Distribution of common bacterial blight disease under different agroecologies in Uganda

Common bacterial blight disease (CBB) causes severe yield and seed quality losses on common bean worldwide. Information about CBB distribution is important in designing effective control strategies. This disease has been managed using intergraded strategies, involving use of certified seed produced in areas of low disease pressure. Unfortunately, areas of low CBB pressure have not been mapped in Uganda. This study was conducted to determine the distribution and intensity of CBB in Uganda, in order to establish low pressure areas for multiplication of clean certified seed. A survey was conducted in farmers\u2019 fields in18 locations found in four rainfalls-based agroecology in Uganda, for two seasons of 2016. The Victoria Cresent and Mbale farmland had the highest disease intensity index (29%); followed by Central woodland savannah (21%). The Northwest farm land and South west grass farm lands had low CBB intensity index of 2.5 and 7.8%, respectively. Thus, The Northwest farm land (Arua, Amuru, Nwoya) and South west grass farm lands (Rakai, Ntungamo Lwengo and Bukomansimbi), are recommended for production of CBB free bean seeds.La maladie bact\ue9rienne commune (MBC) provoque de graves pertes de rendement et de qualit\ue9 des semences de haricot commun dans le monde entier. Les informations sur la distribution du MBC sont importantes pour la conception de strat\ue9gies de contr\uf4le efficaces. Cette maladie a \ue9t\ue9 g\ue9r\ue9e \ue0 l\u2019aide de strat\ue9gies intercal\ue9es, impliquant l\u2019utilisation de semences certifi\ue9es produites dans des zones de faible pression de la maladie. Malheureusement, les zones de faible pression du CBB n\u2019ont pas \ue9t\ue9 cartographi\ue9es en Ouganda. Cette \ue9tude a \ue9t\ue9 faite pour d\ue9terminer la distribution et l\u2019intensit\ue9 du CBB en Ouganda, afin d\u2019\ue9tablir des zones de basse pression pour la multiplication de semences certifies qui sont propres. Une enqu\ueate a \ue9t\ue9 faite dans les champs d\u2019agriculteurs dans 18 localit\ue9s situ\ue9es dans quatre agro\ue9cologies en Ouganda bas\ue9es sur les pr\ue9cipitations, pendant les deux saisons de 2016. Les terres agricoles de Victoria Cresent et de Mbale pr\ue9sentaient l\u2019indice d\u2019intensit\ue9 de maladie le plus \ue9lev\ue9 (29%); suivi de la savane bois\ue9e centrale (21%). Les terres agricoles du nord-ouest et celles du sud-ouest avaient un indice d\u2019intensit\ue9 de CBB faible de 2,5 et 7,8%, respectivement. Ainsi, les terres agricoles du Nord-Ouest (Arua, Amuru, Nwoya) et celles du Sud-Ouest (Rakai, Ntungamo Lwengo et Bukomansimbi) sont recommand\ue9es pour la production de semences de haricot exemptes de CBB

Pathogenicity and virulence of Ugandan isolates of common bacterial blight disease pathogen ( Xanthomonas spp.)

Breeding for resistance is a major component in the integrated management of common bacterial disease of beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Use of less virulent strains or strains with attenuated virulence may lead to selection of resistant genotypes with intermediate response, when exposed to more virulent strains of the pathogen. The objective of this study to identify and characterise Ugandan isolates of common bacterial blight disease-causing pathogens for virulence. Bacteria were isolated from leaf samples collected from districts of Kabale, Masaka, Bukomansimbi, Mubende, Mbale, Bulambuli and Apac, all in Uganda, during the first season of 2016. The bacteria were tested for pathogenicity, as well as virulence on both breeding and local varieties. The study identified three most virulent isolates, namely MBL020, KAB-3 and BUL-14, all belonging to Xathomonas citri pv fuscans. These isolates are very similar to those previously identified from Uganda (NCPB 670 and NCCPB 1402) more than 50 years ago. The study further revealed that NAROBEAN1, NAROBEAN 2, NAROBEAN 4, VAX 3, VAX5 and NE 2- 14- 8 had better resistance compared to other tested genotypes.La s\ue9lection pour la r\ue9sistance est un \ue9l\ue9ment majeur de la gestion int\ue9gr\ue9e des maladies bact\ue9riennes courantes des haricots ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.). L\u2019utilisation de souches moins virulentes ou de souches \ue0 virulence att\ue9nu\ue9e peut conduire \ue0 la s\ue9lection de g\ue9notypes r\ue9sistants \ue0 r\ue9ponse interm\ue9diaire, lorsqu\u2019ils sont expos\ue9s \ue0 des souches plus virulentes du pathog\ue8ne. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude etait d\u2019identifier et de caract\ue9riser les isolats ougandais de pathog\ue8nes causant la maladie bact\ue9rienne commune pour la virulence. Des bact\ue9ries ont \ue9t\ue9 isol\ue9es \ue0 partir d\u2019\ue9chantillons de feuilles pr\ue9lev\ue9s dans les districts de Kabale, Masaka, Bukomansimbi, Mubende, Mbale, Bulambuli et Apac, tous en Ouganda, au cours de la premi\ue8re saison de 2016. Les bact\ue9ries ont \ue9t\ue9 test\ue9es pour leur pathog\ue9nicit\ue9, ainsi que leur virulence \ue0 la fois pour la reproduction et vari\ue9t\ue9s locales. L\u2019\ue9tude a identifi\ue9 les trois isolats les plus virulents, \ue0 savoir MBL020, KAB-3 et BUL-14, tous appartenant \ue0 Xathomonas citri pv fuscans. Ces isolats sont tr\ue8s similaires \ue0 ceux pr\ue9c\ue9demment identifi\ue9s en Ouganda (NCPB 670 et NCCPB 1402), il y a plus de 50 ans. L\u2019\ue9tude a en outre r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 que NAROBEAN1, NAROBEAN 2, NAROBEAN 4, VAX 3, VAX5 et NE 2- 14-8 avaient une meilleure r\ue9sistance par rapport aux autres g\ue9notypes test\ue9s

Use of timelapse photography to determine flower opening time and pattern in banana (Musa spp.) for efficient hand pollination

Open Access Journal; Published online: 30 Sep 2021Sterility and low seed set in bananas is the main challenge to their conventional genetic improvement. The first step to seed set in a banana breeding program depends on pollination at the right time to ensure effective fertilization. This study aimed at determining bract opening time (BOT) to enhance efficient pollination and seed set in bananas. A Nikon D810 digital camera was set-up to take pictures of growing banana inflorescences at five-minute intervals and time-lapse movies were developed at a speed of 30 frames per second to allow real-time monitoring of BOT. Genotypes studied included wild banana (1), Mchare (2), Matooke (4), Matooke hybrid (1), and plantain (1). Events of bract opening initiated by bract lift for female flowers (P < 0.01) started at 16:32 h and at 18:54 h for male flowers. Start of bract rolling was at 18:51 h among female flowers (P < 0.001) and 20:48 h for male flowers. Bracts ended rolling at 02:33 h and 01:16 h for female and flowers respectively (P < 0.05). Total time of bract opening (from lift to end of rolling) for female flowers was significantly longer than that of male flowers (P < 0.001). On average, the number of bracts subtending female flowers opening increased from one on the first day, to between one and four on the fourth day. The number regressed to one bract on day eight before start of opening of bracts subtending male flowers. There was a longer opening interval between bracts subtending female and male flowers constituting spatial and temporal separation. Bract rolling increased from partial to complete rolling from proximal to the distal end of the inflorescence among female flower. On the other hand, bracts subtending male flowers completely rolled. Differences in BOT of genotypes with the same reference time of assessment may be partly responsible for variable fertility. Hand pollination time between 07:00 and 10:00 h is slightly late thus an early feasible time should be tried

AMBIsome Therapy Induction OptimisatioN (AMBITION): High dose AmBisome for cryptococcal meningitis induction therapy in sub-Saharan Africa: economic evaluation protocol for a randomised controlled trial-based equivalence study.

INTRODUCTION: Cryptococcal meningitis is responsible for around 15% of all HIV-related deaths globally. Conventional treatment courses with amphotericin B require prolonged hospitalisation and are associated with multiple toxicities and poor outcomes. A phase II study has shown that a single high dose of liposomal amphotericin may be comparable to standard treatment. We propose a phase III clinical endpoint trial comparing single, high-dose liposomal amphotericin with the WHO recommended first-line treatment at six sites across five counties. An economic analysis is essential to support wide-scale implementation. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Country-specific economic evaluation tools will be developed across the five country settings. Details of patient and household out-of-pocket expenses and any catastrophic healthcare expenditure incurred will be collected via interviews from trial patients. Health service patient costs and related household expenditure in both arms will be compared over the trial period in a probabilistic approach, using Monte Carlo bootstrapping methods. Costing information and number of life-years survived will be used as the input to a decision-analytic model to assess the cost-effectiveness of a single, high-dose liposomal amphotericin to the standard treatment. In addition, these results will be compared with a historical cohort from another clinical trial. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The AMBIsome Therapy Induction OptimisatioN (AMBITION) trial has been evaluated and approved by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of Botswana, Malawi National Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Mulago Hospital and Zimbabwe Medical Research Council research ethics committees. All participants will provide written informed consent or if lacking capacity will have consent provided by a proxy. The findings of this economic analysis, part of the AMBITION trial, will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and at international and country-level policy meetings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN 7250 9687; Pre-results

Risk Factors for Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever, Democratic Republic of the Congo

We conducted two antibody surveys to assess risk factors for Marburg hemorrhagic fever in an area of confirmed Marburg virus transmission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Questionnaires were administered and serum samples tested for Marburg-specific antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Fifteen (2%) of 912 participants in a general village cross-sectional antibody survey were positive for Marburg immunoglobulin G antibody. Thirteen (87%) of these 15 were men who worked in the local gold mines. Working as a miner (odds ratio [OR] 13.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.1 to 62.1) and receiving injections (OR 7.4, 95% CI 1.6 to 33.2) were associated with a positive antibody result. All 103 participants in a targeted antibody survey of healthcare workers were antibody negative. Primary transmission of Marburg virus to humans likely occurred via exposure to a still unidentified reservoir in the local mines. Secondary transmission appears to be less common with Marburg virus than with Ebola virus, the other known filovirus

Immunohaematological reference values in human immunodeficiency virus-negative adolescent and adults in rural northern Tanzania

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The amount of CD4 T cells is used for monitoring HIV progression and improvement, and to make decisions to start antiretroviral therapy and prophylactic drugs for opportunistic infections. The aim of this study was to determine normal reference values for CD4 T cells, lymphocytes, leucocytes and haemoglobin level in healthy, HIV negative adolescents and adults in rural northern Tanzania.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross sectional study was conducted from September 2006 to March 2007 in rural northern Tanzania. Participants were recruited from voluntary HIV counselling and testing clinics. Patients were counselled for HIV test and those who consented were tested for HIV. Clinical screening was done, and blood samples were collected for CD4 T cell counts and complete blood cell counts.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We enrolled 102 participants, forty two (41.2%) males and 60 (58.8%) females. The mean age was 32.6 ± 95% CI 30.2–35.0. The mean absolute CD4 T cell count was 745.8 ± 95% CI 695.5–796.3, absolute CD8 T cells 504.6 ± 95% CI 461.7–547.5, absolute leukocyte count 5.1 ± 95% CI 4.8–5.4, absolute lymphocyte count 1.8 ± 95% CI 1.7–1.9, and haemoglobin level 13.2 ± 95% CI 12.7–13.7. Females had significantly higher mean absolute CD4 T cell count (p = 0.008), mean absolute CD8 T cell count (p = 0.009) and significantly lower mean haemoglobin level than males (p = 0.003)</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Immunohaematological values found in this study were different from standard values for western countries. Females had significantly higher mean CD4 T cell counts and lower mean haemoglobin levels than males. This raises the issue of the appropriateness of the present reference values and guidelines for monitoring HIV/AIDS patients in Tanzania.</p