective soils. Interestingly, the isolates were found to nodulate the host on the highly acidic soil (pH 4.8) that failed to be nodulated by the indigenous rhizobia. Generally, the present work shows the physiological and symbiotic diversity of the isolates in the traditional agricultural areas of the region and the potential of these rhizobia to be used as effective commercial inoculants in areas where the indigenous rhizobia fail to do so. This will help to reclaim acidic soils for faba bean production.Key words: Faba bean, Northern Gondar, Rhizobium, phenotypic diversity, symbiotic effectivenes

Infection prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni and associated risk factors among schoolchildren in suburbs of Mekelle city, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Schistosomiasis due to infection with Schistosoma mansoniis a public health problem in both tropical and sub tropical countries. Thus, effective control of the disease requires determining its prevalence rate, identifying risk factors of infection and high-risk groups. Therefore, the objective of this study was to establish the prevalence of S. mansoni infection and associated risk factors among schoolchildren in suburbs of Mekelle city, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. For this purpose, a cross-sectional parasitological examination wasconducted on457 schoolchildren from November, 2010 to March, 2011. Stool samples were collected and examined by the Kato-Katz technique. Semi-structurered interview questionnaire were administered to the study subjectsto identify possible risk factors of infection with S. mansoni. Furthermore, malacological survey was conducted to check the presence of snail intermediate hosts of S. mansoni in the study area. The overall prevalence of S. mansoni in the schoolchildren was 23.9 %. Higher prevalence was detected in male children (30.71%) than in females (14.12 %) (÷ 2 = 16.642, P = 0.000). On the other hand, the highest (31.2%) prevalence was recorded in children with ages ranging from 10 - 14 years followed by thoseaged 5 - 9 (11.4 %) and 15 - 19 (9.8 %) years (÷ 2 = 23.865, P = 0.000), respectively. This study revealed the association of S. mansoni infection with older age groups, 10 -14 years (OR = 0.114, P = 0.001), time of residence in the study area (OR = 0.462, P = 0.011), water source (OR = 0.371, P = 0.020), previous history of schistosomiasis treatment (OR = 0.246, P = 0.000), frequency of water contact (OR = 26.958, P = 0.004), crossing water bodies (OR = 3.049, P = 0.001), working in an irrigated agricultural field (OR = 7.363, P = 0.000) and distance of home from water bodies (OR = 5.163, P = 0.000). Moreover, this study determined the presence of snail intermediate hosts of S. mansoni in the study areas . Hence, the study areas are considered important epidemiological foci for the transmission of S. mansoni. Therefore, it is necessary to undergo wide scalesurveillance and institute proper control and prevention strategies against infection with Schistosoma mansoni.Key words: S.mansoni, Schistosomiasis, Risk factors, Risk groups, Prevalence, Mekelle city, Tigray

Dietary practices and xenophthalmia in under-fives in Jimma town, Southwest Ethiopia

Objectives: To assess parent’s knowledge about children’s need for plant sources of vitamin A; to determine the dietary practice with regard to vitamin A intake; to estimate the prevalence of xerophthalmia and; to forward appropriate recommendations.Design: A cross-sectional study.Setting: The study was conducted in Jimma town, southwest Ethiopia, with a total population of about 88,867 from February to April 1995.Participants: Eight hundred and thirty one randomly selected children between the ages of six and 59 months formed the study population.Main outcome measures: The dietary intake of cheap and easily available vitamin A rich foods is assessed and prevalence of xerophthalmlia determined.Results: Only eighty per cent of the children were getting green vegetables, fruits or carrots once weekly or more. The major reasons given for not including vegetables, fruits and carrots in the diet were “cannot afford” (39%), “not available” (33%), and “child too young” (16%). Out of 628 children examined, four (0.6%) were found to have xerophthalmia; three (0.48%) classified as XlB and one (0.16%) as X2.Conclusion: The dietary intake of plant sources of vitamin A in the studied community is far from adequate. Moreover, vitamin A deficiency is found to be a significant public health problem in young children in Jimma town. Periodic vitamin A supplementation, preferablycombined with immunisation, should be a priority action, and parents need to be educated about vitamin A deficiency and its prevention

Field evaluation of rK39 test and direct agglutination test for diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in a population with high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus in Ethiopia

Accuracy of an rK39 rapid diagnostic test (DiaMed-IT-Leish ) for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was compared with splenic aspiration and the direct agglutination test (DAT) in a population with a high prevalence of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Ethiopia. There were 699 patients clinically suspected of having VL (153 parasitologically confirmed, 482 DAT confirmed, and 130 DAT negative), and 97 DAT-negative controls. A total of 84% were tested for HIV and 34% were HIV positive. Sensitivity of the rK39 test in parasitologically confirmed VL patients was 84% (77% in HIV positive and 87% in HIV negative; P = 0.25). Sensitivity of the DAT was higher (94%; P = 0.01), 89% in HIV-positive patients and 95% in HIV-negative patients; P = 0.27). Specificity of the rK39 test was 99% in DAT-negative controls and 92% in DAT-negative patients clinically suspected of having VL. A diagnostic algorithm combining DAT and the rK39 test had a sensitivity of 98% in HIV-positive VL patients and 99% in HIV-negative VL patients. Despite the lower sensitivity in a population with a high prevalence of HIV, the DiaMed-IT-Leish rK39 test enables decentralization of diagnosis. Patients clinically suspected of having VL who show negative results on the rK39 antigen test should undergo follow-up DAT testing, especially if they are HIV positive

Predictors of Treatment Seeking Intention among People with Cough in East Wollega, Ethiopia Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior: A Community Based Cross -Sectional Study

Background: Early treatment seeking for cough is crucial in the prevention and control of Tuberculosis. This study was intended to assess treatment seeking intention of people with cough of more than two weeks, and to identify its predictors.Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 763 individuals with cough of more than two weeks in East Wollega Zone from March 10 to April 16, 2011. Study participants were selected from eighteen villages by cluster sampling method. Data collection instruments were developed according to the standard guideline of the theory of planned behavior. The data were analyzed with SPSS 16.0. Multiple linear regression was used to identify predictors.Results: Mean score of intention was found to be 12.6 (SD=2.8) (range of possible score=3-15). Knowledge (β=0.14, 95%CI: 0.07-0.2), direct attitude (β=0.31, 95%CI: 0.25-0.35), belief-based attitude (β=0.03, 95%CI: 0.02-0.06) and perceived subjective norm (β=0.22, 95%CI: 0.13 -0.31) positively predicted treatment seeking intention. However, perceived behavioral control and control belief were not significantly associated with treatment seeking intention (p>0.05). Being smoker (β=-0.97, 95%CI:-1.65- (-0.37)) and higher family income (β=-0.06, 95%CI:-0.07-(-0.01) were significantly associated with lower treatment seeking intention.Conclusion: TPB significantly predicted treatment seeking intention among the study participants. Attitude and silent beliefs held by the respondents play an important role and should be given emphasize in prevention and control of Tuberculosis.Keywords: Tuberculosis, Cough, Intention, Treatment, Theory of Planned Behavio

Sleep Apnea – Recent Updates

Sleep apnea is highly prevalent and underdiagnosed. It is associated with multiple medical conditions including cardiac dysrhythmia, stroke, hypertension, diabetes and congestive heart failure. In the last few decades, advances in diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea have been robust. In this review, we will emphasize primarily developments in the area of sleep apnea that occurred in the past 5 years. These include changes in the nomenclature of sleep apnea in the International Classification in Sleep Disorders (ICSD)-3, physiologic approach of treating sleep apnea, eligibility for CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) treatment, home sleep testing (HST), sleep apnea in pregnancy, updates in oral device treatment and other emerging concepts on sleep apnea

Extending Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy for 10 Years: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Women's Decision Making in an Online Breast Cancer Forum

An additional 5 years of treatment with adjuvant hormonal therapy, to complete 10 years of medication, is recommended to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence. Yet professionals and patients should balance this benefit against side effects and toxicities. Little is known about women's decision making regarding persistence with extended endocrine therapy. In this study, we collected data from a UK online breast cancer forum to analyse patterns of persistence and its associated factors. A mixed-methods exploratory sequential design was used, with a qualitative analysis of text (n = 61 individuals) informing the development of a quantitative instrument to statistically analyse the prevalence of the findings (n = 130). Our findings identified three different groups of women who had to make decisions regarding persistence with treatment: those about to complete 5 years of therapy, those who decided to extend treatment, and those who were initially prescribed 10 years. Factors affecting persistence were, lack of self-efficacy in managing side effects, lack of reassurance about individual risk of recurrence, and impact on quality of life. Interventions such as training of healthcare professionals including risk communication, medication reviews by clinical pharmacists, and re-planning of services in follow-up care, should better support women's needs in extended hormonal therapy

Bacterial isolates and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern among patients with external ocular infections at Borumeda hospital, Northeast Ethiopia

Background: Bacteria are major cause of ocular infections and possible loss of vision. The emergence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria increases the risk of treatment failure with potentially serious consequences. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of bacterial isolates and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern among patients with external ocular infections. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 160 patients with external ocular infections at Borumeda hospital, Northeast Ethiopia. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected using structured questionnaire. External ocular specimens were collected using sterile swabs and inoculated on MacConkey agar, Chocolate agar and Blood agar culture Medias. Presumptive isolates were further identified by a series of biochemical tests. The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the isolates were determined by disk diffusion method. Result: The overall prevalence of bacterial pathogens among external ocular samples was 59.4 %. The majority of the isolates (93.7 %; 89/95) were Gram positive and the other 6.3 % (6/95) Gram negative bacteria. The proportion of coagulase negative Staphylococci among the Gram positive bacterial isolates was 53.7 % (n = 51/95). All Gram positive isolates were susceptible for vancomycin but 67.4 % (n = 60/95) of them were resistant against amoxicillin. Moreover, drug resistance to tetracycline, norfloxacylin, ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin were observed among Gram negative bacteria isolates. Conclusion: The prevalence of bacterial pathogens among external ocular samples was high and the predominant isolate was coagulase negative Staphylococci. Exceptionally high amoxicillin resistance was observed among Gram positive bacterial isolates that may dictate to conduct drug susceptibility test routinely.Birtukan Shiferaw, Baye GelawEmail author, Abate Assefa, Yared Assefa and Zelalem Addi

Men's involvement in family planning service utilization among married men in Kondala district, western Ethiopia: a community-based comparative cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Men involvement is one of the important factors in family planning (FP) service utilization. Their limitation in the family planning program causes a decrease in service utilization as well as the discontinuation of the method which eventually leads to failure of the program. Family planning uptake is low but there is no enough study conducted on the parameters of husband involvement in Ethiopia. Hence, this study focused to assess men's involvement in family planning service utilization in Kondala district, western Ethiopia. METHODS: Community based comparative cross-sectional study design was employed in urban and rural kebeles of kondala district using quantitative and qualitative data collection tools. The multi-stage sampling method was employed to select 370 participants from each of the four urban and eight rural kebeles. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify variables that affect husbands' involvement in FP service utilization. Statistical significance was declared at p-value of < 0.05 with 95% confidence interval (CI) and strength of association was reported by odds ratio (OR). RESULTS: The study showed that 203(55.6%) men from urban and 178(48.8%) from rural were involved in FP service utilization. The median age of the respondents was 36+ 8.5 years (IQR: 27.5-44.5) in urban and 35 years (IQR: 25-45) in rural parts. Respondents who had four and above current children (AOR = 3.25, 95%CI = 1.51-7.02) in urban and (AOR = 4.20, 95%CI = 1.80-9.79) in rural were positively associated with men's involvement in FP service utilization. In the urban setting, being government employee (AOR = 2.58, 95%CI = 1.25-5.33), wishing less than two children (AOR = 3.08, 95%CI = 1.80-5.24) and having a better attitude towards FP methods (AOR = 1.86, 95%CI = 1.16-2.99) were positively associated with FP service utilization. While good educational background (AOR = 2.13, 95%CI = 1.02-4.44), short distance from home to health facility (AOR = 2.29, 95%CI = 1.24-4.19) and having better knowledge (AOR = 4.49, 95%CI = 2.72-7.38) were positively associated with men involvement in FP service utilization in the rural area. CONCLUSION: Low involvement of men in family planning service utilization was reported in both settings. Factors associated with husbands' involvement were varied between the two setups, except for the current number of children. Future FP program should incorporate infrastructure associated with the health facility, knowledge, and attitudinal factors