04/04/2017
UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA
FACULTY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE
FULLY FUNDED MASTER’S PROJECTS
Degree: Research Masters (Veterinary Science)
Number of available positions: 6
Study duration: 2 years (starting date: May 2017)
Academic requirements: BSc(Hons), a four-year BSc(Agric), BVSc or equivalent degree (NQF level 8)
Funding: Research funds are available and a bursary of R 60 000.00 per student per annum
PROJECT 1:
CYSTICERCOSIS IN THE DIEPSLOOT TOWNSHIP: PREVALENCE & CONTROL MEASURES
Taenia solium is a parasitic cestode causing both porcine and human cysticercosis as well as human taeniosis. It is ranked first on the FAO list of foodborne parasites. In humans, when cysticerci establish in the brain, the disease is known as neurocysticercosis (NCC) and characterized by seizures, severe headaches, stroke and even death. In endemic areas, NCC is responsible for about 30% of cases of acquired epilepsy. Some previous research has been performed on porcine and human cysticercosis in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, however, little information has been gathered on the status in other provinces of the country. Recently, medics are reporting NCC cases in the Diepsloot township, Gauteng. This township is a densely populated area north of Johannesburg and is likely to be characterized by free-roaming pigs and low sanitation standards, thus favouring the occurrence of this debilitating disease. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of human and porcine cysticercosis in the Diepsloot township, Gauteng. It will provide much needed information on the importance of NCC in this area. • ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES: Knowledge of veterinary/human parasitology, livestock production and/or meat inspection are considered an advantage.
• CONTACT PERSON: Dr Nenene Qekwana; Email: [email protected]; Telephone: +27 (0)12 529 8099
PROJECT 2:
TAENIA SAGINATA IN CATTLE SLAUGHTERED IN GAUTENG PROVINCE: OCCURRENCE AND PERFORMANCE OF CURRENT MEAT INSPECTIONS
In view of the lack of investigations on the presence of Taenia saginata in South Africa as well as growing knowledge on inefficiency of current meat inspection techniques to detect this parasite in bovine carcasses, there is a concern that bovine infection with this parasite occurs more often than thought. Next to the economic losses for cattle holders, bovine infection with this parasite also leads to human infection, when undercooked infected meat is consumed. Therefore, there is a need to investigate the occurrence and epidemiology of T. saginata in South African cattle in order to estimate true prevalence and related burden to the livestock owners as well as meat consumers. This study will provide preliminary insights on the occurrence of this parasite in South African cattle as well as the performance of current meat inspection.
• ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES: Knowledge of veterinary/human parasitology, livestock production and/or meat inspection are considered an advantage. • CONTACT PERSON: Dr Nenene Qekwana; Email: [email protected]; Telephone: +27 (0)12 529 8099
PROJECT 3:
OPTIMIZATION AND MULTIPLEXING OF AN XMAP LUMINEX PANEL TO DETECT SELECTED ARBOVIRUSES
This project will involve the development, optimization and multiplexing of PCR assays for the group-specific detection of selected arboviruses such as orthobunya-, alpha-, flavi-, ephemero- and orbiviruses, using xMAP technology. xMAP technology (Luminex Corporation, USA) allows for multiplexing of assays, reducing time, labour and costs over traditional methods. The technology makes use of an array of up to 500 different coloured microspheres that can be labelled with either DNA probes or protein antigens on its surface and are able to capture target DNA or protein in a sample. Group-specific assays will be developed to optimally amplify the virus target nucleic acid, using conventional PCR. These assays will then be multiplexed on the xMAP platform and laboratory performance characteristics determined. Development of this multiplex assay will lead to improved diagnostic capabilities, through the ability to detect a wide range of viruses and a greatly reduced running time and cost of the assay. Novel pathogens may be discovered with this approach.
• ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES: Experience in and knowledge of molecular biology is an advantage. • CONTACT PERSON: Prof Melvyn Quan; Email: [email protected]; Telephone: +27 (0)12 529 8142
PROJECT 4:
ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE IN SMALL SCALE FARMING SYSTEMS
Antimicrobial resistance is currently a major global threat as a result of the overuse and abuse of the antimicrobial drugs. The threat was recently highlighted locally when the MCR1 gene coding for colistin resistance was found in multiple drug resistant medical pathogens probably as a result of its veterinary use as a growth promoter. Not surprisingly, the monitoring of antimicrobial resistance has become a mainstay in veterinary and human medicine, in order to identify and mitigate threats before they become irreversible. In South Africa, while a substantial body of literature if available on resistance trends for commercial herds, very little is available for the more rural areas. While it has generally been assumed that the degree of resistance in these communities would be lower due to their isolation, this may not necessary be true due to large number of over-the-counter and illegal antimicrobials available directly to the farmer. For this study, the aim is to compare resistance trends in rural herds to data available from commercial herds.
• ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES: Experience in and knowledge of bacteriology and molecular biology is an advantage. • CONTACT PERSON: Prof Vinny Naidoo; Email: [email protected]; Telephone: +27 (0)12 529 8082
PROJECT 5:
TOXOPLASMA GONDII STRAIN COMPOSITION IN ANIMAL AND HUMAN POPULATIONS FROM THE INTERFACE AREA Toxoplasmosis is an important parasitic zoonosis, which affects a wide range of domestic and wild animal species and is present in almost all ecological niches on Earth. Combining serological and molecular approaches, this project aims to elucidate the dynamics and biological patterns of Toxoplasma infection in a human, livestock and wildlife interface area.
• ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES: Experience in and knowledge of parasitology and molecular biology is an advantage. • CONTACT PERSON: Prof Luis Neves; Email: [email protected]; Telephone: +27 (0)12 529 8355
PROJECT 6:
INVESTIGATING RICKETTSIA AFRICAE INFECTION IN AMBLYOMMA HEBRAEUM TICKS AND DETERMINING SEROLOGICAL PROFILES IN THE NATIVE POPULATION OF MNISI, BUSHBUCKRIDGE MUNICIPALITY, SOUTH AFRICA
Amblyomma hebraeum is widely distributed in the north and eastern parts of South Africa. It is also present in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Swaziland. Rickettsia africae is the main cause of African tick bite fever in humans across the tick distribution area. These bacteria can be transmitted from ticks (Amblyomma hebraeum) to their offspring when still in the egg stage (transovarial transmission). Data on R. africae in its tick vector in South Africa is scare and therefore one of the aims would be to investigate the presence of R. africae at different stages in the tick vector. A further aim of this research would be to determine the serological profiles of people, from different age groups, in the Bushbuckridge Municipality of Mpumalanga province of South Africa.
• ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES: Experience in and knowledge of serology and molecular biology is an advantage. • CONTACT PERSON: Dr Darshana Morar-Leather; Email: [email protected]; Telephone: +27 (0)12 529 8278
FOR ALL POSITIONS INDEPENDENT AND STRONGLY MOTIVATED CANDIDATES WILL BE REQUIRED. THE PROJECTS WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE ONDERSTEPOORT CAMPUS, FACULTY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA; OWN TRANSPORTATION IS ESSENTIAL. PLEASE SEND YOUR CV, TWO ACADEMIC REFERENCE LETTERS AND A MOTIVATIONAL LETTER TO THE ABOVEMENTIONED CONTACT PERSONS.
FOR GENERAL ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT PROF MARINDA OOSTHUIZEN; EMAIL: [email protected]; TELEPHONE: +27 (0)12 529 8390 DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS: 15 APRIL 2017
