Environmental and Health Impacts Associated with Usage of Agrochemicals in Mindu Dam Catchment Area, Morogoro, Tanzania

A field based study was conducted during 2004 – 2006 to assess the environmental, human and animal health risks associated with usage of agrochemicals in Mindu dam catchment area (MDCA), in Morogoro,  Tanzania. Heads of 268 households were interviewed using a questionnaire with structured and semi-structured questions. Fertilizers, insecticides and fungicides were the most commonly used agrochemicals in tomato  production, which was the main crop cultivated. Endosulfan was the only organochlorine pesticide used in vegetable production. The majority of the farmers purchased agrochemicals that were repacked in unlabelled  non-original containers, which were later reused for domestic purposes. About 73% of the farmers applied agrochemicals without protective gears. High risk groups to agrochemical exposure in the area were men, retailers and children. Farmers’ perceived impacts of agrochemical usage included getting sick, deaths of people and animals and environmental pollution. Information obtained from this study was used to identify appropriate foci and target groups for interventions to reduce the health risks associated with the usage of agrochemicals in the area. This assessment identified three foci and target groups for interventions: training of farmers on good agricultural practices, strengthening agricultural extension services, and reinforcing regulatory services.Key words: aquatic environment, fertilizers, humans, pollution, pesticide

Rapid Evolution of Silver Nanoparticle Resistance in Escherichia Coli

The recent exponential increase in the use of engineered nanoparticles (eNPs) means both greater intentional and unintentional exposure of eNPs to microbes. Intentional use includes the use of eNPs as biocides. Unintentional exposure results from the fact that eNPs are included in a variety of commercial products (paints, sunscreens, cosmetics). Many of these eNPs are composed of heavy metals or metal oxides such as silver, gold, zinc, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide. It is thought that since metallic/metallic oxide NPs impact so many aspects of bacterial physiology that it will difficult for bacteria to evolve resistance to them. This study utilized laboratory experimental evolution to evolve silver nanoparticle (AgNP) resistance in the bacterium Escherichia coli (K-12 MG1655), a bacterium that does not harbor any known silver resistance elements. After 225 generations of exposure to the AgNP environment, the treatment populations demonstrated greater fitness vs. control strains as measured by optical density (OD) and colony forming units (CFU) in the presence of varying concentrations of 10 nm citrate-coated silver nanoparticles (AgNP) or silver nitrate (AgNO3). Genomic analysis shows that changes associated with AgNP resistance were already accumulating within the treatment populations by generation 100, and by generation 200 three mutations had swept to high frequency in the AgNP resistance stocks. This study indicates that despite previous claims to the contrary bacteria can easily evolve resistance to AgNPs, and this occurs by relatively simple genomic changes. These results indicate that care should be taken with regards to the use of eNPs as biocides as well as with regards to unintentional exposure of microbial communities to eNPs in waste products

Determination of risk factors contributing to microbial contamination in milk and identification of presence of selected pathogenic bacteria along dairy value chain in Tanga

Contaminated milk is responsible for up to 90% of all dairy-related diseases of humans. A cross sectional study was carried out in Lushoto and Handeni districts of Tanga region to determine handling practices, bacterial contaminations and selected milk-borne zoonotic pathogens along the dairy value chain. A total of 93 respondents were interviewed and subsequently 184 samples of milk and its product were collected for laboratory analysis of total plate count (TPC), coliform plate count (CPC), and detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Brucella abortus using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results showed 57% of famers milked their cows under unhygienic conditions and plastic containers were used for storage. Although the mean total plate count was exactly within the East African Standards (EAS, 5.3 log10 cfu/ml) the counts ranged between 3.3 log10 to,5.8 log10 where 87% and 93% of milk from farmers and vendors, respectively, were above the acceptable EAS standards. Meanwhile, 100 % of milk samples were above CPC EAS standards. PCR analyses did not detect E.coli O157:H7 in all the tested milk samples while B. abortus was detected in 37 out of 87 samples tested (42.5%). It was concluded that limited veterinary/extension services, unhygienic practices of milking and post-harvest handling along the dairy value chain possibly contributed to microbial contamination of milk. Detection of B. abortus in milk is of public health significancy due to its zoonotic potential. It is recommended that veterinary/extension services should be provided to livestock farmers on proper animal husbandry and control of diseases

A review on cattle foetal wastage during slaughter and its impacts to the future cattle herds in Tanzania

Livestock research for rural development, 2015; 27 (12)Indiscriminate slaughter of pregnant cows and heifers is rampant in many developing countries in particular those in sub Saharan Africa. This practice retards the livestock industry, it is against animal welfare and it ends up giving poor quality meat to the consumers. A review of the published and unpublished literature on the prevalence of slaughter of pregnant cows and heifers, foetal wastage and its likely impacts to the future cattle herds in Tanzania was performed. Eight articles and reports from six slaughterhouses in Tanzania were assessed and the results summarized. It was observed that the prevalence of slaughter of pregnant cows and heifers ranged between 15.6 % for the cows and heifers slaughtered at Bukoba Municipal slaughterhouse and 46 % for the cows slaughtered at Dodoma Municipal abattoir. Slaughtered cow/heifer: pregnant cow/heifer ratio ranged from highest level of every two slaughtered cows/heifers, one was pregnant (ratio of 2:1) to lowest of every six slaughtered cows/heifers, one was pregnant (ratio of 6:1). The magnitude of foetal wastage due to slaughter of pregnant cows and heifers is huge in Tanzania that threatens the livestock industry and therefore undermines government efforts to increase food production. Moreover, the slaughter of pregnant cows disregards animal welfare legislation. Therefore, concerted efforts are necessary in order to reduce or halt the incidences of slaughtering pregnant cows and heifers in TanzaniaNon

A review on cattle foetal wastage during slaughter and its impacts to the future cattle herds in Tanzania

Livestock research for rural development, 2015; 27 (12)Indiscriminate slaughter of pregnant cows and heifers is rampant in many developing countries in particular those in sub Saharan Africa. This practice retards the livestock industry, it is against animal welfare and it ends up giving poor quality meat to the consumers. A review of the published and unpublished literature on the prevalence of slaughter of pregnant cows and heifers, foetal wastage and its likely impacts to the future cattle herds in Tanzania was performed. Eight articles and reports from six slaughterhouses in Tanzania were assessed and the results summarized. It was observed that the prevalence of slaughter of pregnant cows and heifers ranged between 15.6 % for the cows and heifers slaughtered at Bukoba Municipal slaughterhouse and 46 % for the cows slaughtered at Dodoma Municipal abattoir. Slaughtered cow/heifer: pregnant cow/heifer ratio ranged from highest level of every two slaughtered cows/heifers, one was pregnant (ratio of 2:1) to lowest of every six slaughtered cows/heifers, one was pregnant (ratio of 6:1). The magnitude of foetal wastage due to slaughter of pregnant cows and heifers is huge in Tanzania that threatens the livestock industry and therefore undermines government efforts to increase food production. Moreover, the slaughter of pregnant cows disregards animal welfare legislation. Therefore, concerted efforts are necessary in order to reduce or halt the incidences of slaughtering pregnant cows and heifers in TanzaniaNon

Study on indigestible foreign bodies in goats slaughtered at Morogoro Municipal slaughterhouse, Tanzania

RESEARCH OPINIONS IN ANIMAL & VETERINARY SCIENCES 6(x): xxx.This cross sectional study was conducted in October and November 2017 to investigate the occurrence of indigestible foreign bodies in goats slaughtered at Morogoro Municipal slaughterhouse, Tanzania. During ante-mortem examination of goats, the breed, sex, age, origin and the general body conditions were recorded. After slaughter and evisceration, the set of stomachs of 119 goats examined for the presence of indigestible foreign bodies. The results indicated that most of the slaughter goats were local breed (90.8%), female (66.4%), had age >2 years (63.0%), had originated from Dakawa (42.9%) and their general body condition was moderate (65.5%). Out of 119 goats, 22 (18.5%) had different kinds of indigestible foreign bodies in their rumen or rumen and reticulum. A significantly (P<0.05) high proportion of animals with poor body condition (40.0%) had indigestible foreign bodies compared to those with good body condition (9.7%). The observed indigestible foreign bodies were plastic bags (77.3%), maize corns (13.6%), clothing material (4.5%), hairballs (9.1%), stones (4.5%) and fruit seeds (9.1%). Further, a greater proportion (72.7%) of indigestible foreign bodies, were encountered in the rumen. This study found that the ingestion of indigestible foreign bodies is common in goats slaughtered at the Morogoro Municipal slaughterhouse as a result of widespread use with improper disposal of plastic bags. This may cause significant losses in the livestock production. Therefore, it is recommended that plastic bags should be properly disposed of and appropriate policies for solid waste management should be implemented.Non

Assessment of human-snake interaction and its outcomes in Monduli district, northern Tanzania

Tanzania Journal of Health Research 2015: Vol 17(1)Human-snake interactions has always been associated with different outcomes. This crosssectional study was conducted to assess the human-snake interaction and its outcomes in Monduli District, northern Tanzania. Data collection was done through questionnaires, key informants interviews and record review of snake bite cases at Meserani Snake Park Clinic. Most respondents (97%) in the study area had ever encountered snakes mostly in livestock grazing areas (41.5%) especially at noon hours. The common types of snakes were the black ones (44.6%) and most of these (58%) were non-poisonous species. Twelve species of snakes were reported to be found in the area while 22 species dominated by Psammophis s. subtaeniatus and Eryx colubrinus loveridgei were under zoo environment. Fifty seven people were bitten by snakes in the study area in 2012 and majority of the cases were recorded between February and April. It was further reported that many respondents (92.3%) feel worried whenever they encounter snakes and the reaction is to kill it as a means of control. This was because snakes were regarded as dangerous creatures and were not used in any traditional practices (81.5%). There was a hostile interactions between human and snakes and always humans hated snakes and, killed them whenever were encountered. Basic educations on snake conservation have to be provided to the community to avoid unnecessary killing of snakes

A retrospective survey of hydatidosis in livestock in Arusha, Tanzania, based on abattoir data during 2005 - 2007

Tropical Animal Health and Production January 2009A 3-year (2005–2007) retrospective study was carried out to investigate the occurrence of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in cattle and shoats (sheep and goats) slaughtered at Arusha municipal abattoir, Tanzania. A total of 115186 cattle and 99401 shoats were slaughtered. Cattle liver, lungs, spleen and heart condemnation rate was 16.35%, 13.04%, 2.09% and 3.06% respectively while 17.63%, 7.63%, 0.38% and 0.04% of shoats’ liver, lungs, spleen and heart respectively were condemned. A highly significant (p<0.001) cystic echinococcosis (CE) infection rate was recorded in shoats (6.02%) than in cattle (4.2%) probably because of differences in grazing patterns. Cattle lungs were more affected by CE (22.5%) than liver (19.7%) while shoats liver were found to be more affacted (21%) than the lungs (19.3). A significant (p<0.001) higher CE infection rate was observed in cattle spleen (15.5%) than shoats (9.7%). There was no significant (p>0.05) difference between condemnation rates due to hydatidosis during rain and dry seasons probably because of chronicity of the disease. The study have established that CE is prevalent in animals slaughtered at Arusha abattoir and causes higher condemnation rates of edible offals. This merit for more extensive epidemiological investigations to better determine the prevalence, economic impact and public health importance of the disease in the region

Assessment of human-snake interaction and its outcomes in Monduli district, northern Tanzania

Tanzania Journal of Health Research 2015: Vol 17(1)Human-snake interactions has always been associated with different outcomes. This crosssectional study was conducted to assess the human-snake interaction and its outcomes in Monduli District, northern Tanzania. Data collection was done through questionnaires, key informants interviews and record review of snake bite cases at Meserani Snake Park Clinic. Most respondents (97%) in the study area had ever encountered snakes mostly in livestock grazing areas (41.5%) especially at noon hours. The common types of snakes were the black ones (44.6%) and most of these (58%) were non-poisonous species. Twelve species of snakes were reported to be found in the area while 22 species dominated by Psammophis s. subtaeniatus and Eryx colubrinus loveridgei were under zoo environment. Fifty seven people were bitten by snakes in the study area in 2012 and majority of the cases were recorded between February and April. It was further reported that many respondents (92.3%) feel worried whenever they encounter snakes and the reaction is to kill it as a means of control. This was because snakes were regarded as dangerous creatures and were not used in any traditional practices (81.5%). There was a hostile interactions between human and snakes and always humans hated snakes and, killed them whenever were encountered. Basic educations on snake conservation have to be provided to the community to avoid unnecessary killing of snakes