The potential of mitochondrial DNA markers and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism for domestic and wild species identification

Poaching is increasingly presenting challenge to conservational authorities in Africa. Accurate and reliable methods for the identification of poached wildlife meat when morphological features aremissing, has been lacking in Africa. We describe a molecular based approach that has a potential of serving as a tool for game and domestic meat identification in Africa. A mitochondrial (mt246) markerand Rsa1 restriction enzyme were used in the PCR-RFLP species identification of game and domestic meat. Species-specific reference DNA fragment patterns were obtained using fresh meat from ten majorwild herbivores, representing the highly targeted wild meat species in Tanzania and four domesticated animal species. With the exception of the zebra, all species produced unique monomorphic RFLPpatterns that were species specific. These reference fragment patterns enabled identification of about 75% of unknown meat samples, demonstrating the ability of the technique in discriminating betweenand among wild and domestic species. The results provide preliminary promising fingerprints which need further validation for future use for the control of the up-surging bush meat trade in the continent

Multiplicity of infections and level of recrudescence in Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Mlimba, Tanzania

Polymorphism and antigenic variation are important biological survival strategies of malaria parasites determining the episode, outcome and implications of treatment interventions. In P. falciparum, polymorphic antigens are associated with the asexual blood-stage; merozoite surface protein 2 (MSP2). The MSP2 genes have been invaluable in post-treatment discrimination of parasite resurgence fromnew infection, especially in high transmission areas. We performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on DNA extracted from blood samples of 141 malaria-infected infants, followed by restriction fragmentlength polymorphism (RFLP) of PCR products. The findings showed multiplicity of infections of single to six infections with an average of 2.58 infections per patient. Single infections of either 3D7 or FC27allelic families of the MSP2 gene occurred in 51 patients (50.5%) out of all PCR-RFLP successful samples (n = 101). Out of 15 (10.6%) follow up samples with resurgent parasitaemia, 3 (20%) sampleshad recrudescent infections while 12 (80%) had variable results. Our findings provide an insight on the prevalence of the genetic determinants of suphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) resistance in Mlimba during the study period, and in the face of rapidly spreading resistance, calls for the periodic surveillance in order to timely detect early warning signal of the deteriorating SP cure rate

Effects of nutrition and draught on reproductive and adrenal functions of female donkeys

Cyclic ovarian activity and plasma progesterone (P4) concentrations were assessed for 179 days in 5 (free grazing) and 6 (free grazing + high energy and protein-supplemented) normocyclic donkeys. In addition, plasma p4 and cortisol were measured in blood samples collected at 15·min intervals in the same donkeys on days 82-84 and 113-114 when made to carry a cartload weighing about three times their bodyweight for a period of 3h. Cyclic P4 concentrations were measured in samples collected three times weekly. Oestrous cycle lengths and duration of estrous were not influenced by plane of nutrition in both groups of donkey's. Plasma cortisollevets increased significantly (P<0.05) in non-supplemented donkeys during the draught period. Changes in plasma P4 levels during draught were influenced by the stage of oestrous cycle; a significant increase (p <0.01) being observed in donkeys in luteal phase and a decrease (P<0.01) in non-luteal phase. Plasma P4 levels associated with subsequent post-draught oestrous cycles were depressed (P<0.05) in both groups, decline being more prominent in donkeys stressed during non-luteal phase than those stressed during the luteal phase. These results demonstrate that draught does interfere with ovarian cyclic and endocrine functions of working female donkeys and this situation might be exacerbated by poor nutrition.Keywords: Nutrition, draught, progesterone, cortisol, donkeyTanzania J.Agric.Sc. (2005) Vol.6 No.2, 71-7