The UZSpace digital repository system captures, stores, indexes, preserves, and distributes digital research material. http://ir.uz.ac.zw:80/jspui 2013-05-23T12:14:59Z 2013-05-23T12:14:59Z BAUDI, IAN http://hdl.handle.net/10646/1056 2013-03-28T02:00:20Z 2013-03-27T00:00:00Z

Title: A COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE VIROSEQ HIV-1 GENOTYPING SYSTEM V2.0 AGAINST AN IN-HOUSE ASSAY USING SPECIMENS FROM THE NATIONAL HIV DRUG RESISTANCE MONITORING SURVEY, IN ZIMBABWE. Authors: BAUDI, IAN Abstract: This study was carried out to assess the performance of the Viroseq HIV-1 genotyping system v2.0 (Celera, Alameda, California, USA) on Zimbabwean samples at the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory (NMRL) in Harare and to compare the results obtained with those obtained at a World Health Organization accredited genotyping laboratory in Entebbe, Uganda, which genotyped the same samples using an in-house method. Study samples: Thirty eight (38) plasma samples were used in this study. They were selected from samples stored at NMRL, which had been collected from patients eligible for commencement on antiretroviral therapy just prior to taking antiretroviral drugs at sentinel sites for the National HIV Drug Resistance Monitoring Survey in Zimbabwe. Results: Viral RNA extraction and RT-PCR reactions were successful at first attempt for all the 38 study samples. The success rates of cycle sequencing reactions using the 7 proprietary Viroseq sequencing primer mixes on the 38 samples, at first attempt were: Primer A (81.6%), primer B (86.8), primers C and G (84.2%), Primer D (10.5%), Primer F (73.7%) and Primer H (94.7%). Thirty seven out of the 38 samples (97.4%) were successfully genotyped. However, 14 (37.8%) of these pol region consensus sequences obtained were unidirectional. Thirty two out of the 37 (86.5%) Viroseq genotyped samples clustered in pairs with their corresponding sample sequences generated in Uganda with bootstrap support values ≥70 (median bootstrap support value, 97.5: range 31-99) on neighbour joining tree phylogenetic analysis. All of the genotyped study samples were found to be HIV-1 subtype C (n=37). Nineteen of the 37 (48.6%) genotyped samples had at least one drug resistance mutation detected by either Viroseq or the Ugandan in-house assay. The detected mutations as reported by the two genotyping systems were fully concordant in 11/19 (57.9%), partially concordant in 2/19 (10.5%) and discordant in 6/19 (31.6%) of these specimens with drug resistance mutations. Overall, all the reports generated by the two systems with or without any mutations were 78.4% fully concordant, 16.2% partially concordant and 5.4% discordant. Conclusions: The Viroseq system can be reliably used to genotype Zimbabwean samples by adequately trained operators at NMRL. Sequencing Primer D is not suitable for sequencing Zimbabwean subtype C isolates due to its high sequencing reaction failure rate.

2013-03-27T00:00:00Z GADAGA, LOUIS L. http://hdl.handle.net/10646/1055 2013-03-15T02:02:19Z 2013-03-14T00:00:00Z

Title: INVESTIGATION OF THE TOXICOLOGICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF A HYDROETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF BOOPHONE DISTICHA BULB Authors: GADAGA, LOUIS L. Abstract: Boophone disticha is a highly poisonous bulb. It has been used systemically in traditional medical practice in Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries for the management of various central nervous system conditions including hysteria. Abuse of the plant by teenagers in Zimbabwe for its claimed hallucinogenic effects has also been reported, with the advent of serious toxicity in some cases. The aim of the present work was to describe the symptomatology, neurotoxicological effects and lethality of acute and subacute ingestion and of a hydro-ethanolic plant extract of the bulb of Boophone disticha in rats. Initially, we set out to estimate the LD50 of this extract using a modified Up-and-down procedure for acute toxicity determination. We then used a Functional Observational Battery (FOB) to identify the neurotoxicological effects of the extract after both acute and repeated oral intake. Additionally we studied the genotoxic potential of the Boophone extract using the Ames test. Finally we sought to investigate the putative neuropharmacological effects i.e. anxiolytic-like and antidepressant-like activity in a murine model. Findings in the acute toxicity and neurotoxicological assessment, showedan estimated oral LD50 of between 120 and 240 mg/kg. For doses of 240 mg/kg and less, signs of toxicity began approximately 10 minutes after gavage, and the most prominent initial signs were head tremors (at 50 mg/kg) and body tremors, severe body tremors(>360 mg/kg) followed by convulsions. Generally, symptoms of toxicity lasted approximately 2 hours for doses of 240 mg/kg and less; and 3 hours for doses over 240 mg/kg for animals that survived. These results point to a rapid gastrointestinal absorption of the active principles in the plant extract. The most prominent neurotoxicological effects were increased flaccid limb paralysis and spastic hind-limb paralysis. Tachypnoea was noted at low doses and higher doses produced laboured breathing. The retropulsion observed with higher doses could indicate the reported hallucinogenic effects of the plant extract. Subacute assessment showed the similar profile symptoms as with acute toxicity.The main subacute toxic effects of Boophone disticha like the acute effects seem to be mediated via interference with the neuronal pathways especially the central dopaminergic and motor neurons. Target organs, as observed by changes in organ weight appear to be liver, small and large intestines, stomach, central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. Boophone disticha extract was genotoxic from concentrations 1000μg/plate and above with both TA98 and TA100 Salmonella typhimurium species irrespective of the metabolic status of the system. The 500μg/plate concentrations of the Boophone extract were not associated with any genotoxicity and 2500μg/plate concentration is potential cytotoxic which could have masked the genotoxic effects at this concentration. P a g e | vi Boophone disticha extract showed Anxiolytic-like activity in the elevated plus maze test by significantly changing the percentage time spent in open arms, number of open arm entries, rearing, unprotected head dips and stretch attend postures. The 10m/kg dose had the most prominent effects compared to the higher dose which were comparable to the positive control. Repeated dosing enhanced the antidepressant-like activity of the Boophone extract. Therefore from the pharmacological findings of our studies, despite being very toxic Boophone disticha proved to be an important source of lead compounds for future drug development. Therefore further investigations are necessary to determine the target site and efficacy of Boophone alkaloids with in vivo models.

2013-03-14T00:00:00Z MATIKITI, ROBERT http://hdl.handle.net/10646/1054 2013-03-15T02:01:25Z 2013-03-14T00:00:00Z

Title: CHRISTIAN THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ON POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN ZIMBABWE: THE CASE OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IN ZIMBABWE Authors: MATIKITI, ROBERT Abstract: This study seeks to establish the perspectives of the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe (UCCZ) on political violence in order to understand its theological position on politically motivated violence in Zimbabwe. The UCCZ has a long history of concern for social justice. Its members have often taken forthright positions on controversial issues involving Christian principles. Since the time of its establishment in Zimbabwe in the late 19th century, the UCCZ has been speaking to the human issues in the contemporary world from a sound biblical and theological foundation as historically demonstrated in the UCCZ traditions. This study on Christian perspectives on political violence traces the roots of Zimbabwe’s contemporary political violence to the actions of the Rhodesian state and armed forces, to inter-party rivalry between the major nationalist political parties in the 1960s, and to violence that took place during the liberation war in the 1970s. The focus, however, is the UCCZ viewpoint on political violence of post-colonial Zimbabwe. In this regard, the consequences of Renamo banditry activities, Gukurahundi violence, harassment of national political leaders, violent elections, totalitarian tendencies, and inter-party and intra-party violence are assessed in order to obtain the UCCZ’s perspectives on political violence. The thesis interrogates the UCCZ’s viewpoint on state-sponsored violence during the fast-track land reform and elections. The UCCZ standpoint, expressed during the post-2000s polarized society in Zimbabwe, is instructive on the church’s stance on political violence. The consistent theme in the thesis is the church’s response to the trauma and fear of the survivors of political violence and the impunity of the perpetrators in the search for the church’s outlook on political violence. This study seeks to find out how the causes, patterns, dynamics, and consequences of political violence have affected the UCCZ’s theology. The key finding of this thesis is that for the UCCZ political violence is primarily a moral problem, and every moral problem is ultimately theological. The complexity of the Zimbabwean situation defies the neatly worked out moral principles of classical Christian tradition. The findings in this research refute the reviewed literature which is largely centred on Augustine’s Just War Theory. Many UCCZ members have been misled into believing that political parties’ worldviews are stronger than their own Christian worldviews. In fact, there is no longer a strong Christian mind in areas wrecked by political violence. This thesis has demonstrated that the church’s singular failure has been the failure to see Christianity as a life system, or worldview that governs every area of existence. This Church should understand that God transcends every culture, every power, every social group and every ideal. The thesis identifies a gap in theology and proposes an anti-violence theology emerging from the UCCZ viewpoint on political violence in Zimbabwe. The argument pursued is that it is possible to craft an anti-violence theology in Zimbabwe. The Christian’s duty is not only to build up the Church but also to build a society for the glory of God. There is no doubt that developing a Christian mind is a rewarding and enriching act of discipleship - it brings Christian principles into the area of life and creates a new culture.

2013-03-14T00:00:00Z Makoni, B.M. http://hdl.handle.net/10646/1053 2013-03-08T02:00:59Z 1990-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Promoting women's health through functional literacy and intersectoral action: A study of vulnerable communities in Chivi District, Zimbabwe. Authors: Makoni, B.M. Abstract: This chapter gives the background to the study. It has four sections. The first section, an overview of the health situation in Zimbabwe, is an outline of Government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) efforts to promote better health. The second section is a rationale for the project Promoting Health Through Women's Functional Literacy. This section also provides the theoretical framework of the study and gives a guideline for identification of the target population. Then follows a section on researchquestions. Finally, there is a statement on Chivi District and its vulnerable socio-economic position.

1990-01-01T00:00:00Z