Biology

Assessing Impact of Human Activity and local community attitude on Wildlife Conservation: The Case of Tiro Boter Bacho Natural Forest, Jimma Zone, Oromia National, Regional State and Southwest Ethiopia.

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Assessing Impact of Human Activity and local community attitude on Wildlife Conservation: The Case of Tiro Boter Bacho Natural Forest, Jimma Zone, Oromia National, Regional State and Southwest Ethiopia. Tayib Aba Biya; Tsegaye Gadisa; Tedase Habtamu A study on the impact of human activity and local community perception towards wildlife conservation in Tiro Boter Bacho forest was conducted in four purposely selected Kebeles of Nedhi Gibe district of Jimma zone .The objective of the study was to assess impact of human activity and local community attitude on wildlife conservation. Personal observation and formal discussion were used to identify the study site. Four Kebeles of the district that have common boundary with the forest were purposively selected for this study. Data were collected from different respondents at a single point in time. For this study, 183 respondents were selected both by simple random sampling from the householders. Interviewers were selected by purposive sampling from local community elders, Woreda and Kebele level agricultural experts and Kebele administrators. Personal observation, Interview and questionnaire were employed as data gathering method. Descriptive statistics was employed to analyze the data. Chi Square (χ²) test was used to determine association between categorical variables. From the result of the study, human activity that adversely affect wildlife resource were farmland expansion for agricultural purpose 60 (32.8%) and human wildlife conflict 44 (24.1%) in order of importance in the study area. Trend of wildlife population in the study area declined from time to time due to human impact such as forest clearing for farmland expansions (41%) and removing of fuel wood for market (35.5 %), and the growing of livestock grazing in the site. The attitude of local community towards wildlife is negative 87 (47.5%) because of increase in wildlife induced damage like crop raiding and predation, lack of awareness and less attention given by government. The study reveals that 118 (64.5%) of the respondents in the study area responded that they did not have awareness about wildlife conservation. On the contrary 52 (28.4%) of the respondents expressed as they have awareness about wildlife conservation and about 13 (7.1%) of the respondents have no idea on the issue. In conclusion, the study revealed human activity is one of the most important factors that have impact on wildlife and its conservations. Therefore, awareness creation programs should be organized in the community and it will help to reduce wildlife threats and to improve the local community attitude, participating the local community in the decision making process to increase sustainable conservation of wildlife.

“Association between hematological parameters and major Severe P.vivax Malaria Pathologies in Gebrestadik Shawo General Hospital Kaffa Zone, South West Ethiopia”.

Sat, 07 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

“Association between hematological parameters and major Severe P.vivax Malaria Pathologies in Gebrestadik Shawo General Hospital Kaffa Zone, South West Ethiopia”. Beshada Lemma; Tsige Ketema Malaria is still a major public health concern in Ethiopia, where the two principal parasites Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax co-exsist. Many studies have shown that malaria infection affects the normal hematological parameters. Howevre, link between P.vivax infection alone and hematological parameters are not studeied. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the association between hematological parameters and the major severe P.vivax pathologies. Hence, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Gebrestadik Shawo General Hospital, Bonga town, south west Ethiopia from Sept. 2023 to July 2024. Also, retrospective data on malaria positivity rate in the Kaffazone (2018 to 2024) was included. A total of 1536 all age group patients with mild (n=768) and severe (n=768) vivax malaria were included in the study. Data on parasitological and clinical symptoms of the patients were collected. A bout 2ml of blood samples was collected from each patient for hematological parameters [Red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), and platelat indices] analysis using automated complete blood cells (CBC) machine. Data was analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) software version 26 and statistical tools such as descriptive and inferential statistics, correlation and logistic regression model. Almost all symptoms of severe malarioa pathologies such as cerebral malaria, severe anemia, thrombosytopenia, hypoglycemia and others were documented. Substantial numbers of severe case were found to have leukopenia (19.7%), lymphocytopenia (32.8%), granulocytopenia (32.6%), eosinophilia (97.6%), anemia (78.8%) and thrombocytopenia (60.3%). Vomiting and diarrhea were associated with significant reduction (p<0.05) of monocyte count and hematocrit level, WBC and platelet indices were significantly increased (p<0.05) among these patients. Also, red cells distribution-coefficent of variation (RCD-CV) and lymphocyte measures were significantly increased among patients with vomiting and diarrhea pathologies. In addition, patients with symptom of cerebral malaria had increased level of RCD-CV and Platelet Distribution Width (PDW), while those with hyperparasitemia and pulmonary edema had increased lymphocyte and mean corpescularvolume (MCV), and shock and convolution were significantly increased with increased WBCs and neutrophils. The study showed association between some severe malaria symptoms and hematological parameters. Thus, to obtain sold evidences, further similar study using larger sample size and diverse study setting is important.

Prevalence and Drug Resistance Patterns of Salmonella Isolated from Out Patients Attending Gimbi General Hospital, West Ethiopia.

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Prevalence and Drug Resistance Patterns of Salmonella Isolated from Out Patients Attending Gimbi General Hospital, West Ethiopia. Fikiru Totoba; Ketema Bacha Salmonella is one of the most commonly reported causes of foodborne diseases and is a serious public health problem worldwide mainly in developing countries. Thus, this study was designed to assess the prevalence and drug resistance pattern of Salmonella among outpatients attending Gimbi General Hospital. A cross-sectional study was conducted from October to November 2024. Data on socio demographic characteristics of the study participants and risk factors for infection with Salmonella were collected using pre-tested structured questionnaire. Stool specimen was collected from all study participants who presented with diarrhoea and transported to the laboratory for bacteriological analysis. Identification of Salmonella was done by biochemical tests using standard bacteriological methods. The drug resistance patterns of the isolates were evaluated using Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion technique on Mueller–Hinton agar. In this study, the prevalence of Salmonella among study participants attending Gimbi General Hospital was 7.2%. Risk factors like hand washing habit with soap before eating, hand washing practice after toilet, experience of eating food kept for more than a day, drinking raw milk, washing of fruits and vegetables before consumption and practice of using common knife for cutting raw flesh and other food were significantly associated with Salmonella infection. The isolated Salmonella were resistant to amoxicillin (100%), Tetracycline (100%) followed by Cotrimoxazole (63.6%).On the other hand; the isolates were sensitive to Ciprofloxacin (100%), Ceftriaxone (90.9%) and Chloramphenicol (63.6%). A total of 5 multiple drug resistance patterns were observed among the Salmonella isolates. About 54.6% of the isolates showed MDR to two drugs, 18.2% to three drugs, and 9.1% to four drugs. At the end, this study revealed that, Salmonellosis is still a public health problem. Therefore, there is a need for frequent monitory and evaluation system to minimize the burden posed by Salmonellosis. Also, ongoing surveillance is needed to monitor changes in susceptibility patterns and to guide empirical treatment choices and combat the rise of drug resistant pathogens.

Assessment Of Woody Plant Species Richness And Diversity Of Coffee Forest In Dhidhesa District, Buno Bedelle Zone Oromia Region, Southwest Ethiopia.

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Assessment Of Woody Plant Species Richness And Diversity Of Coffee Forest In Dhidhesa District, Buno Bedelle Zone Oromia Region, Southwest Ethiopia. Nura Regasa; Dereje Denu; Desalegn Raga Woody species in Coffee forestland plays significant indicator for woody plant species investigation. The study conducted to investigate woody species richness, diversity and evenness on Coffee forestland in Dhidhesa district of Buno Bedele zone Oromia regional State. The study cover three-selected kebele (Geshe, Garado, and Gepha) based on the presence of coffee forests, aimed to asses’ woody plant species richness and diversity in coffee forest of Dhidhesa district. It used as reference or clue for farther investigation and contribute to raising public awareness on the value of the woody plant species in the coffee farm field. Purposively three-study kebele selected and Systematic random sampling applied to locate sample quadrat. Systematically Sample quadrat taken from land uses of coffee plantation. Ten sample quadrat from each kebele of coffee plantation land uses was laid at about 100 meters’ distance interval from each other. Along the transect lines, Ten sample quadrat measuring 20 m × 20 m (400 m2) were laid down at 100 m interval from each other and total sample was 30 quadrats with (1200 m2 ) in coffee farm field. A total of 22 trees species belonging to 16 plant families were recorded on the Coffee forest land at study sites. In the study area, the frequency of woody species occurrence on coffee forest recorded. Croton macrostachyus, Cordia africana, Albizia gummifera, Olea africana, Syzygium guineense and Podocarpus falcatus were among the most frequent tree. The results of this study have shown that woody species inventory on coffee forest provided baseline information on existing situation of woody species richness, diversity, evenness, frequency, and basal area. To assess the diversity of woody species on coffee forest across the study sites. In this study, general conclusion was present based on the woody plant species diversity survey of observation in the study area. Raising the amount of woody species diversity in Coffee forest at the study area and encourage awareness of local people in diversifying, conserving and sustainability using of woody plant species of coffee forest should be cared out. Finally, the present study is limited to woody plant species richness, diversity and evenness then further studies on environmental parameters, forest management, land use management system, conservation system, on woody plant species.