Comparative Analysis of Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever Spirochaetes from Ethiopia and Nigeria

In recent decades, the reports of tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) spirochaetes and its tick vectors have been increasing in Africa. Soft ticks of the Ornithodoros genus are the predominant vector for these spirochaetes and are endemic in many regions in Africa including East and West Africa. While TBRF of veterinary importance are exclusively transmitted by hard ticks. Despite this, TBRF is still a neglected disease in many regions such as Nigeria and Ethiopia where the disease epidemiology is still largely unknown. In Nigeria, O. savignyi ticks infected with a human TBRF specie Candidatus B. kalaharica has been reported. While in Ethiopia, the agent of relapsing fever is the louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) that is endemic in some parts of the country, with no evidence of TBRF available. To demonstrate the presence of TBRF of clinical and veterinary importance in Nigeria, 550 livestock, 152 patients presenting with recurrent fever, 550 livestock sera, 71 dog sera, and 251 soft ticks of the genus’s Ornithodoros and Argas were sampled. Conversely, in Ethiopia, to demonstrate the possible coexisting of TBRF with LBRF, 312 Ornithodoros ticks were sampled from soil around cattle shelter. Samples were screened for Borrelia infection on RT-PCR, with reactive samples subjected to further confirmation on conventional PCR using the 16S rRNA flagellin B genes, and the 16S-23S intragenic spacer region of Borrelia genome. While ticks were identified to the molecular level using tick 16S rRNA and tick mtrrs genes. Borrelia infection rate in livestock from Nigeria after initial screening was 3.8% (21/550), and 14% (3/21) after final confirmation. While the prevalence of infection in ticks from Ethiopia was 3.5% (11/312), and 36% (4/11) upon final confirmation. No infection was reported in the patients recruited. Sequencing analysis revealed the borreliae from Nigerian livestock as B. theileri ‘a bovine borreliosis” specie. Whereas the borreliae from the Ethiopian ticks was identified C. B. kalaharica, a human species. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the identity of the Ornithodoros ticks as O. savignyi with >98% similarity for the Nigerian ticks, while the Ethiopian species had a 94% similarity. Conspicuously, the Ethiopian ticks formed a sister clade from the Nigerian ticks and other O. savignyi species available in the GenBank. This raises the question of whether the Ethiopian ticks represent a distinct species. The Argas ticks were identified as A. persicus using the 16S rRNA gene sequences. This is the first documented evidence of a C. B. kalaharica and its O. savignyi vector in Ethiopia. This is significant for both diagnostic and public health, as the possible coexisting of both RFs may likely increase the burden of the diseases. The gold standard for RF diagnosis in the country is microscopy, which is unable to differentiate between LBRF and TBRF. Concurrently, this is also the first report of TBRF in livestock from Nigeria. This study has clearly revealed the possible coexisting of LBRF and TBRF in Ethiopia. With this evidence, additional research into the vector distribution and disease epidemiology is vital to better understand its true burden in the country. This applies for Nigeria as there is a need for additional research to determine the true clinical and veterinary significance of the disease, especially in high-risk areas where these ticks are known to be endemic

Ebola epidemic: when science is not enough

LSE’s Dr Bankole Falade examines how research on the oral polio vaccine controversy in Nigeria helps us to understand prevailing attitudes to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa

African academics keep faith with both science and religion

Despite often being regarded as incompatible, African scientists maintain strong religious beliefs. This has not, however, held back the development of science on the continent, or elsewhere, writes Bankole Falade

Student trust in teachers and its relationship to student identification with school, student perceptions of academic press, and achievement

Research has documented a plethora of evidence that children\u27s perceptions of their relationships with caregivers, specifically teachers, impacts learning outcomes, including academic engagement and achievement (Furrer & Skinner, 2003; Owens & Johnson, in press; Stipek, 2002; Wentzel, 1997), identification with school (anderman, 2003; Bonich, 2007; Goodenow, 1993; McGannon, 2003; Meloro, 2006; Mitchell, 2004;) and academic press (Bonich, 2007; Lee & Smith, 1999; Middleton & Midgley, 2002). Yet the research base from the student perspective on the pertinent elements that influence meaningful relationships between students and teachers, namely trust, is largely missing.;The purpose of this study was to examine the construct of student trust in teachers and its relationship to student identification with school, student perceptions of academic press, and achievement in math and reading in an urban elementary school district. An additional aim of this reserach was to add to the research base on trust in schools from the student perspective.;In this study of 4,700 ethnically and economically diverse students in 35 urban elementary schools, a number of significant relationships were found between student trust in teachers, identification with school, student perceptions of academic press, and achievement. Although all independent variables indicated a moderate and significant correlation with achievement in both reading and math, the strongest relationship was between student trust in teachers and achievement

Colonial effect: language, trust and attitudes to science as predictors of vaccine hesitancy across Africa

Vaccine safety, importance and effectiveness are at the core of vaccine hesitancy around the world and Africa has had its own share of vaccine revolts. This study uses the Wellcome Trust Global Monitor 2018 on public perceptions of vaccines in 40 African countries to examine the predictors of vaccine hesitancy. It compares levels of hesitancy along language lines, comparing French speakers with others, mostly English. Study shows that French speakers are significantly more hesitant on importance and safety while English speakers and others are more hesitant on effectiveness, an indication of the continuing influence of colonial ties. Respondents who have higher levels of trust in social actors are also more hesitant about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, indicating the importance of non-scientists in vaccine hesitancy. Those with higher levels of education are also more likely to be hesitant about vaccines in general indicating that having more education may indeed have an opposite effect. Perceptions of science as progress is significant for all three hesitancy types and indicates that Africans with more progressive attitudes are less likely to worry about the importance, safety and effectiveness of vaccines. At country level, no predictor cuts across indicating the strong role of local social and cultural issues. These findings improve our understanding of the drivers of vaccine hesitancy in Africa and provide valuable input for future vaccine policy and health awareness campaigns

Mycotoxins in food in West Africa: current situation and possibilities of controlling it

This review presents the different mycotoxins (aflatoxins, fumonisins and ochratoxin A) produced in agricultural crops in the West African sub-region. The acute and chronic toxic effects of the various mycotoxins are presented. Maize and groundnuts have been found to be excellent substrate for aflatoxin contamination, while fumonisins are widely distributed in maize. Other food products for which mycotoxin contamination has been reported in the sub-region include dried yam chips, tiger nut, melon seeds and stored herbal plants. Mycotoxin contamination is favoured by stress factors during plant growth, late harvesting of crops, high ambient humidity preventing thorough drying, unscientific storage practices and lack of awareness. Control measures include education of the populace on the danger of mycotoxin contaminated diet, early harvesting, rapid drying, sorting, sanitation, use of improved storage structures, smoking, insect control, the use of botanicals and synthetic chemicals as storage protectants, fumigation, biological control, the use of resistant varieties and detoxification of mycotoxin contaminated grains. Key words: Mycotoxins, aflatoxins, food, fumonisins, ochratoxin A, surveillance, toxicology, prevention, control, West Africa. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.2(9) 2003: 254-26

Economic benefits of utilizing small sized reservoirs for capture fisheries: the Alau Lake experience

The paper discusses possible approaches to emply in harnessing fish resources in a small sized reservoir. It reveals how capture, extensive and integrated culture fisheries could be beneficially employed to derive maximum gains from the reservoir without jeopardizing its fisheries potentials especially in terms of conservation. (Document has 8 pages.

Policy Interventions and Economic Benefits for a Market Driven Oil Palm Industry

ABSTRACT In effective policies, Governance structures and management system relating to environmental and social (access to markets and fair prices) performance are perhaps one of the major problems to sustainable oil palm development at various levels; from Governments, international institutions and industry bodies down to individual oil palm companies. The role of the Government is regulatory and to create suitable investment climate. It is a common occurrence for Governments to be involved in the economies of their countries depending on their systems of governance. A state may wish to correct market failures of macro-economic inequity or undesirable outcomes that a pure market-driven system can sometimes produce. The paper examines policy interventions (reforms) and economic benefits for a market driven oil palm sector in Nigeria. It observes that the output market was previously controlled by monopoly marketing board; market liberalization in 1986. It also observes that there are issues of policy uncertainty which undermined the impetus for reform. Also highlighted are the benefits of Government interventions in Agriculture. The kinds of intervention to be taken to have a stable institutional development and regulatory framework needed for the palm oil industry to operate efficiently and for competition to proceed effectively are considered

China's engagement in Africa's energy future – more than financing

Dr Grace Wang and Dr Bankole Falade explore China’s unique role in shaping Africa’s energy landscape, and emphasize the need for a nuanced understanding derived from local perspectives as reflected in African newspaper discourse