Browsing by Author "Kahler, Barbara"

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    Assessment of the prerequisites for the establishment of an Animal facility at the School of Medicine, University of Namibia: Comparison of the current situation with international standards and requirements, and with discussion of alternative options
    (University of Namibia, 2015) Kahler, Barbara
    The School of Medicine (SoM) of the University of Namibia (UNAM) intends to establish an animal house for teaching and experimental research within its facilities. A number of rooms are dedicated for this purpose and partially equipped. This review investigates the feasibility of the project in the light of international standards for animal experimental settings, the prerequisites for the physical establishment, the technical installations, compliance to globally valid regulations of animal welfare, and the probability of getting reliable research outcomes from the given background. The identified current situation within the SoM is subsequently compared to the internationally accepted benchmarks for such institutions, and the principal features of the commonly followed guidelines are briefly listed. A selection of alternative methods to animal experiments is succinctly described and set in the context of the departments of SoM. However, the examination of the physical housing, technical equipment, required human resources and available infrastructure led to the conclusion that the intended use cannot be recommended since the relevant criteria are not met. Instead it would be advisable to construct a separate animal house based on recognized internationally valid standards. In the meantime, less costly non-animal state of the art methods could be introduced.
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    Does Mycobacterium bovis contribute to the case load of human tuberculosis in Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2015) Kahler, Barbara
    Namibia has one of the highest infection rates of human tuberculosis (TB) in the world. The causative agent is generally asserted to be Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Renewed concerns have been raised globally in the last decades regarding the emergence of Mycobacterium bovis as a contributor to human TB. The pathogen is harbored by a number of mammalian animal species and, hence has a high zoonotic potential. Numerous investigations in recent years show evidence of the spread of M. bovis from the wildlifelivestock interface to humans in southern African countries. Rural communities in these regions are most at risk since livestock can easily be infected. Namibia is considered to be free of bovine TB in cattle because no cases have been reported since 1995. However the disease may be under-diagnosed in single cases especially in remote areas because of the slow and chronic course. Weakened animals might be slaughtered privately, with contaminated meat and raw milk from infected cows or goats being consumed. The aim of this review is to discuss the complex issues of diagnosis and epidemiology, and to highlight the importance of the differentiation of mycobacteria species in the medical laboratory for the outcome of patient treatment. M. bovis is clinically indistinguishable from human TB, possesses intrinsic resistance to at least one of the four first-line anti TB drugs, and shows a tendency to develop multidrug resistance. It poses a high risk predominantly for immuno-compromised individuals, as HIV-patients for example. Since Namibia has both - a high case load of HIV and TB - the occurrence and risk of zoonotic M. bovis in southern Africa should be discussed.
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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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    A synopsis of the polyvalent qualities of zeolite-clinoptilolite and the proposed uses within the Namibian medical, pharmaceutical, industrial and economical sectors: A proposal for an integrated research.
    (University of Namibia, 2014) Kahler, Barbara
    Zeolites are crystalline hydrated aluminosilicates of the alkaline and alkaline-earthmetals with unique properties in cation exchange, adsorption and catalysis. Due to these properties they have been increasingly used in a wide range of applications in industry, environmental protection, agriculture, animal production, veterinary- and human medicine. Their increasing integration in the health sector worldwide with recognized efficacy based on scientific researches, clinical trials and personnel experience of many therapists encouraged the author to write this review. Clinoptilolite, one of the natural zeolites, offers a variety of well documented appliances as medical drug for internal and external use in addition to its utilization as growth promoter in animal feed, potent binder of heavy metals and radionuclides along with ammonium exploited in industries, and the use in filter systems for waste water clearance and building and construction material. Since Namibia provides the climate and geological conditions for deposits containing abundant zeolite, it is worth to look at the options for an efficient exploitation. This could open new markets for the national as well as the international trade.The utilization of zeolites within the fields described in this article would offer inexpensive alternatives to cover some shortfalls in the domains of agriculture, building and construction, environment protection and public health. One objective of this literature study is to explore interdisciplinary cooperative efforts to integrate various available information and reports regarding this multipurpose zeolite material in the activities of Namibian educational and research institutions. Several starting points are addressed particularly in the fields of agriculture, animal sciences, pharmacy and human medicine, how natural zeolites could be incorporated into or combined with existing concepts respectively would contribute to develop new strategies, emphasizing the health sector.