The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effect of interaction of age, breed an... more The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effect of interaction of age, breed and scrotal circumference (SC) on the sperm morphological characteristics of bulls raised on commercial farms in Zambia. A total of 365 bulls comprising of 164 Boran, 139 Bonsmara, 35 Tuli, 12 Santagetrudis, 5 Holstein Friesian (HF) and 10 Sussex bulls were studied. Semen was collected once using an electro-ejaculator after which eosin-nigrosin stained semen smears were made. Thereafter, the eosin-nigrosin stained semen smears were examined under a microscope for abnormal spermatozoa. The interaction between age categories and the Boran bulls did not differ from the interaction of Sussex bulls older than 72 months (mo) of age in predicting sperm abnormalities (P>0.05). However, Bonsmara and Sussex bulls older than 72 mo of age had lower percentages of sperm abnormalities (P<0.05). Interaction of age and Tuli bulls showed high midpiece and tail defects (dag defects and simple coiled tails), total abnormal sperm, major defects and the Proximal cytoplasmic droplets (PCD), (P<0.05). Santagetrudis bulls between 48 and 60 mo of age showed an increase in the midpiece defects, total abnormal sperm, major defects and the PCD, (P<0.05), but lower than those of the interaction between age and the Tuli bulls. Higher coiled tails were found due to the interaction between age and HF bulls compared to age and the Tuli bulls (P<0.05). The interaction between age and SC had an effect on sperm abnormalities, (P<0.05). The study suggested that the interactions of age, breed and SC are important sources of variation in sperm morphology. However, further research is needed to determine the effect of minor nutritional differences on the sperm morphological characteristics on the farms.
Background: Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease of public health and economic importance.... more Background: Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease of public health and economic importance. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Mbeya region between November 2015 and January 2016 to investigate the seroprevalence of human brucellosis and identify associated risk factors among individuals in risky occupations. Methods: A total of 425 humans from six occupational categories were serially tested for Brucella antibodies using the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (c-ELISA), for screening and confirmation, respectively. A questionnaire survey was also administered to participants to collect epidemiological data. Results: The overall seroprevalence among the occupationally exposed individuals was 1.41% (95% CI: 00.64-3.12). Seropreva-lence was higher among butcher men 5.6% (95% CI: 1.68-5.26), herds men 1.35% (95% CI: 0.18-9.02); and abattoir workers 1.1% (95% CI: 0.26-4.22) although there was no statistical significance. (P value = .18). Seroprevalence was also higher among men (1.8%) compared to females (0%) (P value = .19). and also, among those aged < 11 years (2.5%). Individuals who consumed raw milk had a higher seroprevalence (1.56%) compared to those who drunk boiled milk while seropositivity was 0.88% among those who assisted animals during parturition (P value = .49). Butcher men were at higher risk of exposure compared to other occupational categories. Our findings show the presence of brucellosis in occupationally exposed individuals in Mbeya region. Conclusion: There is need to sensitize the concerned professions in order to reduce the risk of acquiring Brucella infections from animals and animal products This also calls for public health awareness about the disease, and implementation of measures to prevent further spread of brucellosis within and outside the study area.
A total of 441 eosin-nigrosin bull breeding soundness examination (BBSE) data was obtained from M... more A total of 441 eosin-nigrosin bull breeding soundness examination (BBSE) data was obtained from Matobo Veterinary centre and analysed. 82 bulls were classified as unsound for breeding representing 18.6% of the entire bull population studied. The breeds studied were the Bonsmara, Sussex, Brahman, Boran, Afrikander × Tuli and the Tuli. Breed and scrotal circumference (SC) were the significant predictors of BBSE classification. The Bonsmara and the Sussex breeds were not significantly different in predicting sperm abnormalities (p>0.05). The Brahman breed had odds of 0.358 less likely to be classified as sound, Boran breed had odds of 0.206 less likely to be classified as sound and the Afrikander × Tuli breed had odds of 0.097 less likely to be classified as sound while the Tuli breed had odds of 0.214 less likely to be classified as sound. Therefore, the Afrikander × Tuli breed had the highest probability of being classified as unsound for breeding. Bulls with a SC of <36 cm had odds of 0.235 less likely to be classified as sound while those of 39 to <42cm had odds of 0.384 less likely to be classified as sound compared to bulls with SC of ≥42cm. Body condition score (BCS) had an effect on mass motility (p<0.05). Bulls in month category (cat) 1 (September, October and November) had odds of 2.29 more likely to have fair mass motility relative to very good mass motility compared to bulls examined in June-July (cat 2) and month category 1 bulls had odds of 2.46 more likely to have good mass motility relative to very good mass motility compared to month category 2 bulls. Bulls in SC category 1 (≤39 centimetres (cm)) had odds of 1.81 more likely to have fair mass motility relative to very good mass motility compared to bulls in category 2 (>39cm) and bulls in BCS category 1 (2.5 and 3.0) had odds of 2.71 more likely to have fair mass motility relative to very good mass motility compared to bulls in category 3 (4.0). Bulls with a BCS of 4.0 had the highest mass motility of 3.72±0.41 and the
The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effect of interaction of age, breed an... more The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effect of interaction of age, breed and scrotal circumference (SC) on the sperm morphological characteristics of bulls raised on commercial farms in Zambia. A total of 365 bulls comprising of 164 Boran, 139 Bonsmara, 35 Tuli, 12 Santagetrudis, 5 Holstein Friesian (HF) and 10 Sussex bulls were studied. Semen was collected once using an electro-ejaculator after which eosin-nigrosin stained semen smears were made. Thereafter, the eosin-nigrosin stained semen smears were examined under a microscope for abnormal spermatozoa. The interaction between age categories and the Boran bulls did not differ from the interaction of Sussex bulls older than 72 months (mo) of age in predicting sperm abnormalities (P>0.05). However, Bonsmara and Sussex bulls older than 72 mo of age had lower percentages of sperm abnormalities (P<0.05). Interaction of age and Tuli bulls showed high midpiece and tail defects (dag defects and simple coiled tails), total abnormal sperm, major defects and the Proximal cytoplasmic droplets (PCD), (P<0.05). Santagetrudis bulls between 48 and 60 mo of age showed an increase in the midpiece defects, total abnormal sperm, major defects and the PCD, (P<0.05), but lower than those of the interaction between age and the Tuli bulls. Higher coiled tails were found due to the interaction between age and HF bulls compared to age and the Tuli bulls (P<0.05). The interaction between age and SC had an effect on sperm abnormalities, (P<0.05). The study suggested that the interactions of age, breed and SC are important sources of variation in sperm morphology. However, further research is needed to determine the effect of minor nutritional differences on the sperm morphological characteristics on the farms.
Background: Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease of public health and economic importance.... more Background: Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease of public health and economic importance. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Mbeya region between November 2015 and January 2016 to investigate the seroprevalence of human brucellosis and identify associated risk factors among individuals in risky occupations. Methods: A total of 425 humans from six occupational categories were serially tested for Brucella antibodies using the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (c-ELISA), for screening and confirmation, respectively. A questionnaire survey was also administered to participants to collect epidemiological data. Results: The overall seroprevalence among the occupationally exposed individuals was 1.41% (95% CI: 00.64-3.12). Seropreva-lence was higher among butcher men 5.6% (95% CI: 1.68-5.26), herds men 1.35% (95% CI: 0.18-9.02); and abattoir workers 1.1% (95% CI: 0.26-4.22) although there was no statistical significance. (P value = .18). Seroprevalence was also higher among men (1.8%) compared to females (0%) (P value = .19). and also, among those aged < 11 years (2.5%). Individuals who consumed raw milk had a higher seroprevalence (1.56%) compared to those who drunk boiled milk while seropositivity was 0.88% among those who assisted animals during parturition (P value = .49). Butcher men were at higher risk of exposure compared to other occupational categories. Our findings show the presence of brucellosis in occupationally exposed individuals in Mbeya region. Conclusion: There is need to sensitize the concerned professions in order to reduce the risk of acquiring Brucella infections from animals and animal products This also calls for public health awareness about the disease, and implementation of measures to prevent further spread of brucellosis within and outside the study area.
A total of 441 eosin-nigrosin bull breeding soundness examination (BBSE) data was obtained from M... more A total of 441 eosin-nigrosin bull breeding soundness examination (BBSE) data was obtained from Matobo Veterinary centre and analysed. 82 bulls were classified as unsound for breeding representing 18.6% of the entire bull population studied. The breeds studied were the Bonsmara, Sussex, Brahman, Boran, Afrikander × Tuli and the Tuli. Breed and scrotal circumference (SC) were the significant predictors of BBSE classification. The Bonsmara and the Sussex breeds were not significantly different in predicting sperm abnormalities (p>0.05). The Brahman breed had odds of 0.358 less likely to be classified as sound, Boran breed had odds of 0.206 less likely to be classified as sound and the Afrikander × Tuli breed had odds of 0.097 less likely to be classified as sound while the Tuli breed had odds of 0.214 less likely to be classified as sound. Therefore, the Afrikander × Tuli breed had the highest probability of being classified as unsound for breeding. Bulls with a SC of <36 cm had odds of 0.235 less likely to be classified as sound while those of 39 to <42cm had odds of 0.384 less likely to be classified as sound compared to bulls with SC of ≥42cm. Body condition score (BCS) had an effect on mass motility (p<0.05). Bulls in month category (cat) 1 (September, October and November) had odds of 2.29 more likely to have fair mass motility relative to very good mass motility compared to bulls examined in June-July (cat 2) and month category 1 bulls had odds of 2.46 more likely to have good mass motility relative to very good mass motility compared to month category 2 bulls. Bulls in SC category 1 (≤39 centimetres (cm)) had odds of 1.81 more likely to have fair mass motility relative to very good mass motility compared to bulls in category 2 (>39cm) and bulls in BCS category 1 (2.5 and 3.0) had odds of 2.71 more likely to have fair mass motility relative to very good mass motility compared to bulls in category 3 (4.0). Bulls with a BCS of 4.0 had the highest mass motility of 3.72±0.41 and the
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