Peacekeeping and Conflict Management: Sub-Saharan Africa: The Horn and East Africa

Author(s):  
Daniel Kepple ◽  
Alfred Hubbard ◽  
Musab M Ali ◽  
Beka R Abargero ◽  
Karen Lopez ◽  
...  

Abstract Plasmodium vivax malaria was thought to be rare in Africa, but an increasing number of P. vivax cases reported across Africa and in Duffy-negative individuals challenges this conventional dogma. The genetic characteristics of P. vivax in Duffy-negative infections, the transmission of P. vivax in East Africa, and the impact of environments on transmission remain largely unknown. This study examined genetic and transmission features of P. vivax from 107 Duffy-negative and 305 Duffy-positive individuals in Ethiopia and Sudan. No clear genetic differentiation was found in P. vivax between the two Duffy groups, indicating between-host transmission. P. vivax from Ethiopia and Sudan showed similar genetic clusters, except samples from Khartoum, possibly due to distance and road density that inhibited parasite gene flow. This study is the first to show that P. vivax can transmit to and from Duffy-negative individuals and provides critical insights into the spread of P. vivax in sub-Saharan Africa.


Author(s):  
M. Sahle ◽  
R.M. Dwarka ◽  
E.H. Venter ◽  
W. Vosloo

The epidemiology of serotype SAT-2 foot-and-mouth disease was investigated in sub-Saharan Africa by phylogenetic analysis using the 1D gene encoding the major antigenic determinant. Fourteen genotypes were identified of which three are novel and belong to East Africa, bringing the total number of genotypes for that region to eight. The genotypes clustered into three lineages that demonstrated surprising links between East, southern and south-western Africa. One lineage was unique to West Africa. These results established numerous incursions across country borders in East Africa and long term conservation of sequences for periods up to 41 years. Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda have all experienced outbreaks from more than one unrelated strain, demonstrating the potential for new introductions. The amount of variation observed within this serotype nearly equalled that which was found between serotypes; this has severe implications for disease control using vaccination.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charu Rastogi

M-Kopa Solar is a pay-as-you-go provider of solar home systems, catering to low-income, off-grid customers in East Africa. The company goes by the tagline, ‘Power for Everyone’. Using mobile payments system and an innovative approach to energy delivery, M-Kopa succeeded in building a business which solved a grave problem for the poorest of the poor and has the potential to become a billion dollar enterprise. The case begins with a description of the background in which M-Kopa is operating. It goes on to explain how M-Kopa used the infrastructure gap in sub-Saharan Africa as an opportunity and propagated solar power as an alternative to traditional energy. Finally, it lays out the challenges M-Kopa may face on its expansion spree.


Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4286 (3) ◽  
pp. 439 ◽  
Author(s):  
PIERRE A. MVOGO NDONGO ◽  
NEIL CUMBERLIDGE ◽  
THEODOR S. POETTINGER ◽  
THOMAS VON RINTELEN ◽  
JOSEPH L. TAMESSE ◽  
...  

The family Potamonautidae Bott, 1970, currently comprises 19 genera assigned to two subfamilies (Potamonautinae Bott, 1970, and Deckeniinae Hilgendorf, 1869) based on morphological and molecular studies (Cumberlidge 1999; Daniels et al. 2006a, 2015; Cumberlidge et al. 2008; Cumberlidge & Ng 2009). All members of this family are endemic to the Afrotropical zoogeographical region that includes most of continental Africa plus the continental islands of Madagascar, the granitic Seychelles, Socotra, and the southern Arabian Peninsula. Seven genera from sub-Saharan Africa are presently assigned to Potamonautinae (see Cumberlidge et al. 2008; Daniels et al. 2015): Erimetopus Rathbun, 1894, Liberonautes Bott, 1955, Louisea Cumberlidge, 1994, Potamonautes Bott, 1970, Potamonemus Cumberlidge & Clark, 1992, Sudanonautes Bott, 1955, and Platythelphusa A. Milne-Edwards, 1887. Twelve genera from West and East Africa, Seychelles, and Madagascar are assigned to Deckeniinae (see Cumberlidge et al. 2008; Meyer et al. 2014; Daniels et al. 2015): Deckenia Hilgendorf, 1869, Seychellum Ng, Števčić & Pretzmann, 1995, Globonautes Bott, 1959, Afrithelphusa Bott, 1969, Boreas Cumberlidge & Sternberg, 2002, Foza Reed & Cumberlidge, 2006a, Hydrothelphusa A. Milne-Edwards, 1872, Madagapotamon Bott, 1965, Malagasya Cumberlidge & Sternberg, 2002, Marojejy Cumberlidge, Boyko & Harvey, 2000, Skelosophusa Ng & Takeda, 1994, and Glabrithelphusa Meyer, Cumberlidge & Koppin, 2014. 


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aggrey Semeere ◽  
Helen Byakwaga ◽  
Miriam Laker-Oketta ◽  
Esther Freeman ◽  
Naftali Busakhala ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Rapid case ascertainment (RCA) refers to the expeditious and detailed examination of patients with a potentially rapidly fatal disease shortly after diagnosis. RCA is frequently performed in resource-rich settings to facilitate cancer research. Despite its utility, RCA is rarely implemented in resource-limited settings and has not been performed for malignancies. One cancer and context that would benefit from RCA in a resource-limited setting is HIV-related Kaposi sarcoma (KS) in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: To determine the feasibility of RCA of KS, we searched for all potential newly diagnosed KS among HIV-infected adults attending three community-based facilities in Uganda and Kenya. Searching involved querying of electronic medical records, pathology record review, and notification by clinicians. Upon identification, a team verified eligibility and attempted to locate patients to perform RCA, which included epidemiologic, clinical and laboratory measurements. RESULTS: We identified 593 patients with suspected new KS. Of the 593, 171 were ineligible, mainly because biopsy failed to confirm KS (65%) or KS was not new (30%). Among the 422 remaining, RCA was performed within 1 month for 56% of patients and within 3 months for 65% (95% confidence interval: 59 to 70%). Reasons for not performing RCA included intervening death (47%), inability to contact (44%), refusal/unsuitable to consent (8.3%), and patient re-location (0.7%). CONCLUSIONS: We found that RCA, an important tool for cancer research in resource-rich settings, is feasible for the investigation of community-representative KS in East Africa. Feasibility of RCA for KS suggests feasibility for other cancers in Africa.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. e756-e769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clement D Okello ◽  
Nixon Niyonzima ◽  
Marta Ferraresso ◽  
Sylivestor Kadhumbula ◽  
Henry Ddungu ◽  
...  

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