7:30 am: Breakfast
8:30-8:45 am: Introduction and Welcome to Sokoine University of Agriculture
Presenter: Philimone Wambura, Dean, SUA Veterinary School
8:45-9:30 am: Veterinary Education in Tanzania: Roles of the public and private sector
Dominic Kambarage, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, SUA
Kambarage explained the history and current capacity for veterinary education in Tanzania, with references to current employment options in the public and private sectors. Challenges to the delivery of veterinary services and veterinary education were also discussed.
Presenter: Rudovick Kazwala, Prof. of Veterinary Medicine & Public Health, Envirovet Tanzania Co-director, SUA
Rift valley fever is a viral disease transmitted by contact with blood or tissues as well as via insect vectors that commonly bite animals and humans. The disease most often occurs following rainfall exceeding normal amounts in areas where the virus and insect vectors are available. The importance of the disease arises from the fact that it affects animals and humans causing massive losses directly through deaths and indirectly through reduction of productivity. RVF occurred in Tanzania in 2007 with mortalities in both human and animal populations. Linkage of occurrence of RVF and climatic changes were discussed.
10:15 am: Tea
10:45 am-12:00 pm: Tour of Sokoine University Veterinary School
Leaders: SUA Veterinary Faculty Members, Graduate Students, and Staff
We toured the small and large animal clinics, rabies isolation unit, anatomy and pathology facilities, animal areas, instruction facilities and the Mycobacterium laboratory.
12:30 pm: Lunch
2:00-5:00 pm: Innovations in Disease Diagnostics for the Developing World: Tour and demonstration of APOPO Vapour Detection Technology
Leaders: Apopo staff
APOPO trains groups of sniffer rats to detect explosives and also to diagnose disease. This innovative idea has been developed into a competitive technology by a group of Belgian and Tanzanian researchers and animal trainers. We visited the APOPO facility to hear more about this unique program and to see a demonstration of the sniffer rats trained to detect tuberculosis in sputum samples.
5:00 pm: Tea
5:30- 6:30 pm: Case Study: Chytrid Fungus and the Population Collapse of the Kihansi Spray Toad
Presenter: Gerald Misinzo, Lecturer, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sokoine University of Agriculture
The Kihansi Spray Toad (KST) is a diminutive, ovoviviparous Bufonidae, endemic to the Kihansi gorge, located within the Udzungwa mountains in Tanzania. Diversion of the Kihansi river in December 1999 for the Lower Kihansi hydroelectric project reduced the river flow and destroyed toad habitat. In fear of extinction of KSTs, a few KST were translocated to Toledo and Bronx zoos in the United States. Since 2004, no KSTs have been sighted in Kihansi gorge spray wetlands. One of the key factors presumed to have caused the disappearance of KST in the wild is an outbreak of chytridiomycosis. Chytrid fungus infection of KST causes 100% mortality. Survival of KST in chytrid fungus-contaminated Kihansi gorge is possible if KST were resistant to chytridiomycosis. Misinzo described efforts at SUA to develop biological control of chytridiomycosis in KST as there are no known chemical control measures of the disease in the wild. A program to reintroduce toads captive bred in US zoos back to Tanzania was discussed.
6:30 pm: Dinner
7:45-8:30 pm: Small Animal Practice and Animal Welfare in Tanzania
Presenter: Armandus Muhairwa, Senior Lecturer, SUA
Muhairwa discussed the current state of companion animal veterinary medicine and welfare in Tanzania. Most common diseases diagnosed in primary cases were discussed as how they reflect the owner’s small animal disease, nutrition and welfare awareness. Animal welfare education at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the need of extending the education to the public as ways of improving welfare and care of small animals belonging to native Tanzanians was also covered.
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