Publications by authors named "Carlos Quembo"
Article Synopsis
- Soft ticks from the Ornithodoros genus are important for spreading the African swine fever virus and Borrelia species, highlighting the need for genetic markers as ASF spreads globally.* -
- Researchers designed 151 microsatellite markers based on the genomes of Ornithodoros moubata and O. porcinus, eventually narrowing it down to 24 markers tested on O. phacochoerus and four other species.* -
- The finalized 19 robust microsatellite markers provide a new genetic tool to study the population structure and movement of O. phacochoerus in areas affected by ASF.*
Article Synopsis
- This review updates our understanding of ticks as carriers of the ASF virus in Africa and the Indian Ocean, focusing on research methods and knowledge gaps related to their presence in the environment and pig farms.
- It emphasizes the need for better control and prevention strategies based on tick biology, genotype distribution, and how these factors can move the virus between populations.
- The changing demographics and agricultural practices in Africa call for urgent research on how these human influences affect tick populations and the evolution of the ASF virus.
Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), a transboundary animal disease affecting mainly goats and sheep is caused by a morbillivirus and threatens food security and livelihoods as morbidity and mortality rates can reach 90%. There are no records of PPR in Mozambique, but the disease situation in Tanzania and the ability of PPR virus to rapidly spread across countries constitute a high risk for about 4.7 million goats and sheep in Mozambique.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAfrican swine fever (ASF) is an infectious disease that causes heavy mortality in domestic pigs. At present there is no vaccine against ASF, and eradication in countries where the disease is endemic is based only on competent diagnosis programs and the sacrifice of infected animals. Due to the presence of natural attenuated strains, certain infection conditions may result in reduced mortality.
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