Browsing by Author "Msoffe, Peter L. M."

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    Implementing poultry vaccination and biosecurity at the village level in Tanzania: a social strategy to promote health in free-range poultry populations
    (ResearchGate, 2009-08) Muhairwa, A. P; Mtambo, M. M. A; Mwamhehe, H; Msago, A; Mlozi, M. R. S; Cardona, C.J; Msoffe, Peter L. M.; Bunn, David
    A social strategy was tested for implement- ing Newcastle disease (ND) vaccination and biosecur- ity improvements among free-ranging chicken at village level in Tanzania. In addition to training the local poultry vaccinators, data recorders and poultry- keepers, the strategy involved training and empowering leaders at the district, ward and village level. The trainings covered poultry health, management, and marketing of village chickens, with an emphasis on ND vaccination and improving biosecurity against avian influenza (AI), The study sites included villages in one ward in each of three each three districts (Iringa, Mtwara-Mikindani, and Mvomero) of mainland Tan- zania. Ninety-six local leaders at district level and 101 leaders at ward levels were trained. In addition, 196farmers (households) were trained, as well as 86 vaccinators and 26 data recorders. Data recorders were also trained as poultry first aid workers. ND vaccina- tion was conducted by the vaccinators, supervised by their local leaders with technical assistance from veterinarians. A total of 158,343 village chickens were vaccinated in three rounds of vaccination three months apart. The training and empowerment of local leaders and local implementers was the key element for success as it fostered the feeling of local ownership of the program and prevented conflicts with other development activities within the villages. We con- clude that most animal health programs will increase their odds of success by involving local leaders and by addressing the current challenges facing the
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    Occurrence, species distribution and antimicrobial resistance of thermophilic Campylobacter isolates from farm and laboratory animals in Morogoro, Tanzania
    (Veterinary World,, 2014) Komba, Erick V.G; Mdegela, Robinson H.; Msoffe, Peter L. M.; Matowo, Denis E.; Maro, Makori J.
    Aim: To determine the carriage and antimicrobial resistance of Thermophilic Campylobacter species in the gastrointestinal tracts of farm and laboratory animals in Morogoro, Tanzania Materials and Methods: Faecal samples were collected from farm (n=244) and laboratory (n=466) animals and were subjected to the Cape Town protocol for isolation of Campylobacter. Isolates were preliminarily identified based on potassium hydroxide string and hippurate hydrolysis tests. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed for confirmation of isolates.Antimicrobial resistance testing was done using disc diffusion method. Results: Of the laboratory animals, 26.7% of guinea pigs (n=30) and 1.2% of rats (n=242) were colonized with Campylobacter. Four isolates from guinea pigs were Campylobacter jejuni and the other four were Campylobacter coli. From rats, two isolates were C. jejuni and one was C. coli. In farm animals thermophilic Campylobacter were detected from 31.6% of sheep (n=57) and 60% horses (n=5). Of the isolates 12 (57%) were C. jejuni (10 from sheep and 2 from horses) and the remaining were C. coli (8 from sheep and 1 from a horse). The isolates were frequently resistant to erythromycin, norfloxacin, colistin sulphate and nalidixic acid; whereas low levels of resistance were observed for ciprofloxacin and gentamicin. Conclusion: Our study reveals carriage of antimicrobial resistant thermophilic Campylobacter in the intestines of the study animals. This highlights possibilities in involvement of these animals in the epidemiology of Campylobacter infections. Thus, there is a need to consider these animal species when planning control measures for this zoonotic bacterium.