15 research outputs found
Reporting livestock disease information in Zambia: constraints and challenges
A desk and field study was conducted to quantify the flow of veterinary information between the livestock owner and the various levels of the veterinary department in Zambia. The studies were conducted in the Eastern Province, a major livestock keeping area. Results from the survey indicate that, although information is exchanged, reporting to the highest level is erratic. The repercussions of such irregular reporting are discussed
Characterization of foot-and-mouth disease viruses in Zambia-implications for the epidemiology of the disease in southern Africa
The livestock industry supports livelihood and nutritional security of at least 42% of people
in the Southern African Development Community region. However, presence of animal diseases such
as foot-and-mouth disease poses a major threat to the development of this industry. Samples collected
from FMD outbreaks in Zambia during 2015–2020, comprising epithelial tissues samples (n = 47)
and sera (n = 120), were analysed. FMD virus was serotyped in 26 samples, while 92 sera samples
tested positive on NSP-ELISA. Phylogenetic analysis revealed notable changes in the epidemiology
of FMD in Zambia, which included: (i) introduction of a novel FMDV SAT-3 (topotype II) causing
FMD cases in cattle in Western Province; (ii) emergence of FMDV serotype O (topotype O/EA-2) in
Central, Southern, Copperbelt, Western, Lusaka Provinces; and (iii) new outbreaks due to SAT -2
(topotypes I) in Eastern Zambia. Together, these data describe eight different epizootics that occurred
in Zambia, four of which were outside the known FMD high-risk areas. This study highlights the
complex epidemiology of FMD in Zambia, where the country represents an interface between East
Africa (Pool 4) and Southern Africa (Pool 6). These changing viral dynamics have direct impacts on
FMD vaccine selection in the SADC region.The Government of Zambia through the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Department of Veterinary; the UK Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra SE2944) and the European Union.http://www.mdpi.com/journal/virusespm2022Veterinary Tropical Disease
Flowering and vegetative growth of olive tree submitted to pruning and paclobutrazol application
The transfer of East Coast fever immunisation to veterinary paraprofessionals in Zambia
In eastern Zambia, immunisation by ‘infection and treatment’ is the main method used to control East Coast fever, an acute and lethal cattle disease. This service, which requires a stringent cold chain, used to be free of charge. When a minimal user fee was introduced, attendance dropped drastically. Consequently, this
complex immunisation programme was transferred to veterinary paraprofessionals working on their own account, with the aim of boosting a more sustainable distribution of vaccine. Paraprofessionals were provided with a motorbike and the required specific equipment, but fuel and drugs were at their
expenses. The paraprofessionals recovered their costs, with a profit margin, by
charging the cattle owners for immunisation.
The reasons for the successful transfer of immunisation to paraprofessionals
(despite the maintenance of a fee) are attributed mainly to the absence of
information asymmetry between the paraprofessional and the livestock owner,
the appreciable level of effort of the paraprofessionals and the verifiable
outcome of the service provided
Detection of re-emerging bovine trypanosomiasis in southern Zambia by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP
In the present study, trypanosome species-specific Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique, specifically targeting the 18S rRNA gene of Trypanosoma congolense, the repetitive insertion mobile element (RIME) gene of the Trypanozoon subgenus group and the human serum resistant associated (SRA) gene of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, was used to determine the prevalence of bovine trypanosomiasis in the Choma - Kalomo block, an important agricultural area within the Southern province of Zambia. Our data show that out of the 460 cattle sampled, 12.8% (59) were detected to have trypanosomes in their blood by LAMP, suggesting the resurgence of bovine trypanosomiasis in the previously aerial-sprayed Choma-Kalomo block. The majority of those infections were caused by T. congolense. Considering that LAMP is a highly sensitive and specific technique and yet user friendly, thistest may in future prove to be instrumental in the routine accurate detection of trypanosomiasis in field samples in resource-limited countries such as Zambia
Building capacity for improved veterinary epidemiosurveillance in southern Africa
A workshop to produce recommendations on training requirements for improved epidemiosurveillance of livestock diseases in southern Africa was organised at the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases in the Veterinary Faculty of the University of Pretoria. It was attended by 23 persons representing 10 different southern African countries. The majority of the participants were actively involved in veterinary epidemiosurveillance and many of them were members of the SADC Epidemiology and Informatics Subcommittee. Discussions focused on (i) epidemiosurveillance networks and their 2 main components, i.e. (ii) diagnosis and (iii) information flow. The debates were guided by 3 questions; (i) what are the requirements for an effective network, (ii) what cannot be achieved with existing capacity and (iii) how can the current capacity be improved. Workshop participants developed lists of realistic capacity building needs, which were divided into structural needs and training requirements. Structural needs mainly concerned communication means and quality assurance. With regard to training, the need for appropriate continuing education of all actors at the various disease management levels (non-professional, para-professional, professional) was expressed. Special emphasis was put on capacity building at the lowest level, i.e. the livestock owner and the para-professionals at the community level. At the international level, it was felt that special emphasis should be put on building capacity to improve the understanding of international agreements on trade in animals and animal products and to improve the capacity of negotiating such agreements
Co-Circulation of Multiple Serotypes of Bluetongue Virus in Zambia
Bluetongue (BT) is an arthropod-borne viral disease of ruminants with serious trade and socio-economic implications. Although the disease has been reported in a number of countries in sub-Saharan Africa, there is currently no information on circulating serotypes and disease distribution in Zambia. Following surveillance for BT in domestic and wild ruminants in Zambia, BT virus (BTV) nucleic acid and antibodies were detected in eight of the 10 provinces of the country. About 40% (87/215) of pooled blood samples from cattle and goats were positive for BTV nucleic acid, while one hartebeest pool (1/43) was positive among wildlife samples. Sequence analysis of segment 2 revealed presence of serotypes 3, 5, 7, 12 and 15, with five nucleotypes (B, E, F, G and J) being identified. Segment 10 phylogeny showed Zambian BTV sequences clustering with Western topotype strains from South Africa, intimating likely transboundary spread of BTV in Southern Africa. Interestingly, two Zambian viruses and one isolate from Israel formed a novel clade, which we designated as Western topotype 4. The high seroprevalence (96.2%) in cattle from Lusaka and Central provinces and co-circulation of multiple serotypes showed that BT is widespread, underscoring the need for prevention and control strategies
Ruthenium(II) Complexes Bearing a Pyridyl-Supported Pyrazolyl−N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NNC) Ligand and Their Catalytic Activity in the Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones
Teores de carboidratos nas folhas e produção de limeiras ácida 'tahiti' aneladas e tratadas com ácido giberélico
O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do ácido giberélico (GA3) e anelamento de ramos sobre os teores de carboidratos nas folhas, a produção e o peso de frutos de limeira ácida 'Tahiti'. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, com cinco repetições, em esquema fatorial 4x3. O primeiro fator foi a aplicação de GA3 em quatro concentrações (0; 7; 14 e 21 mg/L-1), e o segundo, duas épocas de anelamento, no início e um mês após o florescimento, mais a testemunha sem anelamento. Verificou-se que o GA3 não teve efeito sobre a produção e o anelamento de ramos, independentemente da época em que foi realizado, aumentaram a produção das plantas e os teores de carboidratos nas folhas. A maior produção e relação frutos/m-3 de copa causou redução no peso médio dos frutos de limeira ácida 'Tahiti'