Browsing by Author "Katto, T. M."

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Assessment of anticholinesterase contaminants in Ruvu river using cholinesterase biomarker in African sharptooth Catfish
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2017) Katto, T. M.
A cross sectional study was conducted to assess the extent of exposure of anticholinesterase contaminants in Ruvu river using cholinesterase biomarker in African Sharptooth Catfish. Questionnaire interviews were used to collect sociological data from 200 respondents, also Ellman‟s method and 5, 5‟-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoic acid chromophore was used to establish cholinesterase activities in plasma and brain of 40 Claria gariepinus. The sociological findings showed that all respondents (100%) use pesticides in agriculture and 62.5% were males with primary level of education (69%). Organophosphates pesticides were mentioned to be mostly used in the area. With regards to the proper use, awareness on the effects and disposal of pesticides, it was observed that most farmer know how to use the pesticides and were aware of the effect of pesticides in human and pests but not to the environment. Also mishandling and poor disposal of pesticides and their leftovers were reported. There was no significant difference between the levels of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in plasma. AChE and BChE activities in brain showed insignificant difference (P > 0.05) among fish from the study sites and the control. The brain AChE activities were significantly lower (P ˂ 0.05) in fish from Ruvu Darajani compared to the control. This study revealed differences in AChE and BChE activities in the study area. Such differences could be ascribed to the environmental contamination due to agrochemicals used by the farmers around Ruvu river basin.
Bacteriological assessment of chlorinated and non-chlorinated water in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania
(Tanzania Veterinary Association, 2017-12-07) Katto, T. M.; Nonga, H. E.
This cross sectional study was conducted to assess the bacterial contamination in chlorinated and non- chlorinated water in Morogoro Municipality from October 2013 – January 2014. Fifty two samples were collected from selected taps (chlorinated samples) and directly from the water sources (non -chlorinated samples). The total viable count (TVC) was performed on nutrient agar while the total coliform count (TCC) was done by Most Probable Number (MPN) using MacConkey broth. It was found that the TVC ranged between 530 CFU/100 mL and 600 CFU/100 mL during dry season and the same range during rainy season. The TVC ranged between 530 CFU/100 mL and 600 CFU/100 mL during dry season and 600 CFU/100 mL to 650 CFU/100 mL during rainy season. The results for TCC positive chlorinated samples during dry season ranged between 3.6/100 mL and 150/100 mL while during the rainy season it ranged between 15/100 mL and 150/100 mL. The highest TCC were found at Department of Animal Science and Production in both season for chlorinated water and 41% of non- chlorinated water during dry season while all the samples of non- chlorinated water during rainy season had high TCC count. Also the results further showed that TCC for positive non- chlorinated samples during dry season ranged between 210/100 mL and >1100/100 mL while it was >1100/100 mL during rainy season. In chlorinated water, significant difference (p=0.332) was observed when TVC during dry season was compared with that of rainy season. Based on the results of this study, it is concluded that chlorinated and non- chlorinated water show high number of TCC than that recommended by WHO and Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS). However, there was low TVC which was within recommended standards. The high TCC observed in treated water in this study may pose a risk of acquiring water-borne diseases to the Morogoro community