Different Regions Of Kenya Research Articles

Identifying and understanding barriers to optimal complementary feeding in Kenya.

Optimal complementary feeding between the ages of 6 and 23 months provides children with the required range of nutritious and safe foods while continuing to be breastfed to meet their needs for essential nutrients and develop their full physical and cognitive potential. The rates of exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months of life have increased from 32% in 2008to 60% in 2022 in Kenya. However, the proportion of children between 6 and 23 months receiving a minimum acceptable diet remains low and has declined from 39% in 2008to 31% in 2023. The Kenyan Ministry of Health, GAINand UNICEF collaborated to understand the drivers of complementary feeding practices, particularly proximal determinants, which can be directly addressed and acted upon. A secondary analysis of household surveys and food composition data was conducted to outline children's dietary patterns within the different regions of Kenya and the extent to which the affordability of animal-source foods could be improved. Ethnographic data were analyzed to identify socio-cultural barriers to optimal complementary feeding. Furthermore, we outlined the critical steps for developing user-friendly and low-cost complementary feeding recipes. The results of all the analyses are presented in five of the six papers of this Special Issue with this additional paper introducing the Kenyan context and some of the critical findings. The Special Issue has highlighted multidimensional barriers surrounding the use and availability of animal-source foods. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for a multi-sectoral approach in enacting policies and programmes that address these barriers.

Transferability of tsetse habitat models between different regions in Kenya and Rwanda

Accurate and reliable information on the distribution of tsetse habitats is crucial for the effective management of African Trypanosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa. However, conducting large-scale surveillance of tsetse flies to develop distribution maps is impractical due to vast areas infested and limited resources available. To address this challenge, we evaluated the applicability of tsetse habitat models developed in the intensively sampled Shimba Hills National Reserve in Kenya for both the wet and the dry season, to two other regions in Kenya (Ruma National Park and Nguruman Conservancy) and one region in Rwanda (Akagera National Park). The models utilized satellite-based estimates of vegetation greenness, land cover, and land surface temperature, combined with tsetse occurrence data, to predict habitat suitability. An independent dataset of tsetse occurrence was used to benchmark the performance of the transferred models. The performance of the transferred models was significantly influenced by the similarity in environmental conditions between the model's development area and the transfer area. In regions with high dissimilarity, such as Nguruman Conservancy during the dry season, model transfer was unsuccessful with an F1-score of zero. In all other regions and seasons, the transferred models showed satisfactory performance, with F1-score values exceeding 0.65. Nevertheless, site-specific models outperformed (>0.8 F1-score) the transferred models, indicating that models specifically developed with data for each location can provide more accurate information on tsetse distribution. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that tsetse habitat models can be transferred with relatively good accuracies to seasons and regions that exhibit environmental similarity with the model training area. Despite the higher accuracy of site-specific models, transferring models to similar sites remains a meaningful exercise in the absence of detailed surveillance data.

Decadal assessment of microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides as contaminants of emerging concerns (CECs) in Kenya's surface waters, a review.

Studies investigating microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in surface water sources in Kenya are reviewed. CECs are chemicals that have recently been discovered that may pose a threat to the environment, aquatic life, and human life. Microplastics in surface waters range from 1.56 to as high as 4520 particles/m3 , with high concentrations recorded in coastal waters. The dominant microplastics are fibers, fragments, and films, but foams, granules, and pellets take up only a small percentage. The main source of pharmaceuticals in water sources is not wastewater treatment plants but rather raw untreated sewage, as high concentrations are found near informal settlements with poor sewage connectivity. Antibiotics are detected in the ranges of Limit of Quantification (LoQ) to 320 μg/L, with sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, and ciprofloxacin being the most abundant antibiotics. The high frequency of detection is attributed to the general misuse of antibiotics in the country. The health risk assessment indicated that only ciprofloxacin and acetaminophen posed non-carcinogenic health risks in Ndarugo River and Mombasa peri-urban creeks, respectively. Similarly, the detection of antiretroviral drugs, majorly lamivudine, nevirapine and zidovudine, is associated with HIV prevalence in Kenya. In Lake Naivasha, Nairobi River and Lake Victoria basins, the frequently detected organochloride pesticides (OCPs) are methoxychlor, alachlor, endrin, dieldrin, endosulfan, endosulfan sulphate, α-HCH, γ-HCH, and DDT, some of which occur above the permissible concentrations. The presence of DDT in some sites translates to illegal use or historical application. Majority of the individual OCPs posed no non-carcinogenic health risk, except dieldrin and aldrin which had a hazard quotient (HQ) >1 in two sites. Therefore, more surveying and regular monitoring in different regions in Kenya concerning CECs is essential in order to determine the spatial variability and determine the effective measures to be taken to reduce pollution.

A Fuzzy-Based Model to Predict the Spatio-Temporal Performance of the Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris Natural Enemy against Tuta absoluta under Climate Change.

Simple SummaryTuta absoluta is an invasive pest threatening the productivity of the tomato crop. Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris was imported and released as a natural enemy of Tuta absoluta. Mapping the efficacy of Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris can improve its use as a control agent against Tuta absoluta. The Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris efficacy map provides a tool for its targeted deployment as a Tuta absoluta natural enemy.The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta, causes up to 100% tomato crop losses. As Tuta absoluta is non-native to African agroecologies and lacks efficient resident natural enemies, the microgastrine koinobiont solitary oligophagous larval endoparasitoid, Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris (Marsh) (Syn.: Apanteles gelechiidivoris Marsh) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was released for classical biological control. This study elucidates the current and future spatio-temporal performance of D. gelechiidivoris against T. absoluta in tomato cropping systems using a fuzzy logic modelling approach. Specifically, the study considers the presence of the host and the host crop, as well as the parasitoid reproductive capacity, as key variables. Results show that the fuzzy algorithm predicted the performance of the parasitoid (in terms of net reproductive rate (R0)), with a low root mean square error (RMSE) value (<0.90) and a considerably high R2 coefficient (=0.98), accurately predicting the parasitoid performance over time and space. Under the current climatic scenario, the parasitoid is predicted to perform well in all regions throughout the year, except for the coastal region. Under the future climatic scenario, the performance of the parasitoid is projected to improve in all regions throughout the year. Overall, the model sheds light on the varying performance of the parasitoid across different regions of Kenya, and in different seasons, under both current and future climatic scenarios.

Spectroscopic analysis of chia seeds

Chia seeds are becoming more and more popular in modern diets. In this contribution NIR and 2D-fluorescence spectroscopy were used to determine their nutritional values, mainly fat and protein content. 25 samples of chia seeds were analysed, whereof 9 samples were obtained from different regions in Kenya, 16 samples were purchased in stores in Germany and originated mostly from South America. For the purchased samples the nutritional information of the package was taken in addition to the values obtained for fat and protein, which were determined at the Hohenheim Core Facility. For the first time the NIR and fluorescence spectroscopy were used for the analysis of chia. For the spectral evaluation two different pre-processing methods were tested. Baseline correction with subsequent mean-centring lead to the best results for NIR spectra whereas SNV (standard normal variate transformation) was sufficient for the evaluation of fluorescence spectra. When combining NIR and fluorescence spectra, the fluorescence spectra were also multiplied with a factor to adjust the intensity levels. The best prediction results for the evaluation of the combined spectra were obtained for Kenyan samples with prediction errors below 0.2 g/100 g. For all other samples the absolute prediction error was 0.51 g/100 g for fat and 0.62 g/100 g for protein. It is possible to determine the amount of protein and fat of chia seeds by fluorescence and NIR spectroscopy. The combination of both methods is beneficial for the predictions. Chia seeds from Kenya had similar protein and lipid contents as South American seeds.

Isolation, Characterisation of Four Gram Negative Environmental Bacteria and Bacteriophage Plaques Formation on Their Lawns

In the recent past a diversity of microorganisms has been isolated from various environmental waters of different regions in Kenya. Owing to the frequent spread of waterborne diseases in different regions where the communities do not have access to clean potable water the objective of this study was to isolate disease causing bacteria especially diarrhoea. In this study we isolated and characterised four species of Gram-negative bacteria from environmental waters used for domestic purposes by some communities in Kenya. Attempts were also made to isolate potential bacteriophages from the environmental waters for application as biocontrol agents in water decontamination. Clear, circular plaques of different sizes were formed on lawns of each of the bacterial species which could form the basis for bacteriophage isolation. The sources of water included Lake Victoria, rivers, wells, ponds, beaches, boreholes, springs and Indian Ocean. The four bacterial species characterized by 16S rRNA partial gene sequences and phylogenetic tree were: Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli: O83, Providencia sneebia and Proteus mirabilis. The 16S ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequences were deposited in GenBank under accession numbers: MN467398.1 and MN907473.1 (Escherichia coli), MN467401.1 (Providencia sneebia), MN467400.1 (Proteus mirabilis), MN467399.1, MN907465.1 and MN907464.1 (Vibrio cholerae) bacterial isolates. On the phylogenetic tree, P. sneebia grouped most closely to Morganella species, a closely related genus. Overall, the phylogenetic analysis also indicates the bacterial species isolated were not identical to bacteria in the database, but rather new isolates of the given species. The presence of these bacteria in the environmental waters of Kenya was an indication that the water was not safe for human consumption. Development of clear phage plaques was an indication of the presence of lytic phages that can be used for subsequent bacteriophage isolation from each bacterial strain after concentration.

Plasmodium interspecies interactions during a period of increasing prevalence of Plasmodium ovale in symptomatic individuals seeking treatment: an observational study

The epidemiology and severity of non-falciparum malaria in endemic settings has garnered little attention. We aimed to characterise the prevalence, interaction, clinical risk factors, and temporal trends of non-falciparum Plasmodium species among symptomatic individuals presenting at health-care facilities in endemic settings of Kenya. We diagnosed and analysed infecting malaria species (Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium ovale curtisi, Plasmodium ovale wallikeri, and Plasmodium malariae) via PCR in clinical samples collected between March 1, 2008, and Dec 31, 2016, from six hospitals located in different regions of Kenya. We recruited patients aged 6 months or older who presented at outpatient departments with symptoms of malaria or tested positive for uncomplicated malaria by malaria rapid diagnostic test. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the prevalence and distribution of Plasmodium species. A statistical model was designed and used for estimating the frequency of Plasmodium species and assessing interspecies interactions. Mixed-effect linear regression models with random slopes for each location were used to test for change in prevalence over time. Samples from 2027 symptomatic participants presenting at care facilities were successfully analysed for all Plasmodium species. 1469 (72·5%) of the samples were P falciparum single-species infections, 523 (25·8%) were mixed infections, and only 35 (1·7%) were single non-falciparum species infections. 452 (22·3%) were mixed infections containing P ovale spp. A likelihood-based model calculation of the population frequency of each species estimated a significant within-host interference between P falciparum and P ovale curtisi. Mixed-effect logistic regression models identified a significant increase in P ovale wallikeri (2·1% per year; p=0·043) and P ovale curtisi (0·7% per year; p=0·0002) species over time, with a reciprocal decrease in P falciparum single-species infections (2·5% per year; p=0·0065). The frequency of P malariae infections did not significantly change over time. Risk of P falciparum infections presenting with fever was lower if co-infected with P malariae (adjusted odds ratio 0·43, 95% CI 0·25-0·74; p=0·0023). Our results show a prevalence of non-falciparum species infections of 27·5% among symptomatic individuals presenting at care facilities, which is higher than expected from previous cross-sectional surveys. The proportion of infections with P ovale wallikeri and P ovale curtisi was observed to significantly increase over the period of study, which could be due to attenuated responsiveness of these species to malaria drug treatment. The increase in frequency of P ovale spp could threaten the malaria control efforts in Kenya and pose increased risk of malaria to travellers. Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch and its Global Emerging Infections Surveillance Section.

Sero-Mapping of HBV, HCV, HSV2 and Syphilis Across Regions in Kenya

This study was funded by Internal Research Grants of the Kenya Medical Research Institute. We acknowledge support from director KEMRI and institutions that participated in this study. Abstract Hepatitis B and C,herpes Simplex Virus 2 and syphilis are important infections that share common modes of transmission. The global burden of these infections and their occurrence as co-infection of HIV in high risk population groups calls for more attention in control and management. While HIV has been a program priority disease in many low resource settings, hepatis B and C have not had as much attention. Yet there is substantial indication that transmission of hepatitis, herpes virus 2 and syphilis is on the increase. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, Herpes simples virus 2 and syphilis and their distribution across different regions in Kenya. Samples were collected from HIV positive study participants in 11 counties (out of total 47) distributed in 7 out of the 8 regions (provinces).A total of 1829 samples were tested for the 4 infections and their distribution analysised. Mapping of the infection was presented by study sites and regions . Overall prevalence of HSV2 was the highest (at 50%) followed by that of HBV (29%) and HCV and Syphilis (14% repectively). Majority of study participants (71%) had co-infections while the rest of the study participants (29%) had none of the four infections. Western and Nyanza regions of the country had higher prevalence of HBV (above 31%). Sero-prevalence of HCV across the regions ranged between 8 to 19 percent. Syphilis sero-prevalence was highest in western and Nyanza region (Range 18% to 26%) compared to other regions (4% to15%), the lowest prevalence was in Central region. Distribution of HSV2 indicated Nairobi was leading at 62%, Central at 48.5% and Rift Valley at 47.5%. Lowest prevalence of HSV2 was at eastern region with an average of 29%. There was significant relation between infections and study sites. Since routine testing for HBV, HCV and HSV is not readily available, there is need to develop a strategy for prevention and control of these infections. Integration of services would be an important consideration in this regard. Keywords: HBV, HCV, HSV, Syphilis, prevalence, co-infection, distribution DOI : 10.7176/JBAH/9-12-06 Publication date :June 30 th 2019

English

Over the last decade there has been an increasing adoption of Integrated Pest Management on rose farms in Kenya. As a consequence, there has been a rise in secondary pests on rose plants, including in particular the citrus mealybug Planococcus citri (Risso). On cut flowerrose farms in Kenya, the presence of the predatory midge Diadiplosis megalamellae (Barnes) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) was observed. Therefore, a survey was carried out to quantify the occurrence of D. megalamellae and the association with mealybug infestations in commercial cut flower rose crops in Kenya. Four farms in four different regions of Kenya and eight rose varieties were surveyed. The midge D. megalamellae was present on farms located in Naivasha, Nairobi and Thika, but was absent in Nanyuki region. The midge D. megalamellae was found mainly in P. citri mealybug colonies and, although in much lower numbers, in the long tailed mealybug Pseudococcus longispinus (Targioni Tozzetti) colonies. The number of mealybugs was positively correlated with the number of number of D. megalamellae larvae suggesting increased multiplication of the D. megalamellae when the pest is present in larger numbers. The number of mealybugs increased with an increase in altitude at which a rose farm was located but there were no D. megalamellae present at the high altitude farm. The reasons for differences in mealybug population between farms is discussed along with further work needed, however, as an indigenous Kenyan predator, this midge offers potential for mealybug biocontrol on rose farms in Kenya. Key words: Pseudococcidae, Cecidomyiidae, biological control, predatory midge.

Genetic Diversity of Groundnut Rosette Disease Causal Agents Towards Its Management: A Review

In this review, the genetic diversity of the three causal agents of Groundnut Rosette Disease (GRD) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are discussed. Epidemics of GRD viruses in SSA, often reduce groundnut productivity. The etiology of GRD is a complex, involving three agents; Groundnut rosette assistor <i>luteovirus</i> (GRAV), Groundnut rosette <i>umbravirus</i> (GRV) and a Satellite-RNA (Sat-RNA) of GRV. The complex etiology and lack of sensitive and specific diagnostic tools, are major limitations in understanding the epidemiology of GRD viruses, and developing appropriate management strategies for the disease. Nucleotide identity of 97 to 100% among GRAV isolates from different regions in Kenya have been reported. Sat-RNA sequences from Kenya shared nucleotide identity of 95% with Malawian isolate (M24S) and 89% with Nigerian isolate (NG3a). GRAV CP gene was highly conserved (97-99%) regardless of the geographical distance. However, for GRV and Sat-RNA diversity increased with increase in geographical distance. In addition, phylogenetic analysis showed that isolates of GRV (ORF3 and 4) and Sat-RNA clustered together depending on the country of origin. Recent study has unveiled a chlorotic variant of Sat-RNA in Kenya with 97% sequence identity to the Malawian chlorotic isolate (M24S). Pathogen derived resistance (PDR) suitable for each diverse regions where the disease occurs is a promising management strategy which mainly depends in studies to deeply understand the genetic diversity of the three GRD causal agents. Currently, GRAV-CP is the best candidate for PDR.

Selective sweeps and genetic lineages of Plasmodium falciparum multi-drug resistance (pfmdr1) gene in Kenya

BackgroundThere are concerns that resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapy might emerge in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in the same pattern as was with chloroquine and sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in critical alleles of pfmdr1 gene have been associated with resistance to artemisinin and its partner drugs. Microsatellite analysis of loci flanking genes associated with anti-malarial drug resistance has been used in defining the geographic origins, dissemination of resistant parasites and identifying regions in the genome that have been under selection.MethodsThis study set out to investigate evidence of selective sweep and genetic lineages in pfmdr1 genotypes associated with the use of artemether–lumefantrine (AL), as the first-line treatment in Kenya. Parasites (n = 252) from different regions in Kenya were assayed for SNPs at codons 86, 184 and 1246 and typed for 7 neutral microsatellites and 13 microsatellites loci flanking (± 99 kb) pfmdr1 in Plasmodium falciparum infections.ResultsThe data showed differential site and region specific prevalence of SNPs associated with drug resistance in the pfmdr1 gene. The prevalence of pfmdr1 N86, 184F, and D1246 in western Kenya (Kisumu, Kericho and Kisii) compared to the coast of Kenya (Malindi) was 92.9% vs. 66.7%, 53.5% vs. to 24.2% and 96% vs. to 87.9%, respectively. The NFD haplotype which is consistent with AL selection was at 51% in western Kenya compared to 25% in coastal Kenya.ConclusionSelection pressures were observed to be different in different regions of Kenya, especially the western region compared to the coastal region. The data showed independent genetic lineages for all the pfmdr1 alleles. The evidence of soft sweeps in pfmdr1 observed varied in direction from one region to another. This is challenging for malaria control programs in SSA which clearly indicate effective malaria control policies should be based on the region and not at a country wide level.

Analysis of genetic diversity of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims) genotypes grown in Kenya by sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers

Abstract Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis [Sims]) is currently ranked third among fruit exports from Kenya and has great potential since demand for both fresh fruit and processed juice is on a continuous increase. Although assessment of genetic variability of germplasm is indispensable for improvement and development of superior cultivars, little information is available on the genetic diversity of passion fruit cultivated in Kenya. The objective of this study was to determine the genetic diversity of passion fruit genotypes from major growing regions in Kenya using sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers. Twenty four SRAP primer combinations were screened using three passion fruit genotypes and only seven that displayed polymorphic and stable amplification profiles were used to analyze 22 genotypes. The seven primer combinations amplified a total of 931 clear bands with an average of 133 bands per primer pair, of which 610 (65.5%) bands were polymorphic. The similarity coefficients among the 22 passion fruit germplasms ranged from 0.51 to 1.0 with an average of 0.755. The 22 passion fruit genotypes were classified into two groups by cluster analysis using unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) with 12% similarity. Shannon's diversity index was 0.0934 and Nei's gene diversity index was 0.1370 in the present study. The study findings demonstrate the existence of a considerable amount of genetic variability among passion fruit genotypes grown in different regions of Kenya. This indicates the potential application of these genotypes in breeding programs by exploiting the use of molecular markers for selection of specific agronomic traits.

Molecular Characterization of Newcastle Disease Virus from Backyard Poultry Farms and Live Bird Markets in Kenya.

Newcastle disease (ND) is a serious disease of poultry that causes significant economic losses. Despite rampant ND outbreaks that occur annually in Kenya, the information about the NDV circulating in Kenya is still scarce. We report the first countrywide study of NDV in Kenya. Our study is aimed at evaluating the genetic characteristics of Newcastle disease viruses obtained from backyard poultry in farms and live bird markets in different regions of Kenya. We sequenced and analyzed fusion (F) protein gene, including the cleavage site, of the obtained viruses. We aligned and compared study sequences with representative NDV of different genotypes from GenBank. The fusion protein cleavage site of all the study sequences had the motif 112RRQKRFV118 indicating their velogenic nature. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the NDV from various sites in Kenya was highly similar genetically and that it clustered together with NDV of genotype V. The study samples were 96% similar to previous Ugandan and Kenyan viruses grouped in subgenotype Vd This study points to possible circulation of NDV of similar genetic characteristics between backyard poultry farms and live bird markets in Kenya. The study also suggests the possible spread of velogenic NDV between Kenya and Uganda possibly through cross-border live bird trade. Our study provides baseline information on the genetic characteristics of NDV circulating in the Kenyan poultry population. This highlights the need for the ND control programmes to place more stringent measures on cross-border trade of live bird markets and poultry products to prevent the introduction of new strains of NDV that would otherwise be more difficult to control.

Wood-boring beetles associated with Acacia xanthophloea in Nairobi and Machakos Counties, Kenya.

Naivasha thorn tree, Acacia xanthophloea, is grown for foliage, timber, shade and rehabilitation of soils in areas with high water tables in Kenya. Its production is threatened by insect pests, which cause major losses. Very little is documented on wood-boring beetles which cause considerable economic damage to lumber used in a variety of applications, and little is known about their natural enemies in Kenya. We conducted the study to evaluate the occurrence of wood-boring beetles on A. xanthophloea in two different regions of Kenya. Infested wood samples of A. xanthophloea with fresh exit holes were collected from three sites in Kenyatta University (KU), Nairobi and Mitaboni in Machakos, Kenya. The samples were placed in clear plastic buckets and kept at ambient temperatures 23±2°C, 65±10% relative humidity and 12L: 12D in a laboratory where they were observed daily for adult emergence. Adult beetles were collected every three days for identification and data recording. The experiment was replicated four times and data collected twice a week for 6 months. Data on abundance was subjected to analysis of variance using SAS software. A total of 5,850 and 4,691 beetles were collected where 2,187 and 3,097 were Bostrichidae, accounting for 37% and 66% in KU and Mitaboni, respectively. A total of 12 bostrichid species was identified, including Sinoxylon ruficorne, S. doliolum, Xylion adustus, Xyloperthodes nitidipennis, Xyloperthella picea, Xylopsocus castanoptera, Lyctus brunneus, Heterbostrychus brunneus, Xylopsocus sp., and Dinoderus gabonicus. The most abundant species in KU was Xylion adustus with 1,915 beetles accounting for 88.4%, and Sinoxylon ruficorne in Mitaboni with 1,050 beetles accounting for 33.9% of the total. Sinoxylon ruficorne was only recorded in Mitaboni while only 2 specimens of D. gabonicus were found in KU. The mean number of exit holes on A. xanthophloea differed significantly between sites, which corresponded approximately to the amount of economic damage caused by the beetles to the structural integrity of the lumber. In addition, a number of predators in the family Cerambycidae, Cleridae, Histeridae and parasitoids from Braconidae, Ichneumonidae, and Chalcididae were recovered, suggesting a need to conduct further studies to document these species' diversity, parasitism rates and efficacy for possible biological control.

Factors Associated with Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Seroprevalence amongst Pregnant Women in Kenya

Background: Knowledge of factors associated with seroprevalence of Hepatitis B in pregnancy is important in informing policies towards prevention of vertical transmission of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection, since in-utero and perinatal infection lead to chronic carrier state with severe long-term sequela. In addition, adequate and timely immunization plays a major role in the prevention of transmission. Objective: To determine the factors associated with HBs Ag seroprevalence in pregnant women from various geographical regions in Kenya. Methods and Subjects: This was a cross-sectional survey amongst all pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Kenyatta National Hospital and 8 other hospitals from different regions of Kenya in their third trimester of pregnancy among June 2001 to June 2002. For each pregnant woman, age, history of intravenous drug use, sexually transmitted disease (STD), liver diseases, alcohol intake, blood transfusion (BT) and presence of traditional scarification were documented. HBs Ag serology was assayed at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) laboratory. Results: A total of 2241 pregnant women were enrolled in the study, 2196 consented, of whom 205 (9.3%) tested positive for HBs Ag. A significant association was found between HBs Ag seroprevalence and traditional scarification (p = 0.029), history of blood transfusion (p = 0.0024) and alcohol intake (p = 0.05). There was no significant association between Hbs Ag seroprevalence and sexually transmitted disease (p = 0.64). It was not possible to evaluate the association of HBs Ag seroprevalence with history of hospitalization for any liver disease including Hepatitis A, B or C, history of intravenous drug use or contact with sex partners previously hospitalised for any liver disease including Hepatitis A, B or C as the numbers with these attributes were small. Conclusions: We found 9.3% of pregnant women were HBs Ag positive, significantly higher than previously observed. The high seropositivity was associated with traditional scarification, history of blood transfusion and alcohol intake. Proper screening of blood transfusion products, immunization and control of scarification and alcohol use should be considered by health policy experts.

History of Water Supply and Governance in Kenya (1895–2005): Lessons and Futures. Ezekiel Nyangeri Nyanchaga. 2016, p. 618. Tampere University Press, Finland. ISBN: 978-952-03-0060-9

This book represents a prodigious undertaking. Over nearly 500 pages Nyanchaga documents the historical development of water administration – mainly water supply – throughout Kenya, going back to 1900, the beginning of the colonial period. The author has delved deep into Kenya archives, from the Hydraulic Inspection reports of 1951–60 in the Kenya National Archive, to reviews of water supplies in Native areas in Wajir dating from 1935, or a report on Taveta water from the Lumi River in 1914. He has pored over old documents, sometimes hand written or on flimsy carbon copies and more modern reports alike and has produced a fascinating and thorough history of water policy in Kenya over the past 100 years. The heart of the book – running to over 300 pages – is an extremely detailed and carefully researched description of water supply systems to all the entities in Kenya, from large cities like Nairobi and Mombasa to small rural water supply projects, across the central districts out to Turkana and the north. The different regions of Kenya contain very varied water regimes, from dammable rivers, to ground water accessible through boreholes, and semi desert regions where rainwater harvesting has always been important, and this variety is reflected in the local approaches to water supply. This provides interesting reading at a local and regional level, and there are a number of entertaining historical insights. For example, one effect of the First …

Genetic diversity of indigenous chickens from selected areas in Kenya using microsatellite markers.

In this study, indigenous chickens were collected from eight different regions in Kenya and kept at InCIP-Egerton University. These were studied using eighteen microsatellite markers to determine genetic variation. Statistics related to genetic variation were estimated using GenALEx6. Mean percentage polymorphic loci (PPL) was 96.71% and 4% genetic variance (p ≥ 0.003) was seen between the eight populations. MCW0123 marker had the highest genetic variance of 13% among populations (p ≥ 0.003) at 95% CI. Mean He ranged from 0.351 ± 0.031 (SIB) to 0.434 ± 0.022 (BM) with a grand mean He of 0.399 ± 0.011 across the populations using the microsatellite markers. Nei’s genetic distance ranged from 0.016 (SIB and WP) to 0.126 (NR and SIB). DARwin6.501 analysis software was used to draw the population dendrogram and two major population clusters were observed, also seen with PCoA. This study found a lot of genetic variation and relatedness within and among populations. Based on the phylogenetic tree result, it is concluded that the clustering of the chicken populations in the present study is not based on geographical proximity. The microsatellite markers used in this study were suitable for the measurement of the genetic biodiversity and relationship of Kenyan chicken populations. These results can therefore serve as an initial step to plan the conservation of indigenous chickens in Kenya.

Antibodies against MERS coronavirus in dromedary camels, Kenya, 1992-2013.

Dromedary camels are a putative source for human infections with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. We showed that camels sampled in different regions in Kenya during 1992–2013 have antibodies against this virus. High densities of camel populations correlated with increased seropositivity and might be a factor in predicting long-term virus maintenance.

English

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Cranzt) is an important food security crop for resource poor rural communities particularly in Africa. Little is however known about molecular diversity of Kenyan cassava germplasm. This led to a study whose objective was to identify genetic constitution of cassava accessions from different regions of Kenya using molecular tools. Seven pairs of micro satellite (SSR) primers previously developed from cassava were used to detect polymorphic 21 alleles in a sample of 69 accessions. The cluster analysis of similarity matrix obtained at 68% with SSR data showed that the 69 accessions were grouped into five marker based groups. This study proved that SSRs could be used to identify cassava accessions as well as in the assessment of level of genetic relatedness among accessions. Key words: Cassava, simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, genetic diversity.

Chemical composition and mosquito repellency of essential oil of Conyza newii propagated in different geographical locations of Kenya

Previously, essential oil of Conyza newii (Asterale: Asteracea, Oliv. & Hiern) growing in the northern part of West Pokot (35°E, 1°N) of Kenya was shown to be highly repellent [RD50 = 8.9 × 10(-5) mg/cm(2) , 95% confidence interval (CL)] to Anopheles gambiae s.s. Fumigant toxicity of the oil to the mosquito was also demonstrated. The major constituents of the oil were found to be monoterpenoids, including (S)-(-)-perillyl alcohol, (S)-(-)-perillaldehyde, geraniol, (R)-(+)-limonene, trans-β-ocimene and 1,8-cineol. In this study, the chemical composition and repellency of essential oils of the plant seedlings collected from West Pokot (35°E, 1°N) and propagated in seven different geographical regions of Kenya [West Pokot (35°E, 1°N), Kilome (37°E, 1°S), Naivasha (36°E, 0°), Webuye (34°E, 1°N), Nyakach (34°E, 0°), Kericho (35°E, 0°) and Nairobi (36°E, 1°S)] were compared. There were significant variations (P < 0.01, 95% CL) in the relative proportions of the six constituents and this was reflected in the repellency of the essential oils (P < 0.01, 95% CL). Higher repellency of the oil was associated with greater proportions of (S)-(-) perillyl alcohol, (S)-(-)-perillaldehyde and geraniol, and lower repellency was associated with an increased proportion of (R)-(+)-limonene. The results suggest significant epigenetic (chemotypic) variations in the repellency and composition of C. newii essential oils growing in different regions of Kenya.