Taenia solium taeniosis and cysticercosis literature in Tanzania provides research evidence justification for control: A scoping review

Research evidence to guide policy and research agenda for Taenia solium taeniosis and cysticercosis (TSTC) in Sub-Saharan Africa is lacking. A scoping review of all TSTC studies undertaken in Tanzania and published up to November 2018 was conducted. The literature were searched from PUBMED, Tanzania Veterinary Journal, Tanzania Journal of Health Research and Google, and extracted to provide evidence on disease burden and potential for control. Fifty (50) articles met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Prevalence of taeniosis of 2.3% - 5.2% was estimated based on copro-antigen ELISA while human cysticercosis of >16% was estimated based on serum antigen ELISA (Ag-ELISA) or IgG Western Blot. Neurocysticercosis contributed significantly to epilepsy in adults. Farm prevalence of porcine cysticercosis were 6.0% - 17.4% (lingual examination), 1.5% - 33.3% (Ag-ELISA) and incidence rates of 25/100 pig-years (lingual examination) and 69/100 pig-years (Ag-ELISA). Slaughter-slab prevalence were 0% - 18.2% (routine meat inspection). Lacking latrines, watering pigs with river or pond waters and feeding pigs with potato peels were associated with high porcine cysticercosis prevalence. Washing hands by dipping method instead of running water increased the risk of human cysticercosis. For the year 2012 the number of DALYs/1000 person-years for NCC-associated epilepsy was 0.7 (95% UI, 0.2–1.6), around 5 million USD (95% UI, 797,535– 16,933,477) were spent due to NCC-associated epilepsy and nearly 3 million USD (95% UI, 1,095,960–5,366,038) were potentially lost due to porcine cysticercosis. Three rounds of annual treatment of school-age children with praziquantel significantly reduced prevalence of taeniosis and porcine cysticercosis. A health education intervention reduced porcine cysticercosis incidence by approximately 43% with no improvement in pig confinement or use of latrines. A single dose of oxfendazole 30 mg/kg body weight eliminated T. solium cysticerci in pig musculature but not in the brain. High prevalence of T. solium infections in humans and pigs have been reported in Tanzania while the parasite accounts for a considerable proportion of epilepsy in humans that could be prevented. A one-health approach is mandatory to elimination of TSTC. There is potential for integrating control of TSTC with schistosomiasis control. Key words: Taeniosis, Cysticercosis, Slaughter-slab, Epilepsy, Public healt

Breed preference and breeding practices for goats in agro-pastoral communities of semi-arid and sub-humid areas in Tanzania

A study was carried out to determine farmers’ preferences for goat breeds, desired traits, management and breeding practices in agro-pastoral communities of central and eastern Tanzania. A total of 552 goat keepers from semi-arid and sub-humid areas were involved. Information on goat flock size, breed preferences, breeding practices, traits preferred and husbandry practices was collected using a well structured questionnaire. Out of the 552 household heads, only 21.3% were women. Most of the farmers kept indigenous goats belonging to the Small East African breed and the mean number of goats per household was 8.9 ± 1.0. The majority of the farmers (53.4%) preferred to keep the Small East African goat breed rather than the exotic breeds. The Small East African breed was preferred to exotic breeds because the animals are easier to feed, prolific, tolerant to drought and endemic diseases. Most farmers (70.8%) practiced uncontrolled mating using bucks from either their own flock (66.7%) or neighbours’ flocks (33.3%).Uncontrolled mating was preferred because it is easier to practice (41.2%) and cheaper (41.2%). The buck to doe ratio was 1:3 in semi-arid and 1:2 in sub-humid areas. Breeding males were selected based on body size by the majority (85%) of the goat farmers. It is concluded that livestock keepers in semi-arid and sub-humid areas in Tanzania prefer the Small East Africa goats because the animals are abundantly available and well adapted to the local environmental conditions

Effect of slaughter weight on carcass characteristics and economics of pig production

Tanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences 2000, Vol. 3(1): 55-62A study to evaluate the effect of slllughter weight on carcass characteristics of pigs was conducted using twenty four Landrace X Large lMlite crossbred pigs. Twelve castrates and twelve gilts with average initial weight of 35 ±4.4 kg were randomly assigned to three targeted slllughter weights. Pigs were slllughtered at live weights of 60, 75 and 90 kg and measurements of carcass characteristics were taken. Cost effectiveness of each slaughter weight based on feed cost was determined. Slaughter weight of the pigs had significant (P < 0.05) influence on carcass characteristics. Increase of slaughter weight from 60 kg to 90 kg caused a rise in killing out percentage, loin eye area, carcass length and backfat thicknessjrom 65.0t069.1 %, 24 to 34crrt, 85.1 to 92.3 qnand2.2 to 3.3 cm, respectively. The proportion of kidney fat also increased with slllughter weight. Generally, the weights of carcassjoints, fillet muscle (M. psoas major), liver and kidney as percent of carcass weight decreased with increasing slaughter weight of the pigs (P< 0.05). Castrates had significantly heavier kidney fat and lighter shoulders than gilts but there was no signifi cant sex difference in killing out percentage, carcass length, weights of liver, kidney, fillet muscle, ham, loin and belly, back fat thickness and loin eye area. The slaughter weight of 60 kg was found to be more cost effective than the rest of the slaughter weights and was therefore recommended for areas where there is demand for lean meat

Breed preference and breeding practices for goats in agro-pastoral communities of semi-arid and sub-humid areas in Tanzania

A study was carried out to determine farmers’ preferences for goat breeds, desired traits, management and breeding practices in agro-pastoral communities of central and eastern Tanzania. A total of 552 goat keepers from semi-arid and sub-humid areas were involved. Information on goat flock size, breed preferences, breeding practices, traits preferred and husbandry practices was collected using a well structured questionnaire. Out of the 552 household heads, only 21.3% were women. Most of the farmers kept indigenous goats belonging to the Small East African breed and the mean number of goats per household was 8.9 ± 1.0. The majority of the farmers (53.4%) preferred to keep the Small East African goat breed rather than the exotic breeds. The Small East African breed was preferred to exotic breeds because the animals are easier to feed, prolific, tolerant to drought and endemic diseases. Most farmers (70.8%) practiced uncontrolled mating using bucks from either their own flock (66.7%) or neighbours’ flocks (33.3%).Uncontrolled mating was preferred because it is easier to practice (41.2%) and cheaper (41.2%). The buck to doe ratio was 1:3 in semi-arid and 1:2 in sub-humid areas. Breeding males were selected based on body size by the majority (85%) of the goat farmers. It is concluded that livestock keepers in semi-arid and sub-humid areas in Tanzania prefer the Small East Africa goats because the animals are abundantly available and well adapted to the local environmental conditions

Effect of slaughter weight on carcass characteristics and economics of pig production

Tanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences 2000, Vol. 3(1): 55-62A study to evaluate the effect of slllughter weight on carcass characteristics of pigs was conducted using twenty four Landrace X Large lMlite crossbred pigs. Twelve castrates and twelve gilts with average initial weight of 35 ±4.4 kg were randomly assigned to three targeted slllughter weights. Pigs were slllughtered at live weights of 60, 75 and 90 kg and measurements of carcass characteristics were taken. Cost effectiveness of each slaughter weight based on feed cost was determined. Slaughter weight of the pigs had significant (P < 0.05) influence on carcass characteristics. Increase of slaughter weight from 60 kg to 90 kg caused a rise in killing out percentage, loin eye area, carcass length and backfat thicknessjrom 65.0t069.1 %, 24 to 34crrt, 85.1 to 92.3 qnand2.2 to 3.3 cm, respectively. The proportion of kidney fat also increased with slllughter weight. Generally, the weights of carcassjoints, fillet muscle (M. psoas major), liver and kidney as percent of carcass weight decreased with increasing slaughter weight of the pigs (P< 0.05). Castrates had significantly heavier kidney fat and lighter shoulders than gilts but there was no signifi cant sex difference in killing out percentage, carcass length, weights of liver, kidney, fillet muscle, ham, loin and belly, back fat thickness and loin eye area. The slaughter weight of 60 kg was found to be more cost effective than the rest of the slaughter weights and was therefore recommended for areas where there is demand for lean meat

Digestibility and effect of copra cake on rate of grain, feed efficiency and protein retention of fattening pigs

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Étude sur le métabolisme et la croissance des porcs à la croissance/en finition nourris de tourteaux de graines de coton de la variété Ukiriguru

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