The epidemiology of the 2016-2017 African swine fever outbreaks in the Northwest and Free State provinces of South Africa

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a viral disease, which is endemic in most sub-Saharan African countries with warthog and tick vector (Ornithodoros) acting as biological reservoirs of the virus. A high mortality rate is evident among domestic pigs, and international trade becomes negatively affected including swine products. The African Swine Fever outbreak was confirmed by laboratory results issued on the 6th of June 2016. It occurred in the North West Province where smallholder farmers reported deaths in the free-roaming pigs. During the same period, another suspected outbreak of ASF was reported on a farm near Koffiefontein in the Free State. This project aimed at establishing the source of the ASF outbreak in the Free State and North West provinces by conducting an epidemiological assessment, investigating possible risk factors, and assessing the role played by the sylvatic cycle. Face-to-Face interviews and direct observations were used to collect primary data. Affected pigs (n=2 539) were recorded in both provinces. Pigs that succumbed to the ASF virus were (n=880) in Free State and (n=664) in North West province whereas pigs that were culled, in both provinces, were respectively (n=571) and (n=424). Blood samples from live pigs comprised sera (n=174), blood on ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) (n=67), and from dead pigs, tissue samples (n=44) were submitted to the laboratory for analysis. Samples from warthogs namely, EDTA blood (n=2), sera (n=9,) and tissue (n=10) were also submitted to the laboratory. Methods used included virus isolation, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and PCR. Antibody ELISA was used to assess exposure to the African Swine Fever virus (ASFV). The polymerase chain reaction test was used to quantify the prevalence of pig exposure to the ASFV using tissue and EDTA samples. Blood samples on EDTA from domestic pigs (n=67) yielded 23 out of 67 samples (34%) positive for ASFV which suggests that healthy pigs carrying ASFV existed in the affected area. Twenty-six out of 67 (39%) tested negative with the rest, 18 out of 67 (27%) not tested. The tissue samples (n=44) revealed that 23 out of 44 (52%) tested positive and 21 out of 44 (48%) were negative for ASFV. Of the serum samples (n=174), 18 out of 174 (10%) were positive for antibody detection and 138 out of 174 (79%) were negative. From assessments, EDTA samples (n=2) revealed that both samples 2 out of 2 (100%) were positive for ASFV, and tissue samples from warthog’s carcasses (n = 10) revealed that 9 out of 10 (90%) were positive while 1 out of 10 (10%) was negative for ASFV detection. Lastly, serum samples (n = 9) revealed that 7 out of 9 sera (78 %) tested positive while 2 out of 9 sera (22%) tested negative for antibodies against ASFV. To establish the involvement of the sylvatic cycle, sampling of warthog burrows with Ornithodoros moubata was carried out. A total of 88 ticks were recovered from the burrows and the laboratory results demonstrated that 10 out of 88 tick samples (11.4%) collected from warthog burrows in Koffiefontein in the Free State tested positive for ASFV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), 68 out 88 (77.3%) were negative, and 10 out of 88 (10.4%) yielded inconclusive results. The positive results indicated a possibility that the sylvatic cycle has contributed to the dissemination of the ASFV. In addition, the questionnaire and farm observations revealed a lack of biosecurity as a major concern.Agriculture and  Animal HealthM. Sc. Agricultur

Training South African clinician-scientists: Lessons from the University of Cape Town’s intercalated programme

In 2011, the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Cape Town, South Africa (SA), established the Clinician-Scientist Training Programme (UCTCSTP), consisting of intercalated BMedSci Hons/MB ChB and integrated MB ChB/MSc/PhD tracks. We report and reflect on the programme’s performance and challenges. The UCTCSTP has so far enrolled 71 students: 51 have received BMedSci Hons degrees and 4 have received Master’s degrees, while there are 14 BMedSci Hons, 4 MSc and 4 PhD candidates. Graduates have produced significant research outputs, and many remain actively engaged in research. The UCTCSTP has been successful in encouraging a cohort of future clinician-scientists, but should aim to broaden and improve its appeal to address the need to transform and grow the SA clinical academic workforce. As graduates progress with their postgraduate clinical training, they require institutional support and guidance, which may necessitate policy reform

Investigation of African swine fever outbreaks in pigs outside the controlled areas of South Africa, 2012–2017

South Africa historically experienced sporadic African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks in domestic pigs in the northern parts of the country. This was subsequently indicated to be because of spillover from the sylvatic cycle of ASF between warthog and tampans (soft ticks) in the area. South Africa declared this area an ASF-controlled area in 1935, and the area is still controlled in terms of the Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act 35 of 1984). Two main epidemics of ASF in domestic pigs were identified outside of the South African ASF-controlled area. The first occurred in 2012 with outbreaks in Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces, and the second occurred in 2016–2017 with outbreaks in the North West, Free State and Northern Cape provinces. These were the first ASF epidemics in South Africa associated with transmission of the disease via a domestic cycle. This study found that the spread of ASF in these epidemics was mainly via auctions, swill feeding and scavenging. These three aspects need to be addressed in terms of awareness and education on the disease including implementation of biosecurity measures in order to prevent future ASF outbreaks in South Africa. Specific biosecurity measures should be implemented in the semi-commercial sector to prevent ASF-infected pigs and pig products from being moved to naïve pigs and therefore spreading the disease.The South African Pork Producers Organisationhttp://www.jsava.co.zaam2020Production Animal StudiesVeterinary Tropical Disease

Inflammatory Cytokine Profiles of Semen Influence Cytokine Responses of Cervicovaginal Epithelial Cells

Genital inflammatory cytokine responses increase HIV risk. Since male partner semen is a complex mixture of immune-modulatory prostaglandins and cytokines, we hypothesized that exposure to semen may influence genital inflammation in women. Here, we investigated cytokine response kinetics of cervical cells following stimulation with seminal plasma from HIV-negative and HIV-positive men characterized as having low or high concentrations of inflammatory cytokines. Irrespective of the HIV status or semen cytokine profile, in vitro stimulation of cervical cells with seminal plasma resulted in significantly elevated concentrations of secreted IL-6, IL-8, TNF-β, MCP-1, GM-CSF, and VEGF within 8 h of stimulation, which tended to decline by 24 h, although this was only significant for TNF-β. Consistent with this, cervical cells responded to seminal plasma with increases in IL-8 and IL-1β mRNA expression of 10-fold. These findings suggest that the impact of semen on local female genital cytokines is likely transient. Although these findings suggest that the impact of semen on local female genital cytokines may not be sustained long-term, this heightened genital inflammation may have implications for HIV risk in women

The roots of factional tensions over the ANC government's policies in the ruling alliance in South Africa

An enduring question concerning the ruling tripartite alliance led by the ANC in South Africa is how such a powerful united liberation movement, which succeeded in defeating the apartheid system to assume governmental control, was torn by ideological divisions in its midst? The objective of this study is to investigate the causes of the disunity within the governing ANC alliance that culminated with the dismissal of the then President Thabo Mbeki from office in 2008. The thesis examines why the ANC alliance’s “revolutionary” language that had largely unified it during the protracted racial liberation struggle proved most divisive in the post-apartheid period. The inquiry utilises the analytical framework of the alternative functions of ideology to analyse the development of the ANC’s ideological perspectives. The study argues that the ANC-led alliance’s “revolutionary” language is inherently ambiguous. The research excavates the origins of the imprecise ANC’s “two-stage theory” of revolution. It highlights how the theory of the “National Democratic Revolution” used to depict the first stage of liberation and its assumed programme, the Freedom Charter are contentious. The study contends that the inherent inconsistencies in the ANC alliance’s “revolutionary” language were mirrored in trenchant factional ideological disagreements. Using “critical discourse” analysis, the thesis explains how the inherited “revolutionary” language enabled contending factions within the alliance to make contradictory and divisive interpretations of the ideological complexion of ANC government’s policies. Furthermore, the investigation demonstrates how such a language allowed successive ANC governments to adopt the “Keynesian-reformism” discourse used to rationalise the Neo-liberal macroeconomic policy framework. The thesis contends that the incoherent nature of ANC-led alliance’s “revolutionary” language was also expedient for government to promote the interests of the emerged black capitalists in the post-apartheid period. The Mbeki-Zuma leadership struggle found fertile ground cultivated by prior intra-ANC alliance factional disagreements. It thus apparent that the on-going factional disagreements in the ruling ANC-led alliance over the ideological content of government policies, if not resolved, would continue to impact negatively on their implementation

Measuring the costs of implementing the former carbon tax for Australian liable entities

The implementation of the carbon tax (formally referred to as carbon pricing scheme) on 1July2012 was part of Australia :S commitment to stabilise greenhouse emissions in an effort to mitigate climate change. This study examines the implementation compliance costs of the Australian carbon tax for liable entities, for the period up until 30 June 2012. The study assesses the magnitude of the implementation costs of a new tax, thus contributing to the compliance costs literature. A survey of 50 /iable entities undertaken in September 2012 and telephone interviews with 10 of these entities conducted in April 2013 estimated the start-up compliance costs at AUD 1, 795, 762 per liable entity. Although the majority of respondents (60 per cent) supported the Government :S plan for a clean energy future, most of these enterprises (65 per cent) found the carbon fax complex. Despite the high gross carbon tax start-up compliance costs, fiable entities (56 per cent) a/so identified potential benefits of the implementation of the carbon tax. This investigation has important political, economic and environmental benefits for countries seeking to introduce a carbon tax or similar taxes

Small business managerial benefits derived from the implementation of the Australian tax reform

This paper discusses small business managerial benefits for the year 2003, arising from the Australian tax reform implementation requirements of the 1 July, 2000. Although small business GST start-up compliance costs were high, after around three years of the GST implementation, some small businesses reported managerial benefits. The results of structured face to face interviews with thirteen small business participants showed that overall, estimated average small business managerial benefit was $4,639 per small business. This represented around 59 per cent of mean gross GST start-up compliance costs of$7,888 per small business. Small business managerial benefit arising from the use of computers and software was valued at $3,027, offsetting around 96 per cent of equipment GST start-up compliance costs. Some small business participants also reported savings in accounting fees, estimated at$3,313 per annum. The benefit of small businesses doing their own accounts was estimated at $6,330 per annum. Overall, the results of this study support the claim by Government and 34 per cent of the surveyed small businesses (for GST start-up compliance cost study) that the GST would in the long-run, provide managerial benefit for small businesses

Attitudes of higher education students to business ownership: Lessons and experiences from the university of botswana students

This paper discusses Botswana women students' attitudes to business ownership and barriers thereto. Data was obtained from a survey of seventy six University of Botswana women students and a focus group discussion with ten of these women. A five Likert attitude scale was used to measure and summarise the women students' attitudes to business ownership. A majority (78.9 per cent) strongly agreed to the statement "business owners deserve every penny they get", followed by "Botswana can be proud about its business owners" (75 per cent). The women students (67 per cent) also disagreed that "in Botswana society, it is generally believed that it is difficult for a woman to have a career outside home, let alone own a business". Overall, a majority of respondents (84 per cent) listed "shortage of money" as one of the problems in business start-up. Their socio-cultural status in accessing land and finance was identified as an impediment to their business start-up aspirations. In conclusion, building of awareness among women through education, training, and the media about business ownership as an economic option is suggested

Small and medium sized enterprises' (SMEs) tax policy proposals arising from compliance with the Australian goods and services tax

This paper presents some major policy proposals for the Australian government and other international countries yet to introduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST)1 or any new tax. These recommendations are drawn from findings on the overall SMEs GST start-up compliance costs and their resultant managerial benefits research conducted in 2000 and 2003 respectively. Findings are discussed within the context of this study's major objectives, expressing an international perspective. With high SMEs GST start-up compliance costs, how can governments minimise GST start-up compliance costs or alleviate SMEs compliance costs for future taxes? Conclusions highlighting limitations and further research are made