Uganda's experience in Ebola virus disease outbreak preparedness, 2018-2019.

BACKGROUND: Since the declaration of the 10th Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in DRC on 1st Aug 2018, several neighboring countries have been developing and implementing preparedness efforts to prevent EVD cross-border transmission to enable timely detection, investigation, and response in the event of a confirmed EVD outbreak in the country. We describe Uganda's experience in EVD preparedness. RESULTS: On 4 August 2018, the Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH) activated the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) and the National Task Force (NTF) for public health emergencies to plan, guide, and coordinate EVD preparedness in the country. The NTF selected an Incident Management Team (IMT), constituting a National Rapid Response Team (NRRT) that supported activation of the District Task Forces (DTFs) and District Rapid Response Teams (DRRTs) that jointly assessed levels of preparedness in 30 designated high-risk districts representing category 1 (20 districts) and category 2 (10 districts). The MoH, with technical guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO), led EVD preparedness activities and worked together with other ministries and partner organisations to enhance community-based surveillance systems, develop and disseminate risk communication messages, engage communities, reinforce EVD screening and infection prevention measures at Points of Entry (PoEs) and in high-risk health facilities, construct and equip EVD isolation and treatment units, and establish coordination and procurement mechanisms. CONCLUSION: As of 31 May 2019, there was no confirmed case of EVD as Uganda has continued to make significant and verifiable progress in EVD preparedness. There is a need to sustain these efforts, not only in EVD preparedness but also across the entire spectrum of a multi-hazard framework. These efforts strengthen country capacity and compel the country to avail resources for preparedness and management of incidents at the source while effectively cutting costs of using a "fire-fighting" approach during public health emergencies

Evaluation of Haematinic Activity and Subchronic Toxicity of Sphenocentrum jollyanum (Menispermaceae) Seed Oil

Aim: The haematinic activity and subchronic toxicity of Sphenocentrum jollyanum (Menispermaceae) seed oil was evaluated and compared with the control. Materials and Methods: In acute toxicity study the animals tolerated up to 16 g/kg body weight (bw) of the extract in 2 % Tween 80 solution administered orally after 24 hrs fast. Another set of mice (6 per group) fasted for 24 hrs were administered with the extract intra-peritoneal (IP) at different doses (250, 500, 1000, 2000 mg/kg bw) until 100% mortality was achieved. In subchronic toxicity study, 300, 600 and 1200 mg/kg bw of the extract in 2 % Tween 80 were administered on the animals for 120 days. Results: In acute toxicity study, the extract was found to be non toxic when it was administered orally for up to 16 g/kg bw within 24 hrs. Subchronic toxicity test showed no mortality after 120 days of oral administration. The animals showed appreciable increase in feeding habit and water intake. Increase in body and vital organs weights occurred while tissue histology showed no abnormal features. The liver function profile showed no significant difference (p ≥ 0.05) compared to the control except for the albumin that increased markedly. The extract led to significant increase (p < 0.05) in RBC. The packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin count (Hb) increased with increase in dose. On the other hand, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and white blood cells (WBC), did not vary markedly. Similarly, WBC differentials did not record appreciable difference compared to the control. Conclusion: The result showed that SJ seed oil possessed haematinic and hepato-protective property thereby justifying its therapeutic use in traditional medicine

Invertebrate drift densities in the Njoro and Kamweti Rivers in the Kenyan highlands that differ in the level of anthropogenic disturbances

Invertebrate drift is one of several fundamental ecological processes in streams. However, little is known about the dynamics of invertebrate drift in Kenyan streams. In this study, we assessed invertebrate drift in two rivers, i.e. Njoro and Kamweti, that differ in the level of anthropogenic disturbances, between February and March, 2016. The aim was to evaluate the effect of river sampling duration (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 min) and sampling period (day or night) on invertebrate drift densities. The 5-minute sampling period resulted in significantly higher mean drift densities than the other time intervals in both rivers. The highest mean drift density (2.0 ± 0.9 individuals m−3) was recorded at the Njoro River during the day, whereas the lowest drift density (0.3 ± 0.2 individuals m−3) was recorded at the Kamweti River during the day. A strong nocturnal drift pattern was noted at the less disturbed river (Kamweti). The present results suggest that anthropogenic perturbations influence invertebrate drift densities, and sampling duration and sampling period are important factors to consider when sampling invertebrate drift.Keywords: anthropogenic impacts, drift, Kenya, sampling duration, sampling perio

Evaluation of Anti-diabetics and Cardiovascular Effects of Parinari curatellifolia Seed Extract and Anthoclista vogelli Root Extract Individually and Combined on Postprandial and Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Albino Rats

Objective: To study toxicity, anti-diabetic and cardiovascular effects of hydro-ethanolic extracts of Parinari curatellifolia seed extract and Aristolochia vogelii roots extract and (1:1) mixture of the above two extracts. Materials and Methods: Twenty Wister strain albino rats were randomly assigned to four groups; A, B, C and D with each consisting of five animals received extracts as follows: Group I, P. curatellifolia and A. vogelli mixture (1:1) (500 mg/kg bwt); Group II, A. vogelli (500 mg/kg bwt); Group III, P. curatellifolia seed extract (500 mg/kg bwt); Group IV, 0.5 ml (2% w/v) acacia solution and served as control. After 30 min, the animals were each administered orally with 40% (w/v) glucose at a dose of 1ml /100 g bwt. Blood glucose levels were then monitored at 30, 60, and 120 min. intervals and reported as the average glucose level of each group. Another set of twenty five rats (diabetic rats) were randomly distributed into five groups of five animals each while the additional sixth group was the positive control consisting of five normal rats. Treatments were as follows: Group I, diabetic treated with A. vogelli at a dose of 500 mg/kg bwt; Group II, diabetic treated with P. curatellifolia at a dose of 500 mg/kg bwt; Group III, diabetic treated with glibenclamide 600μg /kg bwt; Group IV, diabetic treated with mixture of Parinari curatellifolia and A. vogelli (1:1) (500 mg/kg bwt); Group V, diabetic untreated (control negative) while group VI was the positive control. Results: A significant reduction in postprandial sugar level was observed after 30 min in all treatments. The extracts individually and in combined form also showed effective decrease in plasma glucose levels on the diabetic rats. There were significant reductions (p<0.05) in low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels and significant increase (p<0.05) in high density lipoprotein (HDL)–cholesterol in the treated diabetic group compared to the negative control. Furthermore, significant reductions in aspartate aminotransferases (AST) and alanine aminotransferases (ALT) levels were observed in the treated diabetic animals compared to the untreated. Also significant reduction in the creatinine and increase in the protein levels respectively were observed in the treated diabetic groups. Conclusion: The results showed that the respective extracts and the extract mixture had both good hypoglycaemic activity and beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors

AGRICULTURE AND BIOLOGY JOURNAL OF NORTH AMERICA Antihyperglycaemic and antihyperlipidaemic effects of aqueous ethanol extract of Tapinanthus globiferus leaves and Treculia africana root bark and their mixture on alloxan diabetic rats

ABSTRACT The plants Treculia africana and Tapinanthus globiferus are ethnobotanically used in the treatment of various diseases including diabetes and heart diseases. Diabetes mellitus is a disease characterized by hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia which leads to an increased risk of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. The effects of aqueous ethanol (96%) extracts of T. africana leaves and Tapinanthus globiferus plants and their mixture, in an equal proportion, were evaluated on postprandial glycemic status. Four groups of normal rats were treated with the extracts at a dose 250mg/kg each, their mixture (1:1), at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight, 0.5ml of acacia (2%w/v) and then charged with glucose (40%) at a dose of 1 ml/100 g body weight. Plasma sugar contents were analyzed from the blood collected from the tail vein at 30, 60, 90 and 120 min intervals. Also glycemic status and serum lipid profiles of normal and Alloxan-induced diabetic rats were evaluated. Five groups of alloxan-induced diabetic (150 mg/kg ip) rats were treated with the extracts and the (1:1) mixture at a dose of 500 mg/kg, respectively for 21 days. Significant reduction (p≤0.05) in both postprandial blood glucose but not in alloxan-induced diabetes blood glucose levels, triglyceride levels, low density lipoprotein (LDL) level, and increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL) level were observed in the mixture. This scientific finding does not support the basis for the herbal use of mixture of T. africana and Tapinanthus globiferus in the management of diabetes and heart diseases

Invertebrate drift densities in the Njoro and Kamweti Rivers in the Kenyan highlands that differ in the level of anthropogenic disturbances

<p>Invertebrate drift is one of several fundamental ecological processes in streams. However, little is known about the dynamics of invertebrate drift in Kenyan streams. In this study, we assessed invertebrate drift in two rivers, i.e. Njoro and Kamweti, that differ in the level of anthropogenic disturbances, between February and March, 2016. The aim was to evaluate the effect of river sampling duration (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 min) and sampling period (day or night) on invertebrate drift densities. The 5-minute sampling period resulted in significantly higher mean drift densities than the other time intervals in both rivers. The highest mean drift density (2.0 ± 0.9 individuals m⁻³) was recorded at the Njoro River during the day, whereas the lowest drift density (0.3 ± 0.2 individuals m⁻³) was recorded at the Kamweti River during the day. A strong nocturnal drift pattern was noted at the less disturbed river (Kamweti). The present results suggest that anthropogenic perturbations influence invertebrate drift densities, and sampling duration and sampling period are important factors to consider when sampling invertebrate drift.</p