Current postharvest practices and aflatoxin contamination awareness amongst maize producers in Jimma Zone, Southwest of Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
T.Y. Bereka ◽  
C.G. Kuyu ◽  
K.D. Tolera ◽  
E.M. Addis
Keyword(s):  
Animal Feed ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Aflatoxin Production ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Feed Production ◽  
Jimma Zone ◽  
Storage Structures ◽  
Grain Contamination

Grain contamination by mycotoxins can cause significantly negative health and economic impact in areas where poor agricultural practices and food insecurity is prevalent. This study was conducted to investigate the current postharvest practices and aflatoxin contamination awareness level amongst maize producers in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia. Semi-structured questionnaires were used for quantitative and qualitative data collection from 90 randomly selected maize producers in two districts through a cross-sectional study design. The study revealed poor postharvest practices due to lack of proper infrastructure. Maize is harvested after maturation with the use of traditional sun drying. Plastic sheets are commonly used to protect harvested maize from rain during field drying. The majority of the respondents reported the use of traditional storage structures (81.1%) with great potential for possible mould proliferation and aflatoxin production. Maize producers of up to 62.2% were ignorant about aflatoxins and up to 26.7% reported the possible usage of aflatoxin contaminated maize in human food preparation and animal feed production. Up to 53.3% of the respondents were ignorant of aflatoxin risks in human health and stability during food processing hence the usage of mouldy maize for tella brewing. Further investigations on aflatoxin levels in maize-based food and beverages, and human exposure studies are needed. Moreover, there is a need to enhance the maize producers’ knowledge on good agricultural practices and mycotoxicosis through awareness programmes.

scholarly journals A cross sectional study of contact dermatitis among chicken farmers

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 232
Author(s):  
Tika Nela Sirait ◽  
Helen Kartika Hasianna Sinaga
Keyword(s):  
Contact Dermatitis ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Farm Workers ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Chicken Farm ◽  
Cross Sectional Design

Occupational diseases can be caused by several factors of work and environmental conditions of workers. Poor environmental conditions and worker behavior are some of the triggers for the emergence of dermatitis in workers. Contact dermatitis in chicken farm workers can be caused by exposure to chemicals from animal feed. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influence the occurrence of dermatitis in chicken farmworkers. This research is a quantitative study with a cross-sectional design. The population in this study was a total sample of 35 people. The results showed that there was no relationship between the use of personal protective equipment, working period, and personal hygiene with the appearance of symptoms of dermatitis in workers. However, this study found that workers who have worked for more than 12 months and practice good personal hygiene tend to avoid symptoms of dermatitis. This study provides a recommendation that the longer a person has worked, personal hygiene improvement needs to be done to avoid dermatitis.

Prevalence and factors associated with the contamination of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus during pig transport to slaughterhouses in Colombia

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria del Pilar Pineda Ortiz ◽  
Johanna Paola Corrales Morales ◽  
Gilma Hernández Herrera ◽  
Carlos Enrique Trillos Pena ◽  
Diana Corina Zambrano Moreno
Keyword(s):  
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Morbidity Rate ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Diarrhea Virus ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Proportional Allocation ◽  
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea

Abstract Abstract: Background: Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) is an infectious disease that mainly affects neonatal piglets with a morbidity rate of 80%–100% and a mortality rate of 50%–90%. Prior to March 2014, PED was an exotic disease in Colombia with no historical epidemiological data and this study was conducted at the beginning of the spread of the virus in the country. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) contamination in pig transportation to slaughterhouses in Colombia through a cross-sectional study involving a sample of 518 pig trucks visiting the 32 main slaughterhouses authorized by the regulatory agency of the govern, the INVIMA. Samples were obtained using proportional allocation stratified sampling of pig trucks entering and leaving slaughterhouses for the diagnosis of PEDV through RT-PCR, as well as conducting a survey of the drivers of the sampled trucks. The sampling was performed from June to November 2014, during the first outbreak. Results: The prevalence of PEDV at the time of entry of the plant was 71.8% (CI 95%: 70.8–72.8) versus 70.5% (CI 95%: 69.5–71.5) on exit (p=0.375). Associated factors found to increase the possibility of contamination included: the type of slaughterhouse either national (OR 15.9, CI 95%: 4.9–51.85) or national–exportation (OR 9.0, CI 95%: 2.20–36.91), the zone of highest slaughter (OR 9.05, CI 95%: 2.9–27.63), the non-exclusive use of vehicles for the transport of pigs (OR 3.75, CI 95%: 1.55–9.08) and visiting animal feed plants (OR 13.5, CI 95%: 4.1–44.12). Factors identified to reduce the possibility of contamination included: the cleaning of vehicles, the use of disinfectants on the vehicle and the exclusive of the vehicle for pig transportation. Conclusions: The results showed that the high degree of truck mobilization, with poor biosafety compliance and dissemination characteristics of the virus, facilitated the spread of PEDV throughout the national territory. These factors contributed to establishing the disease as an endemic problem in Colombia. Keywords: coronavirus, epidemiology, PEDV, prevalence, swine.

Assessment of mothers’ knowledge and practice towards aflatoxin contamination in complementary foods in Ethiopia: from pre-harvest to household

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 535-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.A. Beyene ◽  
A.Z. Woldegiorgis ◽  
A.A. Adish ◽  
S. De Saeger ◽  
A.L. Tolossa
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Bare Ground ◽  
Complementary Foods ◽  
Insect Infestations ◽  
Knowledge And Practice ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Storage Structures ◽  
Processing Steps

This study assessed the knowledge and practices of the mothers in Ethiopia on issues related to aflatoxin in complementary foods (CFs) using structured questionnaires. The study involved 195 mothers from Amhara, Tigray, Oromia, and Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP) regions and addressed a range of issues used to prevent the risks of mould and aflatoxin contamination from farm-to-table. Of the 195 mothers who responded; 186 (95%) were ploughing their land before growing the next crop, 177 (91%) used the crop rotation schedule, 157 (81%) reported the practice of removing old seed heads and stalks used as an inoculum for aflatoxin contamination, 185 (95%) harvested the crops as soon as the crops were matured, 138 (70%) used a threshing method known as ‘trampling by hoofed animals’. After threshing, about 124 (64%) respondents had the knowledge and practice of drying cereals and legumes to decrease the moisture content, 134 (68%) used solar drying on a bare ground, 184 (94%) cleaned and disinfected the storage structures before storage. Almost all the respondents practiced the CFs processing steps properly and they used colour, type, odour, insect infestations, mouldiness and all these criteria to select the CFs ingredients. A total of 78 (40%) respondents had the practice of feeding mouldy cereals and legumes to animals, and 89 (46%) of the respondents erroneously believed that roasting can decontaminate the aflatoxin produced from mouldy cereals. As a general conclusion, the majority of the respondents are practicing good agricultural practices in the field, but they use poor storage and processing practices at homes which are susceptible to mould and aflatoxin contamination. Besides, they lack awareness about the toxic effects of aflatoxin on human health. Therefore, awareness creation about the health impacts of aflatoxin and methods of prevention need to be implemented in the study areas.

scholarly journals Molecular Epidemiology and Genotyping of Infectious Bronchitis Virus and Avian Metapneumovirus in Backyard and Commercial Chickens in Jimma Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 187
Author(s):  
Dechassa Tegegne ◽  
Yosef Deneke ◽  
Takele Sori ◽  
Mukarim Abdurahaman ◽  
Nigatu Kebede ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Bronchitis Virus ◽  
Control Measure ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Poultry Production ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Avian Metapneumovirus ◽  
Infectious Bronchitis ◽  
Subtype B ◽  
Jimma Zone

Poultry production plays a relevant role in the Ethiopian economy and represents a source of poverty alleviation for several social classes. Infectious diseases can therefore significantly impact the economy and welfare. Despite infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) being present, the knowledge of their epidemiology and impact is extremely limited. In the present work, a cross-sectional study based on 500 tracheal swabs collected from 50 intensive and backyard unvaccinated flocks of the Jimma Zone was performed to investigate the circulation of these viruses and molecularly characterize them. IBV and aMPV presence was tested by molecular assays, and genotyping was carried out on positive samples. Accordingly, 6% (95% CI 2.06% to 16.22%) and 8% (95% CI 3.15% to 18.84%) of flocks tested IBV and aMPV positive, respectively. Particularly, IBV 793B (GI-13) strains were detected in backyard flocks only, and identical or closely related sequences (p-distance <2%) were detected in distantly spaced flocks, suggesting relevant viral circulation. On the contrary, both backyard and intensive flocks were affected by aMPV subtype B. Potential epidemiological links associated to the importation of parental birds from foreign countries could be established. These results highlight non-negligible circulation of these viruses, warranting further epidemiological studies and the evaluation of control measure implementation.

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