Research Articles (Diagnostic and Radiology)

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Browsing by Author "Chetty, Manogari"

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    Decolonising forensic odontology in Sub-Saharan Africa
    (Elsevier B.V., 2025) Kabbashi, Salma; Bailie, Keane; Chandler, Susan; Chetty, Manogari
    Forensic odontology plays a vital role in human identification, age estimation, and legal investigations. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa, the field has developed within a framework shaped by colonial histories, Western methodologies, and systemic underinvestment in local capacity. This article critically examines the need to decolonise forensic odontology in the region, proposing a comprehensive reform agenda grounded in four intersecting domains: historical legacies, indigenous knowledge integration, ethical considerations, and policy reform. It highlights how colonial-era forensic practices continue to influence current protocols and legal standards, often to the detriment of scientific accuracy and justice. By recognising and incorporating traditional dental knowledge, such as ritual dental modifications and community oral histories, the field can be enriched and made more contextually relevant. Ethical challenges surrounding data sovereignty, informed consent, cultural sensitivity, and the use of contested techniques are addressed, with recommendations for more equitable and transparent forensic practices. Policy reforms are proposed to institutionalise forensic odontology through education, infrastructure development, legal recognition, and collaborative networks. The article argues that decolonisation is not a rejection of global science but a reorientation toward context-appropriate, ethically grounded, and locally led forensic systems. Through these reforms, Sub-Saharan Africa can build a forensic odontology discipline that is scientifically robust, culturally responsive, and capable of delivering justice and dignity to affected communities.
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    Feasibility and preliminary findings of a bacterial diversity study in periodontitis: a pilot investigation from the Western Cape
    (Frontiers Media SA, 2025) Kabbashi, Salma; Chetty, Manogari; Holmes, Haly
    Introduction: Periodontitis is a significant health challenge caused by a complex interaction between bacterial infection, host immune response, and environmental factors, leading to tooth loss, bone loss, and potential associations with major systemic diseases and conditions. While the determinants of periodontitis have been extensively investigated in other populations, such studies are lacking in South Africa, which represents a high-risk population. Therefore, this study was conducted to characterize the subgingival bacterial biodiversity in the periodontal pockets of patients with periodontitis in a Western Cape population. Materials & methods: Pooled subgingival plaque samples were collected from the deepest pocket/crevices of five periodontitis cases and five controls using sterile paper points. Illumina MiSeq paired-end sequencing and QIIME2 software were employed for sequence filtration and analysis. Several alpha and beta-diversity metrics assessed biodiversity within-sample and population structure between different microbiota datasets, respectively. Statistical significance for alpha diversity was tested using the Kruskal–Wallis H test (p < 0.05), and beta diversity differences were evaluated using PERMANOVA. Data visualization, including beta diversity plots, was conducted with the Phyloseq package in R. Results: Beta-diversity measures revealed significant differences between periodontitis cases and controls (p-value = 0.04), whereas alpha-diversity was higher in cases, though without statistical significance (p-value ≥ 0.05). Cases group showed high relative abundance of Fusobacterium (16%), Porphyromonas (10%), and Treponema (9%), while the periodontally healthy controls were dominated by Streptococcus (20%), Fusobacterium (15%), and Veillonella (10%), with g_Streptococcus showing a significant difference (p-value = 0.008). Differential abundance analysis revealed distinct bacterial genera enriched in cases (Bulleidia, Peptoanaerobacter, Phocaeiola, W5053) and controls (Abiotrophia, Haemophilus, Lautropia, Rothia, Streptococcus). Sample-specific variations included higher levels of Porphyromonas (15%) in grade B and Fusobacterium (20%) in grade C. Conclusion: This exploratory study highlights distinct bacterial communities associated with periodontitis in a South African population. The findings emphasize the need for larger, population-based cohorts to validate these results and lay a foundation for future research into region-specific microbial profiles and their implications for personalized treatment strategies.