Bovine Brucellosis in Gauteng, South Africa: Seroprevalence amongst Cattle Handlers and Variables Associated with Seropositive Cattle Herds, 2014–2016

In South Africa, the prevalence of cattle handler exposure to Brucella on cattle farms is unknown and risk factors and cattle symptoms associated with infected cattle herds are unavailable. To address this gap, a case-control study of cattle herds was conducted in Gauteng province and farm workers and veterinary officials were tested for exposure to Brucella. Seroprevalence amongst farm workers exposed to case herds ranged from 4.0% (BrucellaCapt®) to 16.7% (IgG ELISA®), compared to those exposed to control herds, where seroprevalence ranged from 1.9% (BrucellaCapt®) to 5.7% (IgG ELISA®). Seroprevalence amongst veterinary officials was significantly greater compared to farm workers exposed to case herds for the outcome RBT+ IgM- IgG+ (OR = 11.1, 95% CI: 2.5–49.9, p = 0.002) and RBT- IgM- IgG+ (OR = 6.3, 95% CI: 2.3–17.3, p < 0.001). Risk factors associated with being an infected herd were: being a government-sponsored farm vs. private farm (OR 4.0; 95% CI: 1.4–11.3; p = 0.009), beef vs. dairy herd (OR 7.9; 95% CI: 1.4–44.9; p = 0.020), open vs. closed herd (OR 3.3; 95% CI: 1.1–10.4; p = 0.038) and the presence of antelope on the farm (OR 29.4; 95% CI: 4.0–218.2; p = 0.001). Abortions (OR = 5.1; 95% CI: 2.0–13.3; p < 0.001), weak calves in the herd (OR = 8.0; 95% CI: 2.6–24.4; p < 0.001), reduction in number of calves born (OR = 9.0; 95% CI: 2.1–43.6; p < 0.001), reduction in conception rate (OR = 3.9; 95% CI: 0.8–18.3; p = 0.046), hygromas in cattle (p = 0.011) and farmers reporting brucellosis-like symptoms in their farm workers or in him/herself (OR = 3.4; 95% CI: 1.3–8.7; p = 0.006) were more likely to be associated with Brucella infected herds than control herds. This evidence can be used in strategic planning to protect both human and herd health.

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Knowledge of Brucellosis, Health-Seeking Behaviour, and Risk Factors for Brucella Infection amongst Workers on Cattle Farms in Gauteng, South Africa

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10111484 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 1484

Author(s):

Krpasha Govindasamy ◽

Eric M. C. Etter ◽

Bernice N. Harris ◽

Jennifer Rossouw ◽

Darrell A. Abernethy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

South Africa ◽

Strong Evidence ◽

Farm Workers ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Health Seeking Behaviour ◽

Health Seeking ◽

Cattle Farm ◽

Brucella Infection ◽

Cattle Farms

Brucellosis in humans is under-detected and underreported in sub-Saharan Africa. Risk factors associated with Brucella infection and health seeking behaviour in response to brucellosis-like symptoms, amongst cattle farm workers and veterinary officials in South Africa, are unknown. Farm workers and veterinary officials (N = 230) were screened for brucellosis using commercial Rose Bengal Test (RBT®), IgM Enzyme-linked Immunoassay (ELISA)®, IgG ELISA® and the BrucellaCapt® test. Knowledge of brucellosis and risk factors for exposure to Brucella were also investigated. Seroprevalence varied according to test used: 10.1% (RBT®), 20.9% (IgG ELISA®) and 6.5% (BrucellaCapt®). Only 22.2% (6/27) of veterinary officials opt to visit a clinic, doctor, or hospital in response to self-experienced brucellosis-like symptoms, compared to 74.9% (152/203) of farm workers (p < 0.001). Of the BrucellaCapt® seropositive participants, 53% (7/15) did not visit a clinic in response to brucellosis-like symptoms. Weak evidence of an association between the handling of afterbirth or placenta and infection of a short evolution (RBT®, IgM ELISA® and IgG ELISA® seropositive) was found (OR = 8.9, 95% CI: 1.0–81.1, p = 0.052), and strong evidence of an association between this outcome and the slaughter of cattle (OR = 5.3, 95% CI: 1.4–19.6, p = 0.013). There was strong evidence of a positive association between inactive/resolved infection and veterinary officials vs. farm workers exposed to seropositive herds (OR = 7.0, 95% CI: 2.4–20.2, p < 0.001), with a simultaneous negative association with the handling of afterbirth or placenta (OR = 3.9, 95% CI: 1.3–11.3, p = 0.012). Findings suggest a proportion of undetected clinical cases of brucellosis amongst workers on cattle farms in Gauteng.

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Heavy drinking and contextual risk factors among adults in South Africa: findings from the International Alcohol Control study

Substance Abuse Treatment Prevention and Policy ◽

10.1186/s13011-018-0182-1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Pamela J. Trangenstein ◽

Neo K. Morojele ◽

Carl Lombard ◽

David H. Jernigan ◽

Charles D. H. Parry

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

South Africa ◽

Heavy Drinking ◽

Contextual Risk ◽

Alcohol Control ◽

Control Study ◽

Contextual Risk Factors

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Optimising reproductive management to maximise dairy herd health and production

Improving dairy herd health Improving - Burleigh Dodds Series in Agricultural Science ◽

10.19103/as.2020.0086.09 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 191-230

Author(s):

Norman B. Williamson ◽

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Health ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Dairy Herd ◽

Farm Workers ◽

Herd Health ◽

Breeding Programs ◽

Reproductive Management ◽

And Control

Reproduction is central to the operation of a dairy herd through initiating lactation and providing replacement animals and offspring for sale. This chapter outlines the steps required to detect reproductive problems and limitations in cows and herds. It then elaborates some strategies to overcome limits to reproductive health and production concentrating on detecting cows requiring attention through record monitoring, analysing herd records to monitor reproduction and identify areas that limit performance and providing strategies to deal with these limits. The main limits addressed are anoestrus and inadequate oestrus detection that are addressed through education of farm workers, aids to oestrus detection and the use of planned breeding programs to induce and control oestrus and breeding. Nutritional causes of limited reproductive performance are also considered as well as strategies to limit abortion.

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Assessment of challenges and risk factors influencing the operation of emerging contractors in the Gauteng Province, South Africa

International Journal of Construction Management ◽

10.1080/15623599.2020.1763050 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Linda Bikitsha ◽

Christopher Amoah

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

South Africa ◽

Gauteng Province ◽

Factors Influencing

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Emerging contractor's management and planning skills to overcome business risk factors

International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation ◽

10.1108/ijbpa-01-2021-0003 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Christopher Amoah ◽

Linda Bikitsha

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

South Africa ◽

Construction Industry ◽

Financial Management ◽

Qualitative Content Analysis ◽

Research Approach ◽

Business Risk ◽

Gauteng Province ◽

Content Type ◽

Grade One

PurposeEmerging construction companies often liquidate due to their inability to institute strategies to handle their business risks. This study investigated the skills and strategies adopted by emerging contractors to overcome business risk factors to make their businesses sustainable.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative research approach was adopted for the study. Semi-structured interview questions were used to solicit information from emerging contractors within the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Grade one (1) to four (4) in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The data gathered were analysed using qualitative content analysis to identify the main themes.FindingsThe study's findings indicate that emerging contractors face business risk factors that impact their project execution hugely. Thus to overcome these risk factors, they implement various strategies to curtail the risk they encounter in their businesses. These strategies include; human resource management (employing experienced and skilled labour and training of staff); communication management (with other employees about set goals); financial management (effective pricing of tender documents); procurement management (ensuring materials are available as and when necessary in their projects) and quality management (ensuring effective work supervision); among others.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the study concentrated on the emerging construction firms in the Gauteng Province of South Africa, the findings may be applicable in other provinces and beyond South Africa.Practical implicationsIn order for emerging contractors to prevent the collapse of their businesses, there is the need to be educated on effective project risk management to identify potential business risk, the mirage associated with the notion of the construction business profitability, effective tender pricing and strategic business partnership. These strategies, if well thought, will help sustain their businesses and growth in the construction industry.Originality/valueThe study has identified the management strategies used by emerging contractors to sustain their businesses in the construction industry. Thus, the finding will guide both emerging contractors who are already in the construction business and those planning to enter the construction market.

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Risk factors for spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) allergy among table grape farm workers in South Africa

World Allergy Organization Journal ◽

10.1097/01.wox.0000301325.04204.38 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol &NA; ◽

pp. S70-S71

Author(s):

Mohamed Jeebhay ◽

Roslynn Baatjies ◽

Y-Y Kim ◽

Y-K Kim ◽

Vicky Major ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

South Africa ◽

Tetranychus Urticae ◽

Spider Mite ◽

Table Grape ◽

Farm Workers

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Q Fever: Seroprevalence, Risk Factors in Slaughter Livestock and Genotypes of Coxiella burnetii in South Africa

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10030258 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 258

Author(s):

Maruping Mangena ◽

Nomakorinte Gcebe ◽

Rian Pierneef ◽

Peter N. Thompson ◽

Abiodun A. Adesiyun

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

South Africa ◽

Coxiella Burnetii ◽

Q Fever ◽

Farm Workers ◽

Reproductive Disorders ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Associated Risk Factors ◽

Game Animals

Q fever is a neglected zoonosis in South Africa, causing significant losses in livestock and game animals through reproductive disorders. However, there are limited studies on the extent of Coxiella burnetii infections in livestock in South Africa. Further, there is also lack of knowledge about the types of C. burnetii strains that are currently circulating in the country. Therefore, a cross-sectional, abattoir-based study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of C. burnetii and associated risk factors, and to characterize C. burnetii strains from slaughter livestock at red meat abattoirs in Gauteng, South Africa. Of the 507 animals tested, 6.9% (95% CI: 4.9–9.5%) were positive for antibodies against C. burnetii. The seroprevalence was 9.4% (31/331) in cattle, 4.3% (3/69) in sheep, and 0.9% (1/107) in pigs. Out of the 63 tissue samples from 35 seropositive animals including material from two sheep aborted fetuses from Mangaung district (Free State province), 12.7% (8/63) tested positive by IS1111 PCR. Genotyping of the eight PCR-positive tissues from eight animals by MLVA revealed two novel genotypes, not available in Coxiella MLVA databases. It is concluded that slaughter animals pose a risk of exposing abattoir and farm workers to C. burnetii in South Africa.

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