131 research outputs found
Comparative Intradermal Tuberculin Testing of Free-Ranging African Buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) Captured for Ex Situ Conservation in the Kafue Basin Ecosystem in Zambia
Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is endemic in African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) in some National Parks in Southern Africa, whilst no studies have been conducted on BTB on buffalo populations in Zambia. The increased demand for ecotourism and conservation of the African buffalo on private owned game ranches has prompted the Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) and private sector in Zambia to generate a herd of āBTB-free buffaloesā for ex situ conservation. In the present study, 86 African buffaloes from four different herds comprising a total of 530 animals were investigated for the presence of BTB for the purpose of generating āBTB freeā buffalo for ex-situ conservation. Using the comparative intradermal tuberculin test (CIDT) the BTB status at both individual animal and herd level was estimated to be 0.0% by the CIDT technique. Compared to Avian reactors only, a prevalence of 5.8% was determined whilst for Bovine-only reactors a prevalence of 0.0% was determined.
These results suggest the likelihood of buffalo herds in the Kafue National Park being free of BTB
Characterization of a Novel Bat Adenovirus Isolated from Straw-Colored Fruit Bat (Eidolon helvum).
Bats are important reservoirs for emerging zoonotic viruses. For extensive surveys of potential pathogens in straw-colored fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) in Zambia, a total of 107 spleen samples of E. helvum in 2006 were inoculated onto Vero E6 cells. The cell culture inoculated with one of the samples (ZFB06-106) exhibited remarkable cytopathic changes. Based on the ultrastructural property in negative staining and cross-reactivity in immunofluorescence assays, the virus was suspected to be an adenovirus, and tentatively named E. helvum adenovirus 06-106 (EhAdV 06-106). Analysis of the full-length genome of 30,134 bp, determined by next-generation sequencing, showed the presence of 28 open reading frames. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed that EhAdV 06-106 represented a novel bat adenovirus species in the genus Mastadenovirus. The virus shared similar characteristics of low G + C contents with recently isolated members of species Bat mastadenoviruses E, F and G, from which EhAdV 06-106 diverged by more than 15% based on the distance matrix analysis of DNA polymerase amino acid sequences. According to the taxonomic criteria, we propose the tentative new species name "Bat mastadenovirus H". Because EhAdV 06-106 exhibited a wide in vitro cell tropism, the virus might have a potential risk as an emerging virus through cross-species transmission
Detection and characterization of zoonotic pathogens of free-ranging non-human primates from Zambia
Novel Arenavirus, Zambia
To investigate arenavirus in Zambia, we characterized virus from the kidneys of 5 arenavirus RNAāpositive rodents (Mastomys natalensis) among 263 captured. Full-genome sequences of the viruses suggested that they were new strains similar to Lassa virusārelated arenaviruses. Analyzing samples from additional rodents and other species can elucidate epizootiologic aspects of arenaviruses
The contribution of veterinary medicine to public health and poverty reduction in developing countries
Few studies have explicitly examined the linkages between human health, animal disease
control and poverty alleviation. This paper reviews the contribution that veterinary medicine
can make to poverty alleviation in sub-Saharan Africa. Our analysis attempts to explore
aspects of this contribution under five themes: food production; food safety; impact and
control of zoonotic infections; promotion of ecotourism; and environmental protection. While
these areas of human activity have, more or less, fallen under the influence of the veterinary
profession to varying degrees, we attempt to unify this mandate using a āOne Healthā narrative,
for the purpose of providing clarity on the linkages between the veterinary and other
professions, livestock production and poverty alleviation. Future opportunities for improving
health and reducing poverty in the context of developing African countries are also discussed.
We conclude that veterinary science is uniquely positioned to play a key role in both poverty
reduction and the promotion of health, a role that can be enhanced through the reorientation
of the professionās goals and the creation of synergies with allied and related professions.Le relazioni tra salute umana, controllo delle patologie animali e programmi di riduzione
della povertĆ raramente sono state oggetto di analisi. Questo articolo analizza il contributo
che la medicina veterinaria puĆ² fornire ai processi di riduzione della povertĆ nellāAfrica
subāsahariana. In particolare, vengono analizzate le implicazioni della medicina veterinaria
su: produzione di alimenti, igiene alimentare, impatto e controllo delle zoonosi, promozione
di ecoturismo e protezione dellāambiente. Lo studio ha lāobiettivo di riconsiderare questi
aspetti sulla base dellāapproccio āOne Healthā e di chiarire le relazioni che la professione
veterinaria ha con le altre professioni, gli allevamenti animali e i programmi di riduzione
della povertĆ . Lāarticolo esamina le opportunitĆ future per migliorare le condizioni di salute
e ridurre il sottosviluppo nei paesi africani, evidenziando il ruolo determinante delle scienze
veterinarie. Ruolo che puĆ² essere ancor piĆ¹ potenziato attraverso la ridefinizione degli
obiettivi professionali e la creazione di sinergie con le altre professioni.http://www.izs.it/vet_italiana/issues_vet_it.htmhb201
Genetic characterisation of African swine fever virus from 2017 outbreaks in Zambia: Identification of p72 genotype II variants in domestic pigs
African swine fever (ASF) is a contagious haemorrhagic disease associated with causing heavy economic losses to the swine industry in many African countries. In 2017, Zambia experienced ASF outbreaks in Mbala District (Northern province) and for the first time in Isoka and Chinsali districts (Muchinga province). Meanwhile, another outbreak was observed in Chipata District (Eastern province). Genetic analysis of part of theĀ B646LĀ gene,Ā E183LĀ gene,Ā CP204LĀ gene and the central variable region of theĀ B602LĀ gene of ASF virus (ASFV) associated with the outbreaks in Mbala and Chipata districts was conducted. The results revealed that the ASFV detected in Mbala District was highly similar to that of the Georgia 2007/1 isolate across all the genome regions analysed. In contrast, while showing close relationship with the Georgia 2007/1 virus in theĀ B646LĀ gene, the ASFV detected in Chipata District showed remarkable genetic variation in the rest of the genes analysed. These results suggest that the Georgia 2007/1-like virus could be more diverse than what was previously thought, underscoring the need of continued surveillance and monitoring of ASFVs within the south-eastern African region to better understand their epidemiology and the relationships between outbreaks and their possible origin
Evidence of Yersinia pestis DNA from fleas in an endemic plague area of Zambia
BACKGROUND: Yersinia pestis is a bacterium that causes plague which infects a variety of mammals throughout the world. The disease is usually transmitted among wild rodents through a flea vector. The sources and routes of transmission of plague are poorly researched in Africa, yet remains a concern in several sub-Saharan countries. In Zambia, the disease has been reported on annual basis with up to 20 cases per year, without investigating animal reservoirs or vectors that may be responsible in the maintenance and propagation of the bacterium. In this study, we undertook plague surveillance by using PCR amplification of the plasminogen activator gene in fleas. FINDINGS: Xenopsylla species of fleas were collected from 83 rodents trapped in a plague endemic area of Zambia. Of these rodents 5 had fleas positive (6.02%) for Y. pestis plasminogen activator gene. All the Y. pestis positive rodents were gerbils. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that fleas may be responsible in the transmission of Y. pestis and that PCR may provide means of plague surveillance in the endemic areas of Zambia
The use of Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) to detect the re-emerging Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) in the Luangwa and Zambezi valleys
Detection and characterization of zoonotic pathogens of free-ranging non-human primates from Zambia
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