Gastrointestinal helminths from the common warthog, Phacochoerus africanus (Gmelin) (Suidae), in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, with comments on helminths of Suidae and Tayassuidae worldwide

Parasitology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 146 (12) ◽  
pp. 1541-1549
Author(s):  
Kerstin Junker ◽  
Andrea Spickett ◽  
Monlee Swanepoel ◽  
Boris R. Krasnov ◽  
Joop Boomker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Gastrointestinal Helminths ◽  
Taenia Hydatigena ◽  
Gastrointestinal Helminth ◽  
Helminth Communities ◽  
Host Sex ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
The Common ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Phacochoerus Africanus

AbstractThirty warthogs, Phacochoerus africanus, were collected in the Pongola Game Reserve, South Africa and examined for helminths. Gastrointestinal helminth assemblages comprised Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus, the cestode genus Moniezia and seven species of nematodes. A single warthog harboured a metacestode of Taenia hydatigena in the mesenteries. No helminths were found in the heart, lungs or liver of the warthogs. Probstmayria vivipara and Murshidia spp. were the most prevalent as well as abundant helminth species, followed by Physocephalus sexalatus. The incidence of Moniezia did not differ between hosts of different sex or age. Numbers of Murshidia spp. were not affected by host sex, but were higher in adults than in juveniles. Conversely, burdens of Trichostrongylus thomasi were not affected by host age, but were higher in males than in females. While not highly significant, helminth assemblages in male warthogs were more species rich than in females. Helminth communities in the three genera of wild sub-Saharan suids are largely unique, but Ph. africanus and Hylochoerus meinertzhageni share more worm species with each other than with Potamochoerus larvatus, possibly because the former two are more closely related. Overlap between helminth communities of African wild suids and those of other suids and Tayassuidae worldwide is limited.

scholarly journals Feeding Ecology of the Common Slit-Faced Bat (Nycteris thebaica) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2002 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernest C. J. Seamark ◽  
Wiesław Bogdanowicz
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
The Common

scholarly journals Factors influencing uptake of schistosomiasis research findings in ingwavuma area, uMkhanyakude District, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tafadzwa Mindu ◽  
Moses J. Chimbari
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Research Uptake ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Sub Saharan

Background: Research uptake is concerned with spreading ideas across multiple levels of the community. Barriers such as poverty, lack of infrastructure, illiteracy and culture prevent information sharing in arid rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Objective: This study explores the factors influencing schistosomiasis research uptake and the available channels for the uptake of research findings from a transdisciplinary and eco-health research project on schistosomiasis in Ingwavuma area, uMkhanyakude district, KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa. Methods: This case study conducted in 2017 involved 78 primary school children and 73 heads of household recruited through convenience and purposive sampling. Data were collected through focus group discussions, then transcribed and analysed by the researcher using thematic analysis. Results: Factors such as poor knowledge, water and sanitation problems, and lack of sufficient health workers hindered the uptake of schistosomiasis research findings. Participants recommended several platforms to share schistosomiasis research findings with the community, including: door to door visits; social gatherings such as sports events, talent shows, and religious gatherings; mass media platforms such as radio and television; social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter; and printed media such as posters, booklets and pamphlets. Conclusions: There is a need to train health workers and peer educators in this area of South Africa to educate people about schistosomiasis infection, screening and treatment through home visits or social events. Schistosomiasis research findings must be synthesised and packaged in different forms for dissemination via multimedia media-based communication channels.

Reduction in prevalence of invasive cervical cancer in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: impact of the human immunodeficiency virus epidemic

2006 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 1036-1040
Author(s):  
M. Moodley
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Invasive Cervical Cancer ◽  
Epidemiologic Data ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
Sub Saharan

The bulk of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic continues to ravage the developing world, especially sub-Saharan countries. The HIV seroprevalence among women with invasive cervical cancer varies in different parts of the world. A comparison of women with cervical cancer was undertaken for epidemiologic data in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which has the highest HIV prevalence. The two time periods of study were 1999 and 2003. The aim was to determine the trends of prevalence of invasive cervical cancer and HIV infection among such women. While the background prevalence of HIV infection among women with invasive cervical cancer in our setting has remained constant over the two time periods (21% and 21.8%), there has been a significant reduction in the number of women presenting with invasive cervical cancer to our center (672 to 271) over the two time periods, with no changes in other variables. On the contrary, the prevalence of HIV infection among antenatal attendees had risen from 32.5% to 38.5% in the 1999 and 2003 periods, respectively. Reasons for this dramatic trend are presented together with other epidemiologic data.

scholarly journals Hesperoides, a new “hairy” flea beetle genus from southern Africa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini)

2017 ◽  
pp. 151-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurizio Biondi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Flea Beetle ◽  
Extensor Tendon ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Republic

Hesperoides afromeridionalis gen. nov. and sp. nov. from the Republic of South Africa (Western and Eastern Cape Provinces and KwaZulu-Natal) is described. Despite some similarities with Hespera Weise, it exhibits major affinities with the genera attributed to the subtribe Aphthonini, especially with Aphthona Chevrolat and Montiaphthona Scherer. Data on distribution are supplied, along with preliminary ecological notes. Photomicrographs of main morphological characters, including male and female genitalia, and metafemoral extensor tendon are provided. Key to the six “hairy” flea beetle genera occurring in sub-Saharan African and their habitus photos are also given.

scholarly journals Occurrence of Theileria parva and other haemoprotozoa in cattle at the edge of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2010 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. B.A.S. Yusufmia ◽  
N. E. Collins ◽  
R. Nkuna ◽  
M. Troskie ◽  
P. Van Den Bossche ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Buffy Coat ◽  
Babesia Bovis ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Significant Finding ◽  
Theileria Parva ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Pcr Rflp ◽  
Sub Saharan

Theileria parva, the most important bovine theilerial species in sub-Saharan Africa, causes widespread mortality and morbidity in endemic areas. A survey was conducted using buffy-coat specimens from 60 apparently healthy adult communally herded Nguni-type cattle at the northeastern edge of the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park to determine, by means of PCR and Reverse Line Blot (RLB) hybridisation, the occurrence of Theileria and Babesia species. The presence of Trypanosoma species was determined using PCR-RFLP. Results showed that 6.7 % of the specimens were positive for Theileria parva. This significant finding suggests that cattle in South Africa, and not only African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer), may be subclinical carriers of T. parva. Other species identified were T. mutans (83.3 %), T. velifera (70.0 %), Theileria sp. (sable) (46.8 %) and T. taurotragi (1.7 %). Two specimens (3.3 %) were positive for Babesia bovis and single specimens (1.7 %) positive for B. bigemina and B. rossi, respectively. Mixed infections, of up to 4 species, were common (65.0 %). Only 1 specimen was found to be positive for Trypanosoma vivax, and 2 for T. theileri, of which only the first species is pathogenic.

Molecular detection of natural infection ofLymnaea(Pseudosuccinea)columella(Gastropoda: Lymnaeidae) withFasciola gigantica(Digenea: Fasciolidae) from two provinces of South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 94 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.P. Malatji ◽  
S. Mukaratirwa
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Intermediate Host ◽  
Molecular Detection ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Sub Saharan

AbstractThe main intermediate host ofFasciola giganticain sub-Saharan Africa isLymnaea(Radix)natalensis.Lymnaea(Pseudosuccinea)columellais capable of transmitting bothF. giganticaandF. hepaticaand has been reported to be present in South Africa. To date, no natural infection withF. giganticahas been reported despite the wide distribution of the snail. The aim of this study was to confirm whetherL.(P.)columellawas transmittingF. giganticaand/orF. hepaticain selected locations of KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa.Lymnaea(Pseudosuccinea)columellasnails were collected from two locations in two provinces of South Africa and screened for cercariae shedding. This was followed by humanely sacrificing the screened snails, and whole tissue of each individual snail was homogenized and amplified using primers designed to amplify the ITS-1 region ofFasciolaspp. No cercariae were shed from the screened snails and molecular analysis showed that snails from the two locations were infected withF. gigantica. This study confirms natural infection ofL.(P.)columellawithF. giganticain South Africa, whereF. giganticaandF. hepaticahave already been reported to coexist. AlthoughL.(P.)columellais able to transmit the two species, surprisingly no infection withF. hepaticawas detected from the screened snails. The natural intermediate host ofF. giganticain southern Africa, including South Africa, isLymnaea(Radix)natalensisand comparative studies are needed to determine the competence of the two snail species in the transmission ofF. gigantica.

scholarly journals Emergence of rabies in the Gauteng Province, South Africa: 2010–2011

2013 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claude T. Sabeta ◽  
Jacqueline Weyer ◽  
Peter Geertsma ◽  
Debra Mohale ◽  
Jacobeth Miyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Domestic Dog ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Gauteng Province ◽  
Canine Rabies ◽  
The Past ◽  
Outbreak Period ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Sub Saharan

Canine rabies is enzootic throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, including the Republic of South Africa. Historically, in South Africa the coastal provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape were most affected. Alarmingly, outbreaks of canine rabies have been increasingly reported in the past decade from sites where it has previously been under control. From January 2010 to December 2011, 53 animal rabies cases were confirmed; these were mostly in domestic dogs from southern Johannesburg, which was previously considered to be rabies free. In addition, one case was confirmed in a 26-month old girl who had been scratched by a pet puppy during this period. The introduction of rabies into Gauteng Province was investigated through genetic analysis of rabies positive samples confirmed during the outbreak period. In addition, the nucleotide sequences of incidental cases reported in the province for the past ten years were also included in the analysis. It was found that the recent canine rabies outbreak in the Gauteng Province came from the introduction of the rabies virus from KwaZulu-Natal, with subsequent local spread in the susceptible domestic dog population of southern Johannesburg. The vulnerability of the province was also highlighted through multiple, dead-end introductions in the past ten years. This is the first report of a rabies outbreak in the greater Johannesburg area with evidence of local transmission in the domestic dog population.

scholarly journals Temperature at conception and pregnancy loss in rural KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa: Implications for climate change policy in sub-Saharan African settings

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshan Moodley ◽  
Frank Tanser ◽  
Andrew Tomita
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
South African ◽  
Pregnancy Loss ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Women’S Reproductive Health ◽  
Women's Reproductive Health

AbstractBackgroundGlobal warming is projected to cause a substantial rise in temperatures with serious health implications across sub-Saharan Africa. Although South African policy makers have drafted a climate change adaptation plan, potential health threats posed by increasing temperatures on women’s reproductive health are overlooked due to the lack of local population-based evidence. We sought to address the gap in the evidence around global warming and women’s reproductive health in sub-Saharan Africa by using one of the continent’s largest prospective cohorts from rural KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa to investigate the relationship between temperature at conception and pregnancy loss.MethodsOur study sample consisted of 36341 pregnancies from 16765 women from the uMkhanyakude District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa between 2000-2017. Average monthly temperatures for the study locale during the study period were obtained from the South African Weather Services. An adjusted logistic regression model was used to investigate the relationship between temperature at conception and pregnancy loss (miscarriage or stillbirth).ResultsThe rate of pregnancy loss in the study sample was 1.9 (95% Confidence interval [CI]: 1.7-2.0) per 100 pregnancies. We observed a 4% higher odds of pregnancy loss for each 1°C increase in temperature (Adjusted Odds Ratio: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.08).ConclusionThere is a clear relationship between temperature and pregnancy loss in our sub-Saharan African setting. The effects of global warming will likely exacerbate the existing challenges for women’s reproductive health in this region. Pregnancy outcomes should be given adequate attention when sub-Saharan African governments draft policies in response to global warming.

scholarly journals Large age shifts in HIV-1 incidence patterns in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (28) ◽  
pp. e2013164118
Author(s):  
Adam Akullian ◽  
Alain Vandormael ◽  
Joel C. Miller ◽  
Anna Bershteyn ◽  
Edward Wenger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Hiv Risk ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision ◽  
Hiv Incidence ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Hiv 1

Recent declines in adult HIV-1 incidence have followed the large-scale expansion of antiretroviral therapy and primary HIV prevention across high-burden communities of sub-Saharan Africa. Mathematical modeling suggests that HIV risk will decline disproportionately in younger adult age-groups as interventions scale, concentrating new HIV infections in those >age 25 over time. Yet, no empirical data exist to support these projections. We conducted a population-based cohort study over a 16-y period (2004 to 2019), spanning the early scale-up of antiretroviral therapy and voluntary medical male circumcision, to estimate changes in the age distribution of HIV incidence in a hyperepidemic region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, where adult HIV incidence has recently declined. Median age of HIV seroconversion increased by 5.5 y in men and 3.0 y in women, and the age of peak HIV incidence increased by 5.0 y in men and 2.0 y in women. Incidence declined disproportionately among young men (64% in men 15 to 19, 68% in men 20 to 24, and 46% in men 25 to 29) and young women (44% in women 15 to 19, 24% in women 20 to 24) comparing periods pre- versus post-universal test and treat. Incidence was stable (<20% change) in women aged 30 to 39 and men aged 30 to 34. Age shifts in incidence occurred after 2012 and were observed earlier in men than in women. These results provide direct epidemiological evidence of the changing demographics of HIV risk in sub-Saharan Africa in the era of large-scale treatment and prevention. More attention is needed to address lagging incidence decline among older individuals.

Youth’s participation in agriculture: A fallacy or achievable possibility? Evidence from rural South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Unity Chipfupa ◽  
Aluwani Tagwi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Youth Unemployment ◽  
Rural Youth ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Agricultural Cooperatives ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Questionnaire Form ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Rural South Africa

Background: The realisation of more youth involvement in the agricultural sector has proved to be elusive, so the question of the possibility of a youth-led agriculture needs further investigation.Aim: The aim of the study was to assess whether there is potential for the rural youth to participate in agriculture by employing the typology formulation approach.Setting: The study is premised on recent calls for strategies to reduce youth unemployment in sub-Saharan Africa by involving and enhancing the agricultural sector.Method: A survey in questionnaire form was conducted with 224 youths from two districts in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The Principal Components Analysis and K-Means Clustering were performed to determine the youth typologies and assess their potential.Results: Five typologies were identified. Most youths (59.3%) were found in Typology 1 (those that see no benefits in farming) and in Typology 2 (older, experienced and with access to land). Typology 5 (male youths in agricultural cooperatives) had the lowest proportion of youths (5.7%). Participants in typologies 2, 3 and 5 were deemed to have high to moderate potential for successful engagement in farming. The highest potential was found in the typology with the least percentage of youths.Conclusions: The typologies showed that youths have varying perceptions and aspirations regarding agriculture. While some show an interest and have the potential to participate in farming, others do not. Therefore, the blanket notion of the youth’s lack of interest in agriculture should be qualified as it does not always hold. The heterogeneity in characteristics among the youths in these typologies, including their potential to participate in agriculture, expresses the differences in the kinds of support needed to increase their participation.

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