Lake Victoria Zone Research Articles

Assessment of Community Radio Social Impact in Tanzania

Purpose: This paper assessed social impacts of three community radio stations located in three different social-economic zones in Tanzania namely, Kilosa in the Eastern Zone, Karagwe in the Lake Victoria Zone and Orkonerei Community Radio (ORS) in the Northern Zone. 
 Methodology: The study used cross sectional design whereby data were collected at one point in time. Purposive sampling methods were used to obtain 585 (48% female) respondents based on whether the area was well covered by community radio broadcasts or otherwise. Data were collected interview schedule, in-depth interview of key informants, systematic observations and focus group discussions. Key informants included community radio management and journalists working in the community radios. As for focus group discussions, four discussions were held (two in each community radio) with a total of 40 respondents. 
 Findings: The study found that 51% of the respondents viewed community radio stations as enhanced access to information (news, current affairs and educational informational). On popularity, the study found that on average, community radios were more popular with local audience than other radio stations. This was due to broadcasting local contents. An analysis of sex and education levels of people who preferred community radio showed that 53.4% were men and 46.5% were women. As for education levels, 57% of those who preferred community radio broadcast had primary education followed by those without formal education at 24%. However, contrary to the theory of community radio which asserts that community radios focus on local social economic development, the study found that the most dominant theme was music and general entertainment.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study found that community radio stations have enhanced information flow (news, current affairs and education). They are also most popular with local audience compared to other radios. This indicates that if tailored to address contemporary local development issues, community radio can have huge impact. However, the study found that, the most dominant themes in studied stations was music and general entertainment. This is contrary to the theory asserting that community radio should focus on local social development issues. This calls for further investigation on circumstances leading community radios deviation from the popular theory.

Assessing the Potential of Irrigating Against Rainfed Manihot Esculenta Crantz Under Different Levels of NPK Fertilizers on Storage Root Yields in Tanzania Lake Victoria Zone

Objective: To assess the response of new registered Kiroba cassava variety on different rates of fertilizer under rainfed and irrigated regimes on the low fertility land of Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute of Tanzania (TARI), Ukiriguru, Mwanza, Tanzania. Methods: The experiment was laid in a randomized complete block design in a split-plot design with irrigation and rainfed regimes being the site-main plot and fertilizer-subplots replicated three times. The treatments were absolute control and three rates i.e., 150:40:180, 75:20:90 and 300:80:360 kg ha-1 of N, P, and K respectively, under the rainfed and irrigated regimes. Results: Half rate of fertilizer blend N75P20K90 under irrigation regime had significantly high root storage yields ranging from 24.76 to 25.21t ha-1, to both cropping seasons. However, even though the root storage yields were slightly low (24.59 to 24.14t ha-1) in the same treatment, it did not differ with the rainfed treatment. The high root storage yields were attributed to the narrow gap between the small and large storage root size and adequate moisture levels. Conclusion: Cassava crop requires less fertilizer nutrients, but with appropriate proportion on soil moisture for increased root storage yield. Therefore, the study recommends further research to determine the potential yields using fertilizer blend within N50P10K70 and N100P30K120.

Incidence of toxigenicAspergillus andFusarium species occurring in maize kernels from Kenyan households

Aspergillus andFusarium are fungal genera that include toxigenic and pathogenic species, able to suffuse farmers’ crops and secrete an array of small molecular weight secondary metabolites which can cause health complications to humans and animals when ingested. In sub-Sahara Africa, contamination and persistence of these fungi is increased by the tropical climatic conditions which are ideal for the fungi to thrive. This study evaluated the incidence, regional distribution and toxigenic potential ofAspergillus andFusarium species occurring in maize kernels from Eastern, Western, Coastal and the Lake Victoria agro-ecological zones of Kenya. Maize kernels were collected from 16 households in each agro-ecological zone. Single spore technique was used to isolate pure cultures ofAspergillus andFusarium which were identified morphologically. Further, molecular analysis was done using the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS 1) region of the ribosomal DNA forAspergillus and the translation elongation factor-1 alpha (TEF-1α) forFusarium. The potential of the isolated fungi to produce mycotoxins was probed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the aflatoxin regulatoryaflaR gene inAspergillus, and the fumonisin backbone structure geneFUM1 inFusarium. Among the potentially aflatoxigenicA. flavus species isolated, 55% were from Eastern, 27% from the Coastal zone, 13% from Lake Victoria zone and 5% from Western Kenya. Among the potentially fumonisin producingF. verticillioides isolated, 45% were from the Lake Victoria agro-ecological zone, 30% were from Western, 15% from Eastern Kenya and 10% from the Coastal agro-ecological zone. This study adds data on potential mycotoxin hotspots in Kenya useful in employing targeted and regional mycotoxin mitigation strategies in efforts to avert future mycotoxicoses outbreaks in Kenya.

Symbolism and Death: Class-based Ritualised Performance in the Basukuma Burial Ceremonies

Guided by a Marxist perspective on literature, and Muleka’s Performer-centrism, this paper highlights and discusses different manifestations or gestures that covertly suggest that there are elements of classes in some of the burial ceremonies, which are accompanied by performances among the Basukuma ethnic group of Tanzania. It reports the findings of a study whose data were collected using interviews held with respondents selected via snowball sampling. Note-taking served as a prominent data collection tool. Documentary review supplemented interviews, especially to collect data on the traditions of the Basukuma as one of the ethnic groups in Tanzania found predominantly in the Lake Victoria Zone. The study found that the burial ceremonies of the Basukuma are class conscious as manifested by their symbolic, incantatory, and invocatory performances. Indeed, when chiefs, singers, breech-birth and twins die, their burials require special burial ritual performances such as incantations, invocations and symbols that differentiate them from other rank and file individuals whose burial ceremonies lack fanfares characterising privileged individuals. Overall, these burial ceremonies graced by symbolic gestures among the Basukuma also help to unify the community since individuals define themselves in terms of who they are and what to expect from them and the community as a whole.

Belief on Witchcraft and Killing of People with Albinism in Lack Victoria Zone, Tanzania

Killing of people with albinism and old people has been featuring in Tanzania mass media and worldwide. The main cause of killing old people and people with albinism is witchcraft beliefs. Old women are reported to be killing grand children; whereas people with albinism were believed their part of the body when added with other potent traditional remedies brings fortune and prosperous. Witchcraft cannot be denied in indigenous African communities; however there might be other factors unexplored that lead to killing old people and people with albinism. The aim of this paper is to explore other factors that contribute to killing old people and people with albinism.
 Methodology: The study was carried in Lake Victoria zone, Tanzania using qualitative research methods. The main focus were to explore factors that lead to killing old people and people with albinism in addition to current belief of witchcraft. The collected information were analyzed using qualitatively techniques
 Results: The findings have shown any health problems including death need explanations that were sought through ramli. The ramli showed old people especially old women were noted to be killing grand children by witchcraft means. Other factors like wealth acquisition, jealous, misunderstanding in the day to day activities were also repotted. Whereas killing of people with albinism were due to the belief of that part of their body when added with potent traditional remedies brought fortune and prosperous to one requested. In addition it was noted that people with albinism were seen as bad omen or curse and were not wanted to leave.
 Lack of education on causes of health problems and people with albinism seemed to contribute to this problem. Public health education on causes of health problem and lack melanin to people with albinism which is important for skin pigmentation is needed

Genotype by environment cultivar evaluation for cassava brown streak disease resistance in Tanzania

Cassava brown steak disease (CBSD), caused by Cassava brown streak virus (CBSV) and Ugandan cassava brown streak virus (UCBSV), is the most important biotic constraint to cassava production in East and Central Africa. Concerted efforts are required to prevent further spread into West Africa as well as to reduce losses in areas already affected. The study reported here was part of a five-country (Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda) programme that aimed to identify superior cassava cultivars resistant to CBSD and to disseminate them widely in the region. Seventeen tissue-cultured and virus-tested cultivars were evaluated in Tanzania across nine sites with diverse CBSD inoculum conditions. Experiments were planted using an alpha-lattice design and assessments were made of surrounding inoculum pressure, CBSD foliar and root incidence and root yield at harvest. There were large differences in CBSD infection between sites, with greatest spread recorded from the north-western Lake (Victoria) zone. Differences were driven by Bemisia tabaci whitefly vector abundance and CBSD inoculum pressure. Both CBSV and UCBSV were almost equally represented in cassava fields surrounding experimental plots, although CBSV predominated in the north-west whilst UCBSV was more frequent in coastal and southern sites. However, the incidence of CBSV was much greater than that of UCBSV in initially virus-free experimental plots, suggesting that CBSV is more virulent. Cultivars could be categorised into three groups based on the degree of CBSD symptom expression in shoots and roots. The seven cultivars (F10_30R2, Eyope, Mkumba, Mkuranga1, Narocass1, Nase3 and Orera) in the most resistant category each had shoot and root incidences of less than 20%. Fresh root yield differed between sites and cultivars, but there was no genotype by environment interaction for this trait, probably attributable to the large fertility and soil moisture differences between sites. Susceptible cultivars and the local check performed well in the absence of CBSD pressure, highlighting the importance of exploiting quality and yield traits of local landraces in breeding programmes. Overall, our results emphasized the importance of applying a balanced strategy for CBSD management. This should use both improved and local germplasm resources to generate high yielding cultivars for specific end-user traits, and combine the deployment of improved cultivars with phytosanitary control measures including the use of healthy planting material and planting during periods of reduced CBSD infection.

Profit Analysis of Virus Free Sweet Potato and Vine Multiplication by Smallholder Farmers in Selected Regions of Tanzania

Sweet potato production using certified virus free vines and virus free vine multiplication promote high yields which are significant for enhancing food security and income generation among small holder farmers. This study examines the cost and benefit of sweet potato tuber production using certified virus free vines and virus free vine multiplication among smallholder farmers in the Lake Victoria and Coastal Zones in Tanzania. Primary data were collected from 495 sweet potato farmers and virus free vine multipliers using survey tool (questionnaire). About 362 farmers who are producers sweet potato tubers and 133 farmers who are virus free vine producers were chosen from each zone using simple random sampling technique. The cost and benefit analysis were calculated using Microsoft Excel 2007. The findings of the study showed that the benefit of sweet potato production using certified virus free vines in Lake Victoria Zone was 1,284,665.64 Tanzanian shillings per hectare and that in Coastal Zone was 1,159,524.60 Tanzanian shillings per hectare. Furthermore, was revealed that benefit of virus free sweet potato vine multiplication in Lake Zone was 219,086.54 Tanzanian shillings per hectare and in Coastal Zone was 305 948.59 Tanzanian shillings per hectare. The Benefit Cost Ratio obtained in sweet potato production using certified virus free vines in Lake Zone was 5.04 per hectare and Coastal zone was 3.71 per hectare. The Benefit Cost Ratio obtained in virus free sweet potato vine multiplication in Lake Zone was 2.91 per hectare and Coastal zone was 2.11 per hectare. Therefore, investment in sweet potato tuber production using virus free vines and virus free vine multiplication is worth undertaking in both Zones since farmers generate profit and hence enhanced food security.

Acute human cytomegalovirus infection among voluntary blood donors in the Lake Victoria zone blood transfusion centre: should it be considered in screening?

Despite blood transfusion being a lifesaving option, it may be associated with blood borne infections including human cytomegalovirus(HCMV). The World Health Organization recommends screening of blood products for HCMV before transfusion to pregnant women, neonates and immunocompromised patients. However, this is not routinely practised in many resource limited countries. This study aimed at determining seroprevalence of specific HCMV IgM antibodies among volunteered blood donors at the Lake Victoria zone blood transfusion centre. A total of 228 sera from volunteered blood donors were analyzed using HCMV IgM µ capture enzyme linked immunosorbent assay as per manufacturer's instructions. Data were analyzed by STATA version 13. The median age of the study participants was 19 interquartile range (IQR): 18-23 years. The seroprevalence of specific HCMV IgM antibodies was found to be 23/228 (10.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 6-14. None of the factors was found to be associated with HCMV IgM seropositivity among blood donors. One out 10 blood donors in the Lake Victoria zone blood transfusion centre is acutely infected with HCMV. There is a need to consider screening of HCMV before blood transfusion particularly in resource limited countries where HCMV is endemic.

High Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Viral Load and Coinfection with Viral Hepatitis Are Associated with Liver Enzyme Abnormalities among HIV Seropositive Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy in the Lake Victoria Zone, Tanzania.

Background Liver enzymes abnormalities have been found to be common among patients on antiretroviral treatment (ART). Apart from the effects of ART on these changes, other factors that can potentially contribute to the abnormal levels of these enzymes have been found to vary in different geographical locations. This study investigated factors associated with liver enzymes abnormalities among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected individuals on ART from the Lake Victoria zone, Tanzania. Methods A cross-sectional study involving a total of 230 sera from HIV seropositive patients from different regions of the Lake Victoria zone was carried out in July 2017. All samples with required variables/parameters such as age, sex, ART regimen, and residence were serially included in the study. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) detection and liver enzymes assays (alanine transaminase (ALAT) and aspartate transaminase (ASAT)) were assessed following the standard procedures. Data were analyzed by using STATA version 13. Results The median age of the study participants was 38 (interquartile range [IQR]:30-48) years. The overall prevalence of abnormal liver enzymes was 43.04% (99/230, 95% CI: 36.6-49.3). A total of 26.09% (60/230) had elevated ASAT while 23.9% (55/230) patients had elevated ALAT levels. ASAT levels were significantly high among patients with high HIV viral load (P= 0.002) while ALAT levels were significantly high among those coinfected with hepatitis C virus (P=0.017) and hepatitis B virus (P<0.001). Conclusion A significant proportion of HIV seropositive individuals on ART have abnormal levels of liver enzymes, which is significantly associated with high HIV viral load and viral hepatitis. This calls for the need to emphasize screening of viral hepatitis and provision of appropriate management among HIV seropositive individuals in this setting.

The dynamics of smallholder farmers\u2019 acquisition and distribution of sweetpotato vines in the Lake Victoria Zone Region, Tanzania

This paper offers new insights into smallholder farmer’s practices regarding acquisition and distribution of sweetpotato planting material in the Mwanza and Mara regions of Tanzania by examining three specific issues: (i) farmers’ sources of planting material; (ii) factors that influence farmers’ sourcing of planting materials outside their own farms and (iii) the types of transactions and social relations involved in farmers’ acquisition and distribution of sweetpotato planting material. Data were collected using mixed methods, including a survey of 621 households across nine districts, semi-structured key informant interviews with 28 women sweetpotato farmers, and six focus group discussions. Findings show that farmers in the study area rely almost exclusively on informal seed systems, and that the majority (> 56%) produce their own planting material. Individual, household and community level factors influence farmers’ acquisition of planting materials outside their own farms. The sources and mode of transaction related to acquisition/distribution of planting material are strongly influenced by the type of social relationship between the parties involved. Strong social ties facilitate the majority of local planting material acquisitions/distributions, and favor provision of locally available planting material as a gift/without payment. Weak social ties are primarily associated with the transaction modality of purchase/sale, and frequently help facilitate acquisition of new or exotic planting material. The findings provide entry points both for entities that seek to enhance small-scale farmers’ access to improved, high quality sweetpotato germplasm, as well as broader efforts to strengthen research and development strategies for integrating formal and informal seed systems.

Methods for Estimating the Risk of Rabies Transmission to Humans in the Lake Victoria Zone, Tanzania

Canine rabies is endemic in Tanzania probably as a result of low dog vaccination coverage which is set between 10 and 20%. By the use of a model, this study aimed to develop methods for estimating risk of rabies transmission to humans, quantify the risks and make recommendations to minimize them. Data obtained from the Lake Victoria Zone were subjected to analysis by running Monte Carlo simulation using „Simulacion4‟ for 10 000 iterations. The findings suggested that, at a dog vaccination coverage of 10%, the probability of an individual human being dying from rabies following a bite from a rabid dog was 3.76×10-5. With a human population of 8 509 170 million people found in the Lake zone in 2012, this probability corresponded to an estimated 8921 human dog bite cases and 220 human rabies deaths. This corresponded to an annual bite incidence of 104.8 bites/100 000 and an annual death incidence of 2.6 deaths/100 000 respectively. On the basis of extrapolating these data to the whole country, this probability corresponded to 1163 human rabies deaths per year. At a dog vaccination coverage of 70%, the probability of dying from rabies following a bite from a rabid dog reduced to 1.38×10-5. The percent risk reduction was ˃60%. Sensitivity analysis showed that post-exposure prophylaxis had a stronger influence on the risk of dying from rabies compared to dog vaccinations. Correlation analysis showed that the correlation of dog vaccinations and the risk of dying from rabies was significant (r2= 0.95, P=0.0000). Key words: model, vaccination coverage, simulacion, Monte Carlo

Schistosoma mansoni-Related Hepatosplenic Morbidity in Adult Population on Kome Island, Sengerema District, Tanzania.

Schistosomiasis is one of the important neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Tanzania, particularly in Lake Victoria zone. This baseline survey was a part of the main study of integrated control of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) aimed at describing morbidity patterns due to intestinal schistosomiasis among adults living on Kome Island, Sengerema District, Tanzania. Total 388 adults from Kome Islands (about 50 people from each village) aged between 12 and 85 years, were examined by abdominal ultrasound according to the Niamey protocol. Liver image patterns (LIPs) A and B were considered normal, and C-F as distinct periportal fibrosis (PPF). The overall prevalence of PPF was 42.2%; much higher in males than in females (47.0% in male vs 34.4% in females, P=0.007). Abnormal increase of segmental branch wall thickness (SBWT) and dilated portal vein diameter (PVD) were also more common in males than in females. Hepatosplenomegaly was frequently encountered; 68.1% had left liver lobe hepatomegaly and 55.2% had splenomegaly. Schistosoma mansoni-related morbidity is quite high among adults in this community justifying the implementation of integrated control strategies through mass drug administration, improved water supply (pumped wells), and health education that had already started in the study area.

Reduction of HIV transmission rates from mother to child in the era of antiretroviral therapy in the Lake Victoria zone, Tanzania

Background: Since the introduction of prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) in Tanzania, HIV infection rates have been reduced in different regions across the country. However, there is limited published data from the Lake Victoria zone of Tanzania regarding the effectiveness of various regimens used for PMTCT. This study was done to assess the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy in preventing mother to child transmission of HIVMethods: Infants aged ≤18 months born to HIV positive mothers undertaking PMTCT programme and those with no intervention program from Mara, Kagera, Mwanza and Shinyanga were tested for HIV-1 DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Data were analysed using STATA version 10.0 to assess factors associated with outcome.Results: A total of 1,005 study subjects were enrolled in the study. Of these 55% (554/1005) were females. Majority (82.6%; 830/1005) of the infants studied were aged 1-6 months. The median age of the infant studied was 3 months (IQR 2-4). Out of 1005 non-repetitive samples; 61(6.1%) were HIV-1 DNA PCR positive. Positive dried blood spots (DBS) rates by region were 6.4%, 5.9%, 5.6% and 5.1% in Mwanza, Mara, Kagera and Shinyanga, respectively. During pregnancy interventions, the positive rate for women with no therapy was 12.6% and for zidovudine alone was 5.4% while for triple antiretroviral therapy was 0.5%. Women who were in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) during pregnancy had significantly lower positive rate than those without HAART treatment (p=0.001). Of 755 infants who received nevirapine, 3.9% were DBS positive compared to 12.8% of those who didn’t receive nevirapine (p=0.001).Conclusion: The use of antiretroviral therapy in the PMTCT programme is effective in reducing HIV transmission from mother to child.

Farmers' knowledge, perceptions and management of diseases affecting sweet potatoes in the Lake Victoria Zone region, Tanzania

The purpose of this study was to assess farmers' knowledge, perception and management of sweet potato (SP) diseases, and to determine factors associated with farmers' satisfaction with sweet potato planting material in Mwanza and Mara sites within the Lake Victoria Zone region of Tanzania. We used multiple methods and data sources, principally a survey of 621 households spread across nine districts, and in-depth interviews with farmers in three villages located in three different districts. Our study revealed four main findings. Firstly, we found that although farmers were able to identify unhealthy SP plants, they were unable to tell the specific type of disease affecting the plants both from direct and photographic observations. Secondly, there exists considerable heterogeneity in the way farmers manage unhealthy plants in the field; some farmers were observed to follow management methods prescribed by plant pathologists, while others used traditional methods of managing a diseased plant. Thirdly, the following three factors were found to be the determinants of farmers' knowledge and management of SP diseases and plant root damage: (i) farmers' training in SP production and management; (ii) the number of plots which the woman of the household has control over; and (iii) household membership to a crop production association. Lastly, the location of farms is a strong determinant of farmers' satisfaction with SP vines; residing in areas in which sweet potato vines are widely available and in a village that is accessible by a primary road or tarmac road increases a farmer's satisfaction with sweet potato vines that are available in the farmers' farm during planting time.

A Global Mining Corporation and Local Communities in the Lake Victoria Zone: The Case of Barrick Gold Multinational in Tanzania

This case explores a Canadian mining corporation, Barrick Gold Corporation (Barrick), and the way it engages with the local communities that surround its mining activities in the Lake Victoria Zone, Tanzania. Following recent organized tensions within several local communities and heightened criticism from those communities [examples of recent discontent from local communities and workers at Barrick Gold Corp in Tanzania: http://www.protestbarrick.net/article.php?id=214 ; http://www.protestbarrick.net/article.php?list=type&type=12 ; http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN1247233520081212 ; http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=15263 ; http://www.miningwatch.ca/index.php?/Tanzania_en/What_Really_Happened (accessed Feb- ruary 25, 2009)], as well as from local media, social lobbyists, and local not-for-profit organizations (NFOs), the case examines the way Barrick has responded to this situation by implementing global corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies in an attempt to strike a balance between its international business capabilities and its localization strategies. In spite of these efforts, tension between Barrick and the local communities within the company’s zone of operations has not abated. This issue has left Barrick’s senior management wondering what more the company could reasonably do to resolve the situation.

Simultaneous virus-specific detection of the two cassava brown streak-associated viruses by RT-PCR reveals wide distribution in East Africa, mixed infections, and infections in Manihot glaziovii

The expanding cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) epidemic in East Africa is caused by two ipomoviruses (genus Ipomovirus; Potyviridae), namely, Cassava brown streak virus (CBSV), and Ugandan cassava brown streak virus (UCBSV) that was described recently. A reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) based diagnostic method was developed in this study for simultaneous virus-specific detection of the two viruses. Results showed that CBSV and UCBSV are distributed widely in the highlands (>1000m above the sea level) of the Lake Victoria zone in Uganda and Tanzania and also in the Indian Ocean costal lowlands of Tanzania. Isolates of UCBSV from the Lake Victoria zone were placed to two phylogenetic clusters in accordance with their origin in Uganda or Tanzania, respectively. Mixed infections with CBSV and UCBSV were detected in many cassava plants in the areas surveyed. CBSV was also detected in the perennial species Manihot glaziovii (DNA-barcoded in this study) in Tanzania, which revealed the first virus reservoir other than cassava. The method for detection of CBSV and UCBSV described in this study has important applications for plant quarantine, resistance breeding of cassava, and studies on epidemiology and control of CBSD in East Africa.

Integrated management of Striga hermonthica, stemborers, and declining soil fertility in western Kenya

Striga hermonthica (Delile) Benth., stemborers, and declining soil fertility are serious threats to sustainable food production in the Lake Victoria zone of Kenya. To address these constraints, promising integrated crop management technologies were evaluated, using a multi-locational design in four sub-locations in Siaya and Vihiga district (western Kenya) for six cropping seasons. Technologies evaluated consisted of the traditional maize ( Zea mays L.) – bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) intercrop, maize – Desmodium (Desmodium uncinatum (Jacq.) DC.) push–pull intercrop, Crotalaria ( Crotalaria ochroleuca G. Don) – maize rotation, and soybean ( Glycine max (L.) Merr) – maize rotation. Within each of these systems, imazapyr-coated herbicide-resistant maize (IR-maize) and fertilizer were super-imposed as sub-plot factors. The push–pull system was observed to significantly reduce Striga emergence and stemborer damage from the second season onwards. IR-maize reduced and delayed Striga emergence from the first cropping season. Differences in Striga emergence and stemborer damage between the other systems were not significantly different. After five cropping seasons, the Striga seedbank was significantly higher in the maize-bean intercrop system than in the push–pull system under both maize varieties while the rotational systems had intermediate values not different from the day zero values. Under IR-maize, the Striga seedbank was significantly lower than under local maize for all cropping systems. Maize yields varied between seasons, districts, and cropping systems. Yields in the push–pull system were higher than in the maize-bean intercrop after two seasons and in the absence of mid-season drought stress. Both maize and soybean responded significantly to fertilizer application for both districts and for most seasons. The various interventions did not substantially affect various soil fertility-related parameters after five seasons. In the short term, IR-maize integrated in a push–pull system is the most promising option to reduce Striga while the rotational systems may need a longer timeframe to reduce the Striga seedbank. Finally, farmer-led evaluation of the various technologies will determine which of those is really most acceptable under the prevailing farming conditions.

Assessment of quality assurance in HIV testing in health facilities in Lake Victoria zone, Tanzania

Tanzania is currently implementing the antiretroviral treatment programme, and has a target of putting about 400,000 eligible HIV infected individuals on treatment by 2008. This will involve screening a large number of people, which will require non-laboratory personnel to be involved in doing HIV testing. In order to guarantee reliable and quality HIV test results, there is a need to ensure that quality assurance (QA) procedures are followed from specimen collection, testing and reporting of results. In light of the above a survey was conducted to assess QA in HIV testing in health facilities in Lake Victoria zone, Tanzania. A total of 89 health facilities (29 hospitals, 34 health centres, 9 dispensaries and 17 voluntary and counselling testing centres) were surveyed. Only three (10.3%) health facilities reported performing Uniform II ELISA for HIV diagnosis. All other health facilities reported to be using HIV rapid tests Capillus and Determine. Five (5.6%) of health facility laboratories performed CD4 counts. Internal quality control (IQC) were performed in 21 (63.6%) of the hospitals. Kits for HIV testing were reported to be readily available by 54 (60.7%) of the facilities. Only 16 (18%) of the health facilities had standard operating procedures in place. Systems of equipment calibration were reported by 13 (14.6%) of the health facilities. Counselling services were available in all health facilities and all counsellors had received the 6-week mandatory training course. These findings show that most of health facilities in the Lake Victoria zone do not adhere to QA procedures in HIV testing. There is therefore, a need to establish a monitoring system to laboratories performing HIV testing for the purpose of ensuring QA procedures are done. Personnel doing HIV testing should be re-trained at a regular basis to cope with new techniques and ensure QA procedures are followed.

Bovine tuberculosis in the Lake Victoria zone of Tanzania and its possible consequences for human health in the HIV/AIDS era.

A total of 8190 cattle from 42 well-managed herds in the Lake Victoria zone of Tanzania were tested for bovine tuberculosis by a single comparative intradermal test (SCITT) using avian and bovine purified protein derivative (PPD) antigens. The prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in this area was found to be 0.2%. There was significant variation (p < 0.001) among the herds tested in the four regions in this zone (Kagera, Mara, Mwanza and Shinyanga). The highest prevalence (2.12%) was in a herd of 566 cattle which had recently arrived in Kagera region from Dar-es-Salaam. None of the 915 cattle tested in Shinyanga or of the 254 resident cattle in the Kagera region were positive by SCITT. This area, and particularly the Kagera region, has the highest human morbidity and mortality due to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in Tanzania. Therefore, the presence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle necessitates further investigations on the role of animal-derived tuberculosis in human health.

Bovine brucellosis serum agglutination test prevalence and breed disposition according to prevalent management systems in the Lake Victoria zone of Tanzania

A total of 13078 cattle 8 months of age and older belonging to 558 units in the Lake Victoria zone of Tanzania were screened for brucellosis using the serum agglutination test (SAT). This exercise was executed as a Tanzanian Agriculture Ministry's directive for screening all adult bovines in the country reared under controlled grazing and receiving good veterinary supervision and inputs so that brucellosis control measures could be instituted. In this category two types of management systems were encountered: Dairy, comprising 15 units totalling 3626 Exotic (Friesian and Ayrshire) and Grade (Zebu and Exotic) crosses, and Ranch, comprising two units totalling 6756 mainly dual-purpose Mpwapwa (MPW) animals. These three animal types have much higher milk production potential than the indigenous Tanganyika shorthorn Zebu (TSZ). This latter beef type is reared under local management system and owned wholly by subsistence stock owners practising uncontrolled communal grazing and having little or no veterinary supervision and inputs. However, TSZ animals from 541 farm units totalling 2705 members were also screened from the east and south sub-zones because of their close proximity to the Dairy/Ranch units and also the Serengeti Wildlife National Park. This exercise revealed an overall prevalence rate of 10.8%. There was moreover a significant difference in the seroprevalence rates among the management systems ( P < 0.001). The lowest prevalence rate (4.3%) was found in the Local management system, with Dairy intermediate (6.3%) and Ranch highest (15.8%). There was also significant variation in prevalence rates between TSZ and Grade animals, and between MPW and Exotic animals ( P < 0.001).