A total of 344 dogs belonging to people in resource-poor communities in North West Province, South Africa, was examined for ectoparasites, and all visible arthropods were collected from the left side of each dog. By doubling these numbers it was estimated that the dogs harboured 14 724 ixodid ticks, belonging to 6 species, 1028 fleas, belonging to 2 species, and 26 lice. Haemaphysalis leachi accounted for 420 and Rhipicephalus sanguineus for 14 226 of the ticks. Pure infestations of H. leachi were present on 14 dogs and of R. sanguineus on 172 dogs. Small numbers of Amblyomma hebraeum, R. appendiculatus, R. evertsi evertsi and R. simus were also collected. The predominance of R. sanguineus accounts for the high prevalence of canine ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis) within the survey region, compared to canine babesiosis (Babesia canis), which is transmitted by H. leachi, and is a much rarer disease.
Candida albicans is one of the most common opportunistic fungal pathogens, causing lifethreatening disease in immunocompromised patients. As it is not primarily a pathogen, but can exist in a commensal state, we aimed at the identification of new anti-infective compounds which do not eradicate the fungus, but primarily disable a virulence determinant. The yeast-hyphae-dimorphism of C. albicans is considered a major contributor to fungal disease, as mutants locked into either yeast or hyphal state have been shown to be less virulent in the mouse-model.We devised a high-throughput screening procedure which allows us to find inhibitors of the induction of hyphae. Hyphae-formation was induced by nitrogen starvation at 37 °C and neutral pH in a reporter strain, which couples promotor activity of the hyphae-specific HWP1 to β-
One Health offers the veterinary community the opportunity to re-evaluate the paradigms underpinning animal health care delivery systems. To be more effective animal health care delivery, especially as traditionally viewed by small animal practitioners, needs to be broadened and move away from a primarily technologically led clinical curative approach. Improved access to clinical care does not result in improvements in the health status of populations. The distinction between Primary (Medical) Care and Primary Health Care (PHC) is made. An overview of Community Health and, in particular PHC, as practiced in human health care is provided. For this approach to have relevance and be impactful on service users (and communities), the undergraduate curriculum needs to be community oriented and community based. Veterinary Community Health (including veterinary PHC) needs to become a recognised specialty and provide the overriding context within which the more traditional specialties are presented to the student. A model that will allow for cost effective, holistic and integrated animal health care is proposed. This provides opportunities for the profession to expand it role and influence as well as collaborate with allied stakeholders.
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