South Africa: An Important Soybean Producer in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Quest for Managing Nematode Pests of the Crop

With an increase in the global population, a protein-rich crop like soybean can help manage food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The expansion of soybean production in recent years lead to increased land requirements for growing the crop and the increased risk of exposing this valuable crop to various pests and diseases. Of these pests, plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN), especially Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus spp., are of great concern. The increase in the population densities of these nematodes can cause significant damage to soybean. Furthermore, the use of crop rotation and cultivars (cvs.) with genetic resistance traits might not be effective for Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus control. This review builds on a previous study and focuses on the current nematode threat facing local soybean production, while probing into possible biological control options that still need to be studied in more detail. As soybean is produced on a global scale, the information generated by local and international researchers is needed. This will address the problem of the current global food demand, which is a matter of pressing importance for developing countries, such as those in sub-Saharan Africa.

Download Full-text

Maintaining paediatric cardiac services during the COVID-19 pandemic in a developing country in sub-Saharan Africa: guidelines for a “scale up” in the face of a global “scale down”

Cardiology in the Young ◽

10.1017/s1047951120003650 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (11) ◽

pp. 1588-1594

Author(s):

Ogochukwu J. Sokunbi ◽

Ogadinma Mgbajah ◽

Augustine Olugbemi ◽

Bassey O. Udom ◽

Ariyo Idowu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Scale Up ◽

Global Scale ◽

International Travel ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

African Continent ◽

Tertiary Centre ◽

The Face ◽

Scale Down ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

International Experts

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic is currently ravaging the globe and the African continent is not left out. While the direct effects of the pandemic in regard to morbidity and mortality appear to be more significant in the developed world, the indirect harmful effects on already insufficient healthcare infrastructure on the African continent would in the long term be more detrimental to the populace. Women and children form a significant vulnerable population in underserved areas such as the sub-Saharan region, and expectedly will experience the disadvantages of limited healthcare coverage which is a major fall out of the pandemic. Paediatric cardiac services that are already sparse in various sub-Saharan countries are not left out of this downsizing. Restrictions on international travel for patients out of the continent to seek medical care and for international experts into the continent for regular mission programmes leave few options for children with cardiac defects to get the much-needed care.There is a need for a region-adapted guideline to scale-up services to cater for more children with congenital heart disease (CHD) while providing a safe environment for healthcare workers, patients, and their caregivers. This article outlines measures adapted to maintain paediatric cardiac care in a sub-Saharan tertiary centre in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic and will serve as a guide for other institutions in the region who will inadvertently need to provide these services as the demand increases.

Download Full-text

Prospects for sustainable intensification of soybean production in sub-Saharan Africa

African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics ◽

10.53936/afjare.2020.15(4).23 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 365-371

Author(s):

Deepayan Debnath ◽

◽

Suresh Babu ◽

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Sector ◽

Sustainable Intensification ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Yield Gap ◽

Livestock Industry ◽

Soybean Yield ◽

Soybean Production ◽

Soy Meal ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Ssa Countries

There is a significant soybean yield gap in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. Sustainable intensification of the agricultural sector to reduce such a yield gap is important. Increasing soybean productivity can meet the growing demand for food and feed when complemented with higher soy meal demand by the local livestock industry. This study performs an ex-ante economic analysis to determine the effect of higher soybean production on trade and land use within SSA countries. We find that increasing soybean yield by 50% can increase the total returns from soybean production by 186 million LC (local currency) in Ethiopia and 36 billion LC in Nigeria. We show that soybean yield growth alone is enough to boost soy oil production, as the crushing of the beans produces 18% oil and 79% meal. While increasing productivity may lead to freeing land to produce high-valued cash crops, investors will be reluctant to invest in the crushing facilities in the absence of soy meal demand by the livestock industry. Therefore, policymakers need to establish collaboration between development organisations, private companies, farmers and researchers to achieve this transformation and thereby raise agricultural productivity.

Download Full-text

Rotavirus

10.33442/vt202142 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sultan Mahmood

Keyword(s):

Rna Virus ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Oral Rehydration ◽

Degree Of Protection ◽

Rotavirus Vaccines ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Hygiene Measures ◽

Primary Means ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Health System Responsiveness

Rotavirus is a double-stranded RNA virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea among children under 5 years. The main cause of mortality from rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) is dehydration if not corrected appropriately with oral rehydration salts (ORS). Though the prevalence of RVGE is similar across countries and socio-economic groups, the higher mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia is presumably due to poor awareness and poor health system responsiveness rather than poor hygiene. Enzyme immunoassays are the most commonly used tools for diagnosis of RVGE from stool samples. ORS and zinc remain the mainstay of treatment. Water, sanitation and hygiene measures did not appear to be very effective leaving vaccination among young children as the primary means of prevention. 4 WHO prequalified live attenuated, oral vaccines are available with different efficacy in high- versus low-mortality countries. There is a high degree of protection in countries with low RV mortality, and lower protection in countries with high RV morbidity and more fatalities. Rotavirus vaccines were associated with intussusception, though larger trials failed to establish increased risk in vaccinated groups compared to placebo recipients.

Download Full-text

Molecular Diversity of Nematode Parasites in Afrotropical Reed Frogs (Hyperolius spp.)

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d12070265 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 265

Author(s):

Ulrich Sinsch ◽

J. Maximilian Dehling ◽

Patrick Scheid ◽

Carsten Balczun

Keyword(s):

Dna Sequences ◽

Nematode Species ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Parasitic Nematodes ◽

Marker Genes ◽

Nematode Parasites ◽

Diversity Assessment ◽

Wide Range ◽

Nematode Diversity ◽

Sub Saharan

The diversity of nematodes infecting amphibians is understudied in tropical Africa and unknown in Rwanda. Diversity assessment is hampered by the fact that species descriptions refer mostly to morphological features that are unlinked to DNA sequences of marker genes available in public databases. In this paper, we explore the abundance and diversity of parasitic nematodes in reed frogs Hyperolius kivuensis (n = 115), H. parallelus (n = 45) and H. viridiflavus (n = 100) collected in Rwanda. Five nematode species were identified morphologically as Orneoascaris chrysanthemoides, O. schoutedeni, Gendria leberrei, Aplectana chamaeleonis and Rhabdias collaris. Corresponding DNA sequences of 18S and COI genes were determined and subsequently deposited in GenBank. Aplectana chamaeleonis showed the highest prevalence (8.7%), but O. chrysanthemoides the highest mean intensity of infection (6.0) and largest number (24) of individuals in H. kivuensis. To the best of our knowledge, all amphibian hosts are new records for these nematode species, which are known to infect a wide range of amphibian and reptile species. Our findings suggest that nematode diversity is probably lower than previously assumed due to low host specificity. As morphological species identification is often challenging, our data facilitate molecular identification of adult and specifically larval nematodes found in amphibians of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Download Full-text

Lung function in children with sickle cell disease from Central Africa

Thorax ◽

10.1136/thoraxjnl-2018-212720 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 74 (6) ◽

pp. 604-606 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Michele Arigliani ◽

Robert Kitenge ◽

Luigi Castriotta ◽

Pathy Ndjule ◽

Vincenzo Barbato ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Sickle Cell ◽

Sickle Cell Anaemia ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Central Africa ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Republic Of The Congo ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Restrictive Pattern

Lung function in patients with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) living in sub-Saharan Africa is largely unknown. Anthropometry and spirometry were cross-sectionally evaluated in patients with SCA (HbSS) aged 6–18 years and in schoolchildren from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Global Lung Initiative 2012 spirometry reference values were used. A total of 112 patients and 377 controls were included. Twenty-six per cent of patients with SCA had spirometry findings suggestive of a restrictive pattern and 41% had a FEV1 z-score <5th percentile. Wasting, increasing age and female sex were independently associated with increased risk of restrictive spirometry pattern in patients with SCA. Longitudinal studies could clarify the prognostic meaning of these findings.

Download Full-text

Malaria and risk of lymphoid neoplasms and other cancer: a nationwide population-based cohort study

BMC Medicine ◽

10.1186/s12916-020-01759-8 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Katja Wyss ◽

Fredrik Granath ◽

Andreas Wångdahl ◽

Therese Djärv ◽

Michael Fored ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cox Regression ◽

Health Agency ◽

Malaria Diagnosis ◽

B Cell Lymphoma ◽

Population Based ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Lymphoid Neoplasms ◽

Hazard Ratios ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Sub Saharan

Abstract Background Malaria is associated with Burkitt lymphoma among children in Sub-Saharan Africa. No longitudinal studies have assessed the long-term risk of other lymphoma or cancer overall. Here, we investigated the risk of lymphoid neoplasms and other cancer after malaria. Methods We included 4125 patients diagnosed with malaria in Sweden in 1987–2015, identified either through the National Surveillance Database at the Public Health Agency of Sweden, the National Inpatient and Outpatient Register, or by reports from microbiology departments. A comparator cohort (N = 66,997) matched on sex, age and birth region was retrieved from the general population and an additional cohort with all individuals born in Sub-Saharan Africa registered in the Total Population Register in 1987–2015 (N = 171,756). Incident lymphomas and other cancers were identified through linkage with the Swedish Cancer Register. Hazard ratios (HRs) were assessed using Cox regression with attained age as the timescale. Results A total of 20 lymphoid neoplasms and 202 non-haematological cancers were identified among malaria patients during a mean follow-up of 13.3 and 13.7 years, respectively. The overall risk of lymphoid neoplasms was not significantly increased (hazard ratio [HR] 1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79–1.94), neither did we find any association with all-site non-haematological cancer (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.77–1.02). However, in the Sub-Saharan Africa cohort, we observed an increased risk of lymphoid neoplasms after malaria diagnosis (HR 2.39, 95% CI 1.06–5.40), but no difference in the risk of other cancer (HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.70–1.45). The association could not be explained by co-infection with HIV or chronic hepatitis B or C, since the risk estimate was largely unchanged after excluding patients with these comorbidities (HR 2.63, 95% CI 1.08–6.42). The risk became more pronounced when restricting analyses to only including non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphomas (HR 3.49, 95% CI 1.42–8.56). Conclusion Individuals born in malaria-endemic areas and diagnosed with malaria in Sweden had an increased risk of lymphoid neoplasms, especially B cell lymphoma. There was no association with cancer overall nor did single malaria episodes confer an increased risk in travellers.

Download Full-text

Risk and protective factors for suicidal ideation and behaviour in Rwandan children

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.bp.114.154591 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 207 (3) ◽

pp. 262-268 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Lauren C. Ng ◽

Catherine M. Kirk ◽

Frederick Kanyanganzi ◽

Mary C. Smith Fawzi ◽

Vincent Sezibera ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Hiv Status ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Matched Case ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Control Study

BackgroundSuicide is a leading cause of death for young people. Children living in sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV rates are disproportionately high, may be at increased risk.AimsTo identify predictors, including HIV status, of suicidal ideation and behaviour in Rwandan children aged 10–17.MethodMatched case–control study of 683 HIV-positive, HIV-affected (seronegative children with an HIV-positive caregiver), and unaffected children and their caregivers.ResultsOver 20% of HIV-positive and affected children engaged in suicidal behaviour in the previous 6 months, compared with 13% of unaffected children. Children were at increased risk if they met criteria for depression, were at high-risk for conduct disorder, reported poor parenting or had caregivers with mental health problems.ConclusionsPolicies and programmes that address mental health concerns and support positive parenting may prevent suicidal ideation and behaviour in children at increased risk related to HIV.

Download Full-text

Chemoprophylaxis and vaccination in preventing subsequent cases of meningococcal disease in household contacts of a case of meningococcal disease: a systematic review

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268815000849 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 143 (11) ◽

pp. 2259-2268 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

L. TELISINGHE ◽

T. D. WAITE ◽

M. GOBIN ◽

O. RONVEAUX ◽

K. FERNANDEZ ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Risk Ratio ◽

Meningococcal Disease ◽

Index Case ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Number Needed To Treat ◽

Household Contacts ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Sub Saharan

SUMMARYHousehold contacts of an index case of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) are at increased risk of acquiring disease. In revising WHO guidance on IMD in sub-Saharan Africa, a systematic review was undertaken to assess the effect of chemoprophylaxis and of vaccination in preventing subsequent cases of IMD in household contacts following an index case. A literature search for systematic reviews identified a single suitable review on chemoprophylaxis in 2004 (three studies meta-analysed). A search for primary research papers published since 2004 on chemoprophylaxis and without a date limit on vaccination was therefore undertaken. There were 2381 studies identified of which two additional studies met the inclusion criteria. The summary risk ratio for chemoprophylaxis vs. no chemoprophylaxis (four studies) in the 30-day period after a case was 0·16 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0·04-0·64, P = 0·008]; the number needed to treat to prevent one subsequent case was 200 (95% CI 111-1000). A single quasi-randomized trial assessed the role of vaccination. The risk ratio for vaccination vs. no vaccination at 30 days was 0·11 (95% CI 0·01–2·07, P = 0·14). The results support the use of chemoprophylaxis to prevent subsequent cases of IMD in household contacts of a case. Conclusions about the use of vaccination could not be drawn.

Download Full-text

The Oxford Handbook of Islamic Archaeology

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199987870.001.0001 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Material Culture ◽

Ethical Issues ◽

Rapid Development ◽

Global Scale ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Islamic Art ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

And Migration ◽

Islamic Archaeology ◽

First Time

Born from the fields of Islamic art and architectural history, the archaeological study of the Islamic societies is a relatively young discipline. With its roots in the colonial periods of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, its rapid development since the 1980s warrants a reevaluation of where the field stands today. This Handbook represents for the first time a survey of Islamic archaeology on a global scale, describing its disciplinary development and offering candid critiques of the state of the field today in the Central Islamic Lands, the Islamic West, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia. The international contributors to the volume address such themes as the timing and process of Islamization, the problems of periodization and regionalism in material culture, cities and countryside, cultural hybridity, cultural and religious diversity, natural resource management, international trade in the later historical periods, and migration. Critical assessments of the ways in which archaeologists today engage with Islamic cultural heritage and local communities closes the volume, highlighting the ethical issues related to studying living cultures and religions.

Download Full-text

Management of TB/HIV co-infection: the state of the evidence

Ghana Medical Journal ◽

10.4314/gmj.v54i3.10 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 54 (3) ◽

pp. 186-196

Author(s):

Kwasi Torpey ◽

Adwoa Agyei-Nkansah ◽

Lily Ogyiri ◽

Audrey Forson ◽

Margaret Lartey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

National Level ◽

Hiv Treatment ◽

The State ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Mdr Tb ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Negative

Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV are strongly linked. There is a 19 times increased risk of developing active TB in people living with HIV than in HIV-negative people with Sub-Saharan Africa being the hardest hit region. According to the WHO, 1.3 million people died from TB, and an additional 300,000 TB-related deaths among people living with HIV. Although some progress has been made in reducing TB-related deaths among people living with HIV due to the evolution of diagnostics, treatment and antiretroviral HIV treatment, multi drug resistant TB is becoming a source of worry. Though significant progress has been made at the national level, understanding the state of the evidence and the challenges will better inform the national response of the opportunities for improved patient outcomes.Keywords: Tuberculosis, management, HIV, MDR TB, GhanaFunding: None

Download Full-text