Nandi Hills Research Articles

Geo-helminth infections: Neglected helminthiases among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Nandi-Hills Sub-County Hospital, Nandi County, Kenya

The study investigated prevalence of geo-helminth infection in pregnant women attending antenatal care at Nandi Hills Sub-County Hospital in Nandi County. Stool samples were collected from randomly selected consenting pregnant women to attain a sample size of 300. The samples were processed immediately at the hospital using formal-ether concentration technique and results recorded in terms of either presence or absence of ova. Direct smear egg count was done to quantify worm burden. Capillary blood was obtained by a finger prick for measurement of haemoglobin levels. Participants were requested to fill a questionnaire to obtain information regarding water source, mode of faecal disposal geophagy status and recent chemoprophylaxis. Geohelminth parasites detected were Ascaris lumbricoides (30%), hookworm (15%) and Trichiuris trichiura (1%). There were significant differences in co-infections with A. lumbricoides hookworm (P=0.00) and A. lumbricoides - T. trichiura parasites (P=0.007). Factors that had significant positive association with either A. lumbricoides-hookworm or A. lumbricoides -T. trichiura co-infections were use of piped water, pit latrine, being geophagous and lack of recent chemoprophylaxis.

Assessing the Effect of Distribution Systems on Drinking Water Quality in Kapsabet and Nandi Hills Towns, Kenya

Assessing the Effect of Distribution Systems on Drinking Water Quality in Kapsabet and Nandi Hills Towns, Kenya

Economics of Recreational Ecosystem Services : Application of Individual Travel Cost Method from Nandi Hills Forest in Karnataka

Economics of Recreational Ecosystem Services : Application of Individual Travel Cost Method from Nandi Hills Forest in Karnataka

A remarkable new genus of Thripinae (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) without anteocellar setae from India.

Nandithripspouzolziaegen. et sp. nov. (Thripidae, Thripinae) is described from the flowers of Pouzolziapetandrasubsp.wightii (Urticaceae) found in Nandi hills, Karnataka, India. This new genus is characterised by an apomorphy, ocellar setae pairs I and II are both absent, and also has a unique discontinuous pore plate distribution, with a single circular or oval pore plate medially on abdominal sternites II and V-VII of males. Partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (mtCOI) gene sequence of N.pouzolziae was sequenced and the annotated sequence was submitted to NCBI GenBank.

Morphology, Palynology and Molecular Phylogeny of Barleria cristata L. (Acanthaceae) Morphotypes from India

Barleria cristata L., commonly known as the Philippine violet, is native to South Asia. It is an ornamental plant and is also used for the treatment of a variety of diseases. In India, it is found throughout the country in many forms, varying in its floral attributes (calyx and corolla) and habitat. In order to understand the species limits in B. cristata, we studied morphological as well as palynological variation and assessed the phylogenetic relationships among five different morphotypes. The studied morphotypes (populations) came from three phytogeographical regions, namely the Western Ghats, the Deccan Peninsula and the Western Himalaya. The naturally occurring populations from the Deccan Peninsula and the Western Himalaya showed conspicuous differences in their morphology. All the morphotypes had oblate spheroidal, tri-brevicolporate and honey-combed pollen grains which differed only in their quantitative parameters. The distinct-looking morphotypes, namely, Nandi Hills, Uttarakhand and cultivated morphotypes, could not be separated based on pollen characters. Phylogenetic analyses based on chloroplast DNA sequences revealed that our samples formed a clade sister to the B. cristata specimen used in the previous study. The genetic variation within morphotypes was not enough for the genomic regions investigated; however, it revealed among morphotype genealogies in detail. Phylogenetic analyses showed that there were three monophyletic groups within the B. cristata complex that exhibited some morphological differences. Nevertheless, based on the present sampling, it is not possible to delimit these morphotypes at specific or infraspecific level. To reach such conclusions, further investigations like sampling this species across its distribution range in India and assessment of intraspecific relationships, and their cytogenetical characterization should be done.

ASSESSMENT OF RADON AND THORON EXHALATION FROM SOILS AND DISSOLVED RADON IN GROUND WATER IN THE VICINITY OF ELEVATED GRANITIC HILL, CHIKKABALLAPUR DISTRICT, KARNATAKA, INDIA

In this paper, we intend to evaluate the rate of radon and thoron exhalation from soil with reference to the underlying bedrock and gamma dose rate in the environment of elevated granitic hill-Nandi hills of Karnataka. The measurement of exhalation rates for all the soil samples collected from study area was carried out using a continuous radon-thoron monitor (Smart RnDuo monitor). The surface exhalation rate of thoron from soil samples were found to vary from 4160±326 to 21822±634 mBq m-2s-1. The mass exhalation rate of radon from soil samples were found to vary from 76±6 to 269±19 mBq kg-1h-1. Concentrations of radon activity measurements were carried out for all the groundwater samples from study area. A detailed analysis along with physicochemical parameters of water has been made and discussed in this research paper.

How to Be Freed from a Leadership Curse? A Political ‘Code of Conduct’ by the Nandi Council of Elders during the 2013 Elections in Kenya

In April 2012, more than a year before Kenya’s 2013 elections, the Nandi Kaburwo Council of Elders in Nandi Hills undertook the original task of writing the Nandi County Political Code of Conduct (NCPCC). Throughout Kenya, the pre-election period was characterized by a significant involvement of councils of elders in spreading messages of peace and promoting “good leadership,” unlike 2007 when these councils played an active role in mobilizing Kenyans to take part in the post-electoral violence. Printed as an 8-page booklet, the NCPCC was targeting local candidates, their supporters and political parties. It displayed regulations aimed to contribute to the “transformation of Nandi County” into a prosperous place, an “island of new politics, free of political madness.” Inspired from the role models of the Kenyan “Goodwill Ambassadors” for peace put in place in 2012, and based on oral narratives about iconic pre-colonial Nandi leaders—such as Kimnyolei and Koitalel Samoei—, this code of conduct brings to light cultural, social, economic and political dynamics mobilized by a wide range of actors (NGO, elders, candidates, entrepreneurs) during electoral times. Therefore, I believe it is crucial for the researcher to present and analyze it as a primary source that illustrates the aspirations and strategies of a local elite with their own conception of leadership. More broadly, through this original document, one can question the role played by councils of elders in Kenyan politics from a grassroots perspective, as well as the role they play in “re-inventing” their political history under the guise of preserving traditions.

Analysis of Nitrates and Phosphates in Drinking Water Samples Collected from Tea Growing Community, Nandi Hills, Kenya

Analysis of Nitrates and Phosphates in Drinking Water Samples Collected from Tea Growing Community, Nandi Hills, Kenya

Effects of Gravidity and Trimester on Malaria-geo-helminth Co-infections and Syndemics among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Nandi Hills Sub-County Hospital, Nandi County in Kenya

Effects of Gravidity and Trimester on Malaria-geo-helminth Co-infections and Syndemics among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Nandi Hills Sub-County Hospital, Nandi County in Kenya

HIV-1 drug resistance-associated mutations among HIV-1 infected drug-naïve antenatal clinic attendees in rural Kenya

BackgroundAccess to antiretroviral therapy (ART) has increased dramatically in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Kenya, 560,000 people had access to ART by the end of 2011. This scaling up of ART has raised challenges to the Kenyan health system due to emergence of drug resistant viruses among those on treatment and possible onward transmission. To counter this, and come up with an effective treatment strategy, it has become vital to determine baseline mutations associated with drug resistance among the circulating strains of HIV-1in Kenya.MethodsThe prevalence of mutations associated with drug resistance in HIV-1 protease (PR) and reverse transcriptase (RT) regions from 188 HIV-1 infected treatment-naïve pregnant women was investigated in Kapsabet, Nandi Hills and Kitale district hospitals of Kenya. Blood samples were collected between April 2005 and June 2006. The HIV-1 pol gene was amplified using primers for HIV-1 PR and RT and sequenced using the BigDye chemistry. The mutations were analyzed based on the IAS algorithm as well as the Stanford University HIV Drug Resistance Database.ResultsBased on the PR and RT sequences, HIV-1 subtypes A1 (n=117, 62.2%), A2 (n=2, 1.1%), D (n=27, 14.4%), C (n=13, 6.9%), G (n=3, 1.6%), and possible recombinants (n=26, 13.8%) were detected. Mutations associated with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) and non-nucleoside RTI (NNRTI)-resistance were detected in 1.6% (3 of 188) and 1.1% (2 of 188), respectively. Mutations associated with PI resistance were detected in 0.5% (1 of 188) of the study population.ConclusionThe prevalence of drug resistance among drug-naïve pregnant women in rural North Rift, Kenya in 2006 was 3.2%. Major drug resistance mutations associated with PIs, NRTIs and NNRTIs do exist among treatment-naïve pregnant women in North Rift, Kenya. There is a need for consistent follow-up of drug-naïve individuals in this region to determine the impact of mutations on treatment outcomes.

Integrated environmental education for sustainable forest management: the case of Nandi Hills Forests, Kenya

Environmental education (EE) is a vital dimension of modern day acumen that portends a great promise in solving the myriad environmental resource management challenges at global, regional and local levels. A study was carried out in 18 locations in the Nandi North, Nandi South and Nandi Hills districts of Kenya, which cover the Nandi Hills and Nandi Forests in Nandi County, major water catchments for Lake Victoria. A mixed methodological approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative data obtained from focus group discussions, key informant interviews, household survey and observations was embraced in data collection and analysis. The study reveals that there are several strategies that have been adopted by the local population and institutions involved in the management of the Nandi Hills Forests (NHFs) and that these strategies have contributed to an improvement in the perceptions of the local population in terms of the importance of environmental management of the forests. This paper highlights EE as a vehicle for ensuring a sustainable management of the Nandi Hills Forests. As such, it illuminates the great potential that lies in sustainably managing the NHFs by integrating formal and informal EE approaches. It further points out the functional gaps in the management of NHFs and proposes best-practices that could be adopted and/or domesticated in NHFs management regimes.

Socio-economic constraints to adoption of yield improving tea farming technologies: A study of small holder tea farmers affiliated to estates in Nandi Hills, Kenya

Tea farming technical packages tailored to improve productivity have been developed by the Tea Research Foundation of Kenya and availed to farmers for adoption where the estate subsector has demonstrated that these packages can double the current small holder tea production of 1,800 kg made tea per hectare. Despite this potential, there exists an alarmingly low uptake of these technologies by small holder tea farmers which points to significant gaps in the current tea sector policies and technology transfer worth exploring in the small holder tea sector. Lack of knowledge on socio-economic factors that constrain the adoption of these packages by smallholder tea farmers could be the cause of the wide gap that exist on the rate of adoption within the estate and small holder tea sub sectors. This is clearly demonstrated by low productivity in the latter over the years. Understanding these factors may provide explanations to the low adoption rates, which in turn could be used to formulate policies and offer research recommendations. This study is aimed at estimating how socio economic factors influence smallholder farmers’ decision to adopt the available tea farming technologies. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were employed with socio-economic factors as independent variables being regressed against the dependent variable of recommended yield improving tea farming technology in the Logistic Regression Model. The study was carried out among smallholder tea farmers affiliated to estates in the Nandi hills tea growing zone in Kenya. A questionnaire was randomly administered to 190 smallholder tea farmers who supplied green leaf to estate factories. The results generally showed that although, 99% of small holders grow potentially high yielding TN14/3 and C12 tea varieties, they do not apply the recommended practices needed to maximize the potential of these varieties. Only 45.8% of the small holder farmers were found to use the technologies. The logistic model analysis of the survey data showed that head gender, benefits awareness, costs awareness, and extension services significantly affected adoption. The implied significance on extension contact could be explained by lack of information on these packages among smallholder farmers who may be willing to adopt the technology. Policies that focus on transfer of information and reduction in cost of production based on these packages to smallholder farmers may help to boost the adoption. The evidence from the study also suggests that management skills seem to be lacking among the tea farmers in Nandi hills and calls for its inclusion in the training package. An organization to specifically represent the interests of estate smallholders would also be welcomed and useful.

A New Record of Chrysochalcissa oviceps Boucek, 1978 (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) from Eggs of Heteroptera from Karnataka, India

The torymid wasp Chrysochalcissa oviceps Boueek parasitising undetermined corceid eggs belonging to subfamily Coreinae is recorded for the first time from Nandi hills, Karnataka, in southern India. A diagnosis of the species is provided. Unique phenotypic traits which distinguish it from C. indica Narendran include mesoscutum width a little more than 1.2x width of head in dorsal view; exposed parts of gastral tergite third and fourth in length of ratio nearly 1:1.9 and fourth tergite with scattered setae more confined to the basal two-third: minimum distance between the eyes 0.59x as long as the eye.

Environmental, socio‐demographic and behavioural determinants of malaria risk in the western Kenyan highlands: a case–control study

To identify risk factors for uncomplicated malaria in highland areas of East Africa at higher risk of malaria epidemics, in order to design appropriate interventions. Prospective, population-based, case-control study in the Nandi Hills, a highland area of western Kenya, to identify environmental, sociodemographic and behavioural factors associated with clinical malaria. Data were collected using field observation, a structured questionnaire, and a global positioning system device. We interviewed 488 cases of slide-confirmed malaria and 980 age-matched controls. Multivariate analyses associated higher malaria risk with living <250 m of a forest [OR = 3.3 (95% CI 1.5, 7.1)], <250 m of a swamp [2.8 (1.3, 5.9)], <200 m of maize fields [2.0 (1.2, 3.4)], in the absence of trees <200 m [1.6 (1.2, 2.2)], on flat land [1.6 (1.2, 2.2)], in houses without ceilings [1.5 (1.1, 2.2)], in houses with a separate kitchen building [1.8 (1.4, 2.3)] and in households where the female household head had no education [1.9 (1.1, 3.1)]. Travelling out of the study site [2.2 (1.2, 4.1)] was also associated with increased risk. CONCLUSIONS; In this East African highland area, risk of developing uncomplicated malaria was multifactorial with a risk factor profile similar to that in endemic regions. Households within close proximity to forest and swamp borders are at higher risk of malaria and should be included in indoor residual spraying campaigns.

Survey on prevalence and risk factors on HIV-1 among pregnant women in North-Rift, Kenya: a hospital based cross-sectional study conducted between 2005 and 2006

BackgroundThe HIV/AIDS epidemic in Kenya is a major public-health problem. Estimating the prevalence of HIV in pregnant women provides essential information for an effective implementation of HIV/AIDS control measures and monitoring of HIV spread within a country. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of HIV infection, risk factors for HIV/AIDS and immunologic (lymphocyte profile) characteristics among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in three district hospitals in North-Rift, Kenya.MethodsBlood samples were collected from pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in three district hospitals (Kitale, Kapsabet and Nandi Hills) after informed consent and pre-test counseling. The samples were tested for HIV antibodies as per the guidelines laid down by Ministry of Health, Kenya. A structured pretested questionnaire was used to obtain demographic data. Lymphocyte subset counts were quantified by standard flow cytometry.ResultsOf the 4638 pregnant women tested, 309 (6.7%) were HIV seropositive. The majority (85.1%) of the antenatal attendees did not know their HIV status prior to visiting the clinic for antenatal care. The highest proportion of HIV infected women was in the age group 21–25 years (35.5%). The 31–35 age group had the highest (8.5%) HIV prevalence, while women aged more than 35 years had the lowest (2.5%).Women in a polygamous relationship were significantly more likely to be HIV infected as compared to those in a monogamous relationship (p = 0.000). The highest HIV prevalence (6.3%) was recorded among antenatal attendees who had attended secondary schools followed by those with primary and tertiary level of education (6% and 5% respectively). However, there was no significant relationship between HIV seropositivity and the level of education (p = 0.653 and p = 0.469 for secondary and tertiary respectively). The mean CD4 count was 466 cells/mm3 (9–2000 cells/mm3). Those that had less than 200 cells/mm3 accounted for 14% and only nine were on antiretroviral therapy.ConclusionSeroprevalence of HIV was found to be consistent with the reports from the national HIV sentinel surveys. Enumeration of T-lymphocyte (CD4/8) should be carried out routinely in the antenatal clinics for proper timing of initiation of antiretroviral therapy among HIV infected pregnant women.

Quality of Honey Harvested and Processed Using Traditional Methods in Rural Areas of Kenya

The honey consumed in most of Africa is harvested from traditional hives and processed using traditional methods. This work presents the quality characteristics of honey samples (n = 72) processed using traditional methods and on sale in various important beekeeping zones in Kenya: West Pokot, Baringo, Mwingi, Tana, North Kinangop, Mbeere, Nandi Hills, Mida Creek, Kakamega and Taita. The quality of the honey was compared to international standards as proposed in the Codex Alimentarius. The quality markers analyzed were moisture, hydromethylfurfural (HMF), sugar content, diastase, proline content, and free acidity. Moisture was determined using a honey refractometer, HMF and Diastase content were determined through spectrophotometry, sugars were determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), proline was determined through spectrophotometry and free acidity quantified by volumetry - titration technique. Average constituent values were at 16.00 - 21.20% (moisture); 3.70 - 389.36 mg/kg (HMF); 20.83 - 300.6 mg/kg (proline); 8.03 - 56.98 Schade units (diastase); 57.03 - 102.66% (fructose and glucose levels) and 18.00 - 71.85 50 mg/kg (free acidity). Most of the samples had constituent levels within the limits set in the Codex Alimentarius. Traditional honey harvesting and processing methods seem not to have negative effects on the major honey constituents. However, excessive smoking during harvesting had compromised the aroma and flavour of some samples. In an effort to promote beekeeping as an eco-friendly, sustainable alternate source of livelihoods, training in best apiculture practices, improved extension services and establishment of honey marketplaces is being done to improve honey quality in Kenya.

Post-monsoon dispersal of Malabar Whistling Thrush Myiophonus horsfieldii (Vigors) to Chamundi Hill and Nandi Hills, Karnataka, southern India

Post-monsoon dispersal of Malabar Whistling Thrush Myiophonus horsfieldii (Vigors) to Chamundi Hill and Nandi Hills, Karnataka, southern India

Malaria in Kenya: elective report from clinico-pathological experiences in the delivery room and paediatric ward

1.1. The environment surrounding Kisumu in Kenya is described, emphasizing the importance of the Nyando valley as a highly malarious area as compared with the Nandi and Kisii hills where only epidemic malaria occurs.2.2. Available data on malaria transmission are summarized in detail. The varying seasonal importance of Anopheles gambiae as a vector in the different topographical areas is discussed.3.3. Data resulting from a brief survey of the A. gambiae complex (November 10th–December 3rd, 1970) conducted during very hot and dry weather are presented to show that Species A and Species B resting in houses are differentially distributed in this part of Nyanza. Species B predominated in the lowlands and was prolific in the artificially irrigated areas. Species A predominated in the highlands. Both sibling species were well represented in sympatric association among foothills.4.4. Only 3 females of A. gambiae (1A and 2B) were obtained from the experimental area of 23 square miles employed by the WHO for hut testing of fenitrothion for anopheline control.5.5. Circumstances indicated that both Species A and Species B would have formerly occured more abundantly in this zone.6.6. It is suggested that although Species A was found to be virtually restricted to the highlands and foothills at this season, populations of A would probably encroach into the lowlands during rainy periods.7.7. Finally, WHO data on parous rates of A. gambiae at 2 localities near Kisumu are presented to show that Species B may continue reproducing at a greater rate than Species A as the dry season progresses.

Status ofBrachiolejeunea (Spruce) Schiffn. in India

The status of IndianBrachiolejeunea (Spruce) Schiffn. is discussed. The species described earlier under this genus belong to closely allied generaFrullanoides Raddi orTrocholejeunea Schiffn.Frullanoides Raddi is known only byFrullanoides tristis (Steph.) Van Slageren which has been discovered recently from Nilgiri hills (Tamil Nadu) and Nandi hills (Karnataka) in southern India.Trocholejeunea is represented by two species,Trocholejeunea infuscata (Mitt.) Verd. from eastern Himalayas andTrocholejeunea sandvicensis (Gott.) Mizut. from Palni hills (Tamil Nadu), south India and western Himalaya. Of theseTrocholejeunea sandvicensis has been, discovered for the first time from western Himalaya which also shows intracapsular spore germination of theLopholejeunea-type. The scanning electron microscopic details of sporoderm ofFrullanoides tristis andTrocholejeunea sandvicensis have been given.

Mosses from the Nandi Hills, Mysore State, India

Twenty-five species of moss are recorded from the Nandi Hills, Mysore State.