Browsing by Author "Muhairwa, Amandus P"
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Item Evaluation of stress hormone (cortisol) levels andsome biochemical parameters of pigs kept under intensive management systems in Morogoro, Tanzania(Journal of biology and life science, 2018) George Bakari, Gaymary; Mollel, Ester; Max, Robert Arsen; Muhairwa, Amandus PThe worldwide increase in demand for animal products in recent decades has necessitated raising of food animals under intensive systems that have been demonstrated to cause stress to animals. A cross sectional study was carried conducted to evaluate the welfare of pigs kept under intensive system using serum cortisol levels and some biochemical parameters as indicators of stress. A total of 302 pigs, aged three months to two years, from urban and peri-urban areas of Morogoro township were purposively involved in the study which assessed farm management aspects (housing and feeding) and blood levels of cortisol and some biochemical parameters (glucose, total protein and cholesterol). Results showed that serum cortisol levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in pigs from the peri-urban farms than those dwelling in the urban settings. Weaner pigs and boars had the highest serum cortisol levels compared to growers, gilts and sows. Significantly high levels of plasma cholesterol (p < 0.05) were measured in boars followed by gilts and weaners all kept in the urban areas whereas insignificant differences were observed as far as plasma glucose and total proteins were concerned. Result on farm management assessment showed that urban piggery housing was of better quality than in the peri-urban and that feeding was largely influenced by local availability of the major feed ingredients such as maize bran and vegetable residues. About 80% of urban pigs were maintained on high concentrate feed due to availability of swills (restaurant leftovers) and maize bran whereas low concentrate feed with mainly vegetable residues dominated in the peri-urban settings. It is concluded that, serum cortisol levels observed in the current study were a reflection of stress to different groups of pigs kept under the intensive system and that feeds had some direct effect on biochemical parameters such as plasma cholesterol levels.Item Molecular characterization of African swine fever virus from domestic pigs in northern Tanzania during an outbreak in 2013(Springer Netherlands, 2014-10) Misinzo, Gerald; Kwavi, David E; Sikombe, Christopher D; Makange, Mariam; Peter, Emma; Muhairwa, Amandus P; Madege, Michael JAfrican swine fever (ASF) is an acute, highly contagious and deadly viral hemorrhagic fever of domestic pigs caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV), a double-stranded DNA virus of the family Asfarviridae. In this study, molecular diagnosis and characterization of outbreak ASFV in northern Tanzania, was performed on spleen, lymph node, kidney, and heart samples collected in June and July 2013 from domestic pigs that died during a hemorrhagic disease outbreak. Confirmatory diagnosis of ASF was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) by partial amplification of B646L gene of ASFV encoding the major capsid protein p72 using PPA1/PPA2 primers. PCR using PPA1/PPA2 primers produced an expected PCR product size, confirming ASF outbreak in northern Tanzania. In addition, nucleotide amplification and sequencing, and phylogenetic reconstruction of the variable 3′-end of the …Item Phenotypic variability and population structure analysis of Tanzanian free-range local chickens(BMC Veterinary Research, 2020) Mushi, James R; Chiwanga, Gaspar H; Amuzu-Aweh, Esinam N; Walugembe, Muhammed; Max, Robert A; Lamont, Susan J; Kelly, Terra R; Mollel, Esther L; Msoffe, Peter L; Dekkers, Jack; Gallardo, Rodrigo; Zhou, Huaijun; Muhairwa, Amandus PBackground: Free-range local chickens (FRLC) farming is an important activity in Tanzania, however, they have not been well-characterized. This study aimed to phenotypically characterize three Tanzanian FRLCs and to determine their population structure. A total of 389 mature breeder chickens (324 females and 65 males) from three popular Tanzanian FRLC ecotypes (Kuchi, Morogoro-medium and Ching’wekwe) were used for the phenotypic characterization. Progenies of these chickens were utilized to assess population structure. The ecotypes were collected from four geographical zones across Tanzania: Lake, Central, Northern and Coastal zones. Body weights and linear measurements were obtained from the mature breeders, including body, neck, shanks, wingspan, chest girth, and shank girth. Descriptive statistics were utilized to characterize the chickens. Correlations between the linear measurements and differences among the means of measured linear traits between ecotypes and between sexes were assessed. A total of 1399 progeny chicks were genotyped using a chicken 600 K high density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel for determination of population structure. Results: The means for most traits were significantly higher in Kuchi relative to Ching’wekwe and Morogoro- medium. However, shank length and shank girth were similar between Kuchi and Morogoro-medium females. All traits were correlated with the exception of shank girth in Morogoro-medium. Admixture analyses revealed that Morogoro-medium and Ching’wekwe clustered together as one population, separate from Kuchi. Conclusions: Phenotypic traits could be used to characterize FRLCs, however, there were variations in traits among individuals within ecotypes; therefore, complementary genomic methods should be considered to improve the characterization for selective breeding.Item Serum resistance of Pasteurella multocida in avian and porcine sera, and comparative virulence investigations of selected serum-sensitive and resistant strains in chickens(Taylor and Francis, 2002) Muhairwa, Amandus P; Christensen, Jens P; Bisgaard, MagneGrowth in serum of Pasteurella multocida and related species in chicken, turkey, duck and pig sera were compared, and selected serum-resistant and serum-sensitive strains were inoculated into 18-week-old layers. Eighty-seven field strains of Pasteurella spp. and nine reference strains representing different clones defined by restriction endonuclease analysis ( REA) profiles were used in the study. Serum activity was measured by changes in the optical density ( OD) of the serum after inoculation and incubation at 41°C for chicken, turkey and duck serum and 39°C for pig serum. Serum activity was measured by comparison with previously determined serum-resistant ( P-1059) and serum- sensitive ( CU vaccine ) strains, and classified into highly serum-resistant, moderately serum-resistant and serum-sensitive. Strains of the same REA type were found to have identical growth curves and the same maximum OD values when tested in serum from the same host species. Turkey serum was shown to be less inhibitory to a wide range of P. multocida strains than chicken, duck and pig sera. Serum- resistant strains were demonstrated among avian as well as mammalian strains. Among the avian strains, the proportion of serum-resistant strains was higher in outbreak strains than in strains from apparently healthy carriers. Removal of the capsule from selected strains by hyaluronidase treatment failed to change the serum activity. The most severe lesions in experimentally infected chickens were produced by a serum-resistant strain; however, lesions were also found in chickens infected by serum- sensitive strains, indicating the involvement of multiple factors in the virulence of P. multocida. Further investigations on serum resistance are indicated in order to relate other host and bacterial factors responsible for the development of fowl cholera.Item Student and institutional achievements during an OIE veterinary education twinning project collaboration between Sokoine University of Agriculture and Kansas state University(AAVMC, 2022-04) Kipanyula, Maulilio J; Hamilton, Keith; Mosier, Derek A; Schmidt, Peggy L; Kazwala, Rudovick; Muhairwa, Amandus P; Sebhatu, Tesfaalem TThis collaborative partnership aimed to enhance the quality of veterinary education at both Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (Tanzania), and Kansas State University (KSU), College of Veterinary Medicine (United States), by facilitating exchange of knowledge, experience, and ideas. One project objective was to integrate the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Guidelines on Veterinary Education Core Curriculum into the SUA education program so veterinary graduates would be equipped with the minimum competencies needed to support their National Veterinary Services (OIE Day 1 Competencies). Curriculum mapping revealed that partners addressed different OIE Day 1 Competencies to varying degrees and they had complementary strengths and weaknesses. The partners’ practical and educational experiences were also complementary, providing each opportunities to learn from the other and a solid basis for long-term mutually beneficial collaboration. Through structured exchanges, the collaboration allowed SUA and KSU students and faculty to broaden their perspectives by exposing them to veterinary medicine, culture, ecosystems, teaching environments, and farming systems in each other’s country. Visiting faculties and students from both universities were exposed to different livestock systems, varying dynamics at the human–livestock–wildlife interface, different teaching systems, and a veterinary profession with a different culture and focus than that in their own country. Students and faculty learned about the relative social and economic importance of different types of animal production in each country and their influence on veterinary education priorities. Partnership outcomes include a continuing professional development course at SUA for private and public sector veterinarians and a clinical club to expose students at both colleges to a broader range of clinical cases and knowledge.