Browsing by Author "Kilonzo, Bukheti S."

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Comparative study of movement patterns of Mastomys natalensis in irrigated rice and fallow fields in eastern Tanzania
(John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2015) Mulungu, Loth S.; Borremans, Benny; Ngowo, V; Mdangi, Mashaka E.; Katakweba, Abdul S.; Tesha, P; Mrosso, Furaha P.; Mchomvu, M; Kilonzo, Bukheti S.
A 2-year capture–mark–recapture study was conducted to estimate home ranges and weekly travel distance of Mastomys natalensis (Smith 1834) in an irrigated rice ecosystem and fallow fields. We found that adults have larger home ranges than subadults in fallow fields but not in rice fields, indicating that fallow fields are more suitable for breeding. Travel distances were larger in rice fields, especially in the transplanting stage, during which rice fields are flooded and provide less food, causing movements into neighbouring fallow fields that then temporarily experience higher population density. A decrease in travel distance was observed in rice fields during the maturity stage, which can be explained by higher food availability and a more suitable, nonflooded situation. Movement of M. natalensis in rice-fallow mosaic landscapes thus seems to be driven by food availability and flooding status of the rice fields, which can be attributed to land use practices.
Evidence of Yersinia pestis DNA from fleas in an endemic plague area of Zambia
(BMC Research Notes, 2012) Hang’ombe, Bernard M.; Nakamura, Ichiro; Samui, Kenny L.; Kaile, Davy; Mweene, Aaron S.; Kilonzo, Bukheti S.; Sawa, Hirofumi; Sugimoto, Chihiro; Wren, Brendan W.
Yersinia pestis is a bacterium that causes plague which infects a variety of mammals throughout the world. The disease is usually transmitted among wild rodents through a flea vector. The sources and routes of transmission of plague are poorly researched in Africa, yet remains a concern in several sub-Saharan countries. In Zambia, the disease has been reported on annual basis with up to 20 cases per year, without investigating animal reservoirs or vectors that may be responsible in the maintenance and propagation of the bacterium. In this study, we undertook plague surveillance by using PCR amplification of the plasminogen activator gene in fleas. Xenopsylla species of fleas were collected from 83 rodents trapped in a plague endemic area of Zambia. Of these rodents 5 had fleas positive (6.02%) for Y. pestis plasminogen activator gene. All the Y. pestis positive rodents were gerbils. We conclude that fleas may be responsible in the transmission of Y. pestis and that PCR may provide means of plague surveillance in the endemic areas of Zambia.
Evidence of Yersinia pestis DNA in rodents in plague outbreak foci in Mbulu and Karatu Districts, northern Tanzania
(2013-07) Ziwa, Michael H.; Matee, Mecky I.; Kilonzo, Bukheti S.; Hang’ombe, Bernard M.
Human plague remains a public health concern in Tanzania despite its quiescence in most foci for years, considering the recurrence nature of the disease. Appreciable researches have involved serological screening of rodents, fleas and humans but none has involved molecular detection and hence proving the presence of Yersinia pestis in rodents in the most recent affected foci, Mbulu and Karatu districts in northern Tanzania. The objective of the current study was to employ a simple PCR to detect Yersinia pestis plasminogen activator (pla) gene in various potential mammalian hosts/reservoirs. The study was conducted in five villages in Mbulu and one in Karatu districts during the period of no disease outbreak. Rodents and small wild carnivores were captured, anaesthetized, identified, sexed and autopsied. Liver, spleen, heart and lung specimens were collected and DNA extracted after which PCR was used to detect the Y. pestis pla gene. A total of 517 small mammals were captured; of which, 493 (95.4%) were from Mbulu and 24 (4.6%) from Karatu. Two Mastomys natalensis (one from each district) and one Gerbilliscus sp. in Mbulu district were positive for Y. pestis pla gene. In conclusion, our results have provided a proof on the presence of Y. pestis in the two rodent species (Mastomys natalensis and Gerbilliscus sp.) and thus providing indicative evidence that the two are potential reservoirs of the pathogen and hence may be responsible for maintaining the same during periods of no disease outbreaks.
Knowledge and attitudes of communities on small mammalian carnivores in Mbomipa wildlife management area, Iringa, Tanzania
(African Journal of Science and Research, 2015) Msigwa, Alphonce M.; Mulungu, Loth S.; Mdangi, Mashaka E.; Kilonzo, Bukheti S.
The term Wildlife Management Area (WMA) refers to an area set aside by village governments and gazetted by the Government for the purpose of conserving natural resources, improving the life standard of communities and alleviating poverty across rural areas in Tanzania. With an area of 771 km2, MBOMIPA is among the three WMA’s bordering Ruaha National Park in Iringa region with large number of animals. However, little has been documented on small mammalian carnivores (SMC) in the area. This study was therefore designed to assess communities’ knowledge and attitudes on trends and threats of SMC in the area. Structured questionnaires were used for collecting information from village game scouts, local tourist hunters (campsite attendants, hunters guide, drivers and tour guides). Eleven SMC species were reported in the current study, viz. Black backed jackal, Aardwolf, Bat eared Fox, Zorilla, Cape clawless otter, Striped weasel, African civet, Wild cat, Caracal, Honey badger, and Banded mongoose. Eighteen respondents reported an increase of SMC despite presence of many threats against their survival. Competition (20.8%) and fire (16.5%) were reported to be the leading factors threatening the SMC in the area. Information gathered from this study was considered important for wildlife managers when implementing conservation activities and future research on SMC.
Laboratory and field tests of Carbaryl 5% against fleas in Lushoto district, Tanzania
(2015-04) Katakweba, Abdul A.S; Mhamphi, Ginethon. G; Mwalimu, Dismas C.; Mchau, Geophrey; Mbise, Thomas J.; Lugendo, Ramadhani M; Borremans, Benny; Kilonzo, Bukheti S.
Background and Objective: Lushoto district has been an active focus of plague disease since 1980 and many pesticides were used to control rodents and fleas from 1980 to 2003 when outbreaks occurred yearly. For over seven years ago commercial Carbaryl 5% powder has been used for controlling fleas in the area. However, there is no current research to substantiate its effectiveness either in the laboratory or in the field. Methods: Immature stages of Xenopsylla brasiliensis were collected from two villages in Lushoto and transported to Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Morogoro and reared in an insectary to stock colony. Known weights of commercial Carbaryl 5% powder were thoroughly mixed with known weights of clean fine sand as to obtain a final concentration of 0.05% (WW) of Carbaryl/sand mixture. The same concentration was suspended in 50cc distilled water and pieces of filter paper were soaked in the solution, left at room temperature until the suspension was fully adsorbed and the papers were left to dry. Adult fleas of mixed ages and of both sexes were obtained from the stock colony and exposed to both Carbaryl/sand mixture and Carbaryl-adsorbed filter papers for various periods of time. Field trials were carried out at Manolo and Viti villages where house and rodent flea indices were determined before and after dusting with commercial Carbaryl 5% powder. Results: In the laboratory tests, 100% mortality occurred at 90 minutes exposure in Carbaryl/sand mixture experiments and at 35 minutes exposure to Carbaryl-adsorbed filter papers. LT50 in both sets of exposure was 48.2 min and 23.1 min in Carbaryl/sand mixture and Carbaryl-coated filter papers tests respectively. In field trials, X. brasiliensis and Pulex irritans were the most abundant flea species. Post-dusting flea populations were significantly lower in treated than in control houses (p=0.028). House flea indices dropped from 7.7 to 0.33 and 37.8 to 0 in Viti and Manolo villages respectively at 3 months post-dusting. Conclusion: Commercial Carbaryl 5% powder in current use was still effective against potential flea vectors in Lushoto.