Thur August 5: HEALTH AND POLLUTION LABORATORIES

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SISTER LAUREN! 

 7:00 am: Breakfast

8:00 am-12:00 pm: Focused Sessions on Health and Pollution

Session One: Using Biomarkers to Assess Environmental Pollution in Tanzania

Instructor: Robinson Mdegela, Senior Lecturer, SUA & Hezron Nonga, PhD Student, SUA

Mdegela, an Envirovet 2008 alumnus, described his research assessing biomarkers for pollutants in the widely distributed African sharptooth catfish. We had a chance to examine the catfish as they are used in the conduct of ecotoxicological testing. Sadly, all of the fish that we were going to use died the night before from a fungal infection. Thus, before starting the lab, we had to make a trip to the lake to pick up more catfish from the local fishermen. 

12:30 pm: Lunch

Just before lunch started we were warned that Tanzanian immigration officials were on their way to inspect our visas. Apparently some of the envirovets have the wrong visa type so we spent quite a while trying to evade the officials (successfully!). Because my visa was the correct type I tried to sneak off and use the internet for a few minutes. Unfortunately, it was so slow that the only thing I was able to do in the 30 minutes that I was on the computer was send and email to Jackie that I was still alive. 

2:00-6:00 pm: Session Two: Avian Influenza and Village Poultry Health-Group

Instructor(s): Armandus Muhairwa, Senior Lecturer, SUA  

The potential impact of and possible entry points for Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Tanzania were discussed. Surveillance limitations for HPAI in developing countries was addressed, and a new initiative to create Village Biosecurity through improved poultry health was highlighted.  During laboratory we i) learnt  proper handling of chickens, ii) appropriate biological sampling techniques for HPAI testing, iii) how to use and interpret the rapid influenza test, and iv) were taught how to minimize virus contamination during processing for food consumption. Community benefits of poultry farming were also highlighted. Regrettably, this was the least enjoyable moment of envirovet for me. I did not enjoy the lecturer and got somewhat irritated during the lab when I did not have the opportunity to do some of the things that I wanted to. 

7:30 pm: Special Dinner Out

We were treated to Pizza and beer at a local restaurant. I played billiards on and L-shaped table with some of the guys and Andrea (Illinois) while most of the girls danced.