120 research outputs found
Removal of Escherichia coli in treated wastewater used for food production in Morogoro, Tanzania
Acadmic Journal Vol. 10(33), pp. 1344-1350The aim of this study was to assess the removal efficiency of Escherichia coli at Mafisa and
Mzumbe domestic wastewater treatment ponds in Morogoro, Tanzania. The study was done from
October, 2013 to April, 2014. A total of 125 water samples from inlets and subsequent anaerobic,
facultative and maturation ponds as well as treated wastewater were collected and analysed for E.
coli. The estimated retention times of the wastewater treatment units were 19 and 22 days in Mafisa
and Mzumbe ponds, respectively. The concentration of E. coli ranged from 4.70 to 5.60 log cfu/mL in
untreated wastewater and was reduced to <1.00 to 2.00 log cfu/mL in the treated wastewater. During
rainy and cold seasons, the effluent discharged out at Mafisa during August 2013; and March and
April, 2014 was about 2 log cfu/mL while at Mzumbe E. coli concentration in effluent discharged out
was up to 1.23 log cfu/mL. The concentration of E. coli in untreated and treated wastewater from the
two wastewater treatment ponds study sites were comparable (P<0.05). Reduction of E. coli
concentration in wastewater treatment ponds study sites was significant with less reduction seen at
Mafisa, during rainy and cold seasons in March, April and August. To conclude, the simple
wastewater treatment ponds in the study sites were effective and demonstrated potential for
reduction of public health risks associated with use of treated wastewater in agricultural irrigation
and aquaculture
Detection and Quantification of Oestrogenic Endocrine Disruptors in Water in Mwanza Gulf in the Lake Victoria Basin, Tanzania
The aim of this study was to detect the presence and quantify the total oestrogens (estriol (E1), estradiol (E2), and estrone (E3)) in Lake Victoria water with a view of assessing their contribution to the health status of fish. A total of 27 water samples; three from each of the nine sampling sites were collected in Mwanza gulf in the city in May 2012. Solvent extraction procedures were used to obtain extracts of pollutants that were further analysed using the competitive Enzyme- Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique to detect and quantify the total oestrogens. Overall, the concentration of total oestrogens was low and ranged from 10 â 200 pg/L. Concentrations of these chemicals decreased along the gradient, being highest (107±81.4 pg/L) in rivers before entering into the lake and lowest (19±5.4 pg/L) in water samples collected in the lake at about 100 meters from inshore (intermediate sampling points). Levels of total oestrogens were significantly different between categories of water sources (P = 0.009). Two most polluted rivers were Butimba and Nyakurunduma with concentrations at 150 pg/L and 200 pg/L respectively. Dumping of wastes in rivers without treatment was the most likely source of the pollutants. Findings from this study have revealed the existence of oestrogens with endocrine disrupting properties at different concentrations, and that rivers are the main sources of oestrogenic endocrine disruptors in Lake Victoria water near Mwanza City.Keywords: ELISA, endocrine disruptors, oestrogens, pollutio
Recent ecological change in ancient lakes
Ancient lakes are among the best archivists of past environmental change, having experienced more than one full glacial cycle, a wide range of climatic conditions, tectonic events, and long association with human settlements. These lakes not only record long histories of environmental variation and human activity in their sediments, but also harbor very high levels of biodiversity and endemism. Yet, ancient lakes are faced with a familiar suite of anthropogenic threats, which may degrade the unusual properties that make them especially valuable to science and society. In all ancient lakes for which data exist, significant warming of surface waters has occurred, with a broad range of consequences. Eutrophication threatens both native species assemblages and regional economies reliant on clean surface water, fisheries, and tourism. Where sewage contributes nutrients and heavy metals, one can anticipate the occurrence of less understood emerging contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and microplastics that negatively affect lake biota and water quality. Human populations continue to increase in most of the ancient lakesâ watersheds, which will exacerbate these concerns. Further, human alterations of hydrology, including those produced through climate change, have altered lake levels. Coâoccurring with these impacts have been intentional and unintentional species introductions, altering biodiversity. Given that the distinctive character of each ancient lake is strongly linked to age, there may be few options to remediate losses of species or other ecosystem damage associated with modern ecological change, heightening the imperative for understanding these systems
Ecological and epidemiological findings associated with zoonotic rabies outbreaks and control in Moshi, Tanzania, 2017â2018
Approximately 1500 people die annually due to rabies in the United Republic of Tanzania.
Moshi, in the Kilimanjaro Region, reported sporadic cases of human rabies between 2017 and 2018.
In response and following a One Health approach, we implemented surveillance, monitoring, as well
as a mass vaccinations of domestic pets concurrently in >150 villages, achieving a 74.5% vaccination
coverage (n = 29, 885 dogs and cats) by September 2018. As of April 2019, no single human or animal
case has been recorded. We have observed a disparity between awareness and knowledge levels
of community members on rabies epidemiology. Self-adherence to protective rabies vaccination in
animals was poor due to the challenges of costs and distances to vaccination centers, among others.
Incidence of dog bites was high and only a fraction (65%) of dog bite victims (humans) received
post-exposure prophylaxis. A high proportion of unvaccinated dogs and cats and the relative intense
interactions with wild dog species at interfaces were the risk factors for seropositivity to rabies virus
infection in dogs. A percentage of the previously vaccinated dogs remained unimmunized and some
unvaccinated dogs were seropositive. Evidence of community engagement and multi-coordinated
implementation of One Health in Moshi serves as an example of best practice in tackling zoonotic
diseases using multi-level government e orts. The district-level establishment of the One Health rapid
response team (OHRRT), implementation of a carefully structured routine vaccination campaign,
improved health education, and the implementation of barriers between domestic animals and
wildlife at the interfaces are necessary to reduce the burden of rabies in Moshi and communities with
similar profiles.The USAID funded projectâOSRO/GLO/507/USA on Global Health Security Agenda for the control of zoonosis in Africa.http://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerpham2020Veterinary Tropical Disease
Self-reported health effects among short and long-term pesticide sprayers in Arusha, Northern Tanzania: A cross sectional Study
Occupational Medicine & Health Affairs Occupational, 2015; 3(6)Background: The aim of the present study was to assess whether long-term exposure to pesticides is associated
with adverse health effects in professional pesticide sprayers.
Methods: The study was conducted in Lake Eyasi Basin and Ngarenanyuki in Arusha region, during the dry
season in September-October 2013. In a cross-sectional study, 97 short-term exposed men with at most three months
as professional sprayers were compared with 60 long-term exposed men with experience of at least five years as
professional sprayers. The study participants were aged 18-30 years, drawn from the same source population and
interviewed using semi structured questionnaire. The questions focused on spraying procedures and on present and
recurrent medical history including presence of selected six known pesticide induced health conditions.
Results: Organophosphates, carbamates, dithiocarbamates and pyrethroids were the most applied insecticides
but also organochlorine fungicides and endosulfan were frequently applied. The majority of the sprayers reported
unsafe pesticide use. Mean pesticide uses in litres, spray frequency per crop and per week were 637, and 1.3
respectively for about 270 days a year. Respiratory disease symptoms were the most frequently reported (46/157;
29.3%) followed by skin (27/157; 17.2%), and sight (24/157; 15.3%). When adjusted for age and other predictors,
long-term exposed sprayers had significantly higher self-reported occurrences of peripheral neuropathy (OR=7.7,
CI95%: 1.045-56.728, p=0.045) and respiratory disorders (OR=0.2, CI95%: 0.067-0.501, p=0.001) compared
with short-term exposed. Furthermore, 10 sprayers, all long-term exposed reported poor libido and erection
problems. Conclusions: These findings document lack of safety knowledge, safe pesticide management and the
implementation of protective measures as well as suggesting that long-term exposure to pesticides increase the risk
of experience disease conditions compared to short-term exposure
Current situation for antimicrobial use, antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial residues in the food and agriculture sectors in Tanzania: A review
Antimicrobials are used worldwide at sub-therapeutic levels as growth promoters in the agriculture sector. The global consumption of antimicrobials in food animal production was estimated at 63 151±1 560 tons in 2010 and is projected to rise by 67%, to 105 596 ±3,605 tons by 2030. Although limited reports describe the situation in Tanzania, the trend of antimicrobials use in the livestock sector is alarming in the country. In Tanzania, studies have indicated that there are rampant and indiscriminate uses of antibiotics in the Livestock sector fueled by trade liberalization. Antibiotics are openly sold on the streets in Tanzania and are distributed over the counters without prescriptions. Farmers in Tanzania do not observe withdrawal periods as recommended by government policies. Most Tanzanian poultry farmers (up to 90%) treat their chicken by themselves with antibiotics. Inappropriate use of antimicrobials for growth promotion and treatment in the animal sector in Tanzania has contributed significantly to the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance in the livestock sector in this country. Methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) were also reported in the livestock sector in Tanzania. Antibiotic residues are present at high levels in foods of animal origin in Tanzania. Antibiotic residues have also been detected in egg, chicken meat, ready-to-eat beef and milk samples from different regions in Tanzania. The use of antimicrobials as growth promoters should be terminated and One Health approach should be used to guide policy and effective use of antibiotics.Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; growth promotion; Livestock; food safety; Tanzani
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