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The palynological composition of the Karoo-equivalent strata in the Tanga Basin, coastal Tanzania, is presented. Two boreholes (Kakindu-1 and Vunde-1) through the basin were palynostratigraphically studied. According to the findings, gymnosperm pollen and a few fern spores dominate the palynological assemblages. The absence of marine palynomorphs in the studied strata of the Tanga Basin attests to deposition in terrestrial environments, which is consistent with the common geologic reconstruction of the Karoo Supergroup across Africa. Two palynological intervals, the Klausipollenites schaubergeri and Jugasporites vellicoites , are recognized in the Kakindu-1 borehole; and two others, the Klausipollenites schaubergeri – Scheuringipollenites circularis and Alisporites minutosaccus – Faunipollenites gopadensis intervals, are identified in the Vunde-1 borehole. The present palynological data suggest the Permian to Triassic age for the Karoo strata in the Tanga Basin. The composition of the reported assemblage implies a single phytogeographic province across the Gondwana Supercontinent during the Permian to Triassic. Based on depositional ages determined herein, the Karoo strata in the Tanga Basin are correlated with second–fourth depositional sequences in the inland Karoo type-section of the Ruhuhu Basin of Tanzania, as well as to Ecca and Beaufort groups of the original Karoo type-section in South Africa.

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are a major hindrance to livestock production in pastoral communities of Africa. Although information on tick-borne infections is necessary for setting up control measures, this information is limited in the pastoral communities of Tanzania. Therefore, this study aimed to provide an overview of the tick-borne infections in the indigenous cattle of Tanzania. A total of 250 blood samples were collected from the indigenous zebu cattle in the Tanga region, Tanzania. Then, we conducted a molecular survey using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gene sequencing to detect and identify the selected tick-borne pathogens. The PCR was conducted using assays, based on Theileria spp. (18S rRNA), Theileria parva (p104), Theileria mutans and T. taurotragi (V4 region of the 18S rRNA), Babesia bigemina (RAP-1a), B. bovis (SBP-2), Anaplasma marginale (heat shock protein groEL) and Ehrlichia ruminantium (pCS20). The PCR screening revealed an overall infection rate of (120/250, 48%) for T. mutans, (64/250, 25.6%) for T. parva, (52/250, 20.8%) for T. taurotragi, (33/250, 13.2%) for B. bigemina and (81/250, 32.4%) for A. marginale. Co-infections of up to four pathogens were revealed in 44.8% of the cattle samples. A sequence analysis indicated that T. parva p104 and A. marginale groEL genes were conserved among the sampled animals with sequence identity values of 98.92–100% and 99.88–100%, respectively. Moreover, the B. bigemina RAP-1a gene and the V4 region of the 18S rRNA of T. mutans genes were diverse among the sampled cattle, indicating the sequence identity values of 99.27–100% and 22.45–60.77%, respectively. The phylogenetic analyses revealed that the T. parva (p104) and A. marginale (groEL) gene sequences of this study were clustered in the same clade. In contrast, the B. bigemina (RAP-1a) and the T. mutans V4 region of the 18S rRNA gene sequences appeared in the different clades. This study provides important basement data for understanding the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases and will serve as a scientific basis for planning future control strategies in the study area.

In 2018, 70% of global fatalities due to pneumonia occurred in about fifteen countries, with Tanzania being among the top eight countries contributing to these deaths. Environmental and individual factors contributing to these deaths may be multifaceted, but they have not yet been explored in Tanzania. Therefore, in this study, we explore the association between climate change and the occurrence of pneumonia in the Tanga Region, Tanzania. A time series study design was employed using meteorological and health data of the Tanga Region collected from January 2016 to December 2018 from the Tanzania Meteorological Authority and Health Management Information System, respectively. The generalized negative binomial regression technique was used to explore the associations between climate indicators (i.e., precipitation, humidity, and temperature) and the occurrence of pneumonia. There were trend differences in climate indicators and the occurrence of pneumonia between the Tanga and Handeni districts. We found a positive association between humidity and increased rates of non-severe pneumonia (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.01; 95% CI: 1.01–1.02; p ≤ 0.05) and severe pneumonia (IRR = 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01–1.03; p ≤ 0.05). There was also a significant association between cold temperatures and the rate of severe pneumonia in Tanga (IRR = 1.21; 95% CI: 1.11–1.33; p ≤ 0.001). Other factors that were associated with pneumonia included age and district of residence. We found a positive relationship between humidity, temperature, and incidence of pneumonia in the Tanga Region. Policies focusing on prevention and control, as well as promotion strategies relating to climate change-related health effects should be developed and implemented.

Background Anopheles mosquitoes, vectors of human malaria, are highly sensitive to environmental change. As climate alters temperature and precipitation patterns, mosquito populations may shift in sibling species composition, location and timing, altering transmission dynamics. Understanding these patterns is key for malaria control. This study explores links between meteorological factors and Anopheles abundance across a diversity of sites in Tanga and Unguja, Tanzania, to predict mosquito peaks and support the development of early warning systems for malaria outbreaks. Methods Adult Anopheles mosquitoes were sampled monthly from September/October 2021 to December/September 2023 across 11 sites in Tanga and 4 shehias in Unguja. Spatio-temporal Generalized Additive Mixed Effects Models (GAMMs) were employed to assess the influence of meteorological factors on Anopheles abundance. Models were built and validated using mosquito counts alongside climate covariates obtained from Copernicus ERA5-Land and NASA’s POWER platforms. Results A total of 4312 adult Anopheles mosquitoes were sampled in Tanga and 1450 in Unguja. The GAMM revealed region-specific climatic drivers. In Tanga, Anopheles abundance increased with higher maximum temperatures but declined with higher minimum temperatures. In Unguja, abundance exhibited a non-linear relationship with mean temperature, peaking below 27.5 °C and decreasing thereafter. Precipitation in Tanga positively influenced Anopheles abundance both concurrently and with a two-month lag, whereas in Unguja only the two-month lag effect was significant. Relative humidity exhibited a non-linear effect in both regions, with higher humidity associated with increased abundance. The GAMMs demonstrated strong predictive performance as evidenced by low MAE and RMSE, Theil’s U < 1, and correlation exceeding 0.8 between observed and predicted values. Importantly, the models accurately forecasted Anopheles abundance peaks in Unguja in November 2023, preceding the reported malaria surge in Zanzibar in late 2023 and early 2024, highlighting its potential as a proxy for malaria risk and a scalable early warning system to support proactive targeted vector control. Conclusion The study highlights the importance of integrating meteorological variability into mosquito surveillance and control. The spatio-temporal GAMM captured weather-driven mosquito dynamics and predicted surges in Anopheles abundance prior to the Zanzibar malaria outbreak in late 2023. These insights can guide targeted interventions across diverse eco-climatic regions, enhancing malaria vector control.

The Middle Karoo deposits of the onshore Tanga Basin of northern coastal Tanzania contain dark grey-black, fossiliferous organic-rich rocks outcropping at Kakindu and Pangarawe areas. Deposit types, depositional and post-depositional processes, conditions and features characterising these rocks are poorly understood. This work used core logging, outcrop descriptions and analysis of elemental proxies to identify deposit types and reconstruct conditions and processes controlling the deposition of the Middle Karoo rocks in the study area. Outcrop descriptions and core logging results show that the studied stratigraphy is dominated by low-density turbidites and black shales. Other identified deposit types include slides, slumps, and debris flow deposits, indicating downslope sediment remobilisation triggered by episodic fault activity and rapid sedimentation. The distribution of elemental proxies shows that detrital inputs from the same provenance influenced the deposition of the Middle Karoo rocks. Distribution trends of elemental proxies for biogenic and terrestrial inputs suggest sediment reworking by turbidity currents influenced the studied rocks' organic richness. This conforms to outcrop description results whereby significant coal fragments suggest the reworking of previous sediments by gravity flows. This aspect may be used to indicate varying source rock potential between the Middle Karoo rocks in the region. Further geochemical studies are needed to confirm this observation, which is essential while assessing the source rock potential of the Karoo rocks in the Tanga Basin.

Background Increased global trade, while beneficial economically, can also increase the spread of vector-borne diseases, particularly those transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes spreading via trade routes. Given the heightened trade-induced activity at ports of entry, it is particularly crucial to assess the risk of mosquito-borne diseases in these settings. This study compared the risks of Aedes -borne disease in and around the eastern Tanzanian seaport of Tanga. Methods A 200 m × 200 m grid-based system was used to sample mosquitoes within the port area, and in surrounding areas at 2 km, 2.5 km, and 5 km away, between June and December 2023. We characterized mosquito breeding habitats, collected mosquito larvae using standard dippers and tested susceptibility of raised adult Aedes aegypti populations to different insecticides. Adult mosquitoes were collected using BG sentinel traps (daytime) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) light traps (night-time). Additionally, more than 200 port users and neighboring residents were surveyed to assess their experiences with and perceptions of mosquito biting and disease risks. Results There were 2931 breeding sites, with (60.8%, n  = 1782) positive for Aedes larvae. The percentage of water-holding containers infested with Aedes immatures, i.e., the container index (CI), was highest in the port area (66.2%), and lowest 5 km away (44.6%). The port area also had a greater proportion of temporary breeding sites (64.9%) than did the surrounding areas. The adult mosquito surveys revealed 20,449 mosquito species including: Culex quinquefasciatus (56.2%), Mansonia uniformis (38.6%), Ae. aegypti (5.1%), Anopheles gambiae (0.1%), and Anopheles funestus . Ae. aegypti were more abundant in the port area than in the surrounding areas ( P  < 0.001), whereas Culex sp., and Mansonia sp., were significantly outside ( P  < 0.001). Adult Anopheles sp., were found only in the port area, but Anopheles larvae were found both within and outside the port areas. Tests on Ae. aegypti sp., revealed susceptibility to bendiocarb and DDT, and resistance to permethrin. Awareness of mosquito-borne diseases among respondents was high for malaria (64.8%), but low for dengue (26.3%) and Chikungunya (1.7%). Most respondents reported being bothered by mosquitoes mostly at night (53.4%) or in the evening (40.7%). In addition to insecticidal bednets, which are used primarily against malaria, preventive measures for Aedes -borne diseases are limited. Conclusions This study identified significant potential risk of Aedes species , specifically Ae. aegypti sp., and associated diseases, but low perception of risk and inadequate personal protection measures in the study area. This low perception of risk highlights the need to improve public knowledge of the transmission and control of Aedes -borne diseases. Graphical Abstract

The United Nations (UN) emphasizes that health promotion, education, and empowerment of women are all goals that will help to end poverty. In eastern rural Tanzania, young women who dropped out of school now take an active part in health promotion campaigns in schools and villages through the youth program “Innovative and Productive Youth”, which is administered by the nongovernmental organization Hatua na Maendeleo (HAMA). The aim of this qualitative study was to explore how some of these young Tanzanian women experience participating in health promotion campaigns. A hermeneutic phenomenology design with focus group interviews was used. The study’s participants were nine young women between the ages of 18 and 23 who had participated in the youth program for one year. In addition, the participants were given the opportunity to provide written elaboration in Kiswahili after the interviews. The findings were analyzed from an empowerment perspective and revealed the benefits that the young women had experienced, which were expressed as three themes, i.e., my involvement in the campaigns (a) made me strong and confident, (b) made me become a role model, and (c) made me think that I can achieve something. Involvement in health promotion campaigns seemed to empower the young women by increasing their confidence and providing a feeling of self-efficacy. In addition, their health literacy increased, which appeared to have a ripple effect on their families, peers, and the local community. The findings from this study provide insight into the participants’ self-reported short-term effects. Moreover, with this study, it can be argued that by empowering individuals, community transformation can be seen as well.

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a neglected tropical disease targeted for elimination as public health problem through morbidity management and preventive annual mass drug administration (MDA). This cross-sectional community-based surveillance assessed the prevalence and correlates of LF infection in Mkinga district, Tanga-region, Tanzania. A total of 4115 individuals (49.7% males, 35.2% children) were screened for circulating filarial antigens (CFA), microfilaremia (mf) and disease manifestations in 15 villages between November 2018 and January 2019. MDA uptake in the previous year was assessed. Overall prevalence of CFA-positivity was 5.8% (239/4115; 95% CI: 5.1–6.6), with significant heterogeneity between villages (range 1.2% to 13.5%). CFA-positivity was higher in males (8.8%) than females (3.3%), and correlated with increasing age (p < 0.001). Prevalence of mf among CFA-positives was 5.2%. Only 60% of eligible inhabitants in the study area took MDA in the previous year, and CFA-positivity was 2-fold higher in those who missed MDA (p < 0.0001). Prevalence of scrotal enlargement, hydrocele, arms or legs swelling, lymphoedema and lymphadenopathy was 6.4%, 3.7%, 1.35%, 1.2% and 0.32%, respectively. Compared to baseline data, 16 years of MDA intervention significantly reduced LF transmission and morbidity, although the intended elimination target of <1% mf and <2% antigenemia to level where recrudescence is unlikely to occur by the year 2020 may not be attained. The finding of hotspots with ongoing transmission calls for intensified control measures.

Ocean acidification, deoxygenation, and warming are three interconnected global change challenges caused by increased anthropogenic carbon emissions. These issues present substantial threats to marine organisms, ecosystems, and the survival of coastal communities depending on these ecosystems. Coastal upwelling areas may experience significant declines in pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), and temperature levels during upwelling events, making marine organisms and ecosystems in these areas more susceptible to ocean acidification and deoxygenation. Understanding the dynamics of pH, DO, and temperature in coastal upwelling areas is essential for evaluating the susceptibility of resident organisms and ecosystems to lower pH and DO conditions occurring during upwelling events. To accomplish this, we used the pH and the DO loggers to measure high-frequency data for pH and DO, respectively, over six months in the open ocean and for a 24-hour cycle within the mangrove, seagrass, and coral reef ecosystems of the Tanga-Pemba Seascape (T-PS) during the northeast monsoon season. Our findings revealed the occurrence of multiple upwelling events, with varying durations, that result in significant declines in pH, DO, and temperature within the seascape. This is the first study to confirm the occurrence of multiple upwelling events in the T-PS. Moreover, the study has revealed a pH threshold value of 7.43 for ocean acidification in the T-PS. This is the first study to report a threshold value for ocean acidification in coastal upwelling areas of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). Furthermore, it revealed that the extremely low levels of pH that occurred during upwelling events were above the pH threshold value of 7.43 for ocean acidification, while the extremely low levels of DO fell below the oxygen threshold value of 4.6 mg/L for deoxygenation. During upwelling events, seagrass and coral reef ecosystems, but not mangrove ecosystems, demonstrated elevated mean hourly values of pH and DO compared to those of the open ocean. These findings show that marine organisms and ecosystems in the T-PS are frequently exposed to lower pH and DO conditions due multiple upwelling events. However, their susceptibility to these conditions is reduced to some extent by the presence of seagrass meadows within these interconnected systems.

Background Health campaigns are an important aspect of preventive health work. They can aim to improve health literacy in rural areas where residents lack access to health information and knowledge, and to improve both local and global health through cross-cultural collaboration. In Tanga District, Tanzania, exchange students and local youths participate together with Tanga International Competence Centre (TICC) to plan and accomplish health campaigns in local communities. The aim of this study was to explore the participants’ experiences with the cross-cultural collaboration in the planning and delivery of TICC’s health campaigns. Methods This study used a focused ethnographic approach. Five weeks of fieldwork included four observations of health campaigns and nine interviews: three individual interviews with employees at TICC (all Tanzanians), two group interviews with nine Norwegian nursing students, two group interviews with five local youths enrolled in TICC’s Youth Program, one interview with a local village leader, and one interview with a local primary school teacher. The interview material was analyzed using systematic text condensation. Results All participants experienced the cross-cultural collaboration as successful. Having enough time, adapting to local conditions, and understanding the needs of the target groups were perceived as essential to the campaigns’ success. Music and role-play, which are dominant within Tanzanian culture but not common among the Norwegian students, created excitement and motivation among the audiences. The interviewees identified changes in people’s health behavior in the aftermath of the campaigns. Conclusion All participants in this study identified positive outcomes from the cross-cultural collaboration within TICC’s health campaigns. The health campaigns were considered beneficial because of the poor access to health information among residents in the local communities.