Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries

The desert locust is documented as one of the most destructive polyphagous plant pests that require preventive or proactive management practices due to its phase polyphenism, rapid breeding, transnational migration, and heavy feeding behaviour. Desert locust situation analysis, forecasting and early warning are complex due to the systemic interaction of biological, meteorological, and geographical factors that play different roles in facilitating the survival, breeding and migration of the pest. This article seeks to elucidate the factors that affect desert locust distribution and review the application of earth observation (EO) data in explaining the pest’s infestations and impact. The review presents details concerning the application of EO data to understand factors that affect desert locust breeding and migration, elaborates on impact assessment through vegetation change detection and discusses modelling techniques that can support the effective management of the pest. The review reveals that the application of EO technology is inclined in favour of desert locust habitat suitability assessment with a limited financial quantification of losses. The review also finds a progressive advancement in the use of multi-modelling approaches to address identified gaps and reduce computational errors. Moreover, the review recognises great potential in applications of EO tools, products and services for anticipatory action against desert locusts to ensure resource use efficiency and environmental conservation.

This study describes a new species of earthworms belonging to the genus Amynthas (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) from northern Taiwan. It is named Amynthas popi sp. nov. It is a large earthworm with four pairs of spermathecal pores in 5/6-8/9. It has a postsetal papilla medial to each male porophore and papillae closely or widely paired in presetal VIII, widely paired in postsetal XIX, and occasionally more closely paired in presetal XIX. Its compact prostate glands together with short, stout and horizontal prostatic ducts are rarely seen among the native Amynthas earthworms known from Taiwan. Amynthas sheni (Chen, 1935) is a false synonym of Amynthas corticis (Kinberg, 1867) as the former has postsetal papillae on ventrum of VIII and occasionally also on IX, four pairs of esophageal hearts in X-XIII, well-developed prostate glands in XVI-XXI and long, U-curved prostatic ducts, which clearly set it apart from the latter. Other taxonomic issues relating to A. corticis are discussed. Additionally, Amynthas jampeanus fumigatus (Michaelsen, 1899) should be regarded as a subspecies of Amynthas bonthainensis (Benham, 1896) since it bears a very close resemblance to A. bonthainensis than to Amynthas jampeanus (Benham, 1896). The following combination is proposed: Amynthas bonthainensis fumigatus (Michaelsen, 1899) comb. nov.

Plant-derived aromatase inhibitors, such as Carica papaya, are increasingly employed in aquaculture for sex reversal, immunostimulant and growth enhancement. However, their effects on fish physiology, particularly nutrient utilisation, body composition, and serum biochemistry, remain poorly documented, especially in hybrid red tilapia. This study evaluated the effects of dietary inclusions of Carica papaya seed powder (CPSP) at dosage levels 0, 30, 60, and 90 g/kg feed on fish physiological parameters. A completely randomised design with three replicates per treatment was used, comprising a 60-day treatment phase and a 90-day recovery phase. During the treatment, higher CPSP (60–90 g/kg) significantly increased weight gain and protein efficiency ratio (PER) (p < 0.05) but impaired feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p < 0.05), with no significant differences in specific growth rate (SGR) (p > 0.05). At the recovery phase, fish previously fed 60–90 g/kg CPSP exhibited significantly improved SGR, FCR, and PER (p < 0.05). Lipid, ash, and moisture content were significantly elevated in fish from the 90 g/kg group (p< 0.05), while carbohydrate markedly declined (p > 0.05). Reproductive metrics showed that 90 g/kg CPSP significantly increased 11-ketotestosterone (p< 0.05) with suppression in oestradiol and GSI (p < 0.05). Serum biochemistry indicated lower aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) but higher alkaline phosphatase (ALP), albumin, and globulin in fish from 90 g/kg CPSP groups (p < 0.05). Cholesterol, glucose, and total protein levels markedly improved (p < 0.05). For improved fish health, 60 g/kg CPSP is recommended. Future research should prioritise scalable methods to commercialise papaya seeds as a cost-effective feed additive and sex-reversal agent in aquaculture.

<i>Introduction:</i> Technicians in pharmaceutical manufacturing industries work in a high risk occupational setting. They are routinely exposed to chemical hazards due to the nature of their work. In order for them to perform, safety is paramount. This research intended to assess the influence of safety culture of technicians in pharmaceutical manufacturing industries. <i>Methods:</i> In order to achieve the objective, descriptive survey research design was used. Purposive sampling was used to select ten pharmaceutical Manufacturing industries which formed the research sample. Data was collected through questionnaires. The collected data was subjected to quantitative and qualitative analysis by use of SPSS. The<i> results</i> showed that the safety maturity level of 85% of the PMI’s were continually improving safety maturity level and only 15% in the involving safety maturity level. This was based on an analysis of the safety culture in four key dimensions. The study also established that majority of the respondents at 75.4% had their first encounter with OSH training at work environment commonly referred to as On the Job Training and only 23.3% were trained during their academic/professional education. The findings show that the majority of the respondents; 89.0 % and 80.8% of the respondents had been trained on the requirements of OSH Act 2007 and Evacuation procedures respectively. Notably, the training area with the least awareness was Exposure Limits of hazardous chemicals and substances at 29.1% across all PMI’s. The p values for OSH Training and Safe work documentation are p<0.001 and 0.421 respectively, indicating that OSH training is a statistically significant predictor of safety Culture. <i>Conclusion:</i> The hypothesis, there is statistically significant influence of training on safety culture of technicians among pharmaceutical manufacturing industries in Kenya, was accepted. Therefore we can conclude that OSH training has a significant positive influence on safety culture in pharmaceutical manufacturing industries in Nairobi, Kenya. The study therefore recommends that there is need to incorporate an OSH competency in the professional training of potential employees in the PMI’s in Kenya. This will enhance awareness of hazards and shape attitudes towards safety, well in advance hence enhance the safety culture maturity levels. The government thought the Ministry Of Labour And Social protection should ensure frameworks are able to enforce the implementation of OSHA (2007) training requirements to fill the gap in the training topic on handling of hazardous chemicals for workers in the PMI’s.

The Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor (Say) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), is the primary pest insect affecting barley and wheat fields in Northern Cyprus. This research aimed to identify the parasitoids of M. destructor. Field studies were conducted in three locations representing Lefkoşa, Girne, Güzelyurt, Gazimağusa, and İskele during the cereal production seasons of 2012-2013. In each field, 100 plants were uprooted and placed in plastic bags, then kept in boxes covered with nets in the laboratory at 25±1°C and 65±5% relative humidity during the spring season. The findings revealed Arthrolytus maculipennis (Walker), Meraporus graminicola Walker (Pteromalidae), and Eupelmus microzonus Folster (Eupelmidae) species from the Hymenoptera order (Chalcidoidea). A. maculipennis, with a prevalence rate of 59.6%, was found to be widespread and predominant, followed by M. graminicola at 22.8% and E. microzonus at 17.6%. While E. microzonus was newly recorded in the fauna of Cyprus, both A. maculipennis and M. graminicola were documented for the first time in this study in the Cyprus fauna.

Abstract Background Breakfast is considered of vital importance for health and working performance, however, previous studies reported that most people don’t eat breakfast every day. White-collar workers bear heavy mental work in their daily work, the breakfast is also important for them. To our knowledge, there are few or no studies on the relationship between breakfast intake and glucose level, mood, satiety, and cognitive function among white-collar workers, especially among the Chinese population. We therefore evaluate the impact of different-size breakfasts with differing types of food and quality on blood glucose, mood, satiety, and cognitive function among white-collar workers in Chongqing, China. Methods This was a field-based study using a randomized cross-over trial design. On every Monday for three successive weeks, 48 white-collar workers received different types of breakfast in a counterbalanced order. For all individuals, mood, and satiety were assessed using positive affect and negative affect scale visual analogue scales two hours after breakfast, respectively. Four cognitive function tests were applied to evaluate the capacity of short-term memory, learning and working memory, attention, and language logic. These cognitive function tests included the digit span test, digit-symbol substitution test, letter cancellation test, and grammatical transformation test. Results All participants who had breakfast (standard breakfast or light breakfast) presented a higher blood glucose level and a more satisfying feeling than those who had no breakfast (p < 0.05) across the experimental day. Based on the digit symbol test, women who had standard breakfast had a more powerful learning and working memory capacity than those who had light breakfast or skipped breakfast (p < 0.05). Conclusion Among white-collar workers, having breakfast is necessary and can exert a positive effect on people’s satiety. For women, having a standard breakfast is beneficial to maintain their learning and working memory function.

Abstract Background Anthrax is a neglected and life-threatening infectious zoonotic disease occurring, especially in Africa. This study was conducted a week before the confirmation of the recent anthrax outbreak in Nigeria on July 2023. It assessed the knowledge, risk practice, and perception of anthrax among the high-risk working groups such as meat processors, butchers, animal farmers, meat vendors, para-veterinarians, veterinarians, cleaners, administrative staff, and animal traders in abattoirs (ABs) and slaughterhouses (SHs) in Nigeria. Also, the national preparedness towards an outbreak was evaluated. Method A total of 627 participants were purposively selected from seven States and interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and logistic regression statistics. Results Most 499 (81.4%) of the participants were males, with the mean age being 37.3 ± 12.0 years old and the majority (471, 78.1%) had no tertiary education. One-third (207, 32.7%) of the participants self-reported being aware of anthrax, and 13.2% indicated that anthrax was a serious disease for both animals and humans. The knowledge median score was 0.0 (min 0, max 30), the general knowledge level was poor (16.8%), and 91.2% (527) of participants fell within this category. The practice median score was 6.0 (min 0, max 12) and categorized as generally poor (52.9%). Gaps observed in practices that could promote the risk of participants’ exposure to anthrax included slaughtering sick animals for human consumption, splashing blood on inspected carcasses, carrying carcasses on heads or shoulders, and disposing of condemned animal tissues or organs in open dumps. One-third of participants (202, 32.2%) strongly perceived that efficiently implementing vaccination in livestock would reduce the outbreak in humans. Furthermore, participants with no tertiary qualifications and no veterinary background had increased odds (COR: 14.378, 95% CI; 4.923–41.991, p = 0.000) and (COR: 9.157, 95% CI; 3.644–23.008, p = 0.000) of having inadequate knowledge level of anthrax respectively. Participants who were non-veterinarians/ non-para veterinarians had increased odds (COR: 3.471, 95% CI; 1.629–7.392, p = 0.001) of having poor practice level than veterinarians/para veterinarians. Conversely, participants less than 37 years -old had lower odds (COR: 0.268, 95% CI; 0.148–0.486, p = 0.000) of having poor practice level than those above the age. Conclusion The knowledge level of the high-risk working groups was poor with observable critical risk practices. Promoting media publicity and awareness creation, vaccination, effective disease surveillance, on-farm biosecurity, and adequate border control are critical strategies to prevent anthrax outbreaks in Nigeria.

In this research, two experiments would be conducted. She-camels were selected in the first experiment so that they were of different ages, which were the stage of sexual maturity, the pregnancy period, the production period, the dryness stage. Samples were taken from the udder cells. The current study was jointly planned by the Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, and the Animal Production Research Institute. The current study was aimed to study the relationship between histological changes in the udder of she-camels at different ages and the hormonal changes associated with these histological changes. The udder samples of (she-camel's dromedaries) were collected immediately after the slaughter of animals from locals such as Al-Basateen slaughterhouse, Nahia slaughterhouse, and Kardasa. The age of the animals was determined by dentition. After collection, samples were directly fixed in 10 per cent neutral buffered formalin, The most important results obtained were that there was a close relationship between the tissue changes in the udder and the hormonal changes. From this, it could infer the development occurring in the udder through various hormonal analyses. Also, through hormonal analyses, it could assume the expected milk production rate in the season.

Improvement of nutrient-use efficiency (NUE) in rice is important for increasing productivity. Rice varieties with tolerance to phosphorus (P) deficiency increase the productivity in P-deficient fields. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop high yielding, P-deficiency tolerant rice varieties to enhance the NUE. High yielding and popular rice varieties (Bg300 and Bg94-1) and known P-deficiency tolerant rice varieties (H4 and At353) were used as female and male parents, respectively, in a crossing program. Single seed descent approach was used for rapid generation advancement. Bg300/At353 and Bg94-1/H4 crosses were advanced from F2 to F6 in planthouse condition under minimum fertigation for restricted growth. In F7 generation, 310 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) in both crosses were space-planted and 40 RILs were selected from each cross. Selected RILs were screened in a hydroponic system at 10 μM P level to select the best lines for P-deficiency tolerance. Multiple plant traits were used for selection and the most promising 20 rice lines were selected as the best performers under P-deficient hydroponic conditions. Marker assisted selection was carried out to confirm the presence of PSTOL1 gene. Selected rice lines were evaluated for agronomic traits and yield parameters. Ten promising rice lines were identified as high yielding lines with accepted agronomic traits.