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Sacomboio ENM, Zua SD, Tchivango AT, Pululu AD, Caumba ACD, Paciência ABM, Sati DV, Agostinho SG, Agostinho YS, Mazanga FG, Ntambo NB, Sebastião CS, Paixão JP, Morais J. Blood count changes in malaria patients according to blood groups (ABO/Rh) and sickle cell trait. Malar J 2024; 23:126. [PMID: 38685081 PMCID: PMC11059660 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04886-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Introduction: Malaria continues to be the leading cause of hospitalization and death in Angola, a country in sub- Saharan Africa. In 2023, in the first quarter, 2,744,682 cases were registered, and of these 2,673 patients died due to malaria disease. Previous studies have shown that the ABO blood group can affect the progression of malaria to severe conditions after P. falciparum infection, while the sickle cell gene offers relative protection. OBJECTIVE We investigated changes in the blood count according to blood groups (ABO/Rh) and sickle cell trait in patients with malaria in Luanda, capital of Angola. METHODOLOGY This was a longitudinal, prospective and observational study with 198 patients hospitalized for malaria. RESULTS Of the 198 patients studied, 13(6.6%) were ABRh(+), 4(2.0%) were ARh(-), 49(24.7%) were ARh(+), 42(21, 2%) were BRh (+), 5(2.5%) were ORh(-) and 85(42.9%) were ORh(+). For sickle cell trait, 145(73.2%) were AA, 37(18.7%) were AS and 16(8.1%) were SS. No statistical relationship was observed between age group, sex, parasitemia, clinical picture, hematocrit, MCV, HCM, MCHC, leukocytes, NEUT, LINF and PTL values with blood groups (p<0.05), but there was a relationship between values of hemoglobin and ABO/Rh blood groups (p>0.05). There was no relationship between age, parasitemia, clinical condition, MCV, HCM and MCHC values, leukocytes, NEUT and LINF with sickle cell trait (p<0.05), but there was a relationship between sex, hemoglobin and PTL and sickle cell values. sickle cell trait (p>0.05). CONCLUSION It is imperative to differentiate patients with malaria based on blood groups and sickle cell trait, taking into account mainly the blood count parameters that demonstrate that there are patients who, depending on blood group or sickle cell trait, may react weakly to malaria infection regardless of the degree of parasitemia and medical prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Euclides N M Sacomboio
- Instituto de Ciências de Saúde da Universidade Agostinho Neto (ICISA/UAN), Luanda, Angola.
- Instituto Superior de Ciências de Saúde/Universidade Católica de Angola (ISCS/UCAN), Luanda, Angola.
- Centro de Formação em Saúde (CFS) da Clinica Multiperfil, Luanda, Angola.
| | - Santo D Zua
- Instituto de Ciências de Saúde da Universidade Agostinho Neto (ICISA/UAN), Luanda, Angola
| | - Adelino T Tchivango
- Instituto Politécnico de Malanje da Universidade Rainha Njinga A Mbande (IPM/URNM), Malanje, Angola
| | - António D Pululu
- Instituto de Ciências de Saúde da Universidade Agostinho Neto (ICISA/UAN), Luanda, Angola
| | - Adilson C D Caumba
- Instituto de Ciências de Saúde da Universidade Agostinho Neto (ICISA/UAN), Luanda, Angola
| | - Adelina B M Paciência
- Instituto de Ciências de Saúde da Universidade Agostinho Neto (ICISA/UAN), Luanda, Angola
| | - Danilson V Sati
- Instituto de Ciências de Saúde da Universidade Agostinho Neto (ICISA/UAN), Luanda, Angola
| | - Sabina G Agostinho
- Instituto de Ciências de Saúde da Universidade Agostinho Neto (ICISA/UAN), Luanda, Angola
| | - Yolanda S Agostinho
- Instituto de Ciências de Saúde da Universidade Agostinho Neto (ICISA/UAN), Luanda, Angola
| | - Fernando G Mazanga
- Instituto de Ciências de Saúde da Universidade Agostinho Neto (ICISA/UAN), Luanda, Angola
| | - Neusa B Ntambo
- Instituto de Ciências de Saúde da Universidade Agostinho Neto (ICISA/UAN), Luanda, Angola
| | - Cruz S Sebastião
- Instituto de Ciências de Saúde da Universidade Agostinho Neto (ICISA/UAN), Luanda, Angola
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS), Luanda, Angola
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola (CISA), Caxito, Angola
| | - Joana P Paixão
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS), Luanda, Angola
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola (CISA), Caxito, Angola
| | - Joana Morais
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS), Luanda, Angola
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola
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Ginete C, Delgadinho M, Santos B, Miranda A, Silva C, Guerreiro P, Chimusa ER, Brito M. Genetic Modifiers of Sickle Cell Anemia Phenotype in a Cohort of Angolan Children. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:469. [PMID: 38674403 PMCID: PMC11049512 DOI: 10.3390/genes15040469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify genetic markers in the HBB Cluster; HBS1L-MYB intergenic region; and BCL11A, KLF1, FOX3, and ZBTB7A genes associated with the heterogeneous phenotypes of Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA) using next-generation sequencing, as well as to assess their influence and prevalence in an Angolan population. Hematological, biochemical, and clinical data were considered to determine patients' severity phenotypes. Samples from 192 patients were sequenced, and 5,019,378 variants of high quality were registered. A catalog of candidate modifier genes that clustered in pathophysiological pathways important for SCA was generated, and candidate genes associated with increasing vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) and with lower fetal hemoglobin (HbF) were identified. These data support the polygenic view of the genetic architecture of SCA phenotypic variability. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms in the intronic region of 2q16.1, harboring the BCL11A gene, are genome-wide and significantly associated with decreasing HbF. A set of variants was identified to nominally be associated with increasing VOC and are potential genetic modifiers harboring phenotypic variation among patients. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation of clinical variation in SCA in Angola using a well-customized and targeted sequencing approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Ginete
- H&TRC-Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL-Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1990-096 Lisbon, Portugal; (C.G.); (M.D.); (C.S.); (P.G.)
| | - Mariana Delgadinho
- H&TRC-Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL-Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1990-096 Lisbon, Portugal; (C.G.); (M.D.); (C.S.); (P.G.)
| | - Brígida Santos
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola (CISA), Bengo 9999, Angola;
- Hospital Pediátrico David Bernardino (HPDB), Luanda 3067, Angola
| | - Armandina Miranda
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal;
| | - Carina Silva
- H&TRC-Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL-Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1990-096 Lisbon, Portugal; (C.G.); (M.D.); (C.S.); (P.G.)
- Centro de Estatística e Aplicações, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-013 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Paulo Guerreiro
- H&TRC-Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL-Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1990-096 Lisbon, Portugal; (C.G.); (M.D.); (C.S.); (P.G.)
| | - Emile R. Chimusa
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK;
| | - Miguel Brito
- H&TRC-Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL-Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1990-096 Lisbon, Portugal; (C.G.); (M.D.); (C.S.); (P.G.)
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola (CISA), Bengo 9999, Angola;
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Avelino IC, Chimuco KSM, Díaz NT, Jantsch AG. Don't wait for the perfect moment: The national training program in family medicine in Angola. Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med 2024; 16:e1-e4. [PMID: 38708730 DOI: 10.4102/phcfm.v16i1.4458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Like many Sub-Saharan countries, Angola struggles with a shortage of trained health professionals, especially for primary care. In 2021, the Angolan Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Angolan Medical Council launched the National Program for the Expansion of Family Medicine as a long-term strategy for the provision, fixation and training of family physicians in community health centres. Of the 425 residents 411 (96.7%) who entered the programme in 2021 will get their diplomas in the following months and will be certified as family physicians. Three main aspects make this National Programme unique in the Angolan context: (1) the common effort and engagement of the Ministry of Health with the Angolan Medical Council and local health authorities in designing and implementing this programme; (2) decentralisation of the training sites, with residents in all 18 provinces, including in rural areas and (3) using community health centres as the main site of practice and training. Despite this undeniable success, many educational improvements must be made, such as expanding the use of new educational resources, methodologies and assessment tools, so that aspects related to knowledge, practical skills and professional attitudes can be better assessed. Moreover, the programme must invest in faculty development courses aiming to create the next generation of preceptors, so that all residents can have in every rotation one preceptor or tutor responsible for the supervision of their clinical activities, case discussions and sharing their clinical duties, both at community health centres and municipal hospitals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Israel C Avelino
- College of General and Family Medicine, Order of Doctors of Angola, Angolan Medical Council, Luanda.
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Vahekeni N, Brillatz T, Rahmaty M, Cal M, Keller-Maerki S, Rocchetti R, Kaiser M, Sax S, Mattli K, Wolfram E, Marcourt L, Queiroz EF, Wolfender JL, Mäser P. Antiprotozoal Activity of Plants Used in the Management of Sleeping Sickness in Angola and Bioactivity-Guided Fractionation of Brasenia schreberi J.F.Gmel and Nymphaea lotus L. Active against T. b. rhodesiense. Molecules 2024; 29:1611. [PMID: 38611890 PMCID: PMC11013945 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29071611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Folk medicine is widely used in Angola, even for human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) in spite of the fact that the reference treatment is available for free. Aiming to validate herbal remedies in use, we selected nine medicinal plants and assessed their antitrypanosomal activity. A total of 122 extracts were prepared using different plant parts and solvents. A total of 15 extracts from seven different plants exhibited in vitro activity (>70% at 20 µg/mL) against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense bloodstream forms. The dichloromethane extract of Nymphaea lotus (leaves and leaflets) and the ethanolic extract of Brasenia schreberi (leaves) had IC50 values ≤ 10 µg/mL. These two aquatic plants are of particular interest. They are being co-applied in the form of a decoction of leaves because they are considered by local healers as male and female of the same species, the ethnotaxon "longa dia simbi". Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the identification of eight active molecules: gallic acid (IC50 0.5 µg/mL), methyl gallate (IC50 1.1 µg/mL), 2,3,4,6-tetragalloyl-glucopyranoside, ethyl gallate (IC50 0.5 µg/mL), 1,2,3,4,6-pentagalloyl-β-glucopyranoside (IC50 20 µg/mL), gossypetin-7-O-β-glucopyranoside (IC50 5.5 µg/mL), and hypolaetin-7-O-glucoside (IC50 5.7 µg/mL) in B. schreberi, and 5-[(8Z,11Z,14Z)-heptadeca-8,11,14-trienyl] resorcinol (IC50 5.3 µg/mL) not described to date in N. lotus. Five of these active constituents were detected in the traditional preparation. This work provides the first evidence for the ethnomedicinal use of these plants in the management of sleeping sickness in Angola.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Vahekeni
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; (M.C.); (S.K.-M.); (R.R.); (M.K.); (S.S.); (P.M.)
- Faculty of Science, University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Théo Brillatz
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, CMU, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (T.B.); (L.M.); (E.F.Q.); (J.-L.W.)
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, CMU, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Marjan Rahmaty
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, CMU, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (T.B.); (L.M.); (E.F.Q.); (J.-L.W.)
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, CMU, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Monica Cal
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; (M.C.); (S.K.-M.); (R.R.); (M.K.); (S.S.); (P.M.)
- Faculty of Science, University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sonja Keller-Maerki
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; (M.C.); (S.K.-M.); (R.R.); (M.K.); (S.S.); (P.M.)
- Faculty of Science, University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Romina Rocchetti
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; (M.C.); (S.K.-M.); (R.R.); (M.K.); (S.S.); (P.M.)
- Faculty of Science, University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marcel Kaiser
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; (M.C.); (S.K.-M.); (R.R.); (M.K.); (S.S.); (P.M.)
- Faculty of Science, University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sibylle Sax
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; (M.C.); (S.K.-M.); (R.R.); (M.K.); (S.S.); (P.M.)
- Faculty of Science, University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kevin Mattli
- Phytopharmacy & Natural Products, Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Zürich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland (E.W.)
| | - Evelyn Wolfram
- Phytopharmacy & Natural Products, Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Zürich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland (E.W.)
| | - Laurence Marcourt
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, CMU, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (T.B.); (L.M.); (E.F.Q.); (J.-L.W.)
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, CMU, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Emerson Ferreira Queiroz
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, CMU, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (T.B.); (L.M.); (E.F.Q.); (J.-L.W.)
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, CMU, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Luc Wolfender
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, CMU, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (T.B.); (L.M.); (E.F.Q.); (J.-L.W.)
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, CMU, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Mäser
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; (M.C.); (S.K.-M.); (R.R.); (M.K.); (S.S.); (P.M.)
- Faculty of Science, University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
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Dimbu PR, Labuda S, Ferreira CM, Caquece F, André K, Pembele G, Pode D, João MF, Pelenda VM, Nieto Andrade B, Horton B, Kennedy C, Svigel SS, Zhou Z, Morais JFM, do Rosário J, Fortes F, Martins JF, Plucinski MM. Therapeutic response to four artemisinin-based combination therapies in Angola, 2021. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0152523. [PMID: 38421163 PMCID: PMC10989004 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01525-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Monitoring antimalarial efficacy is important to detect the emergence of parasite drug resistance. Angola conducts in vivo therapeutic efficacy studies (TESs) every 2 years in its fixed sentinel sites in Benguela, Lunda Sul, and Zaire provinces. Children with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria were treated with artemether-lumefantrine (AL), artesunate-amodiaquine (ASAQ), dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP), or artesunate-pyronaridine (ASPY) and followed for 28 (AL and ASAQ) or 42 days (DP and ASPY) to assess clinical and parasitological response to treatment. Two drugs were sequentially assessed in each site in February-July 2021. The primary indicator was the Kaplan-Meier estimate of the PCR-corrected efficacy at the end of the follow-up period. A total of 622 patients were enrolled in the study and 590 (95%) participants reached a study endpoint. By day 3, ≥98% of participants were slide-negative in all study sites and arms. After PCR correction, day 28 AL efficacy was 88.0% (95% CI: 82%-95%) in Zaire and 94.7% (95% CI: 90%-99%) in Lunda Sul. For ASAQ, day 28 efficacy was 92.0% (95% CI: 87%-98%) in Zaire and 100% in Lunda Sul. Corrected day 42 efficacy was 99.6% (95% CI: 99%-100%) for ASPY and 98.3% (95% CI: 96%-100%) for DP in Benguela. High day 3 clearance rates suggest no clinical evidence of artemisinin resistance. This was the fourth of five rounds of TES in Angola showing a corrected AL efficacy <90% in a site. For Zaire, AL has had an efficacy <90% in 2013, 2015, and 2021. ASAQ, DP, and ASPY are appropriate choices as artemisinin-based combination therapies in Angola.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Labuda
- United States President’s Malaria Initiative, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Luanda, Angola
| | | | - Felismina Caquece
- Field Epidemiology Training Program, Ministry of Health, Luanda, Angola
| | - Kialanda André
- Field Epidemiology Training Program, Ministry of Health, Luanda, Angola
| | - Garcia Pembele
- National Institute of Health Research, Ministry of Health, Luanda, Angola
| | - Dilunvuidi Pode
- Field Epidemiology Training Program, Ministry of Health, Luanda, Angola
| | | | | | | | - Breanna Horton
- United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Culzean Kennedy
- United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Samaly S. Svigel
- United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Zhiyong Zhou
- United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Joana do Rosário
- United States President’s Malaria Initiative, USAID, Luanda, Angola
| | - Filomeno Fortes
- Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nova University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Mateusz M. Plucinski
- United States President’s Malaria Initiative, Malaria Branch, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Alves G, Troco AD, Seixas G, Pabst R, Francisco A, Pedro C, Garcia L, Martins JF, Lopes S. Molecular and entomological surveillance of malaria vectors in urban and rural communities of Benguela Province, Angola. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:112. [PMID: 38448968 PMCID: PMC10918887 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06214-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria is a major public health problem in Angola, with Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) and An. funestus s.l. being the primary vectors. This study aimed to clarify the information gaps concerning local Anopheles mosquito populations. Our objectives were to assess their abundance, geographical dispersion, and blood-feeding patterns. We also investigated their insecticide resistance. Molecular methods were used to identify sibling species, determine the origin of blood meals, measure Plasmodium falciparum infection rates, and detect the presence of knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations. METHODS Adult mosquitoes were collected indoors using CDC light traps from nine randomly selected households at two sentinel sites with distinct ecological characteristics. The samples were collected from 1 February to 30 June 2022. Anopheles mosquitoes were morphologically identified and subjected to molecular identification. Unfed Anopheles females were tested for the presence of P. falciparum DNA in head and thorax, and engorged females were screened for the source of the blood meals. Additionally, members of An. gambiae complex were genotyped for the presence of the L1014F and L1014S kdr mutations. RESULTS In total, 2226 adult mosquitoes were collected, including 733 Anopheles females. Molecular identification revealed the presence of Anopheles coluzzii, An. gambiae senso stricto (s.s.), An. arabiensis, and An. funestus s.s. Notably, there was the first record of An. coluzzii/An. gambiae s.s. hybrid and An. vaneedeni in Benguela Province. Plasmodium falciparum infection rates for An. coluzzii at the urban sentinel site and An. funestus s.s. at the rural site were 23.1% and 5.7%, respectively. The L1014F kdr mutation was discovered in both resistant and susceptible An. coluzzii mosquitoes, while the L1014S mutation was detected in An. gambiae s.s. for the first time in Benguela Province. No kdr mutations were found in An. arabiensis. CONCLUSIONS This study provides valuable insights into the molecular characteristics of malaria vectors from the province of Benguela, emphasising the need for continuous surveillance of local Anopheles populations regarding the establishment of both kdr mutations for tailoring vector control interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonçalo Alves
- The Mentor Initiative, Burns House, Harlands Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 1PG, UK.
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Arlete Dina Troco
- The Mentor Initiative, Burns House, Harlands Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 1PG, UK
| | - Gonçalo Seixas
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rebecca Pabst
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Cani Pedro
- National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Luanda, Angola
| | - Luzala Garcia
- National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Luanda, Angola
| | | | - Sergio Lopes
- The Mentor Initiative, Burns House, Harlands Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 1PG, UK
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Martínez-Campreciós J, Moreno M, Salvador F, Barrio-Tofiño ED, Nindia A, Aznar ML, Molina I. Impact of traditional cutaneous scarification on anthrax lesions: A series of cases from Cubal, Angola. Int J Infect Dis 2024; 140:104-109. [PMID: 38195038 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2024.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Bacillus anthracis infection is a worldwide zoonosis that affects the most vulnerable population and has a high mortality rate without treatment, especially in non-cutaneous presentations. Cutaneous scarification is still common in some regions of the world for the treatment of certain diseases as part of traditional medicine. We describe a series of cutaneus anthrax from a rural setting in Angola where cutaneus scarification is common. CASE PRESENTATION This is a retrospective observational study describing a series of cutaneous anthrax cases from Cubal (Angola), many of whom were treated with skin scarification before admission. A total of 26 cases were diagnosed from January 2010 to December 2018. None of the cases were confirmed and eight (30.8%) were probable cases according to the Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention anthrax case definition. The median age was 11 (4.7-30.5) years, 17 (65.4%) had lesions on the head, face, or neck and 15 (57.7%) were treated with cutaneous scarification. Nine (34.6%) patients died. Traditional cutaneous scarification was significantly associated with cutaneous superinfection, respiratory, systemic involvement, and death. CONCLUSION Our case series points to increased complications and worse outcome of cutaneous anthrax disease if treated with skin scarification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan Martínez-Campreciós
- International Health Unit Vall D'Hebron-Drassanes, Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Fernando Salvador
- International Health Unit Vall D'Hebron-Drassanes, Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Maria Luisa Aznar
- International Health Unit Vall D'Hebron-Drassanes, Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Israel Molina
- International Health Unit Vall D'Hebron-Drassanes, Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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8
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Custodio E, Herrador Z, Trigo E, Romay-Barja M, Ramirez F, Aguado I, Iraizoz E, Silva-Gerardo A, Faria ML, Martin-Cañavate R, Marques T, Vargas A, Gómez A, Molina I. Nutrition supplementation plus standard of care versus standard of care alone or standard of care plus unconditional cash transfer in the prevention of chronic malnutrition in Southern Angola: study protocol for the MuCCUA study, a cluster randomized controlled trial. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:429. [PMID: 38341528 PMCID: PMC10858546 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17858-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic malnutrition is a condition associated with negative impacts on physical and cognitive development. It is multi-causal and can start very early in life, already in utero, thus it is especially challenging to find appropriate interventions to tackle it. The government of Angola is implementing a standard of care program with potential to prevent it, and the provision of cash transfers and the supplementation with small quantity lipid-based nutrients (SQ-LNS) are also promising interventions. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the standard of care program alone and of the standard of care plus a cash transfer intervention in the lineal growth of children less than 2 years old and compare it to the effectiveness of a nutrition supplementation plus standard of care program in Southern Angola. METHODS/DESIGN The three-arm parallel cluster randomised controlled trial is set in four communes of Huila and Cunene provinces. Clusters are villages or neighbourhoods with a population around 1075 people. A total of twelve clusters were selected per arm and forty pregnant women are expected to be recruited in each cluster. Pregnant women receive the standard of care alone, or the standard of care plus unconditional cash transfer or plus nutritional supplementation during the first 1000 days, from pregnancy to the child reaching 24 months. The primary outcome is the prevalence of stunting measured as height-for-age Z-score (HAZ) < -2 in children below 2 years. Impact will be assessed at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of children's age. Secondary outcomes include mortality, morbidity, caring, hygiene and nutrition behaviours and practices, and women and children's dietary diversity. Quantitative data are also collected on women's empowerment, household food security, expenditure and relevant clinical and social events at baseline, endline and intermediate time points. DISCUSSION The results will provide valuable information on the impact of the standard of care intervention alone as well as combined with an unconditional cash transfer intervention compared to a nutrition supplementation plus standard of care intervention, carried out during the first 1000 days, in the children´s growth up to 2 years and related outcomes in Southern Angola. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Trials NCT05571280. Registered 7 October 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Custodio
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, 28029, Spain.
- Centro Nacional de Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Avda. Monforte de Lemos, 3, Madrid, 28029, Spain.
| | - Z Herrador
- Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Avda. Monforte de Lemos, 3, Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - E Trigo
- Tropical Medicine Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, 08035, Spain
| | - M Romay-Barja
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Centro Nacional de Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Avda. Monforte de Lemos, 3, Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - F Ramirez
- Tropical Medicine Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, 08035, Spain
| | - I Aguado
- Tropical Medicine Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, 08035, Spain
| | - E Iraizoz
- Action Against Hunger Spain, C/Duque de Sevilla 3, Madrid, 28002, Spain
| | - A Silva-Gerardo
- Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Mandume Ya Ndemufayo, Bairro Comercial, Avenida Hoji Ya Haenda nº30, caixa postal 201, Lubango, Huíla, Angola
| | - M L Faria
- Fundo Apoio Social-Local Development Institute, Avenida Pedro de Castro Vandunem, Luanda, Angola
| | - R Martin-Cañavate
- Centro Nacional de Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Avda. Monforte de Lemos, 3, Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - T Marques
- Tropical Medicine Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, 08035, Spain
| | - A Vargas
- Action Against Hunger Spain, C/Duque de Sevilla 3, Madrid, 28002, Spain
| | - A Gómez
- Action Against Hunger Spain, C/Duque de Sevilla 3, Madrid, 28002, Spain
| | - I Molina
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Tropical Medicine Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, 08035, Spain
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Onyeabor E, Obuka U. Building collaboration and synergy among regional blocs to reduce marine plastic waste pollution: A case for the Gulf of Guinea region. Mar Pollut Bull 2024; 198:115829. [PMID: 38029670 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
The Gulf of Guinea (GoG) region in sub-Saharan Africa is a vast and diverse region stretching from Senegal to Angola, covering approximately 6000 km of coastline. It is an important shipping zone transporting oil and gas, as well as goods to and from central and southern Africa. Plastic waste has an impact on the major metropolitan centers of this region, as well as the beaches. The Gulf of Guinea region includes the coastal areas of countries such as Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Benin, and Togo. This study uses qualitative methodology to comparatively interrogate how to use legal instruments to reduce marine plastic pollution in the Gulf of Guinea region, which encompasses these coastal nations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Uju Obuka
- Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nigeria.
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10
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Schmeling J, Martins-Correia J, Pinto da Costa M. Compulsory treatment in Portuguese-speaking countries: An analysis and comparison of the legal framework. Int J Law Psychiatry 2024; 92:101950. [PMID: 38181487 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijlp.2023.101950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Compulsory treatment involves the hospital admission of individuals with mental disorders in appropriate facilities through judicial decisions. However, limited information is available regarding the similarities and differences in compulsory treatment legislation in Portuguese-speaking countries. AIMS To analyse the commonalities and differences in compulsory treatment legislation in Portuguese-speaking countries, where Portuguese is the primary official language, including Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, and São Tomé and Príncipe. METHODS A comparative analysis of the specific legislation on compulsory treatment in Portuguese-speaking countries was conducted. National development plans were analysed in countries lacking legislation. A purposive sampling of mental health professionals was contacted to gather information on the countries under study. RESULTS Among the eight Portuguese-speaking countries examined, specific legislation regarding compulsory treatment was found only in Brazil, Cape Verde, and Portugal. These countries, with the lowest poverty rates, exhibited a notable degree of homogeneity in the criteria supporting compulsory treatment, ensuring the protection of individual rights. In contrast, in Angola, East Timor, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe, compulsory treatment primarily relies on mental health development plans, resulting in significant variations in the presented criteria. CONCLUSIONS The significant disparities in compulsory treatment policies among Portuguese-speaking countries, with only Brazil, Cape Verde, and Portugal having specific legislation, underscore the need for a collective effort to establish more consistent procedures and safeguard individual rights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Schmeling
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - João Martins-Correia
- Department of Public Health and Forensic Sciences, and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mariana Pinto da Costa
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
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11
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Martin-Cañavate R, Custodio E, Trigo E, Romay-Barja M, Herrador Z, Aguado I, Ramirez F, Faria LM, Silva-Gerardo A, Lima JC, Iráizoz E, Marques T, Vargas A, Gomez A, Puett C, Molina I. Preventing chronic malnutrition in children under 2 years in rural Angola (MuCCUA trial): protocol for the economic evaluation of a three-arm community cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e073349. [PMID: 38110392 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic malnutrition is a serious problem in southern Angola with a prevalence of 49.9% and 37.2% in the provinces of Huila and Cunene, respectively. The MuCCUA (Mother and Child Chronic Undernutrition in Angola) trial is a community-based randomised controlled trial (c-RCT) which aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a nutrition supplementation plus standard of care intervention and a cash transfer plus standard of care intervention in preventing stunting, and to compare them with a standard of care alone intervention in southern Angola. This protocol describes the planned economic evaluation associated with the c-RCT. METHODS AND ANALYSIS We will conduct a cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness analysis nested within the MuCCUA trial with a societal perspective, measuring programme, provider, participant and household costs. We will collect programme costs prospectively using a combined calculation method including quantitative and qualitative data. Financial costs will be estimated by applying activity-based costing methods to accounting records using time allocation sheets. We will estimate costs not included in accounting records by the ingredients approach, and indirect costs incurred by beneficiaries through interviews, household surveys and focus group discussions. Cost-efficiency will be estimated as cost per output achieved by combining activity-specific cost data with routine data on programme outputs. Cost-effectiveness will be assessed as cost per stunting case prevented. We will calculate incremental cost-effectiveness ratios comparing the additional cost per improved outcome of the different intervention arms and the standard of care. We will perform sensitivity analyses to assess robustness of results. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This economic evaluation will provide useful information to the Angolan Government and other policymakers on the most cost-effective intervention to prevent stunting in this and other comparable contexts. The protocol was approved by the República de Angola Ministério da Saúde Comité de Ética (27C.E/MINSA.INIS/2022). The findings of this study will be disseminated within academia and the wider policy sphere. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT05571280).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocio Martin-Cañavate
- Centro Nacional de Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Escuela Internacional de Doctorado, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid, España
| | - Estefania Custodio
- Centro Nacional de Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER Enfermedades Infecciosas, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Trigo
- Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Romay-Barja
- Centro Nacional de Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER Enfermedades Infecciosas, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Zaida Herrador
- Centro Nacional de Epidemiologia, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Publica (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Aguado
- Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ferran Ramirez
- Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Ana Silva-Gerardo
- Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Mandume Ya Ndemufayo, Lubango, Huíla, Angola
| | - Jose Carlos Lima
- Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Mandume Ya Ndemufayo, Lubango, Huíla, Angola
| | | | - Tayná Marques
- Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Chloe Puett
- Stony Brook University Program in Public Health, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Israel Molina
- Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
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12
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Tallman S, Sungo MDD, Saranga S, Beleza S. Whole genomes from Angola and Mozambique inform about the origins and dispersals of major African migrations. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7967. [PMID: 38042927 PMCID: PMC10693643 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43717-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023] Open
Abstract
As the continent of origin for our species, Africa harbours the highest levels of diversity anywhere on Earth. However, many regions of Africa remain under-sampled genetically. Here we present 350 whole genomes from Angola and Mozambique belonging to ten Bantu ethnolinguistic groups, enabling the construction of a reference variation catalogue including 2.9 million novel SNPs. We investigate the emergence of Bantu speaker population structure, admixture involving migrations across sub-Saharan Africa and model the demographic histories of Angolan and Mozambican Bantu speakers. Our results bring together concordant views from genomics, archaeology, and linguistics to paint an updated view of the complexity of the Bantu Expansion. Moreover, we generate reference panels that better represents the diversity of African populations involved in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, improving imputation accuracy in African Americans and Brazilians. We anticipate that our collection of genomes will form the foundation for future African genomic healthcare initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Tallman
- University of Leicester, Department of Genetics & Genome Biology, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
- Genomics England, 1 Canada Square, London, E14 5AB, UK
| | | | - Sílvio Saranga
- Universidade Pedagógica, Avenida Eduardo Mondlane, CP 2107, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Sandra Beleza
- University of Leicester, Department of Genetics & Genome Biology, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK.
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13
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Cross RW, Fenton KA, Foster SL, Geisbert JB, Geisbert TW. Modelling Marburg Virus Disease in Syrian Golden Hamsters: Contrasted Virulence Between Angola and Ci67 Strains. J Infect Dis 2023; 228:S559-S570. [PMID: 37610176 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Marburg virus (MARV) has caused numerous sporadic outbreaks of severe hemorrhagic fever in humans. Human case fatality rates of Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreaks range from 20% to 90%. Viral genotypes of MARV can differ by over 20%, suggesting variable virulence between lineages may accompany this genetic divergence. Comparison of existing animal models of MVD employing different strains of MARV support differences in virulence across MARV genetic lineages; however, there are few systematic comparisons in models that recapitulate human disease available. METHODS We compared features of disease pathogenesis in uniformly lethal hamster models of MVD made possible through serial adaptation in rodents. RESULTS No further adaptation from a previously reported guinea pig-adapted (GPA) isolate of MARV-Angola was necessary to achieve uniform lethality in hamsters. Three passages of GPA MARV-Ci67 resulted in uniform lethality, where 4 passages of a GPA Ravn virus was 75% lethal. Hamster-adapted MARV-Ci67 demonstrated delayed time to death, protracted weight loss, lower viral burden, and slower histologic alteration compared to GPA MARV-Angola. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest isolate-dependent virulence differences are maintained even after serial adaptation in rodents and may serve to guide choice of variant and model used for development of vaccines or therapeutics for MVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert W Cross
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Karla A Fenton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Stephanie L Foster
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Joan B Geisbert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Thomas W Geisbert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
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14
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Crego-Vicente B, Febrer-Sendra B, Nindia A, Pessela A, Aixut S, Martínez-Campreciós J, Mediavilla A, Silgado A, Sulleiro E, Treviño B, Molina I, Muro A, Salvador F, Fernández-Soto P. First field study using Strong-LAMP for diagnosis of strongyloidiasis in Cubal, Angola. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:393. [PMID: 37907997 PMCID: PMC10619288 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06009-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Strongyloides stercoralis infection is a common neglected tropical disease distributed worldwide, mainly in tropical and subtropical climates. The impact of S. stercoralis infections on human health ranges from mild asymptomatic infections to chronic strongyloidiasis unnoticeable until the host is immunosuppressed. In severe strongyloidiasis, a syndrome of hyperinfection and larval dissemination to various organs can occur with high mortality rates. The diagnosis of strongyloidiasis is challenging because of the absence of a single standard reference test with high sensitivity and specificity, which also makes it difficult to estimate the accuracy of other diagnostic tests. This study aimed to evaluate, for the first time, the use of an easy-to-perform loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) colorimetric assay (named Strong-LAMP) for the molecular screening of strongyloidiasis in stool samples from patients in a low-resource endemic area in Cubal, Angola. To compare different LAMP application scenarios, the performance of the Strong-LAMP under field conditions in Angola was reassessed in a well-equipped reference laboratory in Spain and compared with a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method. METHODS A total of 192 stool samples were collected from adult population in Cubal, Angola, and examined by parasitological methods (direct saline microscopy and Baermann's technique). DNA was extracted from each stool sample using a commercial kit and tested by the colorimetric Strong-LAMP assay for the detection of Strongyloides spp. under field conditions. Furthermore, all samples were shipped to a well-equipped laboratory in Spain, reanalysed by the same procedure and compared with a qPCR method. The overall results after testing were compared. RESULTS Strongyloides stercoralis larvae were identified by direct saline microscopy and Baermann in a total of 10/192 (5.2%) and 18/192 (9.4%) stool samples, respectively. Other helminth and protozoan species were also identified. The Strong-LAMP-positive results were visually detected in 69/192 (35.9%) stool samples. The comparison of Strong-LAMP results in field conditions and at a reference laboratory matched in a total of 146/192 (76.0%) samples. A total of 24/192 (12.5%) stool samples tested positive by qPCR. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study in which colorimetric Strong-LAMP has been clinically evaluated in a resource-poor strongyloidiasis endemic area. Strong-LAMP has been shown to be more effective in screening for strongyloidiasis than parasitological methods under field conditions and qPCR in the laboratory. Our Strong-LAMP has proven to be a field-friendly and highly accurate molecular test for the diagnosis of strongyloidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Crego-Vicente
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca-Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Begoña Febrer-Sendra
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca-Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Joan Martínez-Campreciós
- Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz, Cubal, Angola
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Mediavilla
- Microbiology Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aroa Silgado
- Microbiology Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena Sulleiro
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Microbiology Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Begoña Treviño
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- International Health Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Israel Molina
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- International Health Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Muro
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca-Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Fernando Salvador
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
- International Health Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Pedro Fernández-Soto
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca-Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
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Bartlett AW, Mendes EP, Dahmash L, Peliganga LB, Lufunda LMM, Direito A, Mwinzi PN, Eulogio P, Lopes S, Nery SV. Knowledge, attitudes, practices and acceptability of a school preventive chemotherapy programme for schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths control in Angola. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220430. [PMID: 37598703 PMCID: PMC10440166 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth (STH) control programs require target population engagement, assessed through knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) surveys. We report the results of a KAP survey of Angolan schoolchildren supported by a school preventive chemotherapy (PC) programme, without or with a school water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programme (PC+/WASH- and PC+/WASH+, respectively); and schoolchildren without a school PC or WASH program (PC-/WASH-). Schoolchildren from PC+/WASH- (N = 218), PC+/WASH+ (N = 250) and PC-/WASH- (N = 254) schools were interviewed. Descriptive statistics were used to report demographics and survey responses. Chi-square or Fisher's exact test was used to compare PC+/WASH- schoolchildren with (i) PC+/WASH+ and (ii) PC-/WASH- schoolchildren. A lower proportion of PC+/WASH- schoolchildren used latrines and a higher proportion practised open defecation at school compared with PC+/WASH+ schoolchildren. A lower proportion of PC+/WASH- schoolchildren always washed their hands after toileting and before meals at school compared with PC+/WASH+ schoolchildren. However, the PC+/WASH- schoolchildren reported better toileting and handwashing practices at school compared to PC-/WASH- schoolchildren. Over 90% of PC+ schoolchildren agreed with schistosomiasis and STH control and accepted schoolteacher PC delivery. Expanding the integration of both school PC and WASH programs will improve health behaviours relevant to reduce the risk of schistosomiasis and STHs in schoolchildren. This article is part of the theme issue 'Challenges and opportunities in the fight against neglected tropical diseases: a decade from the London Declaration on NTDs'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam W. Bartlett
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2052
| | - Elsa P. Mendes
- National Directorate of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Luanda, Angola
| | | | - Luis B. Peliganga
- National Directorate of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Luanda, Angola
| | | | | | - Pauline N. Mwinzi
- Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases, Brazzaville, Congo
| | - Pablo Eulogio
- National Directorate of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Luanda, Angola
| | - Sergio Lopes
- National Directorate of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Luanda, Angola
| | - Susana Vaz Nery
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2052
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16
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Febrer-Sendra B, Crego-Vicente B, Nindia A, Martínez-Campreciós J, Aixut S, Mediavilla A, Silgado A, Oliveira-Souto I, Salvador F, Molina I, Muro A, Sulleiro E, Fernández-Soto P. First field and laboratory evaluation of LAMP assay for malaria diagnosis in Cubal, Angola. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:343. [PMID: 37789462 PMCID: PMC10548721 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05942-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria is a globally distributed infectious disease. According to the World Health Organization, Angola is one of the six countries that account for over half the global malaria burden in terms of both malaria cases and deaths. Diagnosis of malaria still depends on microscopic examination of thin and thick blood smears and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), which often lack analytical and clinical sensitivity. Molecular methods could overcome these disadvantages. The aim of this study was to evaluate, for the first time to our knowledge, the performance of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for the diagnosis of malaria in an endemic area in Cubal, Angola, and to assess the reproducibility at a reference laboratory. METHODS A total of 200 blood samples from patients attended at Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz, Cubal, Angola, were analysed for Plasmodium spp. detection by microscopy, RDTs, and LAMP. LAMP assay was easily performed in a portable heating block, and the results were visualized by a simple colour change. Subsequently, the samples were sent to a reference laboratory in Spain to be reanalysed by the same colorimetric LAMP assay and also in real-time LAMP format. RESULTS In field tests, a total of 67/200 (33.5%) blood samples were microscopy-positive for Plasmodium spp., 98/200 RDT positive, and 112/200 (56%) LAMP positive. Using microscopy as reference standard, field LAMP detected more microscopy-positive samples than RDTs (66/67; 98% vs. 62/67; 92.5%). When samples were reanalysed at a reference laboratory in Spain using both colorimetric and real-time assays, the overall reproducibility achieved 84.5%. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to our knowledge in which LAMP has been clinically evaluated on blood samples in a resource-poor malaria-endemic area. The colorimetric LAMP proved to be more sensitive than microscopy and RDTs for malaria diagnosis in field conditions. Furthermore, LAMP showed an acceptable level of reproducibility in a reference laboratory. The possibility to use LAMP in a real-time format in a portable device reinforces the reliability of the assay for molecular diagnosis of malaria in resource-poor laboratories in endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Begoña Febrer-Sendra
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca-Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Beatriz Crego-Vicente
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca-Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Salamanca, Spain
| | | | - Joan Martínez-Campreciós
- Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz, Cubal, Angola
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Alejandro Mediavilla
- Microbiology Department Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aroa Silgado
- Microbiology Department Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Inés Oliveira-Souto
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- International Health Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fernando Salvador
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- International Health Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Israel Molina
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- International Health Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Muro
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca-Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Elena Sulleiro
- Microbiology Department Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
- International Health Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Pedro Fernández-Soto
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca-Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Salamanca, Spain.
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Araújo V, Fehn AM, Phiri A, Wills J, Rocha J, Gayà-Vidal M. Oral microbiome homogeneity across diverse human groups from southern Africa: first results from southwestern Angola and Zimbabwe. BMC Microbiol 2023; 23:226. [PMID: 37596536 PMCID: PMC10436416 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-02970-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While the human oral microbiome is known to play an important role in systemic health, its average composition and diversity patterns are still poorly understood. To gain better insights into the general composition of the microbiome on a global scale, the characterization of microbiomes from a broad range of populations, including non-industrialized societies, is needed. Here, we used the portion of non-human reads obtained through an expanded exome capture sequencing approach to characterize the saliva microbiomes of 52 individuals from eight ethnolinguistically diverse southern African populations from Angola (Kuvale, Kwepe, Himba, Tjimba, Kwisi, Twa, !Xun) and Zimbabwe (Tshwa), including foragers, food-producers, and peripatetic groups (low-status communities who provide services to their dominant neighbors). RESULTS Our results indicate that neither host genetics nor livelihood seem to influence the oral microbiome profile, with Neisseria, Streptococcus, Prevotella, Rothia, and Porphyromonas being the five most frequent genera in southern African groups, in line with what has been shown for other human populations. However, we found that some Tshwa and Twa individuals display an enrichment of pathogenic genera from the Enterobacteriaceae family (i.e. Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Salmonella) of the Proteobacteria phylum, probably reflecting deficient sanitation and poor health conditions associated with social marginalization. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our results suggest that socio-economic status, rather than ethnolinguistic affiliation or subsistence mode, is a key factor in shaping the salivary microbial profiles of human populations in southern Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vítor Araújo
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, CIBIO, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal
- Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, BIOPOLIS, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, 4169-007, Portugal
| | - Anne-Maria Fehn
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, CIBIO, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal
- Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, BIOPOLIS, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal
| | - Admire Phiri
- Department of Linguistics and Language Practice, University of Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | | | - Jorge Rocha
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, CIBIO, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal
- Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, BIOPOLIS, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, 4169-007, Portugal
| | - Magdalena Gayà-Vidal
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, CIBIO, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal.
- Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, BIOPOLIS, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal.
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Aoki A, Mochida K, Kuramata M, Sadamori T, Sapalalo P, Tchicondingosse L, Balogun OO, Aiga H, Francisco KR, Takehara K. Association between the quality of care and continuous maternal and child health service utilisation in Angola: Longitudinal data analysis. J Glob Health 2023; 13:04073. [PMID: 37565413 PMCID: PMC10416139 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.13.04073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) prioritise minimising maternal, neonatal, and infant mortality. To improve maternal and child health, various evidence-based interventions have been introduced. Quality of care is pertinent while strengthening service utilisations. Achieving optimal-quality care is often marred with difficulties, such as inadequate skills and knowledge of health workers, poor fidelity to protocols, and poor user acceptance. Angola is a LMIC facing these problems. This study aimed to demonstrate the influence of health facilities' quality of care at antenatal care (ANC) on subsequent maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) service utilisation in Angolan pregnant women. Methods Population-based cohort data from the Maternal and Child Health Handbook (MCH-HB) effectiveness study were analysed. The original study was conducted among women who became pregnant between March and April 2019 in Benguela Province, Angola. Socioeconomic and MNCH service utilisation indicators were collected through interviewer-administered structured questionnaires. The indicator of quality of care was a composite measure that assessed the implementation of the MCH-HB based on the RE-AIM framework, mostly consisted of common factors related to delivery and management of MNCH services. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed between quality of care, socioeconomic factors, and service utilisation indicators among the intervention group participants who had at least one ANC visit. Results Of the 3351 pregnant women who visited ANC at least once, 2911 without missing values among explanatory or dependent variables were included in the analysis. Among them, 2032 (69.8%) were exposed to optimal-quality ANC, and 2058 (70.7%), 1573 (54.0%), and 941 (32.3%) achieved ANC target, facility delivery, and vaccination target for six-month-old infants, respectively. Exposure to suboptimal-quality care at ANC was associated with lower odds for facility delivery (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.49-0.73) and the achievement of the vaccination target (AOR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.33-0.55). A low socioeconomic status was inversely associated with health service utilisation indicators. Conclusions Health facilities' quality of care influences subsequent MNCH service utilisation. Therefore, simultaneous efforts to improve quality of care and the mobilisation of pregnant women and communities are essential for enhancing maternal and child health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai Aoki
- Department of Health Policy, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keiji Mochida
- TA Networking Corp., Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Global Health, Graduate School of Health Sciences, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
| | | | | | - Pedro Sapalalo
- Domus Custodius (SU) Lda. Tchikos Agency, Luanda, Angola
| | | | | | - Hirotsugu Aiga
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- Human Development Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Kenji Takehara
- Department of Health Policy, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
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19
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Baptista E, Pereira AJSC, Domingos FP, Sêco SLR. Radon and thoron concentrations in the southwest region of Angola: dose assessment and implications for risk mapping. Environ Geochem Health 2023; 45:665-686. [PMID: 35274223 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-022-01226-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Indoor radon (222Rn) and thoron (220Rn) are the most important natural sources of ionizing radiation to the public. Radiological studies that assess simultaneously 222Rn and 220Rn, and their controlling factors are particularly scarce in African countries. Hence, we conducted a survey of indoor 222Rn and 220Rn in buildings located in the SW region of Angola. Bedrock samples were also collected, and a borehole was executed to assess 226Ra and 224Ra activity concentration, 222Rn and 220Rn exhalation and emanation potential in the surface and at depth. The aim of this study was to determine the factors (geological and anthropogenic) that may influence the annual inhalation dose (AID) received by the population. Overall, the sum of indoor radon and indoor thoron concentrations, labelled the total indoor radon concentration (TIRC), was higher than 300 Bq/m3 in only 5% of the buildings studied. The contribution of 220Rn to the TIRC averaged 35% but may reach 95%, demonstrating the relevance of discriminating radon and thoron in indoor radon surveys. Indoor 222Rn and 220Rn were not correlated, indicating both must be estimated to properly assess the AID. Indoor 220Rn concentrations were statistically different according to the building materials and type of usage. Higher 222Rn and 220Rn concentrations were observed in dwellings compared to workplaces. The median AID estimated for dwellings was 1.50 mSv/y compared to 0.26 mSv/y for workplaces, which are lower than the estimated average radiation exposure due to natural sources of 2.4 mSv/y. AID values higher than 1 mSv/y effective dose threshold established in the Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM for the purpose of radiation protection in workplaces were observed in 12% of the workplaces studied suggesting the need for mitigation measures in those buildings. The analysis of bedrock samples revealed statistically significant correlations between 224 and 226Ra activity concentration, and 220Rn and 222Rn exhalation and emanation potential. The borehole samples indicated a strong influence of weathering processes in the distribution of radioisotopes. The highest 226Ra and 224Ra activity concentration, and 222Rn and 220Rn exhaled per unit mass, TIRC and AID were observed in association with A-type red granites and porphyries. We conclude that both geological and anthropic factors, such as the type of building usage and building materials, must be considered in dose assessment studies and for the development of risk maps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edson Baptista
- Department of Earth Sciences, LRN - Laboratory of Natural Radioactivity, University of Coimbra, Pole II, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Alcides J S C Pereira
- Department of Earth Sciences, LRN - Laboratory of Natural Radioactivity, University of Coimbra, Pole II, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790, Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Earth Sciences, CITEUC - Center for Earth and Space Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Filipa P Domingos
- Department of Earth Sciences, LRN - Laboratory of Natural Radioactivity, University of Coimbra, Pole II, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790, Coimbra, Portugal
- IATV - Instituto do Ambiente, Tecnologia e Vida, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sérgio L R Sêco
- Department of Earth Sciences, LRN - Laboratory of Natural Radioactivity, University of Coimbra, Pole II, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790, Coimbra, Portugal.
- IATV - Instituto do Ambiente, Tecnologia e Vida, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Mesfin I, Benjamim MH, Lebatard AE, Saos T, Pleurdeau D, Matos J, Lotter M. Evidence for Earlier Stone Age 'coastal use': The site of Dungo IV, Benguela Province, Angola. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0278775. [PMID: 36827267 PMCID: PMC9955982 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The relationship between Earlier Stone Age (ESA) hominins and the southern African coastal environment has been poorly investigated, despite the high concentration of open-air sites in marine and fluvial terraces of the coastal plain from c. 1Ma onward during the Mid-Pleistocene Transition. Southern Africa provides some of the earliest evidence of coastal subsistence strategies since the end of the Middle Pleistocene, during the Middle Stone Age (MSA). These coastal MSA sites showcase the role of coastal environments in the emergence and development of modern human behaviors. Given the high prevalence of coastal ESA sites throughout the region, we seek to question the relationship between hominins and coastal landscapes much earlier in time. In this regard, the +100 m raised beaches of the Benguela Province, Angola, are key areas as they are well-preserved and contain a dense record of prehistoric occupation from the beginning of the Middle Pleistocene, including sites like Dungo, Mormolo, Sombreiro, Macaca and Punta das Vacas. Accordingly, this paper provides a critical review of the coastal ESA record of southern Africa and a detailed presentation of the Dungo IV site, through a qualitative technological analysis coupled with a quantitative inter-site comparison with contemporary southern African coastal plain sites. Through our detailed technological analyses, we highlight the influence of coastal lithological resources on the technical behaviors of hominin groups, and we propose the existence of a "regional adaptive strategy" in a coastal landscape more than 600 000 years ago. Finally, we argue for the integration of coastal landscapes into hominins' territories, suggesting that adaptation to coastal environments is actually a slower process which begins with "territorialization" well before the emergence and development of Homo sapiens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isis Mesfin
- Fyssen Foundation - Museu Nacional de Arqueologia de Benguela, Benguela, Angola
- UMR 7194 Histoire Naturelle de l’Homme Préhistorique – CNRS, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Université Perpignan Via Domitia – Alliance Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Palaeo-Research Institute, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
- * E-mail: ,
| | | | | | - Thibaud Saos
- UMR 7194 Histoire Naturelle de l’Homme Préhistorique – CNRS, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Université Perpignan Via Domitia – Alliance Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - David Pleurdeau
- UMR 7194 Histoire Naturelle de l’Homme Préhistorique – CNRS, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Université Perpignan Via Domitia – Alliance Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Jorge Matos
- Instituto Superior Politecnico Jean Piaget, Bairro Nossa Senhora da Graça, Benguela, Angola
| | - Matt Lotter
- Palaeo-Research Institute, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Pereira HS. The Camera and the Railway: Framing the Portuguese Empire and Technological Landscapes in Angola and Mozambique, 1880s-1910s. Technol Cult 2023; 64:737-759. [PMID: 38588154 DOI: 10.1353/tech.2023.a903971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Starting in the 1880s, Portugal invested in constructing railways in its African colonies, Angola and Mozambique. The aim was both to solidify Portuguese presence in territories disputed by other imperial nations and to facilitate exploration of the resources that imperial policymakers assumed existed in the colonial hinterland. To promote the perception that Portugal was an imperial nation, hundreds of photographs recorded the construction, inauguration, and operation of these new railways. Using a semiotics approach, this article analyzes photographs from various sources in Portugal to show how they helped create a novel technological landscape, underscoring the domestication of the territory and the civilization of its inhabitants by European rule, thus promoting it as a land of opportunity for European settlers. This focus adds to the debate claiming that photography was a crucial tool of empire serving European colonialism and imperialism in Africa.
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Kuramata M, Mochida K, Fukushima S, Sadamori T, Suzuki M, Francisco KR, Freitas HR, Balogun OO, Takehara K. Development and implementation of the maternal and child health Handbook in Angola. BMJ Glob Health 2022; 7:bmjgh-2022-010313. [PMID: 36283732 PMCID: PMC9608535 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-010313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the maternal and child health (MCH) Handbook is widely used in many countries, its development and implementation process has not been sufficiently documented in scientific publications. This is a report of how the Angola MCH Handbook was developed, what challenges we encountered during its implementation and how they were solved. Leading the process was the MCH Handbook Committee set up to develop the MCH Handbook and implement the programme in liaison with various stakeholders. We developed the MCH Handbook through participatory workshops with the objective of producing user-responsive content and designs, foster healthy interaction and build common understanding among stakeholders. After pilot use in select health facilities, the MCH Handbook programme, which included training, monitoring and supervision, mothers’ class and community awareness raising activities, was gradually implemented in three model provinces. Core members of the committee closely observed each step of the programme to identify challenges in each field, and revised the tool and programme throughout the process. As nationwide implementation of the MCH Handbook Programme progresses, it is important to continually identify challenges specific to different localities while taking measures to address them. In our experience, stakeholder involvement from the early planning and preparation stages was critical to ensure their continued commitment at later stages and for programme continuity. Our approach of tool development involving various stakeholders and flexible implementation strategies were key elements for user acceptance and programme sustainability that may be applicable for introduction of similar interventions in other settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Keiji Mochida
- TA Networking Corp, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Health Policy, National Center for Child Health and Development, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | - Helga Reis Freitas
- National Directorate of Public Health, Ministry of Health of Angola, Luanda, Angola
| | | | - Kenji Takehara
- Department of Health Policy, National Center for Child Health and Development, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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Cheng W, Wu K, Song X, Wang W, Du W, Li J. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms of artemisinin resistance-related pfubp1 and pfap2mu genes in imported Plasmodium falciparum to Wuhan, China. Infect Genet Evol 2022; 101:105286. [PMID: 35470127 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2022.105286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Molecular markers for monitoring resistance could help improve malaria treatment policies. Delayed clearance of Plasmodium falciparum by artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) has been reported in several countries. In addition to PfKelch13 (pfk13), new drug resistance genes, P. falciparum ubiquitin-specific protease 1 (pfubp1) and the eadaptor protein complex 2 mu subunit (pfap2mu), have been identified as being linked to ACTs. This study investigated the prevalence of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in clinical P. falciparum isolates pfubp1 and pfap2mu imported from Africa and Southeast Asia (SEA) to Wuhan, China, to provide baseline data for antimalarial resistance monitoring in this region. METHODS Peripheral venous blood samples were collected in Wuhan, China, from August 2011 to December 2019. The Pfubp1 and pfap2mu SNPs of P. falciparum were determined by nested PCR and Sanger sequencing. RESULTS In total, 296 samples were collected. Subsequently, 92.23% (273/296) were successfully amplified and sequenced for Pfubp1. There were 60.07% (164/273) wild-type strains and 39.93% (109/273) mutant strains. The pfap2mu gene was divided into three fragments for amplification, and 82.77% (245/296), 90.20% (267/296) and 94.59% (280/296) were sequenced successfully. Genotypes reportedly associated with ACTs resistance detected in this study included pfubp1 D1525E as well as E1528D and pfap2mu S160N. The mutation prevalence rates were 10.99% (30/273), 13.19% (36/273) and 11.24% (30/267), respectively. These are all focused on Congo, Nigeria and Angola. Known delayed-clearance parasite mutations have also been found in SEA. CONCLUSIONS The existence of mutation sites of known clearance genes detected in the isolates in this study, including D1525E and E1528D in the pfubp1 gene and S160N in the pfap2mu gene, further proved the risk of ACTs resistance. Constant vigilance is therefore needed to protect the effectiveness of ACTs and to prevent the spread of drug-resistant P. falciparum. Further studies in malaria-endemic countries are needed to further validate potential genetic markers for monitoring parasite populations in Africa and SEA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijia Cheng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; Department of Infectious Diseases, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Kai Wu
- Department of Schistosomiasis and Endemic Diseases, Wuhan City Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Wuhan 430024, China
| | - Xiaonan Song
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; Department of Infectious Diseases, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province 214064, People's Republic of China
| | - Weixing Du
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Jian Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; Department of Infectious Diseases, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China.
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Sacomboio ENM, dos Santos Sebastião C, Salvador STDC, João JA, Bapolo DVS, Francisco NM, Morais J, Valentim EE. Evaluation of blood cell count parameters as predictors of treatment failure of malaria in Angola: An observational study. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0267671. [PMID: 35511769 PMCID: PMC9070872 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Despite the guidelines provided by the World Health Organization for the treatment of malaria, treatment failure occurs in many hospitalized patients.
Objective
Evaluate whether blood cell count parameters may serve as predictors for malaria treatment.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach.
Results
Of the 219 patients, 21.5% showed failure to antimalarial treatment, Patient with 21 and 40 years (72.6%), male (53.4%), from peri-urban area (47.5%), with high parasitemia (59.8%), treated with Arthemeter (90.9%) and the mortality were 5.9%. Significant associations were observed between occupation, level of parasitemia and outcome with resistance to antimalarial treatment (p<0.05). Patients with normal Hb [OR: 0.75 (95% CI: 0.39–1.44), p = 0.393], RBC [OR: 0.83 (95% CI: 0.40–1.72), p = 0.632], RDW [OR: 0.54 (95% CI: 0.27–1.09), p = 0.088], MCV [OR: 0.61 (95% CI: 0.28–1.31), p = 0.204] were less likely to have malaria treatment failures after artemisinin-based therapy failure. In contrast, those with normal values of segmented neutrophils [OR: 0.32 (95% CI: 0.11–0.96), p = 0.042] and lymphocyte counts [OR: 0.24 (95% CI: 0.05–1.04), p = 0.055]. We also found that patients with significant low levels of Hct [OR: 0.31 (95% CI: 0.15–0.64) p = 0.002], and high leukocytes [OR: 8.88 (95% CI: 2.02–37.2), p = 0.004] and normal platelet values [OR: 1.42 (95% CI: 0.73–2.95), p = 0.280] demonstrated high probability of treatment failure.
Conclusion
The importance of blood cell count parameters in monitoring malaria therapy necessitates the urgent need to re-evaluate Artemether-based therapy. Future studies involving more participants in different settings are needed to provide further evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Euclides Nenga Manuel Sacomboio
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS), Luanda, Angola
- Instituto Superior de Ciências de Saúde (ISCISA), Universidade Agostinho Neto (UAN), Luanda, Angola
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola (CISA), Caxito, Angola
- * E-mail:
| | - Cruz dos Santos Sebastião
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS), Luanda, Angola
- Instituto Superior de Ciências de Saúde (ISCISA), Universidade Agostinho Neto (UAN), Luanda, Angola
- Instituto Superior de Ciências de Saúde (ISCISA), Universidade Agostinho Neto (UAN), Luanda, Angola
| | | | - Joaquim António João
- Instituto Superior de Ciências de Saúde (ISCISA), Universidade Agostinho Neto (UAN), Luanda, Angola
| | | | | | - Joana Morais
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS), Luanda, Angola
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola
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Ramos NNV, Fronteira I, Martins MRO. Building a Health Literacy Indicator from Angola Demographic and Health Survey in 2015/2016. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:ijerph19052882. [PMID: 35270574 PMCID: PMC8910521 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19052882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Health literacy is a determinant factor for population health. It is important both for the prevention of health problems and the better management of those problems and unexpected situations that happen. Low health literacy has been consistently associated with poor health outcomes. This study aimed to develop a health literacy indicator for Angola and to analyze pertinent demographic characteristics related to it. Data were obtained from the first Angola Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 2015/16; we included 10 questions related to the American National Academy of Medicine definition of health literacy. Using factor analysis, we extracted one i indicator corresponding to four dimensions of health literacy. The indicator was dichotomized, and we used Logistic Regression to estimate factors associated with health literacy level: we obtained data from 19,785 adolescents and adults, aged 15–49 years. The internal consistency of the i indicator was reliable (Cronbach’s α = 0.83). Adjusting for other variables, males with complete secondary education or above and living in urban areas were more likely to have a high level of health literacy. There were substantial differences between the 18 regions. This is the first study evaluating health literacy in Angola using the American National Academy of Medicine definition and a Demographic and Health survey. Our study shows unfavorable results for women, individuals living in rural areas and those less educated.
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Pereira HS. [Capital, empire and photography: evidence from the photo albums of colonial companies in Angola and Mozambique during the scramble for Africa]. Hist Cienc Saude Manguinhos 2021; 28:1137-1157. [PMID: 34910043 DOI: 10.1590/s0104-59702021000400011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In the late 19th-early 20th century, Portugal entrusted the implementation of technological systems in its colonies in Angola and Mozambique to several private companies. These companies decided to preserve their activities through photography for posterity. In this article, I analyze four business albums from colonial firms, combining a semiotic methodology with concepts from the history of technology. I argue that photography, despite being advertised as an objective instrument to record reality, was extremely subjective, but that it took advantage of this alleged objectivity to create and strengthen myths, through the impact of its visuality. I also contribute to the debate on the importance of visual culture for colonial studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Silveira Pereira
- Investigador auxiliar, Centro Interuniversitário de História das Ciências e da Tecnologia/Universidade Nova de Lisboa.Almada - Setúbal - Portugal
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Fronteira I, Freitas H, Guimarães N, Fresta M, Ferrinho P. Medical faculty profile is an important determinant of student profile and future practice expectations of medical students in Angola. BMC Med Educ 2021; 21:465. [PMID: 34470623 PMCID: PMC8411538 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-021-02836-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Angola is among one of the most deprived countries in the world in terms of medical professionals. In the past decade, the Angolan Government has invested in the expansion of faculties of medicine in the country. We analysed the profiles of medical students in Angola according to four clusters of medical schools: older faculty in the country, private faculties, Cuban sponsored faculties and military faculty; under the assumption that the organizational culture of the different faculties might influence the expectations and decisions towards future professional life of medical students regarding where they want to work (community versus hospital) and in which sector (exclusively public versus not exclusively public). METHODS Observational cross-sectional study. Piloted, standardized questionnaire to final year medical students or higher year of training in the first four-month of 2014 (N = 402). Data were entered into a SPSS v.20 database and descriptive statistics computed. Statistical significance for categorical variables was tested by Pearson chi-square, Fisher exact or likelihood ratio tests as appropriate. Comparison of means was tested with Anova. Backward elimination binary logistic regression was used to test the hypothesis that type of faculty of medicine is an important determinant of future professional practice, i.e., level (hospital vs. community) or sector of practice (exclusive public sector vs. private or private and public), while controlling for confounders. RESULTS After controlling for age, sex, marital status, place of birth and place of primary and secondary education, type of family and family influence, students were more likely to choose community over hospital practice and to prefer exclusive public practice if attending a Cuba supported faculty of medicine. CONCLUSIONS Medical education cannot be isolated from planning of the medical workforce. Some important and impactful careers choices, like choosing rural over urban practice, public over private sector practice, have deep influences in the medical professionals' labour market. Some of these decisions are shaped even before the end of the medical training. As such, the monitoring of future professional intentions in medical schools should be done regularly to accommodate both the health system needs and the hopes and dreams of medical trainees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Fronteira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | | | | | - Mário Fresta
- CEDUMED, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola
| | - Paulo Ferrinho
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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Marx MP, Mateus O, Polcyn MJ, Schulp AS, Gonçalves AO, Jacobs LL. The cranial anatomy and relationships of Cardiocorax mukulu (Plesiosauria: Elasmosauridae) from Bentiaba, Angola. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255773. [PMID: 34403433 PMCID: PMC8370651 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We report a new specimen of the plesiosaur Cardiocorax mukulu that includes the most complete plesiosaur skull from sub-Saharan Africa. The well-preserved three-dimensional nature of the skull offers rare insight into the cranial anatomy of elasmosaurid plesiosaurians. The new specimen of Cardiocorax mukulu was recovered from Bentiaba, Namibe Province in Angola, approximately three meters above the holotype. The new specimen also includes an atlas-axis complex, seventeen postaxial cervical vertebrae, partial ribs, a femur, and limb elements. It is identified as Cardiocorax mukulu based on an apomorphy shared with the holotype where the cervical neural spine is approximately as long anteroposteriorly as the centrum and exhibits a sinusoidal anterior margin. The new specimen is nearly identical to the holotype and previously referred material in all other aspects. Cardiocorax mukulu is returned in an early-branching or intermediate position in Elasmosauridae in four out of the six of our phylogenetic analyses. Cardiocorax mukulu lacks the elongated cervical vertebrae that is characteristic of the extremely long-necked elasmosaurines, and the broad skull with and a high number of maxillary teeth (28-40) which is characteristic of Aristonectinae. Currently, the most parsimonious explanation concerning elasmosaurid evolutionary relationships, is that Cardiocorax mukulu represents an older lineage of elasmosaurids in the Maastrichtian.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel P. Marx
- Huffington Department of Earth Sciences, ISEM at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
- GeoBioTec + Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
- Museu da Lourinhã, Lourinhã, Portugal
| | - Octávio Mateus
- GeoBioTec + Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
- Museu da Lourinhã, Lourinhã, Portugal
| | - Michael J. Polcyn
- Huffington Department of Earth Sciences, ISEM at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Anne S. Schulp
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - A. Olímpio Gonçalves
- Departamento de Geologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola
| | - Louis L. Jacobs
- Huffington Department of Earth Sciences, ISEM at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
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Sebastião CS, Neto Z, Martinez P, Jandondo D, Antonio J, Galangue M, de Carvalho M, David K, Miranda J, Afonso P, Inglês L, Carrelero RR, de Vasconcelos JN, Morais J. Sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors related to SARS-CoV-2 infection in Luanda, Angola. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0249249. [PMID: 33765102 PMCID: PMC7993870 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the characteristics related to SARS-CoV-2 in Luanda, Angola. A total of 622 individuals were screened for SARS-CoV-2 from January to September 2020. Chi-square and logistic regression were used to identify the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and SARS-CoV-2. Of the 622 tested, 14.3% tested positive. The infection rate was the same for both genders (14.3%). Individuals ≥40 years old, from non-urbanized areas, and healthcare professionals had a higher frequency of infection. The risk of infection was very high in individuals ≥60 years old (AOR: 23.3, 95% CI: 4.83-112), in women (AOR: 1.24, 95% CI: 0.76-2.04), in Luanda (AOR: 7.40, 95% CI: 1.64-33.4), and healthcare professionals (AOR: 1.27, 95% CI: 0.60-2.71), whereas a low risk was observed in individuals from urbanized areas (AOR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.26-0.75). Our results suggest that Angolan authorities should implement a greater effort in non-urbanized areas and among healthcare professionals since when these individuals presented any indication for a COVID-19 test, such as fever/cough/myalgia, they were more likely to test positive for SARS-CoV-2 than having some other cause for symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cruz S. Sebastião
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola, Caxito, Angola
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde, Luanda, Angola
- Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola
| | - Zoraima Neto
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde, Luanda, Angola
| | - Pedro Martinez
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde, Luanda, Angola
| | | | - Janete Antonio
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde, Luanda, Angola
| | | | | | | | - Julio Miranda
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde, Luanda, Angola
| | - Pedro Afonso
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde, Luanda, Angola
| | - Luzia Inglês
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde, Luanda, Angola
| | | | - Jocelyne Neto de Vasconcelos
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola, Caxito, Angola
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde, Luanda, Angola
| | - Joana Morais
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde, Luanda, Angola
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola
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Pais da Cunha AT, Chiumenti M, Ladeira LC, Abou Kubaa R, Loconsole G, Pantaleo V, Minafra A. High throughput sequencing from Angolan citrus accessions discloses the presence of emerging CTV strains. Virol J 2021; 18:62. [PMID: 33757535 PMCID: PMC7988965 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01535-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Citrus industry is worldwide dramatically affected by outbreaks of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV). Controls should be applied to nurseries, which could act as diversity hotspots for CTV. Early detection and characterization of dangerous or emerging strains of this virus greatly help to prevent outbreaks of disease. This is particularly relevant in those growing regions where no dedicated certification programs are currently in use. METHODS Double-stranded RNA extracted from Citrus spp. samples, collected in two locations in Angola, were pooled and submitted to a random-primed RNA-seq. This technique was performed to acquire a higher amount of data in the survey, before the amplification and sequencing of genes from single plants. To confirm the CTV infection in individual plants, as suggested by RNA-seq information from the pooled samples, the analysis was integrated with multiple molecular marker amplification (MMM) for the main known CTV strains (T30, T36, VT and T3). RESULTS From the analysis of HTS data, several assembled contigs were identified as CTV and classified according to their similarity to the established strains. By the MMM amplification, only five individual accessions out of the eleven pooled samples, resulted to be infected by CTV. Amplified coat protein genes from the five positive sources were cloned and sequenced and submitted to phylogenetic analysis, while a near-complete CTV genome was also reconstructed by the fusion of three overlapping contigs. CONCLUSION Phylogenetic analysis of the ORF1b and CP genes, retrieved by de novo assembly and RT-PCR, respectively, revealed the presence of a wide array of CTV strains in the surveyed citrus-growing spots in Angola. Importantly, molecular variants among those identified from HTS showed high similarity with known severe strains as well as to recently described and emerging strains in other citrus-growing regions, such as S1 (California) or New Clade (Uruguay).
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Affiliation(s)
- Aderito Tomàs Pais da Cunha
- Instituto Superior Politécnico do Kuanza Sul (ISPKS), Rua 12 de Novembro, Sumbe, Angola
- Centro Nacional de Investigação Científica (CNIC), 201 Ho Chi Min Avenue, CP 34, Luanda, Angola
| | - Michela Chiumenti
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Giovanni Amendola 165/A, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Raied Abou Kubaa
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Giovanni Amendola 165/A, Bari, Italy
| | - Giuliana Loconsole
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Giovanni Amendola 165/A, Bari, Italy
| | - Vitantonio Pantaleo
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Giovanni Amendola 165/A, Bari, Italy
| | - Angelantonio Minafra
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Giovanni Amendola 165/A, Bari, Italy.
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Samba N, Aitfella-Lahlou R, Nelo M, Silva L, Coca. R, Rocha P, López Rodilla JM. Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of Lippia multiflora Moldenke Essential Oil from Different Regions of Angola. Molecules 2020; 26:molecules26010155. [PMID: 33396345 PMCID: PMC7795161 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26010155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to determine the chemical composition and antibacterial activity of Lippia multiflora Moldenke essential oils (EOs) collected in different regions of Angola. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using the agar wells technique and vapour phase test. Analysis of the oils by GC/MS identified thirty-five components representing 67.5 to 100% of the total oils. Monoterpene hydrocarbons were the most prevalent compounds, followed by oxygenated monoterpenes. The content of the compounds varied according to the samples. The main components were Limonene, Piperitenone, Neral, Citral, Elemol, p-cymene, Transtagetone, and Artemisia ketone. Only one of the eleven samples contained Verbenone as the majority compound. In the vapour phase test, a single oil was the most effective against all the pathogens studied. The principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) of components of the selected EOs and inhibition zone diameter values of agar wells technique allowed us to identify a variability between the plants from the two provinces, but also intraspecific variability between sub-groups within a population. Each group of essential oils constituted a chemotype responsible for their bacterial inhibition capacity. The results presented here suggest that Angolan Lippia multiflora Moldenke has antibacterial properties and could be a potential source of antimicrobial agents for the pharmaceutical and food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nsevolo Samba
- Chemistry Department, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal; (R.A.-L.); (M.N.); (L.S.); (R.C.); (P.R.)
- Department of Clinical Analysis and Public Health, University Kimpa Vita, Uige 77, Angola
- Correspondence: (N.S.); (J.M.L.R.); Tel.: +351-926-687-782 (N.S.); +351-275-319-765 (J.M.L.R.)
| | - Radhia Aitfella-Lahlou
- Chemistry Department, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal; (R.A.-L.); (M.N.); (L.S.); (R.C.); (P.R.)
- Laboratory of Valorisation and Conservation of Biological Resources, Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, University M’Hamed Bougara, 35000 Boumerdes, Algeria
| | - Mpazu Nelo
- Chemistry Department, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal; (R.A.-L.); (M.N.); (L.S.); (R.C.); (P.R.)
| | - Lucia Silva
- Chemistry Department, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal; (R.A.-L.); (M.N.); (L.S.); (R.C.); (P.R.)
- Fiber Materials and Environmental Technologies (FibEnTech), University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Rui Coca.
- Chemistry Department, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal; (R.A.-L.); (M.N.); (L.S.); (R.C.); (P.R.)
| | - Pedro Rocha
- Chemistry Department, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal; (R.A.-L.); (M.N.); (L.S.); (R.C.); (P.R.)
| | - Jesus Miguel López Rodilla
- Chemistry Department, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal; (R.A.-L.); (M.N.); (L.S.); (R.C.); (P.R.)
- Fiber Materials and Environmental Technologies (FibEnTech), University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
- Correspondence: (N.S.); (J.M.L.R.); Tel.: +351-926-687-782 (N.S.); +351-275-319-765 (J.M.L.R.)
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Braganca PHN, Smith TG, Vreven EJWMN, Chakona A. Integrative taxonomy reveals hidden diversity in the southern African darters genus Nannocharax Günther 1867 (Characiformes: Distichodontidae). J Fish Biol 2020; 97:1713-1723. [PMID: 32914416 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The present study explored the diversity of Nannocharax within southern Africa by implementing three species delimitation methods for a data set consisting of 37 mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I sequences. Two unilocus coalescent methods, the General Mixed Yule Coalescent (GMYC) and the Bayesian implementation of the Poisson Tree Processes (bPTP), and a genetic distance method, the Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD), were applied. Both GMYC and bPTP delimited the same operational taxonomic units (OTUs), revealing a higher diversity for the genus in the region than previously recognised, whereas the ABGD failed to delimit the same candidate species. All methods delimited two species groups, and these are supported based on colouration patterning and morphology; the Nannocharax multifasciatus and the Nannocharax macropterus species groups and the delimited OTUs were assigned to each. Two putative new species were identified, Nannocharax cf. lineostriatus "Okavango" from the Okavango River in Angola and N. cf. lineostriatus "Kwanza" from the Kwanza River system in Angola. The distribution of Nannocharax dageti was confirmed for the Upper Zambezi and extended to the Okavango system, and an identification key for the southern Africa Nannocharax species is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro H N Braganca
- NRF-South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Makhanda (Grahamstown), South Africa
| | - Timothy G Smith
- NRF-South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Makhanda (Grahamstown), South Africa
| | - Emmanuel J W M N Vreven
- Royal Museum for Central Africa, Section of Vertebrates, Ichthyology, Tervuren, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Albert Chakona
- NRF-South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Makhanda (Grahamstown), South Africa
- Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda (Grahamstown), South Africa
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Shibre G. Social inequality in infant mortality in Angola: Evidence from a population based study. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241049. [PMID: 33091077 PMCID: PMC7580929 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Within country inequality in infant mortality poses a big challenge for countries moving towards the internationally agreed upon targets on child mortality by 2030. There is a lack of high-quality evidence on infant mortality measured through different dimensions of social inequality in Angola. Thus, this paper was carried out to address the knowledge gap by conducting in-depth examination of infant mortality rate (IMR) inequality among population subgroups to provide more nuanced evidence to help end IMR disparity in the country. METHODS The World Health Organization's (WHO) Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) was used to analyze IMR inequality. HEAT is a software application that facilitates examination of disparities in reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health indicators using the WHO Health Equity Monitor (HEM) database. Inequality of IMR was analyzed through disaggregation by five equity stratifiers: education, wealth, gender, subnational region and residence. These were analyzed through three inequality measures: Population Attributable Risk, Ratio and Slope Index of Inequality. A 95% confidence Interval (CI) was built around point estimates to determine statistical significance. RESULTS A notable disadvantage was found for children born to poor (Population Attributable Risk (PAR): -27.0; -28.4, -26.0) and uneducated (PAR: -17.0; -17.9, -16.0), women who live in rural areas (PAR: -7.3;-7.8, -6.7) and those residing in certain regions of the country (PAR: -43.0; 45.3, -4). Male infants had a higher risk of death than female infants (PAR: -6.8;-7.5, -6.2). The subnational regional variation of IMR had been the most evident when compared with the disparities in the other equity stratifers. CONCLUSIONS Policymakers and planners need to address the disproportionately higher clustering of IMR among infants born to disadvantaged subpopulations through interventions that benefit such subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gebretsadik Shibre
- Department of Reproductive, Family and Population Health, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- * E-mail:
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Novotna B, Polesny Z, Pinto-Basto MF, Van Damme P, Pudil P, Mazancova J, Duarte MC. Medicinal plants used by 'root doctors', local traditional healers in Bié province, Angola. J Ethnopharmacol 2020; 260:112662. [PMID: 32147477 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.112662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE This study is one of the first post-civil war efforts to document traditional botanical knowledge in Bié province, central Angola, in a first step to bring more studies on the use of medicinal plant resources in this area so as to bring new insights into Angolan bio-cultural diversity. AIM OF THE STUDY Examine the variety of plant species used for medical purposes, as well as characterize their social and cultural values. Also, it is aimed to compare their uses in the studied region with those in Sub-Saharan Africa and report new ethnomedicinal uses. MATERIALS AND METHODS We documented traditional medicinal plant knowledge among professional herbalists in two areas in Bié province through participatory observation, semi-structured interviews and transect walks. Ethnobotanical information was quantified based on Use Reports to (1) rate traditional knowledge; and (2) determine most useful taxa. RESULTS In total, 10 traditional healers shared information on their knowledge. A total of 87 plant species distributed among 57 genera and 36 botanical families were documented with Fabaceae being the best-represented family with 18 species, followed by Phyllanthaceae (6), Apocynaceae (5), Asteraceae (5), Rubiaceae (5), Lamiaceae (4), and Ochnaceae (3). Most medicinal plants are usually gathered at a distance from human settlements because of the belief in the higher efficacy of 'wild' plants shared by all herbalists. Roots are the most common plant part used (79%), explaining why the consulted herbalists call themselves 'root doctors'. CONCLUSIONS The culturally most important medicinal species identified in this study, i.e. Securidaca longepedunculata, Garcinia huillensis, Annona stenophylla, Afzelia quanzensis and Strychnos cocculoides, were previously reported for the same use in neighbouring countries and elsewhere in Africa. Our study also indicates that there are several locally valuable species that have not yet been studied for their medical potential, to name a few: Alvesia rosmarinifolia, Diplorhynchus condylocarpon, Eriosema affine, Paropsia brazzaeana, Rhus squalida, Sclerocroton cornutus or Xylopia tomentosa. Moreover, the ethnomedicinal use of 26 species was reported for the first time to sub-Saharan Africa. CLASSIFICATION Ethnopharmacological field studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Novotna
- Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Praha - Suchdol, Czech Republic; Department of General Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, U Kříže 8, 158 00, Praha 5, Jinonice, Czech Republic.
| | - Zbynek Polesny
- Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Praha - Suchdol, Czech Republic.
| | | | - Patrick Van Damme
- Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Praha - Suchdol, Czech Republic; Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Agronomy and Ethnobotany, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Petr Pudil
- Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Praha - Suchdol, Czech Republic.
| | - Jana Mazancova
- Department of Sustainable Technologies, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Praha - Suchdol, Czech Republic.
| | - Maria Cristina Duarte
- CE3C - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal.
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Ma KCK, Zardi GI, McQuaid CD, Nicastro KR. Historical and contemporary range expansion of an invasive mussel, Semimytlius algosus, in Angola and Namibia despite data scarcity in an infrequently surveyed region. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0239167. [PMID: 32915915 PMCID: PMC7485899 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the spread of invasive species in many regions is difficult because surveys are rare. Here, historical records of the invasive marine mussel, Semimytilus algosus, on the shores of Angola and Namibia are synthesised to re-construct its invasive history. Since this mussel was first discovered in Namibia about 90 years ago, it has spread throughout the western coast of southern Africa. By the late 1960s, the species was well established across a range of 1005 km of coastline in southern Angola and northern Namibia. Although only coarse spatial resolution data are available since the 1990s, the distribution of S. algosus clearly increased substantially over the subsequent decades. Today, the species is distributed over 2785 km of coastline, appearing in southern Namibia in 2014, whence it spread across the border to northern South Africa in 2017, and in northern Angola in 2015. Conspicuously, its current range appears to be relatively contiguous across at least 810 km of shore in southern Angola and throughout Namibia, with isolated, spatially disjunct occurrences towards the southern and northern limits of its distribution. Despite there being few occurrence records that are unevenly distributed spatially and temporally, data for the distributional patterns of S. algosus in Angola and Namibia provide invaluable insights into how marine invasive species spread in developing regions that are infrequently monitored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin C. K. Ma
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- * E-mail:
| | - Gerardo I. Zardi
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa
| | - Christopher D. McQuaid
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa
| | - Katy R. Nicastro
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa
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Balogun OO, Tomo CK, Mochida K, Mikami M, da Rosa Vasconcelos H, Neves I, Hiraoka H, Aiga H, Mori R, Takehara K. Impact of the Maternal and Child Health handbook in Angola for improving continuum of care and other maternal and child health indicators: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial. Trials 2020; 21:737. [PMID: 32838803 PMCID: PMC7445894 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-020-04664-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) handbook is an integrated home-based record (HBR) designed to record in a single document all the information regarding health services provided to a pregnant woman and her child. The MCH handbook has the potential to support continuity of care which is key to strengthening maternal, newborn and child health. However, there is a lack of an integrated system to manage the health of pregnant women and young children on an ongoing basis in Angola. Thus, the Angolan Ministry of Health is partnering with the Japan International Cooperation Agency to build the capacity of healthcare providers through trainings and implementation of the MCH handbook to improve service utilisation. In this study, we will estimate the impact of an intervention package including distribution of MCH handbook and its supplementary interventions to women, on the utilisation of services provided at healthcare facilities from pregnancy through the postnatal and early childhood period. METHODS This study is a cluster randomised controlled trial involving public healthcare facilities across all the municipalities located in Benguela Province, Angola. All women who go to participating healthcare facilities and with confirmed pregnancy around the beginning of the trial period will be included in the study. Women will be randomised according to the municipality where their primary maternity and/or childcare services are located. The intervention package will consist of MCH handbook distribution at all public healthcare facilities, MCH handbook utilisation training for healthcare providers and community mobilisation for women on the use of the MCH handbook. The intervention will be administered to all women in the intervention arm while those in the control arm will continue the traditional use of two stand-alone HBRs. The primary outcome measure for this study is to compare the proportion of women who achieve a complete continuum of care in both study arms. DISCUSSION The findings from the study are expected to form a basis for revising the current trial version of the Angola MCH handbook and provide a framework for policy guiding nationwide scale-up and distribution of the MCH handbook. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN20510127 . Registered on 4 June 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Keiji Mochida
- TA Networking Corp., Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Global Health, Graduate School of Health Sciences, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
| | - Masashi Mikami
- National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Isilda Neves
- National Directorate of Public Health, Luanda, Angola
| | | | - Hirotsugu Aiga
- Japan International Cooperation Agency, Tokyo, Japan
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Rintaro Mori
- Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kenji Takehara
- National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
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Abstract
Background Worldwide, different traditions of symbolic statements in graveyards can be found. However, studies on sub-Saharan Africa are rare. For BaKongo cemeteries, it is only known that they traditionally do not exhibit plants for decoration purposes. Our study wanted to inspect the influence of Portuguese culture due to the long shared colonial past. Methods During 2015 and 2019, plant use in 87 graveyards in 13 municipalities of the province Uíge was documented. Five expert interviews with the village eldest in five municipalities completed the data collection. Results While 24% of the graveyards didn´t have any planting, 27 plant species were found in the remaining ones, including a high percentage of alien species (59%), mainly from the Americas. The most abundant plant species are Euphorbia tirucalli (23%) and Agave sisalana (22%). With increasing distance from the city Uíge (especially towards the Democratic Republic of the Congo), the utilization of living plants in cemeteries is decreasing except along the road. In most of the cases, just one plant species per gravesite was found. Conclusions This unexpected high number of plants might be interpreted as a strong evidence of outside influence. Cultural symbols of the BaKongo cosmology and Christianism appear to coexist or coalesce. Furthermore, plants are used as a marker for graveyards. Modern influences like the use of concrete in proximity to urban areas indicate a certain wealth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thea Lautenschläger
- Institute of Botany, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Monizi Mawunu
- University of Kimpa Vita, Province of Uíge, Uíge City, Angola
| | - Christoph Neinhuis
- Institute of Botany, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Shibre G, Zegeye B, Idriss-Wheeler D, Ahinkorah BO, Oladimeji O, Yaya S. Socioeconomic and geographic variations in antenatal care coverage in Angola: further analysis of the 2015 demographic and health survey. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:1243. [PMID: 32799833 PMCID: PMC7429730 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-09320-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In African countries, including Angola, antenatal care (ANC) coverage is suboptimal and maternal mortality is still high due to pregnancy and childbirth-related complications. There is evidence of disparities in the uptake of ANC services, however, little is known about both the socio-economic and geographic-based disparity in the use of ANC services in Angola. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of socio-economic, urban-rural and subnational inequality in ANC coverage in Angola. METHODS We analyzed data from the 2015 Angola Demographic and Health Survey (ADHS) using the World Health Organization (WHO) Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) software. The analysis consisted of disaggregated ANC coverage rates using four equity stratifiers (economic status, education, residence, and region) and four summary measures (Difference, Population Attributable Risk, Ratio and Population Attributable Fraction). To measure statistical significance, an uncertainty interval (UI) of 95% was constructed around point estimates. RESULTS The study showed both absolute and relative inequalities in coverage of ANC services in Angola. More specifically, inequality favored women who were rich (D = 54.2, 95% UI; 49.59, 58.70, PAF = 43.5, 95% UI; 40.12, 46.92), educated (PAR = 19.9, 95% UI; 18.14, 21.64, R = 2.14, 95% UI; 1.96, 2.32), living in regions such as Luanda (D = 51.7, 95% UI; 43.56, 59.85, R = 2.64, 95% UI; 2.01, 3.26) and residing in urban dwellings (PAF = 20, 95% UI; 17.70, 22.38, PAR = 12.3, 95% UI; 10.88, 13.75). CONCLUSION The uptake of ANC services were lower among poor, uneducated, and rural residents as well as women from the Cuanza Sul region. Government policy makers must consider vulnerable subpopulations when designing needed interventions to improve ANC coverage in Angola to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal of reducing global maternal mortality ratio to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gebretsadik Shibre
- Department of Reproductive, Family and Population Health, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Betregiorgis Zegeye
- Shewarobit Field Office, HaSET Maternal and Child Health Research Program, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Dina Idriss-Wheeler
- Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Bright Opoku Ahinkorah
- The Australian Centre for Public and Population Health Research, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW Australia
| | - Olanrewaju Oladimeji
- Department of Public Health, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, Eastern Cape South Africa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Sanni Yaya
- School of International Development and Global Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa, 120 University Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 Canada
- The George Institute for Global Health, The University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Vahekeni N, Neto PM, Kayimbo MK, Mäser P, Josenando T, da Costa E, Falquet J, van Eeuwijk P. Use of herbal remedies in the management of sleeping sickness in four northern provinces of Angola. J Ethnopharmacol 2020; 256:112382. [PMID: 31743767 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE This study reports for the first time on the use of folk medicine to treat sleeping sickness and its symptoms in four endemic provinces in northern Angola. By interviewing both traditional practitioners and confirmed patients, it highlights reasons to recourse to folk medicine, the plant species used for this affection as well as arises awareness about the use of particular plants showing potential risks. AIM OF THE STUDY The aims of this explorative study were three-fold. Firstly, it informed on access to, and use of plant-based medicine as first-choice treatment by infected persons. Secondly, it aimed at collecting comprehensive data from patients and traditional healers on herbal remedies in order to identify plant species used in the management of the disease. Thirdly, it served as contribution for primary indication of potential risk of use associated with the studied plants and their preparation. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was conducted in 4 endemic provinces of Angola, namely Bengo, Zaire, Kwanza Norte and Uíge. We explored the use of herbal remedies by conducting structured and semi-structured interviews within two distinct study populations. The first group comprises 30 patients who had been diagnosed for trypanosomiasis and treated by the reference treatment. The second group included 9 traditional practitioners who had already treated sleeping sickness. The plants that were cited during the interviews were collected during field walks under supervision of a traditional healer, then authenticated and deposited at the National Herbarium in Luanda. RESULTS Of the 30 included patients, 12 (40%) had turned to folk medicine in the management of trypanosomiasis and related symptoms. 7 medicinal plants were reported by this group. Considering the key motivation to consult a traditional practitioner, two main factors accounted for half of the cases: "past experience with folk medicine" and "family habit". Out of 9 traditional practitioners' interviewees, 26 medicinal plants were cited. Roots and leaves were the most used plant parts, and decoction was the common mode of preparation. Evidence for antitrypanosomal activity in the scientific literature was found for 56% (17 of 30) of the identified plant species. The most cited plant was Crossopteryx febrifuga (UR = 6). Some of the cited plants, as for example Aristolochia gigantea, raised concern about potential toxicity. CONCLUSIONS With 40% of infected persons having turned first to folk medicine before consulting a medical doctor, this explorative study points out that plant-based medicines play an important role in local dynamics of health care. It highlights the need for primary assessment of potential risk of use related to the herbal recipes, and for reporting it to the concerned population. This first ethnobotanical study on trypanosomiasis in endemic provinces of Angola provides information on 30 plants, of which some had been identified as promising for further pharmacological research. Our results provide a first step towards the validation and valorization of Angolan herbal remedies for sleeping sickness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Vahekeni
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Socinstr. 53, 4051, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4001, Basel, Switzerland; Nacional Center of Scientific Investigation (CNIC), Luanda, Angola.
| | - Pedro Menezes Neto
- Centro de Estudos e Investigação Científica de Botânica, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola.
| | | | - Pascal Mäser
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Socinstr. 53, 4051, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4001, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Théophile Josenando
- Instituto de Combate e Controlo das Tripanossomíasses (ICCT), Luanda, Angola.
| | - Esperança da Costa
- Centro de Estudos e Investigação Científica de Botânica, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola.
| | | | - Peter van Eeuwijk
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Socinstr. 53, 4051, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4001, Basel, Switzerland; Institute of Social Anthropology, University of Basel, Münsterplatz 19, 4051, Basel, Switzerland.
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Jinga P, Palagi J. Dry and wet miombo woodlands of south-central Africa respond differently to climate change. Environ Monit Assess 2020; 192:372. [PMID: 32417982 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-020-08342-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
It is important to understand how species distributions will shift under climate change. While much focus has been on species tracking temperature changes in the northern hemisphere, changing precipitation patterns in tropical regions have received less attention. The aim of the study was to estimate the current distribution of wet and dry miombo woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa and to predict their distributions under different climate change scenarios. A maximum entropy method (Maxent) was used to estimate the distributions and for projections. Occurrence records of dominant tree species in each woodland were used for modeling, together with altitude, soil characteristics, and climate variables as the environmental variables. Modeling was done under all four representative concentration pathways (RCPs) and three general circulation models. Three dominant tree species were used in models of dry miombo while seven were used for wet miombo. Models estimated dry miombo to cover almost the entire known distribution of miombo woodlands while wet miombo were estimated to predominate in parts of Angola, southern Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Future climate scenarios predict a drier climate in sub-Saharan Africa, and as a result, the range of dry miombo will expand. Dry miombo were predicted to expand by up to 17.3% in 2050 and 22.7% in 2070. In contrast, wet miombo were predicted to contract by up to - 28.6% in 2050 and - 41.6% in 2070. A warming climate is conducive for the proliferation of dry miombo tree species but unfavorable for wet miombo tree species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Percy Jinga
- Biological Sciences Department, Bindura University of Science Education, Private Bag, 1020, Bindura, Zimbabwe.
| | - Jason Palagi
- Biological Sciences Department, Sewanee: The University of the South, 735 University Avenue, Sewanee, TN, 37383, USA
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Ayres CFJ, Seixas G, Borrego S, Marques C, Monteiro I, Marques CS, Gouveia B, Leal S, Troco AD, Fortes F, Parreira R, Pinto J, Sousa CA. The V410L knockdown resistance mutation occurs in island and continental populations of Aedes aegypti in West and Central Africa. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008216. [PMID: 32384079 PMCID: PMC7304628 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The extensive use of insecticides for vector control has led to the development of insecticide resistance in Aedes aegypti populations on a global scale, which has significantly compromised control actions. Insecticide resistance, and its underlying mechanisms, has been investigated in several countries, mostly in South American and Asian countries. In Africa, however, studies reporting insecticide resistance are rare and data on resistance mechanisms, notably knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations, is scarce. In this study, the recently described V410L kdr mutation is reported for the first time in old world Ae. aegypti populations, namely from Angola and Madeira island. Two additional kdr mutations, V1016I and F1534C, are also reported for the first time in populations from Angola and Cape Verde. Significant associations with the resistance phenotype were found for both V410L and V1016I individually as well as for tri-locus genotypes in the Angolan population. However, no association was found in Madeira island, probably due to the presence of a complex pattern of multiple insecticide resistance mechanisms in the local Ae. aegypti population. These results suggest that populations carrying the same kdr mutations may respond differently to the same insecticide, stressing the need for complementary studies when assessing the impact of kdr resistance mechanisms in the outcome of insecticide-based control strategies. One of the pillars for the prevention of Aedes-transmitted arboviral infections has been vector control, which is primarily based on the use of chemical insecticides. However, extensive use of insecticides has led to the development of insecticide resistance, undermining the sustainability of control programs. Mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel gene have been associated with knockdown resistance in many insect species including Aedes aegypti. In Africa, in spite of the use of insecticides for vector control in many countries, data on insecticide resistance and its underlying mechanisms remain scarce. In this study, we report for the first time the occurrence of a recently described kdr mutation, V410L, in Old World Ae. aegypti from Angola and Madeira island. Two other kdr mutations, V1016I and F1534C, were also identified in populations from Angola and Cape Verde, extending our knowledge about the distribution of these mutations in Africa. We found significant associations between kdr genotypes and the resistance phenotype but only in the Angolan population. These results suggest that populations carrying the same kdr mutations may respond differently to the same insecticide, stressing the need for complementary studies when assessing the impact of kdr resistance in the outcome of insecticide-based vector control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constância F. J. Ayres
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Entomology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Recife, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Gonçalo Seixas
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sílvia Borrego
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Cátia Marques
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Inilça Monteiro
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Camila S. Marques
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Bruna Gouveia
- Instituto de Administração da Saúde IP-RAM, Secretaria Regional de Saúde e Proteção Civil, e Interactive Technologies Institute, LARSyS, Funchal, Região Autónoma da Madeira
| | - Silvania Leal
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde Pública, Ministério da Saúde e Segurança Social, Praia, Cabo Verde
| | - Arlete D. Troco
- Direção Nacional de Saúde Pública, Ministério da Saúde, Luanda, Angola
| | - Filomeno Fortes
- Direção Nacional de Saúde Pública, Ministério da Saúde, Luanda, Angola
| | - Ricardo Parreira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João Pinto
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Carla A. Sousa
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Lisbon, Portugal
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Jacobs FJ, Naesje TF, Ulvan EM, Weyl OLF, Tiyeho D, Hay CJ, O'Brien GC, Downs CT. Implications of the movement behaviour of African tigerfish Hydrocynus vittatus for the design of freshwater protected areas. J Fish Biol 2020; 96:1260-1268. [PMID: 31613982 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
African tigerfish Hydrocynus vittatus (n = 35) were tagged with external radio-transmitters in the Kavango River, Namibia, to determine whether freshwater protected areas could be an effective tool for the management and conservation of this species. They were manually tracked in the core study area of 33 km every c. 12 days from July-October 2016 to May 2017 for between 123 to 246 days. In addition, 14 extended surveys were carried out for up to 680 km to determine the total area use of the tagged individuals. Tigerfish displayed at least two behavioural patterns either having high site fidelity with shorter movements or using larger areas with longer movements. Twenty-three (66%) of the tigerfish had high site fidelity using an area of less than 33 km of river, whereas 12 tigerfish (34%) undertook long distance movements of up to 397 km upstream and 116 km downstream from their tagging locations. During the long-distance movements tigerfish crossed the territorial boundaries of Angola, Namibia and Botswana. Of the 35 fish that were monitored, 14 (40%) spent more than 80% of the monitored time in the 33 km study area and 18 (51%) stayed within the study area for at least 50% of the monitored time. These findings suggest that freshwater protected areas may be a useful management tool and we predict that a protected river area of 2-5 km river length could protect 25.9-34.6% of the population for at least 75% of the time whereas protection of 10 km river length could protect at least 50% of tigerfish for at least 75% of the time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francois J Jacobs
- Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Kamutjonga Inland Fisheries Institute, Divundu, Namibia
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Tor F Naesje
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Monitoring Atlantic Salmon, Trondheim, Norway
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown, South Africa
| | - Eva M Ulvan
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Monitoring Atlantic Salmon, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Olaf L F Weyl
- DST/NRF Research Chair in Inland Fisheries and Freshwater Ecology, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown, South Africa
| | - Deon Tiyeho
- Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Kamutjonga Inland Fisheries Institute, Divundu, Namibia
| | - Clinton J Hay
- University of Namibia, Biological Sciences, Windhoek, Namibia
- Namibia Nature Foundation, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Gordon C O'Brien
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Colleen T Downs
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
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Santos ES, Luís Â, Gonçalves J, Rosado T, Pereira L, Gallardo E, Duarte AP. Julbernardia paniculata and Pterocarpus angolensis: From Ethnobotanical Surveys to Phytochemical Characterization and Bioactivities Evaluation. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25081828. [PMID: 32316213 PMCID: PMC7221604 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25081828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Julbernardia paniculata and Pterocarpus angolensis are two plant species with important application in African traditional medicine, particularly in Angola, in the treatment of several diseases. However, scientific studies concerning these species are scarce. The goal of this work was to know better which medicinal approaches are used by the Huíla population in Angola by means of ethnobotanical surveys. Furthermore, extracts of both plants were phytochemically characterized. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing activities, and potential cytotoxicity were also studied. With this study it was possible to verify that 67% of the individuals that use medicinal plants are women, and their main therapeutic uses are the treatment of problems of the digestive system and skin disorders. Barks of J. paniculata and leaves of P. angolensis are the most often used plant parts. Through high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) and GC-MS it was possible to characterize the chemical composition of the two species, which are rich in phenolic compounds, terpenes, terpenoids, sesquiterpenoids and fatty acids. Both plants showed to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory proprieties, and wound-healing activity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive study of these two species and the first ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological study of medicinal plants from this region of Angola.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugénia Solange Santos
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (E.S.S.); (Â.L.); (J.G.); (T.R.); (E.G.)
- Instituto Superior Politécnico da Huíla, Universidade Mandume Ya Ndemufayo, Bairro Comercial, Avenida Hoji Ya Henda N. 30, Caixa Postal N. 201, Lubango, Huíla, Angola
| | - Ângelo Luís
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (E.S.S.); (Â.L.); (J.G.); (T.R.); (E.G.)
- Laboratório de Fármaco-Toxicologia, UBIMedical, Universidade da Beira Interior, Estrada Municipal 506, 6200-284 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Joana Gonçalves
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (E.S.S.); (Â.L.); (J.G.); (T.R.); (E.G.)
- Laboratório de Fármaco-Toxicologia, UBIMedical, Universidade da Beira Interior, Estrada Municipal 506, 6200-284 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Tiago Rosado
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (E.S.S.); (Â.L.); (J.G.); (T.R.); (E.G.)
- Laboratório de Fármaco-Toxicologia, UBIMedical, Universidade da Beira Interior, Estrada Municipal 506, 6200-284 Covilhã, Portugal
- C4-Cloud Computing Competence Centre, UBIMedical, Universidade da Beira Interior, Estrada Municipal 506, 6200-284 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Luísa Pereira
- Centro de Matemática e Aplicações (CMA-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, Rua Marquês d’Ávila e Bolama, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal;
| | - Eugenia Gallardo
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (E.S.S.); (Â.L.); (J.G.); (T.R.); (E.G.)
- Laboratório de Fármaco-Toxicologia, UBIMedical, Universidade da Beira Interior, Estrada Municipal 506, 6200-284 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Ana Paula Duarte
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (E.S.S.); (Â.L.); (J.G.); (T.R.); (E.G.)
- Laboratório de Fármaco-Toxicologia, UBIMedical, Universidade da Beira Interior, Estrada Municipal 506, 6200-284 Covilhã, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-275-329-099
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Craveiro I, Carvalho A, Ferrinho P. "Get us partnerships!" - a qualitative study of Angolan and Mozambican health academics' experiences with North/South partnerships. Global Health 2020; 16:33. [PMID: 32295611 PMCID: PMC7161017 DOI: 10.1186/s12992-020-00562-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17 focuses on North/South partnerships for sustainable development. Literature on research partnerships and capacity -building often neglects how these processes are carried out in practice, their social impacts and participants' subjective experiences. Recognizing the increasingly global dimensions of Higher Education Institutions, the University Development and Innovation - Africa project (UDI-A) was designed to train lecturers and administrative staff of Angolan and Mozambican Universities through collaborations with European institutions, aiming at strengthening African academic and social landscapes through knowledge translation and dissemination. This paper examines potential outcomes of UDI-A on participants' academic pathways, investigating the conflict between different imaginaries of capacity-building and partnerships, focusing on how Angolan and Mozambican health sciences researchers experience international collaborations. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven health academics, as well as a focus group discussion involving all participants. These were recorded, fully transcribed, anonymized and coded to identify common themes. A consent form was signed by all participants. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION UDI-A was considered innovative, fostering the improvement of pedagogical skills and increasing social entrepreneurship activities. Participants arrived with a specific institutional mandate and believed that the training received should be incorporated into institutional practices to "modernize" these specific Portuguese speaking African Universities and the health sector. The institutional mechanisms put in place to attain this goal, Centres for Academic Development and Innovation ("CADIs"), were considered potential research and development hubs and drivers of academic and societal transformation. Nevertheless, participants shared a sense of asymmetry (infrastructural, financial, in terms of access to information) between them and European trainers. Although this asymmetry was the underlying basis of this capacity-building project, they argued that UDI-A did not fully acknowledge their local contexts, compromising the prospective development of partnerships in the health field. CONCLUSIONS More attention should be devoted to understanding how participants experience capacity building processes, integrating the diversity of their aspirations and perceptions into subsequent phases of the project, requiring the development of methodological innovations to increase the impact of these programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Craveiro
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - António Carvalho
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
- Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra, Praça Dom Dinis, 3000-104 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Paulo Ferrinho
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
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Ikilezi G, Augusto OJ, Sbarra A, Sherr K, Dieleman JL, Lim SS. Determinants of geographical inequalities for DTP3 vaccine coverage in sub-Saharan Africa. Vaccine 2020; 38:3447-3454. [PMID: 32204938 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Childhood immunization is one of the most effective health interventions, making it a key indicator of progress towards universal health coverage. In the last decade, improvements in coverage have been made globally, however, slow progress has been documented in sub-Saharan Africa with considerable subnational variations. We explore potential drivers of equitable immunization services based on subnational DTP3 coverage estimates. Using vaccine coverage at the 5 by 5 km area from 2000 to 2016, we quantify inequality using three measures. We assess the shortfall inequality which is the average deviation across subnational units from that with the highest coverage for each country. Secondly we estimate the threshold index, the proportion of children below a globally set subnational coverage target, and lastly, a Gini coefficient representing the within-country distribution of coverage. We use time series analyses to quantify associations with immunization expenditures controlling for country socio-economic and population characteristics. Development assistance, maternal education and governance were associated with reductions in inequality. Furthermore, high quality governance was associated with a stronger relationship between development assistance and reductions in inequality. Results from this analysis also indicate that countries with the lowest coverage suffer the highest inequalities. We highlight growing inequalities among countries which have met national coverage targets such as South Africa and Kenya. In 2016, values for the shortfall inequality ranged from 1% to 43%, the threshold index from 0% to 100% and Gini coefficient from 0.01 to 0.37. Burundi, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Rwanda, and Sao Tome and Principe had the least shortfall inequality (<5%) while Angola, Ethiopia and Nigeria had values greater than 40%. A similar picture was noted for the other dimensions of inequality among these particular countries. Immunization program investments offer promise in addressing inequality, however, domestic mechanisms for resource implementation and accountability should be strengthened to maximize gains in coverage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Ikilezi
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington 2301 5th Avenue, Suite 600 Seattle, WA 98121, USA.
| | - Orvalho J Augusto
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington Harris Hydraulics Laboratory, Box 357965 Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Alyssa Sbarra
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington 2301 5th Avenue, Suite 600 Seattle, WA 98121, USA
| | - Kenneth Sherr
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington Harris Hydraulics Laboratory, Box 357965 Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Joseph L Dieleman
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington 2301 5th Avenue, Suite 600 Seattle, WA 98121, USA
| | - Stephen S Lim
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington 2301 5th Avenue, Suite 600 Seattle, WA 98121, USA
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Lemos M, Pedro JM, Fançony C, Moura S, Brito M, Nery SV, Sousa CP, Barros H. Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis preventive chemotherapy: Adverse events in children from 2 to 15 years in Bengo province, Angola. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0229247. [PMID: 32160223 PMCID: PMC7065752 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Preventive chemotherapy campaigns with praziquantel and albendazole are being implemented in Angola, as a high priority public health intervention. However, there are no published data regarding adverse events associated with these medications. In this context, we analysed adverse events due to co-administration of praziquantel and albendazole in endemic areas of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths in Bengo, Angola. In the context of a targeted drug administration, between December 2012 and September 2013, we conducted two surveys after co-administrating single oral doses of praziquantel and albendazole tablets to children 2 to 15 years of age. About 24 hours after each treatment, participants answered a questionnaire about adverse events. At baseline, 605 children (55.0% male; mean age: 9.7 years) were treated; 460 were interviewed and 257 (55.9%) reported at least one adverse event, 62.3% (160/257) of children being infected with schistosoma haematobium. After six months of treatment, among 339 children surveyed, 184 (54.3%) reported adverse events, with 49.5% (91/184) of infected children. Adverse events were most common in preschool-aged children, with no significant difference between genders. The most frequent adverse events in the two surveys were abdominal pain (18.5%, 25.7%), headache (20.9%, 23.0%) and dizziness (15.7%, 19.8%). Children aged 12 to 15 years (adjusted OR = 0.40, p = 0.040) and those with mixed infection (adjusted OR = 0.04, p = 0.011) had lower odds of adverse events. After the second treatment, those with heavy infection (adjusted OR = 2.72, p = 0.018) and aged 9-11 years (adjusted OR = 2.01, p = 0.049) had significantly fewer adverse events. About 2.0% of children experienced severe adverse events. This study adds evidence that preventive chemotherapy for schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths control is safe, but cases of adverse events are expected. Standardized methodologies to discriminate drug-related adverse events from the clinical manifestations of the infections are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Lemos
- CISA—Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola, Caxito, Angola
- EPIUnit, Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola
| | - Joao M. Pedro
- CISA—Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola, Caxito, Angola
- EPIUnit, Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Fançony
- CISA—Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola, Caxito, Angola
- EPIUnit, Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sofia Moura
- CISA—Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola, Caxito, Angola
| | - Miguel Brito
- CISA—Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola, Caxito, Angola
- H&TRC—Health and Technology Research Center, Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Susana Vaz Nery
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Carlos Pinto Sousa
- Departamento de Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola
| | - Henrique Barros
- EPIUnit, Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Satoto G, Fernandes AS, Saraiva N, Santos F, Neng N, Nogueira JM, Santos de Almeida T, Araujo ME. An Overview on the Properties of Ximenia Oil Used as Cosmetic in Angola. Biomolecules 2019; 10:biom10010018. [PMID: 31877674 PMCID: PMC7023159 DOI: 10.3390/biom10010018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ximenia (Ximenia americana L.) is a shrub, or small tree, native from Africa and spread across different continents. In Angola, the seeds oil is used by local populations, to prevent sunburn, to smooth and hydrate the skin, and to give it a pleasant color and elasticity, to prevent stretch marks, in pregnant woman, and also as hair conditioner. Herein, an oil sold in the region (LPO), and two others extracted in laboratory, from seeds collected in the same region, were investigated in terms of their composition, chemical properties, UV transmission. The three oils are similar although the LPO is more acidic, 0.48 mg KOH/g. GC-MS analysis indicated that the major components are the fatty acids, oleic (31.82%), nervonic (11.09%), ximenic (10.22%), and hexacosa-17,20,23-trienoic acids (14.59%). Long chain fatty acids, n ≥ 20, accounted for 51.1% of the total fatty acids. A thin film of the oil showed a reduction in transmittance from 200 to 300 nm. Viscosity studies of the LPO indicated that at normal temperature of skin, the oil can be spread over the skin as a thin film. At concentrations up to 10 µg/mL, the LPO is not toxic to human keratinocytes, suggesting the safety of this oil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Satoto
- CQB, CQE, and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal; (G.S.); (F.S.); (N.N.); (J.M.N.)
| | - Ana Sofia Fernandes
- CBIOS—Universidade Lusófona’s Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisbon, Portugal; (A.S.F.); (N.S.); (T.S.d.A.)
| | - Nuno Saraiva
- CBIOS—Universidade Lusófona’s Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisbon, Portugal; (A.S.F.); (N.S.); (T.S.d.A.)
| | - Fernando Santos
- CQB, CQE, and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal; (G.S.); (F.S.); (N.N.); (J.M.N.)
| | - Nuno Neng
- CQB, CQE, and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal; (G.S.); (F.S.); (N.N.); (J.M.N.)
| | - José Manuel Nogueira
- CQB, CQE, and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal; (G.S.); (F.S.); (N.N.); (J.M.N.)
| | - Tânia Santos de Almeida
- CBIOS—Universidade Lusófona’s Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisbon, Portugal; (A.S.F.); (N.S.); (T.S.d.A.)
| | - Maria Eduarda Araujo
- CQB, CQE, and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal; (G.S.); (F.S.); (N.N.); (J.M.N.)
- Correspondence:
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Sebastião CS, Neto Z, de Jesus CS, Mirandela M, Jandondo D, Couto-Fernandez JC, Tanuri A, Morais J, Brito M. Genetic diversity and drug resistance of HIV-1 among infected pregnant women newly diagnosed in Luanda, Angola. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0225251. [PMID: 31770425 PMCID: PMC6879122 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Monitoring genetic diversity and drug resistance mutations (DRMs) is critical for understanding HIV epidemiology. Here, we report HIV-1 genetic diversity and DRMs in blood samples from 42 HIV-positive pregnant women naive to antiretroviral therapy (ART), in Luanda. The samples were subjected to nested-PCR, followed by sequencing of HIV-1 pol gene, targeting the protease and reverse transcriptase fragments. HIV-1 diversity was analyzed using the REGA HIV-1 subtyping tool and DRMs were identified using the Calibrated Population Resistance tool. A total of 34 sequences were obtained. The data revealed wide HIV-1 subtypes heterogeneity, with subtype C (38%, 13/34) the most frequent, followed by the subtypes F1 (18%, 6/34), A1 (9%, 3/34), G (9%, 3/34), D (6%, 2/34) and H (3%, 1/34). In addition, recombinants strains were detected, with CRF02_AG (6%, 2/34) the most frequent, followed by CRF37_cpx, F1/C, A1/G and H/G, all with 3% (1/34). A total of 6/34 (18%) of the sequences presented DRMs. The non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors presented 15% (5/34) of resistance. Moreover, 1/34 (3%) sequence presented resistance against both non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, simultaneously. Despite the small sample size, our results suggest the need to update currently used ART regimens. Surveillance of HIV-1 subtypes and DRMs are necessary to understand HIV epidemiology and to guide modification of ART guidelines in Angola.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cruz S. Sebastião
- NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde, Luanda, Angola
- Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola, Luanda, Angola
| | - Zoraima Neto
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde, Luanda, Angola
| | - Carlos S. de Jesus
- Laboratorio de AIDS & Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marinela Mirandela
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde, Luanda, Angola
| | - Domingos Jandondo
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde, Luanda, Angola
| | | | - Amilcar Tanuri
- Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Joana Morais
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde, Luanda, Angola
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola, Luanda, Angola
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola
| | - Miguel Brito
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola, Luanda, Angola
- Health and Technology Research Center, Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- * E-mail:
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Paca JM, Santos FM, Pires JCM, Leitão AA, Boaventura RAR. Quality assessment of water intended for human consumption from Kwanza, Dande and Bengo rivers ( Angola). Environ Pollut 2019; 254:113037. [PMID: 31454567 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Angola is one of the countries with a high rate of waterborne diseases, due to the scarcity and poor quality of water for human consumption. The watercourses are receptors of many effluents, mainly domestic sewage, due to a precarious or inexistent sanitation system and a small number of wastewater treatment plants. Therefore, this study aims: (i) to evaluate the water quality (physicochemical and microbiological parameters) of three Angolan rivers (Kwanza, Bengo and Dande) in locations where water is used as drinking water or abstracted for human consumption; (ii) to develop a new water quality index able to quantitatively express the water quality in those sites; and (iii) to assess the spatial distribution of water pollution through principal component analysis (PCA). Water quality assessment was performed by conducting four field surveys (campaigns I to IV); the first two campaigns took place in the dry season, while the last two ones took place in the rainy season. In the first two campaigns, the water quality was suitable to be treated for the production of drinking water, while in the last two campaigns, the water was unsuitable for that purpose (high levels of faecal coliforms were detected). The water quality index allowed to classify the water as generally excellent (campaigns I and II) and poor (campaigns III and IV). The rudimentary disinfection usually performed by individual water suppliers may improve the water quality, but it was not enough to achieve the parametric values required for human consumption in the rainy season (campaigns III and IV) except for Bengo sites. PCA identified sampling sites with the same water quality patterns, grouping into four groups (Kwanza sites) and two groups (Dande and Bengo sites). Therefore, the results of this study may support decision-makers as regards water supply management in the river stretches under study. The new developed Water Quality Index can support decision-makers in terms of water supply management, especially in countries with a high rate of waterborne diseases (e.g. Angola).
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana M Paca
- LESRA-Laboratório de Engenharia da Separação, Reacção e Ambiente, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Avenida Ho Chi Min n° 201, Luanda, Angola
| | - Francisca M Santos
- Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente e Energia (LEPABE), Departamento de Engenharia Química, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
| | - José C M Pires
- Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente e Energia (LEPABE), Departamento de Engenharia Química, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Anabela A Leitão
- LESRA-Laboratório de Engenharia da Separação, Reacção e Ambiente, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Avenida Ho Chi Min n° 201, Luanda, Angola
| | - Rui A R Boaventura
- Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering - Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), Departamento de Engenharia Química, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
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Jarvis JD, Woods H, Bali A, Oronsaye E, Persaud N. Selection of WHO-recommended essential medicines for non-communicable diseases on National Essential Medicines Lists. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0220781. [PMID: 31398195 PMCID: PMC6688805 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide. Inadequate and inequitable access to essential NCD medicines is a major concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. National Essential Medicines Lists (EMLs) are important policy tools that indicate which medicines are prioritized as essential within a country's health system. This study sought to analyze a wide range of national essential medicines lists (EMLs) for their inclusion of priority non communicable disease (NCD) interventions recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). METHODS Three lists of WHO endorsed priority NCD interventions were included. A database with 137 national EMLs and the WHO EML was created from the WHO Repository and these EMLs were compared for listing of priority NCD interventions. RESULTS Across 137 countries with national EMLs, the median percentage of 20 Best Buys interventions listed was 90% (IQR 80-95) and 31 Package of essential noncommunicable disease interventions (PEN) interventions listed was 94% (IQR 90-97), of 9 HEARTS interventions was 100% (IQR 89-100), and of the 43 unique interventions across the three priority lists was 88% (IQR 84-93). Less than 80% of the 43 interventions were listed by 22 (16%) countries and less than half of the interventions were listed by 2 countries: Angola (35%) and Cambodia (23%). Interventions listed on the fewest number of national EMLs were: influenza vaccine, HPV vaccine, hepatitis B vaccine, cervical cancer chemotherapy, codeine, promethazine, senna, and oxygen. CONCLUSION Most NCD interventions have been prioritized in national policy in most cases. The majority of priority medicines for NCDs described within key WHO NCD technical packages are listed on nearly all national EMLs across 137 countries of all income levels. Most NCD interventions have been prioritized in national policy in most cases, but in some countries and for select interventions such as the HPV vaccine, prioritization may be reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan D. Jarvis
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, England, United Kingdom
- Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hannah Woods
- Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anjli Bali
- Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Efosa Oronsaye
- Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nav Persaud
- Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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