The demand for the control of safe food, from consumers the world over, has revolutionized the manner in which wild game meat harvesting occurs. In developed countries, food quality, food and human safety with quality controlling systems embracing environmental carbon footprint issues are constantly improving, for international harmonization at each level of production “from stable to table”, “farm to fork”, “field to yield” as well as from “cradle to grave”. Food industries globally have adopted the in Hazard Analysis Critical control Point (HACCP) system. This is a risk assessment process using Hygiene Assessment Systems (HAS) as a mitigating strategy for risk communication through training. It is also a holistic system that is compatible with international trends designed not only for food safety and quality, but it also embraces other aspects of farming such as animal welfare, environmental management and Occupational Safety and Health. Global marketing for international trade demands quality assurance from trading partners thereby promoting economic growth for developing countries. The watch dog bodies such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO) prohibit trading for non-compliance, therefore trade barriers are in place for uncertified food of animal origin, EU regulations are stringent requirements that need compliance and so too the OIE regulations for disease control, while the Codex Alimentarius Commission maintains trade harmonization. In South Africa Hygiene Assessment Systems (HAS) is a National Hygiene management strategy implemented at abattoirs, that promotes and facilitates quality and hygiene and is reflective of South African quality abroad. It is prescribed under the section, “Essential National Standards” in the Meat Safety Act, 2000, (Act 40 of 2000). This Act covers red meat and includes both domestic animals and game. The Veterinary Procedural Notices (VPN’s) are used for export of game and give far more detailed guidelines than the legislation for game meat sold and consumed locally in South Africa. The objective of the Hygiene Assessment System (HAS) is to create a national awareness of quality to better improve the quality of life of all South Africans, whilst at the same time it is used as an auditing tool for Veterinary Public Health to effectively compare essential standards within the nine provinces. Currently this programme is referred to as the National Abattoir Rating Scheme (NARS), which is only applicable to the high and low throughput Red Meat and Poultry abattoirs in South Africa and not to the Game or Rural abattoirs, thereby further compounding the duality of food standards with food safety being compromised. This study has been undertaken because there are inadequate risk control measures such as introduction of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) guidelines on primary and secondary meat inspection, specifically on game for local consumption, not only within South Africa, but in the international arena as well. A revision of the HAS document and audit will also be needed to meet with the local (not just export) criteria for wild game harvesting, to enable food safety, thus enabling food security in the remote non - agricultural areas in KwaZulu -Natal. Venison is the meat of today because of health priorities that have arisen over the last ten years. It is low in trans - fatty acids and is regarded internationally as a healthy product produced organically in a free range situation. South Africa has a large potential export market for venison to the European Union because the demand, for venison, exceeds supply in Europe. However, the European Union’s “safe food regulation” that was introduced between 2005 and 2007 with an implementation date of 2008 (Regulation1021/2008) has made it imperative that the HACCP principle is applied to any food or food product of animal origin imported into the European Union or its member states. Also, HACCP specifies that a multidisciplinary team of experts is selected. This then lends itself to a participatory approach to risk assessment as wide consultation is required. This participatory approach was used, including expert opinion surveys and focus group discussions with stakeholders and role-players in the game industry such as commercial hunters, state veterinary services and game ranch owners. Such participants may have better insight into existing conditions than external experts with recognised educational qualifications, usually used in the HACCP team. From this and the relevant Veterinary Procedural Notices for game harvesting, a HACCP process flow and critical control points were derived for the primary phase of meat inspection, including slaughter, primary meat inspection and loading for transport to the abattoir. This was modified during a phase or trial harvesting and then implemented during the harvest of 1758 impala carcasses which were subsequently exported. In addition, environmental risks were considered and a risk mitigation strategy designed, to reduce any possible environmental impacts. In northern Kwazulu Natal, game ranches and conservation areas are in close proximity to the rural poor where food is scarce and comes at a premium price. These game farms harvest seasonally for either the local or export market, hence there is abundance of game offal and by-products available, yet it is at present left in the field or taken to the vulture restaurants (in line with the VPN). Participatory risk analysis was thus also used to investigate the feasibility of using edible offal from impala (Aepyceros melampus) as a source of renewable protein, to address food security issues in impoverished communities in the study area, the districts of uPongola and Jozini, in northern KwaZulu Natal. Structured interviews on the cultural acceptability of impala offal were held with 162 randomly sampled adult respondents in veterinary districts associated with dip tanks. A two stage cluster design was used where the state veterinary areas were stage one and the dip tanks (with proportional random sampling of community members) were the second stage. Offal is a popular food in South Africa in different cultures, called “ithumbu” in IsiZulu, “ boti” by the Indian group, “afval” in Afrikaans and “tripe” in English. Generally demand outstrips supply of offal at red meat abattoirs in South Africa. It was found that there was no significant difference between those who would eat impala offal and those who would eat the offal of sheep. It was concluded that it is feasible to use inspected game offal from impala as a protein source in much the same way as red meat offal is used and that the current practice of leaving the offal for predators was likely, if it continues, to cause imbalances in the predator/ prey ratio on game farms. It is recommended that the VPN for game be amended to encompass inspected offal being allowed into the formal food chain, in line with the standard operating procedure developed during this study. Also that current fragmentation of legislation and the implementation thereof is revisited for effective control for harmonisation of food safety standards for game meat within South Africa. / Dissertation (MMedVet)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Paraclinical Sciences / unrestricted

This thesis reports on the number of individuals in Macrotermes natalensis (Hav.) colonies, their biomass and food consumption in the northern Kruger National Park (KNP). The ecology of M. natalensis is largely undocumented despite the abundance of colonies in southern African savannas. New approaches to mound excavation, sub-sampling and data management are introduced. Via the intracolonial demography of colonies the contribution of each caste in number or proportion is determined. Using this information in combination with body mass and mound density data, biomass per unit area has been computed indicating the importance of this termite in synecology. The measurement of food consumption gives further insight as to how much litter is removed, fragmented and redistributed as nutrients in the ecosystem. Mounds were completely excavated, termites collected by means of vacuuming, and colony size estimated by sub-sampling. It was estimated that, on average, small mounds contain more than 5 000, medium mounds more than 45 000, and large mounds more than 200 000 individual termites. A highly significant relationship between total number of individuals (N ) and mound height (h ) was found, given by lnN = 7.893 + 1.093h (r = 0.92). The proportion of soldiers was found to change as colonies grew larger. In order to derive biomass estimates, a statistical bootstrap procedure was carried out using three databases: body mass, colony population sizes and mound density. Live biomass for small, medium and large mounds was found to be 0.17, 1.40 and 4.16 kg. Dry/wet body mass ratios were established for workers (23.7 %), major soldiers (20.3 %), minor soldiers (35.3 %), nymphs (17.1 %), king (35.4 %) and queen (20.8 %). Average live and dry biomass was calculated to be 0.51 kg/ha (0.051 g/m2) and 0.11 kg/ha (0.011 g/m2). Geology, geomorphology, elevation, local relief, soil patterns and annual rainfall were the abiotic factors shown to be most influential in determining termite biomass, either directly or indirectly. Termite biomass is high in undulating areas where the elevation is 250-400 m, where granitic and rhyolitic soils occur, and where annual rainfall is high (650-700 mm) in the context of the region. Major workers fetch woody litter outside the nest through ingestion into the section of the crop and gizzard. Gut contents were dried, weighed, ashed and reweighed. The ash mainly represents soil particles. The ash-free mass of food that is consumed during a single foraging trip by a foraging individual is 0.166 ± 0.009 mg (CI). Frequency of foraging trips between the mound and food source was observed using translucent tubing. The annual food consumption is given by the formula 365mnp/t , where m = individual mass of ashed crop-gizzard contents, n = number of foraging major workers, p = daily foraging period, and t = individual time spent between nest and food source. Food consumption of this termite in the northern KNP is calculated to be 20.2 kg/ha/yr. It is shown that termites are primary decomposers and contribute to litter fragmentation and the recycling of nutrients into the soil. This thesis gives greater insight into aspects such as colony development, biomass investment and resource utilization of M. natalensis in the northern KNP. / Dissertation (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted

Magister Chirurgiae Dentium (MChD) / Exodontia remains one of the most regularly done procedures in dentistry in South Africa (SA) and alveolar osteitis (AO) is considered one of the most common complications associated with exodontia. Despite the extensive research done on this clinical entity, the management of AO still remains controversial. Various management protocols have been suggested in the literature, varying from prophylactic to symptomatic management of AO (Blum,2002). However, none of these management protocols have to date shown any conclusive evidence on the effectiveness and benefit over another protocol. The author was of the opinion that general dental practitioners (GDPs) in South Africa generally use preventative and treatment protocols based on what they were taught at their alumni dental schools or use protocols modified from their own clinical experience in practice. The aim of this study was to assess which treatment protocols are routinely used by GDPs in South Africa for the management of AO and suggest a scientifically sound treatment protocol for AO. The study was done in the form of a questionnaire and the participants were randomly selected from the Health Professions Council's register. The results showed that most of the GDPs in South Africa continued to use the same treatment protocol as their alumni dental school. They were of the opinion that these protocols were still clinically the most effective. Despite the plethora of intra-alveolar medicaments available, Alvogyl®still remains the medicament of choice of GDPs. As there is no evidence in the scientific literature that suggests that one intra-alveolar medicament or antibiotic is more effective than the other, the author does not encourage the use of the medicaments or antibiotics in the treatment of AO. However, by following simple measures such as improving patients' oral hygiene and using a pre-operative 0.2% chlorhexidine mouth rinse, the incidence of AO can be reduced significantly.

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) has emerged as one of the economically important pathogens in cattle populations with a worldwide distribution and causing a complex of disease syndromes. It is a single-stranded RNA virus of the genus Pestivirus in the family Flaviviridae. Two genotypes (1 and 2) of BVDV exist and can be distinguished on the basis of the 5' non-coding region (5' NCR) of the genome using real-time PCR. This technique is more sensitive, specific, less time consuming and has reduced risks of cross contamination of samples compared to a conventional PCR. Limited information exists on BVDV genetic subtypes in South Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the genotypes of BVDV currently circulating in South African feedlots. A total of 279 specimens (219 tissue samples, 59 trans-tracheal aspirates and one blood sample) were collected from dead and living cattle. Pooled homogenates from the same animals were prepared and total RNA was extracted from 200 μl of the homogenates using the RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen) as described by the manufacturer. A screening test was performed on the pooled samples and positive pools were investigated individually. The Cador BVDV Type 1/2 RT-PCR Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) was used for the real-time PCR assay. The PCR was performed on a Lightcycler® V2 (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) real-time PCR machine and the amplified products were detected via fluorescent dyes. The results were read at 530 and 640 nm for BVDV 1 and 2, respectively. Bovine viral diarrhoea virus was detected in a total of 103 samples that included 91 tissue samples, one blood sample and 11 trans-tracheal aspirates. Eighty five of the strains were genotype 1 strains and 18 were genotype 2. These results represent the first documented evidence for the presence of BVDV genotype 2 in South African cattle. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Veterinary Tropical Diseases / unrestricted

There is a shortage of clergy, at least in the Roman Catholic Church (cf Schoenherr&Sorenson 1982:23; Heilbronner 1998:11; Tentler 1998:348; Carroll 2001:1; Fernandez 2001:ix-x; see Seidler 1979:764; Berger 1987; Hoge et al 1988:264, 280). The Protestant Church in general is experiencing more of a distribution problem than a shortage (cf Chaves 2001:36; see Jud et al 1970:59). The two greatest hindrances to addressing this clergy distribution problem among Protestant churches is a lack of adequate compensation for clergy and the undesirable location, as perceived by clergy, of the church (Chaves 2001:36; see Jud et al 1970:59). Challenges such as secularization, duality of vocation, time management, change in type of ministry, family issues, congregational and denominational conflict, burnout, sexual misconduct, divorce or marital problems, and suicide, affect clergy. Studies on the shortage of clergy have been conducted mostly in the USA and Europe and not in South Africa. This study seeks to address this research gap by means of a practical theological grounded theory exploration of the exodus of clergy. Grounded theory methodology is used to identify the reasons why clergy trained at a Bible College of a Protestant Charismatic mega church leave full-time pastoral ministry. Findings correspond to previous studies with two reasons appearing more frequently than others: responding to a call and leadership related issues. Firstly, respondents differed in their replies with respect to reconciling their leaving full-time pastoral ministry to their call with responses of: not being called, a dual call, or called but left anyway. Secondly, respondents indicated that leadership influence was mostly negative with regard to affirming their call. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

The diversity of the Eriophyoidea is largely unknown and their systematic study mostly entails alpha-taxonomy which is critically important for these mites. Eriophyoid morphology is almost exclusively studied on slide-mounted specimens, and truly permanent specimen slides cannot be prepared and are eventually lost. Shortcomings in taxon descriptions are persistent, and too few morphological characters are available for systematic use, particularly for phylogenetic studies. The fragile, simplified and minute eriophyoid bodies, and the inadequacy of study methods and technology, including preparation and light microscopy, contribute to these problems. The present eriophyoid classification is widely accepted, relatively stable and useful. The major part of the classification, however, is probably artificial, and some taxon delimitations and identifications are becoming increasingly difficult. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is only sporadically used to supplement conventional descriptions of eriophyoid mites, and their phylogeny has hardly been studied. In the present study some aspects of eriophyoid systematics and its improvements by incorporating SEM for morphological study and phylogenetic analyses for testing and improving the naturalness of the present eriophyoid classification, are used and appraised. The morphology of about 64 species, mostly from South Africa, was studied with low-temperature (cryo) SEM. The specimens remained turgid and the shape of the mites largely unaltered. A general overview of the contribution of the SEM study towards systematic morphology of the Eriophyoidea is presented. Discrepancies between species descriptions from slide-mounted specimens and the SEM images were found. These include body form, interpretation of structures, resolution and information on minute morphology, and the presence of secretions. Some of these differences were caused by artefacts introduced with slide-mounting of specimens. The SEM study includes a comparative morphological study of the gnathosoma, including a review and appraisal of characters presently used in eriophyoid systematics. New morphological information was found, including new characters that may be of systematic use. Morphology studied with SEM should be routinely incorporated into eriophyoid descriptions, which is not presently the case. The phylogeny of the Eriophyoidea was studied at genus level, using morphological data, to test the monophyly of the present suprageneric taxa. Three data matrices with 66, 60 and 27 informative characters of 316 (including most Diptilomiopus spp.), 64 and 17 eriophyoid ingroup species respectively were analyzed with parsimony analyses, and trees were searched under different parameters. This was done to find different hypotheses regarding the taxon relationships, to roughly assess the robustness of the tree groups, and to use different approaches: a very comprehensive taxon sample, but with low ratio of characters to taxa; an exemplar species sample to improve the ratio between characters to taxa; and a very small taxon sample with a good ratio between characters and taxa, but very little inclusion of variation found in the Eriophyoidea. Most groups found were supported only by homoplasy, but many made biological sense and various potentially monophyletic groups, additional to taxa in the present classification, are proposed for further study. The robustness and convergence of these groups on monophyly are discussed. The Phytoptidae was found to be polyphyletic. Part of the Nalepellinae is probably positioned outside the remainder of the Eriophyoidea, while the rest of the Phytoptidae were positioned in smaller subgroups among the Eriophyidae. The Phytoptinae and Sierraphytoptinae, including Pentasetacus, may group together. The Eriophyidae never grouped together with much support, and the family is both polyphyletic and paraphyletic. The Diptilomiopidae was largely found to be monophyletic, with a relatively strong phylogenetic structure. The Rhyncaphytoptinae is mainly paraphyletic, and the Diptilomiopinae polyphyletic, but part of the Diptilomiopinae may be monophyletic. Three new Diptilomiopus spp. from South Africa are described as part of the study: D. faurius sp. nov. from Faurea rochetiana (A. Rich.) Pic. Serm. (Proteaceae); D. apobrevus sp. nov. and D. apolongus sp. nov. from Apodytes dimidiata E. Mey. ex Arn. (Icacinaceae). They were leaf vagrants not causing any observable symptoms. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted

This research focuses on the psychosocial factors that affect adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) amongst HIV/AIDS patients at Kalafong Hospital. Even though the development of such regimens has helped turn HIV infection in the United States into a relatively manageable, though still serious chronic disease, compliance remains one of the major challenges in managing medication for those patients living with HIV/AIDS. This is particularly relevant given the high adherence rate (95%) required to obtain a successful long-lasting effect. In South Africa non-compliance to HAART is an under-explored phenomenon. Consequently, an understanding of factors influencing compliance is still incomplete. A qualitative study that investigates non-adherence to medication in HIV/AIDS patients was undertaken at Kalafong Hospital. This study aimed to understand patients’ psychosocial difficulties resulting in non-adherence. The study was approached in terms of the health belief model (HBM), which addresses individual characteristics pertaining to change, the transtheoretical change model (TTM) and the motivational interviewing model (MI), which address both individual and social contexts pertaining to change. The findings are designed for use by healthcare professionals as a proactive compliance enhancement tool. Participants were recruited through referrals by the medical staff to the researcher. The criteria included that participants had relapsed due to non-compliance with drug therapy. Participants that were currently experiencing difficulties with adherence were also included in the study. Males and females aged between 20 and 40 were included in the study. Fifteen participants between the ages of 20 and 40 participated in the study (13 females and two males). The data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews and follow-up unstructured questions. The interviews were audio recorded and field notes were taken. Data were analysed qualitatively. Sixteen themes emerged and were further classified into two categories: individual and social context. The themes were then compared and integrated with the literature. The study concludes that psychosocial factors such as support from family, friends and healthcare workers was found to be of utmost importance in encouraging adherence. Medication can only prolong a patient’s life if the psychosocial context in which the patient is embedded is considered in the treatment plan. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Psychology / unrestricted

By 2010, it is projected that there will be 25 million orphans worldwide. It is anticipated that 2.3 million children will be orphaned due to AIDS in South Africa by 2020. Traditionally, the extended family has absorbed most people affected by the disease but there is a growing concern that families are finding it increasingly difficult to cope, perhaps reaching saturation point. In the absence of alternatives, some children end up living alone in child-headed households (CHHs), the numbers of which are rising at an alarming rate. Despite the increase in this living arrangement research is scarce on the psychosocial consequences of AIDS related orphanhood. This is more evident concerning very young orphans living in CHHs. This qualitative study explores psychosocial issues pertaining to young orphans living in CHHs from an ecosystemic perspective. Four participants, who worked in various capacities for two non-governmental organisations, were interviewed in-depth about their experiences of working with young orphans. The conversations were subjected to an interpretive analysis where, in collaboration with the participants, central themes and sub-themes were identified. Eleven main themes emerged from the analysis: why children live in child-headed households; issues surrounding the death of a parent; experiences of a young child living in a child-headed household; the experience of living in a child-headed household; stigma; relationships with relatives; relationships with peers; relationships with crèches and teachers; relationships with the community; relationships with non-governmental organisations; and relationship to government and essential services. Based on an integration of the findings, a model was presented depicting the ecosytemic factors affecting the very young child living in a CHH. Copyright / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Psychology / unrestricted

Objective: This study sought to determine the association between periodontal disease in pregnancy and the delivery of low birth weight newborns in a rural population of South African women. Methods: This case-control study involved 348 new mothers. All subjects were recruited post-delivery from three public hospitals in the rural Eastern Cape of South Africa. The cases (n=119) were mothers who delivered through normal delivery and whose babies at the time of delivery weighed <2.5 kg. Age-matched controls (n=229) were mothers who delivered ≥2.5 kg babies. Potential risk factors for periodontal disease and low birth weight were collected by means of a structured questionnaire and maternity record review. Using the WHO's community periodontal index, a trained dental clinician blinded to participants' birth-outcomes recorded the periodontal health status of each participant (intraexaminer reliability; kappa = 0.95). Mothers who presented with a probing depth ≥4 mm on more than four index teeth without the presence of gingival overgrowth were deemed to present with periodontal disease. Data analysis included conditional logistic regression analysis. Results: Periodontal disease was diagnosed in 37.9%> (n=45) of the case group and 9.2°/o (n=21) of the control group. Low birth weight was also significantly more common among those who were unemployed, those who reported fewer than three antenatal visits and drinking on five or more days per week during pregnancy. After controlling for potential confounders, mothers presenting with a probing depth ≥ 4 mm on four teeth (OR = 4.12; 95°/o Cl = 1. 78 - 9.50) or more than four teeth (OR = 4.95; 95%> Cl: 1.52 - 15.81) were found to be significantly more likely to have low birth weight babies. Conclusions: The study findings suggest that there is a significant dose-dependent positive association between periodontal disease and low birth weight, independent of other risk factors measured in this study. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Community Dentistry / unrestricted

This work concentrates on the informational aspects of becoming information literate for the Information Society in secondary education. The importance of this study is linked to the information age - an era in which most people rely on information in their occupations and private lives. This need for information acquires more explicit information related skills to be able to retrieve, evaluate, use, store and disseminate information. To be able to address these issues, the study is subdivided as follows. The first section (chapters 3&4) addresses the concepts of the informatisation of society and information literacy. Models are presented for both the informatisation process and information literacy. In the discussion of the concept information literacy the following issues are emphasized: the individuals realisation of an information gap, the formulation of a query, the knowledge of relevant sources, the knowledge of information and communication technologies (ICT), the knowledge, skill and ability to use, store and disseminate information in an effective and efficient way. In the second section (chapters 5 - 10), ensuing from the first, attention is given to position of The Netherlands and South Africa related to being or becoming an Information Society (chapter 5), the relationship between ICT and education (chapter 6) and the introduction of ICT and information related subjects in secondary education in respectively The Netherlands (chapter 7) and South Africa (chapter 8). It is illustrated that the infrastructure in The Netherlands to implement information literacy at school level is much better that in South Africa. Chapters 9 and 10 consist of an empirical study with the aim to determine the way in which information literacy is teached in two schools – one in South Africa and the other in The Netherlands, and which relevant entities are present. The main outcome of the empirical study was that, although pupils were adequate trained in the use of technology, they were not trained to become information literate as the emphasize is on acquiring computer skills in stead of acquiring information. The third and final part comprises firstly an evaluation of the study (chapter 11) and of the summary, conclusions and recommendations (Chapter 12). The main recommendation is the introduction of the subject information literacy as a compulsory school subjects at all levels enabling students to be prepared for their role in the knowledge society. The study is concluded with a proposal for further research. Copyright 2000, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Roux, EM 2000, Informatievaardig worden in het onderwijs, een informatiewetenschappelijk perspectief : een vergelijkende gevallenstudie in Nederland en Zuid-Afrika (Nederlands) PhD thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-11082004-111737 / > / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Information Science / DPhil / Unrestricted