High Seroprevalence of Echinococossis, Schistosomiasis and Toxoplasmosis among the Populations in Babati and Monduli Districts, Tanzania.

BackgroundThe neglected tropical diseases, echinococcosis, schistosomiasis and toxoplasmosis are all globally widespread zoonotic diseases with potentially harmful consequences. There is very limited data available on the prevalence of these infections, except for schistosmiasis, in underdeveloped countries. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis, Schistosoma mansoni, and Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in populations from the Monduli and Babati districts in Tanzania.MethodsA total of 345 blood samples were collected from 160 and 185 randomly selected households from Babati and Monduli districts, Tanzania between February and May of 2012 and analyzed them using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The antibodies were determined using the NovaLisa® Toxoplasma gondii IgG, NovaLisa® Schistosoma Mansoni IgG, NovaLisa® Echinococcus IgG and NovaLisa® Toxoplasma gondii IgM kits (Novatec, Germany).ResultsThe seropositivity estimated for E. multilocularis, S. mansoni, and T. gondii IgG was 11.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 7.96 - 14.6), 51.3% (95% CI: 46.0 - 56.5), and 57.68% (95% CI: 52.5 - 62.9), respectively. The seropositivity for T. gondii IgM was 11.3% (95% CI: 7.96 - 14.6). Living in the Monduli district was found to be the main risk factor for IgG seropositivity for both schistosomiasis (OR =1.94; 95% CI: 1.23 - 3.08; p =0.005) and toxoplasmosis (OR =2.09; 95% CI: 1.31-3.33; p =0.002).ConclusionsThese results suggest that restricting disease transmission, implementing control measures, and introducing training projects to increase public awareness are imperative, particularly for the Monduli district

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Not AvailableThe present study attempts to relate the soil physical quality with five different land uses (Shola forest, Eucalyptus plantation, wattle plantation, grass land and scrub land) of a forest area (Udhagai range), which comes under Nilgiri south forest division, Nilgiri District, Tamil Nadu State. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of different land uses on soil physical quality. The soil samples were collected from different land uses at 0-15 cm (surface) and 15-30 cm (sub-surface) depth and were analyzed for soil physical properties with standard procedures. The results showed that soil texture is clay in all the land uses except in grassland which is clay loam. The higher sand (41.8%) and silt (25.4%) contents were recorded in the surface layer of grassland, and the lower values were recorded under wattle plantation. The clay content was higher in Shola forest (68.6%) and lower in grassland. The higher bulk density was recorded in scrub land (1.62 Mg m-3) and the least in grass land (1.35 Mg m); the particle density was higher in Shola forest (2.60 Mg m-3) and lower under grassland (2.36 Mg m-3). The soil samples of different land uses recorded wide variation in porosity, the highest being recorded in the Shola forest (57.1%) and lowest (45.8%) in wattle plantation. Shola forest recorded the highest available soil moisture (13.7%, w/w basis), and the lowest was with Eucalyptus plantation (9.3%). Shola forest and wattle plantations have soils with superior physical quality. Soils under Eucalyptus plantation and scrub lands recorded with poor physical quality which are prone to soil erosion and may deteriorate further. It is suggested that growing cover crops will minimize soil erosion and improve soil physical quality. Implementing soil and water conservation measures such as stone walls and continuous trenches will reduce soil losses and improve water availability and biomasses.Not Availabl