Showing items 1 - 20 of 89

Molecular Detection of Antibiotic-Resistant Genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Nonclinical Environment: Public Health Implications in Mthatha, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

- Mojisola Clara Hosu, Sandeep Vasaikar, Grace Emily Okuthe, Teke Apalata

  • Authors: Mojisola Clara Hosu , Sandeep Vasaikar , Grace Emily Okuthe , Teke Apalata
  • Date: 5 January 2021
  • Subjects: Microbiology
  • Language: English
  • Type: Journal Article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/2417 , vital:41877
  • Description: Evaluation of resistant profiles and detection of antimicrobial-resistant genes of bacterial pathogens in the nonclinical milieu is imperative to assess the probable risk of dissemination of resistant genes in the environment. .is paper sought to identify antibiotic-resistant genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa from nonclinical sources in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, and evaluate its public health implications. Samples collected from abattoir wastewater and aquatic environment were processed by membrane filtration and cultured on CHROMagarTM Pseudomonas medium. Species identification was performed by autoSCAN-4 (Dade Behring Inc., IL). Molecular characterization of the isolates was confirmed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (rPCR) and selected isolates were further screened for the possibility of harboring antimicrobial resistance genes. Fifty-one Pseudomonas species were recovered from abattoir wastewater and surface water samples, out of which thirty-six strains were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (70.6%). .e P. aeruginosa isolates demonstrated resistance to aztreonam (86.1%), ceftazidime (63.9%), piperacillin (58.3%), cefepime (55.6%), imipenem (50%), piperacillin/tazobactam (47.2%), meropenem (41.7%), and levofloxacin (30.6%). Twenty out of thirty-six P. aeruginosa displayed multidrug resistance profiles and were classified as multidrug-resistant (MDR) (55.6%). Most of the bacterial isolates exhibited a high Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) Index ranging from 0.08 to 0.69 with a mean MAR index of 0.38. In the rPCR analysis of fifteen P. aeruginosa isolates, 14 isolates (93.3%) were detected harboring blaSHV, six isolates (40%) harbored blaTEM, and three isolates (20%) harbored blaCTX-M, being the least occurring ESBL. Results of the current study revealed that P. aeruginosa isolates recovered from nonclinical milieu are resistant to frontline clinically relevant antipseudomonal drugs. .is is concerning as it poses a risk to the environment and constitutes a public health threat. Given the public health relevance, the paper recommends monitoring of multidrug-resistant pathogens in effluent environments.
  • Full Text:

Morphology, histology and histochemistry of the digestive tract of the Banded tilapia, Tilapia sparrmanii (Perciformes: Cichlidae)

- Grace E. Okuthe, Bongile Bhomela

  • Authors: Grace E. Okuthe , Bongile Bhomela
  • Date: December 23, 2020
  • Subjects: Fish, gastrointestinal tract, histo-architecture
  • Language: English
  • Type: Journal Article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/2425 , vital:41881
  • Description: ABSTRACT. This study described anatomical, histological and histochemical features of the mucosal layer of the digestive tract of Tilapia sparrmanii Smith, 1840, an omnivorous freshwater fish endemic to Southern Africa. This species exhibited a short thick oesophagus with long deep longitudinal folds (466.68 ± 16.91 µm), and a thick (173.50 ± 10.92 µm) muscular layer that allow the passage of large food items. The mucosa was lined with stratified secretory epithelium rich in goblet cells that secreted neutral and acid mucins. The stomach was a sac-like structure with simple tubular glands surrounded by connective tissue. The mucosa was lined with simple columnar epithelium and the lamina propria exhibited a well-developed layer of gastric glands that occupied the entire length of the cardio-fundic region. The stomach mucosa consisted of epithelial cells with intense neutral mucin secretion which protects against gastric juice. Neck cells of gastric glands synthesized neutral and acid mucins. The intestine was highly coiled and presented a complex pattern of transversal folds internally (villi). Villi length decreased progressively from the anterior to the posterior intestine (p < 0.0001). Tunica muscularis of the mid-intestine had the thinnest thickness among all parts of the intestine (p < 0.0001). Goblet cells whose numbers increased towards the rectum secreted both acid and neutral mucins. The results indicate structural similarities of T. sparrmanii GIT with other tilapia species and will be useful for understanding the physiology of the digestive systems as well as functional components of the GIT.
  • Full Text:

Detection of a SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern in South Africa

- Oluwakemi Laguda-Akingba

  • Authors: Oluwakemi Laguda-Akingba
  • Date: 2021
  • Language: English
  • Type: Journal Article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/4505 , vital:44127
  • Description: Continued uncontrolled transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in many parts of the world is creating conditions for substantial evolutionary changes to the virus1,2. Here we describe a newly arisen lineage of SARS-CoV-2 (designated 501Y.V2; also known as B.1.351 or 20H) that is defined by eight mutations in the spike protein, including three substitutions (K417N, E484K and N501Y) at residues in its receptor-binding domain that may have functional importance3–5. This lineage was identified in South Africa after the first wave of the epidemic in a severely affected metropolitan area (Nelson Mandela Bay) that is located on the coast of the Eastern Cape province. This lineage spread rapidly, and became dominant in Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu– Natal provinces within weeks. Although the full import of the mutations is yet to be determined, the genomic data—which show rapid expansion and displacement of other lineages in several regions—suggest that this lineage is associated with a selection advantage that most plausibly results from increased transmissibility or immune escape6–8.
  • Full Text:

Detection of extended spectrum beta‑lactamase genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from patients in rural Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

- Mojisola C. Hosu, Sandeep D. Vasaikar,, Grace E. Okuthe, Teke Apalata

  • Authors: Mojisola C. Hosu , Sandeep D. Vasaikar, , Grace E. Okuthe , Teke Apalata
  • Date: 2021
  • Language: English
  • Type: Journal Article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/4509 , vital:44128
  • Description: The proliferation of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa represent a major public health threat. In this study, we evaluated the antimicrobial resistance patterns of P. aeruginosa strains and characterized the ESBLs and Metallo- β-lactamases (MBL) produced. Strains of P. aeruginosa cultured from patients who attended Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital and other clinics in the four district municipalities of the Eastern Cape between August 2017 and May 2019 were identified; antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out against thirteen clinically relevant antibiotics using the BioMérieux VITEK 2 and confirmed by Beckman autoSCAN-4 System. Real-time PCR was done using Roche Light Cycler 2.0 to detect the presence of ESBLs; blaSHV, blaTEM and blaCTX-M genes; and MBLs; blaIMP, blaVIM. Strains of P. aeruginosa demonstrated resistance to wide-ranging clinically relevant antibiotics including piperacillin (64.2%), followed by aztreonam (57.8%), cefepime (51.5%), ceftazidime (51.0%), piperacillin/tazobactam (50.5%), and imipenem (46.6%). A total of 75 (36.8%) multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains were observed of the total pool of isolates. The blaTEM, blaSHV and blaCTX-M was detected in 79.3%, 69.5% and 31.7% isolates (n = 82), respectively. The blaIMP was detected in 1.25% while no blaVIM was detected in any of the strains tested. The study showed a high rate of MDR P. aeruginosa in our setting. The vast majority of these resistant strains carried blaTEM and blaSHV genes. Continuous monitoring of antimicrobial resistance and strict compliance towards infection prevention and control practices are the best defence against spread of MDR P. aeruginosa.
  • Full Text:

Evaluation of Intussusception After Oral Monovalent Rotavirus Vaccination in South Africa

- Michelle J. Groome, Nick Andrews, Jacqueline E. Tate, Marion Arnold, Milind Chitnis, Sharon Cox, Corné de Vos, Mari Kirsten, Susanna M. le Grange, Jerome Loveland, Sello Machaea, Ashwini Maharaj, Shabir A. Madhi, Umesh D. Parashar

Insufficient iodine nutrition status and the risk of pre-eclampsia: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

- Charles Bitamazire Businge, Namhla Madini, Benjamin Longo-Mbenza, A P Kengne

Knowledge Policing: Re-conceptualizing Ogun in Peter Omoko’s Battles of Pleasure and Roy-Omoni’s Morontonu

- Olutoba Gboyega Oluwasuji,, Sone Mirabeau Enongene

Neuropsychiatric Genetics of African Populations-Psychosis (NeuroGAPPsychosis): a case-control study protocol and GWAS in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda

- Stevenson, Anne, Zingela, Zukiswa, Akena, Dickens, Stroud, Rocky E, Atwoli, Lukoye, Campbell, Megan M, Chibnik, Lori B, Kwobah, Edith, Kariuki, Symon M, Martin, Alicia R, de Menil, Victoria, Newton, Charles R J C, Sibeko, Goodman, Stein, Dan J, Teferra, Solomon, Koenen, Karestan C

Predictors of institutional delivery service utilization among women of reproductive age in Senegal: a population-based study

- Betregiorgis Zegeye, Bright Opoku Ahinkorah, Dina Idriss-Wheelr, Olanrewaju Oladimeji, Comfort Z. Olorunsaiye, Sanni Yaya

  • Authors: Betregiorgis Zegeye , Bright Opoku Ahinkorah , Dina Idriss-Wheelr , Olanrewaju Oladimeji , Comfort Z. Olorunsaiye , Sanni Yaya
  • Date: 2021
  • Subjects: Institutional delivery, Women, Reproductive age, Senegal, Maternal health, Global health, Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Journal Article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/4496 , vital:44126
  • Description: Background: In Senegal, sub-Saharan Africa, many women continue to die from pregnancy and childbirth complications. Even though health facility delivery is a key intervention to reducing maternal death, utilization is low. There is a dearth of evidence on determinants of health facility delivery in Senegal. Therefore, this study investigated the predictors of health facility-based delivery utilization in Senegal. Methods: Data from the 2017 Senegal Continuous Survey were extracted for this study, and approximately 11,487 ever-married women aged 15–49 years participated. Chi-square test was used to select significant variables and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify statistically significant predictors at a 95% confidence interval with a 0.05 p-value using Stata version 14 software. Results: Facility-based delivery utilization was 77.7% and the main predictors were maternal educational status (primary school Adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 1.44, 95% CI; 1.14–1.83; secondary school aOR = 1.62, 95% CI; 1.17– 2.25), husband’s educational status (primary school aOR = 1.65, 95% CI; 1.24–2.20, secondary school aOR = 2.17, 95% CI; 1.52–3.10), maternal occupation (agricultural-self-employed aOR = 0.77, 95% CI; 0.62–0.96), ethnicity (Poular aOR = 0.74, 95% CI; 0.56–0.97), place of residence (rural aOR = 0.57, 95% CI; 0.43, 0.74), media exposure (yes aOR = 1.26, 95% CI; 1.02–1.57), economic status (richest aOR = 5.27, 95% CI; 2.85–9.73), parity (seven and above aOR =0.46, 95% CI; 0.34–0.62), wife beating attitude (refuse aOR =1.23, 95% CI; 1.05–1.44) and skilled antenatal care (ANC) (yes aOR = 4.34, 95% CI; 3.10–6.08). Conclusion: Uptake of health facility delivery services was seen among women who were educated, exposed to media, wealthy, against wife-beating, attended ANC by skilled attendants and had educated husbands. On the other hand, women from ethnic groups like Poular, those working in agricultural activities, living in rural setting, and those who had more delivery history were less likely to deliver at a health facility. Therefore, there is the need to empower women by encouraging them to use skilled ANC services in order for them to gain the requisite knowledge they need to enhance their utilization of health facility delivery, whiles at the same time, removing socio-economic barriers to access to health facility delivery that occur from low education, poverty and rural dwelling.
  • Full Text:

Protocol for a prospective descriptive prevalence study of catatonia in an acute mental health unit in urban South Africa

- Zingela, Zukiswa, Cronje, Johan, Fink, Max, van Wyk, Stephanus, Stroud, Louise

A mathematical model and application for fire risk management in commercial complexes in South Africa

- Felix Ishola, Victor Oladokun, Omolayo Petinrin, Obafemi Olatunji, Stephen Akinlabi

Assessment of minor psychiatric morbidity, stressors, and barriers of seeking help among medical students at the University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan

- Muwada Bashir Awad Bashir, Sara Omer Abdelazim Mohamed, Claude Ngwayu Nkfusai, Fala Bede, Olanrewaju Oladimeji, Joyce Mahlako Tsoka-Gwegweni, Samuel Nambile Cumber

Bio-Catalysis in Multicomponent Reactions

- Ndze Denis Jumbam, Wayiza Masamba

  • Authors: Ndze Denis Jumbam , Wayiza Masamba
  • Date: 2020
  • Language: English
  • Type: Journal Article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/4694 , vital:44162
  • Full Text:

Change in renal function post-nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma in patients with and without hypertension and/or diabetes

- John, J, Henry, M, Ringoir, A, Pinto, G, Kesner, K, Lazarus, J, Sinha, S

  • Authors: John, J , Henry, M , Ringoir, A , Pinto, G , Kesner, K , Lazarus, J , Sinha, S
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: RCC, Nephrectomy, eGFR, CKD
  • Language: English
  • Type: Journal Article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/6368 , vital:45380
  • Description: BACKGROUND: The standard of care for surgically resectable disease renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a nephrectomy. Post nephrectomy, these patients are at risk for the development of new onset chronic kidney disease or the progression of pre-existing chronic kidney disease. We aimed to report the changes in renal function in patients who had a nephrectomy for RCC METHODS: This retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study identified 137 patients who had a nephrectomy for RCC from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2017. The pre-nephrectomy and post-nephrectomy estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the histological subtype of RCC on histopathological analysis of the resected specimen were recorded from the National Health Laboratory Services online results platform. All analyses were conducted using SPSS (Version 25) and the significance level was set at p < 0.05 RESULTS: After a mean follow-up period of 26.5 ± 22 months (median = 19 months), the patients' eGFR dropped by a mean of 4.82 ± 8.67 ml/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI 3.23-6.41) post-nephrectomy. The mean eGFR fall in patients' who had hypertension and/or diabetes (n = 63) was significantly larger compared to patients who had neither of these comorbidities (n = 54; p < .001; mean = 7.30 ± 8.40 ml/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI 5.19-9.42) and 1.93 ± 8.14 ml/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI 0.30-4.15) respectively CONCLUSIONS: The decline in renal function in patients with hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus is more pronounced than in patients with neither of these comorbidities. In these high-risk patients, measures must be taken to prevent the development and limit the progression of chronic kidney disease
  • Full Text:

Comprehensive data on the mechanical properties and biodegradation profile of polylactide composites developed for hard tissue repairs

- Abraham K. Aworinde, Samson O. Adeosun, Festus A. Oyawale, Eyere Emagbetere, Felix A. Ishola, Obafemi Olatunji, Stephen A. Akinlab, Sunday O. Oyedepo, Oluseyi O. Ajayi, Esther T. Akinlabi

Conditional economic incentives to improve HIV prevention

- Mark K U Pasayan, Adeyinka A Alab, Douglas F Nixon

Corrigendum to “Perinatal maternal depression in rural South Africa: Child outcomes over the first two years”. Journal of Affective Disorders, 247 (2019) 168-174

- Joan Christodoulou, Karl Le Roux, Mark Tomlinson, Ingrid M. Le Roux, Linnea Stansert Katzen, Mary Jane Rotheram-Borus

Cross-sectional study of diabetes kidney disease in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

- Oladele Vincent Adeniyi, Eyitayo Omolara Owolabi

Data on microhardness and structural analysis of friction stir spot welded lap joints of AA5083-H116

- Esther T. Akinlabi, Ayuba S. Osinubi, Nkosinathi Madushele, Stephen A. Akinlabi, Omolayo M. Ikumapayi

Data on microhardness and structural analysis of friction stir spot welded lap joints of AA5083-H116

- Esther T. Akinlabi, Ayuba S. Osinubi, Nkosinathi Madushele, Stephen A. Akinlabi, M. Ikumapayi

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Copyright
  • Contact