scholarly journals Leptospira Seropositivity in Humans, Livestock and Wild Animals in a Semi-Arid Area of Tanzania

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 696
Author(s):  
Georgies F. Mgode ◽  
Ginethon G. Mhamphi ◽  
Apia W. Massawe ◽  
Robert S. Machang’u
Keyword(s):  
Public Awareness ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Arid Area ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Leptospira Serovars ◽  
Human Animal ◽  
Semi Arid

Background: Leptospirosis is among the major neglected zoonoses in developing countries. The prevalence of leptospirosis remains underestimated in many African countries because of limited diagnostic facilities. We studied Leptospira seropositivity prevalence in humans, sheep, goats and rodents in a semi-arid region of central Tanzania and compared findings with reports from humid tropical areas. The aims were to establish the disease burden in different settings; understand circulating Leptospira serovars and potential major reservoirs for establishing appropriate control measures. Methods: Humans, sheep, goats, rodents and shrews (insectivores) were sampled from Bahi district, a semi-arid area in central Tanzania. Samples were tested for leptospiral antibodies using microscopic agglutination test (MAT) consisting of Leptospira serovars mainly reported in Tanzania and reference strains. Findings were compared with previous data to determine the disease epidemiological patterns. Results and conclusion: Semi-arid area showed high Leptospira seropositivity prevalence in humans and domestic animals due to intensive human–animal interactions at scarce water points and by flash flooding which occur in the area. Rodent population in the semi-arid areas was relatively low due to flooding. Leptospira seropositivity in rodents was also slightly lower, and the rodents appeared to be prolific breeders, probably as a means to compensate for the lost population during extreme drought as well as during short spells of floods. Intensive human–animal interaction in the semi-arid areas especially, in water sources in valleys where human and animals often meet, likely increased the risk of leptospirosis transmission to rice farmers in the area. Goats and sheep which are kept around homesteads had higher leptospiral antibodies prevalence (62%), nearly double of the 38% reported in same species in humid tropical regions of Tanzania. Livestock, especially goats and sheep, could be the major source of leptospirosis transmission to humans. Vaccination of livestock with vaccines against local Leptospira strains should be encouraged, and rodent control emphasized, as part of a management strategy against leptospirosis. Public awareness of leptospirosis must also be raised and supported by availability of rapid test kits in clinics for preliminary testing of leptospirosis in people with fevers of unknown origin.

The use ofin vitrogas production to evaluate rumen fermentation of leaves of 24 browse species indigenous to semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe

1998 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 238-240
Author(s):  
L. R. Ndlovu ◽  
L. Hove
Keyword(s):  
Woody Plants ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Chemical Methods ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Biological Assays ◽  
Browse Species ◽  
Semi Arid

Browse species are important food resources in semi-arid areas, especially during the dry season when the nutritive value of grass is at its lowest. However, browse plants often contain secondary plant compounds which limit their nutritive value. Proanthocyanidins (PAs) (also called condensed tannins) and related flavonoids are a common constituent of woody plants in tropical regions (Mangan, 1988). PAs cause a bitter and astringent taste which lowers food palatability and they also lower the digestibility of proteins and carbohydrates (Jacksonet al., 1996). PAs also interfere with current chemical methods that are used for estimating nutritive value of foods (Reed, 1995). Biological assays, especially ,in vitrotechniques, have a potential to reflect better the nutritive value of foods that contain PAs. Thein vitrogas production technique has been found to reliably predict the nutritive value of temperate forages (Makkaret al., 1996). There has been limited research on its efficacy with tropical forages. The experiment reported here was conducted to test the hypothesis that gas production of tropical browse species reflects their content of fibre, protein and/or PAs.

Evapotranspiration Retrieval in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas

2011 ◽  
Vol 356-360 ◽  
pp. 2307-2311
Author(s):  
Qin Li ◽  
Xi Chen ◽  
An Ming Bao
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Land Surface Temperature ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Arid Area ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Evaporative Fraction ◽  
Crop Land ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Tian Shan

A typical arid area in China is the province of Xinjiang. The objective of this paper is to present a description of a method based on the energy balance and evaporative fraction, which is obtained by broadband albedo and land surface temperature, to estimate evapotranspiration (ET) in Arid Areas. In Arid areas, the ET always fluctuates from 0 to 2mm in the most part of region in 2005, especially the Tarim, Junggar and Turpan basins. In the mountain especially Tian-shan mountain and crop land of oasis, ET values rises 6mm.

A Comparison of Three Ageing Techniques for Feral Pigs From Subalpine and Semi-Arid Habitats.

1993 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Choquenot ◽  
G Saunders
Keyword(s):  
Arid Area ◽  
Tooth Eruption ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Stochastic Variation ◽  
Feral Pigs ◽  
Wild Pigs ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Age Estimates

Three ageing techniques were tested on samples of wild-caught feral pigs from subalpine (n =35) and semi-arid (n =64) areas in eastern Australia, and on a sample of known-age captive feral pigs reared from stock from semi-arid areas (n =15). Techniques employed were based on morphometric relationships, patterns of tooth eruption and wear, and counts of cementum lines in permanent incisors. Cyclic seasonal conditions led to apparently annular cementum line deposition for pigs from the subalpine area. In contrast, stochastic variation in seasonal conditions led to irregular cementum line deposition in pigs from the semi-arid area and captive-reared pigs of semi-arid stock. On the assumption that cementum lines are annular in pigs from the subalpine site, patterns of tooth eruption and wear and morphometrics returned reasonably accurate age estimates, the former being more precise. Patterns of tooth eruption and wear returned reasonably accurate age estimates for known-age captivereared pigs, whereas morphometrics gave increasing underestimates of age for progressively older pigs. On the assumption that patterns of tooth eruption and wear return similarly accurate age estimates for wild pigs from the semi-arid area, morphometrics again underestimated true age. A correction to the morphometric technique to improve its accuracy for semi-arid areas is given.

scholarly journals Lantana camara: Poisonous Species and a Potential Browse Species for Goats in Southern Africa—A Review

2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 751
Author(s):  
Malizo Ntalo ◽  
Khuliso Emmanuel Ravhuhali ◽  
Bethwell Moyo ◽  
Onke Hawu ◽  
Ntokozo Happy Msiza
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Lantana Camara ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Browse Species ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Ruminant Livestock

Among the possible impacts of plant invaders on South African biodiversity, water supplies, and rangeland production, Lantana camara is ranked the highest in terms of its environmental impact. Globally, L. camara is regarded as one of the most ecologically and economically destructive invasive alien plants. The spread of L. camara affects the environment and threatens livestock productivity due to its toxicity to animals (especial cattle and sheep) in most semi-arid areas of South Africa. Lantana camara is known to have high concentrations of nutrients that are beneficial to livestock, but most previous research has concentrated on its toxicity. To enrich our knowledge on its nutritive value, further research has to evaluate its dietary impact on the growth and health of different ruminant livestock species, particularly goats. This review evaluates L. camara as a potential browse species for goats in southern Africa, and its adverse effects on goats and other ruminant livestock are also presented. The review describes L. camara and its distribution globally, its poisonous effect to livestock, and potential use as an alternative forage to browsing animals such as goats, which have proved resistant to its harmful traits. The high crude protein content, low fibre and adequate macro-minerals for small ruminants makes L. camara a good ruminant protein supplement in semi-arid areas. In addition to other biological control strategies, the prospects of using goats as a biological management tool is discussed. The research will contribute to the understanding of the control measures of L. camara while improving the productivity of small stock, especially goats. This means that a balanced understanding of its nutritional value as a source of protein and its negative impact on the environment should be considered in developing mitigation strategies to arrest its spread. We, therefore, recommend the use of goats in the control of L. camara; however, further studies are needed to limit its toxic effects, and thus improve its value.

scholarly journals Challenges and Opportunities for in situ Maintenance of the Native Brazilian Cotton Gossypium mustelinum Miers

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo Augusto Vianna Barroso ◽  
Lúcia Vieira Hoffmann ◽  
Nataly Duarte Lopes da Costa
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Historical Data ◽  
Arid Area ◽  
Northeast Brazil ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Germplasm Bank ◽  
Gossypium Mustelinum ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Semi Arid

The native Brazilian cotton Gossypium mustelinum has never been planted. It is tetraploid and may cross with cultivated cotton. Endemic to Northeast Brazil, it was known only to grow in semi-arid areas, but expeditions in 2011, 2016, and 2018 localized plants in preservation areas on the coast of Northeast Brazil (in the States of Paraiba and Pernambuco), as predicted before by niche simulations. New climatic modeling shows that new populations can still be found in the Pernambuco semi-arid area, despite the lack of herbarium and germplasm bank information. Historical data show that the preserved populations are in regions where sympatry has not occurred in the last 47 years. Gene flow is unlikely to be a threat, and communication may foster significantly in in situ preservation.

scholarly journals Leguminous species sequester more carbon than gramineous species in cultivated grasslands of a semi-arid area

Solid Earth ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Liu ◽  
Fuping Tian ◽  
Pengyan Jia ◽  
Jingge Zhang ◽  
Fujiang Hou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Period ◽  
Arid Area ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Leguminous Species ◽  
Sequestration Rate ◽  
Abandoned Cropland ◽  
Natural Grassland ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Gramineous Species

Abstract. The establishment of grasslands on abandoned cropland has been proposed as an effective method to mitigate climate change. In this study, five cultivated grasslands (three leguminous species and two gramineous species), one abandoned cropland, and one natural grassland were studied to examine how soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration rate and sequestration efficiency change in a semi-arid area in China. Our results showed that leguminous grasslands had greater total biomass (above- and belowground biomass), SOC storage, SOC sequestration rate, and efficiency than gramineous grasslands, abandoned cropland, and natural grassland during the experimental period. The largest soil carbon (C) accumulation in leguminous grassland was mainly attributed to the capacity to incorporate C and the higher biomass production. Leguminous grasslands accumulated more SOC than gramineous grasslands by 0.64 Mg C ha−1 yr−1. The average SOC sequestration efficiency in leguminous grassland (1.00) was about 2 times greater than gramineous grassland (0.34). The results indicate that cultivated leguminous grassland sequestered more SOC with higher SOC sequestration efficiency than cultivated gramineous grassland in arid and semi-arid areas. Our results provide a reference for ecological management in arid and semi-arid areas.

scholarly journals Spatial Heterogeneous of Ecological Vulnerability in Arid and Semi-Arid Area: A Case of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 4401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rong Li ◽  
Rui Han ◽  
Qianru Yu ◽  
Shuang Qi ◽  
Luo Guo
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Spatial Heterogeneity ◽  
Arid Area ◽  
Cold Spot ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Autonomous Region ◽  
The North ◽  
Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region ◽  
Ecological Vulnerability ◽  
Semi Arid

Ecological vulnerability, as an important evaluation method reflecting regional ecological status and the degree of stability, is the key content in global change and sustainable development. Most studies mainly focus on changes of ecological vulnerability concerning the temporal trend, but rarely take arid and semi-arid areas into consideration to explore the spatial heterogeneity of the ecological vulnerability index (EVI) there. In this study, we selected the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on the Loess Plateau of China, a typical arid and semi-arid area, as a case to investigate the spatial heterogeneity of the EVI every five years, from 1990 to 2015. Based on remote sensing data, meteorological data, and economic statistical data, this study first evaluated the temporal‒spatial change of ecological vulnerability in the study area by Geo-information Tupu. Further, we explored the spatial heterogeneity of the ecological vulnerability using Getis-Ord Gi*. Results show that: (1) the regions with high ecological vulnerability are mainly concentrated in the north of the study area, which has high levels of economic growth, while the regions with low ecological vulnerability are mainly distributed in the relatively poor regions in the south of the study area. (2) From 1990 to 2015, ecological vulnerability showed an increasing trend in the study area. Additionally, there is significant transformation between different grades of the EVI, where the area of transformation between a slight vulnerability level and a light vulnerability level accounts for 41.56% of the transformation area. (3) Hot-spot areas of the EVI are mainly concentrated in the north of the study area, and cold-spot areas are mainly concentrated in the center and south of the study area. Spatial heterogeneity of ecological vulnerability is significant in the central and southern areas but insignificant in the north of the study area. (4) The grassland area is the main driving factor of the change in ecological vulnerability, which is also affected by both arid and semi-arid climates and ecological projects. This study can provide theoretical references for sustainable development to present feasible suggestions on protection measures and management modes in arid and semi-arid areas.

Estimation of aboveground plant water storage using Sentinel-2 images in a semi-arid area

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Liu ◽  
Shaoda Li ◽  
Xinrui Luo ◽  
Wunian Yang ◽  
Yuhang Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Hydrological Cycle ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Arid Area ◽  
Plant Water ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Model Efficiency ◽  
Water Gain ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Sentinel 2

<p>Aboveground plant water storage (APWS), the total of water storing in aboveground parts of plant, has the function of sustaining the balance between water loss by transpiration and water gain of root uptake. APWS is also essential for plants and hydrological cycle, particularly for semi-arid areas, where water availability is limited. However, APWS varies spatially due to the heterogeneity of natural areas that are composed of a large variety of vegetation types, and studies on the spatial variability of APWS are quite limited in semi-arid areas. To fill this knowledge gap, we established 55 inventory plots with 36 plots in forests and 19 plots in shrubs to detect the spatial variability of APWS using a Random Forest (RF) algorithm and Sentinel-2 images in Mao County, China. Field observations indicated that APWS varied significantly with ecosystems, with the highest APWS in forests. Regardless of ecosystem type, mean APWS in Mao Country was 117.63 Mg ha-1. 10-fold cross-validation suggested that the RF model could reasonably predict APWS (model efficiency = 0.68, root mean square error = 54 Mg ha-1), enabling to capture the spatial variability of APWS. A robust spatial variability of APWS was observed with the highest APWS in forests located high altitude areas, while the lowest APWS was found in shrubs located in low altitude areas. Total APWS was 3.39×107 Mg across the whole study area, which could be used as a valuable natural resource for the semi-arid area. Our study successfully explored the spatial variability of APWS, suggesting the capability of detecting APWS using Sentinel-2 and providing essential data evidence for environmental protection for semi-arid areas.</p>

scholarly journals Differentials in the epidemiological profile of canine visceral leishmaniasis in the semi-arid region of Paraíba, Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raizza B.S. Silva ◽  
Laysa F. Franco-Silva ◽  
Diana A. Lima ◽  
Saul S. Fonseca ◽  
Marília A.S. Ferreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽  
Urban Area ◽  
Arid Region ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Epidemiological Profile ◽  
Semi Arid

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) and to identify the differences in associated factors to its occurrence in urban area and countrysides in the municipality of Santa Luzia located in the semi-arid region of Paraíba. In the years 2015 and 2016, 779 blood samples from dogs were collected. The prevalence was determined by three serological techniques, ELISA-S7® Kit, DPP® Rapid Test and EIE-LVC® Kit, considering positive the samples that reacted in at least two assays. Associated factors were determined by univariate and multivariate analyzes of the guardians’ responses to the epidemiological questionnaire. The prevalence of anti-Leishmania infantum antibodies in the studied municipality was 15.00% (117/779), being higher in the urban area (15.20%) than in the countryside (13.60%). The neighborhood with the highest prevalence was Frei Damião with 26.40% (33/125), being considered a hotspot (OR 1.245, p=0.007). Other associated factors were the semi-domiciliary breeding (OR 1.798, p=0.025), in the urban area, and hunting dog (OR 18.505, p=0.016), contact with cattle (OR 17.298, p=0.022) and environment where the dog is raised (OR 4.802, p=0.024) in the countryside. In the municipality of Santa Luzia, the prevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis is high and the disease is widely distributed. Epidemiological differences between urban area and the countryside could be observed demonstrating the need for more adequate control measures for each locality and proving the urbanization process.

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