Helminth parasites of sheep and goats in Eastern Ethiopia

A two-year epidemiology study of helminths of small ruminants involved the collection of viscera from 655 sheep and 632 goats from 4 abattoirs in eastern Ethiopia. A further more detailed epidemiology study of gastro-intestinal nematode infections used the Haramaya University (HU) flock of 60 Black Head Ogaden sheep. The parasitological data included numbers of nematode eggs per gram of faeces (EPG), faecal culture L3 larvae, packed red cell volume (PCV), adult worm and early L4 counts, and FAMACHA eye-colour score estimates, along with animal performance (body weight change). There were 13 species of nematodes and 4 species of flukes present in the sheep and goats, with Haemonchus contortus being the most prevalent (65–80%), followed by Trichostrongylus spp. The nematode infection levels of both sheep and goats followed the bi-modal annual rainfall pattern, with the highest worm burdens occurring during the two rain seasons (peaks in May and September). There were significant differences in worm burdens between the 4 geographic locations for both sheep and goats. Similar seasonal but not geographical variations occurred in the prevalence of flukes. There were significant correlations between EPG and PCV, EPG and FAMACHA scores, and PCV and FAMACHA scores. Moreover, H. contortus showed an increased propensity for arrested development during the dry seasons. Faecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT) conducted on the HU flocks, and flocks in surrounding small-holder communities, evaluated the efficacy of commonly used anthelmintics, including albendazole (ABZ), tetramisole (TET), a combination (ABZ + TET) and ivermectin (IVM). Initially, high levels of resistance to all of the anthelmintics were found in the HU goat flock but not in the sheep. In an attempt to restore the anthelmintic efficacy a new management system was applied to the HU goat flock, including: eliminating the existing parasite infections in the goats, exclusion from the traditional goat pastures, and initiation of communal grazing of the goats with the HU sheep and animals of the local small-holder farmers. Subsequent FECRTs revealed high levels of efficacy of all three drugs in the goat and sheep flocks, demonstrating that anthelmintic efficacy can be restored by exploiting refugia. Individual FECRTs were also conducted on 8 sheep and goat flocks owned by neighbouring small-holder farmers, who received breeding stock from the HU. In each FECRT, 50 local breed sheep and goats, 6–9 months old, were divided into 5 treatment groups: ABZ, TET, ABZ + TET, IVM and untreated control. There was no evidence of anthelmintic resistance in the nematodes, indicating that dilution of resistant parasites, which are likely to be imported with introduced breeding goats, and the low selection pressure imposed by the small-holder farmers, had prevented anthelmintic resistance from emerging

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL AND THE ISSUE OF INTEGRATION

INTRODUCTIONThe fight against tuberculosis has been going on for a very long time. In this fight, one notices three very important developments. First there is the discovery of the tuberculosis drugs with the potent drug isoniazid coming into use in the early '50s. Third the notion of a national Tuberculosis Control Programmeis developed by WHO which programme was indicated in the 8th. Report of the Expert Committee on Tuberculosis in 1964 (I) and further elaborated by the 9th. Report 10 years later. (2) Along with the development and standardization of the anti-tuberculosis technology in the past several years, there has been an increasing awareness for the need of better health services. This need is being met by governments and other agencies by the provision of curative, preventive, promotive and rehabilitative health services to the extent that resources are available

TomoTherapy for post-mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT): comparison with conventional electron beam technique

Purpose: TomoTherapy, capable of delivering intensity-modulated, image-guided radiotherapy with a helical fan-beam, multileaf-collimated beam and detector array mounted on a CT ring, is challenging the treatment techniques commonly used in today\u27s radiotherapy clinic. The present works investigates the potential of using TomoTherapy in lieu of electron beams for treatment of the chest wall in post-mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT). It is hypothesized that TomoTherapy can plan dose distributions for PMRT patients, that a pre-selected radiation oncologist judges to be equal to or better than that of a conventional plan treated with electron beams. Methods: A patient database of retrospective conventional PMRT treatment plans was generated, including contoured target and critical structure region-of-interest volumes. A TomoTherapy plan was generated for five patients out of the database using the same treatment criteria as the conventional plan. The TomoTherapy plan and the conventional plan was evaluated and compared by a radiation oncologist using a simplified scoring system. Physical and radiobiological dose metrics were generated from the treatment plans to supplement the evaluation of the radiation oncologist. Results: Four of the five TomoTherapy plans were rated superior to the rival conventional electron beam treatment plan, and the other Tomotherapy plan was rated marginally superior. The TomoTherapy plan was able to spare the ipsilateral lung and heart of excessive dose as well as the conventional plan, while delivering a more homogeneous dose distribution to the target volumes. However, the TomoTherapy plan showed the contralateral breast receiving an average dose of 2.9 Gy as opposed to 0.4 Gy for the conventional electron beam plan, and a greater volume of normal tissue outside the target volumes receiving dose between 5 and 25 Gy (average percent volume was 33% for the TomoTherapy plan and 5 % for the electron beam plan). This could affect the radiation oncologist\u27s decision to use TomoTherapy for younger patients who are at greater risk of developing radiation-induced secondary cancers. Conclusion: The study showed TomoTherapy can deliver dose distributions the radiation oncologist judges to be equal to or better than that of a conventional electron beam PMRT plan for five treatment plans

Spacing and Micronutrient Effects on Yield and Pungency of Chile Peppers (Capsicum Annuum L. )

Horticultur

Identification of citrus (Citrus sinensis) Postharvest Pathogens from Ethiopia and their Control

From a world prospective, the continuous application of chemical pesticides has serious long-term effects on human health and environmental pollution, and can result in resistant pathogen strains. However, postharvest diseases cause major losses on the markets and need to be controlled effectively. The search for biopesticides using microbial antagonists and natural plant products has subsequently become more important as viable alternatives to control postharvest diseases. Currently, little information exists in terms of citrus production practices, disease management measures and postharvest losses in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was therefore to determine what the current situation in the country is in terms of production, disease management and postharvest disease incidence, disease management practices in Ethiopia and to develop an effective and safe disease control strategy for the industry. Citrus production in Ethiopia is mainly done by Government enterprises with little technical expertise. Disease control strategies are ineffective with postharvest losses exceeding 46%. The most important postharvest pathogen identified was Penicillium digitatum. In development of biopesticides, three yeast antagonists [Cryptococcus laurentii (strain MeJtw 10-2 and strain TiL 4-3) and Candida sake (TiL 4-2)] and plant leaf extracts of Acacia seyal and Withania somnifera were found to have some potential to control Penicillium in in vitro and in vivo trials and ensure fruit quality. The modes of action of the yeast antagonists were not based on antibiosis. Instead, it involved competitive colonization where the antagonists inhibited P. digitatum spore germination and reduced mycelial growth by 75-100%. Extracts from the two plant species showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against a range of several fungal and bacterial pathogens. The semi-commercial application of the antagonists and plant extracts improve fruit quality and the integration of these biopesticides were found effective in semi commercial trials and may provide a commercial solution for the citrus industry.Thesis (PhD (Crop Protection))--University of Pretoria, 2006.Microbiology and Plant Pathologyunrestricte

We Are the Same, but Different: A Duoethnography of People of Colour Who Are Care Leavers

In this article, we use autoethnography to explore autobiographical narratives of being both people of colour and care leavers. The conversations were recorded (audio and transcription) and themes include identity, common emotional responses, perspectives, the challenges of being Asian and Black and in care, identifying as a care leaver in adulthood, race and racism. This article will explore the themes in detail while considering the differences in context of the lived experiences of the two authors, with one having been adopted by a white, British family and being of dual ethnicity, while the other being of South Asian ethnicity and having experienced foster care, including short-term foster placements. This article will explore not only experiences of childhood, but also of those faced in adulthood related to the two identifiers discussed. Although there will be some discussion on the outward, including society’s response, challenges and outcomes, in particular regarding children in care and race, there will be a focus on the inward, the emotional and intellectual understanding of these issues

The patterns of surgical thyroid diseases and operative treatment in Gondar College of Medical Sciences, north-west Ethiopia

Background: Goitre is defiied as enlargement of the thyroid gland that normally weighs 25-30g.Methods: This was a retrospective review aimed at determining the incidence, pattern, pathology, ostoperative complications of 137 cases of goitre operated at the Gondar College of Medical sciences, Ethiopia, over a period of four years were reviewed.Results: The female to male ratio was 5:2 and the mean age of patients as 32.3 years. The mean duration of illness was 9.1 years. The commonest reasons for seeking medical attention were bulk of the mass (82%), rapid growth (9.5%) and compressive symptoms (2.9%). The goitre size was grade I11 and above in 83.1% of the patients. There were 14 (10.2%) thyroid carcinomas. Follicular carcinoma was the most common type of malignancy. Thyroiditis and toxic goitres were seen in 8 and 5 of the patients respectively. Subtotal thyroideaomy and lobectomywere the commonest procedures done. A total of 36 post-thyroidectomy complications occurred in 20 patients. Eight patients developed airway obstruction six of them requiring tracheostomy. Eleven patients (8%) had blood transfusion. The postoperative mortality was 1.5%.Conclusion: The pattern of goitre was found to be similar to other reports and post tracheostomy complications in the acceptable range.Key Words: Goitre, thyroid, pattern, thyroidectomy, post thyroidectomy complication

Sonographic and Clinical Features of Typhlitis in Pediatric Cancer Patients on Chemotheaphy at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia, 2021

BACKGROUND: Typhlitis, (neutropenic enterocolitis), is a necrotizing enteropathy of the right colon, and is characterized by the clinical triad of fever, abdominal pain, neutropenia and imaging findings of right-side colonic inflammation. It is seen in the setting of severe neutropenia in immune suppressed patients who undergo treatment for malignancies, in those who have organ transplant(s) or congenital or other acquired immunosuppression. We report the clinical and imaging findings of typhlitis in pediatric cancer patients who had received chemotherapy in the largest tertiary center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia over a period of 20 months. METHODS: The medical records of hospitalized cancer patients on treatment and with suspected typhlitis and with ultrasound reports were screened (November 2018- July 2020). Retrospective analysis of the clinical and sonographic data of those with typhlitis was done. RESULTS: Typhlitis was identified in 4.2% (12/286) of the patients on chemotherapy. 11 (91.7%) had hematologic malignancies (leukemia, lymphoma), one had a solid tumor (Head and neck embryonal RMS). Most (83.3%) had abdominal pain, diarrhea and neutropenia. Fever was identified in 67.7%. All had ultrasound evidence of typhlitis. and treated with IV antibiotics. Neither complications requiring surgical intervention nor death were seen. CONCLUSION: The magnitude of disease was comparable to what had previously been reported in other studies. While the presence of clinical a triad should prompt suspicion for the diagnosis, sonography can be used for confirmation and follow up obviating radiation, with good access in a resource limited setting

Efficacy of Cellulose Degrading Microbial Strains on the Decomposition of Sewage Water Microalgae for the Production of Biogas

Sewage water microalgae are potential sources of feed stock for the production of biofuel. In this study, six treatment combinations of microbial strains (C, N1 and N2) in single and combined treatments were used in a 5L plastic container as anaerobic digester. The use of sewage water microalgae alone was used as a negative control; and a separate application of effective microorganisms (EM) were used for comparison. A volume of 3L sewage water suspension containing 300g of microalgae biomass were used in all plastic containers as a feedstock. All treatment applications including the control showed some activity of pressure development in each bag per treatment per cycle except the combined treatment of strain (C, N1, N2). Significant volume of biogas production (4-5L/300g)) and pressure development (517.80 and 544.35 Nm-2 was observed in the first cycle when using cellulose degrading microorganism (C) alone and the combined treatment with nitrogen fixing strain (N1), respectively