Arsi Region Research Articles

ISWI contributes to ArsI insulator function in development of the sea urchin

Insulators are genomic elements that regulate transcriptional activity by forming chromatin boundaries. Various DNA insulators have been identified or are postulated in many organisms, and the paradigmatic CTCF-dependent insulators are perhaps the best understood and most widespread in function. The diversity of DNA insulators is, however, understudied, especially in the context of embryonic development, when many new gene territories undergo transitions in functionality. Here we report the functional analysis of the arylsulfatase insulator (ArsI) derived from the sea urchin, which has conserved insulator activity throughout the many metazoans tested, but for which the molecular mechanism of function is unknown. Using a rapid in vivo assay system and a high-throughput mega-shift assay, we identified a minimal region in ArsI that is responsible for its insulator function. We discovered a small set of proteins specifically bound to the minimal ArsI region, including ISWI, a known chromatin-remodeling protein. During embryogenesis, ISWI was found to interact with select ArsI sites throughout the genome, and when inactivated led to misregulation of select gene expression, loss of insulator activity and aberrant morphogenesis. These studies reveal a mechanistic basis for ArsI function in the gene regulatory network of early development.

Angiotensin-I Converting Enzyme Genotype Does Not Strongly Correlate With Elite Endurance Athlete Status In Ethiopians

There has been considerable interest over recent years in the use of the Angiotensin-I Converting Enzyme (ACE) gene as a marker of athletic performance. A previous study found no difference in ACE polymorphism between elite Kenyan endurance runners and demographically-matched controls (Scott et al. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 141(2):169-175, 2005), a result that was somewhat surprising in view of contrasting findings in Caucasian populations. PURPOSE: To investigate the association between ACE polymorphisms and elite endurance athlete status in Ethiopians. METHODS: DNA was extracted from buccal swabs collected from 114 members of the Ethiopian national athletics team (E), 315 individuals representative of the general Ethiopian population (C), and 93 individuals from the Arsi region (A), where the majority of elite Ethiopian distance runners originate. RESULTS: There were no significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in athletes or controls. Ethiopian athletes did not differ significantly from general controls (P = 0.076) or Arsi (P = 0.87) in their ACE ID genotype frequencies (E: 16% II, C: 8% II, A: 13% II). The tendency towards significance in ID genotype frequency between athletes and general controls was not replicated in ACE 22982 genotype (E: 13% AA, C: 12% AA, A: 13% AA), where no significant differences were found (E vs C: P = 0.95, E vs A: P = 0.73). CONCLUSIONS: As previously shown in elite Kenyan athletes, the ACE genotype is not directly associated with elite endurance status in Ethiopians. The tendency towards significance in ID genotype frequency between athletes and general controls may be a reflection of the region of Arsi where the majority of Ethiopian athletes originate. Research part-funded by The Royal Society, The Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, and The Wellcome Trust

Epidemiology of infectious keratoconjunctivitis in cattle in south-east Ethiopia.

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of infectious keratoconjunctivitis on cross-breed dairy farms and to evaluate factors that influence its distribution. A total of 11 dairy farms and one cattle cross-breeding farm in different parts of Arsi region, south-east Ethiopia were clinically and bacteriologically investigated from February 1989 to December 1990. Out of 5221 local zebu and cross-breed dairy animals, 110 were found to have different degrees of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis. Of these, 94 (85.5%) were unilateral and 16 (14.5%) were bilateral. The prevalence of the disease was significantly (P < 0.001) influenced by age and breed; high exotic blood level and younger age groups were mainly affected. However, severity of the disease was not significantly associated with age (P > 0.750). Moraxella bovis was isolated from 88 (80%) of the 110 bacteriologically positive cases. Of these isolates, 61 (69%) were haemolytic and 27 (31%) were non-haemolytic strains. Infection with M. bovis was unilateral. Concurrent infections with M. bovis included Actinomyces pyogenes 23 (21%), Staphylococcus aureus 17 (15%), Pasteurella haemolytica nine (8%), Escherichia coli eight (7%) and Proteus spp. four (3.6%).

Lactation performance of purebred Arsi cows and Friesian × Arsi crosses under pre-partum and post-partum supplementary feeding regimes

AbstractA study was conducted at the Asella Station in the Arsi Region of Ethiopia to investigate the dairy performance of indigenous purebred Arsi and Friesian × Arsi crosses under different pre-partum and post-partum supplementary feeding regimes. A total of’343 first-lactation animals were involved in the experiment. Lactation performance was not significantly affected by pre-partum supplementation. Post-partum supplementary feeding significantly affected total lactation milk and butterfat yields of the crosses but not the purebred Arsi. Arsi crosses produced more milk (1873 (s.e. 65·1) v. 258 (s.e. 31·7) kg) and butterfat (92 (s.e. 4·0) v. 25 (s.e. 2·8) kg) than purebred Arsi. The crosses stayed in lactation longer (474 (s.e. 13·0) v. 179 (s.e. 15·4) days) than the latter. Purebred Arsi manifested much more variation in total lactation milk yield (CV: 1·27 v. 0·37), lactation length (0·91 v. 0·30) and butterfat yield (0·71 v. 0·42) than Arsi crosses. F1 crosses produced slightly more milk (+266 kg) and butterfat (+19·3 kg) but had shorter (-30 days) lactations than the backerosses.

Sociological and demographic characteristics of a recently found arsi gelada population in ethiopia

A new population of gelada baboons isolated from other known gelada populations living on the opposite side of the Rift Valley was found in 1989 in the Arsi region of Ethiopia (Mori B and (2) Males may be incorporated in a unit for defense against leopards. As the units were vary small in size and unstable as compared with the Semien gelada units, the traditional concept of a stable gelada unit formed by blood related females, does not seem to fit this population.

Blood protein variation of a new population of gelada baboons (Theoropithecus gelada), in the Southern Rift Valley, Arsi Region, Ethiopia

Blood protein polymorphism of gelada baboon (Theropithecus gelada) to the south of the Rift Valley, Arsi Region, were examined for 36 genetic loci using three electrophoresis techniques for 48 blood samples from three localities, and compared with the northern geladas. New variant alleles and genetic markers of Hb-α, PA-2, and TBPA loci were detected. The distribution patterns of the variant alleles of Hb-α, PA-2, TBPA, Pi, Gc, PGM-II, and TBPA loci were localized in the geographic regions of south and north gelada populations, respectively. Genetic variability of southern geladas was estimated as Ppoly=0.083 and\(\bar H = 0.024\), which was comparable to northern geladas. A remarkably high genetic differentiation between the two geographic populations was shown byNei's genetic distance=0.071 and GST value=0.420. Our results of genetic analysis suggest that the southern and northern gelada populations have been separated for several hundred thousand years, and gene flow between the two geographic populations is severely restricted. The southern gelada baboon may be regarded as a distinct subspecies.

A case of infanticide in a recently found gelada population in Arsi, Ethiopia

There have been no reports of infanticide in wild gelada baboons and it has been argued that infanticide is not necessary in geladas, since the birth interval of female gelada can be shortened after takeover of a unit by a new leader male without infanticide. However, we observed an instance of infanticide in a newly-found wild gelada population in the Arsi Region of Ethiopia. After a leader male of the unit was severely wounded by a leopard attack, he was quite weakened. The second male of the unit, a young adult male, became the leader of the unit three weeks later, but the former leader continued to stay in the unit as a second male. After a week, two other adult males joined the unit which, therefore, came to include four adult males. The infanticide took place nine days later. The perpetrator was one of the immigrant males and he showed great interest in the mother of the unweaned victim infant. Although the perpetrator copulated with her after the infanticide, the usurper was found to own all three adult females after two weeks following the infanticide; i.e. the perpetrator could not own any female. The wounded former leader showed conspicuous protective behavior towards the victim's mother and the dead infant. One possible explanation for the occurrence of infanticide in this population of geladas is as follows. Gelada males in this area may be able to join units more easily to form multi-male units but then have shorter tenure in the units. Facing the unstable condition of units, they may sometimes engage in infanticide to increase their breeding opportunities, even before becoming a leader.

A community survey on maternal and child health services utilization in rural Ethiopia

A household health interview survey on MCH services utilization was carried out in 22 villages of a rural district of Arsi region, Ethiopia, before the launching of an integrated MCH programme. Coverage of antenatal services was 26%, and 61% of the women who received antenatal care reported having had 3 or more visits. Antenatal care was positively associated with living within 10 km of the Health Centre. Twenty-eight percent of the mothers attended the under-5 clinic and most returned for 3 or more visits. In addition, 99% reported having breast-fed their last child but more than 25% started weaning only after the seventh month of age. Differences in practice of treating diarrhoea according to knowledge of ORS were found. Of the 33% of those with knowledge of ORS, almost 90% reported use of ORS for treating child's diarrhoea, showing a positive attitude towards modern health care. The proportion of women using family planning was 5%, with no difference found between Christians and Muslims. Results on EPI coverage validated data from routine reporting. Integration of MCH services including out-reach activities may increase access and coverage of MCH services.

Louse-borne relapsing fever in Ethiopian children: a clinical study

An outbreak of louse-borne relapsing fever, caused by the return to their original recruitment areas of soldiers at the end of 30 years of fighting in northern Ethiopia, was reported in the Arsi region. We studied 103 infants and children with louse-borne relapsing fever who were admitted to Asella Hospital between 1 May 1991 and 30 April 1992. Twenty-one per cent of the patients had a clear history of contact with sick ex-soldiers; 42% were students admitted to the hospital following the re-opening of schools after the summer vacation. The common clinical features of the disease were fever in 100%, headache in 84.5%, chills in 74%, abdominal pain in 51%, epistaxis in 20%, hepatomegaly in 26%, splenomegaly in 14%, petechial rash in 34% and jaundice in 10%. Differences in symptoms and signs according to age are described. Observed complications were pneumonia in 14% and central nervous system involvement in 10%. Four children went into deep coma, and two of them died. Severe disease was associated with a high density of spirochaetes in blood smears. Patients were treated with two low doses of penicillin or one dose of penicillin followed by, according to age, chloramphenicol or tetracycline, and with intravenous fluids. The case fatality rate was 1.9%. Jarisch-Herxheimer reactions occurred in 61% of patients. There were relapses in 2.9% of treated patients.

Census in a rural area of ethiopia: Methodology and results

A census and an ecologic survey were performed in 39 villages of a rural district of Arsi Region, Ethiopia, in difficult field circumstances. Information on age, ethnic group, education and family relationship, as well as data on health facilities and availability of basic services were collected. Supervised students, working in teams, were used as interviewers. Communities were involved through plenary meetings and community health agents participated in the data collection process. A total of 64,714 people in 12,152 households were registered. The repeatability of age assessment was investigated by comparing the results from two villages with data obtained in a pilot study carried out 6 months earlier. The technical error was only 0.80 and 1.67 in the 0-5 and 6-15 age-groups, respectively. Three percent of the total population was under one year, less than previously estimated. This may, in part, be due to the family planning programme in the region. Eighteen percent of the households were headed by females. School attendance was less common among females and in the Oromo ethnic group. The availability of basic services, including safe water and basic sanitation supplies, was very poor in the area.

Single-strand-binding factor(s) which interact with ARS1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Since plasmids containing autonomously replicating sequence(s) ( ARS) can transform Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells at high frequency, ARS are considered to be the replicanion origins of chromosomes. To study the mechanism of initiation of eukaryotic chromosomal replication, we examined protein factors which interact with the ARSI region located near the centromere of chromosome IV in S. cervisiiae. Using the gel-shift assay, we found protein factors which bound to a single-stranded, 97-bp fragment of the ARSI region containing the core consensus. Competition experiments with various oligodeoxyribonucleotides (oligos) suggest that a site recognized by the factor(s) was within the element containing the core consensus and adjacent close matches to the core consensus of the minus strand. Indeed, when the oligo containing the minus strand of this element was used as a probe, two oligo-protein complexes were detected. Mutations in the core consensus reduced these binding activities. When the plus-strand oligo of the same region was used as a probe, a retarded band was also detected, but with less specific binding. Considering the fact that the core consensus and close matches to the core consensus are important for ARS function, these results imply that the protein factors detected in this experiment may participate in DNA replication.

Serological survey of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Ethiopia.

The presence of anti-human immunodeficiency virus 1 antibodies was tested in 5,565 serum samples from Ethiopia of which 5,265 were collected from military recruits in the framework of a hepatitis B (HBV) seroepidemiological study performed on a national scale in 1985-1986; the remaining were 300 sera from a population of outpatients belonging to the Arsi region. Of the 5,565 sera, 121 (2.1%) were found to be repeatedly reactive by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test for HIV-1 antibodies, but these reactivities were confirmed by Western Blot (WB) assay in only four cases (0.07%) and by ENVACOR (confirmatory competitive ELISA) in three samples. Twenty-three sera were positive by WB to one or two bands related to core proteins but were all negative by ENVACOR. However, according to accepted criteria for positivity, these sera must be regarded as indeterminant reactors. A sample of 409 sera, both reactive and nonreactive by HIV-1 ELISA, were further tested for antibodies to HIV-2 by ELISA. Reactive sera were analysed by WB and by radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA) using 35S-cysteine metabolically labelled SIVmac (HTLV-IV) infected cell lysates. Only 11 sera were found to be slightly reactive in ELISA, but this was not confirmed by WB or RIPA. Data indicate that HIV infection was not widespread in the general population of Ethiopia up to 1986.

Hepatitis B infections in the Arsi region of Ethiopia.

In a sample of inhabitants of the Arsi region of Ethiopia prevalence of hepatitis B is around 80% in the age group 20-24. In addition to age, sex and size of family, exposure to tribal practices is a determinant of seropositivity in this group accounting for as much as 20% of the total burden of the infection. Waiting for a mass vaccination campaign, presently unrealistic in this area of the world, health education, as part of a comprehensive primary health care program, has to be considered as a potentially effective preventive tool.

Villagisation in Ethiopia's Arsi Region

The Government of Socialist Ethiopia has decided to move all rural inhabitants into newly established villages as part of its strategy for promoting economic growth through agrarian socialism. Known as ‘villagisation’, this programme started in 1978 in parts of Bale Region and continued in Hararghe Region in 1984. Based on this experience, as well as on lessons learned while resettling those evicted to make way for state farms in the Wabe Shebelli valley, the Government began a nationwide campaign in late 1985 designed to move some 33 million rural people into consolidated settlements by 1995.1