Prevalence of Bacterial Vaginosis and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women Attending at Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an extremely common reproductive tract condition worldwide with reported high prevalence among African population. Factors associated with this condition include preterm labour, premature rupture of membranes, preterm delivery and possibly spontaneous abortion. Nevertheless, antenatal screening and treatment is not routinely available in most poor-resource countries including Tanzania. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among delivering women at Bugando Medical Centre (BMC), Mwanza, Tanzania to determine the magnitude of the BV using the Nugent’s criteria and to document factors associated with the condition. A total of 284 women who presented for delivery at BMC labour ward from February to March 2011 were recruited into the study. For each consented women, a vaginal swab was taken, samples collected tested and a Nugent’s score of at least seven indicated bacterial vaginosis. Overall, bacterial vaginosis was diagnosed in 28.5% (n=81) of all participants. Gardnerella was the commonest morphotypes found in approximately 66.2% (n=188) of all participants while 11.6% (33 participants) had Mobilincus. There were no evidence for the association between bacterial vaginosis having formal education, (OR, 1.42[95%CI, 0.29-6.97; p=0.667]). Urban residence (OR, 1.29 [95% CI, 0.76-2.19; p=0.352]), ever delivered before (OR 0.66[95%CI, 0.39-1.12; p=0.126]), vaginal practice to enhance dry sex (OR, 1.16[95%CI, 0.43-3.17; p=0.768]) or wet sex (OR 1.31[95%CI, 0.46-3.7; p=0.613]), gestation age less than 37 weeks (OR 0.82[95%CI, 0.45-1.51; p=0.534]) and HIV infection (OR 0.90[95%CI, 0.28-2.92; p=0.863]) were not associated with bacterial vaginosis. Bacterial vaginosis is common among women delivering at Bugando Medical Centre and more studies to include antenatal clinic attendees initiating care are required to reliably document the magnitude the condition

Malignant mixed Mullerian tumour of the prolapsed cervix: A case report

Malignant mixed Mullerian tumour is a rare gynaecological tumour commonly presenting with vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain or mass in the uterine cavity, cervix or vagina. The neoplasms are commonly seen in postmenopausal women although it has been observed in younger women. Ovaries and the corpus of the uterus are commonly involved, whereas involvement of the cervix and vagina is rare. A 37 year-old Tanzania lady para 7 with a previous history of two genital polypectomies presented with history of recurrent vaginal mass which was associated with abnormal vaginal bleeding and foul smelling discharge. Vaginal examination revealed a prolapsed uterus with giant fungating cervical mass which was ulcerated, friable, and bled easily on touch. Impression was grade three uterine prolapse with infected cervical polyp/ cervical sarcoma. Excision of the tumour through trans-vaginal hysterectomy was performed, no lymphadenopathy was found, no adnexa abnormalities, and no involvement of the vaginal wall. Histological diagnosis of Malignant mixed Mullerian tumour of the cervix was made. Patient recovery was unremarkable; however she was lost to follow up. The patient’s mass was initially suspected to be prolapsed uterus with decubitus ulcer but the histological results were of a malignant condition. Lack of clear management guidelines for some rare mixed tumours remains a challenge for clinicians in low resource settings

Effects of the organophosphate fenthion for control of the red-billed quelea Quelea quelea on cholinesterase and haemoglobin concentrations in the blood of target and non-target birds

The red-billed quelea bird Quelea quelea is one of sub-Saharan Africa’s most damaging pests, attacking small-grain crops throughout semi-arid zones. It is routinely controlled by spraying its breeding colonies and roosts with organophosphate pesticides, actions often associated with detrimental effects on non-target organisms. Attributions of mortality and morbidity of non-targets to the sprays are difficult to confirm unequivocally but can be achieved by assessing depressions in cholinesterase activities since these are reduced by exposure to organophosphates. Here we report on surveys of birds caught before and after sprays that were examined for their blood cholinesterase activities to assess the extent to which these became depressed. Blood samples from birds were taken before and after sprays with fenthion against red-billed quelea in colonies or roosts, and at other unsprayed sites, in Botswana and Tanzania and analysed for levels of haemoglobin (Hb) and activities of whole blood acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Background activities of AChE, BChE and Hb concentrations varied with bird species, subspecies, mass, age and gender. Contrary to expectation, since avian erythrocytes are often reported to lack cholinesterases, acetylcholinesterase activities in pre-spray samples of adult birds were positively correlated with Hb concentrations. When these factors were taken into account there were highly significant declines (P\0.0001) in AChE and BChE and increases in Hb after contact with fenthion in both target and non-target birds. BChE generally declined further (up to 87 % depression) from baseline levels than AChE (up to 83 % depression) but did so at a slower rate in a sample of quelea nestlings. Baseline activities of AChE and BChE and levels of Hb were higher in the East African subspecies of the red-billed quelea Q. q. aethiopica than in the southern African subspecies Q. q. lathamii, with the exception of BChE activities for adult males which were equivalent

Soil contamination and persistence of pollutants following organophosphate sprays and explosions to control red-billed quelea (Quelea quelea)

BACKGROUND: Red-billed quelea (Quelea quelea) are controlled at breeding colonies and roosts by organophosphate sprays or explosions. Contamination with organophosphates after sprays and with petroleum products and phthalates after explosions was assessed. RESULTS: Concentrations in soil of the organophosphate fenthion the day after sprays were uneven (0–29.5 μg g−1), which was attributable to excess depositions at vehicle turning points, incorrect positioning of nozzles and poor equipmentmaintenance. A laboratory study using field-collected samples provided an estimate of 47 days for the half-life of fenthion. After sprays,fenthion persisted in soil for up to 188 days. High concentrations were detected 5 months after negative results at the same sites, providing indirect evidence of leaching. Concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) and phthalates ranged from 0.05 to 130.81 (mean 18.69) μg g−1 and from 0 to 1.62 (mean 0.55) μg g−1 respectively in the craters formed by the explosions, but declined to means of 0.753 and 0.027 μg g−1 at 10m away. One year after an explosion, mean TPHs of 0.865 and mean phthalates of 0.609 were detected. CONCLUSION: Localisation of high concentrations of fenthion likely to have effects on soil biota could be mitigated by improved spray management. Given a half-life in the soil of 47 days for fenthion and the possibility of its leaching months after applications raises concerns about its acceptability. The pollutants left behind after explosions have been quantified for the first time, and, given their long-term persistence, their continued use poses a threat to environmental health