Browsing by Author "Aikukutu, Gottlieb"

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    Avian influenza H5N8 outbreak in African penguins (Spheniscus demersus), Namibia, 2019
    (2020) Molini, Umberto; Aikukutu, Gottlieb; Roux, Jean-Paul; Kemper, Jessica; Ntahonshikira, Charles; Marruchella, Giuseppe; Khaiseb, S.; Cattoli, Giovanni; Dundon, William G.
    In January 2019, high mortalities were reported among African Penguins (Spheniscus demersus) in a breeding colony on Halifax Island, Namibia, Africa. Analysis of samples by reverse transcription quantitative PCR indicated the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N8. Sequence analysis of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes confirmed the presence of the virus in the birds and its high similarity to HPAI subtype H5N8 identified in South Africa in 2017. There have been no previous reports of HPAI H5N8 in Namibia.
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    Investigation of infectious laryngotracheitis outbreaks in Namibia in 2018
    (2019) Molini, Umberto; Aikukutu, Gottlieb; Khaiseb, S.; Kahler, Barbara; Van der Westhuizen, Jolandie; Cattoli, Giovanni; Dundon, William G.
    Between July and August 2018, two outbreaks of infectious laryngotracheitis caused the death of over 116,000 commercial poultry (layers and broilers) near the city of Windhoek, Namibia. A third outbreak occurred in September 2018 in the north of the country approximately 800km from the original outbreaks. Sample collection and molecular epidemiological analyses revealed that the outbreaks were most likely caused by poor vaccination practices leading to the reversion to virulence of an ILT vaccine strain. The analyses also indicate that inaccurate declarations were made by one of the farms involved and that illegal movement of animalsmost likely occurred.
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    Molecular characterisation of infectious bursal disease virus in Namibia, 2017
    (2019) Molini, Umberto; Aikukutu, Gottlieb; Kabajani, Juliet; Khaiseb, S.; Cattoli, Giovanni; Dundon, William G.
    Between July and September 2017, samples collected from six unvaccinated chickens in Namibia were shown to be positive for infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) by RT-PCR. Partial sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the VP1 and VP2 genes from six viruses revealed that they all belong to the very virulent pathotype (Genogroup 3) and are genetically very similar to IBDVs identified in neighbouring Zambia. This is the first molecular characterisation of IBDV in Namibia and has implications on the control and management of the disease in the country.