Nutritional Quality of Quail Feeds Used in Urban and Peri-Urban Areas of Uganda: Chemical and Energy Composition

Quail production is steadily gaining importance in developing countries like Uganda, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas. However, inappropriate feeding practices such as using the same feed classes across different growth stagesor beyond the recommended growth stageshave been reported among quail farmers. This study evaluated the nutritional properties of quail diets used in urban and peri-urban areas of Uganda. Samples of three classes of quail feeds(starter, grower, and layer diets) were collected from quail farmers and poultry feed suppliers in Mukono, Kampala, and Wakiso districts. The samples were analyzed for crude protein (CP), ether extract, crude fiber (CF), ash, calcium, phosphorus, and gross energy contents and then metabolizable energy (ME) contents of the samples were calculated. The data were compared with the minimum dietary specifications recommended for quails in the tropics. Results revealed a high variation in the nutritional quality and that the diets did not conform to the recommended specifications.The average CPcontents of starter and grower diets from farmers (17% and 15.9%, respectively) and feed suppliers (15.7% and 16.8%, respectively) were far lower (P< 0.05) than the minimum specifications for low-protein diets (24% and 20%, respectively). The average ME contents for all the feed classes were also lower (P< 0.05) than the minimum specifications. The diets were characterized by high ash and CF contents (averages ranged between 17.1-20.2% for ash and 5.5-6.3% for CF). The chemical and energy values obtained were in the range reported for chicken diets (in Uganda), which points to the use of diets formulated for chickens in quail feeding. In conclusion, it is necessaryto train and sensitize quail farmers and feed suppliersabout the benefits of using quail diets with adequate protein content, preferably produced based on protein sources that attract less or no competition from humans. Future research should identify such protein sources, their nutritional properties, and their potential use in quail diets

Impact of HIV Infection and Kaposi Sarcoma on Human Herpesvirus-8 Mucosal Replication and Dissemination in Uganda

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is the leading cause of cancer in Uganda and occurs in people with and without HIV. Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) replication is important both in transmission of HHV-8 and progression to KS. We characterized the sites and frequency of HHV-8 detection in Ugandans with and without HIV and KS.Participants were enrolled into one of four groups on the basis of HIV and KS status (HIV negative/KS negative, HIV positive/KS negative, HIV negative/KS positive, and HIV positive/KS positive). Participants collected oral swabs daily and clinicians collected oral swabs, anogenital swabs, and plasma samples weekly over 4 weeks. HHV-8 DNA at each site was quantified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).78 participants collected a total of 2063 orals swabs and 358 plasma samples. Of these, 428 (21%) oral swabs and 96 (27%) plasma samples had detectable HHV-8 DNA. HHV-8 was detected more frequently in both the oropharynx of persons with KS (24 (57%) of 42 persons with KS vs. 8 (22%) of 36 persons without, p = 0.002) and the peripheral blood (30 (71%) of 42 persons with KS vs. 8 (22%) of 36 persons without, p<0.001). In a multivariate model, HHV-8 viremia was more frequent among men (IRR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.7-6.2, p<0.001), persons with KS (IRR = 3.9, 95% CI = 1.7-9.0, p = 0.001) and persons with HIV infection (IRR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.0-2.7, p = 0.03). Importantly, oral HHV-8 detection predicted the subsequent HHV-8 viremia. HHV-8 viremia was significantly more common when HHV-8 DNA was detected from the oropharynx during the week prior than when oral HHV-8 was not detected (RR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.8-5.9 p<0.001). Genital HHV-8 detection was rare (9 (3%) of 272 swabs).HHV-8 detection is frequent in the oropharynx and peripheral blood of Ugandans with endemic and epidemic KS. Replication at these sites is highly correlated, and viremia is increased in men and those with HIV. The high incidence of HHV-8 replication at multiple anatomic sites may be an important factor leading to and sustaining the high prevalence of KS in Uganda

Urban and peri-urban family-based pig-keeping in Cambodia : Characteristics, management and perceived benefits and constraints

Keeping pigs in urban and peri-urban areas may not only provide many benefits for the urban households, but may also be challenging and a potential health hazard. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to describe household characteristics and to evaluate perceived benefits and constraints among pig-keepers in the urban and peri-urban areas of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The study included 204 households and a structured questionnaire was used to interview the household member responsible for taking care of the pigs. Descriptive analyses showed that most households kept between 5 and 15 pigs and that all households kept their pigs in confinement. About 97% of the households owned the pigs themselves and the pigs were generally managed by female household members (43%). Pigs were mainly kept for commercial purposes and more than 60% of the households stated that income from pig-keeping was the main or one of the main sources of revenue for the household. More than 82% reported that they had experienced disease outbreaks among their pigs during the past three years and disease outbreaks were more commonly reported in households with lower socio-economic position (P = 0.025). Disease outbreaks were considered one of the main constraints, along with expensive feed and low payment prices for the slaughter pigs, but few households considered sanitary or other public health issues problematic. Thus, pig-keeping makes an important contribution to the livelihoods of urban and peri-urban households, but many households face external constraints on their production, such as diseases and low revenues, which may have a negative impact on their livelihoods