Animal health surveillance plays a vital role in ensuring public health, animal welfare, and sust... more Animal health surveillance plays a vital role in ensuring public health, animal welfare, and sustainable food production by monitoring disease trends, early detecting (new) hazards, facilitating disease control and infection, and providing data for risk analysis. Good stakeholder collaboration across the sector can lead to better communication, better science and decision-making and more effective surveillance and response. An understanding of relevant stakeholders, their interests and their power can facilitate such collaboration. While information on key stakeholders in animal health surveillance is available at the national level in Tanzania, it is missing at the subnational level. The study aimed to explore the existing stakeholders' collaborations and influences at the subnational level through stakeholder mapping and to determine potential leverage points for improving the national animal health surveillance system. A qualitative design was used, involving consultative wor...
Background. Taenia solium (neuro) cysticercosis/taeniosis (TSCT) is a zoonotic disease complex. T... more Background. Taenia solium (neuro) cysticercosis/taeniosis (TSCT) is a zoonotic disease complex. There is a perceived inefficient diagnosis of infections by either form, the adult pork tapeworm (taeniosis) and the larval stage of it (cysticercosis), in low-income settings, including Tanzania. This study aimed at identifying potential gaps around TSCT diagnosis and knowledge of primary healthcare providers (officers in charge (OICs) of primary healthcare facilities (PHFs)) and veterinarians (meat inspectors (MIs)) on various aspects of TSCT disease complex and addressing effective disease control in Tanzania. Methodology. A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and April 2020 in Manyara, Dodoma, Ruvuma, Iringa, and Arusha regions in Babati, Mbulu, Kongwa, Mbinga, and Nyasa districts. We interviewed 152 OICs of PHFs and 108 MIs using a structured questionnaire and 33 medical and veterinary officers from level I healthcare facilities and district livestock offices, respect...
Background: Effective animal health surveillance systems require reliable, high-quality, and time... more Background: Effective animal health surveillance systems require reliable, high-quality, and timely data for decision making. In Tanzania, the animal health surveillance system has been relying on a few data sources, which suffer from delays in reporting, underreporting, and high cost of data collection and transmission. The integration of data from multiple sources can enhance early detection and response to animal diseases and facilitate the early control of outbreaks. This study aimed to identify and assess existing and potential data sources for the animal health surveillance system in Tanzania and how they can be better used for early warning surveillance. The study used a mixed-method design to identify and assess data sources. Data were collected through document reviews, internet search, cross-sectional survey, key informant interviews, site visits, and non-participant observation. The assessment was done using pre-defined criteria. Results: A total of 13 data sources were identified and assessed. Most surveillance data came from livestock farmers, slaughter facilities, and livestock markets; while animal dip sites were the least used sources. Commercial farms and veterinary shops, electronic surveillance tools like AfyaData and Event Mobile Application (EMA-i) and information systems such as the Tanzania National Livestock Identification and Traceability System (TANLITS) and Agricultural Routine Data System (ARDS) show potential to generate relevant data for the national animal health surveillance system. The common variables found across most sources were: the name of the place (12/13), animal type/species (12/13), syndromes (10/13) and number of affected animals (8/13). The majority of the sources had good surveillance data contents and were accessible with medium to maximum spatial coverage. However, there was significant variation in terms of data frequency, accuracy and cost. There were limited integration and coordination of data flow from the identified sources with minimum to non-existing automated data entry and transmission.
A strong animal health surveillance system is an essential determinant of the health of animal an... more A strong animal health surveillance system is an essential determinant of the health of animal and human population. To ensure its functionality and performance, it needs to be evaluated regularly. Therefore, a process evaluation was conducted in this study to assess animal health surveillance processes, mechanisms and the contextual factors which facilitate or hinder uptake, implementation and sustainability of the system in Tanzania. A mixed-method study design was used to evaluate the national animal health surveillance system guided by a framework for process evaluation of complex interventions developed by Moore and others. The system was assessed against standard guidelines and procedures using the following attributes: fidelity, adherence, exposure, satisfaction, participation rate, recruitment and context. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected using a cross-sectional survey, key informant interviews, document review, site visits and non-participant observation. Da...
Background: Effective animal health surveillance systems require reliable, quality, and timely da... more Background: Effective animal health surveillance systems require reliable, quality, and timely data for decision-making. The animal health surveillance system in Tanzania has been relying on a few data sources, which suffer from delays in reporting, underreporting, and high cost of data collection and transmission. The integration of data from multiple sources can enhance early detection and response to animal diseases and consequently facilitate the early control of outbreaks. The study aimed to identify and assess the existing and potential data sources for animal health surveillance system in Tanzania and how they can better be used for early warning surveillance. The study used mixed-method design to identify and assess data sources. Data were collected through document reviews, internet search, cross-sectional survey, key informant interviews, site visits, and non-participant observation. The assessment was done using pre-defined criteria.Results: A total of 13 data sources wer...
Background Health surveillance is an important element of disease prevention, control, and manage... more Background Health surveillance is an important element of disease prevention, control, and management. During the past two decades, there have been several initiatives to integrate health surveillance systems using various mechanisms ranging from the integration of data sources to changing organizational structures and responses. The need for integration is caused by an increasing demand for joint data collection, use and preparedness for emerging infectious diseases. Objective To review the integration mechanisms in human and animal health surveillance systems and identify their contributions in strengthening surveillance systems attributes. Method The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 checklist. Peer-reviewed articles were searched from PubMed, HINARI, Web of Science, Science Direct and advanced Google search engines. The review included articles published in English from 1900 to 2018. The study selecti...
A field trial was conducted in Tanzania to determine the effectiveness of TSOL18 vaccine used con... more A field trial was conducted in Tanzania to determine the effectiveness of TSOL18 vaccine used concurrently with oxfendazole (OFZ), and of OFZ alone, on T. solium cysticercosis determined by organ and half carcase dissection of slaughter age pigs. This study followed a quasi-experimental group design. Suitable trial sites were randomly allocated to either treatment group T1 (OFZ treatment alone [30mg/kg, Paranthic 10%]) or T2 (TSOL18 [1ml, Cysvax] plus OFZ). Three 4-monthly treatments were administered to eligible pigs. A random selection of pigs were necropsied at baseline and at endline, 2-3.5 months after the final treatment. Additionally, untreated pigs from T1 and T2 areas were necropsied at endline to provide contemporaneous comparisons with T1 and T2 pigs. Baseline prevalence of viable T. solium cysticerci for T1 was 25.5% (Exact 95% CI: 13.9, 40.3; n = 12/47), and for T2 was 12.0% (CI: 6.4, 20.0; n = 12/100). At endline, prevalence was 2.8% for T1 (CI: 0.1, 14.5, n = 1/36) and 0% for T2 (CI: 0, 4.7, n = 0/77). Among untreated pigs, three had viable cysticerci, one from T1 area (12.5%, CI: 0.3, 52.7; n = 1/8) and two from T2 area (5.7%, CI: 0.7, 19.2, n = 2/35). Fisher's exact test showed significant changes in prevalence from baseline to endline in both groups (T1: p = 0.005, T2: p = 0.001). Firth's penalized Maximum Likelihood method suggested the changes were not significant relative to their controls (T1: p = 0.245, T2: p = 0.076). These findings showed a significant reduction in the prevalence of viable cysticerci from baseline to endline after both interventions. However, the changes could not be definitively attributed to the interventions due, in part, to small numbers of control pigs. Concurrent administration of the TSOL18 and OFZ cleared infection among assessed pigs whereas infection remained after treatment with OFZ only. Further studies including PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
Zoonoses account for the most commonly reported emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in S... more Zoonoses account for the most commonly reported emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is limited knowledge on how pastoral communities perceive zoonoses in relation to their livelihoods, culture and their wider ecology. This study was carried out to explore local knowledge and perceptions on zoonoses among pastoralists in Tanzania. This study involved pastoralists in Ngorongoro district in northern Tanzania and Kibaha and Bagamoyo districts in eastern Tanzania. Qualitative methods of focus group discussions, participatory epidemiology and interviews were used. A total of 223 people were involved in the study. Among the pastoralists, there was no specific term in their local language that describes zoonosis. Pastoralists from northern Tanzania possessed a higher understanding on the existence of a number of zoonoses than their eastern districts' counterparts. Understanding of zoonoses could be categorized into two broad groups: a local...
This article highlights the link between low-quality water and food crops irrigation. A cross-sec... more This article highlights the link between low-quality water and food crops irrigation. A cross-sectional research was conducted to assess factors motivating farmers to use low-quality water from the waste stabilisation ponds for food crops irrigation in urban and peri-urban areas in Morogoro Urban and Mvomero, in Morogoro Region, Tanzania, from October 2013 to March 2015. Data were collected through farmers’ survey (n = 80), in-depth interviews with key informants (n = 7) and focus group discussions (n = 4). Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in results presentation. The findings indicated alternative way of earning income during dry seasons, lack of alternative sources of irrigation water, alternative source of employment, the need to produce food, land availability near the low-quality water, plant nutrients in the water and limited awareness of the health problems associated with low-quality water irrigation as incentives for farmers to irrigate food crops using low-quality water. The results further showed that farming using low-quality water has been their livelihood strategy; farmers meet their family needs such as school fees, health and food by using the income generated from the sale of vegetables and paddy. Regardless of all these benefits, the existing use of low-quality water in farming activities is informal. Besides, there are no regulations guiding its use with no declaration to whether the resource is suitable for food crops irrigation. However, banning the practice on the ground of health risks might be devastating to farmers. This practice should therefore be regulated in such a way that low-quality water disposed from the ponds is considered as a potential source of water for food crops irrigation.
Veterinary ethics is the application of ethical theories, principles, and rules by professionals ... more Veterinary ethics is the application of ethical theories, principles, and rules by professionals and paraprofessionals in resolving ethical dilemmas in the practice of veterinary care. In order to resolve ethical dilemmas, a minimum understanding of and exposure to moral theories is essential. Aesculapian authority and professionalism confer on veterinarians the right to treat animals and the expectation from the public that veterinarians will act in the interest of the animal, client, and the public. Branches of veterinary ethics are described with a greater focus on normative ethics, or theories are discussed. The fundamental problem of veterinary professional ethics relating to the vet-patient-client triad and the complications arising from the dualist nature of veterinary medicine pitting professionalism against commercial interests are explored. Having laid the theoretical basis, the rest of the entry examines various issues with ethical dimensions. Included are euthanasia, gen...
A study was done to identify livestock keepers’ and veterinary service providers’ perceptions on ... more A study was done to identify livestock keepers’ and veterinary service providers’ perceptions on socio economic losses and control strategies for Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in three districts of Dodoma region (Bahi, Chamwimo, and Mpwapwa). A structured questionnaire was administered to 126 households and in depth interviews were conducted with 21 key informants one from each village. CBPP was identified the main killer of adult cattle in the last 10 years (1998 to 2008). Results show cattle herd mean number per household declined from 548 to 420 before and after CBPP outbreak respectively which was both economically (23% mortality) demonstrating statistically significant (p=0.0015) reduction of cattle number in the study area. Socio-economic losses reported by livestock keepers were due to mortalities, treatment costs, reduced milk, and loss of draft power which amounted to about Tsh. 982,536,950. Other social consequences of CBPP were reduction in dowry payment from 2...
International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 2009
ABSTRACT Introduction: Education of pig farmers on health and pig management practices can have a... more ABSTRACT Introduction: Education of pig farmers on health and pig management practices can have an important contribution to the control of Taenia solium infections in endemic areas, leading to potential for providing long-term control of the parasite. In this paper, we describe the application of a health promotion model to implement and evaluate evidence-based strategies for control of T. solium infections in northern Tanzania. Design and methods: We used the PRECEDE-PROCEED model as a guide to implement two previously planned health-promotion strategies (enhancing the quality provided by the public health extension services, and conducting seminars for smallholder pig farmers). We carried out a randomised-controlled field trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. Results: Process evaluation revealed a good strategy delivery and a moderate participation of the smallholder pig farmers in the training. The impact evaluation revealed a significant reduction of consumption of pork infected with cysticercosis by the intervention (reduction by 20 per cent, P = 0.005). The outcome evaluation revealed a reduction of the incidence rate of porcine cysticercosis by 43 per cent by the intervention. Conclusion: The PRECEDE-PROCEED model may provide an efficient means for designing, implementing, and evaluating effective strategies for control of T. solium infections in any endemic setting.
A study using two cross-sectional and a longitudinal research designs was undertaken to assess sm... more A study using two cross-sectional and a longitudinal research designs was undertaken to assess smallholder pig marketing system to explore basic information for improving smallholder pig production and marketing systems. The first design involved a cross-sectional survey of 300 pig farmers randomly selected in 30 villages in Mbozi and Mbeya rural districts. The second design used a cross-sectional survey of 124 pig traders randomly selected in 65 villages in Mbozi and Mbeya rural districts, and Mbeya Municipality. The third one used a longitudinal design and collected data from 40 pig farmers in 10 villages who had also participated in the first design. Results showed that, pig-marketing systems had various channels and segments moving mainly pigs and pork to farmers, traders and consumers. Major market participants in the pig market chain were the pig farmers who played a dual role as pig producers and buyers, traders of live pigs and pork, and finally pork consumers. Most farmer...
Background Taenia solium is a zoonotic parasite responsible for neurocysticercosis—a major cause ... more Background Taenia solium is a zoonotic parasite responsible for neurocysticercosis—a major cause of late-onset acquired epilepsy in humans. Lack of affordable, specific and sensitive diagnostic tools hampers control of the parasite. This study assessed the performance of an antigen detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ag-ELISA) in the diagnosis of viable T. solium cysticercosis in naturally infected slaughter-age pigs in an endemic area in Tanzania. Methods A total of 350 pigs were bled before they were slaughtered and their carcases examined. Serum was analyzed for circulating antigens by using a monoclonal antibody-based B158/B60 Ag-ELISA. Each carcase was examined for the presence of Taenia hydatigena cysticerci and half carcase musculature together with the whole brain, head muscles, tongue, heart and diaphragm were sliced with fine cuts (< 0.5 cm) to reveal and enumerate T. solium cysticerci. Half carcase dissection can detect at least 84% of infected pigs. Prevalenc...
Background Taenia solium is a zoonotic parasite responsible for neurocysticercosis—a major cause ... more Background Taenia solium is a zoonotic parasite responsible for neurocysticercosis—a major cause of late-onset acquired epilepsy in humans. Lack of affordable, specific and sensitive diagnostic tools hampers control of the parasite. This study assessed the performance of an antigen detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ag-ELISA) in the diagnosis of viable T. solium cysticercosis in naturally infected slaughter-age pigs in an endemic area in Tanzania. Methods A total of 350 pigs were bled before they were slaughtered and their carcases examined. Serum was analyzed for circulating antigens by using a monoclonal antibody-based B158/B60 Ag-ELISA. Each carcase was examined for the presence of Taenia hydatigena cysticerci and half carcase musculature together with the whole brain, head muscles, tongue, heart and diaphragm were sliced with fine cuts (< 0.5 cm) to reveal and enumerate T. solium cysticerci. Half carcase dissection can detect at least 84% of infected pigs. Prevalenc...
Animal health surveillance plays a vital role in ensuring public health, animal welfare, and sust... more Animal health surveillance plays a vital role in ensuring public health, animal welfare, and sustainable food production by monitoring disease trends, early detecting (new) hazards, facilitating disease control and infection, and providing data for risk analysis. Good stakeholder collaboration across the sector can lead to better communication, better science and decision-making and more effective surveillance and response. An understanding of relevant stakeholders, their interests and their power can facilitate such collaboration. While information on key stakeholders in animal health surveillance is available at the national level in Tanzania, it is missing at the subnational level. The study aimed to explore the existing stakeholders' collaborations and influences at the subnational level through stakeholder mapping and to determine potential leverage points for improving the national animal health surveillance system. A qualitative design was used, involving consultative wor...
Background. Taenia solium (neuro) cysticercosis/taeniosis (TSCT) is a zoonotic disease complex. T... more Background. Taenia solium (neuro) cysticercosis/taeniosis (TSCT) is a zoonotic disease complex. There is a perceived inefficient diagnosis of infections by either form, the adult pork tapeworm (taeniosis) and the larval stage of it (cysticercosis), in low-income settings, including Tanzania. This study aimed at identifying potential gaps around TSCT diagnosis and knowledge of primary healthcare providers (officers in charge (OICs) of primary healthcare facilities (PHFs)) and veterinarians (meat inspectors (MIs)) on various aspects of TSCT disease complex and addressing effective disease control in Tanzania. Methodology. A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and April 2020 in Manyara, Dodoma, Ruvuma, Iringa, and Arusha regions in Babati, Mbulu, Kongwa, Mbinga, and Nyasa districts. We interviewed 152 OICs of PHFs and 108 MIs using a structured questionnaire and 33 medical and veterinary officers from level I healthcare facilities and district livestock offices, respect...
Background: Effective animal health surveillance systems require reliable, high-quality, and time... more Background: Effective animal health surveillance systems require reliable, high-quality, and timely data for decision making. In Tanzania, the animal health surveillance system has been relying on a few data sources, which suffer from delays in reporting, underreporting, and high cost of data collection and transmission. The integration of data from multiple sources can enhance early detection and response to animal diseases and facilitate the early control of outbreaks. This study aimed to identify and assess existing and potential data sources for the animal health surveillance system in Tanzania and how they can be better used for early warning surveillance. The study used a mixed-method design to identify and assess data sources. Data were collected through document reviews, internet search, cross-sectional survey, key informant interviews, site visits, and non-participant observation. The assessment was done using pre-defined criteria. Results: A total of 13 data sources were identified and assessed. Most surveillance data came from livestock farmers, slaughter facilities, and livestock markets; while animal dip sites were the least used sources. Commercial farms and veterinary shops, electronic surveillance tools like AfyaData and Event Mobile Application (EMA-i) and information systems such as the Tanzania National Livestock Identification and Traceability System (TANLITS) and Agricultural Routine Data System (ARDS) show potential to generate relevant data for the national animal health surveillance system. The common variables found across most sources were: the name of the place (12/13), animal type/species (12/13), syndromes (10/13) and number of affected animals (8/13). The majority of the sources had good surveillance data contents and were accessible with medium to maximum spatial coverage. However, there was significant variation in terms of data frequency, accuracy and cost. There were limited integration and coordination of data flow from the identified sources with minimum to non-existing automated data entry and transmission.
A strong animal health surveillance system is an essential determinant of the health of animal an... more A strong animal health surveillance system is an essential determinant of the health of animal and human population. To ensure its functionality and performance, it needs to be evaluated regularly. Therefore, a process evaluation was conducted in this study to assess animal health surveillance processes, mechanisms and the contextual factors which facilitate or hinder uptake, implementation and sustainability of the system in Tanzania. A mixed-method study design was used to evaluate the national animal health surveillance system guided by a framework for process evaluation of complex interventions developed by Moore and others. The system was assessed against standard guidelines and procedures using the following attributes: fidelity, adherence, exposure, satisfaction, participation rate, recruitment and context. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected using a cross-sectional survey, key informant interviews, document review, site visits and non-participant observation. Da...
Background: Effective animal health surveillance systems require reliable, quality, and timely da... more Background: Effective animal health surveillance systems require reliable, quality, and timely data for decision-making. The animal health surveillance system in Tanzania has been relying on a few data sources, which suffer from delays in reporting, underreporting, and high cost of data collection and transmission. The integration of data from multiple sources can enhance early detection and response to animal diseases and consequently facilitate the early control of outbreaks. The study aimed to identify and assess the existing and potential data sources for animal health surveillance system in Tanzania and how they can better be used for early warning surveillance. The study used mixed-method design to identify and assess data sources. Data were collected through document reviews, internet search, cross-sectional survey, key informant interviews, site visits, and non-participant observation. The assessment was done using pre-defined criteria.Results: A total of 13 data sources wer...
Background Health surveillance is an important element of disease prevention, control, and manage... more Background Health surveillance is an important element of disease prevention, control, and management. During the past two decades, there have been several initiatives to integrate health surveillance systems using various mechanisms ranging from the integration of data sources to changing organizational structures and responses. The need for integration is caused by an increasing demand for joint data collection, use and preparedness for emerging infectious diseases. Objective To review the integration mechanisms in human and animal health surveillance systems and identify their contributions in strengthening surveillance systems attributes. Method The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 checklist. Peer-reviewed articles were searched from PubMed, HINARI, Web of Science, Science Direct and advanced Google search engines. The review included articles published in English from 1900 to 2018. The study selecti...
A field trial was conducted in Tanzania to determine the effectiveness of TSOL18 vaccine used con... more A field trial was conducted in Tanzania to determine the effectiveness of TSOL18 vaccine used concurrently with oxfendazole (OFZ), and of OFZ alone, on T. solium cysticercosis determined by organ and half carcase dissection of slaughter age pigs. This study followed a quasi-experimental group design. Suitable trial sites were randomly allocated to either treatment group T1 (OFZ treatment alone [30mg/kg, Paranthic 10%]) or T2 (TSOL18 [1ml, Cysvax] plus OFZ). Three 4-monthly treatments were administered to eligible pigs. A random selection of pigs were necropsied at baseline and at endline, 2-3.5 months after the final treatment. Additionally, untreated pigs from T1 and T2 areas were necropsied at endline to provide contemporaneous comparisons with T1 and T2 pigs. Baseline prevalence of viable T. solium cysticerci for T1 was 25.5% (Exact 95% CI: 13.9, 40.3; n = 12/47), and for T2 was 12.0% (CI: 6.4, 20.0; n = 12/100). At endline, prevalence was 2.8% for T1 (CI: 0.1, 14.5, n = 1/36) and 0% for T2 (CI: 0, 4.7, n = 0/77). Among untreated pigs, three had viable cysticerci, one from T1 area (12.5%, CI: 0.3, 52.7; n = 1/8) and two from T2 area (5.7%, CI: 0.7, 19.2, n = 2/35). Fisher's exact test showed significant changes in prevalence from baseline to endline in both groups (T1: p = 0.005, T2: p = 0.001). Firth's penalized Maximum Likelihood method suggested the changes were not significant relative to their controls (T1: p = 0.245, T2: p = 0.076). These findings showed a significant reduction in the prevalence of viable cysticerci from baseline to endline after both interventions. However, the changes could not be definitively attributed to the interventions due, in part, to small numbers of control pigs. Concurrent administration of the TSOL18 and OFZ cleared infection among assessed pigs whereas infection remained after treatment with OFZ only. Further studies including PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
Zoonoses account for the most commonly reported emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in S... more Zoonoses account for the most commonly reported emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is limited knowledge on how pastoral communities perceive zoonoses in relation to their livelihoods, culture and their wider ecology. This study was carried out to explore local knowledge and perceptions on zoonoses among pastoralists in Tanzania. This study involved pastoralists in Ngorongoro district in northern Tanzania and Kibaha and Bagamoyo districts in eastern Tanzania. Qualitative methods of focus group discussions, participatory epidemiology and interviews were used. A total of 223 people were involved in the study. Among the pastoralists, there was no specific term in their local language that describes zoonosis. Pastoralists from northern Tanzania possessed a higher understanding on the existence of a number of zoonoses than their eastern districts' counterparts. Understanding of zoonoses could be categorized into two broad groups: a local...
This article highlights the link between low-quality water and food crops irrigation. A cross-sec... more This article highlights the link between low-quality water and food crops irrigation. A cross-sectional research was conducted to assess factors motivating farmers to use low-quality water from the waste stabilisation ponds for food crops irrigation in urban and peri-urban areas in Morogoro Urban and Mvomero, in Morogoro Region, Tanzania, from October 2013 to March 2015. Data were collected through farmers’ survey (n = 80), in-depth interviews with key informants (n = 7) and focus group discussions (n = 4). Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in results presentation. The findings indicated alternative way of earning income during dry seasons, lack of alternative sources of irrigation water, alternative source of employment, the need to produce food, land availability near the low-quality water, plant nutrients in the water and limited awareness of the health problems associated with low-quality water irrigation as incentives for farmers to irrigate food crops using low-quality water. The results further showed that farming using low-quality water has been their livelihood strategy; farmers meet their family needs such as school fees, health and food by using the income generated from the sale of vegetables and paddy. Regardless of all these benefits, the existing use of low-quality water in farming activities is informal. Besides, there are no regulations guiding its use with no declaration to whether the resource is suitable for food crops irrigation. However, banning the practice on the ground of health risks might be devastating to farmers. This practice should therefore be regulated in such a way that low-quality water disposed from the ponds is considered as a potential source of water for food crops irrigation.
Veterinary ethics is the application of ethical theories, principles, and rules by professionals ... more Veterinary ethics is the application of ethical theories, principles, and rules by professionals and paraprofessionals in resolving ethical dilemmas in the practice of veterinary care. In order to resolve ethical dilemmas, a minimum understanding of and exposure to moral theories is essential. Aesculapian authority and professionalism confer on veterinarians the right to treat animals and the expectation from the public that veterinarians will act in the interest of the animal, client, and the public. Branches of veterinary ethics are described with a greater focus on normative ethics, or theories are discussed. The fundamental problem of veterinary professional ethics relating to the vet-patient-client triad and the complications arising from the dualist nature of veterinary medicine pitting professionalism against commercial interests are explored. Having laid the theoretical basis, the rest of the entry examines various issues with ethical dimensions. Included are euthanasia, gen...
A study was done to identify livestock keepers’ and veterinary service providers’ perceptions on ... more A study was done to identify livestock keepers’ and veterinary service providers’ perceptions on socio economic losses and control strategies for Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in three districts of Dodoma region (Bahi, Chamwimo, and Mpwapwa). A structured questionnaire was administered to 126 households and in depth interviews were conducted with 21 key informants one from each village. CBPP was identified the main killer of adult cattle in the last 10 years (1998 to 2008). Results show cattle herd mean number per household declined from 548 to 420 before and after CBPP outbreak respectively which was both economically (23% mortality) demonstrating statistically significant (p=0.0015) reduction of cattle number in the study area. Socio-economic losses reported by livestock keepers were due to mortalities, treatment costs, reduced milk, and loss of draft power which amounted to about Tsh. 982,536,950. Other social consequences of CBPP were reduction in dowry payment from 2...
International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 2009
ABSTRACT Introduction: Education of pig farmers on health and pig management practices can have a... more ABSTRACT Introduction: Education of pig farmers on health and pig management practices can have an important contribution to the control of Taenia solium infections in endemic areas, leading to potential for providing long-term control of the parasite. In this paper, we describe the application of a health promotion model to implement and evaluate evidence-based strategies for control of T. solium infections in northern Tanzania. Design and methods: We used the PRECEDE-PROCEED model as a guide to implement two previously planned health-promotion strategies (enhancing the quality provided by the public health extension services, and conducting seminars for smallholder pig farmers). We carried out a randomised-controlled field trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. Results: Process evaluation revealed a good strategy delivery and a moderate participation of the smallholder pig farmers in the training. The impact evaluation revealed a significant reduction of consumption of pork infected with cysticercosis by the intervention (reduction by 20 per cent, P = 0.005). The outcome evaluation revealed a reduction of the incidence rate of porcine cysticercosis by 43 per cent by the intervention. Conclusion: The PRECEDE-PROCEED model may provide an efficient means for designing, implementing, and evaluating effective strategies for control of T. solium infections in any endemic setting.
A study using two cross-sectional and a longitudinal research designs was undertaken to assess sm... more A study using two cross-sectional and a longitudinal research designs was undertaken to assess smallholder pig marketing system to explore basic information for improving smallholder pig production and marketing systems. The first design involved a cross-sectional survey of 300 pig farmers randomly selected in 30 villages in Mbozi and Mbeya rural districts. The second design used a cross-sectional survey of 124 pig traders randomly selected in 65 villages in Mbozi and Mbeya rural districts, and Mbeya Municipality. The third one used a longitudinal design and collected data from 40 pig farmers in 10 villages who had also participated in the first design. Results showed that, pig-marketing systems had various channels and segments moving mainly pigs and pork to farmers, traders and consumers. Major market participants in the pig market chain were the pig farmers who played a dual role as pig producers and buyers, traders of live pigs and pork, and finally pork consumers. Most farmer...
Background Taenia solium is a zoonotic parasite responsible for neurocysticercosis—a major cause ... more Background Taenia solium is a zoonotic parasite responsible for neurocysticercosis—a major cause of late-onset acquired epilepsy in humans. Lack of affordable, specific and sensitive diagnostic tools hampers control of the parasite. This study assessed the performance of an antigen detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ag-ELISA) in the diagnosis of viable T. solium cysticercosis in naturally infected slaughter-age pigs in an endemic area in Tanzania. Methods A total of 350 pigs were bled before they were slaughtered and their carcases examined. Serum was analyzed for circulating antigens by using a monoclonal antibody-based B158/B60 Ag-ELISA. Each carcase was examined for the presence of Taenia hydatigena cysticerci and half carcase musculature together with the whole brain, head muscles, tongue, heart and diaphragm were sliced with fine cuts (< 0.5 cm) to reveal and enumerate T. solium cysticerci. Half carcase dissection can detect at least 84% of infected pigs. Prevalenc...
Background Taenia solium is a zoonotic parasite responsible for neurocysticercosis—a major cause ... more Background Taenia solium is a zoonotic parasite responsible for neurocysticercosis—a major cause of late-onset acquired epilepsy in humans. Lack of affordable, specific and sensitive diagnostic tools hampers control of the parasite. This study assessed the performance of an antigen detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ag-ELISA) in the diagnosis of viable T. solium cysticercosis in naturally infected slaughter-age pigs in an endemic area in Tanzania. Methods A total of 350 pigs were bled before they were slaughtered and their carcases examined. Serum was analyzed for circulating antigens by using a monoclonal antibody-based B158/B60 Ag-ELISA. Each carcase was examined for the presence of Taenia hydatigena cysticerci and half carcase musculature together with the whole brain, head muscles, tongue, heart and diaphragm were sliced with fine cuts (< 0.5 cm) to reveal and enumerate T. solium cysticerci. Half carcase dissection can detect at least 84% of infected pigs. Prevalenc...
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Papers by James Mlangwa