Trends of phanerophyte encroacher species along an aridity gradient on Kalahari sands, central Namibia

Poor rangeland management, especially overstocking and under-burning coupled with climate change on southern African savannas, have brought about a serious ecological problem of bush encroachment. Bush encroachment leads to many ecological implications such as extirpation or extinction of plant species and a colonisation by opportunistic species leading to unwanted changes in plant species composition, structure and loss of species diversity. Furthermore, bush encroachment has a negative impact on the country’s progress in terms of conservation efforts, economic stability and livelihood. Namibian livestock ranchers forego an estimated N$ 700  million loss yearly linked to bush encroachment. Studies focusing on particular bush encroacher species enable the devise of ecologically sound management strategies by land manager, farmers and scientists for the prevention and control of bush encroachment. Therefore, this study was undertaken to determine the main encroacher species and their relationship to the environmental factors along an aridity gradient on Kalahari sands in central Namibia. Results disclosed that Acacia erioloba E.Mey., Acacia mellifera (Vahl) Benth. ssp. dentines (Burch.) Brenan, Combretum collinum Fresen., Terminalia sericea Burch. Ex DC., Grewia spp., Bauhinia petersiana Bolle ssp. macrantha (Oliv.) Brummitt & J.H. Ross were the main encroacher species, and mean annual rainfall was the main environmental factor influencing their distribution. Nanophanerophyte from different encroacher species were recorded mainly from 400 mm to 500 mm mean annual rainfall, mesophanerophyte recorded from 280 mm to 450 mm, while microphanerophyte were widely distributed over the rainfall gradient. Bush encroachment was recorded at 440 mm mainly due to the poor rangeland management. Information from this study should be used as a baseline for conservation and restoration attempts towards savanna rangelands

Detection of Escherichia coli and harmful enteric bacterial pathogens in domestic hand-dug wells in the Cuvelai Etosha Basin of Namibia

The Cuvelai Etosha Basin of Namibia is characterised by complex aquifer systems with multi-layered aquifers and various water qualities. Some parts of the basin have been covered with a pipeline system that supplies purified surface water from the Kunene River. Locations that lack a pipeline system utilisehand-dug wells as a source of drinking water. These wells draw water from shallow perched aquifers and are not protected from surface contamination nor is the water quality monitored. Sanitised water supply is relevant for the growth and development of societies and is a priority of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. A bacteriological water quality study aimed at investigating the presence and seasonal variation of; Citrobacter, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Proteus, Salmonella, Shigella, and Pseudomonasspecies was conducted on 44 hand-dug wells in the Ohangwena and Omusati regions of the Cuvelai Etosha Basin. Samples were collected from both the wet and dry seasons. Results disclosed the presence of Salmonella, Shigella, Citrobacter, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Proteus, and Pseudomonas species.Chi-square confirmed a significant seasonal variation in Salmonella (P 0.05), Escherichia (P > 0.05), Klebsiella (P > 0.05), Enterobacter(P > 0.05), Proteus (P > 0.05) and Pseudomonas (P > 0.05) species.Water from these hand-dug wells is not safe for drinking unless it is subjected to appropriate treatment. It is recommended that hand-dug wells should be properly constructed at safe distances from contaminating structures such a pit latrines and routinely assessed for pathogens, and the water should be sanitized prior to consumption

Trends of phanerophyte encroacher species along an aridity gradient on Kalahari sands, central Namibia

Poor rangeland management, especially overstocking and under-burning coupled with climate change on southern African savannas, have brought about a serious ecological problem of bush encroachment. Bush encroachment leads to many ecological implications such as extirpation or extinction of plant species and a colonisation by opportunistic species leading to unwanted changes in plant species composition, structure and loss of species diversity. Furthermore, bush encroachment has a negative impact on the country’s progress in terms of conservation efforts, economic stability and livelihood. Namibian livestock ranchers forego an estimated N$ 700 million loss yearly linked to bush encroachment. Studies focusing on particular bush encroacher species enable the devise of ecologically sound management strategies by land manager, farmers and scientists for the prevention and control of bush encroachment. Therefore, this study was undertaken to determine the main encroacher species and their relationship to the environmental factors along an aridity gradient on Kalahari sands in central Namibia. Results disclosed that Acacia erioloba E.Mey., Acacia mellifera (Vahl) Benth. ssp. dentines (Burch.) Brenan, Combretum collinum Fresen., Terminalia sericea Burch. Ex DC., Grewia spp., Bauhinia petersiana Bolle ssp. macrantha (Oliv.) Brummitt & J.H. Ross were the main encroacher species, and mean annual rainfall was the main environmental factor influencing their distribution. Nanophanerophyte from different encroacher species were recorded mainly from 400 mm to 500 mm mean annual rainfall, mesophanerophyte recorded from 280 mm to 450 mm, while microphanerophyte were widely distributed over the rainfall gradient. Bush encroachment was recorded at 440 mm mainly due to the poor rangeland management. Information from this study should be used as a baseline for conservation and restoration attempts towards savanna rangelands

Isolation and Identification of Culturable Fungal Species Associated with Disease in Vachellia tortilis in Namibia

Vachellia tortilis is a tree belonging to the family Fabaceae that inhabits high temperature and dry environments of the world. It is ecologically and economically significant amongst others of the genera Vachellia and Senegalia. It is native to Namibia and several other countries. Various parts of the V. tortilis plant are used for different therapeutic purposes both in the traditional and pharmacological settings. However, V. tortilis is vulnerable to pathogenic infection to which they lack natural resistance and little is known regarding the pathogens responsible for such infections. The aim of the study was to isolate and identify the fungal species associated with twig dieback disease in V. tortilis. Pure cultures from diseased V. tortilis were grown using potato dextrose agar (PDA) and DNA was subsequently isolated and later amplified in a PCR reaction using ITS1 and ITS4 primers. Sequencing and BLAST search revealed the identity of the isolates as; Penicillium rubefaciens, Penicillium herbarum, Trichoderma longibrachiatum and Trichoderma harzianum. Results indicated that P. herbarum was associated with disease symptoms in A. tortilis, T. longibrachiatum and T. harzianum were antagonistic fungi while the effect of P. rubefaciens on V. tortilis remained unknown. It is recommended that further investigations using Koch’s postulates should be performed on V. tortilis using the isolates

Supplementary Material for: COVID-19 Pandemic and Hospitalizations due to Abortion among 10- to 14-Year-Old Girls in Brazil

Introduction: Various non-pharmacological interventions to prevent coronavirus dissemination were implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, including school closures. The effect of these interventions on particular aspects of people’s lives such as sexual and reproductive health outcomes has not been adequately discussed. The objective of the study was to compare the monthly hospital admission rates due to abortion before and during school closure. Methods: We used an interrupted time series (IES) design to estimate the hospital admission rates before and during the school closure (intervention in March 2020) period. The analysis was performed considering all girls from age groups of interest and by stratifying the age groups according to skin color (white and non-white) in which the non-white category comprised both the black and mixed ethnicity together. Coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using segmented linear regression models. Results: The results showed positive and statistically significant coefficients, suggesting post-intervention trend changes both in the population as a whole (coefficient: 0.07; 95% CI: 0.02; 0.11) and the non-white population group (coefficient: 0.07; 95% CI: 0.03; 0.11), indicating that the monthly hospital admission rates increased over the post-intervention period compared to baseline pre-intervention period. The ITS analysis did not detect statistically significant trend changes (coefficient: 0.02; 95% CI: −0.01; 0.05) in abortion admission rates in the white girl population group. Conclusion: The hospitalizations in Brazil due to abortions in 10- to 14-year-old girls increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 compared to 2019, and the number of abortions was higher in the non-white population than the white population. Furthermore, recognizing that the implementation of school closure has affected the minority population differentially can help develop more effective actions to face other future similar situations

Disseminated tuberculosis in an immunocompetent 15-year-old adolescent

Tuberculosis is one of the oldest known diseases and it remains one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries. It is associated with social inequalities and affects different age groups. Tuberculosis in children and adolescents should be considered a sentinel event, since it is linked to a recent infection through contact with bacilliferous adults. We report an immunocompetent 15-year-old adolescent with tuberculosis, exhibiting pulmonary, osteoarticular, and cutaneous involvement. Conventional treatment with tuberculostatic drugs for a year had satisfactory results without sequelae