Publications by authors named "Peter W Kinyanjui"
Human brucellosis diagnosis has been a challenge in Brucella-endemic areas. In Kenya, diagnosis is usually carried out using Febrile Brucella Antigen agglutination test (FBAT) whose performance is not well documented. This paper reports on the sensitivity and specificity of the FBAT used for brucellosis diagnosis on blood samples/serum collected in three healthcare facilities in Baringo County, Kenya, and on Brucella species present in the study area.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The Ixodid tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus is a key vector for the parasite Theileria parva, causing East Coast Fever (ECF) in cattle, which is a significant economic issue in eastern and southern Africa.
- A study assessed the genetic diversity of R. appendiculatus by analyzing mitochondrial and nuclear genes, discovering two distinct haplogroups without any geographical or host-related clustering.
- Results indicated that mitochondrial genes (COI and 12S rDNA) are more effective for studying genetic diversity than the nuclear ITS2 gene, confirming the existence of two major genetic groups of R. appendiculatus.
Article Synopsis
- Rhipicephalus appendiculatus is a key tick species in Africa that carries various pathogens but its genetic variation and population structure are not well understood.
- The study analyzes genetic data from 392 ticks across different regions in Kenya, along with additional lab and other tick species information, to investigate factors affecting their genetic structure.
- Findings reveal low genetic differentiation among wild tick populations and no strong ties to specific mammal hosts, suggesting widespread dispersal and mobility influenced by human activity and wildlife movement.
Article Synopsis
- Researchers found genetic differences among tick populations that spread the protozoan parasite Theileria parva, but the genetic diversity of the ticks (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus) was previously unknown due to a lack of genetic markers.
- They developed 66 micro- and minisatellite markers to analyze genetic diversity in 979 ticks from various populations, of which 29 markers were polymorphic and useful for genetic studies.
- The study revealed that these 29 markers can help distinguish between tick populations and will aid in understanding the phylogeography and population genetics of R. appendiculatus.