Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Tick Species Infesting Cattle in South Africa.

Ticks are a significant threat to livestock globally, with certain species displaying distinct host preferences at various developmental stages. Accurate species-level identification is essential for studying tick populations, implementing control strategies, and understanding disease dynamics. This study evaluated ticks infesting cattle across six provinces in South Africa using morphological and molecular methods.

Impact of parametric seasonal variations on water quality in the Crocodile River and Inyaka Dam in the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.

This study assessed seasonal variations in water quality and their impact on the Inyaka Dam and Crocodile River in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. A total of 206 water samples were collected across four seasons to analyse parameters including pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), temperature, Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), phosphate (PO ), nitrate-nitrogen (NO-N), , total coliforms, faecal streptococci, and Bifidobacteria. Principal component analysis (PCA) and Pearson correlation identified major pollutants and their seasonal variations, while cluster analysis grouped water quality by parameter fluctuations.

L.: A Review of Its Botany, Phytochemistry, Nutritional Content and Pharmacological Properties.

Phytotherapy is a cost-effective alternative that continues to evolve. This has sparked significant research interest in naturally occurring compounds found in edible plants that possess antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. L.

A comprehensive review of water quality indices for lotic and lentic ecosystems.

Freshwater resources play a pivotal role in sustaining life and meeting various domestic, agricultural, economic, and industrial demands. As such, there is a significant need to monitor the water quality of these resources. Water quality index (WQI) models have gradually gained popularity since their maiden introduction in the 1960s for evaluating and classifying the water quality of aquatic ecosystems.

Pathogenic and Endosymbiotic Bacteria and Their Associated Antibiotic Resistance Biomarkers in and Ticks Infesting Nguni Cattle ( spp.).

Deciphering the interactions between ticks and their microbiome is key to revealing new insights on tick biology and pathogen transmission. However, knowledge on tick-borne microbiome diversity and their contribution to drug resistance is scarce in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), despite endemism of ticks. In this study, high-throughput 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and PICRUSt predictive function profiling were used to characterize the bacterial community structure and associated antibiotic resistance markers in , and ticks infesting Nguni cattle ( spp.

Genetic variants of APOC3 promoter and HLA-B genes in an HIV infected cohort in northern South Africa: a pilot study.

Metabolic disorders and hypersensitivities affect tolerability and impact adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of C-482T/T-455C variants in the Apolipoprotein C3 (APOC3) promoter gene and Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B*57:01, known to impact lipid metabolic disorders and hypersensitivity respectively; and to correlate genotypes with gender, CD4+ cell count and viral load in an HIV infected cohort in northern South Africa. Frequencies of C-482 and T-455 polymorphisms in APOC3 were determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

Prevalence of MDR1 C3435T and CYP2B6 G516T polymorphisms among HIV-1 infected South African patients.

Data on genetic polymorphisms associated with response to anti-HIV drugs has accumulated over the years. Information on how polymorphisms influence drug metabolism and transport to target sites is important in guiding dosage or selection of appropriate alternative therapies. This study determined the frequency of MDR1 C3435T and CYP2B6 G516T polymorphisms associated with the transport and metabolism of efavirenz and nevirapine, in a population of South African HIV infected patients.

Molecular epidemiology of HIV in two highly endemic areas of northeastern South Africa.

There is paucity of data on the genetic landscape of HIV-1 viruses circulating in the Limpopo Province of northeastern South Africa. Here, we examine the genetic diversity of viruses from Bela-Bela and Musina, two towns with high HIV prevalence. Between June 2007 and March 2008, blood samples were collected from antiretroviral-drug-naïve individuals.

Prevalence of antiretroviral drug resistance mutations and HIV-I subtypes among newly-diagnosed drug-naïve persons visiting a voluntary testing and counselling centre in northeastern South Africa.

Data on antiretroviral drug resistance among drug-naive persons are important in developing sentinel and surveillance policies. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of antiretroviral drug resistance mutations among drug-naïve HIV-infected individuals attending a voluntary testing and counselling centre at the Mankweng Hospital in northeastern South Africa. In total, 79 drug-naïve HIV-positive individuals were sequentially recruited during February 2008-December 2008.

Prevalence of drug-resistant mutations in newly diagnosed drug-naïve HIV-1-infected individuals in a treatment site in the waterberg district, limpopo province.

Aim: We studied the prevalence of resistance mutations in drug-naïve HIV-infected individuals at the Bela-Bela treatment site to gather information on the presence of antiretroviral (ARV) drug-resistant viruses in drug-naïve populations, so as to improve treatment guidance.

Subjects And Methods: Drug-naïve HIV-l1-infected individuals were sequentially recruited between February 2008 and December 2008 from individuals visiting the voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) services of the Bela-Bela HIV/AIDS Wellness Clinic. Viral subtyping was done by phylogenetic analysis; drug-resistant mutations were determined according to the Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Interpretation and the International AIDS Society-USA Guidelines.

Genetic analysis of the near full-length genome of an HIV type 1 A1/C unique recombinant form from northern South Africa.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has a high propensity for recombination. The epidemic in South Africa is predominantly driven by HIV-1 subtype C with occasional description of non-subtype C and intersubtype recombinant viruses. This report presents the genetic analysis of a unique recombinant variant from northern South Africa comprised exclusively of subsubtype A1 and subtype C parental viruses.

Peltophorum africanum, a traditional South African medicinal plant, contains an anti HIV-1 constituent, betulinic acid.

The biodiversity of medicinal plants in South Africa makes them rich sources of leading compounds for the development of novel drugs. Peltophorum africanum (Fabaceae) is a deciduous tree widespread in South Africa. The stem bark has been traditionally employed to treat diarrhoea, dysentery, sore throat, wounds, human immunodeficiency virus/ acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), venereal diseases and infertility.