Transcriptome profile of spleen tissues from locally-adapted Kenyan pigs (Sus scrofa) experimentally infected with three varying doses of a highly virulent African swine fever virus genotype IX isolate: Ken12/busia.1 (ken-1033).

Background: African swine fever (ASF) is a lethal hemorrhagic disease affecting domestic pigs resulting in up to 100% mortality rates caused by the ASF virus (ASFV). The locally-adapted pigs in South-western Kenya have been reported to be resilient to disease and harsh climatic conditions and tolerate ASF; however, the mechanisms by which this tolerance is sustained remain largely unknown. We evaluated the gene expression patterns in spleen tissues of these locally-adapted pigs in response to varying infective doses of ASFV to elucidate the virus-host interaction dynamics.

Rotavirus Interactions With Host Intestinal Epithelial Cells.

Rotavirus (RV) is the foremost enteric pathogen associated with severe diarrheal illness in young children (<5years) and animals worldwide. RV primarily infects mature enterocytes in the intestinal epithelium causing villus atrophy, enhanced epithelial cell turnover and apoptosis. Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) being the first physical barrier against RV infection employs a range of innate immune strategies to counteract RVs invasion, including mucus production, toll-like receptor signaling and cytokine/chemokine production.

Comparative Analysis of and Genetic Diversity in Locally-Adapted Kenyan Pigs and Their Wild Relatives, Warthogs.

Swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) plays a central role in controlling the immune response by discriminating self and foreign antigens and initiating an immune response. Studies on SLA polymorphism have demonstrated associations between SLA allelic variants, immune response, and disease resistance. The SLA polymorphism is due to host-pathogen co-evolution resulting in improved adaptation to diverse environments making SLA a crucial genomic region for comparative diversity studies.

Signatures of Selection in Admixed Dairy Cattle in Tanzania.

Multiple studies have investigated selection signatures in domestic cattle and other species. However, there is a dearth of information about the response to selection in genomes of highly admixed crossbred cattle in relation to production and adaptation to tropical environments. In this study, we evaluated 839 admixed crossbred cows sampled from two major dairy regions in Tanzania namely Rungwe and Lushoto districts, in order to understand their genetic architecture and detect genomic regions showing preferential selection.

First Detection of Rotavirus Group C in Asymptomatic Pigs of Smallholder Farms in East Africa.

: Group C rotavirus (RVC) has been described to be a causative agent of gastroenteritis in humans and animals including pigs, cows, and dogs. Fecal samples collected from asymptomatic pigs in smallholder swine farms in Kenya and Uganda were screened for the presence of group C rotaviruses (RVC) using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. A total of 446 samples were tested and 37 were positive (8.

Detection of African swine fever virus in the tissues of asymptomatic pigs in smallholder farming systems along the Kenya-Uganda border: implications for transmission in endemic areas and ASF surveillance in East Africa.

The persistence of African swine fever virus (ASFV) in endemic areas, with small-scale but regular outbreaks in domestic pigs, is not well understood. ASFV has not been detected using conventional diagnosis in these pigs or adjacent populations of resistant African wild pigs, that could act as potential carriers during the outbreaks. However, such data are crucial for the design of evidence-based control strategies.

Constraints and efficiency of cattle marketing in semiarid pastoral system in Kenya.

Livestock keeping is regarded as a store of wealth for pastoralists in Kenya, besides their social and cultural functions. The objective of this study was to prioritize constraints to cattle marketing in a semiarid pastoral area of Narok in Kenya and to analyze efficiency of cattle marketing in transit markets located in Garissa, Kajiado and Narok counties. Primary data collection from traders was done through participatory interviews and market surveys, while time series market price data were obtained from secondary sources.