scholarly journals Modelling the spatial and seasonal distribution of suitable habitats of schistosomiasis intermediate host snails using Maxent in Ndumo area, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tawanda Manyangadze ◽  
Moses John Chimbari ◽  
Michael Gebreslasie ◽  
Pietro Ceccato ◽  
Samson Mukaratirwa
2012 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.C. Appleton

AbstractNine cases of paragonimiasis have been reported from cats (4), dogs (2) and children (3) in South Africa, with an additional suspected case in an adult female patient. Details of these cases are reviewed. All nine cases, and perhaps the adult case as well, were from the province of KwaZulu-Natal but locality data are only available for six of them. These six cases represent four localities which all lie below 100 m above sea level in the province's lowlands, suggesting that there may be a focus of transmission here. The molluscan first intermediate host must be one of the two prosobranch snail species present in the area,Melanoides tuberculataorTomichia natalensis, and the decapod second intermediate host the common river crabPotamonautes sidneyi. All infected cats and dogs had pulmonary infections, while two human cases for which there is sufficient information had extrapulmonary infections. Transmission appears to be ongoing but the invasive snailTarebia graniferamay be competing with bothM. tuberculataandT. natalensis.If so, this may bring transmission to an end.


2019 ◽  
Vol 94 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.P. Malatji ◽  
S. Mukaratirwa

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tawanda Manyangadze ◽  
Moses John Chimbari ◽  
Owen Rubaba ◽  
White Soko ◽  
Samson Mukaratirwa

Abstract Background Schsistosomiasis is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. It is transmitted by intermediate host snails such as Bulinus and Biomphalaria. An understanding of the abundance and distribution of snail vectors is important in designing control strategies. This study describes the spatial and seasonal variation of B. globosus and Bio. pfeifferi and their schistosome infection rates between May 2014 and May 2015 in Ingwavuma, uMkhanyakude district, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. Methods Snail sampling was done on 16 sites once every month by two people for 30 min at each site using the scooping and handpicking methods. Snails collected from each site were screened for schistosome mammalian cercariae by the shedding method. The negative binomial generalised linear mixed model (glmm) was used to determine the relationship between abundances of the intermediate host snails and climatic factors [rainfall, land surface temperatures (LST), seasons, habitats, sampling sites and water physico-chemical parameters including pH and dissolved oxygen (DO)]. Results In total, 1846 schistosomiasis intermediate host snails were collected during the study period. Biompharia pfeifferi was more abundant (53.36%, n = 985) compared to B. globosus (46.64%, n = 861). Bulinus globosus was recorded at 12 sites (75%) and Bio. pfeifferi was present at 7 sites (43.8%). Biompharia pfeifferi cohabited with B. globosus at all the sites it was present. High numbers of Bio. pfeifferi (n = 872, 88.5%) and B. globosus (n = 705, 81.9%) were found between winter and mid-spring. Monthly rainfall showed a statistically significant negative relationship with the abundance of B. globosus (p < 0.05). Dissolved oxygen (DO) had a statistically significant positive relationship with the abundance of Bio. pfeifferi (p < 0.05) while (LST) had a statistically significant negative relationship (p < 0.05). More B. globosus (8.9%, n = 861) were shedding schistosome mammalian cercariae compared to Bio. pfeifferi (0.1%, n = 985) confirming the already documented high prevalence of S. haematobium in Ingwavuma compared to S. mansoni. Conclusion Results of this study provide updated information on the distribution of schistosomiasis intermediate host snails in the study area and contributes towards the understanding of the transmission dynamics of schistosomiasis at the micro-geographical scale in this area. Graphic Abstract


2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thusile Mabel Gqaleni ◽  
Busisiwe Rosemary Bhengu

Critically ill patients admitted to critical-care units (CCUs) might have life-threatening or potentially life-threatening problems. Adverse events (AEs) occur frequently in CCUs, resulting in compromised quality of patient care. This study explores the experiences of critical-care nurses (CCNs) in relation to how the reported AEs were analysed and handled in CCUs. The study was conducted in the CCUs of five purposively selected hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A descriptive qualitative design was used to obtain data through in-depth interviews from a purposive sample of five unit managers working in the CCUs to provide a deeper meaning of their experiences. This study was a part of a bigger study using a mixed-methods approach. The recorded qualitative data were analysed using Tesch’s content analysis. The main categories of information that emerged during the data analysis were (i) the existence of an AE reporting system, (ii) the occurrence of AEs, (iii) the promotion of and barriers to AE reporting, and (iv) the handling of AEs. The findings demonstrated that there were major gaps that affected the maximum utilisation of the reporting system. In addition, even though the system existed in other institutions, it was not utilised at all, hence affecting quality patient care. The following are recommended: (1) a non-punitive and non-confrontational system should be promoted, and (2) an organisational culture should be encouraged where support structures are formed within institutions, which consist of a legal framework, patient and family involvement, effective AE feedback, and education and training of staff.


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanusha Raniga ◽  
Barbara Simpson ◽  
Ntokozo Mthembu

In contemporary South Africa, partnerships between service providers in government, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and community based organisations have been identified as a means to strengthen communities and the sustainability of social services. However, the unequal power relations that exists between and within these organisations often leads to fragmentation, duplication, and lack of coordination of social services. Using Fowler’s (1998) conceptualisation of authentic partnerships, this qualitative phase of a larger study explored the challenges of building authentic partnerships in Bhambayi, a predominantly informal settlement in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Individual interviews and a focus group held with nine service providers revealed that intraorganisational challenges, cross-boundary and inter-organisational relations as well as political influences were obstacles to the development of authentic partnerships. The article suggests that open communication, clarity of roles and mutual trust between service providers is vital.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nirmala Dorasamy ◽  
Olayemi Bakre

The majority of the South African rural populace is directly or indirectly engaged in agricultural practices to earn a livelihood. However, impediments such as climate change, water shortages, and inadequacy of institutional support have undermined these once thriving subsistence farming communities. Furthermore, poor leadership in hydrology, coupled with a lack of depth in skills at all government levels to facilitate the understanding of the importance of groundwater, has made it near impossible for subsistence farmers to benefit optimally from groundwater. The 2012 drought experienced in South Africa paralysed several subsistence farming communities in KwaZulu-Natal. To revamp subsistence farming and assist these farmers across South Africa, the Department of Water and Sanitation launched interventions, but despite the enormous resources expended, indicators (e.g. unsustainable farming practices, poor crop yield, pitiable living conditions, and poor standards of living) provide evidence that these interventions have not yielded the desired results. This paper seeks to suggest practicable interventions aimed at reducing the vulnerability of subsistence farmers in KwaZulu-Natal. The study pursued a qualitative approach in that it solicited the views of experts on groundwater and in related fields to gain an in-depth perspective. Some of the core challenges undermining the sustainability and growth of subsistence farming in the study area were found to be the inadequacy of experts on groundwater, water shortages, institutional deficiencies, lack of political will, and lack of coordination among stakeholders. Pragmatic recommendations are made to address these challenges, among other things to encourage a South African-Chinese partnership in the hydrology sector.


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