A new robust diagnostic polymerase chain reaction for determining the mating status of female Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes.

The principal malaria vector in Africa, Anopheles gambiae, contains two pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes. The Y chromosome is only associated with males and other Y chromosome-specific DNA sequences, which are transferred to women during mating. A reliable tool to determine the mating status of dried wild An. gambiae females is currently lacking. DNA was extracted from dried virgin and mated females and used to test whether Y chromosome-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) markers can be successfully amplified and used as a predictor of mating. Here we report a new PCR-based method to determine the mating status among successfully inseminated and virgin wild An. gambiae females, using three male-specific primers. This dissection-free method has the potential to facilitate studies of both population demographics and gene flow from dried mosquito samples routinely collected in epidemiologic monitoring and aid existing and new malaria-vector control approaches

Entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana reduce the survival of Xenopsylla brasiliensis larvae (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae).

Entomopathogenic fungi, particularly those belonging to the genera Metarhizium and Beauveria have shown great promise as arthropod vector control tools. These agents, however, have not been evaluated against flea vectors of plague. A 3-h exposure to the fungi coated paper at a concentration of 2 × 108 conidia m-2 infected >90% of flea larvae cadavers in the treatment groups. The infection reduced the survival of larvae that had been exposed to fungus relative to controls. The daily risk of dying was four- and over three-fold greater in larvae exposed to M. anisopliae (HR = 4, p<0.001) and B. bassiana (HR = 3.5, p<0.001) respectively. Both fungi can successfully infect and kill larvae of X. brasiliensis with a pooled median survival time (MST±SE) of 2±0.31 days post-exposure. These findings justify further research to investigate the bio-control potential of entomopathogenic fungi against fleas.\ud \u

Mesocosm experiments reveal the impact of mosquito control measures on malaria vector life history and population dynamics

The impact of control measures on mosquito vector fitness and demography is usually estimated from bioassays or indirect variables in the field. Whilst indicative, neither approach is sufficient to quantify the potentially complex response of mosquito populations to combined interventions. Here, large replicated mesocosms were used to measure the population-level response of the malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis to long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) when used in isolation, or combined with insecticidal eave louvers (EL), or treatment of cattle with the endectocide Ivermectin (IM). State-space models (SSM) were fit to these experimental data, revealing that LLIN introduction reduced adult mosquito survival by 91% but allowed population persistence. ELs provided no additional benefit, but IM reduced mosquito fecundity by 59% and nearly eliminated all populations when combined with LLINs. This highlights the value of IM for integrated vector control, and mesocosm population experiments combined with SSM for identifying optimal combinations for vector population elimination

Colonization of malaria vectors under semi-field conditions as a strategy for maintaining genetic and phenotypic similarity with wild populations

Background Malaria still accounts for an estimated 207 million cases and 627,000 deaths worldwide each year. One proposed approach to complement existing malaria control methods is the release of genetically-modified (GM) and/or sterile male mosquitoes. As opposed to laboratory colonization, this requires realistic semi field systems to produce males that can compete for females in nature. This study investigated whether the establishment of a colony of the vector Anopheles arabiensis under more natural semi-field conditions can maintain higher levels of genetic diversity than achieved by laboratory colonization using traditional methods.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Methods Wild females of the African malaria vector An. arabiensis were collected from a village in southern Tanzania and used to establish new colonies under different conditions at the Ifakara Health Institute. Levels of genetic diversity and inbreeding were monitored in colonies of An. arabiensis that were simultaneously established in small cage colonies in the SFS and in a large semi-field (SFS) cage and compared with that observed in the original founder population. Phenotypic traits that determine their fitness (body size and energetic reserves) were measured at 10th generation and compared to founder wild population.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Results In contrast to small cage colonies, the SFS population of An. arabiensis exhibited a higher degree of similarity to the founding field population through time in several ways: (i) the SFS colony maintained a significantly higher level of genetic variation than small cage colonies, (ii) the SFS colony had a lower degree of inbreeding than small cage colonies, and (iii) the mean and range of mosquito body size in the SFS colony was closer to that of the founding wild population than that of small cage colonies. Small cage colonies had significantly lower lipids and higher glycogen abundances than SFS and wild population.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Conclusions Colonization of An. arabiensis under semi-field conditions was associated with the retention of a higher degree of genetic diversity, reduced inbreeding and greater phenotypic similarity to the founding wild population than observed in small cage colonies. Thus, mosquitoes from such semi-field populations are expected to provide more realistic representation of mosquito ecology and physiology than those from small cage colonies.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt

Contribution of School Boards in Managing Community Secondary Schools in Rombo District in Tanzania

The general purpose of this study was to investigate community secondary school boards’ contribution in managing community secondary schools in Tanzania, taking Rombo District as a case study. The study was conducted in Rombo District, Kilimanjaro Region. The study adopted the mixed approach which used both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data were collected using questionnaires and interviews. The population of the study was 48 schools from which 10 schools were sampled and a total of 215 respondents were selected. Data were analyzed using SPSS in reporting school boards contribution or not. Inductive thematic analysis was also employed for qualitative data analysis. Emerging themes were interpreted through an in depth evidence based discussion. Research findings reveal that a good number of teacher participants (81.5%) were aware of the existence of school boards in their schools. They reported that the local school boards are a critical public link to community secondary schools. A good number of teacher participants (81.5%) acknowledged that school boards have a significant contribution to the development of community secondary schools. The study found a number of challenges encountered by school. The challenges ranged from lack of funds, poor cooperation from the community and political interferences. The study concludes that school boards are central to the leadership and management of community secondary schools in Rombo district because they play a significant role to the development of those schools. The District Education Officers, the community secondary school boards, school heads, key staff and influential stakeholders in the communities have the capacity to develop and articulate schools’ visions and sets of practices in order to collectively manage community secondary schools

Contribution of School Boards in Managing Community Secondary School in Tanzania

The general purpose of this study was to investigate community secondary school boards’ contribution in managing community secondary schools in Tanzania, taking Rombo District as a case study. The study was conducted in Rombo District, Kilimanjaro Region. The study adopted the mixed approach which used both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data were collected using questionnaires and interviews. The population of the study was 48 schools from which 10 schools were sampled and a total of 215 respondents were selected. Data were analyzed using SPSS in reporting school boards contribution or not. Inductive thematic analysis was also employed for qualitative data analysis. Emerging themes were interpreted through an in depth evidence based discussion. Research findings reveal that a good number of teacher participants (81.5%) were aware of the existence of school boards in their schools. They reported that the local school boards are a critical public link to community secondary schools. A good number of teacher participants (81.5%) acknowledged that school boards have a significant contribution to the development of community secondary schools. The study found a number of challenges encountered by school. The challenges ranged from lack of funds, poor cooperation from the community and political interferences. The study concludes that school boards are central to the leadership and management of community secondary schools in Rombo district because they play a significant role to the development of those schools. The District Education Officers, the community secondary school boards, school heads, key staff and influential stakeholders in the communities have the capacity to develop and articulate schools’ visions and sets of practices in order to collectively manage community secondary schools

Women economic initiative projects : Shinyanga Municipality

Shinyanga Women Society and credit Society (CHAMIWASHI) was selected for this project. The purpose of this paper was to assess the process which has been taken towards the implementation of IGAs of the CHAMIWASHI (CBO).The consultancy work was launched with the CHAMIWASHI group to establish critical economics development factors that needed improvement. The problem is that the Group members have poor IGAs and low standard of living. Major problems identified for the poor women, these include insufficient capital, lack of saving habit, poor income generating activities, women dependency on men, poor management of income generating activities and low level of education.These were revealed through the survey study conducted from the CBO members and other stakeholders in Shinyanga municipality. The recommendations were made to address the existing economic problems of the CBO which are:- The CBO and other stakeholders should have deliberate efforts for capacity building, awareness creation to the group members who believed that strongly they need assistance from external in order to improve their standards of living. Group members were emphasized to be aware of their potentials and opportunities they have. To undertake capacity building sessions for the management committee in particular on how to run various IGAs activities of the CBO in order to achieve its objectives.The survey findings reveal that capacity building for the group is so important to enable the CBO members realize their potentials and opportunities they have. The proposal for the implementation of the project is presented as the need for a training program for the CBO. The training comprises of how to conduct meetings in CBOs, decision making in meetings, difficulties in decision making, why needs assessment is important in CBOs, local fund raising techniques in CBOs, record keeping in CBOs and other necessary documents for records of the CBO. The micro-credit institution groups FINCA and PRIDE have been identified as potential possible resources for capacity building of the CBO for its development and poverty eradication among the group members. (Author abstract)Mwalla, M. F. K. (2005). Women economic initiative projects: Shinyanga Municipality. Retrieved from http://academicarchive.snhu.eduMaster of Science (M.S.)School of Community Economic Developmen