Dietary Mycotoxins: An Overview on Toxicokinetics, Toxicodynamics, Toxicity, Epidemiology, Detection, and Their Mitigation with Special Emphasis on Aflatoxicosis in Humans and Animals.

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of filamentous fungi and ubiquitous dietary contaminants. Aflatoxins, a group of mycotoxins with high prevalence and toxicity, have raised a high level of public health concern, the most prevalent and toxic being aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Many aspects appertaining to AFB1 poisoning are not well understood.

The Anopheles coluzzii range extends into Kenya: detection, insecticide resistance profiles and population genetic structure in relation to conspecific populations in West and Central Africa.

Background: Anopheles coluzzii is a primary vector of malaria found in West and Central Africa, but its presence has hitherto never been documented in Kenya. A thorough understanding of vector bionomics is important as it enables the implementation of targeted and effective vector control interventions. Malaria vector surveillance efforts in the country have tended to focus on historically known primary vectors.

The range extends into Kenya: Detection, insecticide resistance profiles and population genetic structure in relation to conspecific populations in West and Central Africa.

Background: is a primary vector of malaria found in West and Central Africa, but its presence has hitherto never been documented in Kenya. A thorough understanding of vector bionomics is important as it enables the implementation of targeted and effective vector control interventions. Malaria vector surveillance efforts in the country have tended to focus on historically known primary vectors.

A scoping review on tsetse fly blood meal sources and its assay methods since 1956 to 2022.

Background: Tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) are the definitive biological vectors of African trypanosomes in humans and animals. Controlling this vector is the most promising method of preventing trypanosome transmission.

Effects of increased plastic film residues on soil properties and crop productivity in agro-ecosystem.

Intensive use of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic films in agro-ecosystems has raised considerable concerns due to the increasing film residues in soils. It is unclear how the increased film residues affect soil properties and crop productivity and whether biodegradable (Bio) film can substitute LDPE. To address the issue, we designed a landfill experiment with different addition levels of plastic residue into soils of maize (Zea mays L.

Improved Sample Selection and Preparation Methods for Sampling Plans Used to Facilitate Rapid and Reliable Estimation of Aflatoxin in Chicken Feed.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a toxic fungal metabolite associated with human and animal diseases, is a natural contaminant encountered in agricultural commodities, food and feed. Heterogeneity of AFB1 makes risk estimation a challenge. To overcome this, novel sample selection, preparation and extraction steps were designed for representative sampling of chicken feed.

Repellent Effects of Selected Organic Leaf Extracts of (Hemsl.) A. Gray and (O. Hoffman) against Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Introduction: infestation is among the major setbacks to sustainable maize farming and availability. It causes an estimated annual loss of 5-10% and 20-30% of the total maize grains loss in the temperate and tropical zones, respectively. Although synthetic pesticides are quick and effective in managing crop pests, their overuse and misuse is discouraged due to their detrimental effects on human and environment.

Dual plastic film and straw mulching boosts wheat productivity and soil quality under the El Nino in semiarid Kenya.

The extreme climate events such as El Nino seriously threaten crop production and agro-ecological sustainability because of the aggravated environmental stresses worldwide, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. To address this issue, we investigated the effects of dual plastic film and straw mulching in ridge-furrow (RF) system on wheat productivity, soil carbon and nitrogen stocks in a semiarid area in Kenya from 2015 to 2017. The experimental site represents a typical semiarid continental monsoon climate, and soil type is chromic vertisols.

Transcription factors CncC/Maf and AhR/ARNT coordinately regulate the expression of multiple GSTs conferring resistance to chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin in Spodoptera exigua.

Background: Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are a superfamily of multifunctional dimeric proteins existing in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. They are involved in the detoxification of both endogenous and exogenous electrophiles, including insecticides. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of GST genes in insects are poorly understood.

Volatile Compounds of Endophytic Bacillus spp. have Biocontrol Activity Against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

To develop an effective biological agent to control Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, three endophytic Bacillus spp. strains with high antagonistic activity were isolated from maize seed and characterized. In vitro assays revealed that the Bacillus endophytes could produce volatile organic compounds (VOC) that reduced sclerotial production and inhibited mycelial growth of S.

No apparent reduction in schistosome burden or genetic diversity following four years of school-based mass drug administration in mwea, central kenya, a heavy transmission area.

Background: Schistosomiasis is a debilitating neglected tropical disease that infects over 200 million people worldwide. To combat this disease, in 2012, the World Health Organization announced a goal of reducing and eliminating transmission of schistosomes. Current control focuses primarily on mass drug administration (MDA).

Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of Kenyan human bocavirus isolates.

Introduction: The commonly expected causative agents associated with flu-like symptoms in Kenya are the classical viral pathogens identifiable as influenza virus, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, enteroviruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and rhinovirus. However, newer agents have been identified globally that present with illnesses clinically indistinguishable from those caused by the classical pathogens; one of them is human bocavirus.

Methodology: A total of 384 specimens were analyzed, primarily to determine if the emerging human bocavirus (HBoV) infections exist in Kenya as coinfections with other respiratory viruses and to describe the genotype of the virus in circulation.

Comparison of volatile blends and nucleotide sequences of two Beauveria bassiana isolates of different virulence and repellency towards the termite Macrotermes michealseni.

Isolates of the fungus Beauveria bassiana have different levels of virulence and repellency against the termite Macrotermes michaelseni. In the present study, we compared the volatile profiles and gene sequences of two isolates of the fungus with different levels of virulence and repellence to the termite. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analyses showed quantitative and qualitative differences in the composition of volatiles of the two isolates.

Selection of promising fungal biological control agent of the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande).

Aims: Larval stages of Frankliniella occidentalis are known to be refractory to fungal infection compared with the adult stage. The objective of this study was to identify promising fungal isolate(s) for the control of larval stages of F. occidentalis.

Comparison of volatile blends and gene sequences of two isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae of different virulence and repellency toward the termite Macrotermes michaelseni.

Previously, we reported an interesting relationship between virulence and repellency of different isolates of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae towards the termite Macrotermes michaelseni: the higher the virulence of a given isolate, the greater its repellency. In the present study, we compared the volatile profiles of two isolates, one that was more virulent (and repellent) and one that was less virulent (and repellent) to the termite. The prominent components of the two blends were characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and authenticated by gas chromatography co-injections with synthetic standards.

Relationship between virulence and repellency of entomopathogenic isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana to the termite Macrotermes michaelseni.

Termites encounter a diverse array of potentially useful and harmful fungi in their subterranean habitats. These vary from symbiotic to harmful species with varying levels of virulence. How these hemiedaphic insects survive in habitats with infective fungi is not well understood.

Genetic diversity and population structure of Schistosoma mansoni within human infrapopulations in Mwea, central Kenya assessed by microsatellite markers.

A recently developed high-throughput technique that allows multi-locus microsatellite analysis of individual miracidia of Schistosoma mansoni was used to assess the levels of genetic diversity and population structure in 12 infrapopulations of the parasite, each infrapopulation derived from an infected school child from the Mwea area, central Kenya. The mean number of alleles per locus was in the range 8.22-10.

Microsatellite typing reveals strong genetic structure of Schistosoma mansoni from localities in Kenya.

Genetic diversity and population structure of seven populations of Schistosoma mansoni sampled in Kenya were assessed using five microsatellite markers. The mean number of alleles per locus, expected heterozygosity in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and pairwise F(ST) values ranged from 5.2 to 10.