ABSTRACT The disinfection of water is of prime importance both for the animals and humans, since the presence of microorganisms in water may cause diseases including hepatitis, cholera, typhoid fever and dysentery. Reagents, techniques based on the use of a broad range of chemical agents are commonly used to disinfect water. Among them are chlorine, fluorine, ozone and ions of heavy metals. However, in the case where some organic substances remain in water, chlorine and ozone reacts with them...
ABSTRACT In Kenya, most studies involving exotic dairy goats and their cross breeds with indigenous goats have majorly focused on milk yield, kidding and growth rates with little information on the technological performance of the milk from cross breeds. In this study milk from the Toggenburg and its cross breed with Galla goat was evaluated fortnightly for composition and its capability for mozzarella cheese making over a three months lactation period. Samples of milk were analyzed for compo...
ABSTRACT Cobalt (III) oxide (Co3O4) thin films were deposited on glass substrates at a temperature of 70°C with continuous stirring and heating of the alkaline bath of various pH of 8, 10, 12 and 14. Cobalt (II) chloride hexahydrate (CoCl2·6H2O) was used as source of Co2+ and to make it alkaline, 25% aqueous ammonia solution was added as the complexing agent with constant heating and stirring. The bath was doped with zinc nitrate (Zn(NO3)2 and later, some samples were annealed at 200°C fo...
ABSTRACT The botanical insecticides are generally pest-specific, relatively harmless to non-target organisms and biodegradable. Unlike conventional insecticides which are based on a single active ingredient, plant-derived insecticides comprise of an array of chemical compounds which act concertedly on both behavioural and physiological processes. Thus the chances of pest developing resistance to such substances are less likely. Essential oils are good example of plant compounds with such pro...
ABSTRACT A cross sectional study was carried out in Iringa Region involving two Districts of Kilolo and Iringa Municipal to determine the epidemiological risk factors of the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak and genotyping the circulating African swine fever virus (ASFV) during a hemorrhagic disease outbreak in 2012 in Iringa. A structured questionnaire was used to collect epidemiological risk factors from pig keepers. Eighty households that kept pigs and that experienced the disease in 201...
ABSTRACT The success of entomopathogenic fungi as microbial control agents ultimately depends on the use of the right propagule, formulated in an optimum fashion and applied at the right time to a susceptible host. In this study, the pathogenicity of six isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. and 14 isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorok to Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker) and Rhopalosiphum padi (Linneaus) was for the first time determined in the laboratory. The differential...
ABSTRACT The present study was carried out to confirm and genetically characterize dengue virus (DENV) present in sera collected from patients with dengue fever during the 2013 and 2014 dengue outbreaks in Tanzania. Sera were collected from patients who met the clinical case definition for dengue fever. Dengue fever was diagnosed in patients included in this study by detection of IgM and IgG DENV antibodies using a combination of a rapid test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). DE...
ABSTRACT Animal African Trypanosomiasis (AAT) causes economic losses estimated at US $5 billion per annum. Records from the veterinary department indicate high levels of trypanocidal drugs use in Lamu County. The objective of this study was to identify the trypanosome species causing infections in domestic animals in Lamu using parasitological and molecular techniques and to determine their drug sensitivity in white Swiss mice. Fifteen trypanosome stabilates and 92 whole blood samples collect...
ABSTRACT Polyethylene (PE) bags have become the most widely used plastic commodity due to the fact that they are light and have good barrier properties against water and water – borne organisms. The energy requirements for their production as compared to other materials are much lower and the effluents emitted during manufacture of PE compared to paper bags (from trees) are much lower. They are however non-biodegradable and hence are one of the top environmental pollutants. Environment fri...
ABSTRACT Six samples were generated by mixing the flours (AYB+ maize composite) with graded levels of defatted coconut flour (100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, 50:50), sugar, salt, sorghum malt extract and water. Breakfast cereals were produced by roasting (280°C) -a dry heat treatment process to gelatinize and semi-dextrinize the starch in order to generate dry ready to eat products from blends of African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa), maize (Zea mays) and defatted coconut (Cocos nuc...
ABSTRACT Pesticides have been used intensively in tomato growing activities for pests and fungal control. However, health concerns have been reported as a result of pesticides use. This study was conducted to assess pesticides application practices and residues levels in harvested tomatoes grown in Kilolo District. Seventy-one farmers (about 12%) were interviewed using structured interview schedules and 40 (about 6.8%) tomato samples were taken from 40 farmers for laboratory analysis. Data ...
ABSTRACT Flours were produced from unripe plantain fruit, okara, and Detarium microcarpum and analysed for selected properties. Plantain flours were supplemented with 5% levels of Detarium microcarpum and okara flours as dietary fiber sources and the effect on blood glucose and serum cholesterol levels of albino rats evaluated using bioassay. Plantain flour showed the highest (p
ABSTRACT Despite the intensification in malaria control interventions, malaria still remains a major public health problem in malaria-endemic settings. Asymptomatic infections that largely remain undetected act as a reservoir of transmission jeopardizing the current control efforts. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria infection, anaemia and submicroscopic parasitaemia in individuals of Korogwe District, a malaria-endemic setting in north-eastern Tanz...
ABSTRACT An increasing number of women worldwide are using some form of contraceptive drugs for family planning including combined oral contraceptives (COC). However, the use of COC has been associated with some adverse effects such as anemia and impaired energy metabolism in some users. A cross-sectional study was, therefore, carried out to investigate the effect of vitamin B6 supplementation on plasma glucose tolerance, hemoglobin levels and body weight using experimental mice model. Forty...
ABSTRACT Mosquito-borne viruses cause emerging and re-emerging infections affecting humans and animals. These diseases present themselves mainly with fever. The present study aimed at determining socio-demographic and clinical characteristics among febrile patients, and detection of selected mosquito-borne viruses circulating in Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Using a hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study design, in total 400 febrile patients were recruited after consenting into...