Assessing risk of HIV and hepatitis C among people who inject drugs in East Africa: findings from a rapid assessment

Rapid assessment cross-sectional surveys and qualitative interviews were conducted among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Burundi and Uganda, as well as key informants working with drug users, to assess risk associated with HIV and hepatitis C (HCV). A total of 127 PWID were recruited in Burundi and 125 in Uganda of which the majority were male and aged between 24 and 26 years. Blood samples were collected in Burundi to test for antibodies to HIV, HCV and B Surface Antigen (HBsAg). Heroin was mainly injected in Uganda and Burundi with a small minority injecting crack/cocaine. Half of participants in Burundi, and 86% in Uganda had been HIV tested. The minority had been tested for HCV in any site (5-7%). HIV prevalence from the serological testing in Burundi indicated that 10% tested positive for antibodies to HIV, 6% to HCV and 9% to HBsAg. Qualitative data suggested that structural factors including costs of needle/syringes as well policies prohibiting pharmacies selling injecting equipment to PWID were related to reuse and sharing of needles/syringes among PWID, despite awareness HIV transmission risk. Police arrest was common in Burundi and Uganda and the use of bribes by police compounded existing high levels of poverty. Findings accentuate the need for policy shifts to enable easier access to clean injecting equipment, increased availability of HIV and HCV testing and increased access to affordable drug treatment and introduction of opioid substitution therapy. Specific attention is needed to the potential for sexual transmission of HIV among this population

Allelopathic effects of Calliandra calothyrsus Meisn, Senna siamea L. and Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp Leaves on Maize (Zea mays L.) and Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Root and Shoot Growth

With the promotion of so-called multipurpose agroforestry species in Burundi, Calliandra calothyrsus Meisn, Senna siamea L. and Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.)Walp have been the three widely disseminated leguminous shrubs to farmers for use as climbing bean stakes, fuelwood, fodder and green manure. However, of recent, field reports indicate that direct application of their foliar biomass as green manure show some negative effects on plant growth. For that matter, laboratory and greenhouse studies were set up to examine and compare the susceptibility of maize (Zea mays L.) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to allelopathic effects of Calliandra calothyrsus Meisn, Senna siamea and Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp. Data were collected on seed germination, radicle elongation, root and shoot growth, root, shoot and total dry biomass. The study revealed tangible depressive effects of leaves of all three tested leguminous species, particularly on radicle elongation, root and shoot growth of tested crop species. The inhibitory effects were more pronounced at higher application rates on bean than on maize growth, while roots were more sensitive than shoots. This is an indication that allelochemicals are not only species specific, but also organ specific as well as concentration dependent. Overall, the allelopathic effect followed the order: Gliricidia sepium > Senna siamea = Calliandracalothyrsus. The study outlined the potential detrimental effect of agroforestry species foliar biomass on associated plant growth when directly applied to the soil. As an alternative, we recommend to farmers the co-composting approach with low quality crop harvest residues (e.g. maize stover, wheat straw), in which the leguminous leaves play a stimulatory effect on the overall decomposition, allelochemicals dissipation and plant nutrient release

Carbon Mineralization Kinetics from Legume Residues Applied to a High Altitude Acidic Soil

An incubation study was conducted for 56 days under room temperature in a high altitude acidic soil (pH = 4.2) to evaluate carbon(C) mineralization from pea (Pisum sativum L.) residues and leaves from two agroforestry species (Calliandra calothyrsus Meisnand Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp. Carbon dioxide (CO2) evolution was measured at 7, 14, 21, 28, 42 and 56 days of incubation.Carbon mineralization was best fit to a sequential decomposition model with a rapid and slow phase, each described by first-order kinetics. Percent rapid, rapid and slow fraction rate constants and half-lives were determined. At the completion of the study, percent decomposition was higher for Pisum sativum L. (77.3 %) followed by Calliandra calothyrsus Meisn (60.8 %) andGliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp (56.7 %). Similarly, higher percent rapid fractions (78 %), higher decomposition rate constants (kr= 0.053 day-1 ; ks = 0.012 day-1 ) and lower half-lives [t0.5(r) = 13 days; t0.5(s) = 58 days] were also observed with Pisum sativum L.residues. From the findings of this investigation, it appears that the higher lignin content of the two agroforestry species, Gliricidiasepium (Jacq.) Walp (6.33 %) and Calliandra calothyrsus Meisn (4.16 %) was the limiting factor of their decomposability, as compared to Pisum sativum L. which had zero lignin content. This study highlighted pea (Pisum sativum L.) residue as the mosteffective in C mineralization