Differential Responses of the Egg-Larval Parasitoid Chelonus Bifoveolatus To Fall Armyworm-Induced and Constitutive Volatiles of Diverse Maize Genotypes.

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a serious invasive crop pest and threat to food security. Conventional pest control approaches using chemical pesticides can lead to adverse environmental and human health problems calling for safer alternative pest management options. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by plants constitutively and in response to herbivory have been shown to enhance ecologically benign biocontrol alternatives to chemical insecticides for pest management.

A survey of knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotic use and resistance among teachers in the Republic of Kenya: Implications for using teachers in raising public awareness of rational antibiotic use in school communities.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a significant public health threat. In Kenya, schools are targeted for public education to promote knowledge and attitudes towards the proper use of antimicrobials. However, there are limited studies that have investigated teachers' knowledge and attitudes on antibiotic use.

Social Demographic Characteristics Associated with Visceral Leishmaniasis in West Pokot, Kenya.

Visceral leishmaniasis is a tropical disease with a significant global public health burden. This study aimed to determine the social demographic characteristics associated with visceral leishmaniasis in West Pokot of Kenya. A mixed-methods research design was adopted where household questionnaires and key informant interviews were administered.

Fresen: Stem Bark Dichloromethane Extract Alleviates Pyrogallol-Induced Suppression of Innate Immune Responses in Swiss Albino Mice.

is widely used in folklore medicine and has diverse biological activities. However, its effect on the immune system is yet to be studied. Therefore, our study evaluated the immunomodulatory effect of on nonspecific immunity.

Climate Change and Environmental Influence on Prevalence of Visceral Leishmaniasis in West Pokot County, Kenya.

Kala-azar is a parasitic disease caused by transmitted by sand fly. In Kenya, kala-azar is endemic in thirty subcounties spread over in eleven counties in the arid zones. Climate change-influenced seasonal weather variability and environmental alterations remain important determinants of many vector-borne diseases.

Schistosoma mansoni and soil transmtted helminths in olive baboons and potential zoonosis.

Zoonotic pathogens are among the most important causes of ill health all over the world. The presence of these pathogens in free ranging baboons may have significant implications for humans. In Kenya, the encroachment of wildlife habitats has led to increased interaction between humans and wildlife especially non-human primates.

Multidrug-resistant isolated from asymptomatic school-going children in Kibera slum, Kenya.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of thermophilic spp. in asymptomatic school-going children and establish the antibiotic resistance patterns of the isolates towards the drugs used to treat campylobacteriosis, including macrolides, quinolones and tetracycline. spp.

Isolation, identification and associated risk factors of non-tuberculous mycobacteria infection in humans and dromedary camels in Samburu County, Kenya.

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria are of public health significance, and zoonotic infection is attributed to the sociocultural practice of consumption of raw milk and the close human-livestock contact in pastoral communities. This study aimed at isolation, identification of mycobacteria from human sputum and camel milk and risk factors assessment in Samburu East, Kenya. Six hundred and twelve camels and 48 people presumed to have tuberculosis (TB) from 86 households in Wamba and Waso regions were screened.

A cross-sectional epidemiological investigation of nontuberculous mycobacteria of public health importance in slaughter camels in Samburu County, Kenya.

The diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in camels at slaughter houses heavily relies on post mortem (PM) meat inspection to detect granulomatous lesions; however, the sensitivity of this technique is not perfect. The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize mycobacteria associated with suspect TB pathological lesions at PM. At PM, 1600 camels were examined in two county slaughterhouses.

Incidence and knowledge of bovine brucellosis in Kahuro district, Murang'a County, Kenya.

Brucellosis in cattle is a zoonosis mainly caused by Brucella abortus. In Kenya, the disease is widespread, but its prevalence is largely unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate incidence rates of brucellosis and farmers' knowledge on the disease in Kahuro district, Murang'a County.

In vitro activity and in vivo efficacy of a combination therapy of diminazene and chloroquine against murine visceral leishmaniasis.

The present study evaluated the in vitro activity and in vivo efficacy of diminazene combined with chloroquine as a potential drug against Leishmania donovani. Amphotericin B was used as a positive control drug. In vitro activity involved incubation of various drug concentrations with promastigotes or vero cells in culture before determination of parasite growth inhibition or cell death while in vivo evaluations involved infection of various mice groups with virulent L.

Experimental therapeutic studies of Solanum aculeastrum Dunal. on Leishmania major infection in BALB/c mice.

Objectives: Solanum acueastrum Dunal. has been shown to have some chemotherapeutic value. Leaf and berry water and methanol compounds of S.

Population specific reference ranges of CD3, CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte subsets among healthy Kenyans.

Background: The enumeration of absolute CD4 counts is of primary importance for many medical conditions especially HIV infection where therapeutic initiation depends on the count. These ranges tend to vary across populations. However, these ranges have not been comprehensively established in the Kenyan population.

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C viral co-infections among HIV-1 infected individuals in Nairobi, Kenya.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infections among HIV-1 infected individuals are growing worldwide health problems characterized by lack of effective vaccines, need for expensive treatment, chronicity of morbidity and associated mortality. Their prevalence and distribution patterns continue to vary across geographical locations with high prevalence being detected among high risk populations. To determine the prevalence of HBV and HCV among HIV-1 infected individuals, blood samples were collected from consenting study subjects visiting comprehensive HIV clinics in Nairobi during the period between October and December 2009.

Development of Leishmania vaccines: predicting the future from past and present experience.

Leishmaniasis is a disease that ranges in severity from skin lesions to serious disfigurement and fatal systemic infection. Resistance to infection is associated with a T-helper-1 immune response that activates macrophages to kill the intracellular parasite in a nitric oxide-dependent manner. Conversely, disease progression is generally associated with a T-helper-2 response that activates humoral immunity.

Safety and skin delayed-type hypersensitivity response in vervet monkeys immunized with Leishmania donovani sonicate antigen delivered with adjuvants.

In this study, we report on the safety and skin delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), responses of the Leishmania donovani whole cell sonicate antigen delivered in conjunction with alum-BCG (AlBCG), Montanide ISA 720 (MISA) or Monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) in groups of vervet monkeys. Following three intradermal injections of the inoculums on days 0, 28 and 42, safety and DTH responses were assessed. Preliminary tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) levels were also measured and these were compared with DTH.

Leishmania donovani whole cell antigen delivered with adjuvants protects against visceral leishmaniasis in vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops).

In a previous immunogenicity and efficacy study in mice, montanide ISA 720 (MISA) was indicated to be a better adjuvant than bacillus calmette guerin vaccine (BCG) for a Leishmania vaccine. In the present study, we report the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of Leishmania donovani (L. donovani) sonicated antigen delivered with alum-BCG (AlBCG), MISA or monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) in vervet monkeys following intradermal inoculums.

Efficacy of two vaccine formulations against contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in Kenyan indigenous cattle.

A live, attenuated vaccine is currently the only viable option to control of CBPP in Africa. It has been suggested that simple modifications to current vaccines and protocols might improve efficacy in the field. In this report we compared the current vaccine formulation with a buffered preparation that maintains Mycoplasma viability at ambient temperature for a longer time.

Lifestyles and practices that enhance malaria and typhoid fever in Njoro District, Kenya.

Unhygienic practices have been associated with the spread of parasitic and bacterial infections in rural areas. This study was designed to verify the link between the frequencies of malaria and typhoid fever with selected rural practices in Njoro District, Kenya. A cross-sectional study involving observations, questionnaires and interviews was conducted to determine the socio-economic variables and practices/lifestyles in 336 randomly selected homesteads.

HIV type 1 gag genetic diversity among antenatal clinic attendees in North Rift Valley, Kenya.

HIV genetic recombination and high mutation rate increase diversity allowing it to escape from host immune response or antiretroviral drugs. This diversity has enabled specific viral subtypes to be predominant in specific regions. To determine HIV-1 subtypes among seropositive antenatal clinic attendees in Kenya's North Rift Valley, a cross-sectional study was carried out on 116 HIV-1-positive blood samples.

In vitro and in vivo antileishmanial efficacy of a combination therapy of diminazene and artesunate against Leishmania donovani in BALB/c mice.

The in vitro and in vivo activity of diminazene (Dim), artesunate (Art) and combination of Dim and Art (Dim-Art) against Leishmania donovani was compared to reference drug; amphotericin B. IC50 of Dim-Art was found to be 2.28 ± 0.