Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “AFRICA, EASTERN”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 811 records · Page 45Linked to original sources
PubMed2022

Genetic structure correlates with ethnolinguistic diversity in eastern and southern Africa.

African populations are the most diverse in the world yet are sorely underrepresented in medical genetics research. Here, we examine the structure of African populations using genetic and comprehensive multi-generational ethnolinguistic data from the Neuropsychiatric Genetics of African Populations-Psychosis study (NeuroGAP-Psychosis) consisting of 900 individuals from Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda. We find that self-reported language classifications meaningfully tag underlying genetic variation that would be missed with consideration of geography alone, highlighting the importance of culture in shaping genetic diversity. Leveraging our uniquely rich multi-generational ethnolinguistic metadata, we track language transmission through the pedigree, observing the disappearance of several languages in our cohort as well as notable shifts in frequency over three generations. We find suggestive evidence for the rate of language transmission in matrilineal groups having been higher than that for patrilineal ones. We highlight both the diversity of variation within Africa as well as how within-Africa variation can be informative for broader variant interpretation; many variants that are rare elsewhere are common in parts of Africa. The work presented here improves the understanding of the spectrum of genetic variation in African populations and highlights the enormous and complex genetic and ethnolinguistic diversity across Africa.

Africa, Southern↗
PubMed2004

Engineering RENTA, a DNA prime-MVA boost HIV vaccine tailored for Eastern and Central Africa.

For the development of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccines, traditional approaches inducing virus-neutralizing antibodies have so far failed. Thus the effort is now focused on elicitation of cellular immunity. We are currently testing in clinical trials in the United Kingdom and East Africa a T-cell vaccine consisting of HIV-1 clade A Gag-derived immunogen HIVA delivered in a prime-boost regimen by a DNA plasmid and modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA). Here, we describe engineering and preclinical development of a second immunogen RENTA, which will be used in combination with the present vaccine in a four-component DNA/HIVA-RENTA prime-MVA/HIVA-RENTA boost formulation. RENTA is a fusion protein derived from consensus HIV clade A sequences of Tat, reverse transcriptase, Nef and gp41. We inactivated the natural biological activities of the HIV components and confirmed immunogenicities of the pTHr.RENTA and MVA.RENTA vaccines in mice. Furthermore, we demonstrated in mice and rhesus monkeys broadening of HIVA-elicited T-cell responses by a parallel induction of HIVA- and RENTA-specific responses recognizing multiple HIV epitopes.

AIDS Vaccines↗
PubMed1998

Simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs) from eastern and southern Africa: detection of a SIVagm variant from a chacma baboon.

Simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs) have been shown to infect many Old World African primate species. Thus far, no work has been published on southern African primates. In this study we investigated the genetic diversity between SIV strains from Kenyan and South African vervets (Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus). We amplified and sequenced a 1113 bp region of the env gene. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences showed that all strains clustered with members of the vervet subgroup of SIVagm. The SIVs from South African vervets differed by 7% from each other and by 8-14% from the Kenyan SIV strains, while the Kenyan SIV strains differed by 10-21% from SIVagm of other east African vervets. We also isolated and sequenced, for the first time, a SIV strain from a healthy chacma baboon (Papio ursinus), caught in South Africa. Phylogenetic analysis of the env region showed the virus to be closely related to the South African vervet SIV strains, while analysis of its pol region confirmed the virus to be a SIVagm variant.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Population dynamics and density-dependent seasonal mortality indices of the tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus in eastern and southern Africa.

Eight sets of previously published data on the seasonal abundance of the tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus in Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania and Zimbabwe are analysed to yield seasonal mortality indices. Correlations between these indices and abiotic (climatic) and biotic (tick density) variables suggest that it is the stage from females to larvae that is most sensitive to adverse abiotic conditions, specifically low moisture availability. Mortality at the other stages of the tick's life cycle is strongly density-dependent. The precise nature of this density-dependence suggests that it may be caused by acquired resistance to ticks by cattle. Robust correlations between satellite-derived vegetation indices, climatic factors and mortality indices suggest that detailed climatic data, often unavailable, may be replaced by satellite data, now widely available, for use in modelling tick populations.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

A cluster randomized-controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of Stepping Stones in preventing HIV infections and promoting safer sexual behaviour amongst youth in the rural Eastern Cape, South Africa: trial design, methods and baseline findings.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the study design, methods and baseline findings of a behavioural intervention trial aimed at reducing HIV incidence. METHOD: A cluster randomized-controlled trial (RCT) conducted in 70 villages in rural South Africa. A behavioural intervention, Stepping Stones, was implemented in 35 communities in two workshops of 20 men and 20 women in each community who met for 17 sessions (50 h) over a period of 3-12 weeks. Individuals in the control arm communities attended a single session of about 3 h on HIV and safer sex. Impact assessment was conducted through two questionnaire and serological surveys at 12-month intervals. The primary outcome was HIV incidence and secondary measures included changes in knowledge, attitude and sexual behaviours. Qualitative research was also undertaken with 10 men and 10 women from two sites receiving the intervention (one rural and one urban) and five men and five women from one village in the control arm. They were interviewed individually three times prior to the workshops and then 9-12 months later. RESULTS: A total of 2776 participants (1409 intervention and 1367 control) were enrolled at baseline and had an interview, and HIV sero-status was established. HIV baseline prevalence rates in women were 9.8% in the intervention arm and 12.8% in the control arm. In men the prevalence was 1.7% in the intervention arm and 2.1% in the control arm. Demographic and behavioural characteristics were similar in the two arms. In the intervention groups 59.9% of participants attended more than 75% of the sessions. In the control group 66.3% attended the control session. CONCLUSION: This is the third RCT to be conducted in sub-Saharan Africa evaluating a behavioural intervention using HIV incidence as a primary outcome. It is of particular interest as the intervention in question is used in many developing countries. There is good baseline comparability between the study arms and the process data on the workshops suggested that the interventions were feasible and adequately implemented.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

History of veterinary public health in the Eastern Mediterranean and Africa.

Brucellosis, rabies, salmonellosis, anthrax and hydatidosis are among the main zoonotic diseases which constitute a threat to human health and welfare. Surveillance, prevention and control of such zoonoses and related food-borne diseases are problems of considerable magnitude. Despite their obvious importance, relatively few systematic control efforts have been made by national authorities. Major constraints include the scarcity of public health veterinarians and related sub-professional staff to plan and implement adequate surveillance and control of zoonoses, and the lack of appropriate legislation and adequate laboratory services. Veterinarians have been contributing to public health for many years, but despite considerable efforts by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and other organisations in establishing veterinary public health (VPH) programmes over several decades, the veterinarian as a career specialist in public health is a relatively new phenomenon. In the last decade, emphasis has been placed on: --supporting the training and development of human resources to promote VPH services and cover all its components --promoting and upgrading national epidemiological surveillance and control programmes for the major zoonotic and food-borne diseases --cooperating and assisting in local production of safe and effective vaccines, primarily for the control of rabies and brucellosis. The most encouraging aspects of the present situation is the growing awareness among governments of the need to develop programmes for the control of zoonoses and related food-borne diseases.

Africa↗
PubMed2003

Traditional remedies in children around Eastern Cape, South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: To gauge the views of mothers and other caregivers on the use of traditional remedies in the community. DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: Five health centres affiliated to the UNITRA, Faculty of Health Sciences. METHODS: Medical students administered a questionnaire to mothers and other caregivers. Areas covered included how commonly traditional remedies are used, experience with traditional remedies in children, reasons for use, how administered, and problems encountered. RESULTS: There were 103 respondents, 7.8% rated use of traditional remedies non-existent, 20.4% rated it as rare and the rest said it was common. 57.3% of the respondents had used these remedies in their children, and 83.1% of them said they would use them again. Only 20.7% of respondents reported problems with these remedies, including diarrhoea, vomiting, fever and death. The preparations used were known by only 40.7% of respondents. The remedies were administered by the mother and grandmother in 82.8% of cases; and were mainly given orally, by enema or by scarification. The amount administered varied from spoonful(s) up to 2.5 l. Children of all ages were given traditional remedies, usually for diarrhoea, fevers and constipation, or as prophylactics. These remedies were used because they are effective, available and safe, or due to customary beliefs and pressure from others. CONCLUSION: The use of traditional remedies in children is common in communities around Umtata. There is need to study the composition and activity profiles of commonly used preparations so as to develop appropriate management protocols in case of toxicity.

Caregivers↗
PubMed2005

Incidence of HIV infection at the time of incident reporting, in victims of sexual assault, between 2000 and 2004, in Transkei, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: HIV/AIDS epidemic and sexual assault have emerged as the most serious public health problems in South Africa. The country has about 5-million HIV infected individuals. About a million women are raped every year. OBJECTIVES: To study the incidence of HIV infection in victims of sexual assaults. DESIGN: This is a retrospective descriptive study. There were 831 victims of sexual assault, who attended the Sinawe Centre during the 5-year (2000-2004) study period. Sinawe Centre is the only unit in this area which deals with cases of sexual assaults. Data were analyzed using PRISM R computer program. METHODS: This is a retrospective descriptive study. There were 831 victims of sexual assault, who attended the Sinawe Centre during the 5-year (2000-2004) study period. Sinawe Centre is the only unit in this area which deals with cases of sexual assaults. Data were analyzed using PRISM R computer program. RESULTS: Eight hundred and thirty one cases of sexual assaults (rape) were reported in last 5-years (2000-2004). Increase in sexual assaults by three-times, and one-and-half-fold increase in HIV seropositivity has recorded over the period of 5 years. In 2000, 76 (9.7%) sexual assault cases were registered, and in 2004, 237 (28.5%) cases. Of them, 443 (53.3%) were children under 15-years of age. A total of 114 (13.7%) tested positive for HIV, and 23 (2.7%) were children less than 15 years. In 2000, only 8 (10.5%) tested positive for HIV, and this had climbed to 39 (16.5%) in 2004. There is significant difference in HIV seropositivity among children compared to adults, p<0.05, and Paired t=3.45 with 3df. CONCLUSION: There is an increasing incidence of HIV infection among victims of sexual assaults in this study.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Isolation of Mycoplasma hominis from genital ulcerations of patients in Eastern and Southern Africa.

In three separate surveys involving 413 patients in Mbabane (Swaziland), Nairobi (Kenya), and Carletonville (South Africa), Mycoplasma hominis was isolated from the base of ulcers in 41 (16%) of 251 men with genital ulcer disease. Antibodies to M. hominis were detected by indirect hemagglutination in 89 (51%) of 176 such patients. Of these male patients, 15% and 6% had indirect hemagglutinating antibodies at titers of greater than or equal to 160 and greater than or equal to 640, respectively. The rate of isolation of M. hominis and the results of serologic tests for antibodies to this organism were the same whether or not a cause of genital ulcer disease was identified.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1981

Rhipicephalus zambeziensis sp. Nov., a new tick from eastern and southern africa, together with a redescription of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neumann, 1901 (Acarina, Ixodidae).

All stages of Rhipicephalus zambeziensis sp. nov. are described from laboratory-reared specimens of a strain originating from cattle near West Nicholson, Gwanda District, Zimbabwe. The redescription of all stages of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus is based primarily on laboratory-reared specimens of a strain originating from a mountain reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula), Loskop Dam Nature Reserve, Transvaal, Republic of South Africa. The differences between these 2 species are discussed briefly. Details of the life cycle of R. zambeziensis under laboratory conditions are given, and attempts to cros-breed this species with R. appendiculatus are described and discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Mobility and the spread of human immunodeficiency virus into rural areas of West Africa.

BACKGROUND: In eastern and southern Africa, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic appeared first in urban centres and then spread to rural areas. Its overall prevalence is lower in West Africa, with the highest levels still found in cities. Rural areas are also threatened, however, because of the population's high mobility. We conducted a study in three different communities with contrasting infection levels to understand the epidemiology of HIV infection in rural West Africa. METHOD: A comparative cross-sectional study using a standardized questionnaire and biological tests was conducted among samples in two rural communities of Senegal (Niakhar and Bandafassi, 866 and 952 adults, respectively) and a rural community of Guinea-Bissau (Caio, 1416 adults). We compared the distribution of population characteristics and analysed risk factors for HIV infection in Caio at the individual level. RESULTS: The level of HIV infection was very low in Niakhar (0.3%) and Bandafassi (0.0%), but 10.5% of the adults in Caio were infected, mostly with HIV type 2 (HIV-2). Mobility was very prevalent in all sites. Short-term mobility was found to be a risk factor for HIV infection among men in Caio (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.06; 95% CI: 1.06-3.99). Women from Caio who reported casual sex in a city during the past 12 months were much more likely to be infected with HIV (aOR = 5.61 95% CI: 1.56-20.15). Short-term mobility was associated with risk behaviours at all sites. CONCLUSIONS: Mobility appears to be a key factor for HIV spread in rural areas of West Africa, because population movement enables the virus to disseminate and also because of the particularly risky behaviours of those who are mobile. More prevention efforts should be directed at migrants from rural areas who travel to cities with substantial levels of HIV infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Hygiene status of rural communities in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

A descriptive study was conducted to determine hygiene status of rural communities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, using a purposive sample of 145 villagers: 71 male and 74 female. Participants were divided into 14 groups (by community) and group interviews were conducted with them. Communities neither had enough water (92.9%) nor treated drinking water (71.4%); sizeable numbers did not store drinking water safely; threw waste water away (92.9%) and solid waste in the rubbish pit (78.6%); where there are no toilets, they relieved themselves in the veld; children <12 years generally did not use toilets (71.4%). Communities washed hands after changing baby's nappy (78.6%), before handling food (57.1%), before eating (50.0%), after a visit to the toilet (92.9%), after touching animals (57.1%) and when they wake up (92.9%); and did not take a full body wash daily (71.4%). The results have implications for policy-makers, programme planners, academics and practitioners in the field.

Female↗
PubMed1964

MAN'S ANCESTORS.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Africa↗