Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is a multifocal angioproliferative tumor involving blood and lymphatic vessels, caused by Human Herpes Virus-8 (HHV-8). KS is an important AIDS-defining tumor with high prevalence in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Tanzania which has high HIV and HHV-8 sero-prevalence. It is critically important to monitor the prevalence of AIDS-defining tumors, such as KS, in the age of HIV/AIDS. We studied the prevalence of KS and associated risk factors among HIV-positive patients at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), a referral hospital in northern Tanzania, over the period from January 2012 to December 2015. This was a retrospective hospital-based cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of KS among HIV/AIDS patients between 2012 and 2015. The study included 1100 HIV patients’ data which were collected at the Infectious Disease Clinic (IDC) from patients’ files. Stata version 13 (StataCorp LP, Texas 77,845 USA) was used for all statistical analyses. The prevalence of KS was calculated across levels of a number of categorical variables. Logistic regression was performed to determine relative risk of KS for all characteristics. We included all variables with p-values ≤10% in the multivariate analysis, including ART use, as this is considered to have an influence on KS. In the multivariate analysis, statistical significance was established based on a two-tailed p-value ≤5%. All patients’ notes were kept confidential as per the Helsinki declaration. Our results revealed a 4.6% prevalence of KS at KCMC hospital, between January 2012 and December 2015, 51(4.6%) patients were diagnosed with KS out of 1100 HIV-positive patients. The study further revealed that KS in HIV patients was most associated with low CD4 cell count (less than or equal to 200 cells/μl). Moreover, women were more likely than men to diagnosed with KS, with higher odds significantly associated with KS (OR 0.42, p < 0.009). Increased age, above 35 years, among the HIV seropositive patients was significantly associated with KS (OR 25.67, p < 0.007). HIV patients who were none smokers were more likely to suffer from KS compared to HIV smokers (OR 0.41, p < 0.010). KS remains a common malignant vascular tumor commonly associated with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania. Our study highlights the need for continued efforts to combat HIV, as well as associated diseases such as KS. Continued availability of ART (Anti-Retroviral Therapy) to HIV/AIDS patients, and test reagents for CD4 cell count and viral load determination are important measures to alleviate the suffering of these patients. Furthermore, studies to gather more evidence on ART resistance are highly needed to guide treatment choices.

Livestock abortion is a source of economic loss for farmers, but its economic impact has not been estimated in many Low and Middle-Income Countries. This article presents an estimation methodology and estimates for the gross and net cost of an abortion based on a sample of livestock-owning households in three regions of northern Tanzania and market data. We then generate aggregate estimates of abortion losses across Tanzania. We estimate annual gross and net annual losses of about $263 Million (about TZS 600 billion) and $131 million (about TZS 300 billion), respectively.

Ruminant abortion events cause economic losses. Despite the importance of livestock production for food security and the livelihoods of millions of people in the world’s poorest communities, very little is known about the scale, magnitude, or causes of these abortions in Africa and Asia. The aim of this review was to determine the current status of surveillance measures adopted for ruminant abortigenic pathogens in Africa and Asia and to explore feasible surveillance technologies. A systematic literature search was conducted using PRISMA guidelines for studies published between 1 January 1990 and 1 May 2024 that reported epidemiological surveys of abortigenic pathogens Africa and Asia. A meta-analysis was used to estimate the species-specific sero-prevalence of the abortigenic agents and the regions where they were detected. In the systematic literature search, 39 full-text manuscripts were included. The most prevalent abortigenic pathogens with sero-prevalence greater than 10% were BHV-1, Brucella, Chlamydia abortus, Neospora caninum, RVFV, and Waddlia chondrophila in cattle, BVDV in sheep, and RVFV and Toxoplasma gondii in goats in Africa. In Asia, Anaplasma, BHV-1, Bluetongue virus, Brucella, and BVDV were prevalent in cattle, whereas Mycoplasma was important in goats and sheep.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) has been associated with microbial gut dysbiosis in children. Data in adults is scarce. Objective: We sought to explore the fecal microbiome composition in AD patients versus healthy controls (HC) and investigate the impact of environmental aspects such as the geographical location and dietary habits. Methods: In this case control study, a total of 140 fecal samples from 69 AD patients and 71 HC from Tanzania (TZ) and Switzerland (CH) were analyzed. Illumina shotgun metagenomics sequencing was performed followed by taxonomic profiling, calculation of alpha/beta diversity, and permutational multivariate analysis of variance. Differentially abundant species and genera between AD and HC were evaluated. Results: Alpha diversity (Shannon Index) did not significantly differ between AD and HC. The presence of AD was identified as a significant source of fecal microbiome variation (Bray–Curtis beta diversity). On the species level, Faecalibacterium taiwanense was more abundant in AD, and Vescimonas sp000435555 in HC. On the genus level, CAG‐302 (NCBI: Clostridium) was more abundant in HC. Geographical location was associated with distinct dietary habits. Prevotella was significantly more abundant in TZ, whereas Alistipes and Bacteroides were significantly more abundant in CH. Conclusions: The presence of AD significantly impacted the fecal microbiome variation and was associated with a particular microbial composition. The impact of geographical location on the fecal microbiome may be related to nutritional differences. Our data support the rationale of a gut‐skin axis and pave the way towards therapeutic approaches modulating the microbiome.

Introduction Livestock abortigenic agents, which are microorganisms that lead to premature foetal death and expulsion before completion of the gestation period, are common in Africa and Asia. Abortion events cause economic losses by lowering reproduction (and hence herd/flock sizes) and effects on milk production. Despite the importance of livestock production for food security and livelihoods of millions of the world’s poorest communities, very little is known about the scale, magnitude or causes of livestock abortion in Africa. The aim of this review was to determine the current status of the burden of livestock abortion and surveillance measures adopted for livestock abortigenic pathogens in Africa and Asia, and to explore feasible surveillance technologies. Methodology A systematic literature search was conducted using Preferred Reporting of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines in four databases for studies published between 1 Jan 1990 and 31 July 2021 that reported epidemiological surveys of livestock abortigenic pathogens in cattle, goats and sheep in Africa and Asia including; Brucella spp., Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii, Rift valley fever virus, Coxiella burnetii, Chlamydia, Leptospira and Bovine viral Diarrhoea Virus. A meta-analysis was used to estimate the species-specific prevalence of the abortigenic diseases and the region where they were detected. Results In the systematic literature search, 48 full papers were included which in total included 50 species-specific surveillance reports from Africa and 19 from Asia. Adjusted median seroprevalence calculations estimated Brucella at 6.85% (range 1.2-11.6) of 9071 sheep, 3.35% (range 0.90-5.40) of 17,007 goats, 8.95% (range 0.50-63.60) of 171,733 cattle, Neospora at 6.80% (range 6.80 -6.80) of 555 sheep, 10.80 (range 10.80-10.80) of 185 goats, 12.65% (range 3.40- 25.60) of 3775 cattle, Toxoplasma at 27.50% (range 1.40 – 75.90) of 2284 sheep, 32.0% (range 20.00- 64.80) of 1226 goats, 7.50% (range 7.50 - 7.50) of 174 cattle, Coxiella at 9.20 (range 9.20 – 9.20) of 184 sheep, 24.20% (range 24.20-24.20) of 91 goats, 13.80% (range 13.80-13.80) of 217 cattle, Rift valley fever virus at 7.70 (2.40-40.00) of 874 sheep, 20.95 (range 2.50-40.00) of 547 goats, 7.45% (range 3.60-11.30) of 309 cattle, Bovine viral diarrhea virus at 78.90 (range 78.90 – 78.90) of 398 cattle, Leptospira at 70.50 (range 70.50 – 70.50) of 373 cattle and Chlamydia at 6.60 (6.60-6.60) of 803 sheep. We found that most studies, 45 (89%) used serological surveys, 1 (2%) used molecular and 1 (2%) reported to have used Mobile-phone based surveillance approach. Three studies (6.25%) of the 48 included were embedded in the national surveillance programs of the respective countries they were conducted, majority 89% were stand-alone cross-sectional studies. Conclusion In conclusion, livestock abortigenic pathogens are still a burden in many African and Asian countries.