Needs assessment survey for Master's of Science training in environmental health science in Swaziland.

A needs assessment survey research was carried out for Master's of Science training in environmental health in Swaziland. The objective of the survey was to acquire information on training needs, gaps, options of specializations, program structure, courses, topics, and research areas that are relevant to the needs of the stakeholders and sector organizations related to environmental health. A document study, focus group discussion with key informants, stakeholder forum workshop, and needs assessment questionnaire to the wider stakeholders were used for the study described here. The findings of the authors' study point to a shortage of qualified personnel in environmental health; lack of capacity in strategy planning and project management; and lack of capacity in research, data collection, and environmental monitoring skills, among other things. A program structure that takes into account the multidisciplinary nature of environmental health with provisions for specialization was favored. Suggestions on course content, mode of delivery, and research topics to be addressed were also given.

Antimicrobial properties of lactic acid bacteria and yeast-LAB cultures isolated from traditional fermented milk against pathogenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis strains.

The survival and growth of Escherichia coli 3339 and Salmonella enteritidis 949575 isolated from human clinical samples, in milk fermented with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast strains previously isolated from Zimbabwean naturally fermented milk (NFM) was studied. The LAB starter cultures used were Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis C1 alone (C1) or in combination with Candida kefyr 23 (C1/23), L. lactis subsp. lactis Lc261 alone (LC261) or in combination with C. kefyr 23 (Lc261/23). The growth of the same pathogens in milk fermented with a commercial DL culture (CH-N 22) and spontaneously fermented raw milk was also monitored. The C1 and C1/23 cultures significantly (P<0.05) inhibited the growth of both pathogens. When inoculated at the beginning of the fermentation, both E. coli 3339 and S. enteritidis 949575 counts were significantly (P<0.05) reduced by about two log cycles in C1 and C1/23 cultured milk. However, in naturally fermented milk and the DL cultured milk, both E. coli 3339 and S. enteritidis 949575 grew and reached high populations of about 9 and 8.8 log cfu ml(-1), respectively, after 18 h. When E. coli 3339 was inoculated into previously fermented milk, the viable counts were significantly (P<0.05) reduced in the presence of C1 and C1/23 from 7 log cfu ml(-1) to 3 log cfu ml(-1) after 48 h. S. enteritidis 949575 could not be recovered from these cultures after 48 h. The addition of the yeast did not enhance or diminish the inhibitory capacity of the LAB cultures. The pathogens survived in high numbers when inoculated into pre-fermented NFM and the commercial DL- (CH-N 22) cultured milk. The C1 strain, therefore, offered the best protection against the pathogens. Its inhibitory effect was mainly related to fast acid production.

The growth and interaction of yeasts and lactic acid bacteria isolated from Zimbabwean naturally fermented milk in UHT milk.

Nine yeast and four lactic acid bacterial strains, previously isolated from Zimbabwean traditionally fermented milk, were inoculated into ultra-high temperature treated (UHT) milk in both single and yeast-lactic acid bacteria co-culture. The lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains consisted of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis C1, L. lactis subsp. lactis Lc39, L. lactis subsp. lactis Lc261 and Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei Lb11. The yeast strains used were Candida kefyr 23, C. lipolytica 57, C. lusitaniae 63, C. lusitaniae 68, C. tropicalis 78, Saccharomyces cerevisiae 71, S. dairenensis 32, C. colliculosa 41 and Dekkera bruxellensis 43. After 48-h fermentation at 25 degrees C, the samples were analysed for pH, viable yeast and bacterial counts, organic acids, volatile organic compounds (VOC) and carbon dioxide. The Lactococcus strains reduced the pH from about 6.6 to between 4.0 and 4.2, while Lb. paracasei subsp. paracasei Lb11 reduced the pH to about 5.4. Most of the yeasts, however, did not affect the final pH of the milk except for C. kefyr 23, which reduced the pH from 6.6 to 5.8. All the Lactococcus strains grew two log cycles during the 48-h fermentation period, while Lb. paracasei subsp. paracasei Lb11 grew about one log cycle. S. cerevisiae 71, C. colliculosa 41 and D. bruxellensis 43 showed poor growth in the milk in both single and co-culture. The other species of yeast grew about two log cycles. Candida colliculosa 41, S. dairenensis 32 and D. bruxellensis 43 showed reduced viability when in co-culture with Lb. paracasei subsp. paracasei Lb11. The samples in which C. kefyr 23 was used were distinct and characterised by large amounts of acetaldehyde, carbon dioxide and ethanol. However, in the samples where S. dairenensis, C. colliculosa, D. bruxellensis, C. lusitaniae, C. tropicalis, C. lipolytica and S. cerevisiae were used in co-culture, the final pH and metabolite content were mainly determined by the correspondin

Growth characteristics of Candida kefyr and two strains of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis isolated from Zimbabwean naturally fermented milk.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts constitute part of the microflora in Zimbabwean traditional fermented cows' milk, amasi. The present study was carried out to investigate the growth characteristics of Candida kefyr 23, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis C1 and L. lactis subsp. lactis Lc261, previously isolated from amasi, in ultrahigh temperature (UHT)-treated cows' milk. The strains were inoculated into the UHT milk as both single and yeast

A review of traditional fermented foods and beverages of Zimbabwe.

Several traditional fermented foods and beverages are produced at household level in Zimbabwe. These include fermented maize porridges (mutwiwa and ilambazi lokubilisa) fermented milk products (mukaka wakakoralamasi and hodzeko) non-alcoholic cereal-based beverages (mahewu, tobwa and mangisi) alcoholic beverages from sorghum or millet malt (doroluthwala and chikokivana) distilled spirits (kachasu) and fermented fruit mashes (makumbi). There are many regional variations to the preparation of each fermented product. Research into the processing technologies of these foods is still in its infancy. It is, therefore, important that the microbiology and biochemistry of these products, as well as their technologies be studied and documented in order to preserve them for future generations. This article reviews the available information regarding traditional fermented foods in Zimbabwe and makes recommendations for potential research areas.