99 HouseHold Study: Scarlet-chested sunbird

Oct 6, 2015 | Blog, Latest news, Urban Zoo Project

Identification

Length 13-15 cm, mass 12-15 g, males larger than females. Male: Black with iridescent emerald-green crown and chin and scarlet throat and upper breast. Bill, legs and feet black, eyes dark brown. Female: Upper parts and face dark brown, eyebrow whitish. Chin and throat dark brown, feathers edged light brown. Breast and belly pale yellow, streaked dark brown.

Distribution

Sub-Saharan Africa.

Taxonomy

This is one of the seven Sunbirds that have recently been moved into the genus Chalcomitra from the genus Nectarinia. Chalcomitra senegalensis has 6 subspecies, variation being mostly in the colour of the underparts.

Habitat

Broadleaved open woodland, moist thornveld, coastal bush, parks and gardens. Leonotis flowers are particular attractive to this birds.

Behaviour

Often in groups at nectar sources where males frequently chase conspecifics and other Sunbirds. Also hunts insects and spiders, but usually alone. May hover to feed, but usually perches.

Breeding: The male defends the the breeding territory. The nest is pear-shaped with a hood over the entrance hole, and suspended from a branch. It is built by the female using dry grass, stems, leaves and/or bark bound by spider web. Usually two eggs are laid and incubated by the female. Chicks and fledglings are fed by both parents for up to eight weeks. Parasitised by Klaas’s Cuckooand, less often, African Emerald Cuckoo and Dideric Cuckoo

Reference

Cheke, R. & Mann, C. (2008). Scarlet-chested Sunbird (Chalcomitra senegalensis). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) (2014). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/60007 on 6 October 2015).
Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ & Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Robert’s Birds of Southern Africa, 7th edition. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 0620340533

Male Scarlet-chested Sunbird

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Female Scarlet-chested Sunbird

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Male at 99 Household study

2nd OHCEA One Health Conference

Oct 2, 2015 | Archived news

2nd OHCEA One Health Conference

The 2^nd OHCEA International One Health Conference will be held in Kampala, Uganda at Speak Resort Munyonyo on 16-20 November, 2015.

The 2^nd OHCEA International One Health Conference brings science and policy together aiming at the early recognition and control of emerging (infectious) diseases, now and in the years to come. It focuses on multidisciplinary collaboration involving human, veterinary and eco-health disciplines, other life sciences, social sciences, and informatics. The One Health approach is needed to ensure an improved and sustainable human and animal health and is key to improve monitoring, analysis and prevention of novel global threats posed by re-emerging (infectious) diseases and food safety hazards.

The scientific focus of this Conference will be on how science can help in preventing emerging and re-emerging (infectious) diseases; with a specific side meeting dedicated to the Ebola crisis and Biorisk Management in Africa. Simultaneously, side meetings will be organized to bring established key scientists working in the respective One Health areas together with policymakers, businessmen, funders, governors and International One Health organizations.

Theme and Sub Themes

Theme: “Strategic Approach to Global Health Security through One Health Innovation: Vision 2035”.

Sub themes:

Emerging Diseases: Pathogens and their Interface
Lessons learnt from Ebola and MERS- Coronavirus outbreaks
Emerging pathogens (Terrestrial, aquatic and air)
Vector borne pathogens
Environmental Pollution as a predisposing factor
Immuno- toxicology, antibiotic and antiviral resistance
Innovative Multidisciplinary Intervention Strategies
Clinical Research on emerging diseases
Innovative communication strategies/data collection systems
Improved diagnostics and scientific techniques to combat health threats
Innovative translation methods of research to policy and community: success stories
Case studies of policies and practices that reduce risk
Emerging Pandemic Threats Preparedness and Response
The role of the One Health Work Force
Transforming the current and future workforce
Engaging stakeholders in pandemic preparedness: from communities to corporations
National, Regional and International One Health platforms
Novel Case studies/ Innovations
Mitigation and preparedness for emerging threats
Human pandemic preparedness
To find out more details visit the conference website: Click here

11th Safe Pork Conference: Experiences from our team member

Sep 24, 2015 | Blog, Latest news, Urban Zoo Project

The 11^TH Safe pork conference was held from 7^th to 10^th September 2015 in Porto, Portugal. The Zoonotic and Emerging Infectious Disease group (under the umbrella of the urban zoo project) was represented by Dr. Maurice Karani and Dr. Pablo Alarcon.

The conference focused on the epidemiology and control of foodborne pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in pigs and pork along all production chains. Additionally, international exchange of ideas, research and policy themes related to the management of zoonosis and food safety in the pig and pork sector, with an integrated approach from “farm to fork” in relation to the “One Health” concept was explored

The highlight of the conference was the oral presentation by Maurice Karani, a veterinarian and a research assistant with the urban zoo project and an MSc student at the Royal veterinary college titled, ‘Assessing and understanding food safety risk practices in Nairobi pork food system: a value chain approach’. The presentation was awarded the best oral presentation on the student category.

Dr. Maurice giving a presentation

Dr. Maurice giving a presentation

Fruits of a superb presentation

17th International Congress on infectious Diseases

Sep 14, 2015 | Archived events

The International Society for Infectious Diseases will hold our next International Congress on Infectious Diseases (ICID) in Hyderabad, India, from the 2nd to the 5th March 2016. The ISID has always had a particular focus on the global burden of infectious diseases and I am therefore particularly pleased that the meeting will be held in India, the fi rst time that we have visited that country and a real opportunity for us to get to know the many colleagues who work there and in other parts of the region. The meeting will encompass all of the fields of infectious diseases with particular attention being paid to the major challenges of the region including AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, pneumonia and enteric infections including typhoid fever and diarrhea. In addition, major areas of neglected tropical diseases will be discussed and there will be a particular focus on disease prevention and vaccination.

One of the things that distinguishes ISID meetings is the unique blend of state-of-the-art scientifi c presentations that encompass both basic science and clinical practice, delivered by a truly international faculty who uniquely have the handson experience and knowledge of the conditions that they discuss. Our meetings are also notable for their representation from an extraordinarily wide range of countries, and the opportunity for close exchange and communication between the most senior and more junior colleagues.

ISID is a truly global society with over 60,000 members worldwide, and a vibrant range of activities that includes ProMED, our biennial meeting on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IMED), a prestigious Fellowship program, the International Journal of Infectious Diseases and much more. We are greatly looking forward to collaborating with our colleagues in India and we hope you will be able to join us for what will be an outstanding meeting.

Visit the website to learn more by Clicking here

One Health for the Real World: zoonoses, ecosystems and wellbeing

Sep 14, 2015 | Archived events

This symposium will bring together leading experts from different fields to discuss the topic ‘Healthy ecosystems, healthy people’.

Ecosystems provide services that maintain and improve human wellbeing, such as food provisioning and disease regulation however, they can also generate ‘disservices’, such as reservoirs for new, ‘emerging’ infectious disease from wildlife.

Health is a critical aspect of human wellbeing, interacting with material and social relations to contribute to people’s freedoms and choices, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where clusters of health and disease problems disproportionately affect poor people and contribute further to their poverty.

Healthy ecosystems and healthy people go together, yet the precise relationships between these remain poorly understood.

Understanding the interactions between ecosystem change, disease regulation and human wellbeing is an interdisciplinary challenge which the scientific community is only beginning to address. In policy terms, One Health and Ecohealth are converging approaches resting on the shared principle that the health of humans, animals and ecosystems are interdependent.

There is, however, little integration in understanding the relationships between these sectors. Too often research is divided between those who focus on environmental change and ecosystem services; those who address socio-economic, poverty and wellbeing issues; and those who consider health and disease. This leads to fragmented understandings and inadequate responses.

This symposium will bring together leading experts from different fields to: