Effect of some tillage methods and sowing dates on bulk density, soil moisture and sorghum yield in the rainfed areas of northern Gedarif , Gedarif State , Sudan

     The study was carried out during three consecutive seasons (2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08) under rain-fed conditions, to investigate the effect of some tillage methods and sowing dates  of  sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) on soil moisture  content, bulk density and sorghum grain  yield  in  northern Gedarif area, at the pilot farm of the Faculty of Agricultural  and Environmental Sciences, University of  Gedarif, Gedarif, Sudan. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replicates. Main plots were assigned to three tillage methods; which were:  Zero tillage (ZT), offset disc as post harvest tillage(PHT) and farmers practice which was  wide level disc (WLD) as control, while sub-plots were assigned  to two sowing dates  which were early sowing date (S1) and late sowing date (S2). Post-harvest tillage treatment (PHT) resulted in significantly higher soil moisture content in the three growing seasons  compared to the other two treatments. Combined analysis indicated that ZT resulted in  significantly higher soil bulk density  in comparison with WLD and PHT treatments  for the three depths. The 3-years average grain yield for PHT, WLD and ZT were 1113 kg/ha, 976 kg/ha and 885 kg/ha, respectively.  The respective increase in yield was  26% and 14%.                                                                                                                                                                              The study was carried out during three consecutive seasons (2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08) under rain-fed conditions, to investigate the effect of some tillage methods and sowing dates  of  sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) on soil moisture  content, bulk density and sorghum grain  yield  in  northern Gedarif area, at the pilot farm of the Faculty of Agricultural  and Environmental Sciences, University of  Gedarif, Gedarif, Sudan. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replicates. Main plots were assigned to three tillage methods; which were:  Zero tillage (ZT), offset disc as post harvest tillage(PHT) and farmers practice which was  wide level disc (WLD) as control, while sub-plots were assigned  to two sowing dates  which were early sowing date (S1) and late sowing date (S2). Post-harvest tillage treatment (PHT) resulted in significantly higher soil moisture content in the three growing seasons  compared to the other two treatments. Combined analysis indicated that ZT resulted in  significantly higher soil bulk density  in comparison with WLD and PHT treatments  for the three depths. The 3-years average grain yield for PHT, WLD and ZT were 1113 kg/ha, 976 kg/ha and 885 kg/ha, respectively.  The respective increase in yield was  26% and 14%.                                                                                                                                                                       &nbsp

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Evaluation of a rapid diagnostic test for Schistosoma mansoni infection based on the detection of circulating cathodic antigen in urine in Central Sudan.

BackgroundThe Kato-Katz thick smear is the standard test for the diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni infection, but the sensitivity of this technique is low. As an alternative, (CCA) strip test has been evaluated with the conclusion that it may replace the Kato-Katz method in areas where prevalences are moderate or high. Therefore, this study was undertaken to evaluate the performance of the CCA strip test in the diagnosis and monitoring of S. mansoni infection in Sudan.Methodology489 stool and urine samples were collected from school children in endemic area of Sudan to determine the validity of CCA strip test based on duplicate Kato-Katz thick smear technique. Additional, 118 samples from known non schistosome-endemic area were collected to assess the CCA cross reactivity with other pathogens rather than schistosomiasis. The stability of CCA in urine samples was determined by consecutive examination of 40 positive CCA urine samples. 81 samples were used to evaluate the CCA strip test for the assessment of cure one week, three weeks and six weeks post Praziquantel treatment.Principal findingsAssuming parasitological test results as the gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive values of the CCA test were 96%, 85.4%, 78.5% and 97.5% respectively. There was no cross reactivity with other pathogens. The CCA strip test showed high accuracy in monitoring of treatment 93.8% and 100% after three and six weeks of administration of Praziquantel respectively. The stability of the CCA for long time in the urine revealed a safety transportation and shipment of the samples whenever it demanded.Conclusion/significanceThe uses of urine CCA strip test in the field would provide more accurate information on the epidemiology and monitoring of the Schistosoma mansoni infection in endemic areas of schistosomiasis than the conventional parasitological method. Moreover, The stability of CCA in urine samples confirms a safety transportation period of the samples whenever it required

Blue nevus in a keratin cyst: case report

A 35 years old patient reported with a ten years history of a cystic mass involving the skin and subcutaneous tissue over the shoulder. The cyst proved to be a keratin cyst with a blue nevus in its wall. This is an example of a group of lesions known as nevus with cyst, a term applied to different types of cysts that are closely associated anatomically with a melanocytic nevus. Sudanese Journal of Dermatology Vol. 3(3) 2005: 125-12

Association of Epstein - Barr virus and breast cancer in Eritrea

Abstract Background The oncogenic potential of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in breast cancer is being increasingly recognized. Despite some controversies regarding such role, new evidence is suggesting a culpability of EBV in breast cancer, particularly in Africa where the virus has been originally associated with causation of several solid and hematological malignancies. One example is a report from Sudan implicating EBV as a prime etiologic agent for an aggressive type of breast cancer, where nearly 100% of tumor tissues were shown to carry viral signatures. To get a broader view on such association, other nearby countries should be investigated. The present study aims to determine the prevalence and possible associations of the virus in Eritrean breast cancer patients. Methods Detection of EBV genome using primers that target Epstein Barr Encoded RNA (EBER) gene and Latent Membrane Protein-1 (LMP-1) gene sequences was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on DNA samples extracted from 144 formalin fixed paraffin embedded breast cancer tissues and 63 non-cancerous breast tissue as control group. A subset of PCR positive samples was evaluated for EBER gene expression by in situ hybridization (ISH). Expression of Latent Membrane Protein-2a (LMP2a) was also assessed by immunohistochemistry in a subset of 45 samples. Results Based on PCR results, EBV genome signals were detected in a total of 40 samples (27.77%) as compared to controls (p-value = 0. 0031) with a higher sensitivity when using the EBER primers. Five out of the 14 samples stained by EBER-ISH 35.71% were positive for the virus indicating the presence of the viral genome within the tumor cells. Of those stained for IHC 7 (15.55%) were positive for LMP2a showing low viral protein frequency. Conclusions Based on these findings it can be concluded that EBV in Eritrea is associated with a smaller subset of tumors, unlike neighboring Sudan, thus pointing to possible differences in population predisposition and diseases epidemiology

Coexistence of sickle cell nephropathy and lupus nephritis in a Sudanese child

In spite of the wide distribution of sickle cell disease (SCD) in Africa, an association with systemic lupus erythromatosis (SLE) is seldom reported. This may be due to the poor association between the two diseases or the high prevalence of missed cases. Progressive renal injury is prominent in both SCD and SLE. In this communication, we are presenting a case of an 11-year-old male who presented with sickle cell nephropathy that manifested as nephrotic syndrome with no response to conservative therapy, alongside unexplained massive hemolysis. His renal biopsy proved SLE superimposed on sickle cell nephropathy. We are stressing the importance of considering alternate disease processes in patients with SCD when symptoms change or when there is an atypical clinical course