Background. Sapovirus (SV) infection is a public health concern which plays an important role in the burden of diarrhoeal diseases, causing acute gastroenteritis in people of all ages in both outbreaks and sporadic cases worldwide.Objective/Study Design. The purpose of this report is to summarise the available data on the detection of human SV in low and middle income countries. A systematic search on PubMed and ScienceDirect database for SV studies published between 2004 and 2017 in low and middle income countries was done. Studies of SV in stool and water samples were part of the inclusion criteria.Results. From 19 low and middle income countries, 45 published studies were identified. The prevalence rate for SV was 6.5%. A significant difference (P=0) in SV prevalent rate was observed between low income and middle income countries. Thirty-three (78.6%) of the studies reported on children and 8 (19%) studies reported on all age groups with diarrhoea. The majority (66.7%) of studies reported on hospitalised patients with acute gastroenteritis. Sapovirus GI was shown as the dominant genogroup, followed by SV-GII.Conclusion. The detection of human SV in low and middle income countries is evident; however the reports on its prevalence are limited. There is therefore a need for systematic surveillance of the circulation of SV, and their role in diarrhoeal disease and outbreaks, especially in low and middle income countries.

Diarrhoeal disease is considered an important cause of morbidity and mortality in developing areas, and a large contributor to the burden of disease in children younger than five years of age. This study investigated the prevalence and genogroups of human sapovirus (SV) in children ≤5 years of age in rural communities of Vhembe district, South Africa. Between 2017 and 2020, a total of 284 stool samples were collected from children suffering with diarrhoea (n = 228) and from children without diarrhoea (n = 56). RNA extraction using Boom extraction method, and screening for SV using real-time PCR were done in the lab. Positive samples were subjected to conventional RT-PCR targeting the capsid fragment. Positive sample isolates were genotyped using Sanger sequencing. Overall SV were detected in 14.1% (40/284) of the stool samples (16.7% (38/228) of diarrhoeal and 3.6% (2/56) of non-diarrhoeal samples). Significant correlation between SV positive cases and water sources was noted. Genogroup-I was identified as the most prevalent strain comprising 81.3% (13/16), followed by SV-GII 12.5% (2/16) and SV-GIV 6.2% (1/16). This study provides valuable data on prevalence of SV amongst outpatients in rural and underdeveloped communities, and highlights the necessity for further monitoring of SV circulating strains as potential emerging strains.

Cytogenetics involves all aspects of chromosome biology. Through the application of molecular cytogenetic techniques in biology and medicine, we gain insights into the structural and functional organization of chromosomes, chromosomal abnormalities, and genomic variations in developmental, medical, and cancer genetics. This chapter explores recent advancements in molecular cytogenetics and their implications for managing hereditary diseases. It explores cutting-edge molecular methodologies such as spectral karyotyping, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and next-generation sequencing alongside the groundbreaking CRISPR genome editing technology. The chapter will highlight how these technologies have enhanced our understanding of chromosomal abnormalities, genome variation, and the genetic basis of hereditary diseases. Furthermore, it will shed light on the potential of these advancements in paving the way for novel therapeutic interventions aimed at rectifying genetic abnormalities associated with hereditary diseases, thereby offering new avenues for medical intervention and treatment.

Partial Analysis of the Capsid Protein (VP1) of Human Sapovirus Isolated from Children with Diarrhoea in Rural Communities of South Africa: Background. Viral diarrhoea is a concern in acute gastroenteritis cases among children younger than 5 years of age. Sapovirus has been noted as an emerging causative agent of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. Objective/Study Design. The aim of this study was to characterize human sapoviruses targeting the VP1 (NVR and N-terminal) region. Twenty-five samples were randomly selected from 40 sapovirus-positive samples previously detected and analyzed for the VP1 region using the One-Step RT-PCR assay. The PCR products were subjected to Sanger sequencing analysis. Results. The polyprotein segment (NVR and N-terminal) was successfully amplified from 10/25 samples. Sapovirus GI.1 was the most predominant strain (6/10; 60), followed by SV-GII.1 (2/10; 20) and 10 of each GI.3 and GII.3. Conclusion. Through the partial analysis of the VP1 region, this study provides more data to add on the human sapovirus genetic characterization of circulating strains in South Africa, with the proposition of further analysis of sapovirus VP1 fragments for the viral structure and function.

Bacterial co-infections significantly affect the treatment outcomes of tuberculosis (TB) patients, particularly in resource-limited settings. Misdiagnosis of TB co-infections accelerate disease progression and contribute to the development of drug resistance, leading to higher mortality and morbidity rates, especially in underserved areas. This study aimed to investigate bacterial co-infections in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in a rural Vhembe region of Limpopo, South Africa. A total of 100 sputum together with 100 blood samples were collected from TB patients who were undergoing TB treatment. DNA isolates were used as templates for PCR using the Anyplex™MTB/NTMe Assay kit, and subsequently, the Allplex™ MTB/MDR/XDRe Assay kit was used for the multiple detections of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and resistance to first line and second line anti-TB drugs. Co-infections were determined using the Allplex™ Bacteria(I) & (II) Assay kit. HIV status of patients was determined using blood testing kits. Majority of study participants were male (55 %) and aged between 36 and 55 (54 %), while female were 46 % of the population. Bacterial species detected included non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in 67 % of participants, Aeromonas spp. (19 %), Vibrio spp. (2 %), and E. coli (2 %). Multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) strains were identified in 2 % of the cohort. There was a significant association between employment status and age (p = 0.00), as well as between HIV status and age (p = 0.03). While no significant associations were found between HIV status and the presence of NTM or other bacterial co-infections (p = 0.19 and 0.21, respectively), the majority of Aeromonas spp. and NTM cases were observed among HIV-positive participants. Notably, 36 of the NTM cases occurred in individuals living with HIV. The study findings suggest that age, socioeconomic status, and gender play a role in the development of TB, HIV, and other bacterial infections, which could further complicate treatment outcomes in patients. These factors likely contribute to increased vulnerability to co-infections, emphasizing the complex interplay between TB and HIV in these populations. Additionally, the study emphasises the importance of considering these socio-demographic factors in public health interventions to reduce the burden of TB-HIV co-infection and associated bacterial infections.