Status of shrimp health management in Myanmar

Extensive cultivation of the black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) started in the 1970 s in Myanmar using trap and hold method. P. monodon postlarvae (PL) were trapped into the ponds measuring approximately 50 to 100 hectares (ha) during high tide. Because these large ponds have no inputs in terms of pond preparation, eradication of predators, water fertilization, and feeding, production volume during the early years of the shrimp industry in the country provided some lucrative income for the farmers. With this promise, a 3-year project aimed at developing the shrimp culture systems into extensive, extensive plus and semi-intensive was implemented by the Department of Fisheries (DoF), Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (MLF) in 2010. Unfortunately, in that same year, an outbreak of white spot disease (WSD) caused by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) occurred in ponds stocked with imported postlarvae and devastated the shrimp industry of the country. Moreover, P. monodon samples from Ayeyarwaddy Division (western part of Myanmar) were also found positive for Taura syndrome virus (TSV) and infectious hypodermal and haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method in 2010. In addition, yellow head virus (YHV) was also detected in shrimp samples for export in 2014. Fortunately, acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) has not yet been detected in cultivated shrimps in Myanmar. Because of disease problems, majority of the shrimp farmers have shifted to extensive or traditional shrimp farming. The Aquatic Animal Health and Disease Control Section (AAHDCS) of the DoF formulates the action plans for aquatic animal health and disease control. Thus to keep abreast with the novel techniques used for the detection and management of previously reported and newly emerging diseases of penaeid shrimps, upgrading of laboratory equipment and facilities, and improving the capacity of the departmental personnel on aquatic animal health management are currently being undertaken

National scale-up of tuberculosis-human immunodeficiency virus collaborative activities in Myanmar from 2005 to 2016 and tuberculosis treatment outcomes for patients with human immunodeficiency virus-positive tuberculosis in the Mandalay Region in 2015.

Background: HIV-associated TB is a serious public health problem in Myanmar. Study objectives were to describe national scale-up of collaborative activities to reduce the double burden of TB and HIV from 2005 to 2016 and to describe TB treatment outcomes of individuals registered with HIV-associated TB in 2015 in the Mandalay Region. Methods: Secondary analysis of national aggregate data and, for treatment outcomes, a cohort study of patients with HIV-associated TB in the Mandalay Region. Results: The number of townships implementing collaborative activities increased from 7 to 330 by 2016. The number of registered TB patients increased from 1577 to 139 625 in 2016, with the number of individuals tested for HIV increasing from 432 to 114 180 (82%) in 2016: 10 971 (10%) were diagnosed as HIV positive. Uptake of co-trimoxazole preventive therapy (CPT) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) nationally in 2016 was 77% and 52%, respectively. In the Mandalay Region, treatment success was 77% and mortality was 18% in 815 HIV-associated TB patients. Risk factors for unfavourable outcomes and death were older age (≥45 years) and not taking CPT and/or ART. Conclusion: Myanmar is making good progress with reducing the HIV burden in TB patients, but better implementation is needed to reach 100% HIV testing and 100% CPT and ART uptake in TB-HIV co-infected patients

Antenatal care practice and pregnancy out come at Sikuati area, Kudat, Sabah

Antenatal (AN) care is vital for all pregnant women and for reduction of maternal mortality and morbidity. AN care knowledge and specific AN care practices are some of the crucial components of what determines effective AN care. In developing nations, the health of pregnant women can be even more sensitive to these factors. Objectives of this study was to assess the antenatal ( AN) care practice and pregnancy outcome of ever-married women aged 18 to 49 years old having at least one pregnancy experience, residing in kampongs of Sikuati area, Kudat between March to December 2015. Cross–sectional descriptive study, non-probability convenient sampling method was used and 150 eligible participants were interviewed through face to face by trained interviewers using a semi- structured questionnaire and their knowledge of AN care, their AN care practices and outcomes and complications of their pregnancies were recorded. 99% of all the women received AN care, and 64% of the women received essential AN care practice (AN visit of minimum 4 times). The study revealed that overall knowledge amongst the women with good knowledge was 48% and low knowledge was 52%. Despite this, it was found that low knowledge of AN care was associated with essential AN care practice. Additionally, AN care practices, assessed through timing of first AN care visit and frequency of visits, was not significantly associated with pregnancy complications. Despite these results, outcomes were good and all complications were properly and successfully addressed. This may reflect the effectiveness of current programs in place promoting importance of AN care and delivery practices. Maintenance of current programs with targeted interventions to address low knowledge level and the low level of compliance with essential AN care completed are recommended

Endosseous dental implant fractures an analysis of 21 cases

Implant fracture is an infrequent cause of implant failure. The present study evaluates 21 fractured implants, with an analysis of patient age and sex, the type, length and diameter of the implant, positioning in the dental arch, the type of prosthetic rehabilitation involved, the number of abutments and pontics, the presence or absence of distal extensions or cantilevers, and loading time to fracture. Implant fracture was more common in males than in females (15:4), and the mean patient age was 56.9 years. Most cases (n = 19) corresponded to implant-supported fixed prostheses - 16 with cantilevers of different lengths ? while only two fractured implants were supporting overdentures instead of fixed prostheses. The great majority of fractured implants (80.9%) were located in the molar and premolar regions, and most fractured within 3-4 years after loading. It is important to know and apply the measures required to prevent implant fracture, and to seek the best individualized solution for each case - though complete implant removal is usually the treatment of choice

Collaborative Survey and Collection of Brassica Vegetable Genetic Resources in and around the Southern Shan State of Myanmar

From the 3rd to the 16th of September 2015, the Seed Bank, Biotechnology, Plant Genetic Resources and Plant Protection Division, Department of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Myanmar and the Tokyo University of Agriculture, Japan conducted a collaborative survey to collect vegetable genetic resources, especially those of brassica vegetables, in Kayah State and the southern part of Shan State in Myanmar. We collected a total of 121 samples, including five Amaranthus samples, 63 Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. samples, seven B. oleracea samples, including three subspecies, 18 Capsicum samples, 11 Lactuca sativa L. samples, 14 Raphanus sativus L. samples, and three unidentified brassica plants. The collected plant materials were divided into two subsets, with one to be conserved at Seed Bank of Myanmar and the other at Genetic Resources Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Japan, after being transferred to Japan in accordance with international and national rules. Most of the B. oleracea vegetables grown in the areas were improved varieties that had been introduced from foreign countries. In contrast, most of the B. juncea vegetables were native varieties that had been cultivated in the area for a long time. Indeed, B. juncea has great importance in the diet of those living in and around the southern part of Shan State and is used as fresh and dry leaf vegetables, pickles, edible oil, or essential oil that is used cosmetically. The collected R. sativus samples were landraces that were mostly consumed locally as oilseed and as a root vegetable. A large diversity of B. juncea in Myanmar was observed in morphological and physiological characters and quality traits in this survey. We suggest that the genetic diversity of B. juncea is conserved in Myanmar, which is located between two secondary centers of diversity, China and India.ミャンマー連邦共和国のシャン州南部、およびカヤー州の一部において，主としてアブラナ科野菜類を対象に，遺伝資源探索収集調査を2015年9月3日～16日にかけて実施した．その結果，キャベツ類の7点（キャベツ1点，カリフラワー1点，カイラン5点），カラシナ類63点，ダイコン類14点のアブラナ科野菜類とアマランサス属植物5点，トウガラシ属植物18点，未同定のアブラナ属植物3点の計121点の遺伝資源を収集した．収集品は2分し、一方はミャンマー・シードバンクで、他方は国際および国内法に従って日本に導入され、農業・食品産業技術総合研究機構・遺伝資源センターにて保存される．シャン州南部および隣接地域では，キャベツやカリフラワーは換金作物として地域に普及しているため，改良品種がほとんどであった．他方，カラシナ類は地域に伝統的に栽培されている地方品種が優占していた．カラシナ類は地域の食生活に欠かせない重要な野菜で，新鮮なあるいは乾燥野菜の利用のみならず，漬け物や，精油し食用あるいはスキンケアとしての利用がみられた．ダイコン類も伝統的品種が多く，収集した4点はカラシナと同様に種子から精油し，油利用されていた．　ミャンマーのカラシナ類には，葉形，葉柄・中肋の幅と色，辛みなど多様な変異が存在することが確認された．インドや中国は，カラシナ類の多様性2次センターで，両国の間に位置するミャンマーは，国内の他地域においてもカラシナ類遺伝資源が豊富に存在すると推察された

Antenatal care practice and pregnancy out come at Kudat area,Sabah,Northern Borneo

Women have been fulfilling their reproductive responsibility of propagating human race, many have died and many more faced death in the process of delivering babies, but this can be prevented by taking appropriated antenatal care, clean and safe delivery and essential obstetric care. Antenatal care is the first phase to be encountered once a woman has conceived. The objective of the study was to assess the antenatal (AN) care practice and pregnancy outcome of ever-married women aged 18 to 49 years old having at least one pregnancy experience, residing in kampongs of Kudat area, Sabah, East Malaysia, Northern Borneo from December 2015 to October 2016. Crosssectional analytical study, non-probability convenient sampling method was used and 300 eligible participants were interviewed face to face by trained interviewer using pretested questionnaire. 99.3% of all the women received AN care, and 97% of the women received AN care practice (AN visit of 4 times and above). Mean AN visit was 9 times. The study revealed that overall knowledge amongst the women with good knowledge was 47.2% and low knowledge was 52.8%. Additionally, there was significant association between education and knowledge, income and knowledge, AN care practices and knowledge. But there was no significant association between AN practice and complication. Despite these results, outcomes were good and all complications were properly and successfully addressed. This may reflect the effectiveness of current national maternal health programs

Genetic diversity of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 from Sabah, Malaysia 2015

Background Cholera is an important health problem in Sabah, a Malaysian state in northern Borneo; however, Vibrio cholerae in Sabah have never been characterized. Since 2002, serogroup O1 strains having the traits of both classical and El Tor biotype, designated as atypical El Tor biotype, have been increasingly reported as the cause of cholera worldwide. These variants are believed to produce clinically more severe disease like classical strains. Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the genetic diversity of V. cholerae in Sabah and whether V. cholerae in Sabah belong to atypical El Tor biotype. Methods ERIC-PCR, a DNA fingerprinting method for bacterial pathogens based on the enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequence, was used to study the genetic diversity of 65 clinical V. cholerae O1 isolates from 3 districts (Kudat, Beluran, Sandakan) in Sabah and one environmental isolate from coastal sea water in Kudat district. In addition, we studied the biotype-specific genetic traits in these isolates to establish their biotype. Results Different fingerprint patterns were seen in isolates from these three districts but one of the patterns was seen in more than one district. Clinical isolates and environmental isolate have different patterns. In addition, Sabah isolates harbor genetic traits specific to both classical biotype (ctxB-1, rstRCla) and El Tor biotype (rstRET, rstC, tcpAET, rtxC, VC2346). Conclusion This study revealed that V. cholerae in Sabah were genetically diverse and were atypical El Tor strains. Fingerprint patterns of these isolates will be useful in tracing the origin of this pathogen in the future

Collaborative Survey and Collection of Vegetable Genetic Resources in Myanmar, 2019 and 2020

Exploration and collection surveys were conducted from November 2 to November 15, 2019, and from December 26, 2019, to January 7, 2020, under a collaboration between the Tokyo University of Agriculture (TUA), Japan and the Department of Agriculture Research, Myanmar. The first survey was conducted in the northern part of the Sagaing region, and the second in the southern part of Sagaing region, the mountainous area of Nay Pyi Taw, and Shan State. For both surveys, genetic resources were collected from farmlands, farm houses, and local markets. In November 2019, 27 accessions were collected, including 17 samples of Brassica juncea, 4 of the B. oleracea L. Alboglabra group, 3 Brassica sp., and 3 Raphanus sativus L. specimens. From December 2019 to January 2020, 104 samples were collected: 34 Brassica juncea, 7 of the B. oleracea L. Alboglabra group, and 7 Raphanus sativus L. Root and tuber crops, such as Dioscorea spp. and Colocasia esculenta L. Schott, as well as one Xanthosoma sagittifolium, Amorphophallus spp., accounted for 15, 29, and 12 accessions, respectively. The collected genetic resources were divided between the Myanmar Seed Bank and the TUA for the PGRAsia Project, and 50 % were exported to Japan as per the Standard Material Transfer Agreement. The exported seeds and tubers will be multiplied and evaluated in Japan and will be available at the NARO Genebank, Japan for research, breeding, and educational purposes.ミャンマー連邦共和国において，農業畜産灌漑省農業研究局（DAR）と東京農業大学の共同で”Mohn Nyin” と呼ばれるカラシナを中心としたアブラナ科野菜およびイモ類の探索収集を行った．１度目の調査は2019年11月１日から15日にかけてザガイン地方域北部において，2度目の調査は2019年12月26日から2020年1月7日にかけてザガイン地方域およびマンダレー地方域，シャン州において行った．その結果，Brassica juncea 51点，Brassica oleracea L. Alboglabra Group 11点，Brassica sp. 3点，Raphanus sativus L. 10点のアブラナ科野菜遺伝資源およびDioscorea spp. 15点，Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott 28点，Xanthosoma sagittifolium 1点，Amorphophallus spp. 12点の計131点が収集された．収集品は2分し，一方はミャンマーシードバンクで，他方はSMTA に基づき日本に導入された後，農業・食品産業技術総合研究機構遺伝資源センターにて保存される．Figure 1点, Table 2点, Photo 20

Collaborative Survey and Collection of Brassica Vegetable Genetic Resources in Myanmar in 2018 and 2019

Exploration and collection surveys were conducted from October 25 to November 9, 2018 and from February 10 to 26, 2019, under the collaboration between Tokyo University of Agriculture (TUA), Japan, and the Department of Agriculture Research, Myanmar. The 2018 survey was conducted at Shan State, Mandalay Region, and in a part of the Sagaing Region. In 2019, genetic resources were collected from the Eastern Shan State. Genetic resources were collected from farmlands, farmers’ houses, local markets, and areas surrounding administrative offices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation. In all, 110 accessions, including 82 of Brassica juncea, 11 of Brassica oleracea L. Alboglabra Group, one of Brassica oleracea L. Capitata Group, and 16 of Raphanus sativus L, were collected. The collected genetic resources were divided between the Myanmar Seed Bank and TUA for the Plant Genetic Resources in Asia Project, and half of the collected resources was imported to Japan and introduced there as per the Standard Material Transfer Agreement. Imported seeds will be multiplied and evaluated in Japan and will become available from the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization Genebank, Japan, for research, breeding, and educational purposes.ミャンマー連邦共和国において，“Mohn Nyin” と呼ばれるカラシナを中心としたアブラナ野菜の遺伝資源探索収集を行った．2018 年 10 月 25 日から 11 月 9 日までシャン州カロー周辺，マンダレー管区およびザガイン管区の一部で収集を行った．また，2019 年 2 月 10 日から 26 日は東部シャン州において収集を行った．その結果，Brassica juncea 82 点，B. oleracea L. Alboglabra Group 11 点，B. oleracea L. Capitata Group 1 点，Raphanus sativus L. 16 点の計 110 点が収集された．調査はミャンマー農業畜産潅漑省農業研究局および東京農業大学の共同で行われた．収集品は 2 分し，一方はミャンマーシードバンクで，他方は SMTA に基づき日本に導入された後，農業研究，育種，教育目的で配布可能な遺伝資源として，農業・食品産業技術総合研究機構遺伝資源センターにて保存される