ICDP workshop on the Lake Tanganyika Scientific Drilling Project: a late Miocene–present record of climate, rifting, and ecosystem evolution from the world's oldest tropical lake

The Neogene and Quaternary are characterized by enormous changes in global climate and environments, including global cooling and the establishment of northern high-latitude glaciers. These changes reshaped global ecosystems, including the emergence of tropical dry forests and savannahs that are found in Africa today, which in turn may have influenced the evolution of humans and their ancestors. However, despite decades of research we lack long, continuous, well-resolved records of tropical climate, ecosystem changes, and surface processes necessary to understand their interactions and influences on evolutionary processes. Lake Tanganyika, Africa, contains the most continuous, long continental climate record from the mid-Miocene (∼10 Ma) to the present anywhere in the tropics and has long been recognized as a top-priority site for scientific drilling. The lake is surrounded by the Miombo woodlands, part of the largest dry tropical biome on Earth. Lake Tanganyika also harbors incredibly diverse endemic biota and an entirely unexplored deep microbial biosphere, and it provides textbook examples of rift segmentation, fault behavior, and associated surface processes. To evaluate the interdisciplinary scientific opportunities that an ICDP drilling program at Lake Tanganyika could offer, more than 70 scientists representing 12 countries and a variety of scientific disciplines met in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in June 2019. The team developed key research objectives in basin evolution, source-to-sink sedimentology, organismal evolution, geomicrobiology, paleoclimatology, paleolimnology, terrestrial paleoecology, paleoanthropology, and geochronology to be addressed through scientific drilling on Lake Tanganyika. They also identified drilling targets and strategies, logistical challenges, and education and capacity building programs to be carried out through the project. Participants concluded that a drilling program at Lake Tanganyika would produce the first continuous Miocene–present record from the tropics, transforming our understanding of global environmental change, the environmental context of human origins in Africa, and providing a detailed window into the dynamics, tempo and mode of biological diversification and adaptive radiations.© Author(s) 2020. This open access article is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License

Helminth Contamination of Selected Vegetables Irrigated with Water from River Kaduna, Kaduna, Nigeria

Low growing crops watered from rivers laden waste from man, animal, and industries are usually rich in micro-organisms which may persist during the growing season and serve as principal route for the transmission of manydiseases. Survey of Helminth parasites ova on selected vegetables  irrigated with water from River Kaduna was carried out in November 2009-April 2010 (dry season). Six different vegetables (spinach, lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes, garden egg, and carrots) were obtained directly from the farmers on five irrigated farms along the banks of River Kaduna. Each vegetable was washed in distilled water and then the sedimentation and zinc sulphate floatation methods were used. Of the 960 vegetable samples examined, Ascaris lumbricoides was observed in 109 (32.4%). Others were Strongyloides stercoralis, Trichuris trichiura and Ancyclostoma duodenale at the rate of 22.6%, 12.8% and 16.4% respectively. Bakin Ruwa (Rigasa) had the highest incidence rate (25.0%) while Rafin Guzza had the least (14.6%). The prevalence of helminth parasites was significantly higher in leafy vegetables especially those with broad petiole than in smooth surfaced vegetables (p<0.05). Since the provision of latrines alone maynot control parasitic infection if the concentrated human and animal excreta is used as fertilizer, attention should be paid to  education,  enlightenment campaigns and  efficient  waste management and disposal. There should be proper handling and washing of our food especially those eaten raw or partially cooked. Keywords: Helminth, Irrigation, Vegetables, Kaduna

Gastro-Intestinal Heminthes among Slaughtered Cattle at Jos Abattoir Plateau State

Cattle are a major source of animal protein, hides and skin but the constraint is infection due to gastro-intestinal helminthes. A survey was carried out to determine the prevalence of helminthes, parasites affecting cattle slaughtered at abattoir in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. The standard saturated salt (NaCl) floatation technique was used, and examined microscopically to determine the parasites and the number of egg per gram. Of the 500 samples examined, 281(56.2%) were infected with one or more of the following species and their prevalences were Paramphistomum species 128 (25.6%), Oesophagustomnm radiatum 66 (13.6%), Fasciola species 36 (7.2%), Trichuris species 29(5.8%), Moniezia species 27(5.4%), Bunostomum phlebotomum 24(4.6%), Oocyst of Coccidia 23(4.6%). Mixed infection were common with 82(16.4%) samples infected with two different parasite, 98(19.6%) with one parasite, 53 (10.6%) with three parasites while 48 (9.6%) had more than three parasites. A total of 183 (65.13%) animals had mixed infections as against 98 (34.87%) with single infection. Male cattle had a higher prevalence of 153 (72.2%) as against 128 (44.4%) of the females examined. The young cattle of below 2 years old had a higher prevalence with 107 (57.2%) as against the 174 (55.6%) of the old examined. The result showed that there was a significant difference in the infection rate between males and females but there was non between the young and old examined. Also there was significant difference between those with mixed infection and those with a single infection. The prevalence of intestinal parasites is high, therefore farmer awareness, national campaigns, annual control campaigns and modern methods of rearing and caring for animals is advocated and should be encouraged through the Ministry of Agriculture.Keywords: Cattle, gastro-intestinal, heminthes, AbattoirNigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 33 [2] September 2012, pp. 141-14

Acid phosphatase staining variations in Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae from Guinea Savanna of Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Despite resounding control achievements in some areas of West Africa and the Americas, a recent estimate indicated that at least 37 million people remain infected mostly in Africa. The epidemiology of human onchocerciasis in various endemic areas of Africa and Latin America has been attributed to the existence of geographical strains of filarial parasitic Onchocerca (O.) volvulus. Studies were conducted in two endemic villages in Nasarawa State by staining of microfilariae for acid phosphatase activity after skin snipping with corneo-scleral punch. The result showed that forty eight (48%) percent of those sampled carried microfilariae. Two thousand, two hundred and fourteen (2, 214) microfilariae were stained. Four hundred and twenty nine (429) 19.4% followed the staining patterns described by previous workers as patterns V, VIII and XII. One thousand, seven hundred and eighty five (1,785=80.6%) had a different and new staining pattern. This suggested that O. volvolus in Akwanga Area of Nasarawa State is a different strain from those identified in Sudan savanna, Rainforest and the mountains of Jos Plateau. It was recommended that proper identification of species strains combined with proper study on vector and transmission patterns may lead to an integrated control strategy instead of relying on any one control method.Keywords: acid phosphatase, staining variation, microfilariae, Onchocerca volvulus, Nasarawa StateNigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 32 [2] September 2011, pp.157-16

Prevalence of malaria parasites and Hepatitis-B virus in patients attending two hospitals in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Malaria and Hepatitis-B virus (HBV) remain a threat to human health in many developing nations. Many regions with high malaria prevalence are also endemic for other infectious diseases which may predispose them to more of the malaria infection. Using thin and thick film preparations, malaria parasites were detected, identified and the intensity determined. Also by the use of the HBsAg rapid test strip, HBV surface antigen in sera obtained from consented and willing patients attending two hospitals in Jos were tested. Seven hundred and fifty (750) blood samples were examined, 61.10% were <15 years old while 38.19% were older (>15 years old). Three hundred and ninety nine (53.20%) were found infected with malaria, 11.6% with HBV and 6.19 had co-infection. There was significant difference in prevalence of malaria at p>0.05 being 74.69% in <15 years old and 25.31% in the >15 years old. For Hepatitis-B, there was also significant difference in the older (87.64%) as against the younger (12.36%) age-group. For co-infection, it was significantly higher at (p>0.05) in the older (91.20%) than in the younger (8.70%) age-group. No significant difference was observed for HBV between males and females but for malaria and co-infection it was higher in the males. The intensity of malaria parasites revealed +51.13%, ++46.12% and +++ in 2.76% of the infected. The survey showed that prevalence of malaria and HBV were high and pose serious health threats. Therefore government agencies NGO’s cooperate organization and individuals, should put in more efforts in advocacy towards behavioural changes that expose people to infections, campaign for immunization for all ages and making drugs more readily available towards the control of these diseases.Keywords: malaria, Hepatitis-B virus, co-infection, prevalence, intensit

Occurrence of African Animal Trypanosomosis in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria

Occurrence of African animal trypanosomosis among cattle, sheep and goats reared in some communities in Igabi Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, Nigeria was investigated. About 5 ml of blood sample was collected from the jugular vein of each animal into Ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) bottles to prevent clotting. Wet, thin, thick films, animal inoculation, haematocrit centrifugation and buffy coat methods were used to detect trypanosomes in the blood samples. Anemic status of the animals was also determined by packed cell volume (PCV) method. Overall, 278 ruminants comprising 170 cattle, 88 goats and 20 sheep were examined. Of the 278 blood samples collected 41(14.75%) were positive for trypanosomes made up of 22(12.9%) cattle, 2(10.1%) sheep and 17(19.0%) goats. Trypanosoma vivax at 36(12.90%) occurrence constituted the highest number of trypanosoma species encountered, while 5(1.79%) was recorded for T. congolense. None of the animals examined harbored Trypanosoma brucei group. Other haemoparasites encountered included Babesia spp, Anaplasma spp and onchocerca microfilaria observed mainly in cattle. Mean PCV of infected cattle, goats and sheep were 20.33±3.31, 20.29±2.40 and 19.40±2.19 respectively. The detection of trypanosome species in this study is an indication that the disease is still endemic in the study area and could be of economic and public health importance