scholarly journals Incidence and Molecular Characterization of Hepatitis E Virus from Swine in Eastern Cape, South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olusesan Adeyemi Adelabu ◽  
Benson Chuks Iweriebor ◽  
U. U. Nwodo ◽  
Larry Chikwelu Obi ◽  
Anthony Ifeanyi Okoh
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
The World ◽  
Low Incidence

Hepatitis E virus-mediated infection is a serious public health concern in economically developing nations of the world. Globally, four major genotypes of HEV have been documented. Hepatitis E has been suggested to be zoonotic owing to the increase of evidence through various studies. Thus far, this paper reports on prevalence of hepatitis E virus among swine herd in selected communal and commercial farms in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A total of 160 faecal samples were collected from swine herds in Amathole and Chris Hani District Municipalities of Eastern Cape Province for the presence of HEV. Of the 160 faecal samples screened, only seven were positive (4.4%) for HEV. The nucleotide sequences analyses revealed the isolates as sharing 82% to 99% identities with other strains (KX896664, KX896665, KX896666, KX896667, KX896668, KX896669, and KX896670) from different regions of the world. We conclude that HEV is present among swine in the Eastern Cape Province, albeit in low incidence, and this does have public health implications. There is a need for maintenance of high hygienic standards in order to prevent human infections through swine faecal materials and appropriate cooking of pork is highly advised.

scholarly journals First molecular detection of hepatitis E virus genome in camel and pig faecal samples in Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fufa Dawo Bari ◽  
Haimanot Belete Wodaje ◽  
Umer Said ◽  
Hika Waktole ◽  
Melaku Sombo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Addis Ababa ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Universal Primers ◽  
Viral Gene ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Faecal Samples

Abstract Background Hepatitis E is an enteric and zoonotic disease caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV) that is mainly transmitted via the faecal-oral route through contaminated food or the environment. The virus is an emerging infectious agent causing acute human infection worldwide. A high seroprevalence of the disease was reported in pregnant women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, raising significant public health concern. The presence of HEV specific antibodies were also reported in dromedary camels in the country; however, the infectious virus and/or the viral genome have not been demonstrated to date in animal samples. Methods To address this gap, a total of 95 faecal samples collected from both apparently healthy pigs of uncharacterised types (50 samples) in Burayu and Addis Ababa areas and camels (Camelus dromedarius, 45 samples) in west Hararghe were screened for the presence of HEV genome using universal primers in a fully nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (nRT-PCR). The protocol is capable of detecting HEV in faecal samples from both pigs and camels. Results The nRT-PCR detected HEV genes in six (12%) pig faecal samples and one camel sample (2.2%). Therefore, the results indicate that HEV is circulating in both pigs and camels in Ethiopia and these animals and their products could serve as a potential source of infection for humans. Conclusion The detection of HEV in both animals could raise another concern regarding its public health importance as both animals’ meat and camel milk are consumed in the country. Further studies to determine the prevalence and distribution of the virus in different animals and their products, water bodies, food chain, and vegetables are warranted, along with viral gene sequencing for detailed genetic characterisation of the isolates circulating in the country. This information is critically important to design and institute appropriate control and/or preventive measures.

scholarly journals Molecular Detection and Distribution of Six Medically Important Vibrio spp. in Selected Freshwater and Brackish Water Resources in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluwatayo E. Abioye ◽  
Ayodeji Charles Osunla ◽  
Anthony I. Okoh
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Brackish Water ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Vibrio Vulnificus ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Public Health Importance

Water resources contaminated with pathogenic Vibrio species are usually a source of devastating infection outbreaks that have been a public health concern in both developed and developing countries over the decades. The present study assessed the prevalence of six medically significant Vibrio species in some water resources in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa for 12 months. We detected vibrios in all the 194 water samples analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The prevalence of Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio mimicus, Vibrio fluvialis, Vibrio vulnificus, Vibrio alginolyticus, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus in freshwater samples was 34, 19, 9, 2, 3, and 2%, and that in brackish water samples was 44, 28, 10, 7, 46, and 51%, respectively. The population of the presumptive Vibrio spp. isolated from freshwater (628) and brackish water (342) samples that were confirmed by PCR was 79% (497/628) and 85% (291/342), respectively. Twenty-two percent of the PCR-confirmed Vibrio isolates from freshwater (n = 497) samples and 41% of the PCR-confirmed Vibrio isolates from brackish water samples (n = 291) fall among the Vibrio species of interest. The incidences of V. cholerae, V. mimicus, V. fluvialis, V. vulnificus, V. alginolyticus, and V. parahaemolyticus amidst these Vibrio spp. of interest that were recovered from freshwater samples were 75, 14, 4, 6, 1, and 1%, whereas those from brackish water samples were 24, 7, 3, 3, 47, and 18%, respectively. Our observation during the study suggests pollution as the reason for the unusual isolation of medically important vibrios in winter. Correlation analysis revealed that temperature drives the frequency of isolation, whereas salinity drives the composition of the targeted Vibrio species at our sampling sites. The finding of the study is of public health importance going by the usefulness of the water resources investigated. Although controlling and preventing most of the factors that contribute to the prevalence of medically important bacteria, such as Vibrio species, at the sampling points might be difficult, regular monitoring for creating health risk awareness will go a long way to prevent possible Vibrio-related infection outbreaks at the sampling sites and their immediate environment.

scholarly journals Emergence and rapid spread of a new severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) lineage with multiple spike mutations in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Houriiyah Tegally ◽  
Eduan Wilkinson ◽  
Marta Giovanetti ◽  
Arash Iranzadeh ◽  
Vagner Fonseca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Virus Evolution ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Nelson Mandela ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
The World

SummaryContinued uncontrolled transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in many parts of the world is creating the conditions for significant virus evolution. Here, we describe a new SARS-CoV-2 lineage (501Y.V2) characterised by eight lineage-defining mutations in the spike protein, including three at important residues in the receptor-binding domain (K417N, E484K and N501Y) that may have functional significance. This lineage emerged in South Africa after the first epidemic wave in a severely affected metropolitan area, Nelson Mandela Bay, located on the coast of the Eastern Cape Province. This lineage spread rapidly, becoming within weeks the dominant lineage in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape Provinces. Whilst the full significance of the mutations is yet to be determined, the genomic data, showing the rapid displacement of other lineages, suggest that this lineage may be associated with increased transmissibility.

scholarly journals Outsomes of stroke patients discarged from an in-patient facility in the Eastern Cape, South Africa: a mixed methods design

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Cunningham ◽  
A. Rhoda
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Mixed Methods Design ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Major Health

Statistics have indicated that stroke is a major health concern in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa,

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document