Faculty of Natural Resources Management and Agriculture

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An assessment of rodent-flea diversity and association in a semi-arid tropical ecosystem of south-western Zimbabwe
(Wiley, 2021-04-12) Banda, Annabel; Gandiwa, Edson; Muboko, Never; Muposhi, Victor K.
The present study assessed the rodent-flea diversity and their association in Nkayi and Umzingwane districts, south-western Zimbabwe. Although both districts occur in the same agriculture region IV zone, they, however, differ in plague disease occurrence with Nkayi district being a plague disease endemic area whilst Umzingwane district is reported as not (Munyenyiwa et al., 2019). The information generated from the study will potentially assist health personnel in surveillance and potential predictions for fu- ture possibilities of an outbreak or high-risk areas of plague disease. Further, the study results could potentially be used to develop ro- dents and flea control programmes.
Ecological interactions, local people awareness and practices on rodent-borne diseases in Africa: A review
(Acta Tropica, Elsevier Science Direct, 2022-11-04) Banda, Annabel; Gandiwa, Edson; Muposhi, Victor K.; Muboko, Never
Several anthropogenic activities exposure humans to the risk of rodent-borne diseases. These activities are but not limited to logging, clearing land for crop cultivation, and consuming rodents. Rodents are a highly diverse mammalian group and harbor many zoonotic diseases. This review focuses on dominant rodent-flea species, rodent-borne zoonotic diseases and awareness and management practices against rodent-borne diseases in Africa. Relevant academic literature spanning from 1974 to 2021 was analysed. Dominant rodent species reported in Africa included:- Mastomys natalensis and Rattus rattus, while dominant flea species included Xenopsylla brasiliensis and Xenopsylla cheopis. Rodents were reported as hosts to a wide range of parasites which can be passed to humans. Rodents were also reported as hosts to some protozoans, trematodes, cestodes, nematodes, bacteria and viruses which are transmissible to humans. Some studies conducted in West Africa revealed good knowledge and practices on plague and Lassa fever diseases among respondents, whereas other studies reported poor practices on Lassa fever management. In part of Southern Africa, some studies reported poor knowledge and practices on plague disease. Further research on rodent-borne disease awareness and management strategies in African countries is desirable.
Local community awareness and practices on Yersinia pestis plague disease management in Nkayi and Umzingwane districts, south-western Zimbabwe
(Taylor and Francis Group [Commercial Publisher] Taylor and Francis [Imprint], 2022-03-03) Banda, Annabel; Gandiwa, Edson; Muboko, Never; Mutanga, Chiedza N.; Mashapa, Clayton
This study investigated the level of awareness and practices of local communities on Yersinia pestis plague disease in Nkayi and Umzingwane districts, south-western Zimbabwe. The research used a two-way case study where Umzingwane district was used as a quasi-control site and Nkayi district the treatment site. Purposive sampling was used to select four villages, i.e. two from Nkayi district (plague endemic area) and two from Umzingwane district (non-plague area). Data were collected through focus group discussions involving 35 respondents held between August 2017 and April 2018. The study respondents confirmed some awareness of zoonotic diseases albeit limited knowledge on specific rodent-borne diseases. Respondents from areas that had previous plague outbreaks (Nkayi district) were more knowledgeable of the disease compared to those from areas without previous known outbreaks (Umzingwane district). Several practises, e.g. use of traps, keeping domestic cats (Felis catus) and use of rodenticides to control rodents and educating people on plague disease, were highlighted from both study sites as local plague management strategies. Overall, the study results indicate that the awareness and practices employed by local people in the study area are generally influenced by local contextual factors and past experiences.
Poor maize productivity in Zimbabwe: Can collusion in pricing by seed houses be the cause?
(Cogent OA, part of Taylor & Francis Group, 2019-11-04) Tibugari, Handsen; Chikasha, Tinei; Manyeruke, Ngonidzaishe; Mathema, Ndabanye; Musara, Joseph P.; Dlamini, Dumisa; Mapuranga, Rangarirai; Mapanje, Olga; Banda, Annabel; Parwada, Cosmas
High cost of hybrid seed can affect food self-sufficiency. A study was conducted to investigate the structure, conduct and performance of the hybrid maize seed industry in Zimbabwe to determine whether the level of competition in the industry caused high and unstable prices. Primary data on the quantity of hybrid maize produced and/or marketed, pricing strategies and hybrid maize seed prices for the period 2011 to 2015 was collected using questionnaires administered to marketing managers of 10 seed houses involved in hybrid maize seed production and marketing in Zimbabwe as well as key stakeholders. The questionnaires were also used as interview guides for key informant interviews with production managers of respective seed houses. Secondary data were obtained from annual reports and technical bulletins of respective companies. The analysis involved respondent triangulation as well as triangulating the data from responses with secondary data in order to increase the convergent validity of the data. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA and trend analysis were used for data analysis. Results indicated that the hybrid maize seed industry in Zimbabwe is highly concentrated meaning that there is low competition. The study established that there may be tacit collusion in the pricing of hybrid maize seed in the form of dominant firm price leadership. The study showed that prices have not been stable for the period 2011 to 2015. It is recommended that the government should enact policies that; prohibit abuse of a dominant position, prohibit mergers which create or strengthen a dominant position and prohibit state aid that creates monopolies.
Prevalence of Yersinia pestis among rodents captured in a semi-arid tropical ecosystem of south-western Zimbabwe
(De Gruyter, 2022-01-03) Banda, Annabel; Gandiwa, Edson; Muboko, Never; Muposhi, Victor K.
This study assessed the prevalence of plague bacterium (Yersinia pestis) among rodents captured in Umzingwane and Nkayi districts, south-western Zimbabwe. A total of 44 rodents were captured on three consecutive days per trapping session in the study sites using a removal trapping method in April 2018. Captured rodents were euthanized, and blood samples were collected. The Giemsa stain method was used to detect plague bacteria. The trapping success was not significantly different (χ² = 1.50, df = 1, P = 0.221), 8.5% for the Nkayi district, while in the Umzingwane district, it was 8%. Overall, only one rodent species, i.e., Mastomys natalensis, tested positive for Y. pestis in the Umzingwane district, thus yielding a prevalence rate of 2.3% for the entire study area. This was the most important finding of a Y. pestis-positive rodent in a non-endemic wild area in the Umzingwane district. These results point to a low prevalence of Y. pestis in the study area and the importance of an active plague disease surveillance and monitoring system.
Worrying cadmium and lead levels in a commonly cultivated vegetable irrigated with river water in Zimbabwe
(Cogent OA, part of Taylor & Francis Group, 2020-08-10) Tibugari, Handsen; Mafere, Gerald; Dube, Sinikiwe; Chakavarika, Murawu; Mandumbu, Ronald; Musara, Joseph P.; Mapuranga, Rangarirai; Gumbo, Tapiwa; Banda, Annabel; Mathema, Ndabanye; Goche, Tatenda; Zvigumbu, Bernard M.; Mpofu, Nkosentsha
Vegetable cultivation using river water, which may be polluted with heavy metals, can cause health problems to consumers. A study to establish cadmium and lead levels in water from Msasa, Manyame; Mukuvisi and Nyatsime Rivers was conducted in 2019. A questionnaire survey involving 105 randomly selected urban vegetable growers was conducted to examine farmer knowledge of the potential of polluted water to contaminate produce through heavy metals. Water, soil and vegetable samples were also collected and analysed for heavy metal presence using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results showed that some farmers (62%) were aware that wastewater could contain heavy metals. The majority of farmers (67%) applied phosphate-based fertilisers, a potential source of cadmium. Tested at P < 0.05, the results showed that sampled water from the four sites failed to meet the Standards Association of Zimbabwe 5560 (1997) standards. Cadmium tissue concentration from wastewater from Msasa and Manyame rivers was 1.3 and 1.17 mg g−1 respectively, which were 59 and 65 times higher than 0.02 mg g−1 from the control. Water from Manyame and Nyatsime rivers contains levels of heavy metals which exceed the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) safety guidelines. Farmers need to be educated on health hazards from contaminated wastewater. Enforcing regulations on effluent disposal, licencing of vegetable vendors and labelling of vegetables with information on source of water used to irrigate the crop can help reduce exposure of unsuspecting vegetable consumers.

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