Bradyrhizobial inoculation and P application effects on haricot and mung beans in the Ethiopian Rift Valley

Plant and Soil - Natural and managed soils have been identified as the largest sources of atmospheric nitrous oxide (N2O). However, the quantification of N2O emissions from soils under natural...     

Yield,Yield‐related Traits and Response of Potato Clones to Late Blight Disease,in North‐Western Highlands of Ethiopia

Late blight disease of potato caused by Phytophthora infestans poses a significant threat to potato production in Ethiopia. The development of new high yielding genotypes with adequate late blight disease resistance will provide a strong component of an integrated management strategy for farmers. The objective of this study was to determine late blight resistance and yield of potato clones under field condition in north‐western Ethiopia. Twenty‐four clones (17 from the International Potato Centre B3C2 population and seven widely grown cultivars) were evaluated at three locations. The experiment was laid in a randomized complete block design with two replications. Late blight resistance and yield‐related traits were determined. Results showed that clones differ significantly for all traits across locations. The following five clones combine high to moderate resistance to late blight with high yields: 396029.250, 395017.229, 396004.263, 396034.103 and 395077.12. These clones are useful genetic resources for resistance breeding against late blight disease and for enhanced yields.     

The present conservation status of Juniperus forests in the South Ethiopian Endemic Bird Area

Field survey data and Landsat satellite imagery were used to evaluate the conservation status of two Juniperus forests (Mankubsa and Arero) in the south Ethiopian Endemic Bird Area. Forest cover and dense woodland decreased in both areas between 1986 and 2002, but rates of habitat change and human impact were greater at Mankubsa than at Arero. We suggest that at Mankubsa increased grazing pressure, agricultural expansion, commercial fuelwood and timber exploitation are threatening forest persistence, while most of the degradation at Arero is because of the grazing of domestic animals. Conservation efforts should focus on creating tree plantations and improving forest resource use efficiency at Mankubsa, while at Arero better results could be obtained by improving pasture quality in the habitats surrounding the forest.     

A Randomized Controlled Double Blind Trial of Ciclosporin versus Prednisolone in the Management of Leprosy Patients with New Type 1 Reaction,in Ethiopia

Background

Leprosy Type 1 (T1R) reactions are immune-mediated events leading to nerve damage and preventable disability affecting hands, feet and eyes. Type 1 Reactions are treated with oral corticosteroids. There is little evidence on alternative treatments for patients who do not respond to steroids or experience steroid adverse effects. We report the results of a randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy and adverse effect profile of ciclosporin and prednisolone (CnP) in comparison to prednisolone only (P) in patients with new T1R in Ethiopia. Ciclosporin is a potent immunosuppressant. Outcomes were measured using a clinical severity score, recurrence rate, adverse events and quality of life.

Results

Seventy three patients with new T1R were randomized to receive CnP or P for 20 weeks. Recovery rates in skin signs was similar in both groups (91% vs 88%). Improvements in nerve function both, new and old, sensory (66% vs 49%) and motor (75% vs 74%) loss were higher (but not significantly so) in the patients on CnP. Recurrences rates of T1R (85%) were high in both groups, and recurrences occurred significantly earlier (8 weeks) in patients CnP, who needed 10% more additional prednisolone. Serious major and minor adverse events rates were similar in patients in the two treatment arms of the study. Both groups had a significant improvement in their quality of life after the study, measured by the SF-36.

Conclusions

This is the first double-blind RCT assessing ciclosporin, in the management of T1R in Africa. Ciclosporin could be a safe alternative second-line drug for patients with T1R who are not improving with prednisolone or are experiencing adverse events related to prednisolone. This study illustrates the difficulty in switching off leprosy inflammation. Better treatment agents for leprosy patients with reactions and nerve damage are needed.     

Comparison of Efficacy and Safety of Ciclosporin to Prednisolone in the Treatment of Erythema Nodosum Leprosum: Two Randomised,Double Blind,Controlled Pilot Studies in Ethiopia

Background

Erythema Nodosum Leprosum (ENL) is a serious complication of leprosy. It is normally treated with high dose steroids, but its recurrent nature leads to prolonged steroid usage and associated side effects. There is little evidence on the efficacy of alternative treatments for ENL, especially for patients who have become steroid resistant or have steroid side effects. These two pilot studies compare the efficacy and side effect profile of ciclosporin plus prednisolone against prednisolone alone in the treatment of patients with either new ENL or chronic and recurrent ENL.

Methods and Results

Thirteen patients with new ENL and twenty patients with chronic ENL were recruited into two double-blinded randomised controlled trials. Patients were randomised to receive ciclosporin and prednisolone or prednisolone treatment only. Patients with acute ENL had a delay of 16 weeks in the occurrence of ENL flare-up episode, with less severe flare-ups and decreased requirements for additional prednisolone. Patients with chronic ENL on ciclosporin had the first episode of ENL flare-up 4 weeks earlier than those on prednisolone, as well as more severe ENL flare-ups requiring 2.5 times more additional prednisolone. Adverse events attributable to prednisolone were more common that those attributable to ciclosporin.

Conclusions

This is the first clinical trial on ENL management set in the African context, and also the first trial in leprosy to use patients’ assessment of outcomes. Patients on ciclosporin showed promising results in the management of acute ENL in this small pilot study. But ciclosporin, did not appear to have a significant steroid–sparing effects in patients with chronic ENL, which may have been due to the prolonged use of steroids in these patients in combination with a too rapid decrease of steroids in patients given ciclosporin. Further research is needed to determine whether the promising results of ciclosporin in acute ENL can be reproduced on a larger scale.     

Assessment of Ethiopian Wheat Lines for Slow Rusting Resistance to Stem Rust of Wheat Caused by Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici

The emergence and rapid spread of virulent races of wheat stem rust has driven a search for sources of resistance for durable resistance breeding. This study was carried out to identify possible sources of stem rust resistance between Ethiopian wheat lines. Two hundred and fifty‐two wheat accessions and a universal suscept, cultivar Morocco were evaluated for their resistance at the seedling stage to the stem rust isolate Ug99 in a controlled environment. Ninety‐one lines that exhibited intermediate and susceptible seedling reactions were further field tested in 2012 main season for their slow rusting characteristics. Among the 91, 38 genotypes that had high to moderate level of slow rusting were advanced to a 2013 off season field evaluation. Slow rusting resistance at the adult‐plant stage was assessed through the determination of final disease severity (FRS), coefficient of infection (CI), and relative area under disease progressive curve (rAUDPC). The results revealed that wheat lines H04‐2, 204408‐3, 214551‐1, 231545‐1, 7041‐1, 7514‐1, 226385‐1, 226815‐1, 7579‐1 and 222495‐1 had low values of FRS, CI and rAUDPC and were regarded as good slow rusting lines. Of these 231545‐1, 7041‐1, 226815‐1 and 7579‐1 exhibited complete susceptibility at the seedling stage, with infection types ranging from 3? to 3+, which suggests that they possess true slow rusting resistance. Lines 237886‐1, 227059‐1, 203763‐1, 226275‐1, 227068‐2, 226278‐1 and 7994‐1 had moderate values for the stem rust resistance parameters and were identified as possessing a moderate level of slow rusting. High correlations were observed between different parameters of slow rusting. Among the slow rusting lines 231545‐1, H04‐2 and 222495‐1 had high yields and kernel weight in both seasons. The slow rusting lines identified from this study can be used to breed for stem rust resistance in wheat.     

The Mortality Associated with Erythema Nodosum Leprosum in Ethiopia: A Retrospective Hospital-Based Study

Background

Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is a debilitating multisystem disorder which complicates leprosy. It is characterised by fever, malaise and painful erythematous cutaneous nodules. ENL is often recurrent or chronic in nature and frequently severe. Patients often require prolonged treatment with high doses of oral corticosteroids. There are no data on the mortality associated with treated ENL.

Methodology

The notes of patients who were admitted, discharged, transferred to another facility or died with a diagnosis of leprosy or a leprosy-related complication for a five year period were reviewed.

Result/Discussion

414 individuals were identified from the ward database. 312 (75.4%) patient records were located and reviewed. Ninety-nine individuals had ENL and 145 had a Type 1 reaction. The median age of individuals with ENLwas 25 years. Eight patients with erythema nodosum leprosum died compared with two diagnosed with Type 1 reaction. This difference is statistically significant (p = 0.0168, Fisher''s Exact Test). There is a significant mortality and morbidity associated with ENL in this Ethiopian cohort. The adverse outcomes seen are largely attributable to the chronic administration of oral corticosteroids used to control the inflammatory and debilitating symptoms of the condition.