Single locus genotyping to track Leishmania donovani in the Indian subcontinent: Application in Nepal

Background We designed a straightforward method for discriminating circulating Leishmania populations in the Indian subcontinent (ISC). Research on transmission dynamics of visceral leishmaniasis (VL, or Kala-azar) was recently identified as one of the key research priorities for elimination of the disease in the ISC. VL in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal is caused by genetically homogeneous populations of Leishmania donovani parasites, transmitted by female sandflies. Classical methods to study diversity of these protozoa in other regions of the world, such as microsatellite typing, have proven of little use in the area, as they are not able to discriminate most genotypes. Recently, whole genome sequencing (WGS) so far identified 10 different populations termed ISC001-ISC010. Methodology / Principle findings As an alternative to WGS for epidemiological or clinical studies, we designed assays based on PCR amplification followed by dideoxynucleotide sequencing for identification of the nonrecombinant genotypes ISC001 up to ISC007. These assays were applied on 106 parasite isolates collected in Nepal between 2011 and 2014. Combined with data from WGS on strains collected in the period 2002–2011, we provide a proof-of-principle for the application of genotyping to study treatment outcome, and differential geographic distribution. Conclusions / Significance Our method can aid in epidemiological follow-up of visceral leishmaniasis in the Indian subcontinent, a necessity in the frame of the Kala-azar elimination initiative in the region

The Millennium Development Goals and the Status of Gender Disparity in Ethiopia: Achievements and Challenges

Recognising the magnitude of the global gender gap and its unbearable consequences, the UN included the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment as one of its eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were declared in 2000. Ethiopia adopted the MDGs and has been incorporating them into its consecutive Core Strategic Policies, with the commitment to realise them by 2015. This study was intended to see whether Ethiopia is on track to meet the globally adopted goals by the deadline, with particular reference to gender, and t analyse the achievements Ethiopia has made so far and the challenges ahead in achieving gender equality. Both descriptive and analytical methods were employed and a triangular approach was used in analysing data. The status of the gender gap in Ethiopia was analysed using the Global Gender Gap Index. The study found that though Ethiopia may not be able to achieve the genderrelated MDG by the deadline, it has made a significant progress in reducing gender disparity over the last decade. There is still limited enforcement capacity and gender disaggregated data; a significant gender gap at secondary and tertiary levels of education and political offices; and deeply rooted gender insensitive social values and political culture remain as challenges. It is argued that addressing these challenges and identifying practical and strategic gender needs at community level could be instrumental in narrowing the gap. Besides, strengthening the recently introduced gender responsive budgeting approach, enhancing the pro-poor policy in general and adopting the Gender and Development Policy approach in particular, could be instrumental in closing the gender gap in Ethiopia, in the near future

Institutional Diversity in Ethiopian Higher Education

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Antibacterial Activities of Five Medicinal Plants in Ethiopia against Some Human and Animal Pathogens

Objective. To evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activities of five plant extracts which have been used as traditional medicines by local healers against three multidrug resistant bacteria, namely, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Results. The highest mean zone of inhibition (4.66 mm) was recorded from methanol extract of Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth. at a concentration of 200 mg/ml against S. aureus, followed by Croton macrostachyus Del. (4.43 mm) at the same dose and solvent for the same bacterial species, while methanol and chloroform extracts of E. brucei Schwein. did not inhibit growth of any bacterial species. The lowest value (100 μg/ml) of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was observed from both methanol and chloroform extracts of C. aurea (Ait.) Benth. against all the three bacteria. The results of the positive control had no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) when compared with crude extracts of C. aurea (Ait.) Benth. at concentration of 200 mg/ml against S. aureus. Conclusion. The results of the present study support the traditional uses of these medicinal plants by the local healers. Except Erythrina brucei Schwein., all the plants investigated in this study exhibited antibacterial activities against the test bacterial species. Further researches are needed to be conducted to evaluate efficacy of these medicinal plant species on other microbes in different agroecological settings and their safety levels as well as their phytochemical compositions

Trends of human rabies exposure cases across the study years.

<p>Trends of human rabies exposure cases across the study years.</p

Demographic distribution of human rabies exposure cases received PEP at Suhul hospital during 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

<p>Demographic distribution of human rabies exposure cases received PEP at Suhul hospital during 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.</p

High Incidence of Human Rabies Exposure in Northwestern Tigray, Ethiopia: A Four-Year Retrospective Study

<div><p>Background</p><p>Rabies is a fatal zoonotic disease that has been known in Ethiopia for centuries in society as “Mad Dog Disease”. It is an important disease with veterinary and public health significance in the North western zone of Tigray where previous studies have not been conducted. Frequent occurrence of outbreaks in the area led the researchers to carry out a four year retrospective study to estimate the incidence of human rabies exposure in Northwestern Tigray, Ethiopia.</p><p>Methodology</p><p>A referent study was conducted on human rabies exposure cases recorded from 2012 to 2015 at Suhul hospital, Shire Endaselase, Northwestern Tigray, Ethiopia. Exposure cases included in this research constituted victims bitten by unprovoked dogs and who received post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) at the hospital. Two thousand one hundred eighty human rabies exposure cases retrieved from the rabies case database were included in this study.</p><p>Principal findings</p><p>The majority of the exposed cases were males (1363/2180, 63%). Age wise, the most exposed age group was ≥15 years in all the study years: 166 (58%), 335 (65%), 492 (66%) and 394 (63%) in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. Similarly, exposure cases for human rabies increased with age in both males and females across the study years. The incidence of human rabies exposure cases calculated per 100,000 populations was 35.8, 63.0, 89.8 and 73.1 in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that being male was a risk for human rabies exposure in all the study years.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>The study discovered the highest annual human rabies exposure incidence in Ethiopia. This suggests an urgent need for synergistic efforts of human and animal health sectors to implement prevention and control strategies in this area.</p></div

Map of the study area.

<p>Map of the study area.</p

Incidence of human rabies exposure cases registered and followed up their PEP at Suhul hospital in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

<p>Incidence of human rabies exposure cases registered and followed up their PEP at Suhul hospital in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.</p