Comparative clinico-haematological analysis in young Zebu cattle experimentally infected with Trypanosoma vivax isolates from tsetse infested and non-tsetse infested areas of Northwest Ethiopia

Background: Ethiopia, particularly in the Northwest region, is affected by both tsetse and non-tsetse fly transmitted trypanosomosis, with significant impact on livestock productivity. The aim of this study was to determine and compare clinical findings and haematological values between experimental infections induced by Trypanosoma vivax isolates from areas of either transmission mode. Sixteen young (aged between 6 and 12 months) Zebu cattle (Bos indicus), purchased from a trypanosome-free area and confirmed to be trypanosome-negative, were randomly assigned into four groups of four animals. Groups 1, 2 and 3 were infected with an isolate from a tsetse infested or one of two isolates from a non-tsetse infested area, and group 4 was a non-infected control. All animals in the infected groups were inoculated intravenously with 2 × 106 trypanosomes from donor animals. The experimental animals were monitored for eight consecutive weeks post infection for clinical signs, parasitaemia and haematological changes in packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (Hgb), total red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts, differential WBC count and blood indices (mean corpuscular volume [MCV], mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration).<p></p> Results: Infection was characterized by reduced feed intake, weakness, pyrexia, parasitaemia, rough hair coat, enlarged prescapular lymph nodes, lacrimation, weight loss, pallor mucus membrane and dehydration. Body weight loss in all infected groups was significantly higher than in the non-infected control. Similarly, body weight loss was higher (P < 0.001) in animals infected with the tsetse infested isolate than with the non-tsetse infested isolates. The mean PCV, Hgb, total RBC and WBC counts were lower (P < 0.001), and mean MCV was higher (P = 0.01) in all infected groups than in non-infected control animals at different time points during the study period. Except for minor variations in haematological values, the overall changes were similar in all infected groups.<p></p> Conclusion: Clinical signs and significant reduction in haematological values in the infected groups indicated the pathogenicity of the T. vivax parasites. Pathogenicity of T. vivax from the non-tsetse infested area can be considered as nearly as important as that of its counterpart derived from the tsetse infested area

Factory Downtime Minimization through Tracking of Maintenance Information System of Metahara Sugar Factory, Ethiopia

Analysis of factory downtime records of Metahara Sugar Factory for the past twelve consecutive years show that the total number of stops and stop hours of one of the stations (front factory) was more than 300% higher than other stations. The front factory comprises two tandems: tandem A and B. The total downtime records for the first six months of 2013/14 sugar production season for tandem A show that the downtime was mainly due to mechanical failures, lack of canes, preventive maintenance activities, cleanings due to blockages, and electrical failures, which account 64.1, 13.7, 6.8, 5.9 and 3.1 % of the total stop hours respectively. Similarly, the records for tandem B show that 64.2, 11.3, 8.7, 8.4 and 6.2 % of the total downtime were mainly due to mechanical failures, cleanings due to blockages, electrical failures, lack of canes and preventive maintenance activities respectively. Therefore, measures should be taken at the front factory to reduce mechanical failures and blockages in order to sustain the achievements of the factory. The factory sets to maintain factory downtime below 9% and total downtime below 12% but actual figures were higher. Factory downtime record for the first six months of 2013/14 sugar season showed reduction of 75.7%. But the overall achievements were still higher than the set values. In this paper, based on downtime records, it is believed that measures should be taken at the front factory in order to reduce mechanical failures and blockages. Only by considering lost productioncapability, an increase in annual sugar production capability of 78,705 quintals will be achieve (additional revenue of more than 4 millions USD annually).Keywords: Downtime Maintenance Information System Sugar Factory Productio

Opportunities and Constraints of Cow Milk Value Chain: The Case of Laelay Maichew District, Central Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia.

The objective of this study was to identify the key opportunities and constraints of dairy production and marketing on 110 smallholder dairy producers in Laelay Maichew District, Central Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia. Ranking Analysis Index has been applied for this research for the purpose of to identify constraints of milk production and marketing. The milk production and marketing was constrained by various challenges. According to the survey, producers are suffering from lack of marketing, lack of supplementary feed, water scarcity, low breed milk productivity and shortage of grazing land. Despite the numerous challenges the dairy production still remains profitable business for the smallholders. Keywords: smallholder dairy producers, Ranking Analysis Index, Constraints and Opportunitie

Markov Chain Modeling of Daily Rainfall in Lay Gaint Woreda, South Gonder Zone, Ethiopia

Information on seasonal Kiremet and seasonal Belg rainfall amount is important in the rain fed agriculture of Ethiopia since more than 85% of the population is dependent on agriculture particularly on rain fed farming practices. The distribution pattern of rainfall rather than the total amount of rainfall within the entire period of time is more important for studying the pattern of rainfall occurrence. A two-state Markov chain was used to describe the characteristics of rainfall occurrences in this woreda. The states, as considered were; dry (d) and rainy (r). The overall chance of rain and the fitted curve tells us that the chance of getting rain in the main rainy season is about twice as compared to the small rainy season. The first order Markov chain model indicates that the probability of getting rain in the small rainy season is significantly dependent on whether the earlier date was dry or wet. While the second order Marko chain indicates that the main rainy season the dependence of the probability of rain on the previous two dates\u27 conditions is less as compared with the small rainy season. Rainfall amounts are very variable and are usually modeled by a gamma distribution. Therefore, the pattern of rainfall is somewhat unimodial having only one extreme value in August. Onset, cessation and length of growing season of rainfall for the main rainy season show medium variation compared to the small rainy season

Factors affecting fertility decisions of married men and women living with HIV in South Wollo Zone, Northeast Ethiopia

Background: In a setting with high HIV prevalence and high fertility rates, addressing fertility issues of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) is crucial. However, understanding of the factors associated with fertility decisions of PLWHA in Ethiopia is remarkably low.Objective: The study was conducted to assess factors associated with fertility decisions of PLWHA in South Wollo Zone, Northeast Ethiopia.Methods: The study was conducted from February 1 to March 30, 2008 using cross-sectional design. Quantitative data were collected from a sample of 458 men and 458 women using structured questionnaire. Qualitative data were also collected from six health care providers. Logistic regression was used to analyze the quantitative data.Results: The study showed that 18.3% of currently married PLWHA have decided to have a child. The factors found to be independently associated with current decision to have a child were higher family income [OR (95% CI) = 2.29 (1.23, 4.26)], partner’s decision to have a child [OR (95% CI) = 36.4 (17.0, 77.5)], having knowledge on PMTCT [OR (95% CI) = 2.26 (1.44, 3.54)] and having partner with negative HIV test result [OR (95% CI) = 0.408 (0.219, 0.759)]. During in-depth interview the health care providers indicated the fertility related counseling service to be low.Conclusion: In spite of the fact that significant proportion of married PLWHA had decided to have a child, the fertility related counseling service is low. Improving fertility related counseling services to enable clients make informed fertility decision is mandatory. The factors identified to be associated with fertility decision could be of major importance and as such should be investigated further

Genotype x environment interaction and stability analysis for yield and yield related traits of Kabuli-type Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in Ethiopia

Chickpea is the major pulse crop cultivated in Ethiopia. However, its production is constrained due to genotype instability and environmental variability. This research was carried out to examine the magnitude of environmental effect on yield of chickpea genotypes and to investigate the stability and adaptability of genotypes under different agro-ecologies. Seventeen (17) genotypes were evaluated in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications in five locations. Various stability indices were used to assess stability and genotype by environment performances. Combined analysis of variance (ANOVA) for yield and yield components revealed highly significant (P≤0.01) differences for genotypes, environments and their interaction. The significant interaction showed genotypes respond differently across environments. At Akaki, Chefe Donsa, Debre Zeit, Dembia and Haramaya, top performing genotype were DZ-2012-CK-0001 (2933 kg/ha), Arerti (3219 kg/ha), Arerti (3560 kg/ha) DZ-2012-CK-0013 (2675 kg/ha) and Arerti (2019 kg/ha), respectively. The first two PCs explained 74.45% of the variance. Based on ASV value, DZ-2012-CK-0002 were most stable genotypes. As per AMMI biplot, Arerti and DZ-10-4 were most widely adapted genotypes. Dembia and Haramaya were most discriminative environments for genotypes. Debre Zeit and Chefe Donsa were favorable environment for genotype. Genotypes DZ-2012-CK-0004, DZ-2012-CK-0010, DZ-2012-CK-0013, DZ-2012-CK-0007 and DZ-10-4 are recommendable to Akaki, Chefe Donsa, Debre Zeit, Dembia and Haramya, respectively.Keywords: AMMI, ASV, clustering, phenologic traits, Kabuli, univariate statistics.Abbreviation: E, Environments; G, genotypes; RCBD, randomized complete block design.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Thyroid Incidentaloma among Adult People Attending Gondar University Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia Temesgen Tadesse1

BACKGROUND: Incidentally discovered thyroid lesions have become highly common in the development and more frequent utilization of highly sensitive imaging modalities, like ultrasound. However, little is known about its prevalence and associated factors in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of thyroid incidentalomas and associated factors through ultrasound (US) among adults attending Gondar University Hospital.METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out on 290 adults aged 15 years and above. Out of the adults who visited the hospital during the study, those who neither had history of thyroid disease, thyroid surgery, nor clinically palpable thyroid nodules were involved in the investigation. The participants were examined using a high frequency linear-array transducer (7MHz). For comparing men and women, the unpaired t-test wasused. Binary logistic analysis was used to identify the associated factors, and a P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.RESULT: The frequency of thyroid incidentaloma was found to be 33.4% (95% CI: 27.9, 38.9). Thyroid incidentaloma was detected in 42.4% of the females and 22.7% of the males (P<0.001). About 63% had single and 37% multiple thyroid nodules. About 25.8% had thyroid nodules greater than 1cm. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, increasing age (AOR=5.96; 2.34, 15.15) and female sex (AOR=3.01; 1.73, 5.26) were significantly associated with thyroid incidentalomas.CONCLUSION: The frequency of thyroid incidentaloma (TI) was found to be high in this study and much higher among older women. Solitary and small sized thyroid nodules were commonly seen in the study.

p38 MAP kinase mediated proteoglycan synthesis as a target for the prevention of atherosclerosis

The major underlying pathology of most cardiovascular disease is the chronic inflammatory disease of atherosclerosis. Type 2 diabetes, also recognised as an inflammatory condition, accelerates the development of atherosclerosis. Current therapies for atherosclerosis target risk factors such as elevated blood lipids and hypertension and are of strong but limited efficacy. The "response to retention" hypothesis states that atherosclerosis is initiated by the accumulation of lipids through binding to extracellular matrix, and this is specifically the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains on proteoglycans. Many vasoactive agonists stimulate changes in the structure of the GAGs which increase lipid binding and the relevant signalling pathways are a potential therapeutic target. It has recently been demonstrated that the actions of transforming growth factor b; on vascular smooth muscle proteoglycan synthesis involves signalling through p38 MAP kinase and inhibition of this pathway reduces binding of lipids. Inhibition of p38 MAP kinase will elicit a wide spread antiinflammatory response which may alleviate some of the deleterious processes in cardiovascular tissues. This article explores the potential for the actions of p38 MAP kinase inhibitors directed at proteoglycan synthesis in vascular smooth muscle to contribute to the beneficial outcomes from targeting p38 MAP kinase for the prevention of cardiovascular disease

Management of undescended testes: a retrospective study from a tertiary hospital in Ethiopia

Background: Undescended testis is one of the commonest congenital malformations seen in boys. The aim of this study is to evaluate the pattern of presentation, approach to diagnosis, treatment and follow up in Tikur Anbesa Specialized Hospital, a tertiary teaching hospital in Ethiopia.Methods: This is a retrospective cross sectional study of all boys with undescended testis operated in Tikur Anbesa Specialized Hospital between September 2012 and August 2014.Results: Of 82 boys operated within the study period, 66 boys with 78 undescended testes are studied. Twenty-six percent (17/66)came before the age of 2 years, while the majority of the study group, 50% (33/66), presented beyond 5 years of age. Of the 17 boys brought to the hospital before 2 years, only 41% (7/17) them were treated before the age of two years. The majority 89% (59/66) of the boys were treated after 2 years of age. Seventy-one testes of 78 [91%] were in the inguinal canal, 5 were intra-abdominal and 2 were absent. 46% (36/78) were on the left side, 29% (23/78) on the right side and the rest were bilateral. Among the 54 boys who had ultrasound examination, the ultrasound report is consistent with operative findings in 33 [61%]. Associated congenital malformations were found in 31.8% (21/66) of the boys. Hypospadia was the predominant malformation comprising 38% (8/21) of the total congenital malformations. Orchidopexy was done for 82% (64/78) of the total testes, orchiectomy was done for 9% (7/78) and biopsy was taken in 1 case. Among the total operated boys only 62% (41/66) were followed in our clinic; of those who had follow up 10% (4/41) testes atrophied and 1 [2%] testis retracted.Conclusion: Boys with undescended testes present and are treated late in Tikur Anbesa Hospital. As opposed to the literatures most of the undescended testes were found on the left side. Ultrasound examination cannot be the only mode of examination for undescended testes as it misses more than one third of the cases. Hypospadia is the commonest associated congenital malformation. Post operative follow up is very poor after treatment for undescended teste