29 research outputs found
Reviews
Peter Jarvis, Universities and Corporate Universities: The Higher Education Industry in Global Society, London: Kogan Page, 2001. ISBN: 0–7494–3404‐X. Softback, x + 166 pages, £19.99
An investigation of social dynamics in Cape buffalo and implications for disease transmission at wildlife/domestic interfaces in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area
In this work experimental analysis was carried out between incidence angle an
Kerr signal intensity, that influences in the hystereteresis shape behavior, which
establishes a direct relationship between both for longitudinal configuration on
the Kerr Magnetometer. The results show a better behavior of the curve for the
defined range from 10° to 60° of incident angle.En este trabajo se realiza un análisis experimental de la relación entre el ángulo de incidencia y la intensidad de la señal Kerr, que influye en la forma del ciclo de histéresis, planteándose una relación directa entre ambos para la configuración longitudinal en el magnetómetro Kerr. Los resultados obtenidos evidencian un mejor comportamiento de dicha curva para el rango comprendido entre 10° y 60 ° del ángulo de incidencia
Spatial and seasonal patterns of FMD primary outbreaks in cattle in Zimbabwe between 1931 and 2016
Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is an important livestock disease impacting mainly intensive production systems. In southern Africa, the FMD virus is maintained in wildlife and its control is therefore complicated. However, FMD control is an important task to allow countries access to lucrative foreign meat market and veterinary services implement drastic control measures on livestock populations living in the periphery of protected areas, negatively impacting local small-scale livestock producers. This study investigated FMD primary outbreak data in Zimbabwe from 1931 to 2016 to describe the spatio-temporal distribution of FMD outbreaks and their potential drivers. The results suggest that: (i) FMD outbreaks were not randomly distributed in space across Zimbabwe but are clustered in the Southeast Lowveld (SEL); (ii) the proximity of protected areas with African buffalos was potentially responsible for primary FMD outbreaks in cattle; (iii) rainfall per se was not associated with FMD outbreaks, but seasons impacted the temporal occurrence of FMD outbreaks across regions; (iv) the frequency of FMD outbreaks increased during periods of major socio-economic and political crisis. The differences between the spatial clusters and other areas in Zimbabwe presenting similar buffalo/cattle interfaces but with fewer FMD outbreaks can be interpreted in light of the recent better understanding of wildlife/livestock interactions in these areas. The types of wildlife/livestock interfaces are hypothesized to be the key drivers of contacts between wildlife and livestock, triggering a risk of FMD inter-species spillover. The management of wildlife/livestock interfaces is therefore crucial for the control of FMD in southern Africa
Transmission studies on Trichinella species isolated from Crocodylus niloticus and efficacy of fenbendazole and levamisole against muscle L1 stages in Balb C mice
Forty four Balb C mice, aged 18 weeks were infected with crocodile ( Crocodylus
niloticus)-derived Trichinella species. Of the infected mice, 32 were
randomly divided into two groups each containing equal numbers of males
and females; levamisole treated group and fenbendazole treated group.
Each group was randomly subdivided into two subgroups as follows:
levamisole group (subgroup 1: treated with levamisole on day 35 post
infection and subgroup 2: treated with levamisole on days 35 and 42 post
infection) and fenbendazole group (subgroup 1: treated with fenbendazole
on day 35 post infection and subgroup 2: treated with fenbendazole on
days 35 and 42 post infection). The first sub-groups treated on day 35
post infection were slaughtered on day 42 post infection and the second
subgroups were treated on days 35 and 42 post infection and slaughtered
on day 49 post infection. Two female mice were infected a day after
mating and were slaughtered together with the offspring on day 64
post-infection. Ten infected control mice were given 1 ml distilled
water orally as placebo, and five of these were slaughtered on day 42 post
infection. The results showed that the mean reproductive capacity index
of this strain (RCI) in Balb C mice was 110. There was a significant
reduction ( P<0.01) in larval counts in the single treatment groups (day
35) and in the double treatment groups (days 35 and 42) for both
anthelmintics when compared the number of parasites in the control
groups. After a single treatment, levamisole reduced the infection by
79.9% and fenbendazole by 76.7%. Following double treatments, levamisole
reduced the infection by 95.5% and fenbendazole by 99.1%. There was
evidence that the infected pregnant mice transmitted the parasite to
their offspring. It is not certain whether the parasite was transmitted
congenitally or transmammary. Alternative ways of controlling the
parasite in crocodile farms in Zimbabwe are discussed.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi.
Adobe Acrobat v.9 was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.Research Board of the University of Zimbabwe.mn201
Serological detection of infection with canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus and canine adenovirus in communal dogs from Zimbabwe
Domestic dogs are common amongst communities in sub-Saharan Africa and may serve as important reservoirs for infectious agents that may cause diseases in wildlife. Two agents of concern are canine parvovirus (CPV) and canine distemper virus (CDV), which may infect and cause disease in large carnivore species such as African wild dogs and African lions, respectively. The impact of domestic dogs and their diseases on wildlife conservation is increasing in Zimbabwe, necessitating thorough assessment and implementation of control measures. In this study, domestic dogs in north-western Zimbabwe were evaluated for antibodies to CDV, CPV, and canine adenovirus (CAV). These dogs were communal and had no vaccination history. Two hundred and twenty-five blood samples were collected and tested using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antibodies to CPV, CDV, and CAV. Of these dogs, 75 (34%) had detectable antibodies to CDV, whilst 191 (84%) had antibodies to CPV. Antibodies to canine adenovirus were present in 28 (13%) dogs. Canine parvovirus had high prevalence in all six geographic areas tested. These results indicate that CPV is circulating widely amongst domestic dogs in the region. In addition, CDV is present at high levels. Both pathogens can infect wildlife species. Efforts for conservation of large carnivores in Zimbabwe must address the role of domestic dogs in disease transmission
Mycoplasma-associated polyarthritis in farmed crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) in Zimbabwe
Outbreaks of polyarthritis in farmed crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) on five farms in Zimbabwe are described.
Cases were reported only among the rearing stock aged 1-3 years. No breeding stock suffered. Morbidity was
about 10% and the mortality even lower. All the sick animals consistently displayed swollen limb joints as well as
progressive lameness and paresis. The synovial structures in subacute cases contained mycoplasmas and excess
turbid mucus which, at a later stage of the disease, became yellowish, inspissated and sterile. Cellular changes
in the joint capsule included oedema, necrosis of the superficial layers of membrane, lymphocytic infiltration and
fibrosis. Evidence of pneumonia was observed only at necropsies.
Fifteen isolates of Mycoplasma were cultured from the clinical specimens collected from the four sick and three
dead crocodiles. The affected joints of all these animals yielded Mycoplasma in pure culture, but the culture from
lungs yielded post-mortem invaders also. The sick animals were treated with a single intramuscular injection of
long-acting tetracycline(10 mg/kg), and oxytetracycline mixed in feed at 550 mg/kg was fed for 10 d. The treatment
appeared to be effective in ameliorating the clinical signs, but in some cases inflammatory swelling persisted.
All 15 the isolates conformed to the characteristics of the genus Mycoplasma, and were serologically indistinguishable
in growth-inhibition (GI) tests. Although these isolates shared the main biochemical characteristics of Mycoplasma
capricolum, they differed serologically. Also goats were refractory to experimental infection with crocodile
strains. In crocodile yearlings, however, the disease was reproduced with an isolate from one of the affected farms.
The source of infection remained elusive. The farmers suspected poultry meat fed to the crocodiles to be the source.
However, GI tests failed to identify the isolates as one of the pathogenic glucose-metabolizing avian mycoplasmas.
This appears to be a first report of isolation of Mycoplasma from crocodiles and also of its association in disease.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi.
Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.mn201