The burden of the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) infection has transformed the African continent into a major consumer of antiretrovirals (ARVs) drugs. In addition to HIV burden, the African continent has also a high incidence of tuberculosis (TB) and has been experiencing recurring outbreaks of several other viral, bacterial, and parasitic epidemic diseases. The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2 or Covid-19) pandemic outbreak is adding to the continent’s infectious diseases burden as experts are predicting that it will be here for a long time. One of the consequences of these infectious diseases is that antiviral and antibiotic compounds have become some of the most consumed pharmaceuticals on the continent. Many of these drugs have been frequently detected in surface waters across Africa. There is limited information available on the adverse effects of the mixtures of different types of pharmaceuticals in African aquatic environments on fish reproduction. The present study investigated the effects of the ARV drug nevirapine (NVP - 1.48 and 3.74 μg/L) and its mixture with the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (3.68 μg/L) and trimethoprim (0.87 μg/L) on O. mossambicus gonads using histopathological endpoints as biomarkers. The fish (n = 52) were exposed for 30 days in a static renewal system. Female O. mossambicus exposed to nevirapine (3.74 μg/L) and to NVP – antibiotic mixture recorded higher ovary indices. Statistically significant differences were found in female ovary indices between the fish exposed to NVP (3.74 μg/L) and the control fish ( p = 0.002) as well as between the fish exposed to the NVP - antibiotic mixture and the control fish ( p = 0.009). The main observed histopathological changes in the ovaries were increased vitellogenic oocyte atresia and vacuolation of the interstitial tissue in the fish exposed to NVP - antibiotic mixture. It is evident that the presence of NVP - antibiotics mixture in water triggered the observed histopathology in female fish ovaries. The detected abnormal high rate of atretic oocytes could result in impaired fish reproduction.

Aquatic environments around the world have become mixtures of different types of pollutants, including pharmaceuticals. The presence of pharmaceuticals in aquatic environments has raised concerns regarding the possibility of unintended effects on aquatic animals. South Africa is currently the largest consumer of HIV antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) worldwide. Nevirapine (NVP), a first-line ARV, has been associated with serious liver toxicity in humans and has been repeatedly detected in South African surface water. We investigated the potential effect of NVP on the growth of larvae and juveniles of the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) through a chronic laboratory exposure. Larval and early juvenile stages were exposed to the highest reported environmental relevant concentration of NVP in South African surface water (1.48 μg/L) for 60 days in a static renewal system. Body mass and total length measurements were recorded and analysed for individuals aged 1, 5, 30 and 60 days. In total, 455 fish were assessed. The growth parameters of larvae exposed to NVP were not statistically significantly different (p>0.05) from those of control larvae. However, the juveniles exposed to NVP showed a slightly lower mean growth rate between the 30th and 60th day compared with the control fish. These results suggest that the concentration of NVP in South African surface water has no significant detrimental effects on fish growth during the first 2 months of their life. Further studies to investigate the effects on all life stages of fish are needed as it is evident that the growth rate of exposed fish could be affected after this stage. Significance: This study was the first to investigate the effect of an antiretroviral drug in surface water on fish growth. Chronic exposure to the highest environmentally relevant concentration of nevirapine in South African waters did not affect the growth of early life stages of Mozambique tilapia. The levels of antiretrovirals in aquatic systems should be monitored closely as their consumption is likely to increase in the future.

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The second African Conference of Fundamental and Applied Physics (ACP2021) took place in the week of March 7-11, 2022. During this conference, all the African Strategy for Fundamental and Applied Physics (ASFAP) working groups had been reserved specials sessions to discuss their scope, activities (past & current) and topics of common interests. The aim of this report is to summarize the discussion of the ASFAP working groups in societal engagements, namely Physics Education, Community Engagement, Young Physicists and Women in Physics. The recommendations for future activities in societal engagements are summarised in the report as well.

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