Growth and Yield Performance of Oyster Mushroom (P. ostreatus (Jacq.: Fr.) Kummer) Using Waste Leaves and Sawdust

Mushroom is a fungus growing on decomposing substrates. It is the substrate type that affects the yield and quality of oyster mushroom. It can be cultivated by landless people to alleviate poverty. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth and yield performance of oyster mushroom in waste leaves and sawdust. Spawn were purchased from YB Plant Micropropagation Plc; Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia. Euclea racemosa waste leaves, Cordia africana waste leaves, and sawdust were prepared and inoculated with the spawn. Cotton husks were used as a control. 60 grams of spawn was used for 1000 g of each substrate and supplemented with 3% wheat bran and 1% gypsum. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. A one-way ANOVA model was used to indicate significant mean differences at 95% confidence interval between flushes. Treatment means were compared using Turkey’s t test. In the first flush, primordial initiation was fastest and took 6.33 days in Cordia africana waste leaves and provide higher (166 ± 48.49, 131.6 ± 32.71, 49.66 ± 15.53 gram) mean yield and BE (16.6 ± 4.84, 13.16 ± 3.27, 4.96 ± 5.5%) in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd flushes, respectively. However, in the 2nd and 3rd flushes, a lower (24.66 ± 4.61, 14.66 ± 0.57 gram) mean yield was recorded in Euclea racemosa waste leaves. Higher (10.63 ± 1.00, 7.83 ± 3.92, 6.56 ± 2.26 cm) mean pileus diameter and pileus thickness (8.3 ± 1.47, 7.76 ± 1.32, 4.10 ± 0.85 mm) were noted in sawdust in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd flushes, respectively. This study confirmed that the waste leaves of Cordia africana and Euclea racemosa could be used as an alternative substrate for the cultivation of oyster mushroom

Tuberculosis-Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) co-infection in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Tuberculosis (TB) are the double burden diseases of the world. The African continent takes a great share of TB-HIV cases worldwide. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of TB-HIV co-infection in Ethiopia, using a meta-analysis based on a systematic review of published articles. Methods An electronic search was conducted in databases including PubMed, HINARI, EMBASE, Cochrane library and Google Scholar to extract the articles. Articles published between 1995 and November 2017 had been searched for using different keywords. The analysis was performed using MetaXL software and R statistical software (version 3.2.3). Result Our searches returned a total of (n = 26,746) records from 30 articles of which 21 were cross-sectional, 7 were retrospectives and 2 were prospective studies. The range of prevalence of TB-HIV co-infection was found to be from 6 to 52.1% with random effects pooled prevalence of 22% (95% CI 19–24%) and with substantial heterogeneity chi-square (X2 ) = 746.0, p < 0.001, (I 2  = 95.84%). Conclusion Our analysis indicated that the prevalence of TB-HIV co-infection is high in Ethiopia with substantial regional variation. An integrated, facility-based and community-based effort towards the prevention, early detection and management of cases should be further strengthened throughout the country to mitigate the double burden disease

Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii among pregnant women in Adwa district, northern Ethiopia

Abstract Background Toxoplasma gondii infection is a great health concern to pregnant women and the developing fetus. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii and its associated factors in Adwa district. Methods A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2018 in Adwa district. Structured, a pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect the demographic and risk factor related data. Serum sample, collected from each of the study subjects was tested for IgG and IgM anti T.godii specific antibodies using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. A bivariable and multivariable logistic regression model was applied to show association between the dependent and independent variables considering P < 0.05 and the 95% confidence interval. Result Out of the 360, 128 (35.6%) pregnant women were found to be positive for antibodies specific to T. gondii. Furthermore, 117 (32.5%) women were positive only for IgG, and 11 (3.1%) were positive both for IgM and IgG antibodies. Age, educational level, habit of hand washing after contact with garden soil or domestic animals, presence of domestic cat, history of contact with domestic dog and consumption of raw vegetables were significantly associated with T. gondii. Conclusion The seroprevalence of T. gondii among pregnant women in the study area is low compared to the other regions of Ethiopia, and within the range of the seroprevalences in the central and East Africa region. However, efforts should be done to create awareness on the potential risk factors of the parasite in the community