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Adaptation of a developmental milestone resource for parents from diverse, low-income communities in South Africa
Eccles, Renata; Du Toit, Maria; Bellini, Ashley; Masule, Kabuba Hendrietta; Molongoana, Palesa N.; Masekela, Mbali M.N.; Bahadoor, Zeneera; Abdoola, Shabnam Salim; Van der Linde, Jeannie (Sage, 2026)
Knowledge of developmental milestones allows parents to support the developmental needs of their children and monitor their behaviour. Many available developmental resources, however, do not apply to culturally, economically, and linguistically diverse communities in low– and middle-income countries. There is a need to adapt established resources to improve contextual relevance. As primary stakeholders, parents should contribute to the adaptations. An existing developmental milestone resource was adapted for parents from low-income communities in South Africa using a mixed-method research design. In phases 1 and 2, a six-member expert panel reviewed and adapted the existing resource for the parents of children aged 2–47 months using a questionnaire and focus group. In phase 3, 18 parents of young children from low-income communities were interviewed to gain their perspectives on the adapted milestone. Most developmental milestones were deemed applicable, but they require adaptation to be relevant for use in low-income communities. The four themes identified were: language use, access to materials indicated in the resource, context and developmental literacy. Parents found the adapted resource relevant to promoting developmental literacy. International developmental milestone resources require contextual adaptation for diverse communities. Parents were included in developing the resource, increasing its relevance. The adapted resource should be trialled to evaluate the effectiveness of promoting parents’ developmental literacy.
Acute endocrine responses to snouted cobra (Naja annulifera) and African puffadder (Bitis arietans) envenomation in dogs
Fourie-Viljoen, Noeline; Goddard, Amelia; Thompson, P.N. (Peter N.); Daminet, Sylvie; Schoeman, Johan P. (Oxford University Press, 2026-02-21)
BACKGROUND : The endocrine response to snake envenomation in dogs remains unexplored. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES : To compare the endocrine response in dogs envenomated by snouted cobra (Naja annulifera) and African puffadder (Bitis arietans) with healthy control dogs, to evaluate the change over time of specific hormones, and to investigate the correlation of these changes with C-reactive protein (CRP). ANIMALS : This study included 17 client-owned dogs naturally envenomed by either a snouted cobra (N annulifera) (n = 9) or a puffadder (B arietans) (n = 8). Two control groups (n = 10 and n = 12) consisted of client-owned dogs in good health. METHODS : In this prospective longitudinal observational study, serum samples were collected at admission, and at 12, 24, and 36 h after envenomation. At each time point, the serum total thyroxine (TT4), thyrotropin, total cortisol, and CRP concentrations were measured. RESULTS : The median serum TT4 concentrations of all the cases were significantly lower than those of controls at all time points (P < .05). The cases had a median (Q1-Q3) serum TT4 of 20.8 nmol/L (15.2-25) at admission, and 7.71 (6.4-19.7), 11.50 (6.4-18.5), and 12.3 (6.4-16.6) nmol/L at 12, 24, and 36 h after envenomation, respectively. The puffadder and neurological cobra subgroup TT4 remained significantly suppressed until 36 h after envenomation and had nadirs of 9.15 (6.4-14.65) and 6.4 (6.1-7.45) nmol/L, respectively. The non-neurological cobra subgroup had a nadir of 14.6 (9.4-21.45) nmol/L and recovered within 24 h. Serum TT4 concentration was negatively correlated with CRP (P < .05, ρ = −0.326). The total serum cortisol concentration in the neurological cobra subgroup at admission was 483.0 (153-549) nmol/L. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE : Puffadder and snouted cobra envenomation are associated with profound suppression of serum TT4 concentrations, correlated with systemic inflammatory activation as measured by serum CRP concentrations.
Acquired motility of Babesia microti–infected red blood cells
Li, Chao; Apgar, Amy L.; Tufts, Danielle M.; Niepa, Tagbo H.R. (National Academy of Sciences, 2026-02-02)
Babesia microti is an intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite and the main causative agent of human babesiosis in the United States. While extensive research has focused on the prevalence of this vector-borne pathogen in natural populations, increases of human cases and clinical manifestation, and pathogen structure, little is known about the movements of B. microti within vertebrate red blood cells (RBCs). RBCs are nonmotile due to their lack of cellular structures for active movement. Here, we report a phenomenon in which B. microti–infected RBCs exhibit an acquired motility compared to uninfected RBCs. Using live-cell tracking, we observed a subset (around 1% in whole blood and 10% in 1:100 diluted blood) of infected RBCs displayed active movement. This acquired motility suggests that B. microti may induce host cell modifications that facilitate its survival, dissemination, or immune evasion potential, allowing it to successfully move through the blood and infect new RBCs. Our findings highlight unconventional RBC dynamics and a potential broad aspect of B. microti pathogenesis. Further investigation into the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon could provide insights into parasite–host interactions and reveal targets for therapeutic intervention in treatment and/or prevention of babesiosis. SIGNIFICANCE This study reveals a phenomenon where Babesia microti–infected red blood cells (RBCs), traditionally thought to be nonmotile, exhibit an acquired motility, likely from the movements of the intracellular parasite. Through live-cell tracking, we observed that a subset of infected RBCs can actively move at a velocity up to 5 μm/min (comparable to the typical velocity of macrophages, 1 to 3 μm/min). This acquired motility suggests that B. microti may induce host cell modifications that aid its survival, dissemination, or immune evasion. Our findings provide insights into RBC and parasite dynamics, offering a foundation for exploring how these behaviors influence disease progression.
A framework for multidimensional management of invasive alien insect pests in sub-Saharan Africa
Birkhofer, Klaus; Watzold, Frank; Remelgado, Ruben; Addison, Pia; Aigbedion-Atalor, Pascal; Cord, Anna F.; Ekesi, Sunday; Mutamiswa, Reyard; Rwomushana, Ivan; Tabe-Ojong Jr, Martin Paul; Nyamukondiwa, Casper (Wiley, 2026)
Invasive alien insect pests pose a significant threat to achieving sustainable food systems in sub-Saharan Africa, where reliance on synthetic pesticides has led to unsustainable practices due to high costs and health and environmental risks. This article presents a multidimensional framework for managing invasive alien insect pests in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically directed at researchers, policymakers, non-governmental organisations and other institutions responsible for invasive pest management as well as extension services for farmers. Invasive pests, such as the Oriental fruit fly and the fall armyworm, and a highly damaging native species for comparison are central to the framework. The framework considers the environmental, socio-economic, and regulatory dimensions of pest management decisions. It reviews different control strategies used against invasive alien pests, highlighting their limitations and environmental impacts. By considering farmer characteristics, institutional support, market demands, and regulatory policies, the article emphasises the need for integrated pest management approaches. The aim is to contribute to the development of sustainable, effective pest management strategies that will ensure long-term agricultural productivity and food security in sub-Saharan Africa.
Correlations of auditory discrimination, phonemic awareness and literacy: evidence from a Grade 4 classroom in rural Gauteng
Dörfling, Inge; Müller, Marizaan; Van der Merwe, Jana; Viviers, Mary-Ann (University of Pretoria, 2025)
Auditory discrimination is integral in developing phonological awareness (PA), a metalinguistic skill required for language and literacy acquisition. This study investigates associations between auditory discrimination, segmenting and blending skills, and literacy outcomes such as reading speed and spelling accuracy in Grade 4 learners who transitioned from Setswana instruction to English as the language of learning and teaching (LoLT). A quantitative, retrospective, descriptive, and correlational design was used. The results indicated significant positive correlations between auditory discrimination skills and literacy skills. A strong positive correlation was found between auditory discrimination, spelling skills (rs = 0.500, p < 0.001), and reading speed (rs = 0.448, p < 0.001). Unlike prior studies, blending and segmentation skills were above age-appropriate levels for English, yet PA skills did not consistently correspond with well-established literacy skills. These outcomes are attributed to differences in phonology and orthographies, limited English exposure, and challenges of transitioning to a new LoLT without explicit support.