Effects of temperament during handling and social rank on the blood biochemical parameters of common eland (Taurotragus oryx).

Large herbivores are subject to handling and social stress in captivity. These may affect blood biochemical values, which motivated this research. Twelve healthy common eland (Taurotragus oryx) were monitored for 12 months. The animals were handled monthly, and blood samples were collected. Samples from every second month were analysed for 14 blood biochemical parameters. Temperament throughout the handling, as the summation of various behavioural responses, was calculated as a proxy of the stress generated during handling. Social behaviour was recorded each month, and the agonistic interactions were used to calculate the social rank, which was considered a proxy of social stress. Generalised Linear Mixed Models were designed to test the effects of temperament and social rank on the blood biochemical parameters while keeping sex, age, body condition, and body weight as covariates. The results show that the temperament during handling influences blood levels of albumin, alkaline phosphate, blood urea nitrogen, glucose, total bilirubin, and total protein; however, social rank has little influence, affecting just albumin. The ranges observed in the values of these biochemical parameters were still within their reference intervals, implying the absence of pathology or physiological problems during the study. The results suggest that blood biochemical values of physically restrained common eland should be carefully interpreted, even in animals already habituated to routine handling. On the contrary, social rank has low effects on the blood biochemical parameters.

Modelling postoperative visual acuity with and without proliferative vitreoretinopathy associated with primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

PURPOSE: To find models that will explain the variability in postoperative visual acuity (VA) (logarithmic: logMAR) associated with unilateral primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD). METHODS: This was a prospective clinical cohort study of 33 patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR: PVR

Knowledge on HIV/AIDS and sexual behaviour among youths in Kibaha District, Tanzania.

Sub-Saharan Africa is more heavily affected by HIV/AIDS than any other region in the World. Half of all new HIV infections occur in young people. Identification of the associated factors is likely to be useful in designing effective interventions. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the determinants of high-risk sexual behaviours among youths in Kibaha District, Tanzania. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. The survey gathered data pertaining to the sexual healthy behaviours among youths, including condom use, number of sexual partners, age at first sexual involvement and knowledge on sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS. A total of 322 individuals aged 15-24 years were involved in the study. More than 69% had sex at least once in their life time. Only about one-third (32.3%) of the youths reported to have used condom during the first sexual intercourse and 37% during the last sex. About 21.7% of the respondents acknowledged having more than one sexual partner in the last 12 months. The majority (98.4%) of the respondents have heard of HIV/AIDS. About three quarters (74.8%) of the respondents knew where to get HIV testing services but only a small proportion (28.9%) had tested for HIV infection. Of those not yet tested, 38.2% admitted that they were ready to do so. Although 317 (98.4%) respondents were aware of HIV/AIDS, and majority, 65.2% mentioned condom as the method used to prevent its transmission, only 117 (36.3%) acknowledged using them. In conclusion, despite good knowledge on transmission of HIV among youths in Kibaha district, only a small proportion of them practices safe sex. Education programmes on safe sex practices should be strengthened to provide skills that could be effective in changing and maintaining safe sex behaviours among youths in Tanzania.

Knowledge on HIV/AIDS and Sexual Behaviour among Youths in Kibaha District; Tanzania

Sub-Saharan Africa is more heavily affected by HIV/AIDS than any other region in the World. Half of all new HIV infections occur in young people. Identifcation of the associated factors is likely to be useful in designing effective interventions. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the determinants of high-risk sexual behaviours among youths in Kibaha District; Tanzania. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. The survey gathered data pertaining to the sexual healthy behaviours among youths; including condom use; number of sexual partners; age at first sexual involvement and knowledge on sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS. A total of 322 individuals aged 15-24 years were involved in the study. More than 69had sex at least once in their life time. Only about one-third (32.3) of the youths reported to have used condom during the first sexual intercourse and 37during the last sex. About 21.7of the respondents acknowledged having more than one sexual partner in the last 12 months. The majority (98.4) of the respondents have heard of HIV/AIDS. About three quarters (74.8) of the respondents knew where to get HIV testing services but only a small proportion (28.9) had tested for HIV infection. Of those not yet tested; 38.2admitted that they were ready to do so. Although 317 (98.4) respondents were aware of HIV/AIDS; and majority; 65.2mentioned condom as the method used to prevent its transmission; only 117 (36.3) acknowledged using them. In conclusion; despite good knowledge on transmission of HIV among youths in Kibaha district; only a small proportion of them practices safe sex. Education programmes on safe sex practices should be strengthened to provide skills that could be effective in changing and maintaining safe sex behaviours among youths in Tanzania