ABSTRACT Sweetpotato is a major food security crop grown in Kenya. Its production is however limited due to high prevalence of pests and diseases among other factors. Cultural control appears to be the most promising strategy in curbing this problem. However, the recommended cultural control practices are based on farming practices in Asia and United States of America that may not be appropriate for subsistence farmers found in Kenya. This study sought to establish farmers’ knowledge on swe...
ABSTRACT Malaria in sub-Saharan Africa is transmitted mainly by Anopheles gambiae Complex mosquitoes. One way of controlling these vectors is by targeting their aquatic stages, which is anticipated to cause significant reduction in adult vectors, hence in malaria transmission. Use of insect growth regulator, Pyriproxyfen, is one potential way of controlling malaria vectors. This study set out to determine the nymphocidal activity of Pyriproxyfen on non-target aquatic dragonfly nymphs during i...
Abstract This cross-sectional study was conducted in Shendi city, River Nile State- Sudan to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection and their associated risk factors among children during the period from March 2018 to March 2019. The study was conducted on 272 children, 137 (50.4%) were males and 135 (49.6%) were females. Fecal samples were taken from all children included in the study, in addition to the epidemiological and parasitological data were obtained and recorded...
ABSTRACT Napier stunting (Ns) disease, caused by Rice Yellow Dwarf (RYD) phytoplasma, is a big threat to Napier grass production and food security in Kenya. The disease destroys fodder completely, with a devastating impact on livestock farmers. To control the disease, this study described the four components of Ns-disease pathosystem; phytolasma itself as the causative pathogen, the host plant susceptible to phytoplasma, the insect as a competent vector, and the alternative sources of phytop...
ABSTRACT The chemical composition of C. lusitanica and E. saligna essential oils was determined and leaf essential oils evaluated for contact and fumigant toxicity, repellence and reproduction inhibition effects against S. cerealella, A. obtectus, S. zeamais and T.castaneum. Bioassays were carried out at temperature of 28±2oC and relative humidity of 65±5% and laid out in CRD with four replicates per treatment. In all bioassays, essential oils were applied at 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20...
Over dependence on insecticides for the control of diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L ) has resulted in development of resistant strains and health hazards due to toxic residues in cabbage. The present study was undertaken to evaluate resistance in DBM and to assess the contribution of residues of insecticides used for DBM control on resistance development. A preliminary survey conducted in Accra and Mampong-Akuapem, revealed inappropriate agronomic practices as the main cause of ...
ABSTRACT In a study of the life cycle of Amblyomma variegatum under laboratory conditions of 72%±2 RH and temperature of 28°C±2, the feeding periods of larvae and nymphs on rabbits were 6-9 days and 6-13 days respectively, while that of adults on sheep was 17-19 days. The mean unfed weights of larva, nymph and adult were 0.149 x 10-3g, 0.906 X 10-3g and 28.5 x 10-3g respectively, while their mean fed weights were 2.14 x 10-3g, 48.6 x 10-3g and 2874 x 10-3g respectively. The moulting perio...
ABSTRACT The biological activity of dry, ground plant parts (dust) and tablets of Zanthoxylum xanthoxyloides (Lam.) was assessed in both the laboratory and on the field against the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). Dry ground leaves, bark and roots were prepared in various proportions of 60% leaves and 40% roots; 70% leaves and 30% roots; 80% leaves and 20% roots; 90% leaves a...
ABSTRACT The study examined the effect of temperature on the effectiveness of the triple-layer hermetic bag in controlling P. truncatus and S. zeamais damaging maize in the store and how the temperature affects the tensile strength of the polyethene material used. The specific objectives include the determination of the moisture content, oxygen depletion rate and seed viability of the maize. Five (5) kilogrammes of local maize variety (Abrodenkye) with the initial moisture content of 14.6% w...
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the morphology of Macrotermes bellicosus present on some parts of the University of Ibadan and to determine the effect of the saliva of termites on the strength of termitarium. Termites were collected from 8 termitaria on Parry Road, University of Ibadan and characteristics morphometrics were measured using stage graticules (10mm) on Microscope. Amylase analysis was conducted to determine the activity of the saliva content in the termitarium ...
ABSTRACT The chemotherapy of gastrointestinal helminthiasis relies mainly on the use of anthelmintics. However, concerns over drug resistance have encouraged the search for new drug leads. This project report focused on evaluating the toxicity and anthelminthic effect produced in vitro and in vivo by the methanol extract of Duranta erecta fruits. From the study, the plant extract was found to contain several chemical components including flavonoids, tannins, polyuronides, saponins, glycoside...
ABSTRACT Studies were earned out on the effects of variety and processed form of cassava chips on the development of Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and Araecerus fasciculatus (Degeer) (Coleoptera: Anthribidae). Additionally, changes in the nutrient composition of the chips due to infestation, and the influence of major nutrients on the population parameters of these insects were also studied Statistical analysis of insect preference to the processed chips in a choice...
ABSTRACT The damage caused by Corcyra cephalonic a and Araecenus fasciculatus to cocoa beans was studied at the Research Department o f Quality Control Division o f COCOBOD, Tema. The study included breeding o f the two insects on cocoa beans to investigate the biology, fecundity and progeny production o f the two insect species. The free fatty acid level o f cocoa beans was also determined and the change in this level due to insect damage was calculated with respect to undamaged ones. The co...
ABSTRACT Anopheles gambiae s.s. larval habitats are important determinants of adult distribution and abundance, which also determines the geographical pattern of malaria disease. Information on their habitat characteristics can contribute greatly to better planning of its control strategies through environmental management. To identify the environmental parameters, which influence the distribution of An. gambiae s.s. larval populations in urban Accra, Ghana, 30 habitats with An. gambiae s.I....
ABSTRACT Malaria is a threat to more than 40% of the world's population accounting for more than 300 million acute cases and between 1.1 and 2.7 million deaths annually. Over 90% of the malaria cases are in sub-Saharan Africa, constituting 10% of the total disease burden. Currently, activities support the extensive use of insecticide-treated materials for malaria control. However, these efforts are threatened by the evolution of resistance in the main malaria vectors, Anopheles gambiae s.l. ...