Genomic signatures of desert adaptation at gene-rich regions in zebu cattle from the African drylands

Sudan, the largest country in Africa, acts as a corridor between North and sub-Saharan Africa along the river Niles. It comprises warm arid and semi-arid grazing lands, and it is home to the second-largest African population of indigenous livestock. Indigenous Sudanese cattle are mainly indicine/zebu (humped) type. They thrive in the harshest dryland environments characterised by high temperatures, long seasonal dry periods, nutritional shortages, and vector diseases challenges. We investigated genome diversity in six indigenous African zebu breeds sampled in Sudan (Aryashai, Baggara, Butana, Fulani, Gash, and Kenana). We adopted three genomic scan approaches to identify candidate selective sweeps regions (ZHp, FST, XP-EHH). We identified a set of gene-rich selective sweep regions shared across African and Asian zebu or unique to Sudanese zebu. In particular, African and Asian zebu candidate gene-rich regions are detected on chromosomes 2, 5 and 7. They include genes involved in immune response, body size and conformation, and stress response to heat. In addition, a 250 kb selective sweep on chromosome 16 was detected exclusively in five Sudanese zebu populations. This region spans seven genes, including PLCH2, PEX10, PRKCZ and SKI, which are involved in alternative adaptive metabolic strategies of insulin signalling, glucose homeostasis, and fat metabolism. Together, these genes may contribute to the zebu cattle resilience to heat, nutritional and water shortages. Our results highlight the putative importance of selection at gene-rich genome regions, which might be under a common regulatory genetic control, as an evolutionary mechanism for rapid adaptation to the complexity of environmental challenges.

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Grazing lands in Sub-Saharan Africa and their potential role in climate change mitigation: What we do and don't know

Environmental Development ◽

10.1016/j.envdev.2016.06.001 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 19 ◽

pp. 70-74 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Eleanor Milne ◽

Ermias Aynekulu ◽

Andre Bationo ◽

Niels H. Batjes ◽

Randall Boone ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Climate Change Mitigation ◽

Potential Role ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Grazing Lands ◽

Change Mitigation

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Quantifying Focused Groundwater Recharge Induced by Irrigation Surface Water Reservoirs in Crystalline Basement Areas for Complementary Irrigation

Water ◽

10.3390/w12102880 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 2880

Author(s):

Apolline Bambara ◽

Philippe Orban ◽

Issoufou Ouedraogo ◽

Eric Hallot ◽

Francis Guyon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Surface Water ◽

Groundwater Recharge ◽

Large Diameter ◽

Spatiotemporal Analysis ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Water Reservoirs ◽

Water Shortages ◽

Physico Chemical ◽

Drying Up ◽

Sub Saharan

Through the practice of irrigation, surface water reservoirs (SWRs) contribute to the socio-economic development and food production activities of populations in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, they tend to dry up prematurely. One solution to circumvent these irrigation water shortages is to ensure their conjunctive use with groundwater. The objective of this study is to better understand the contribution of SWRs to groundwater recharge and to determine if groundwater may be considered as a complementary local resource for irrigation. The study was carried out on two watersheds in Burkina Faso, Kierma and Mogtedo. The spatiotemporal analysis of piezometric and SWRs level records coupled with physico-chemical analyses of water was used to characterize exchanges between SWRs and groundwater. The regional groundwater recharge at the scale of the watersheds was assessed. At the SWRs scale, a water balance methodology was developed and used to estimate focused recharge. The results show that SWRs interact almost continuously with groundwater and contribute focused recharge. The magnitude of this recharge is a function of the geological context and the sediment texture of the SWRs. It is estimated at 5 mm/day in Kierma and 4 mm/day in Mogtédo. These values are higher than the natural recharge estimated at 0.2 mm/day in Kierma and 0.1 mm/day in Mogtédo. Additionally, the values of hydraulic conductivity are between 0.01 and 2 m/day in Kierma and between 1 × 10−4 and 0.2 m/day in Mogtédo. These conductivities could allow pumping in large-diameter hand-dug wells with a significant yield between 0.5 and 120 m3/day in Kierma and between 0 and 10 m3/day in Mogtédo to palliate the early drying up of the SWRs.

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Current Perspectives onMycobacterium farcinogenesandMycobacterium senegalense, the Causal Agents of Bovine Farcy

Veterinary Medicine International ◽

10.1155/2014/247906 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Mohamed E. Hamid

Keyword(s):

Progressive Disease ◽

Rapid Diagnosis ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

23S Rrna ◽

Neglected Diseases ◽

Zebu Cattle ◽

Major Development ◽

Chronic Progressive Disease ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

The One

Mycobacterium farcinogenesandM. senegalenseare the causal agents of bovine farcy, a chronic, progressive disease of the skin and lymphatics of zebu cattle. The disease, which is prevalent mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, was in earlier times thought to be caused byNocardia farcinicaand can be described as one of the neglected diseases in cattle. Some aspects of the disease have been investigated during the last five decades but the major development had been in the bacteriological, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic aspects. Molecular analyses confirmed thatM. farcinogenesandM. senegalensefall in a subclade together withM. houstonenseandM. fortuitum. This subclade is closely related to the one accommodatingM. peregrinum,M. porcinum,M. septicum,M. neworleansense, andM. alvei. DNA probes were designed from 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer and could be used for the rapid diagnosis of bovine farcy. An ELISA assay has been evaluated for the serodiagnosis of the disease. The zoonotic potentials ofM. farcinogenesandM. senegalenseare unknown; few studies reported the isolation ofM. senegalenseandM. farcinogenesfrom human clinical sources but not from environmental sources or from other domestic or wild animals.

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Successful small-scale irrigation or environmental destruction? The political ecology of competing claims on water in the Uluguru Mountains,Tanzania

Journal of Political Ecology ◽

10.2458/v24i1.20881 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 406 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Elizabeth Harrison ◽

Anna Mdee

Keyword(s):

Political Ecology ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

External Support ◽

Small Scale ◽

The Political ◽

Water Shortages ◽

Uluguru Mountains ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Small Scale Farmers ◽

Nearby City

Abstract In the Uluguru Mountains of Tanzania, an expansion in informal hosepipe irrigation by small-scale farmers has enabled the development of horticulture, and resulted in improvements in farmers' livelihoods. This has largely taken place independently of external support, and can be seen as an example of the 'private' irrigation that is increasingly viewed as important for sub-Saharan Africa. However, these activities are seen by representatives of government and some donors as the cause of environmental degradation and water shortages downstream, especially in the nearby city of Morogoro. As a result, there have been attempts to evict the farmers from the mountain. Negative narratives persist and the farmers on the mountainside are portrayed as a problem to be 'solved.' This article explores these tensions, contributing to debates about the formalization of water management arrangements and the place of the state in regulating and adjudicating rights to access water. We argue that a focus on legality and formalization serves to obscure the political nature of competing claims on resources that the case illustrates. Keywords: irrigation; Tanzania; ethnography; political ecology; water

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Coping with Erratic Water Supply in Small Towns

Population Growth and Rapid Urbanization in the Developing World - Advances in Electronic Government, Digital Divide, and Regional Development ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-0187-9.ch010 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 192-208

Author(s):

Never Mujere ◽

Trust Saidi

Keyword(s):

Water Supply ◽

Small Towns ◽

Economic Effects ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Collaborative Approach ◽

Technical Expertise ◽

Water Shortages ◽

Urban Settlements ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Artificial Water

In Sub-Saharan Africa, artificial water shortages are common due to financial constraints impeding the procurement of adequate equipment to harness water. Most previous studies on variability of water supply in sub-Saharan Africa have largely focused on large urban settlements such as cities and towns. Thus, this chapter therefore presents findings from a study conducted to assess the causes and effects of erratic water supply in Kamwaza Township in Zimbabwe as well as to establish and evaluate coping strategies to the problem of erratic water supply. From the study, it was also observed that erratic water supply has socio-economic effects and these include high incidences of diseases, disruption of service delivery at institutions such as the hospital, clinic and schools and retarded infrastructural development. The study recommends a collaborative approach from all stakeholders in solving the problem of erratic water supply by upgrading the pumping station, repairing leaking pipes, employing people with technical expertise and sinking boreholes.

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The Use of Desalination Technologies to Alleviate Water Shortages in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): Challenges and Recommendations

Urban Studies and Public Administration ◽

10.22158/uspa.v1n1p101 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 101

Author(s):

Obeta Michael Chukwuma

Keyword(s):

Management Strategies ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Water Supply Systems ◽

Water Shortages ◽

Critical Issues ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Using Data ◽

Desalination Plants ◽

Supply Systems ◽

Ssa Countries

Water scarcity is a major and growing problem in SSA. A SSA country (South Africa) has adopted desalination as a strategy for dealing with water shortages; while the construction of new desalination plants have been proposed in some others (Ghana, Namibia and Cape Verde). This review paper examines the use of desalination technologies for augmenting supplies in sixteen SSA countries, using data derived mainly from published literature. Results reveal that the usage of desalinated freshwater to augment supplies in the region is relatively recent; however the usage is on the increase, especially in countries with arid climate. Several factors including massive failures of public water supply systems, increases in the demand for freshwater, rapid and high rates of urbanization, population growth and the reoccurring droughts account for increases in the demand for desalination technologies in SSA. Many critical issues and constraints make the desalination option neither the most feasible nor a priority for water supplies within the humid parts of SSA. The paper recommends that for quality and sustainable service delivery to be attained in the region, governments should develop alternative freshwater sources, address infrastructural decay, employ new management strategies in the water sector and distribute water infrastructure equitably.

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RTS,S/AS01, a vaccine targeting pre-erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum

Emerging Topics in Life Sciences ◽

10.1042/etls20170101 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 1 (6) ◽

pp. 533-537

Author(s):

Lorenz von Seidlein ◽

Borimas Hanboonkunupakarn ◽

Podjanee Jittmala ◽

Sasithon Pukrittayakamee

Keyword(s):

Protective Efficacy ◽

Age Groups ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Phase Iii ◽

European Medicines Agency ◽

Older Children ◽

Pivotal Phase ◽

Malaria Epidemiology ◽

Maximum Benefit ◽

Sub Saharan

RTS,S/AS01 is the most advanced vaccine to prevent malaria. It is safe and moderately effective. A large pivotal phase III trial in over 15 000 young children in sub-Saharan Africa completed in 2014 showed that the vaccine could protect around one-third of children (aged 5–17 months) and one-fourth of infants (aged 6–12 weeks) from uncomplicated falciparum malaria. The European Medicines Agency approved licensing and programmatic roll-out of the RTSS vaccine in malaria endemic countries in sub-Saharan Africa. WHO is planning further studies in a large Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme, in more than 400 000 young African children. With the changing malaria epidemiology in Africa resulting in older children at risk, alternative modes of employment are under evaluation, for example the use of RTS,S/AS01 in older children as part of seasonal malaria prophylaxis. Another strategy is combining mass drug administrations with mass vaccine campaigns for all age groups in regional malaria elimination campaigns. A phase II trial is ongoing to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the RTSS in combination with antimalarial drugs in Thailand. Such novel approaches aim to extract the maximum benefit from the well-documented, short-lasting protective efficacy of RTS,S/AS01.

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Mortality and Society in Sub-Saharan Africa

Population Studies ◽

10.1080/0032472031000147416 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 47 (3) ◽

pp. 555-556

Author(s):

Lado Ruzicka

Keyword(s):

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan

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Sub-Saharan Africa

The Military Balance ◽

10.1080/04597228708459635 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 87 (1) ◽

pp. 118-142

Keyword(s):

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan

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Adolescent Suicidality as Seen in Rural Northeastern Uganda

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000059 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 43-51 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Eugene Kinyanda ◽

Ruth Kizza ◽

Jonathan Levin ◽

Sheila Ndyanabangi ◽

Catherine Abbo

Keyword(s):

Low Socioeconomic Status ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Psychosocial Risk ◽

Psychiatric Nurses ◽

Health Concern ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Low Socioeconomic ◽

Dsm Iv ◽

Sub Saharan

Background: Suicidal behavior in adolescence is a public health concern and has serious consequences for adolescents and their families. There is, however, a paucity of data on this subject from sub-Saharan Africa, hence the need for this study. Aims: A cross-sectional multistage survey to investigate adolescent suicidality among other things was undertaken in rural northeastern Uganda. Methods: A structured protocol administered by trained psychiatric nurses collected information on sociodemographics, mental disorders (DSM-IV criteria), and psychological and psychosocial risk factors for children aged 3–19 years (N = 1492). For the purposes of this paper, an analysis of a subsample of adolescents (aged 10–19 years; n = 897) was undertaken. Results: Lifetime suicidality in this study was 6.1% (95% CI, 4.6%–7.9%). Conclusions: Factors significantly associated with suicidality included mental disorder, the ecological factor district of residence, factors suggestive of low socioeconomic status, and disadvantaged childhood experiences.

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