[Editorial: Veterinary education in South Africa].
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Education, Veterinary↗
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German measles vaccine in South Africa.
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Rubella Vaccine↗
Geographical distribution of lung and stomach cancers in South Africa, 1968-1972.
The geographical distribution of lung and stomach cancer among three races in South Africa (Whites, Coloureds and Asians) has been investigated for the years 1968-1972, and the patterns of the occurrence of cases of cancer have been tested stochastically and mapped both separately and together. Information was not available for the Black population. Distinct differences in the distribution of lung and stomach cancer were found. Possible explanations for these differences are discussed.
Black or African American↗
Participatory rural appraisal to investigate constraints in reporting cattle mortalities in the Odi district of North West Province, south Africa.
Mortalities in cattle can have severe financial implications for small scale and communal farmers in South Africa. They could also be a measurable indicator for surveillance of animal diseases, such as those listed by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), or diseases included in the regulations of the South African Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act 35 of 1984). In order to prevent further mortalities and for accurate surveillance and monitoring of diseases, it is important that farmers participate in the determination of causes of mortality in their cattle. This paper reports on constraints of the reporting diseases to the state veterinary services, the study area being Odi district, in the North West Province. The method that was followed was based on participatory rural appraisal. The selected cattle owners participated in every phase. They were the ones who first spoke to veterinary services about ways to decrease the diseases and mortalities of their cattle. A questionnaire to verify the facts complemented the survey. A total number of 60 farmers were randomly selected from 12 villages. One farmer withdrew, leaving 59 farmers. Most of the farmers in the study were men ( n = 55). The area of study was communal and the farming system traditional and extensive. It was suspected that there was a communication problem and this was proven by the results of the research, as 23 farmers were not even aware that mortalities have to be reported by law. The real problem was that causes of death were not being diagnosed because farmers were not aware that a necropsy could give information on the causes of death. Farmers were keen to receive training in elementary necropsy techniques so as to be able to discuss the cause of death of cattle with the state veterinarian.
Adult↗
Morphology and life history of Petasiger variospinosus (trematoda: echinostomatidae) in the Free State, South Africa.
Specimens of the freshwater snail Bulinus tropicus (Krauss, 1848) collected in the Free State, South Africa shed cercariae with an oral collar bearing 27 spines. Tadpoles of the African clawed toad Xenopus laevis laevis Daudin, 1802 collected from the same waters harbored metacercariae with a similar collar of spines. Adults were obtained after feeding infected tadpoles to laboratory-reared reed cormorants, Phalacrocorax africanus (Gmelin, 1789). The parasite was identified as Petasiger variospinosus (Odhner, 1910), the life cycle was experimentally completed, and stages described by the use of light and scanning electron microscopy.
Animals↗
Malnutrition in South Africa: some thoughts on the problem.
With special reference to pellagra and kwahiorkor, malnutirtion in South Africa is discussed in relation to the depth in which it is necessary to study malnutrition before action programmes are instituted; the time lag between research and adequate programmes for action; the importance of taking cultural factors into account in health education and in other applications of research; the importance of dealing with nutritional problems holistically and the limits of the researcher's responsibility. Suggestions regarding the responsibilities of various groups that should be involved in eradicating malnutrition are made.
Black or African American↗
Niacin status of schoolchildren in Transvaal Province, South Africa.
Niacin status was evaluated in groups of school children (n = 25) in Transvaal Province, South Africa, by measuring the urinary excretion of the metabolite 2-pyridone. In an urban Indian group of low socioeconomic status, and a white middle-class group, 12% and 4% respectively exhibited low or deficient levels of the metabolite. In a rural black village, 28% had evidence of low or deficient levels of niacin, even though two of the 3 locally available brands of maize meal (their dietary staple) claimed to be fortified with nicotinamide. It is concluded that external monitoring of the voluntary maize meal fortification scheme will be necessary to effectively combat deficiency of niacin in traditional maize meal consumers.
Child↗
The molecular characterization of influenza virus strains isolated in South Africa during 1993 and 1994.
Influenza A (H3N2) and influenza B viruses isolated recently in South Africa were analysed by partial nucleotide sequencing of the haemagglutinin gene to examine antigenic drift of the isolates relative to the vaccine strains. The genomic analysis of the influenza B isolates revealed a number of differences in the amino acid residues compared with those of the B/Panama/45/90 vaccine strain, and these isolates were found to be antigenically more closely related to B/Quindao/102/91. In both the 1993 and 1994 influenza A (H3N2) isolates significant drift had taken place compared with the H3N2 vaccine strains for those years, emphasizing the need for an influenza vaccine formulated specifically for the southern hemisphere.
Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus↗
Tuberculosis in the Western Cape health region of South Africa.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major health problem in the Western Cape health region of South Africa. The incidence rate (based on notifications) is rising (particularly in coloureds) and the annual risk of infection is static in the highest risk group. Risk factors for infection, particularly as a result of overcrowding, and the number of infectious cases in the community are leading to an increase in the infectious pool. Potential risk factors for TB disease such as poor nutritional status, alcoholism, and unemployment are being exacerbated by the current political instability in the country. Poor patient compliance and several health service impediments have resulted in a large number of patients not being held on treatment until cure. There is a need to recognise that non-medical interventions are the key to a future successful TB control programme.
Black People↗
Smokeless tobacco and cigarette use among black secondary school students in South Africa.
This study was conducted in 2001 with the aim of providing data on black South African secondary school students' tobacco use status, knowledge, and attitudes. The sample included 330 Grade 10 and 382 Grade 12 secondary school pupils chosen at random from six rural secondary schools in one of the regions in the Northern Province of South Africa. Results show a prevalence of 9.1% current smokers among boys and 5% among girls, and 8.4% current snuff users among girls and 3.9% among boys. The mean age of onset to take snuff was 12.5 years and that for smoking cigarettes 14.8 years. Adolescents who reported that some family member or their peers used tobacco were more likely to be users of tobacco. Two-thirds of the current snuff users believed that using snuff was safer than smoking cigarettes. Knowledge was found to be related to attitude but not with tobacco use behavior. Awareness of the adverse effects of such tobacco habits was poor and intervention programs to curb tobacco use is required.
Adolescent↗
Oral health finance and expenditure in South Africa.
The objective of this paper was to examine the cost of oral health in South Africa over the past decade Particular emphasis was placed on the contribution made by medical schemes which is the main source of private health care funding. Some of the problems facing this huge industry were also briefly explored. Primary aggregate data on oral health expenditure were obtained from the Department of Health, Pretoria and from the offices of the Registrar of Medical Schemes, Pretoria. The results show that in 1994, 4.7 per cent of the total health care budget was allocated to oral health. Of this amount, 14.2 per cent came from the state, 71.9 per cent from medical schemes and the remainder calculated to be from direct out-of-pocket payments. Furthermore, real expenditure for oral health by medical schemes grew robustly and almost continuously from 1984 through to 1994, generally outstripping medical inflation.
Dental Care↗
Aspects of the working life of women in the nursing profession in South Africa: survey results.
This article reports on a survey done among nurses registered with the South African Nursing Council. The survey was carried out in the last quarter of 2003. The purpose of the survey was to investigate aspects of the working life of women in the nursing profession in South Africa and to make recommendations on how their working environment could be improved. The important findings were that pay-related issues dominate as the main problem at work. Improving pay scales and being paid according to extra experience, responsibilities and qualifications could improve the nurses' working environment. Furthermore, training opportunities, medical insurance and equal opportunities should be addressed as a matter of urgency. In general, respondents had a positive attitude towards their job, which leaves the impression that nurses still regard their jobs as something they do for the sake of a service to the community and not only for the money they earn.
Adaptation, Psychological↗
Afrotropical Culicoides: C. (Avaritia) loxodontis sp. nov., a new member of the Imicola group (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) associated with the African elephant in the Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Culicoides (Avaritia) loxodontis sp. nov., is described and illustrated from both sexes collected in South Africa. It is the 5th species of the Imicola group of the subgenus Avaritia to be described from the Afrotropical Region, and is presently known only from the Kruger National Park where it has been collected in light-traps and reared from the dung of the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) on various occasions. A number of character states, and statistical analyses of antennal and palpal measurements, are used to separate the new species from its taxonomic congeners C. imicola Kieffer, 1913, C. pseudopallidipennis Clastrier, 1958, C. bolitinos Meiswinkel, 1989 and C. miombo Meiswinkel, 1991. It is suggested that the occurrence of the African elephant is the primary factor that determines the distribution of Culicoides loxodontis sp. nov., and that this close association, coupled with the fact that C. loxodontis sp. nov. can be locally abundant, may result in the cycling of certain arboviruses between this biting midge and the elephant.
Animals↗
Advancing human rights through constitutional protection for gays and lesbians in South Africa.
As a consequence of the 1994 adoption of a justiciable Bill of Rights in South Africa, with an equality provision prohibiting discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation, a coalition of gay and lesbian organisations set about implementing a progressive agenda of gay and lesbian rights litigation. In striking down the offence of sodomy, the Constitutional Court established a jurisprudence of gay and lesbian rights to equality, dignity and privacy that proved to be the foundation for significant litigation around family law issues. Subsequent to the sodomy judgement, the Court has ruled that same-sex couples who are in permanent life partnerships should be entitled to the same rights as married couples to immigration, employment benefits, custody and adoption of children. Despite the extensive equality jurisprudence of the Court, it is still uncertain whether it will rule in the future in favour of same-sex marriage or in favour of a civil union/domestic partnership model.
Federal Government↗
Molecular epidemiology of recently emergent ciprofloxacin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae in South Africa.
OBJECTIVES: Syndromic management guidelines for male urethritis syndrome and female discharge syndrome (nonpregnant) in South Africa advocate the use of ciprofloxacin for potential infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae. In 2003, reports of clinical failure of gonorrhea following ciprofloxacin treatment prompted a clinic-based surveillance to detect the presence of resistant isolates. STUDY: Urethral samples for the isolation of N gonorrhoeae were obtained from consecutive male patients with urethral discharge attending the largest sexually transmitted disease clinic in KwaZuluNatal. Molecular typing of isolates was performed by means of N gonorrhoeae multiantigen sequence typing (NG-MAST). RESULTS: Of 139 isolates, 31 (22%) were resistant to ciprofloxacin (minimum inhibitory concentration >or=1 mg/l). NG-MAST revealed novel, as well as previously described, sequence types (ST). The largest cluster of our isolates belonged to ST 217. This ST has been reported among ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates from Europe. CONCLUSION: : The results underscore the urgency of review of the current treatment guidelines for discharge disease in KwaZuluNatal.
Anti-Infective Agents↗
Trends in reported cases of donovanosis in Durban, South Africa.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate recent trends in reported cases of donovanosis (granuloma inguinale) in Durban, South Africa. DESIGN: The annual reports of the Medical Officer of Health for Durban 1958-1988 were reviewed to identify cases of donovanosis, genital ulcer disease (GUD) and new patients with sexually transmitted diseases (STD). A rapid staining technique for the detection of Donovan bodies was introduced in 1988. SETTING: City Health STD Clinic, King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban. RESULTS: An initial peak was identified in men 1969-1974. A second peak was recorded in 1988 when reported cases of donovanosis (313) were the highest since records commenced. Both peaks were unrelated to either increases in the numbers of new attenders with STD or patients with GUD. CONCLUSION: The recent increase in donovanosis in Durban may reflect either a new epidemic or under-reporting of a disease previously diagnosed on clinical grounds. Improved control of donovanosis, a condition sometimes causing extensive GUD, and which has been implicated in HIV-1 transmission in local men, should be targeted in HIV control programmes.
Adolescent↗
Ixodid ticks on indigenous goats owned by small-scale farmers in four communal grazing areas in South Africa.
Indigenous goats belonging to small-scale farmers in 4 communal grazing areas in South Africa were sampled for ixodid ticks during the period September 1991 to May 1993. Three of these areas were in the North West Province (Rietgat, Madinyane and Bethany), and one in Mpumalanga Province (Geluk). No tick control was practised unless requested by the owners. Seven ixodid tick species, of which the majority were immature ticks, were collected from the goats in North West Province. Amblyomma hebraeum was the most numerous of these, followed by Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi and Rhipicephalus appendiculatus. Substantially more ticks were collected from goats at Rietgat than at the Madinyane and Bethany grazing areas. Five tick species were collected at Geluk and R. evertsi evertsi comprised more than 95 % of the total population. At Rietgat and Geluk A. hebraeum nymphs were present on goats throughout the year, while most R appendiculatus nymphs were collected during September and October 1991 and most adults during January and February 1992. At both Rietgat and Geluk most immature R. evertsi evertsi were collected from spring to late summer, while adults were present throughout the year.
Animals↗
The management of diabetes at primary level in South Africa: the results of a facility-based assessment.
Diabetes is a widespread condition in South Africa and is often managed at primary level health facilities. This study aimed to assess the quality of diabetes management using a rapid assessment approach, focusing on three indicators as proxy measurements of quality: the regularity of blood glucose level (BGL) measurement; the percentage of patients whose BGLs were within 'acceptable' limits (under 10.0 mmol/l) on at least 75% of visits; the rate at which action was taken in response to high BGLs. Five sites were included in the study, including public and private, doctor- and nurse-based facilities. A total of 128 records were examined. Only 33% of all records were found to be well-managed according to the study criteria. None of the individual facilities were found to have more than 40% of patients achieving BGLs within the study limits. Some obstacles to good glycaemic control were costs to patients, transport problems, a lack of health education and shortcomings in clinical expertise. Policy implications and recommendations are suggested.
Blood Glucose↗