High Efficacy of Two Artemisinin-Based Combinations (Artesunate + Amodiaquine and Artemether + Lumefantrine) in Caala, Central Angola.

In April 2004, 137 children 6-59 months of age with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) malaria (Caala, Central Angola) were randomized to receive either artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem) or artesunate + amodiaquine (ASAQ). After 28 days of follow-up, there were 2/61 (3.2%) recurrent parasitemias in the Coartem group and 4/64 (6.2%) in the ASAQ group (P = 0.72), all classified as re-infections after PCR genotyping (cure rate = 100% [95%CI: 94-100] in both groups). Only one patient (ASAQ group) had gametocytes on day 28 versus five (Coartem) and three (ASAQ) at baseline. Compared with baseline, anemia was significantly improved after 28 days of follow-up in both groups (Coartem: from 54.1% to 13.4%; ASAQ: from 53.1% to 15.9%). Our findings are in favor of a high efficacy of both combinations in Caala. Now that Coartem has been chosen as the new first-line anti-malarial, the challenge is to insure that this drug is available and adequately used

Pigs as a potential source of emerging livestock-associated Staphylococcus aureus in Africa: a systematic review

Objective: To assess the emergence of livestock-associated Staphylococcus aureus including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in the pig and pork production systems in Africa for the past two decades. Methods: PubMed and African Journals OnLine were searched for relevant primary studies from 2000 to 2019 using standardized key words. In total, 19 eligible articles were included in this review. Results: The prevalence of S. aureus including MRSA ranged from 0% to 55% among live pigs and raw pork, and from 9.4% to 30.8% among pig farm and abattoir workers. Risk factors associated with S. aureus carriage among workers were: male gender, working in an abattoir, and medical-related occupation of a household member. S. aureus and MRSA from pigs and pork production systems in Africa are potentially pathogenic with diverse spa types and clonal complexes, with genes encoding antimicrobial resistance, heavy metal resistance, and virulence factors including secreted and enterotoxins, proteases and immune evasion cluster. The typical livestock-associated S. aureus CC398 and mecC genes were reported in two studies. Conclusion: Pigs are a potential source of the emerging livestock-associated S. aureus in Africa. Continued monitoring using a 'One Health' approach is recommended for effective infection prevention and control of these infections in Africa

An Assessment of the Risk Factors Associated with Disease Outbreaks across Tilapia Farms in Central and Southern Zambia

The study investigated the management practices that contribute to disease outbreaks in farmed tilapia in Lusaka and central and southern provinces in Zambia. It was a cross-sectional qualitative study undertaken from January to March 2021 in which questionnaires were administered to 49 farmers to assess their fish health management and biosecurity competence. Data were analysed using means, percentages, ratios, and logistical regression. The results showed that the majority of the farms had high stocking densities (>8 fish/m2, 44.4%), reared Nile tilapia (67.7%), and sourced water for farming from rivers and streams (45.7%). A few farmers measured water quality parameters daily (16.7%) and removed dead fish from ponds daily (20.8%). The stocking density (p = 0.013), fish species (p = 0.031), dead fish disposal methods (p = 0.023), and control of predator birds (p = 0.016) influenced the total mortality recorded on farms, while pond type (p = 0.031 and p = 0.045), water source (p = 0.023), and stocking density (p = 0.027) influenced the duration of a mortality episode. It is evident that some fish health management practices and biosecurity concepts among tilapia farmers in the study area are inadequate and may not contain disease outbreaks or the spread of pathogens