Summaries in English and Shona / Introduction Despite wide spread information and knowledge of HIV and AIDS transmission, High school teenage girls continued to engage in risky sexual behaviour in Tshwane, a District of Gauteng Province of South Africa. Age-parity relationships between High school teenage girls and older men known as “Sugar Daddies” or “Blessers”, who showered High school teenage girls with money and expensive gifts, were believed to be spreading HIV. High school teenage girls failed to negotiate condom use due to lack of autonomy, coupled with sexual violence, resulting in HIV transmission. Consequently, Tshwane became one of the highest HIV burdened cities in South Africa. Purpose of the study This study explored and described the High school teenage girls’ knowledge and perceptions of the risks of human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome in Tshwane, a District of Gauteng Province of South Africa. Method The study used a quantitative approach. The data were collected using questionnaires. The population comprised of all girls aged 15 to 19 at a selected High school. The sample consisted of 109 girls. Systematic sampling was used. The study was conducted in the school hall of a selected High school. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23 program. Results Generally, the High school teenage girls’ HIV knowledge was very high (84.4%) as compared to their knowledge on AIDS (3.7%). Only 10.1% of the High school teenage girls knew what the window period entailed. They were aware of HIV preventive measures evidenced by abstinence ranking first (1) and had the highest score of five (5). 17.4% of the High school teenage girls doubted the usefulness of the condom in combating HIV infection. Health care workers were easily accessible (30.3%). The television was the most available mass media (92%). The radio was most preferred (31%). High school teenage girls preferred to discuss HIV related information with their peers and friends (50%). 42% of the High school teenage girls preferred to discuss sex related topics with parents or guardians. Those who were below 18-years were 7.2 times less likely to have sex. 90% of the 19-year-old girls had had sex. Therefore, High school teenage girls’ perception of HIV risk was low because they continued to be involved in concurrent multiple relationships although 90% of those involved were using condoms. Conclusion Although High school teenage girls proved that they had knowledge of HIV and AIDS, they still had a low perception of HIV risk because they were involved in concurrent multiple sexual relationships with older men. / Habedi, Debbie Kgomotso / Kunyangwe vane ruzivo rwechirwere cheshura matongo, vasikana vane makore ari pakati pegumi nematatu negumi nemapfumbamwe vari kuenderera mberi nekuita unhu unoita kuti vabatwe nechirwere cheshuramatongo (AIDS). Vasikana ava vari kudanana nevarume vakuru kuvadarika vamwe masadzimba zvinoita kuti vatapurirwe utachiona hweHIV zvinoita kuti vasikana vane hutachiona uhwu vawandise muguta reTshwane, mudunhu reGauteng munyika yeSouth Africa. Vanasikana ava vanopuwa mari nekutengerwa mbozhanhre nenguvo zvinodhura nekudya tunonaka. Nekuda kwekuti varume vanesimba rehudzvinyiriri nekuvarwisa, muAfrica, vasikana ava havakwanisi kushandisa makondomu kuzvidzivirira kubva kuhutachiona hweHIV. Ndosaka guta reTshwane raita mukurumbira munyika yeSouth Africa nekuti vanasikana vane hutachiona hweHIV vari kuwandisa. Gwaro iri rinoongorora nekutsanangura ruzivo uye maonero evanasikana huipi hwechirwe cheshuramatongo muguta guru reTShwane, mudunhu reGauteng. Munyika yeSouth Africa. Mafambiro Egwaro Gwaro iri riri kuongorora nekutsanangura ruzivo nemaonerwo anoitwa hutachiona hweHIV nechirwere cheshuramatongo nevasikana vari pakati pemakore gumi nemakore matatu nevanegumi nemakore mapfumbamwe pachikoro chesekonari chakasarudzwa mugutu guru reTshwane, mudunhu reGauteng, munyika yeSouth Africa. Vasikana vaka pindura mibvunzo pamusoro peruzivo rwavaiva narwo uye zvakanyangara zvinoita kuti vabatwe nehutachiona hweHIV. Vasikana zana nevapfumbamwe ndivo vakapindura mibvunzo. Vasikana vakapindura mibvunza yaiva pamapepa muhoro yepachikoro pavo. Zvakabuda Muchidzidzo Zvakaonekwa kuti vasikana vane ruzivo rwechirwere cheshuramatongo asi vane zvimwe zvinhu zvavasinga nzwisisi pamusoro pechirwere ichi zvekuzvidzivirira. Vasikana havakwanisi kupa mutsauko wehutachiona (HIV) nechirwere cheshuramatongo (AIDS). Vanasikana vazhinji vanofunga kuti hutachiona hweHIV hunotapurirwana pakutsvodana uye pakushandisa zvimbuzi. Vasikana vazhinji havakwanisi kutsanangura nguva inogara hutachina hweHIV mumuviri hwusati hwaonekwa kuti hurimo. Vasikana havana chokwadi chekuti makondomu anogona kudzivirira hutachiona hweHIV kuti hwusapinda mumuviri nguva dzebonde. Vadzidzisi vechikoro ndivo vakasarudzwa kuti vane ruzivo rwechirwere cheshuramatongo. Vasikana havafariri kudzidziswa nezve chirwere cheshuramatongo nevabereki vavo. Vanofarira kukurukura nezvechirwere ichi nevanhu vezera ravo. Vasikana vasingagari nevabereki vavo vanoita bonde kudarika vanogara nevabereki vavo uye vanoita bonde nevadiwa vazhinji vamwe vacho varume vakuru madzisaimba. Vasikana vanotaridza kusatya kubatwa nechirwere chishuramatongo nemhaka yehunhu wawo hwakashata hweku danana nevarume vazhinji uye kusashandisa makondomu nguva dzebonde. Mhendero Zvidzidzo zvinopiwa vasikana zvinechekuita nezvepabonde zvinofanira kuongororwa zvipamhidzirwe kuti vasikana vagone kuzvidzivirira kuchirwere cheshuramatongo. Madzimudzangara netelevhizhoni zvino kurudzirwa kudzidzisa mitambo nedzimbo dzinodzidzisa pamusoro pekudzivirira chirwere cheshuramatongo. Vabereki vanofanira kudzidziswawo kuti vagone kudzidzisa vana vavo kuti vagone kuzvidzivirira kuti vasabatwa nechirwere ichi. Vanasikana vanofanirwa kudzidziswa kushandisa makondomu pese pavanoita bonde. Makondomu anofanira kuiswa pachena paano kwanisa kuwonekwa nevasikana. / Health Studies / M.P.H. (Health Studies)

The effects of HIV/AIDS and subsequent opportunistic infections and/or associated conditions on the development of infected children are substantial. Considerable delays and/or disorders in communication development have been noted in the HIV/AIDS infected child, as well as the need for Early Communication Intervention (ECI) services for this population. A dearth of locally relevant data regarding the speech, language and hearing development of HIV/AIDS infected children within the South African context currently exists. The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics of a group of HIV/AIDS infected children being managed at an outreach clinic of regional hospital in Gauteng. A cross-sectional, retrospective, non-experimental, descriptive, quantitative research design was used in this study. The main objective was achieved by analysing the clinic records of 203 children infected with HIV/AIDS between the ages of 0 – 5 years 11months through the use of a pre-designed checklist. A questionnaire completed by four medical doctors practicing at the HIV/AIDS clinic within the hospital was also used. This allowed for the perceptions and practices of the medical doctors to be described. Results revealed that the majority HIV/AIDS infected children being managed at the outreach clinic were significantly immunocompromised and diagnosed with Stage III or Stage IV HIV/AIDS infection. Furthermore, results indicated the presence of several opportunistic infections and HIV/AIDS associated conditions (such as Tuberculosis, Candidiasis and Encephalopathy). A positive finding was that 76% of the HIV/AIDS infected children (n=153) were receiving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) at the time of data collection. The most outstanding finding was that very few of the children with HIV/AIDS being managed at the outreach clinic were recorded as having speech, language and/or hearing delays and/or disorders. Similarly, referrals to other professionals as recorded in the children’s hospital records seemed to be limited to Social Workers and Dietitians, with only one child recorded as being referred to a Speech-Language Therapist and Audiologist for further management. It was unclear whether more children were in fact referred for additional intervention by other professionals and this was simply not recorded in the children’s records, or whether these referrals were in fact not made. Results from the questionnaires completed by the medical doctors working with the pediatric HIV/AIDS population within the outreach clinic were significant. Findings indicated that the majority of the respondents believed that HIV/AIDS infected infants were more at risk for developmental and communicative delays and/or disorders than the general population, and that this population would likely benefit from Speech-Language Therapy and/or Audiology intervention services. Respondents indicated that medical doctors working with the pediatric HIV/AIDS population were often not adequately informed regarding the effects of HIV/AIDS on communication development and that they would benefit from further training in this regard. The need for further research regarding the characteristics of the pediatric HIV/AIDS population, particularly on a larger sample, was described. This would assist in the development of a guideline for ECI service delivery for children infected with HIV/AIDS. The need for further training of other professionals regarding the effects that HIV/AIDS has on the communication development of the infected child, to assist with necessary referrals and teamwork, was also highlighted. AFRIKAANS : Suid-Afrika is een van die lande ter wêreld, wat die hoogste voorkoms van Menslike Immuniteitsgebrekvirus/ Verworwe Immuniteitsgebreksindroom (MIV/VIGS), toon - met die pediatriese populasie op die voorfront van hierdie epidemie. Die effek wat MIV/VIGS en opeenvolgende opportunistiese infeksies en/of ander geassosieerde toestande op die ontwikkeling van kinders het, is verreikend. Internasionale literatuur beskryf agterstande en/of akwykings in die kommunikasie ontwikkeling van kinders wat met MIV/VIGS geinfekteer is. Die behoefte vir Vroeë Kommunikasie Intervensie (VKI) vir hierdie populasie word ook gemeld. Daar bestaan egter slegs ‘n beperkte hoeveelheid relevante, plaaslike literatuur met betrekking tot die spraak-, taal- en gehoorontwikkeling van kinders met MIV/VIGS binne die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Die doelwit van hierdie studie was om die kenmerke van ‘n groep kinders, wat met MIV/VIGS besmet is en by ‘n streekshospitaal in Gauteng behandel word, te beskryf. ‘n Kwantitatiewe, nie-eksperimentele, terugwerkende, dwarsdeurige, beskrywende navorsingsontwerp is gebruik. Die hoofdoelwit was bereik deur die kliniekrekords van kinders wat met MIV/VIGS besmet is, te analiseer deur van ‘n vooraf-ontwerpte merklys gebruik te maak. Data is ook ingesamel deur middel van vraelyste wat deur mediese dokters, wat by MIV/VIGS klinieke binne die hospitale werk, voltooi is. Dit het toegelaat dat die persepsies en praktyke van die mediese dokters ook beskryf kon word. Resultate het getoon dat die meerderheid kinders met MIV/VIGS, wat by klinieke behandel word, se immuunsisteme ernstig onderdruk was en dat hulle met stadium III of stadium IV van MIV/VIGS gediagnoseer was. Die resultate het verder ook die voorkoms van verskeie opportunistiese infeksies en MIV/VIGS geassosieerde toestande aangedui. ‘n Positiewe bevinding was dat 76% van die kinders (n=153), wat met MIV/VIGS geinfekteer was, tydens die proses van data-insameling reeds Hoogsaktiewe Antiretrovirale Terapie (HAART) ontvang het. Die mees uitstaande bevinding was dat slegs ‘n geringe hoeveelheid kinders met MIV/VIGS by die kliniek, as met ‘n agterstand en/of afwyking in spraak, taal en/of gehoor, aangeteken is. Beperkte verwysings na ander professionele persone is ook in die kliniekrekords opgemerk. Verwysings was beperk tot Maatskaplike Werkers en Dieëtkundiges. Daar was slegs een aantekening van ‘n kind wat vir behandeling na ‘n Spraak- en Taalterapeut en Oudioloog verwys is. Dit is egter onduidelik of daar werklik meer verwysings na ander professionele persone gemaak is, maar net nie in die kinders se kliniekrekords aangedui is nie, of dat daar werklik min verwysings na ander professionele dissiplines gemaak is. Bykomend, was die resultate van voltooide vraelyste deur mediese dokters, wat met die pediatriese MIV/VIGS populasie in die kliniek werk, insiggewend. Bevindings dui aan dat die meerderheid proefpersone, wat aan die studie deelgeneem het, van mening is dat kinders wat met MIV/VIGS besmet is wel ‘n hoër risiko toon vir ontwikkelings- en kommunikasie agterstande en/of afwykings in vergeleke met die algemene populasie. Die proefpersone is verder ook van mening dat hierdie populasie wel van spraak- en taalterapie en/of oudiologiese intervensie sal baatvind. Proefpersone het verder aangedui dat mediese dokters, wat met die pediatriese MIV/VIGS populasie werk, nie ten volle ingelig is omtrent die effek van MIV/VIGS op kommunikasie ontwikkeling en dat hulle van verdere opleiding sal baatvind. Die behoefte vir verdere navorsing in die veld van pediatriese MIV/VIGS en kommunikasie ontwikkeling, binne die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks, word in hierdie studie beskryf. Dit sal as riglyn vir VKI dienslewering aan hierdie populasie dien. Daar is ook ‘n groot behoefte vir verdere opleiding van ander mediese professionele persone met betrekking tot pediatriese MIV/VIGS en die effek wat die op die kind se kommunikasie ontwikkeling het. / Dissertation (MCommunication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / unrestricted

Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Vigs is 'n "sluipende moordenaar "_ Dit toon geen respek vir kultuur, status,ouderdom of geslag nie. Vigs veroorsaak 'n onnnatuurlike dood wat vriende en familie bedreig en vervreem, lank na die dood van die vigsslagoffer. Die navorsingsdoel van hierdie studie was om riglyne daar te stel vir die psigoterapeutiese hantering van die vigslyer en sy gesin. Die navorsing het getoon dat 'n stigma en skuldgevoelens rondom die vigslyer en sy gesin ontstaan het, en dat hulle direk verantwoordelik gehou word vir die siekte bloot omdat hulle betrokke is by mekaar. 'n Vraelys wat aspekte (soos dit uit die literatuurstudie geblyk het) inkorporeer, is opgestel en aan die vigslyer en sy gesin gegee om te voltooi. Van die belangrikste elemente wat na vore gekom het, is die vrees vir die onbekende, die stigma verbonde aan die siekte en die pad wat die siekte loop ten opsigte van naiwiteit en valse gerugte ten opsigte van die siekte. 'n Verdere hoofstuk fokus op die literatuur om die hoofaspekte van die probleem vas le stel, en sodoende riglyne vir 'n terapieprogram daar te stel om die vrese te onderskep en die familie te help om die siekte beter te begryp_ Die doel is om die samelewing te laat begryp dat vigs nie 'n kulturele of "klas" siekte is nie, maar dat dit alle lae van die samelewing kan tref. 'n Afdeling is gewy aan 'n wye verskeidenheid terapeutiese tegnieke wat geimplimenteer kan word tydens hulpverlening aan die vigslyer en sy gesinslede. Verder verskaf hierdie studie ook riglyne om ondersteuning en hulp aan die vigslyer en sy gesin te bied, om sodoende hulle selfkonsep te verbeter. / Aids is a "stalking killer''. It has no respect for culture, breeding, age or sex. It is an unnatural death which offends and alienates many friends and family, even after the victim has died. A questionnaire incorporating important aspects of the cause and effect of aids was compiled and given to the aids sufferers and family to complete. From the responses it was clearly evident that the fears of the unknown, the stigma attached to the victim's close associates and family, was a problem, and the route course of incredible naive and false rumours. A chapter of the research focused on literature to establish what was the major aspects of the problem expressed by the media. Guidelines were provided whereby therapy could address and allay these fears to assist the family to better understand the illness and it's effects. This chapter has in mind to provide the Psychologist with guidelines to provide therapy to both the victim and the family in this regard. This study confirms that the survivors are the actual victims. / Educational studies / M.Ed. (Voorligting)

Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Vigs is 'n "sluipende moordenaar "_ Dit toon geen respek vir kultuur, status,ouderdom of geslag nie. Vigs veroorsaak 'n onnnatuurlike dood wat vriende en familie bedreig en vervreem, lank na die dood van die vigsslagoffer. Die navorsingsdoel van hierdie studie was om riglyne daar te stel vir die psigoterapeutiese hantering van die vigslyer en sy gesin. Die navorsing het getoon dat 'n stigma en skuldgevoelens rondom die vigslyer en sy gesin ontstaan het, en dat hulle direk verantwoordelik gehou word vir die siekte bloot omdat hulle betrokke is by mekaar. 'n Vraelys wat aspekte (soos dit uit die literatuurstudie geblyk het) inkorporeer, is opgestel en aan die vigslyer en sy gesin gegee om te voltooi. Van die belangrikste elemente wat na vore gekom het, is die vrees vir die onbekende, die stigma verbonde aan die siekte en die pad wat die siekte loop ten opsigte van naiwiteit en valse gerugte ten opsigte van die siekte. 'n Verdere hoofstuk fokus op die literatuur om die hoofaspekte van die probleem vas le stel, en sodoende riglyne vir 'n terapieprogram daar te stel om die vrese te onderskep en die familie te help om die siekte beter te begryp_ Die doel is om die samelewing te laat begryp dat vigs nie 'n kulturele of "klas" siekte is nie, maar dat dit alle lae van die samelewing kan tref. 'n Afdeling is gewy aan 'n wye verskeidenheid terapeutiese tegnieke wat geimplimenteer kan word tydens hulpverlening aan die vigslyer en sy gesinslede. Verder verskaf hierdie studie ook riglyne om ondersteuning en hulp aan die vigslyer en sy gesin te bied, om sodoende hulle selfkonsep te verbeter. / Aids is a "stalking killer''. It has no respect for culture, breeding, age or sex. It is an unnatural death which offends and alienates many friends and family, even after the victim has died. A questionnaire incorporating important aspects of the cause and effect of aids was compiled and given to the aids sufferers and family to complete. From the responses it was clearly evident that the fears of the unknown, the stigma attached to the victim's close associates and family, was a problem, and the route course of incredible naive and false rumours. A chapter of the research focused on literature to establish what was the major aspects of the problem expressed by the media. Guidelines were provided whereby therapy could address and allay these fears to assist the family to better understand the illness and it's effects. This chapter has in mind to provide the Psychologist with guidelines to provide therapy to both the victim and the family in this regard. This study confirms that the survivors are the actual victims. / Educational studies / M.Ed. (Voorligting)

Tesis por compendio / [ES] La producción en acuicultura se ha visto menguada por aparición de enfermedades en los sistemas de cría de peces. En concreto, en la dorada (Sparus aurata), hay dos parásitos destacados: Enteromyxum leei (Myxozoa) y Enterospora nucleophila (Microsporidia). Hasta la fecha, para ninguno de los dos se ha establecido un cultivo in vitro, y solo para E. leei se ha conseguido establecer un modelo de mantenimiento de la infección in vivo. La presente tesis pretende incrementar el conocimiento sobre estos parásitos y sus relaciones con el hospedador, sentando las bases para generar soluciones que puedan ser aplicadas en la acuicultura. El objetivo con E. leei fue estudiar la inmunidad adquirida inducida en la dorada y la posibilidad de generar herramientas de diagnóstico y vacunas frente a esta enfermedad. Para ello, primero se demostró la resistencia del pez al parásito tras una segunda exposición, la cual duró hasta 16 meses. Además, la resistencia parece estar correlacionada con altos niveles de inmunoglobulina (Ig) M específica en sangre, y una alta expresión de Igs, incluso antes de la re-exposición al parásito. El siguiente paso fue afinar el protocolo de infección con E. leei. Los resultados mostraron que una semana es suficiente para transmitir la infección de E. leei por efluente, independientemente de la temperatura. Tras la demostración de la respuesta adaptativa eficaz frente a E. leei, y al disponer de un modelo de infección refinado, se realizó un ensayo de inmunización pasiva. Aquí, los resultados mostraron que los anticuerpos especi'ficos efectivamente consigue ralentizar la invasión del intestino por el parásito y disminuir los síntomas de la enfermedad. Paralelamente, el resultado del análisis del repertorio de las regiones variables de la IgM e IgT del intestino peces resistentes mostró la inducción de una respuesta policlonal en las ce'lulas B. En base a estos resultados, se realizó una búsqueda de antígenos de E. leei que pudieran ser utilizados como candidatos para la producción de vacunas (análisis proteómico) o herramientas de diagnóstico (análisis in silico). Para ello, se ensambló un transcriptoma de novo utilizando una muestra mixta de intestino de dorada y parásito. Los resultados dieron lugar a 7 y 12 candidatos en la búsqueda in silico y proteómica, respectivamente. En los estudios de E. nucleophila, debido a que fue descrita muy recientemente, el punto de partida fue más básico. Las muestras de este parásito solo se pueden obtener de brotes naturales en piscifactorias. Por ello, primero se realizó un estudio de caracterización de la patología de la infección a partir de peces infectados naturalmente. En etapas tempranas de la infección, el parásito se localiza principalmente en el intestino, pero meses después, la prevalencia en intestino baja e incrementa en los órganos hematopoyéticos y el esto'mago. Los signos clínicos de la infección consistieron en una reducción significativa del crecimiento, emaciación, y palidez de las paredes intestinales. A nivel celular, en los casos ma's graves se observó hipercelularidad en el epitelio intestinal y proliferación de ce'lulas rodlet, un elevado número de linfocitos en la base del epitelio e infiltración de granulocitos acidófilos en el epitelio intestinal. Finalmente se probaron varias formas de transmisión horizontal de E. nucleophila (cohabitación, efluente, intubación oral y anal) con para desarrollar un modelo de mantenimiento in vivo. Se consiguió la transmisión el parásito por todas las vías, pero con una disminución de prevalencia a lo largo del tiempo. Variables como la temperatura, la dosis, y el estado de los peces donantes parecen ser más determinantes que la ruta seleccionada para la transmisión. Entre las rutas probadas, la intubación anal parece ser la más prometedora, pero ninguna de ellas fue capaz de reproducir los signos clínicos observados en las infecciones naturales. / [CA] La producció en aqüicultura s'ha vist minvada per aparició de malalties en els sistemes de cria de peixos. En concret, en l'orada (Sparus aurata), hi ha dos paràsits destacats: Enteromyxum leei (Myxozoa) i Enterospora nucleophila (Microsporidia). Fins avui, per a cap dels dos s'ha establert un cultiu in vitro, i només per a E. leei s'ha aconseguit establir un model de manteniment de la infecció in vivo. La present tesi pretén incrementar el coneixement sobre aquests paràsits i les seves relacions amb l'hoste, establint les bases per a generar solucions que puguin ser aplicades en l'aqüicultura. L'objectiu amb E. leei va ser estudiar la immunitat adquirida induïda en l'orada i la possibilitat de generar eines de diagnòstic i vacunes enfront d'aquesta malaltia. Per a això, primer es va demostrar la resistència del peix al paràsit després d'una segona exposició, la qual va durar fins a 16 mesos. A més, la resistència sembla estar correlacionada amb alts nivells d'immunoglobulina (Ig) M específica en sang, i una alta expressió de Igs, fins i tot abans de la re-exposició al paràsit. El següent pas va ser afinar el protocol d'infecció amb E. leei. Els resultats van mostrar que una setmana és suficient per a transmetre la infecció de E. leei per efluent, independentment de la temperatura. Després de la demostració de la resposta adaptativa eficaç enfront de E. leei, i en disposar d'un model d'infecció refinat, es va realitzar un assaig d'immunització passiva. Aquí, els resultats van mostrar que els anticossos específics efectivament aconsegueix alentir la invasió de l'intestí pel paràsit i disminuir els símptomes de la malaltia. Paral·lelament, el resultat de l'anàlisi del repertori de les regions variables de la IgM i IgT de l'intestí peixos resistents va mostrar la inducció d'una resposta policlonal en les cèl·lules B. Sobre la base d'aquests resultats, es va realitzar una cerca d'antígens de E. leei que poguessin ser utilitzats com a candidats per a la producció de vacunes (anàlisis proteómico) o eines de diagnòstic (anàlisi in silico). Per a això, es va assemblar un transcriptoma de novo utilitzant una mostra mixta d'intestí d'orada i paràsit. Els resultats van donar lloc a 7 i 12 candidats en la cerca in silico i proteòmica, respectivament. En els estudis de E. nucleophila, pel fet que va ser descrita molt recentment, el punt de partida va ser més bàsic. Les mostres d'aquest paràsit només es poden obtenir de brots naturals en piscifactorias. Per això, primer es va realitzar un estudi de caracterització de la patologia de la infecció a partir de peixos infectats naturalment. En etapes primerenques de la infecció, el paràsit es localitza principalment en l'intestí, però mesos després, la prevalença en intestí baixa i incrementa en els òrgans hematopoètics i l'estómac. Els signes clínics de la infecció van consistir en una reducció significativa del creixement, emaciació, i pal·lidesa de les parets intestinals. A nivell cel·lular, en els casos més greus es va observar hipercelularidad en l'epiteli intestinal i proliferació de cèl·lules rodlet, un elevat nombre de limfòcits en la base de l'epiteli i infiltració de granulòcits acidòfils en l'epiteli intestinal. Finalment es van provar diverses formes de transmissió horitzontal de E. nucleophila (cohabitació, efluent, intubació oral i anal) amb per a desenvolupar un model de manteniment in vivo. Es va aconseguir la transmissió el paràsit per totes les vies, però amb una disminució de prevalença al llarg del temps. Variables com la temperatura, la dosi, i l'estat dels peixos donants semblen ser més determinants que la ruta seleccionada per a la transmissió. Entre les rutes provades, la intubació anal sembla ser la més prometedora, però cap d'elles va ser capaç de reproduir els signes clínics observats en les infeccions naturals. / [EN] Aquaculture production is hampered by the emergence of parasite diseases in fish farming systems. Among them, in Sparus aurata, there are two important enteric parasites described: Enteromyxum leei (Myxozoa) Enterospora nucleophila (Microsporidia). To date, no in vitro culture has been established for either parasite, and only for E. leei was it possible to establish a model for maintaining the infection in vivo. The aim of this thesis is to gain new knowledge about these parasites and their relationship with the host, also the basic foundations for generating solutions that can be applied in aquaculture. The general objective for E. leei was to study the acquired immunity induced in gilthead bream and the possibility of generating diagnostic tools and vaccines against this disease. To this end, resistance against the parasite was assessed with a second exposure against the parasite, which showed a resistance for at least 16 months. Besides resistance seemed to be correlated with high levels of specific immunoglobulin (Ig) M in blood, and a high expression of Igs, in particular, the soluble forms, even before re-exposure to the parasite. The next step was refining the protocol for effluent infection with E. leei by studying infection at different exposure time points, temperatures and population densities. The results showed that one week of exposure is sufficient to spread E. leei infection by effluent, regardless of temperature. After demonstrating the resistance against E. leei, and with a refined infection model, a passive immunization assay was performed. The results showed that the serum with specific antibodies effectively slows down the invasion of the gut by the parasite and reduces the symptoms of the disease. At the same time, the analysis of the repertoire of the variable regions of intestinal IgM and IgT showed an induction of a polyclonal response in B cells. On the basis of these results, a research was carried out for E. leei antigens that could have use as candidates for the production of vaccines (proteomic study) or diagnostic tools (in silico study) using the parasite transcriptomic data. To do this, a de novo transcriptome was assembled using a mixed sample of gilthead sea bream and parasite, with a posterior filtrate of the sequences. The In silico and proteomic analysis search resulted in 7 and 12 transcripts, respectively, which are being used for diagnostic and vaccine production. The starting point was more basic in E. nucleophila studies, since this is a recently described disease. The samples of this parasite can only be obtained from natural outbreaks in fish farms. Therefore, first study was carried out to characterize the pathology of the infection of naturally infected fish. In the early stages of the infection, the parasite is mainly located in the intestine, but months later, the prevalence is lower in the intestine and increases in the hematopoietic organs and the stomach. Clinical signs of infection were significant reduction in growth, wasting, and intestinal walls paleness. At the cellular level, in the most severe cases hypercellularity in the intestinal epithelium, proliferation of rodlet cells, high number of lymphocytes at the base of the epithelium and infiltration of acidophilic granulocytes in the intestinal epithelium were observed. Finally, horizontal transmission of E. nucleophila was tried using different transmission methods: cohabitation, effluent, and oral and anal intubation. Transmission of the parasite was achieved with all routes, but there was a decrease in prevalence over time in all cases except for the anal route. Variables such as temperature, dose, and the status of the donor fish appear to be more important than the selected route. Among the routes tested, anal intubation seemed to be the most promising, as it was sustained over a longer period of time, but none of them was able to reproduce the same clinical signs of infection observed in natural infections. / The authors kindly acknowledge the collaboration of anonymous fish farming companies allowing access to the animals during the disease outbreaks. We thank J. Monfort and L. Rodríguez (IATS-CSIC) for the technical assistance on histological processing.This work has been carried out with financial support from the European Union and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) under grant projects ParaFishControl (H2020-634429) and AGL2013-R-48560-C2-2-R, respectively. APS was contracted under ParaFishControl project. Primer sequences and access to the gilthead sea bream transcriptomic database were kindly provided by Prof. J. Pérez-Sánchez of the IATS- Nutrigenomics group. The authors thank I. Vicente for fish maintenance and technical assistance during samplings. The authors thank P. Boudinot (INRAE) for his help in designing and interpreting the immunoglobulin repertoire study and results, J. Pérez-Sánchez (IATS-CSIC) for providing access to the gilthead sea bream genome sequences to perform the repertoire analysis.This work was funded by the European Research Council (ERC Consolidator Grant 2016 725061 TEMUBLYM). / Picard Sánchez, MA. (2021). Control of enteric parasitic diseases of farmed gilthead sea bream: New insights into Enteromyxum leei (Myxozoa) and Enterospora nucleophila (Microsporidia) infections [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/167035 / Compendio

The purpose of the study was to investigate the services provided by the Bhambayi Drop-In Centre in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal for orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs). Qualitative research design and in-depth interviews with key informants and foster parents of the OVCs were conducted. The study found that the services which are provided by the Centre enabled the orphans and vulnerable children to enjoy life as normally as possible and to experience life meaningfully. As beneficiaries of the Bhambayi Drop-In Centre the children had access to education and two meals per day. Beyond meeting such basic needs, the study also found that Centre instilled a sense of belonging and community in the children. Access to social grants enabled the children’s basic needs to be met. In addition foster parents played a crucial role in taking care of orphans and vulnerable children. / Health Studies / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

The purpose of the study was to investigate the services provided by the Bhambayi Drop-In Centre in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal for orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs). Qualitative research design and in-depth interviews with key informants and foster parents of the OVCs were conducted. The study found that the services which are provided by the Centre enabled the orphans and vulnerable children to enjoy life as normally as possible and to experience life meaningfully. As beneficiaries of the Bhambayi Drop-In Centre the children had access to education and two meals per day. Beyond meeting such basic needs, the study also found that Centre instilled a sense of belonging and community in the children. Access to social grants enabled the children’s basic needs to be met. In addition foster parents played a crucial role in taking care of orphans and vulnerable children. / Health Studies / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)