Browsing by Author "Clifford, D. L."
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Item Boma to banda - A disease sentinel concept for reduction of diarrhoea(Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice., 2016) Wolking, D. J.; Clifford, D. L.; Kelly, T. R.; Kamani, E.; Smith, W. A.; Kazwala, R. R.; Mazet, J. A.K.Diarrhoeal diseases can be debilitating, especially for children and young animals. In many rural areas, particularly pastoral communities, livelihoods are characterized by close interaction between household members and their livestock herds, and children often care for young animals, creating opportunities for the transmission of multiple zoonotic pathogens. Using a One Health approach, we first evaluated whether diarrhoeal diseases were a problem for pastoral households in Tanzania and then investigated their calf herds to identify the prevalence and risk factors for diarrhoeal disease and the shedding of the zoonotic pathogens Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Sixty percent of households reporting cases of human diarrhoea also had diarrhoea detected later in their calf herds, and calf herds shedding Cryptosporidium oocysts were six times more likely to be diarrhoeic. Because Cryptosporidium shares a similar transmission mode with a wide range of diarrhoeagenic organisms and calf diarrhoea outbreaks can involve multiple pathogens with mixed infections, it is possible that calf diarrhoea may be indicative of shared risk of zoonotic pathogens from environmental contamination. To mitigate the risk of transmission of faecal-borne zoonotic pathogens from herds to households (boma-livestock pens to banda –household building), we describe a conceptual disease early-warning method proposing diarrhoeic calves as animal sentinels. Such a calf warning system, combined with appropriate interventions designed to minimize exposure, could serve as a practical solution for reducing risks of diarrhoeal diseases among animals and people.Item Demographics and parasites of African buffalo (Syncerus caffer Sparrman, 1779) in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania(African Journal of Ecology, 2016) Roug, A.; Muse, E. A.; Smith, W. A; Mazet, J. A. K.; Kazwala, R. R.; Harvey, D.; Paul, G.; Meing’ataki, G. O.; Banga, P.; Clifford, D. L.The number of African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer Sparrman, 1779) inhabiting Ruaha National Park, Tanzania, is thought to be declining, but little data exist to determine whether the population is actually in decline. As an initial phase of collecting population data, we conducted demographic surveys, faecal egg counts and gastrointestinal parasite identification in Ruaha’s buffalo herds in September 2011 and 2013. Most herds encountered in the two surveys appeared to be in good health, but with fewer calves in 2013 compared with 2011. The herd-level body condition score was positively associated with the number of calves per 100 cows after adjusting for year, and the lower number of offspring in 2013 could possibly be associated with a below average rainfall in the 2012–2013 rainy season. Mean herd-level egg counts ranged from 83 to 140 and from 28 to 113 eggs per g faeces in 2011 and 2013, respectively. Haemonchus, Nematodirus, Cooperia and Oesophagostomum spp., as well as coccidian oocysts, were detected in the population. Monitoring herd demographics and baseline health parameters over time will provide insight into population performance, increase the understanding of population stressors and contribute to buffalo conservation within Ruaha National Park and other protected areas of Africa.Item Integrating the management of the ruaha landscape of Tanzania with local needs and preferences(University of California, 2010-01) Masozera, M.; Erickson, J.D.; Clifford, D. L.; Coppolillo, P.; Nguvava, M.; Sadiki, H.; Mazet, J. A .K.ustainable management of landscapes with multiple competing demands requires balancing the diverse preferences and needs of stakeholder groups. Conservation and development organizations have often made unwarranted assumptions about what is desired by, or good for local people without engaging local stakeholders. This study uses conjoint analysis to assess the preferences of representatives from three stakeholder groups—local communities, district government officials, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)—to identify potential competing conservation and development priorities facing local communities in the Ruaha Landscape of Tanzania. Representatives of local agricultural communities place high importance on investments in farmer’s cooperatives that increase accessibility to supplies, loans, and capacity development. In contrast, district government officials and NGOs perceive investments to improve health, education, and tourism infrastructure as highest priorities for the region. Analysis suggests a need for incorporating issues deemed important by these various groups into a development strategy that aims to promote conservation of the Ruaha Landscape while improving the livelihoods of local communities. To be successful, future projects, whether conservation or development, must reconcile objectives at local to global scales and across sectors.Item A ‘‘One Health’’ approach to address emerging zoonoses: The HALI project in Tanzania(PLoS Medicine, 2009-12) Mazet, J. A. K.; Clifford, D. L.; Coppolillo, B. P.; Deolalikar, A. B.; Erickson, J. D.; Kazwala, R. R.Every day thousands of children and adults die from underdiagnosed diseases that have arisen at the human–animal– environment interface, especially diarrheal and respiratory diseases in developing countries [1,2]. Explosive human population growth and environmental changes have resulted in increased numbers of people living in close contact with wild and domestic animals. Unfortunately, this increased contact together with changes in land use, including livestock grazing and crop production, have altered the inherent ecological balance between pathogens and their human and animal hosts. In fact, zoonotic pathogens, such as influenza and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), account for the majority of emerging infectious diseases in people [3], and more than three-quarters of emerging zoonoses are the result of wildlife-origin pathogens [4]. While zoonoses represent a significant emerging threat to public health, many of these diseases, such as diarrheal diseases arising from poor water sanitation, are neglected by funding agencies [5].