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Naidoo, Danica (Dr)

Postdoctoral Researcher

  • +27 (0)31 260 3375
  • NaidooD7@ukzn.ac.za
  • MSc Biol Sciences, PhDEng Chemical Engineering
  • Research Interests: Parasitology & Parasitic Diseases; Helminths in Sanitation; Ascaris Testing; Method Development & Optimisation; Health & Hygiene; Microscopy & Microbiology; Heat Treatment of Helminths
  • "Empowered women, empower women!“

Danica Naidoo obtained her Master of Science in Biological Sciences degree in June 2017, specializing in parasitology. She has been learning and training under Dr Colleen Archer, on the biological side, specifically parasitology, of the water and sanitation field, and has gained much experience therein.

She spent the second half of 2017 working for Dr Santiago Septien on heat treatment of Ascaris eggs. Miss Naidoo became affiliated with the WASH R&D Centre in 2014, whilst completing her Honours in Ascaris egg inactivation by household disinfectants. She then attempted Ascaris inactivation work on the viscous heater for her MSc, but upon operational setbacks, scaled her project down to bench-scale testing of heat treatment of helminth eggs in water.

She is now based fulltime at the Centre and has completed her PhD at UKZN. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher. Miss Naidoo’s focuses include helminth treatment and inactivation, processing and microscopic identification, as well as human health-related work in the sanitation sector.

External links

LinkedIn

Publications

  • Naidoo, D., Archer, C., Louton, B., & Rodda, N. (2016). Testing household disinfectants for the inactivation of helminth eggs on surfaces and in spills during pit latrine emptying. Water SA, 42(4), 560-570.
  • Naidoo, D., & Foutch, G. L. (2018). The time–temperature relationship for the inactivation of Ascaris eggs. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 8(1), 123-126.
  • Naidoo, D., Appleton, C. C., Archer, C. E., & Foutch, G. L. (2019). The inactivation of Ascaris suum eggs by short exposure to high temperatures. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 9(1), 19-27.
  • Naidoo, D., Archer, C. E., Septien, S., Appleton, C. C., & Buckley, C. A. (2020). Inactivation of Ascaris for thermal treatment and drying applications in faecal sludge. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 10(2), 209-218.
  • Naidoo, D. & Archer, C.E. (2022). Towards the development and standardisation of a modified helminth extraction and quantification method for sanitation samples (Report no. 2893/1/22). Water Research Commission, South Africa. ISBN 978-0-6392-0148-1.

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