Genetic diversity and population genetics of Schistosoma haematobium isolated from children in Lusaka and Siavonga districts, Zambia.

Urogenital schistosomiasis remains a pervasive health challenge in rural Zambian communities. This study explores the molecular epidemiology and genetic diversity of Schistosoma haematobium using mitochondrial genes (cox1 and nadh1). Urine samples from 421 children in Siavonga and Lusaka districts, Zambia, were collected between December 2020 and February 2022.

Cross-sectional study to investigate the seroprevalence and risk factors of among women attending the antenatal clinic in Namwala, Zambia.

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by . It has a wide host range and is capable of vertical transmission in pregnant women, which may lead to undesirable pregnancy outcomes such as congenital malformations, miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth. This study investigated the seroprevalence of infection among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at Namwala District Hospital in Southern Zambia.

Occurrence and factors associated with Cryptosporidium infection in livestock in three districts of Zambia.

Cryptosporidium is one of the most important enteric diarrhoeal parasites that infect humans and animals worldwide. The current study investigated the occurrence and risk factors associated with Cryptosporidium infection in ruminants aged ≤6 months in Monze, Mumbwa, and Lusaka districts of Zambia. Faecal samples were collected from 328 calves, 190 lambs, and 245 goat kids and analysed for Cryptosporidium oocysts using modified Ziehl Neelsen staining.

Gaps in treatment of epileptic seizures in a Zambian rural area.

Background: Epilepsy is a multifactorial neurological disorder, including parasitic infections of the brain such as neurocysticercosis (NCC). People with epileptic seizures (PWES) in low and middle-income countries often do not receive appropriate treatment, which besides epileptic seizures, may also lead to reduced quality of life and possibly death. The objective of this study was to describe gaps in treatment of epileptic seizures in a Zambian rural area.

Climate finance and women-hunger alleviation in the global south: Is the Sub-Saharan Africa case any different?

To unearth the influence of climate finance (CF) on women-hunger alleviation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the study used unbalanced panel data for 43 SSA countries for the period 2006-2018. Data was analysed using system-GMM to deal with the endogeneity problem inherent in the model, among other panel regression estimators. Also, the sensitivity of the estimates was carried out using panel fixed effect quantile regression.

Knowledge and practices of toxoplasmosis among healthcare workers at two large referral hospitals in Zambia: Implications on the One Health Approach.

Introduction: Assessing the knowledge and practices of healthcare workers regarding Toxoplasma gondii infection, diagnosis, treatment, and control is crucial for developing an effective management strategy.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 175 healthcare workers at Ndola Teaching Hospital and Namwala District Hospital in Zambia from September 2021 to April 2022.

Results: More than half (57.

Co-movement between Covid-19 and G20 stock market returns: A time and frequency analysis.

In our study, we employ DCC-GARCH and Wavelet coherence analysis to examine the co-movement between global covid-19 indicators (cases, recoveries and deaths) and stock returns of main equity markets in G20 countries using daily data spanning between February 2, 2020 and August 28, 2021. Our empirical results show that the co-movement between COVID-19 and G20 stock returns has been switching between negative and positive correlations across the entire time window. The wavelet coherence analysis further reveal that negative (positive) co-movements predominantly exist as lower (higher frequencies) for cases and deaths and are more mixed for recoveries.

Fisher's hypothesis in time-frequency space: a premier using South Africa as a case study.

Fisher hypothesis is universally accepted as an integral portion of monetary theory and practice, and yet the empirical evidence confirming a full Fisher effect remains scarce and the relationship has been challenged on several theoretical grounds referred to as 'puzzles'. Our paper suggests the use of continuous wavelet transforms as a unified analytical framework for confronting the different Fisher puzzles in a harmonious way. Taking South Africa as a case study, we focus on the inflation targeting period of 2002:01-2021:02 and use signal-image conversion tools such as wavelet power spectrum, wavelet coherence spectrum and phase-difference dynamics to extract signal features of nominal interest rates and inflation expectations and further explore their dynamic synchronization across a time-frequency plane/domain.

On the (in)efficiency of cryptocurrencies: have they taken daily or weekly random walks?

The legitimacy of virtual currencies as an alternative form of monetary exchange has been the centre of an ongoing heated debated since the catastrophic global financial meltdown of 2007-2008. Our study tests the informational market efficiency of cryptomarkets by investigating the weak-form efficiency of the top-five cryptocurrencies using random walk testing procedures which are robust to asymmetries and unobserved smooth structural breaks. Moreover, our study employs two frequencies of cryptocurrency returns, one corresponding to daily returns and the other to weekly returns.

Evaluation of the level of awareness of congenital toxoplasmosis and associated practices among pregnant women and health workers in Tanzania's Temeke district in Dar es Salaam.

Background: Toxoplasmosis caused by the obligate intracellular coccidian protozoan T () infects all warm-blooded animals including humans. This parasite may develop in both immune-compromised and immunocompetent hosts but usually the disease manifestations strongly differ according to immune status. Immunocompromised hosts develop more severe disease than immunocompetent hosts.

Perceptions and acceptability of piloted Taenia solium control and elimination interventions in two endemic communities in eastern Zambia.

Infections with Taenia solium cause significant public health and economic losses worldwide. Despite effective control tools, long-term sustained control/elimination of the parasite has not been demonstrated to date. Success of intervention programs is dependent on their acceptability to local communities.

Evaluation of Anthelmintic Activity and Composition of Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) Seed Extracts-In Vitro and in Vivo Studies.

Unlabelled: A significant number of studies report growing resistance in nematodes thriving in both humans and livestock. This study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo anthelmintic efficiency of Curcubita pepo (C. pepo) L.

Why pigs are free-roaming: Communities' perceptions, knowledge and practices regarding pig management and taeniosis/cysticercosis in a Taenia solium endemic rural area in Eastern Zambia.

Taenia solium cysticercosis is a neglected parasitic zoonosis in many developing countries including Zambia. Studies in Africa have shown that the underuse of sanitary facilities and the widespread occurrence of free-roaming pigs are the major risk factors for porcine cysticercosis. Socio-cultural determinants related to free range pig management and their implications for control of T.

Why latrines are not used: communities' perceptions and practices regarding latrines in a Taenia solium endemic rural area in Eastern Zambia.

Taenia solium cysticercosis is a neglected parasitic zoonosis occurring in many developing countries. Socio-cultural determinants related to its control remain unclear. Studies in Africa have shown that the underuse of sanitary facilities and the widespread occurrence of free-roaming pigs are the major risk factors for porcine cysticercosis.

The Nexus between Bovine Tuberculosis and Fasciolosis Infections in Cattle of the Kafue Basin Ecosystem in Zambia: Implications on Abattoir Surveillance.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) and fasciolosis are important but neglected diseases that result in chronic infections in cattle. However, in Zambia, these diseases are mainly diagnosed at abattoirs during routine meat inspection. Albeit the coinfection status, these diseases have been reported as nothing more than normal separate findings without an explanatory phenomena.

A comparative study of the seroprevalence of brucellosis in commercial and small-scale mixed dairy-beef cattle enterprises of Lusaka province and Chibombo district, Zambia.

A cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2007 and February 2008 to estimate seroprevalence of brucellosis and identify risk factors associated with Brucella infections in commercial cattle in three districts of Lusaka province (Chongwe, Luangwa, and Kafue; n = 849) and in one rural district from the Central province (n = 48). A total of 897 serum samples were randomly collected from 55 farms along with animal-level data such as sex, age, and parity. Sera were screened for presence of anti-Brucella antibodies using the Rose Bengal test, and positive samples were confirmed using competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Prevalence of Taenia solium porcine cysticercosis in the Eastern, Southern and Western provinces of Zambia.

Tongue examination and detection of circulating antigen (Ag-ELISA) were used to establish the prevalence of Taenia solium porcine cysticercosis in free-range pigs in selected districts of Eastern, Southern and Western provinces of Zambia, and to determine if prevalence of porcine cysticercosis was associated with age, breed and sex. Households with pigs were identified using the snowballing technique. A total of 1691 pigs were examined out of which 183 (10.