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Giardia duodenalis (synonyms: G. lamblia, G. intestinalis) is a mammalian infective protozoan flagellate which infects humans. The genus Giardia consists of six species, namely G. agilis, G. ardeae, G. psittaci, G. microti, G. muris and G. duodenalis. Among these species, only G. duodenalis is...

Although milk contains many nutrients necessary for growth, raw milk may harbor numerous pathogens. The milk pathogens may be shed in harvested milk from an infected animal and may transmit zoonotic diseases. Consumption of raw milk is common in developing countries. However, milk needs to be...

Mining is one of the main sources of heavy metals that present great harm to human health even in low concentrations. Lead (Pb) contamination of food and especially of frequently consumed vegetables is a growing public health concern worldwide. Although levels of exposure in developed countries...

Nutritionally, fresh vegetables are a good source of vitamins and essential minerals, among other nutrients. This is the main reason as to why they are consumed globally. The production of vegetables faces many constraints, especially land pressure, access to safe clean water, and low soil...

The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) region contains many genes that are key regulators of both innate and adaptive immunity and is the most polymorphic locus in the mammalian genome. Consequently, the characterisation of the repertoire of MHC genes is critical to understanding the...

This study aimed to quantitatively assess the Risk of Exposure to Listeria through consumption of ready to eat meat and meat products (RTE) imported from South Africa in Lusaka Province of Zambia. A swift quantitative microbiological risk assessment (sQMRA) simulation model was used to analyse...

Fresh fish is one of the cheapest sources of proteins in the Zambian diet and widely consumed nationwide. Fresh fish harbours a number of spoilage bacteria and pathogens including V. cholerae which cause cholera in humans. Consumption of contaminated fresh fish has been linked to zoonotic...

Zambia has experienced an unprecedented increase in the number of human anthrax outbreaks in the Western Province where cycles of epidemic outbreaks commonly occur at the onset of rains after prolonged dry periods and frequent outbreaks occur in Chama District of Muchinga Province. Epidemics are...

Escherichia coli has been known as one of the most common bacteria found in the intestinal tract of human and warm blooded animals. It is the major causative agent of serious infections and a mediator of drug resistance through the production of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase enzymes(ESBL) that...

Plague is a re-emerging flea-borne infectious disease of global importance and in recent years Zambia has periodically experienced increased incidence of bubonic plague outbreaks. However, there are currently no studies in the country that provide a quantitative assessment of the ability of the...