ABSTRACT Chickpea (Cicer arientinum L.) is an important dry land legume whose full potential in Kenya has not been realized due to abiotic and biotic stresses. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the use of seed treatment and foliar sprays as disease management options against Ascochyta blight caused by Ascochyta rabiei in chickpea. The study was conducted in two sites; Egerton University Njoro and Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) Koibatek. One genotype Chania Desi (ICCV97105) was...
ABSTRACT Reproductive tract infections (RTIs) are a major public health problem especially in the developing world. As part of measures to control the spread of these infections, the World Health Organization recommended syndromic management. This study set out to determine the prevalence patterns, molecular characteristics and antibiotic susceptibility of reproductive tract pathogens isolated from women of child bearing age with the aim of contributing useful information to policy formulati...
ABSTRACT Fresh peeled and grated cassava mash was blended with toasted African yam bean seed flour (TAYBSF) in ratios of 95:5, 90:10, 85:15 and 80:20 w/w cassava : African yam bean seed prior to fermentation (PreGAF samples) and after fermentation (PoGAF samples). Gari without African yam bean seed flour served as the control. Fermentation was done for 2 days after which the samples were dewatered. The dewatered samples were sieved, toasted and evaluated for chemical composition and function...
The emergence of bacterial resistance to existing antibiotics and other drugs is a worldwide problem. New classes of antimicrobial compounds with complete new mode of action are therefore urgently needed to control the rise of the multidrug resistant pathogens. The objective of this study was to synthesize and characterize half-sandwich organometallic compounds of ruthenium(II) containing bipyridine and pyridine- imine ligands and to test their biological activities against one Gram posi...
Rhipicephalus appendiculatus is a tick that transmit East Coast Fever to livestock. Use of synthetic acaricides for tick control, is limited by high costs, resistance, presence of chemical residues in animal products and environmental pollution. The use of plant-based products as a control strategy is regarded safe, and is widespread among pastoralists in Kenya and other parts of Africa. This study aimed at screening extracts of selected plants against Rhipicephalus appendiculatus larvae...
ABSTRACT The chemistry of natural products is very important since it has been used in the search for bioactive compounds for management of various human diseases including cancer. The increase in the incidence of cancer coupled with the undesirable side effects observed with chemotherapic agents urges the discovery of new agents from natural sources. In this study the four ethnomedicinal plants; Dovyalis abyssinica (Salicaceae), Solanum mauense (Solanaceae), Syzigium guinense (Myrtaceae) and...
vi ABSTRACT Mango (Mangifera indica L.) and Banana (Musa acuminata L.) are important tropical fruits ripen quickly and have a short postharvest life and commercialization window. In Mozambique, about 40 % of these fruits have been lost. In order to recommend small and medium enterprises in post-harvest fruit preservation, there is a need to develop appropriate alternative techniques for the post-harvest handling of fruits. In this work, the extension of the shelf-life of fresh mango and bana...
ABSTRACT The incorporation of whole chickpea (Kabuli) flour into sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) wheat composite flour could improve nutritional quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) bread. The aim of the study was to produce bread using sorghum genotype EUS130 and chickpea, compare physical and baking properties, nutrient levels, in vitro protein digestibility, shelf life and sensory acceptability. Randomized Complete Block Design was used to compare different breads. Sorghum-wheat com...
ABSTRACT Wuchereria bancrofti is the most widely distributed of the three nematodes known to cause lymphatic filariasis, the other two being Brugia malayi and B. timori. The present study was carried out to investigate strains of W. bancrofti in mosquito vectors responsible for lymphatic filariasis transmission in Pangani district, north-eastern Tanzania. In addition, the vector abundance and vector infection rates were investigated. The presence of W. bancrofti in mosquitoes was determined...
The prevalence of stunting is very high in Africa (33.9%) despite global decline from 32.6 to 22.2% between 2000 and 2017; and over 33% of all stunted children live in Sub Saharan Africa. In Malawi, 37.1% of under-five children are stunted, 12% are underweight and 3% are wasted. Dedza district has very high prevalence of stunting (43%) despite various interventions to improve child nutrition. The most mothers do not follow standard practices of ensuring food safety, hygiene and dietary d...
ABSTRACT An entomological survey was conducted in the lowland and highland of Gonja Maore and Bombo villages respectively in Same District north - eastern Tanzania. The aim of this survey was to estimate the malaria vectors abundance and to determine the malaria vector composition of Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funestus sibling species. Mosquitoes were collected from two identified villages with houses preferred for mosquito resting. In each of the selected village, twelve houses were pr...
ABSTRACT The presence of aflatoxins in foods and feeds is respectively a health hazard to human and animals. Cereals, especially maize have been reported to be susceptible to aflatoxin contamination. This study was carried out to investigate aflatoxin levels in maize flour as influenced by maize storage and milling practices in Gairo district, Morogoro region. Quantification was preceded by a purposive cross-sectional survey focusing on storage and milling practices. Based on the survey, the...
ABSTRACT Milk is a rich source of proteins and contains all the essential amino acids and other nutrients. However, only 13% of children below five years in Kenya consume milk and milk products. This study aimed at determining the milk consumption patterns and nutritional status of children aged 24-59 months from smallholder dairy households (DHs) and non-dairy households (NDHs) from peri-urban (Bahati) and rural (Olenguruone) areas in Nakuru County, Kenya. A cross-sectional survey was conduc...
ABSTRACT Most communities in Western Kenya use plant indigenous salts for cooking, medicinal and numerous uses. Typha latifolia and Cyperus rotundus reeds are widely used in Busia and Lugari regions of Western Kenya to prepare indigenous salts. The suitability of these salts and validation of micronutrients and heavy metals is unknown. The objective of this study was to assess the suitability of the indigenous reed salt used in selected parts of Western Kenya. Micronutrients and heavy metal c...
ABSTRACT Major obstacles to the survival of children below the age of five in developing world include malnutrition, inaccessibility to safe water and infections due to parasitic worms such as soil transmitted helminths. This cross-sectional study was undertaken in Marani subcounty, Kisii County, to determine the prevalence rate and potential risk factors of soil transmitted helminths (STH) amongst preschool age children. Stool samples were collected from 106 preschool age children. Data rega...