https://web.unza.zm/index.php/JABS The University of Zambia Journal of Agricultural and Biomedical Sciences (UNZA-JABS) is a quarterly Journal open to journal article publications in the fields of agriculture, medicine, veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences as well as such allied life sciences. The Journal welcomes manuscripts submissions that meet the general criteria of significance and scientific excellence The University of Zambia en-US Journal of Agricultural and Biomedical Sciences 2226-6410 https://web.unza.zm/index.php/JABS/article/view/1155 This study was undertaken to provide empirical evidence for some reproductive performance traits in a dairy herd managed under a semi-intensive production system in Zambia. Milk production and calving records on 106 milking cows were analyzed over a 12-year period involving Friesian, Jersey, Friesian x Jersey, Friesian x Simmental and Jersey x Sussex breeds. With an average parity order of 4.4, the average total milk production per lactation, average daily milk production, calving interval, and calving rate were 1,996+493.5Kg, 7.9 +2.6Kg, 473.1 +138.5 days, and 77.2% respectively. Milk production was significantly higher from December to March compared to other months for all breeds. A significant breed effect was found with total milk yield per lactation and average milk yield. There were significant parity effects on average daily milk production and calving interval. However, there was no significant breed effect on the calving interval. The correlation of average milk yield with calving interval was -0.26, and the parity order with average milk yield was 0.65. Friesian x Jersey crossbred showed heterosis for milk production (48.3%) and calving interval (11.4%). Breeding strategies can, therefore, be targeted at using Jersey x Friesian crossbred for the emergent smallholder farmers. Kolawole Odubote Mayoba Barbara Moono ##submission.copyrightStatement## 2024-05-07 2024-05-07 7 4 10.53974/unza.jabs.7.3.1155 https://web.unza.zm/index.php/JABS/article/view/1194 Taenia solium, the pork tapeworm, is a foodborne parasite of global concern affecting more than 50 million people globally with more than 80% of these being in the developing world. Infection of the brain with larval stages (metacestodes) leads to neurocysticercosis, a leading cause of epilepsy in endemic areas of the world where pig rearing is common. People in pig rearing communities rely on local herbs for their primary health care. Exploring the use of these herbs as anthelminthics will give insights into the biological activity of locally available herbs and open up avenues for more research on local herbs. The objective of this study was to determine the in-vitro anthelminthic activity of locally used anti-parasitic herbs namely Vitex doniana bark extract and Flueggea virosa root extract against T. solium metacestodes. An experimental in-vitro study using intact T. solium metacestodes with full bladder walls was conducted to check for cysticidal activity of the locally available herbs of V. doniana bark extract and F. virosa outer root cover extract. Non-evagination of metacestodes at incubation, post-treatment was used as indicator of activity of the extract against the metacestode. Treatment with praziquantel was used as a positive control. The herbs (V. doniana and F. virosa) and drug extracts (Praziqauntel) were tested in five different concentrations. Vitex doniana at concentration of 50µg/ml resulted in evagination of 64%, while F. virosa had 52% at the same concentration. Vitex doniana and F. virosa showed a dose dependent response, in that the higher the dose the higher the biological activity. This study showed an association between T. solium metacestodes response to V. doniana and praziquantel (Chi square = 29.63 versus tabulated value 3.84) indicating that there was an association between exposure of metacestodes to the treatment of V. doniana and Praziquantel. The same was observed with F. virosa and praziquantel (Chi square = 42.28). Vitex doniana showed more biological activity than F. virosa, but both had at least biological activities above 50%. This shows that both herbs have potential to be anthelmintics against T. solium metacestodes, and are recommended to be explored further in animal models for activity against the adult tapeworm. Victoria Michelo Musale Kabemba Evans Mwape Simbarashe Chitanga ##submission.copyrightStatement## 2024-06-06 2024-06-06 7 4 10.53974/unza.jabs.7.4.1194 https://web.unza.zm/index.php/JABS/article/view/1219 Malaria is endemic in all the provinces of Zambia and remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Northen, Eastern, Muchinga and Luapula provinces are evidenced by records of high prevalence of malaria despite the implementation of malaria control and prevention strategies aimed at interrupting the disease transmission which include; use of treated mosquito nets, indoor residual spraying, presumptive and treatment therapy among others. The socioeconomic and cultural factors in these provinces were explored to ascertain if they might be contributing factors to the altered effectiveness of malaria control interventions that have proved successful in other provinces. Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the socio-cultural and economic factors affecting malaria prevention in provinces with high malaria prevalence in Zambia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted where an interviewer administered questionnaire was served to selective households in the 4 study provinces. Results: A total of 1580 participated in the study giving a response rate of 98.8%.684 were male and 896 were female. Findings suggest practices and beliefs with respect to socio cultural and socio-economic factors had an influence on the success of malaria control interventions in the provinces. Lack and low levels of education had a direct impact on the understanding of malaria prevention, transmission and interventions. Self-medication, use of left over medicines and seeking treatment late was attributed to low-income levels in all the 4 provinces. Type of housing and occupation exposed individuals to malaria infection. Conclusion: Tailoring malaria preventive measures to the socio-cultural and economic practices in the provinces will help in reducing malaria cases in the provinces. Ellah Zingani Kosamu Chupa Chimbala Adron Mweshi Evelyn Gondwe ##submission.copyrightStatement## 2024-06-24 2024-06-24 7 4 10.53974/unza.jabs.7.4.1219 https://web.unza.zm/index.php/JABS/article/view/1225 Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a nearly ubiquitous organism that infects humans, wildlife, birds, and domestic, as well as food animals. T. gondii has been reported in pigs, chickens, sheep, goats and cattle (1). However, only members of the cat family (Felidae) are the definitive host and shed the environmentally resistant oocyst form of the organism in their faeces. Transmission to humans usually occurs by ingestion of cysts in undercooked meat and exposure to soil and water contaminated by oocysts (2). Feline infections are typically subclinical; congenitally infected kittens are the most likely to have clinical signs of infection, but previously clinically healthy adult cats may also be affected (3). Despite the disease’s public health significance, there are still very few studies that have been done on T. gondii here in Zambia. This study was a cross-sectional survey carried out to investigate the seroprevalence and risk factors of toxoplasmosis. A survey was carried out using a questionnaire which was distributed to cat owners as they attended the veterinary clinics. The questionnaire had demographic data for the cats, questions related to the risk factors of toxoplasmosis in cats and practices surrounding the cat owners, like how they handle cat litter, whether their cat was indoor or outdoor, contact of the cat with other cats, and straying behavior of their cat. A total of 178 blood samples were collected from both stray and domestic cats in this study. Of the 178 samples tested for T. gondii IgG antibodies, 88 were from domestic cats and 90 from stray cats. Thirty out of 178 samples were positive for antibodies indicating an overall seroprevalence of 16.85%. From the 30 seropositive samples that tested positive, 60% (18) came from domestic cats and 40% (12) from stray cats. The seroprevalence for domestic cats was found to be 20.4% and that of strays 13.3%. The two risk factors found to be associated with toxoplasma Seropositivity include sex (p=0.007, 95%,CI 0.071,0.976) and diet (p=0.038, 95%,CI 1.395,95.418) It has been concluded that Toxoplasma gondii is widely spread in the study population and the presence of the antibodies is an indication that at one point in their lives, these cats were actively infected and shedding oocyst in the environment thereby posing a risk to humans and other species like sheep and chickens. Farai Phiri Careen Hankanga Ntombi Mudenda Ngonda Saasa Andrew N. Mukubesa ##submission.copyrightStatement## 2024-07-16 2024-07-16 7 4 10.53974/unza.jabs.7.4.1225 https://web.unza.zm/index.php/JABS/article/view/1220 A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted to detect the presence of E. coli in unprotected water wells of Chaona community in Mwachisompola area, Chibombo District of Zambia. A total of 48 wells drawn from four villages were sampled from the study area and an exposure assessment was done by use of add-in Model risk app in excel for risk assessment. The occurrence of the bacterium in well water was confirmed by laboratory processes of culturing, isolation and identification of E. coli. The identified E. coli was subjected to microbial resistance testing and the resistant genes were further detected by use of PCR. Out of 48 unprotected wells sampled, 38 were indicative of E. coli presenting 79% (95% CI: 77.3 – 80.7%). The individual variation results that were positive to E. coli were Chilumbwa 5/38 (32%; 95% CI: 2.3 – 23.7%), Chabwa village 10/38 (26%; 95% CI: 12.1– 39.9%), Kafwilo 11/38 (29%; 95% CI: 14.6 – 43.4%) and Katobole12/38 (32%; 95% CI: 17.2 – 46.9%). Meanwhile, 16/48 (33.3%; CI: 31.4 – 35.2%) samples were found with an average number of CFU of between 1000 and 10,000 which was the highest range. E. coli isolates were also tested for Multi Drug Resistance (MDR) of which one isolate was indicative of being resistant to eight antibiotics and another to five antibiotics presenting (5.88%; CI: 3.2 – 8.6%) for each. Meanwhile, seven isolates were resistant to four antibiotics (41.2%; CI: 35.5 – 46.9%) and eight isolates were resistant to three antibiotics (41.1%) (CI: 35.4 – 46.9%). In addition, 30.9% (17/55) of the isolated E. coli organisms were found to be resistant to three or more classes of antibiotics primarily ampicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, cefotaxime, nalidixic acid, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin. The probability to be exposed to E. coli was revealed to be at 79.5% (95%; CI: 66.5 – 86.7%) when consuming water from unprotected wells in the study area. In conclusion, the study revealed that E. coli contamination was highly possible, and it is recommended that water be boiled and or treated with chlorine before use at household level. Doris Zgambo Bernard Mudenda Hang’ombe Musso Munyeme Lysa Thendji Emmanuel S. Kabwali ##submission.copyrightStatement## 2024-07-05 2024-07-05 7 4 10.53974/unza.jabs.7.4.1220