Morphologic and Genetic Identification of Taenia Tapeworms in Tanzania and DNA Genotyping of Taenia solium

Species identification of Taenia tapeworms was performed using morphologic observations and multiplex PCR and DNA sequencing of the mitochondrial cox1 gene. In 2008 and 2009, a total of 1,057 fecal samples were collected from residents of Kongwa district of Dodoma region, Tanzania, and examined microscopically for helminth eggs and proglottids. Of these, 4 Taenia egg positive cases were identified, and the eggs were subjected to DNA analysis. Several proglottids of Taenia solium were recovered from 1 of the 4 cases. This established that the species were T. solium (n=1) and T. saginata (n=3). One further T. solium specimen was found among 128 fecal samples collected from Mbulu district in Arusha, and this had an intact strobila with the scolex. Phylegenetic analysis of the mtDNA cox1 gene sequences of these 5 isolates showed that T. saginata was basal to the T. solium clade. The mitochondrial cox1 gene sequences of 3 of these Tanzanian isolates showed 99% similarity to T. saginata, and the other 2 isolates showed 100% similarity to T. solium. The present study has shown that Taenia tapeworms are endemic in Kongwa district of Tanzania, as well as in a previously identified Mbulu district. Both T. solium isolates were found to have an "African/Latin American" genotype (cox1)

Serological And Microbiological Studies Of Contagious Caprine Pleuropenumonia In Selected Districts Of Tanzania

Serological and microbiological studies were carried out to investigate the presence of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in Iringa, Mpwapwa, Kilosa and Morogoro districts, Tanzania. A total of 315 goats were examined clinically and 74 goats were subjected to pathological evaluation. Nasal swabs (175), lungs (74), pleural fluid (35) and lymph nodes (29) were cultured for mycoplasmological examination on Hayflickbased medium and a commercial freeze-dried CCPP diagnostic medium. A total of 1,927 sera were screened serologically using the latex agglutination test. The major clinical features of the sick goats were dyspnoea, coughing, muco-purulent nasal discharge and pyrexia, and 60 of 74 goats had pathological features suggestive of CCPP. The overall seropositivity in all the study districts was 53%. M. capripneumoniae was isolated from 18 of the 74 lungs, 12 of the 35 pleural fluid- and 6 of 31 lymph nodes. Other mycoplasma species were M. mycoides LC and M. ovipneumoniae. The isolation rate of M. capripneumoniae was higher on the CCPP diagnostic medium than on the Hayflick-based medium. This study has confirmed the presence of CCPP in Iringa, Mpwapwa, Kilosa and Morogoro districts of Tanzania thus, indicating that the disease is probably widespread and endemic in the country.Des études sérologiques et microbiologiques ont été menées pour enquêter sur la présence de la pleuropneumonie contagieuse caprine (PPCC) dans les districts d\' Iringa, de Mpwapwa, de Kilosa et de Morogoro en Tanzanie. Au total, 315 chèvres ont fait l\'objet d\'un examen clinique, tandis que 74 chèvres étaient soumises à une évaluation pathologique. Des prélèvements nasaux (175), des poumons (74), du liquide pleural (35) et des ganglions lymphatiques (29) étaient mis en culture pour l\'examen mycoplasmologique sur un milieu de culture à base de Hayflick et un milieu commercial lyophilisé de diagnostic de PPCC. Au total, 1927 sérums ont fait l\'objet d\'un examen sérologique à l\'aide d\'un test d\'agglutination en latex. Les principaux traits cliniques des chèvres malades étaient la dyspnée, la toux, l\'écoulement nasal mucopurulent et la pyrexie ; 60 des 74 chèvres avaient des traits pathologiques de la PPCC. La séropositivité globale dans tous les districts couverts par l\'étude était de 53%. M. capripneumoniae était isolé de 18 poumons sur 74 , de 12 liquides pleuraux sur 35 et de 6 ganglions lymphatiques sur 31. Les autres espèces de mycoplasme rencontrées étaient M. mycoides LC et M. ovipneumoniae. Le taux d\'isolement de M. capripneumoniae était plus élevé sur le milieu de diagnostic de PPCC que sur le milieu à base de Hayflick. Cette étude a confirmé la présence de PPCC dans les districts d\'Iringa, de Mpwapwa, de Kilosa et de Morogoro en Tanzanie, ce qui indique que la maladie est très répandue dans le pays.Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa Vol. 55 (2) 2007: pp. 88-9