Different Regions In Tanzania Research Articles

Future climate projection across Tanzania under CMIP6 with high-resolution regional climate model

Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges faced by developing countries due to their lower adaptive capacity, with far-reaching impacts on agriculture. The mid-century period is widely regarded as a critical moment, during which adaptation is deemed essential to mitigating the associated impacts. This study presents future climate projections across Tanzania using the latest generation of global climate models (CMIP6) combined with a high-resolution regional climate model. The findings indicate that, the trends in temperature and precipitation in Tanzania from 1991 to 2020, minimum temperatures showed the highest variability with a trend of 0.3 °C, indicating significant fluctuations in minimum temperature over the decades. Maximum temperatures also showed high variability with a trend of 0.4 °C. There is a range of variability in precipitation per decade for different regions in Tanzania, with some regions experiencing significant decreases in precipitation of up to − 90.3 mm and − 127.6 mm. However, there were also regions that experienced increases in precipitation, although these increases were generally less than 4.8 mm over the decades. The projections of minimum and maximum temperatures from 2040 to 2071 under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) 2–4.5 and SSP 5–8.5 are projected to increase by 0.14 °C to 0.21 °C per decade, across different regions. The average projected precipitation changes per decade vary across regions. Some regions are projected to experience increases in precipitation. Other regions are projected to show decreases in precipitation within the range of − 0.6 mm to 15.5 mm and − 1.5 mm to 47.4 mm under SSP2–4.5 and SSP5–8.5 respectively. Overall, both scenarios show an increase in projected temperatures and precipitation for most regions in Tanzania, with some areas experiencing more significant increases compared to others. The changes in temperatures and precipitation are expected to have significant impacts on agriculture and water resources in Tanzania.

Diversity Among Yellow Seeded Common Beans in Tanzania

Common bean is globally the most important leguminous crop for direct human consumption. In Tanzania, it is the most inter-cropped leguminous crop especially with maize. Characterization of common beans is important for genetic improvement and ex-situ germplasm conservation since it allows identification and awareness of key features of the genotypes. The common beans grown in Tanzania are of different seed colours such as red, red mottled, grey, white, yellow, brown etc. Yellow bean is one of the most traded bean types in Tanzania but there is limited information on diversity of the varieties cultivated across the country. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the diversity of yellow seeded common beans found in Tanzania. The study was carried out at Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania in 2022. Thirty-two yellow bean genotypes collected from different regions of Tanzania were assessed for diversity using quantitative and qualitative traits. The trials were carried out in the screen house and on the open field. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance, cluster, principal component, and correlation analyses. Sixteen genotypes were characterized as determinate plant type while the remaining sixteen were classified as indeterminate. About 75% of the genotypes had cuboid shape while 12.5% had kidney and oval shapes. About 78% of the genotypes were dominated by green cotyledon colour while 90% had white hypocotyls colour. The cluster analysis grouped the genotypes into five groups in both field and screen house. The first four principal components accounted for 51.8% of the variation observed on the field and 61.9% in the screen house. There were strong correlations among many important traits which will allow indirect selection for some complex traits. The positive correlation observed between number of locules and number of seed per pod (r = 0.87) indicates that number of locules can be used to determine the density and seed yield. There was high level of diversity among the yellow bean genotypes evaluated in this study for quantitative and qualitative traits. The scientific information obtained from this study will be useful in breeding programmes for improvement of yellow seeded beans in Tanzania for the traits.

Genetic relatedness, virulence factors and antibiotics susceptibility pattern of Vibrio cholerae isolates from various regions during cholera outbreak in Tanzania.

BackgroundCholera continues to cause morbidity and mortality in developing countries, including Tanzania. Since August 2015, Tanzania Mainland has experienced cholera outbreaks affecting 26 regions and a 1.6% case fatality rate. The current study determined the virulence factors, genetic relatedness and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the Vibrio cholerae isolated from different regions in Tanzania.MethodsA cross-sectional study that involved the genetic characterization of V. cholerae isolates from eleven regions in Tanzania was carried out. There were 99 V. cholerae isolates collected between January 2016 and December 2017. The study perfomed a Multi-locus Variable-number tandem-repeat analysis for genetic relatedness and Mismatch Amplification Mutation Analysis polymerase chain reaction for analyzing toxin genes. All the isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method. Data were generally analyzed using Microsoft excel, where genetic relatedness was analyzed using eBurst software v3.ResultsAll isolates were V. cholerae O1. Ogawa was the most predominant 97(98%) serotype. Isolates were genetically related with a small genetic diversity and were positive for ctxA, tcpA El Tor virulence genes. All isolates (100%) were sensitive to doxycycline, trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole, tetracycline, ceftriaxone, and chloramphenicol, while 87.8% were sensitive to ciprofloxacin. A high resistance rate (100%) was detected towards erythromycin, nalidixic acid, amoxicillin, and ampicillin.ConclusionThe V.cholerae O1 serotypes Ogawa, El Tor variant predominantly caused cholera outbreaks in Tanzania with strains clonally related regardless of the place and time of the outbreak. Most of the isolates were susceptible to the antibiotic regimen currently used in Tanzania. The high resistance rate detected for the other common antibiotics calls for continuous antimicrobial susceptibility testing during outbreaks.

Projection of extreme climatic events related to frequency over different regions of Tanzania

Abstract In recent years, extreme climatic events such as heavy rainfall and droughts are common and have contributed to the loss of lives, damage of properties, destruction of the environment and socio-economic livelihood of people predominantly in many developing countries. Characterizing these events to understand their temporal and spatial evolution is of great considerable benefit to different sectors; for instance, energy, agriculture, health and water resource sectors. In this study, we use the outputs of regional climate models to characterize the temporal and spatial evolution of extreme climatic events over Tanzania. Results reveal that all regions across Tanzania are projected to experience a statistically significant increased frequency of extreme climatic events related to temperatures. However, the frequency of extreme climatic events related to rainfall is projected to increase at a non-significant level across most regions. The presented increase in extreme climatic events is likely to pose significant damage to the agriculture sector, water sector and other socio-economic livelihoods of people over many regions in Tanzania. It is therefore recommended that appropriate policies should be put in place to help different sectors and communities at large to adapt to the projected increase in extreme climatic events, especially on the projected warming of near-surface temperatures.

High Prevalence of Overweight and Its Association with Mid-Upper Arm Circumference among Female and Male Farmers in Tanzania and Mozambique.

The increasing prevalence of overweight/obesity may already have reached the farmers in Tanzania and Mozambique. Here, the measurement of the mid-upper-arm-circumference (MUAC) could become a simple and sensitive tool for early detection of at-risk groups of overweight as well as underweight. Body Mass Index (BMI) and MUAC of female and male farmers (n = 2106) from different regions of Tanzania and the Zambézia province, Mozambique, were analyzed by region, sex, age, and correlates. MUAC cut-offs, calculated via BMI cut-offs (<18.5, ≥25, and ≥30 kg/m2), and multiple linear regression (MLR), compared to those selected by highest Youden’s index (YI) value, were assessed. The study showed an overall higher prevalence of overweight (19%) than underweight (10%) due to the high number of overweight female farmers (up to 35%) in southern Tanzania. BMI, which was mainly and positively predicted by MUAC, was higher in Tanzania and among female farmers, and decreased significantly from the age of ≥65 years. MUAC cut-offs of <24 cm and ≥30.5 cm, calculated by MLR, detected 55% of farmers being underweight and 74% being overweight, with a specificity of 96%; the higher cut-off <25 cm and lower cut-off ≥29 cm, each selected according to YI, consequently detected more underweight (80%) and overweight farmers (91%), but on the basis of a lower specificity (87–88%). Overweight was evident among female farmers in East Africa. MUAC cut-offs, whether defined via linear regression or Youden’s Index, could prove to be easy-to-use tools for large-scale screenings of both underweight and overweight.

Modelling the influence of short-term climate variability on drinking water quality in tropical developing countries: A case study in Tanzania

Climate change is expected to increase the prevalence of water-borne diseases especially in developing countries. Climate-resilient drinking water supplies are critical to protect communities from faecal contamination and thus against increasing disease risks. However, no quantitative assessment exists for the impacts of short-term climate variability on faecal contamination at different drinking water sources in developing countries, while existing understanding remains largely conceptual. This critical gap limits the ability to predict drinking water quality under climate change or to recommend climate-resilient water sources for vulnerable communities. This study aims to provide such quantitative understanding by investigating the relationships between faecal contamination and short-term climate variability across different types of water sources. We collected a novel dataset with over 20 months' monitoring of weather, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and total coliforms, at 233 different water sources in three climatically different regions in Tanzania. We then took a rigorous statistical analysis with Bayesian hierarchical models, to relate both contamination occurrence and amount to climate variability. The model results explained the temporal variability in drinking water faecal contamination using climate predictors, and also revealed the climate sensitivity of faecal contamination for individual water sources. We found that: a) short-term climate variability and baseline contamination levels can explain about half the observed variability in faecal contamination (R2 ≥ 0.44); b) increased contamination was most consistently related to recent heavy rainfall and high temperature across different water sources; c) unimproved water sources such as the unprotected dug wells have substantially higher climate sensitivity. Based on these results, we can expect substantial increases in drinking water contamination risks across tropical Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asian developing countries under a warmer climate, which highlight the urgent need of protecting vulnerable communities from the severe climate impacts.

Intronic variants in the long non-coding RNA CDKN2B-AS1 are strongly associated with the risk of coronary artery disease in the Northern Tribes of Tanzania

Introduction: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is facing a rising epidemic of non-communicable diseases including the coronary artery disease (CAD) ranking at the top of the list. Chromosome locus 9p21.3 containing CDKN2B antisense RNA 1 (CDKN2B-AS1), identified in many genome-wide association studies for coronary artery disease (CAD), encompasses multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). This study aimed to conduct the first genetic study evaluating the common polymorphisms in 9p21.3 locus in Tanzanian CAD patients from different regions of Tanzania and their associations with CAD risk factors.&#x0D; Material and Methods: A total of 90 patients from Northern region (N-CAD) of Tanzania and 65 patients from other regions (South, East, West and Central) (R-CAD) were included in the study. Further the biochemical analysis the genotyping of common variants was performed with the LightSNiP typing assay using qRT-PCR method. &#x0D; Results: Our analyses revealed that both genotype and allele frequencies of rs10757274, rs10757278 and rs10811656 were significantly different between the groups (p&lt;0.05, respectively). We identified that one previously undescribed three-marker haplotype (rs1333049, rs10757274 and rs10757278) encompassing CDKN2B-AS1 was overrepresented (G-G-G, the risk haplotype, p&lt;0.05) in N-CAD group compared to R-CAD group. The AUC of a risk model based on non-genetic factors was 0.730 (0.654-0.797) and the combination with genetic risk factors improved the AUC to 0.784 (95%CI=0.713-0.844, p&lt;0.0001).&#x0D; Conclusion: Our results identified the presence of a novel three-marker haplotype having a significant association with CAD in Northern Tanzania. Moreover, combination of the nongenetic and genetic risk models were demonstrated to indicate good diagnostic accuracy for CAD in Northern Tanzania.

Continuity and Change: Performing Gender in Rural Tanzania

Tanzanian legislation for women’s rights is a product of decades of indigenous women’s struggles and considered amongst the most progressive in Africa. However, implementation has been problematic and some elements in the current discourse appear to push back against gender equality with an essentialist framing of women and men as naturally different. This paper draws on the perspectives of 144 women and 144 men, in four rural communities in different regions of Tanzania, to build an understanding of how they perceive gender equality, and how their perceptions relate to decision-making, women earning incomes, women as homemakers, and control over assets. Understanding gender as a performance we contextualise our analysis through a historical overview of women’s struggles to secure rights from colonial times to the present day. We find that while local discourse appears to embrace the idea of gender equality, practice remains quite different with the threat of sanctions restricting the scope for re-negotiation of gender. The paper demonstrates how the continuous performance, reproduction and renegotiation of gender takes place as part of everyday life, as women and men seek to secure their personal well-being in a context of limited cultural and economic options.

Fish farming in Tanzania: the availability and nutritive value of local feed ingredients

ABSTRACT An investigative field survey was performed to gather baseline data on locally available feed ingredients and fish farming practices in different regions of Tanzania. More than 80% of respondents relied on locally available feed ingredients as a major feed supplement for their cultured fish, with maize bran being the most commonly used feed ingredient in all regions. Crude protein content in most analyzed local feed ingredients was medium-high, while crude fat content was high in some animal and agricultural by-products, and medium-low in other ingredients. Most respondents were males and the majority of fish farms were owned by individuals. Earthen pond was the most common fish farming system in all regions except Dar es Salaam. Semi-intensively mixed-sex tilapia monoculture was the dominating fish farming practice. The results of the survey presented provide a good platform for future development of culture systems and feeding strategies for tilapia in Tanzania.

Mineral content in local feed ingredients used by fish farmers in four different regions of Tanzania

This study investigated the content of selected minerals (P, Ca, K, Na, Mg, Fe and I) in local feed ingredients used by tilapia fish farmers in Tanzania. Analyses were performed on 26 local feed ingredients collected at four different geographical locations in Tanzania (Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Mbeya and Mwanza). The samples were taken randomly from fish farmers, fish feed producers, fingerling producers and animal feed shops or centers near fish farms in each region. The results showed a wide range of mineral concentrations. The highest levels of P was found in fish skeletons (17.8 g kg-1), of Ca in limestone (107.3 g kg-1), of K in gallant soldier (51.0 g kg-1), of Na in marine shrimp (Exhippolysmata oplophoroides) (11.7 g kg-1), of Mg in prawn head waste (4.2 g kg-1), of Fe in azolla (2355 mg kg-1) and of I in full fat soybean (447 mg kg-1). The data on mineral content in feed ingredients can be used as a platform for better-targeted feed formulation for tilapia farming systems. In conclusion, the data suggest that if more than two ingredients are used in the diet, this may be sufficient to meet the mineral requirements of all cultured tilapia species and their hybrids, without inclusion of any mineral premix.

Isolation and Characterization of Newcastle Disease Virus from Live Bird Markets in Tanzania.

Chickens in live bird markets (LBMs) from six different regions of Tanzania were surveyed for Newcastle disease (ND) virus (NDV) and avian influenza virus in 2012. ELISA-based serology, virus isolation, and characterization, including pathotyping was conducted. Virulent NDV was isolated from almost 10% of the tested samples, with two distinct genotypes being detected. One genotype was similar to recent viruses circulating in Kenya and Uganda, which share a northern border with Tanzania. Several viruses of this genotype were also isolated from Tanzania in 1995, the last time surveillance for NDV was conducted in the country. The second genotype of virus from Tanzania was closely related to viruses from Mozambique, a southern neighbor, and more distantly to viruses from South Africa, Botswana, and several European countries. Partial fusion gene sequence from the isolated viruses showed identical fusion cleavage sites that were compatible with virulent viruses. Selected viruses were tested by the intracerebral pathogenicity index, and all viruses tested had scores of >1.78, indicating highly virulent viruses. Serology showed only a third of the chickens had detectable antibody to NDV, suggesting that vaccination is not being commonly used in the country, despite the availability of vaccines in agricultural-related markets. All samples were taken from clinically healthy birds, and it is believed that the birds were sold or slaughtered before showing ND clinical signs. LBMs remain a biosecurity risk for farmers through the return of live infected birds to the farm or village or the movement of virus on fomites, such as uncleaned wooden cages.

Physio-chemical properties of five cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale L.) varieties grown in different regions of Tanzania

Physio-chemical properties of five cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale L.) varieties grown in different regions of Tanzania

The relationship of personality to cognitive characteristics and SME performance in Tanzania

PurposeFocussing on the relationship between personality traits and small and medium enterprise (SME) performance in Tanzania’s furniture sector, the purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of cognitive characteristics as a mediating variable.Design/methodology/approachA total of 300 SMEs in furniture sectors from four different regions in Tanzania were involved in this study. Structural equation modelling approach was used to test simultaneously the direct and the indirect effects of the characteristics of the entrepreneurs on the SMEs performance.FindingsThe findings show that personality traits have a significant influence on SMEs performance through cognitive characteristics.Research limitations/implicationsThe study’s data were collected from businesses in only one industry (furniture) in Tanzania. Future research may extend the approach to other business sectors.Practical implicationsSince entrepreneurial characteristics are considered an important driver of a country’s economic development and performance, it is hoped that governments and sector associations implement suitable policies and incentives to develop an entrepreneurial culture among citizens.Originality/valueCurrent knowledge about entrepreneurial characteristics and their relationship with SME performance in developing countries, especially Tanzania, is very limited. The present study suggests that cognitive characteristics are necessary mediators of the link between personality traits and SME performance.

The Use of Moist Potential Vorticity Vector as Diagnostic Variable of Rainfall Events in Tanzania

The work of this paper is a first step of the new paradigm, to use the Moist Potential Vorticity Vector (MPVV) as a diagnostic variable of rainfall events in Tanzania. The paper aims at computing and assessing the usefulness of MPVV in the diagnosis of rainfall events that occurred on 08th and 09th May 2017 over different regions in Tanzania. The relative contributions of horizontal, vertical components and the magnitude of MPVV on diagnosis of rainfall events are assessed. Hourly dynamic and thermodynamic variables of wind speed, temperature, atmospheric pressure and relative humidity from the numerical output generated by the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model, running at Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) are used in computation of MPVV. The computed MPVV is then compared with WRF model forecasts and observed rainfall. It is found that in most parts of the country, particularly over coastal areas and North-Eastern Highlands, MPVV exhibited positive values in the lower troposphere (925hPa) and (850hPa) indicating local instability possibly associated with topographic effects, and continent/ocean contrast. MPVV is mostly positive with slightly negative values indicating instabilities (due to possible convective instability). Moreover, MPVV provides remarkably accurate tracking of the locations received rainfall, suggesting its potential use as a dynamic diagnostic variable of rainfall events in Tanzania.

Evaluation of the Use of Moist Potential Vorticity and Moist Potential Vorticity Vector in Describing Annual Cycles of Rainfall over Different Regions in Tanzania

The economy of Tanzania heavily depends on agriculture sector which is primarily rain-fed. In this paper, we compute the moist potential vorticity (MPV) and evaluate its usefulness to describe annual cycles of rainfall. We also modify the convective vorticity vector ((CVV) ) which was defined as the cross product of absolute vorticity and the gradient of equivalent potential temperature to moist potential vorticity vector ((MPVV) ). This vector is calculated as a cross product of absolute vorticity and the gradient of moist air entropic potential temperature. The performance of (MPVV) to describe the annual cycles of rainfall over different regions in Tanzania is analyzed. Twenty six (26) years (1976-2001) daily data of air temperature, specific humidity, zonal and meridional components of the wind at 850 and 600hPa from numerical output generated by the Rossby Center regional climate model version four (RCA4) are used for computation of MPV and (MPVV) at 700hPa. The statistical relationship between (MPVV) and MPV against observed rainfall data from 22 synoptic meteorological stations using Pearson correlation coefficient indicate that (MPVV) bears strong and statistically significant correlation coefficient to rainfall than MPV suggesting its potential use as predictor of annual cycles of rainfall over different regions in Tanzania.

The Quality of Selected Essential Medicines Sold in Accredited Drug Dispensing Outlets and Pharmacies in Tanzania.

IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to investigate the quality of a select group of medicines sold in accredited drug dispensing outlets (ADDOs) and pharmacies in different regions of Tanzania as part of an in-depth cross-sectional assessment of community access to medicines and community use of medicines.MethodsWe collected 242 samples of amoxicillin trihydrate, artemether-lumefantrine (ALu), co-trimoxazole, ergometrine maleate, paracetamol, and quinine from selected ADDOs and pharmacies in Mbeya, Morogoro, Singida, and Tanga regions. The analysis included physical examination and testing with validated analytical techniques. Assays for eight of nine products were conducted using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). For ALu tablets, we used a two-tiered approach, where tier 1 was a semi-quantitative Global Pharma Health Fund-Minilab® method and tier 2 was high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as described in The International Pharmacopoeia’s monograph for artemether-lumefantrine.Results and DiscussionThe physical examination of samples revealed no defects in the solid and oral liquid dosage forms, but unusual discoloration in an injectable solution, ergometrine maleate. For ALu, the results showed that of 38 samples, 31 (81.6%) passed tier 1 testing and 7 (18.4%) gave inconclusive drug content results. The inconclusive ALu samples were submitted for tier 2 testing and all met the quality standards. The pass rate using the HPTLC and TLC/HPLC assays was 93.8%; the failures were the ergometrine maleate samples purchased from both ADDOs and pharmacies. The disintegration testing of the solid dosage forms was conducted in accordance with US Pharmacopeia monographs. Only two samples of paracetamol, 1.2% of the solid dosage forms, failed to comply to standards. The study revealed a high overall rate of 92.6% of samples that met the quality standards. Although the overall failure rate was 7.4%, it is important to note that this was largely limited to one product and likely due to poor distribution and storage rather than poor manufacturing practices.ConclusionsOver 90% of the medicines sold in ADDOs and pharmacies met quality standards. Policy makers need to reconsider ergometrine maleate’s place on the list of medicines that ADDOs are allowed to dispense, by either substituting a more temperature-stable therapeutically equivalent product or requiring those sites to have refrigerators, which is not a feasible option for rural Tanzania.

Moist Potential Vorticity Vector for Diagnosis of Heavy Rainfall Events in Tanzania

In this paper, we modify the convective vorticity vector (CVV) defined as a cross product of absolute vorticity and gradient of equivalent potential temperature to moist potential vorticity vector (MPVV) defined as a cross product of absolute vorticity () and the gradient of the moist-air entropy potential temperature (). The patterns of (MPVV) are compared with the patterns of heavy rainfall events that occurred over different regions in Tanzania on 20th to 22nd December, 2011 and on 5th to 8th May, 2015. Moreover, the article aimed at assessing the relative contributions of the magnitude, horizontal and vertical components of (MPVV) detecting on the observed patterns of rainfall events. Dynamic and thermodynamic variables: wind speed, temperature, atmospheric pressure and relative humidity from numerical output generated by the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model running at Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) were used to compute MPVV. It is found that MPVV provide accurate tracking of locations received heavy rainfall, suggesting its potential use as a dynamic tracer for heavy rainfall events in Tanzania. Finally it is found that the first and second components of MPVV contribute almost equally in tracing locations received heavy rainfall events. The magnitude of MPVV described the locations received heavy rainfall events better than the components.

Fatty Acid Profile and Physico-Chemical Parameters of Castor Oils in Tanzania

This paper reports on the assessment of the quality and quantity of castor oil from castor seeds collected from different regions in Tanzania. The castor seeds from Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Kagera and Morogoro regions in Tanzania were extracted by Soxhlet method using n-hexane and the oil yields were determined. The yields were 52.78%, 49.95%, 47.89%, 44.23%, 43.71% and 43.69% for Dodoma, Arusha, Iringa, Morogoro, Kagera and Dar es Salaam respectively. The physico-chemical parameters that were determined were refractive index (1.468 - 1.473), pH 5.7- 6.3, viscosity (0.943 - 0.954), specific gravity (165.50 - 187.46 mg KOH/g Oil), saponification value (76.68 - 80 mg KOH/g Oil), iodine value (76.68 - 80.12 g I2/100 g Oil), acid value (0.44 - 1.97 mg NaOH/g Oil), free fatty acid (0.22 - 0.99) and peroxide value (10.79 - 13.73). Fatty acid profile of castor oil was analysed using Shimadzu GCMS and ricinoleic acid ranged from 83.5% to 92.3% of the total fatty acids in the castor oils.

Large differences in variability for genes associated with antimalarial drug resistance between samples from Tanzania and Ethiopia

Results A surprising finding was that a majority of Ethiopian isolates carried the wild type variant of pfmdr1. The majority of samples from different regions of Tanzania were wild type for both pfcrt and pfmdr1. Analysis of a variable linker region in pfmdr1 showed substantial variation in samples from Tanzania, but minimal variation in samples from Ethiopia. The variable part consists of consecutive NDN residues. The dominating variant in Ethiopians was 7/2/9 and 7/2/10 in Tanzania. The same pattern was seen for a variable part of the pfubp1 gene, where all Ethiopian samples were identical to 3D7. In 19 Tanzanian samples only 8 were identical to 3D7 with 5 other variants. A polymorphism at codon 1528, detected previously in Kenyan samples [2] was found in 2 Tanzanian samples. Conclusions While the presence of the mutant variant of pfcrt in the Ethiopian samples can be explained by continued use of chloroquine in Ethiopia for treatment of P. vivax, the selection of wild type pfmdr1 could be a consequence of using ACT for treatment of P. falciparum. In general, the variability in both studied genes was greater in Tanzania than in Ethiopia. There are no data yet to link the variability in pfubp1 to efficacy of ACT.

Existence of variant strains Fowlpox virus integrated with Reticuloendotheliosis virus in its genome in field isolates in Tanzania

Fowlpox virus (FPV) is one example of poultry viruses which undergoes recombination with Reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV). Trepidation had been raised, and it was well established on augmented pathogenicity of the FPV upon integration of the full intact REV. In this study, we therefore intended at assessing the integration of REV into FPV genome of the field isolates obtained in samples collected from different regions of Tanzania. DNA extraction of 85 samples (scabs) was performed, and FPV-specific PCR was done by the amplification of the highly conserved P4b gene. Evaluation of FPV-REV recombination was done to FPV-specific PCR positively identified samples by amplifying the env gene and REV long terminal repeats (5' LTR). A 578-bp PCR product was amplified from 43 samples. We are reporting for the first time in Tanzania the existence of variant stains of FPV integrated with REV in its genome as 65% of FPV identified isolates were having full intact REV integration, 21% had partial FPV-REV env gene integration and 5% had partial 5' LTR integration. Despite of the fact that FPV-REV integrated stains prevailed, FPV-REV-free isolates (9%) also existed. In view of the fact that full intact REV integration is connected with increased pathogenicity of FPV, its existence in the FPV genome of most field isolates could have played a role in increased endemic, sporadic and recurring outbreaks in selected areas in Tanzania.