Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organization

Cardiomyopathies, particularly, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are significant and growing public health concerns in low resource settings, particularly Africa. This growing burden stems from undiagnosed genetic causes, rising hypertension and infectious diseases, and limited access to diagnostic and specialist cardiac care. However, the epidemiology of these conditions remains poorly defined. In Europe and North America, genetic testing has proven to be an important tool for early diagnosis for these conditions. Its use can be extended to risk assessment, personalized management, and increased understanding of disease mechanisms. However, the availability and implementation of genetic testing in Tanzania are limited, hindering its potential to improve patient outcomes. This Perspective evaluates the current epidemiology of cardiomyopathies in Tanzania, to provide a broader view on the underlying genetic factors, systemic barriers to implementing genetic testing and counseling, and proposes actionable solutions to overcome existing challenges. While similar needs have been recognized across Africa, this Perspective emphasizes how context-specific framing in Tanzania, grounded in real-world clinical and health system features, remains essential to catalyze local implementation and policy reform.

IntroductionTanzania declared a Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak on March 21, 2023, reporting nine cases and six deaths (case fatality rate (CFR) 66.7%). Detection began when a Community Health Worker (CHW) reported unexplained illness via the electronic EBS (e-EBS) system, triggering a national outbreak response. This study documents the Early Warning, Alert and Response (EWAR) interventions carried out during the MVD outbreak response in the Kagera region to identify strengths and bottlenecks for strengthening future outbreak preparedness and response efforts.MethodWe documented EWAR interventions using retrospective surveillance document review. MVD outbreak detection and reporting timeliness were compared with Tanzania’s EBS indicators and the 7-1-7 target. Surveillance interventions included additional staff deployment, equipment addition, and tool adoption. Community sensitization efforts utilized Swahili-translated informational cards to facilitate early detection and reporting of signals through multiple channels, including the 199-hotline number, EBS desk numbers and via e-EBS and verified using the standard case definition (SCD). Signals were compiled in Microsoft Excel, where descriptive analysis using frequencies to show trends was conducted. Suspected MVD cases were sent for laboratory confirmation.FindingsOn March 15, 2023, a CHW reported a signal in the e-EBS system within 24 hours. However, a community member and HCWs missed unusual signs of the MVD index case. Five additional members were deployed to support data management using the equipment provided, including three laptops, ten smartphones, and adapted tools. A total of 6,260 informational cards were distributed during community sensitization; 176 MVD signals were reported, where 48 (27.3%) met the SCD, and 37 were sent for laboratory confirmation, of which 2.7% tested positive for the virus. Most signals, 107 (60.8%), were reported in April.Conclusions and recommendationsThe government should adopt the 7-1-7 target and strengthen community and health facility EBS through ongoing mentorship for EWAR.

Abstract BackgroundBersama abyssinica is widely distributed herb in Africa with varying medicinal uses in different countries. In Tanzania, the plant is famous for treatment of respiratory diseases including tuberculosis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, asthma and recently used for treatment Covid-19 symptoms. B. abyssinica is rich in several groups of active compounds including, phenolic acids, coumarins, flavonoids and tannins with potential pharmacological activities. Due to their broad medicinal uses, the water extract of leaf and stem bark has been registered as herbal medicine known as ‘Coviba Dawa’ for the treatment of viral and bacterial respiratory infections.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to extract active compounds from B.abyssinica, and analyse them for their effectiveness against Corona virus (SARS-CoV-2), the Delta variant obtained from Basel University thas is reported to be highly virulent.MethodsBersama abyssinica stembark and leaves were air dried, sequentially extracted in various solvent on increase of polarity to yield extracts and fractions. The extracts were tested for presence of several metabolites and antioxidant activity. The most active water extract was analyzed by LC-MS/MC for identification of active compounds and all extracts were shipped to Basel university for anti SARS-CoV-2 Delta B1screening and antiproliferation assay.Results The LC-MS/MS analysis of B. abyssinica water extract reveled the presence of four phenolic compounds namely; 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, 4-formyl-2-methoxyphenyl propionate; 7,8-Dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin and 2,3, 6-trimethoxyflavone. These compounds were revealed to have antioxidant activity and futher invitro analysis against SARS-CoV-2 Delta B1 revealed the antiviral activity against coronavirus. ConclusionThis study revealed a wide variety of active metabolites in B. abyssinica water extract with high antioxidant and antiviral activity which points out at B. abyssinica as a potential source of effective anti viral agents including anti SARS Cov2. We recommend further pre-clinical and clinical evaluation of B. abyssinica metabolites as potential antiviral and antibacterial agents.

The leather industry is one among the most vital sectors for economic development contributing to high earnings. However, tanning of hides and skins is constrained by primitive technology and the use of hazardous chemicals that contribute to environmental pollution. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of alkaline protease on dehairing animal hides and skins under different conditions. Alkaline protease was extracted from Aspergillus oryzae MG429773 cultured by solid state fermentation with a medium containing rice husks supplemented with 1% mineral solution incubated at 30 to 35°C for 7 days at pHs ranging from 7.5 to 9.5. The filtrate was used as a crude enzyme solution and also partially purified for a dehairing bioassay. Four pieces of cattle hide and goat skin (10 cm × 10 cm) were soaked or sprayed with enzyme solutions for a maximum of 5 days. Percentages of depilation of the hides and skins were recorded at 6 and 12 h intervals. Enzyme produced by A. oryzae showed the highest dehairing activity from 15 to 20% concentration of partially purified enzyme whereby 100% of goat and cattle hairs were removed within 24 and 48 h, respectively. For 5 and 10% enzyme concentration, 93.75 and 68.75% of hide and skin depilated in 72 h, whereas for the control 0.0 to 6.5% depilation was achieved in 72 h in hide and skins, respectively. Application of the A. oryzae protease by spray method was superior over a dipping method that released hair in effluent and caused skin decay after 5 days of exposure. This study indicates that enzyme extracted from cheaply available resources is efficient for dehairing by a spray method could be a potential technology for application by local tanners to improve the leather industry in Tanzania. Key words: Alkaline protease, enzymatic dehairing, hides and skins, leather industry, fungal biotechnology.

ABSTRACTTuta absoluta (Meyrick) is a destructive pest causing adverse environmental and economic effects globally. Management of T. absoluta by synthetic chemicals is of diminutive achievement due to resistance trick of the pest. Harnessing of biocontrols is currently fascinating and efficient for management of the tremendous pests. This study isolated an entomopathogenic fungus from dead larvae of T. absoluta on tomato leaves from farmer’s field Tanzania. Two Aspergillus fungal isolates were isolated and tested against larvae and adults of T. absoluta under conditions of 19.5°C and 50%RH, 30.4°C and 70% RH, respectively, in the laboratory. Sequence analysis of Aspergillus isolates that we referred as A-Tz1 and A-Tz2 were analysed with the BLAST program available at the National Center for Biological Information (NCBI). The two isolates (A-Tz1 and A-Tz2) showed 100% similarity with Aspergillus oryzae of GeneBank accession numbers EF121337.1 and MG519722.1. Such similarity implied that both A-Tz1 and A-Tz2 isolates were A. oryzae. To confirm pathogenicity, bioassays were conducted against the larvae, pupa and adults of T. absoluta. Results showed that at 1.0 × 108 conidia/mL, fungal isolates caused up to 70% larval mortality 3 days post inoculation and consequently inhibited pupation by 84.5% and adult emergence by 74.4%. The identified A. oryzae reduced the life span of adult T. absoluta up to 5 days post inoculation at 1.0 × 108 conidia/mL whereas in control T. absoluta survived up to 25 days. This study found that isolates of Aspegillus species have the potential to be used as active ingrediennt for the formulation of a new bioinjections for application by farmers to control the pest in fields.

Manufacturing industries contribute about 8% of the gross domestic products (GDP) whereas leather and textile industries supply 18% employments of manufacturing industries in Tanzania. Manufacturing industries merely depend on agriculture for raw materials and other inputs. However, processing of leather and textiles requires a lot of inputs, many of them supplied from agricultural produce and some are imported from developed nations. In vast developing countries, including Tanzania, manufacturing industries are constrained by limited production technology and the allied costs than raw materials. The conventional processing of leather and textiles requires immense technological investment that is associated with high production cost. In Tanzania, inputs such as soaking, bating and tanning agents for tannery industries are expensive and sometimes not readily available due to importation costs. On the other hand, management of waste effluents from leather and textile processing is the major impediment for development of these industries. However, natural processing of covering materials by using fungal biotechnology is of great concern in Tanzania to avert the prevailing constrains. The application of fungal based biotechnology would reduce production cost and health consequences resulting from chemicals, particularly, chromium. The effects of toxic chemicals from leather and textile industries would be mitigated by employing non-viable Aspergillus biomass in the industrial processes. This would minimize production of the harmful wastes from the industries.  As a result, leather and textile production would be achieved at low cost, without hazardous waste production, resulting to safer products for both human and the environment. This review evaluates current production of leather and textile industries and highlights the potentials of microbial biotechnology. Key words: Biotechnology, Aspergillus, leather and textile, industrial effluents, agriculture.

While pathogenic types of Escherichia coli are well characterized, relatively little is known about the commensal E. coli flora. In the current study, antimicrobial resistance in commensal E. coli and distribution of ERIC-PCR genotypes among isolates of such bacteria from cattle and cattle attendants on cattle farms in Tanzania were investigated. Seventeen E. coli genomes representing different ERIC-PCR types of commensal E. coli were sequenced in order to determine their possible importance as a reservoir for both antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors. Both human and cattle isolates were highly resistant to tetracycline (40.8% and 33.1%), sulphamethazole-trimethoprim (49.0% and 8.8%) and ampicillin (44.9% and 21.3%). However, higher proportion of resistant E. coli and higher frequency of resistance to more than two antimicrobials was found in isolates from cattle attendants than isolates from cattle. Sixteen out of 66 ERIC-PCR genotypes were shared between the two hosts, and among these ones, seven types contained isolates from cattle and cattle attendants from the same farm, suggesting transfer of strains between hosts. Genome-wide analysis showed that the majority of the sequenced cattle isolates were assigned to phylogroups B1, while human isolates represented phylogroups A, C, D and E. In general, in silico resistome and virulence factor identification did not reveal differences between hosts or phylogroups, except for lpfA and iss found to be cattle and B1 phylogroup specific. The most frequent plasmids replicon genes found in strains from both hosts were of IncF type, which are commonly associated with carriage of antimicrobial and virulence genes. Commensal E. coli from cattle and attendants were found to share same genotypes and to carry antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes associated with both intra and extraintestinal E. coli pathotypes.

In some parts of Tanzania, fluoride ion concentrations in potable water are higher than recommended by WHO. Consequently, searches for economically and technically viable strategies are required to address this problem. This work aims to determine the potential of phosphate rock mined from Minjingu area in Northern Tanzania as water de-fluoridatant. The results obtained are reported herein. The rock particles were chemically activated and then characterised by XRF, XRD and nitrogen physisorption. Results showed that the main component of chemically activated rock particles was calcium hydroxyapatite with Ca/P ratio of 1.55 whereas the main component of non-activated particles was calcium fluoroapatite (Ca/P ratio of 1.66). The results also indicated that activated rock material was mesoporous with a BET surface area of 57.4 m2/g. Results for water defluoridation showed that the material had a fluoride ion percentage removal of about 90%, when the adsorbent dose was 8 g, contact time of 30 minutes, initial fluoride ion concentration 5 mg/L, pH values of 6.0 to 7.2 and batch volume of 50 mL. The material could be regenerated using 1% NaOH and reused in the water defluoridation process. Therefore, Minjingu Phosphate Rock (MPR) is potential water de-fluoridatant.