Les Loranthaceae et Viscaceae parasites des forêts et des agro-écosystèmes du Burundi : diversité et ampleur d’infestation

Objectif: Cette étude visait à inventorier les hémi-parasites Loranthaceae et Viscaceae occasionnant des dégâts sur les arbres et arbustes des forêts et des milieux agricoles du Burundi ainsi que leur ampleur d’infestation.Méthodologie et Résultats: L’étude a été conduite dans toutes les zones agro-écologiques du pays dans les forêts et les milieux agricoles environnants. Après prospection, 98 sites répartis sur 192 ha ont été retenus sur base de l’abondance des individus parasités. Au total, 15 espèces hémi-parasites ont été inventoriées dont 11 Loranthaceae et 4 Viscaceae. La crête Congo-Nil présente la plus grande diversité avec 8 espèces sur les 15 tandis que la plaine de l’Imbo et la dépression du Kumoso ne comptent que 2 espèces chacune. Nonante cinq espèces hôtes réparties dans 64 genres et 37 familles ont été recensées dont 47 % sont infestées par Phragmanthera usuiensis. Concernant l’ampleur d’infestation, le taux le plus élevé se rencontre dans la dépression du Kumoso tandis que l’intensité d’infestation est la plus forte dans la dépression du Nord-Est. Elle est dominée par 3 espèces: Phragmanthera usuiensis, Phragmanthera capitata et Agelanthus flammeus.Conclusion et application des résultats: L’étude montre une forte infestation des milieux agricoles et forestiers burundais par les Loranthaceae. La lutte par suppression des touffes est peu efficace. Une stratégie de lutte plus efficace à l’échelle de tout le pays devrait être étudiée.Mots clés: Infestation, Loranthaceae, Viscaceae, zone agro-écologiqueEnglish Title: The Loranthaceae and Viscaceae parasites of Burundi's forests and agro-ecosystems: diversity and extent of infestationEnglish AbstractObjective: The purpose of this study was to inventory the Loranthaceaes and Viscaceae as parasites causing damages on trees in Burundi forests and agroecosystems as well as the extent of the infestation.Methodology and Results: The survey has been conducted in all agro-ecological zones of the country in forests and the surrounding agricultural areas. After prospecting, 98 sites of about 192 hectares have been  targeted based on the abundance of infested trees. In total, 15 hemi-parasitic species have been inventoried of which 11 Loranthaceae and 4 Viscaceae. The Congo-Nile crest presents the biggest diversity with 8 species while Imbo and Kumoso count only 2 species each. Ninety five (95) host species distributed in 64 genra and 37 families have been counted of which 47% are infested by Phragmanthera usuiensis. Concerning the infestation extent, the most elevated rate is found in the depression of the Kumoso while the biggest infestation intensity is found in the depression of the Northeastern Burundi. The most elevated infestation intensities are driven by three species: Phragmanthera usuiensis, Phragmanthera capitata and Agelanthus flammeus.Conclusion and application of results: The study shows a strong infestation of agricultural and forest ecosystems by the Loranthaceae. Fighting the parasites by Tufts cutting is not effective. A more efficient strategy should be documented in order to handle the plant parasites at national level.Keywords: infestation, Loranthaceae, Viscaceae, Agro-ecological zon

Synchronization of patient data among health facilities through electronic medical records system: a case study of Kabgayi District Hospital

Background: The use of modern technology in healthcare system aims to increase the reliability, accessibility and productivity of delivered services. In most developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) has been dominated by paper-based system. In Rwanda, EMRs started in 2011 with a baseline of 8% and reached 50% in 2017 within 516 health facilities, but patient data synchronization among health facilities is still a problem. The aim of this research was to identify factors hindering EMRs implementation and propose applied solutions.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design with qualitative and quantitative approach was used. A purposive method to select the research participants among the target population was also used.Results: It was found that, despite the improvement of hospitals’ management and healthcare efficiency via EMRs system, factors affecting synchronization of patients’ data among health facilities still persist. The study also revealed the need for the interoperability in the integration of EMRs system among health facilities.Conclusion: The OpenMRS EMR-based data synchronization can reduce gaps in HIV care. It avoids a duplication of patient identification number (PID) at the same health facility for more than one visit and missing data among health facilities. As part of implementable solutions for effective service delivery, cloud-based server and patient identification were suggested as solutions for much more success in Open MRS EMRs system.Keywords: Electronic Medical Record, Data synchronization, Cloud computing technolog

Floristic diversity and conservation status of species in green spaces in the city of Bujumbura (Burundi)

peer reviewedL’altération des espaces verts résultant du processus d’urbanisation n’a cessé d’attirer la curiosité des chercheurs. C’est dans cette perspective que cette étude a mis l’accent sur la connaissance de la flore caractéristique des espaces verts de la ville de Bujumbura (Burundi). Les résultats ont révélé qu’elle est constituée de 127 espèces relevant de 109 genres et 53 familles. Les familles des Euphorbiaceae (7,1%), des Fabaceae (7,1%), des Arecaceae (6,3%), des Poaceae (5,5%), des Araceae (3,9%) et des Malvaceae (3,9%) sont les plus représentées et totalisent, à elles seules plus d’un tiers (33,9%) du nombre total des espèces inventoriées. Elles sont dominées essentiellement par les espèces introduites à concurrence de 74,0%. Deux espèces (Lantana camara et Spathodea campanulata) sont qualifiées comme envahissantes. Il est nécessaire de prendre des mesures de conservation de la biodiversité urbaine afin d’éviter l'homogénéisation de la végétation urbaine au profit d'espèces introduites

Prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and associated factors in Ndera sector, Gasabo district of Rwanda: a cross-sectional study

Background: Hypertension remains a major global health challenge, including in low- and middle-income countries. In Rwanda, a lack of adequate information and healthcare services impacts healthcare-seeking behaviors, contributing to undiagnosed hypertension in rural areas. Therefore, the need to determine its prevalence and associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 393 adults in the Ndera Sector, of Rwanda’s Gasabo District, through a multistage sampling technique. Data was gathered using the WHO STEP-wise approach to non-communicable disease risk factor surveillance (STEPS) questionnaire; physical examination was done to determine blood pressure and body-mass index (BMI), after which the data collected was analyzed using SPSS. Newly diagnosed hypertension was determined when on two different intervals, systolic blood pressure readings was > 140 mmHg, and/or the diastolic blood pressure readings was > 90 mmHg, in the absence of previous hypertension diagnosis. Results: The overall prevalence of hypertension among patients at Ndera sector was 15%, all of which were newly diagnosed. The mean (SD) age of the participants was 37 (13.7) years and half (53%) were women. The mean systolic blood pressure for men was 124.3 mmHg compared to 120.9 mmHg for women (p = 0.043, 95%CI: 0.12–6.74). Women had a significantly higher mean BMI (26.0) compared to men (22.8) (p < 0.001, 95%CI: -4.18 - -2.31). Age (χ² = 37.400, p < 0.001), residence (χ² = 10.200, p < 0.001), BMI (χ² = 22.1, p < 0.001), and lack of knowledge about hypertension (χ² = 25.1, p < 0.001) were the factors with significantly undiagnosed hypertension. Conclusions: The high prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension in Ndera Sector is linked to gender, older age, higher BMI, location, and lack of hypertension knowledge. These findings call for multifaceted approaches, combining educational initiatives, geographical targeting, lifestyle modifications, and policy implementations, all aimed at mitigating the burden of undiagnosed hypertension and enhancing community health within the Ndera Sector

Land and agricultural commercialisation in Meru County, Kenya: evidence from three models

What are the relative pros and cons of different pathways of agricultural commercialisation in Africa? This paper examines aspects of three commercial farming cases, each of which represents one of the three most dominant models of commercial agriculture – small-scale outgrowers, medium-size commercial farms and a large estate – in the high-potential area of Meru County in Kenya. The paper provides a comparative perspective across the cases, examining their outcomes in terms of land relations, labour, livelihoods and local economic linkages. The study used a mixed-methods approach, including a household survey and a range of qualitative methods including detailed life histories. We find diverse dynamics across our cases: increasing land consolidation spurred by the rising class of commercial coffee farmers, but also land fragmentation as a result of population pressure and prevalence of inheritance as a pathway to land acquisition in the case of horticultural outgrowers. The plantation generates relatively better paid employment for permanent skilled workers, while the commercial farms create employment for casualised, insecure and poorly paid seasonal labour. These labour regimes are highly gendered. The outgrowers combine family and hired labour. Across the three cases, farmers diversify income between on-farm and off-farm sources. The commercial and outgrower farms are dynamically integrated into the local economy, while the estate is less so. These features of the three models generate processes of social differentiation, which are reshaping the agrarian structure and rural economy in Meru County.IS

Implementing One Health as an integrated approach to health in Rwanda

It is increasingly clear that resolution of complex global health problems requires interdisciplinary, intersectoral expertise and cooperation from governmental, non-governmental and educational agencies. ‘One Health’ refers to the collaboration of multiple disciplines and sectors working locally, nationally and globally to attain optimal health for people, animals and the environment. One Health offers the opportunity to acknowledge shared interests, set common goals, and drive toward team work to benefit the overall health of a nation. As in most countries, the health of Rwanda's people and economy are highly dependent on the health of the environment. Recently, Rwanda has developed a One Health strategic plan to meet its human, animal and environmental health challenges. This approach drives innovations that are important to solve both acute and chronic health problems and offers synergy across systems, resulting in improved communication, evidence-based solutions, development of a new generation of systems-thinkers, improved surveillance, decreased lag time in response, and improved health and economic savings. Several factors have enabled the One Health movement in Rwanda including an elaborate network of community health workers, existing rapid response teams, international academic partnerships willing to look more broadly than at a single disease or population, and relative equity between female and male health professionals. Barriers to implementing this strategy include competition over budget, poor communication, and the need for improved technology. Given the interconnectedness of our global community, it may be time for countries and their neighbours to follow Rwanda's lead and consider incorporating One Health principles into their national strategic health plans

Predicting range shifts of African apes under global change scenarios

Aim: Modelling African great ape distribution has until now focused on current or past conditions, while future scenarios remain scarcely explored. Using an ensemble forecasting approach, we predicted changes in taxon-specific distribution under future scenarios of climate, land use and human populations for (1) areas outside protected areas (PAs) only (assuming complete management effectiveness of PAs), (2) the entire study region and (3) interspecies range overlap. Location: Tropical Africa. Methods: We compiled occurrence data (n = 5,203) on African apes from the IUCN A.P.E.S. database and extracted relevant climate-, habitat- and human-related predictors representing current and future (2050) conditions to predict taxon-specific range change under a best- and a worst-case scenario, using ensemble forecasting. Results: The predictive performance of the models varied across taxa. Synergistic interactions between predictors are shaping African ape distribution, particularly human-related variables. On average across taxa, a range decline of 50% is expected outside PAs under the best scenario if no dispersal occurs (61% in worst scenario). Otherwise, an 85% range reduction is predicted to occur across study regions (94% worst). However, range gains are predicted outside PAs if dispersal occurs (52% best, 21% worst), with a slight increase in gains expected across study regions (66% best, 24% worst). Moreover, more than half of range losses and gains are predicted to occur outside PAs where interspecific ranges overlap. Main Conclusions: Massive range decline is expected by 2050, but range gain is uncertain as African apes will not be able to occupy these new areas immediately due to their limited dispersal capacity, migration lag and ecological constraints. Given that most future range changes are predicted outside PAs, Africa\u27s current PA network is likely to be insufficient for preserving suitable habitats and maintaining connected ape populations. Thus, conservation planners urgently need to integrate land use planning and climate change mitigation measures at all decision-making levels both in range countries and abroad

Study of the taxonomic composition, the spatial pattern and the botanical resources taken away from the Kigwena dense forest and the Rumonge Miombo forest in Burundi

Dans cette étude, la composition taxonomique, la structure spatiale et les ressources végétales naturelles prélevées dans les forêts de Kigwena et de Rumonge ont été analysées. Les deux forêts sont situées au Sud-Ouest du Burundi, dans une région de forte densité de population. L’objectif global de l’étude était d’élucider des éléments de l’écologie de la forêt dense de Kigwena et de la forêt claire de Rumonge en vue de leur conservation optimale. Les résultats montrent que les deux forêts sont floristiquement différentes malgré leur proximité géographique. Les types biologiques sont dominés par les phanérophytes, les chaméphytes et les thérophytes ;ce qui traduit des adaptations des espèces aux conditions du milieu de vie forestier caractérisé par un stress hydrique et par d’importantes perturbations d’origine anthropique. Le spectre phytogéographique est en concordance avec la localisation des forêts étudiées dans le territoire phytogéographique du District du Mosso/Malagarazi, caractérisé par la présence des espèces à distribution soudano-zambézienne et des espèces de liaison soudano-zambézienne et guinéo-congolaise. La forêt dense de Kigwena et la forêt claire de Rumonge sont soumises aux mêmes influences phytogéographiques et n’ont donc pas connu d’isolement géographique. Dans la forêt dense de Kigwena, l’hétérogénéité spatiale de la végétation, reflétée par l’existence de quatre groupements végétaux distincts, obéit aux gradients d’humidité et d’anthropisation. Par contre, dans la forêt claire de Rumonge, l’hétérogénéité spatiale de la végétation se traduit par des variations stationnelles dans un même fond floristique. L’analyse de la distribution spatiale a montré que les arbres sont répartis selon le modèle spatial agrégé. Les ressources végétales prélevées dans les deux forêts par les populations riveraines servent en grande partie à des fins médicinales, matérielles, alimentaires, énergétiques et/ou socio-culturelles. Les prélèvements de ces ressources, l’agriculture intensive, l’exploitation des carrières, l’aménagement des infrastructures, les feux de forêt et les chablis ont été identifiés comme étant des facteurs de perturbation qui amplifiaient la dégradation et le risque de disparition des forêts de Kigwena et de Rumonge. En définitive, cette étude a montré que les forêts étudiées ont une richesse taxonomique et une valeur conservatoire considérables. Mais ces forêts sont menacées sous l’action d’une anthropisation croissante. Pour remédier à cette situation, des mesures et des actions de conservation ont été proposées pour un court terme. /The taxonomic composition, the spatial pattern and the botanical resources used by Man around the Kigwena and Rumonge forests were studied. Both forests are located in the south-western part of Burundi, in a zone characterized by a high population density. The overall objective of this study was to understand the ecology of the Kigwena and Rumonge forests in order to support their conservation. Results show that the flora of the two forests are different although their geographical proximity. The life forms are dominated by phanerophytes, chamaephytes and therophytes; this observation corresponds to an adaptation of the floras to water stress and anthropogenic disturbances. The phytogeographical spectrum is directly related to the presence of the forests in the Mosso/Malagarazi District. It is characterized by the presence of species with a soudano-zambezian distribution and by species of the soudano-zambezian/guineo-congolese connexion. No geographical isolation was evidenced which could have altered the composition of the Kigwena and Rumonge forests. In the Kigwena forest, the spatial floristic heterogeneity is shown by four different plant communities which occur according to anthropogenic disturbance and soil moisture gradients. But, in the Rumonge forest, the spatial floristic heterogeneity occurs with more common species, in the same flora. The analysis of the spatial pattern of the trees revealed a general tendency towards a clumped distribution. Many natural plant resources are removed from the Kigwena and Rumonge forests by neighbouring populations for medicinal use, material use, food use, energy use and cultural use. Removal of natural plant resources, intensive agriculture, quarry exploitation, infrastructure development, forest fires and windfall of trees have been identified as disturbance factors which amplify the degradation and the risk of disappearance of the forests of Kigwena and Rumonge. Ultimately, this study shows that the Kigwena and Rumonge forests are characterized by a high taxonomic richness as well as by their importance for conservation. Nevertheless, these forests are threatened by increasing anthropogenic activities. Consequently, short-term measures and actions for conservation are proposed.Doctorat en Sciencesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Impact de l’action anthropique sur la diversité floristique et structurale de la forêt claire de Rumonge au Burundi

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Impact de l’action anthropique sur la diversité floristique et structurale de la forêt de Rumonge au Burundi

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe