Abstract Background:Viral hepatitis is a major concern worldwide, with hepatitis A (HAV) and E (HEV) viruses showing sporadic outbreaks while hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses are associated with chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The present study determined the proportion, geographic distribution and molecular characterization of hepatitis viruses among patients seeking medical services at hospitals throughout Kenya. Methods:Patients presenting with jaundice at ...
Abstract Trebouxiophytes of the Dictyosphaerium–morphotype from inland waters of Africa were studied using a polyphasic approach of SSU and ITS rDNA phylogeny, secondary structure of the ITS and observations made with a light microscope. Although the morphological criteria for differentiating species and genera are scarce, the genetic diversity of these algae was very high. Based on our genetic analysis findings, we described four new genera containing five new species: Compactochlorella d...
Abstract The last two decades have witnessed increasing episodes of lesser flamingo die-offs in East Africa. Based on data on phytoplankton composition, biomass, and flamingo population density in three alkaline-saline lakes of Kenya (Bogoria, Nakuru, and Oloidien) in 2001–2010, this study explored the link between sudden flamingo deaths and fluctuations in algal food quantity and quality. The phytoplankton biomass ranged from 13 to 768 mg Æ L)1. Similarly, flamingo numbers varied widely ...
Abstract In the present study, significative HAB’S bloom was confirmed in Matanchén Bay during Febrary 2003. The Raphidophice Fibrocapsa cf. japonica, Toriumi et Takano 1973 (=Chatonella japonica) has dominated (97%) red tide event occurring lately in coastal waters of Nayarit state, with high cell concentration of 4-6 millions of cells per liter of water. The duration of this bloom could not be determined exactly due to limiting sampling. There have been no reports of fish kills or human...
Abstract BACKGROUND: Development of “combination” assays detecting in parallel, within a single test, Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) antigens and antibodies, not only reduces the window period in HCV-infection but also costs. Reduction of costs is important for developing countries where money and personal resources are limited. METHODS: We compared the Monolisa® HCV Antigen-Antibody Ultra (Bio-Rad Laboratories Limited, Marnes La Coquette, France) with the AXSYM HCV version 3.0 (Abbot Diagnost...
Abstract Kibera slum is characterized by poor sanitation hence the frequent outbreaks of diarrheal diseases. Emergence of antibiotic resistance by diarrhoea-causing bacteria is an inevitable challenge in the area. Diarrhea-causing bacteria were isolated from water, soil, vegetables, meat and dry foods samples and their antibiotic susceptibility was characterized. 237 samples were aseptically collected and analyzed. Morphological and biochemical characterization was done using Bergey’s manu...
Abstract Background Development of “combination” assays detecting in parallel, within a single test, Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) antigens and antibodies, not only reduces the window period in HCV-infection but also costs. Reduction of costs is important for developing countries where money and personal resources are limited. Methods We compared the Monolisa® HCV Antigen-Antibody Ultra (Bio-Rad Laboratories Limited, Marnes La Coquette, France) with the AXSYM HCV version 3.0 (Abbot Diagnostic...
Abstract The Lesser Flamingos constantly commute between the soda lakes of East Africa in search of food. Their preferred food, the cyanobacterium Arthrospira fusiformis, usually establishes dense populations in saline–alkaline habitats. However, the algal food resources are not stable and crash unexpectedly from time to time. Hence any site that provides food in suitable quality and quantity makes a valuable contribution to the survival of these nearly endangered birds. This paper reports...
Abstract Termites constitute part of diverse and economically important termite fauna in Africa, but information on gut microbiota and their associated soil microbiome is still inadequate. In this study, we assessed and compared the bacterial diversity and community structure between termites’ gut, their mounds and surrounding soil using the 454 pyrosequencing-based analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences. A wood-feeder termite (Microcerotermes sp.), three fungus-cultivating termites (Macroter...
Abstract The food web of the saline-alkaline Lake Nakuru is dominated by the cyanobacterium Arthrospira fusiformis as the primary producer and a huge population of Lesser Flamingos as direct consumers. However, the dense blooms of Arthrospira are not stable, and collapse irregularly and unpredictably. During such periods they are replaced by other algae or cyanobacteria. The wide fluctuation in the cyanobacterial and algal populations of Lake Nakuru has a great influence on food availability...
Abstract Limited information is available on reduced cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) and green gram (Vigna radiata L.Wilczek.) yields in Kenya. Declining soil fertility and absence or presence of ineffective indigenous rhizobia in soils are assumptions that have been formulated but still require to be demonstrated. In this study, soils were collected from legume growing areas of Western (Bungoma), Nyanza (Bondo), Eastern (Isiolo), Central (Meru) and Coast (Kilifi) provinces in Kenya to a...
Abstract: Some entomopathogenic fungi species, Isaria fumosorosea, and Hirsutella citriformis were found to be efficient against the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae). However, the susceptibility to these fungi increases when the psyllid infected with Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las), which is transmitted by D. citri and causes citrus greening disease. In this study, we examined the Las-infected and Las-uninfected D. citri susceptibility to entomopa...
Abstract: The inoculation methods, the fungal strains, and several other factors are known to influent the success of fungal entomopathogens colonization in plants. The physiological status of the plant could also be another determinant. In the present study, the ability of three strains of Beauveria bassiana and one strain of Metarhizium anisopliae to successfully colonize Citrus limon plants and the influence of seedling age on endophytic colonization success was examined. Three, 4, and 6 ...
Abstract: Campylobacter species have developed resistance to existing antibiotics. The development of alternative therapies is, therefore, a necessity. This study evaluates the susceptibility of Campylobacter strains to selected natural products (NPs) and frontline antibiotics. Two C. jejuni strains (ATCC® 33560TM and MT947450) and two C. coli strains (ATCC® 33559TM and MT947451) were used. The antimicrobial potential of the NPs, including plant extracts, essential oils, and pure phytochem...
Abstract: Utilization of Ruspolia differens Serville as functional food ingredient is rapidly gaining popularity. This study evaluated the nutrient quality, microbial safety and consumers’ acceptability of cereal-based cookies fortified with various processed products of R. differens meals. Cookies fortified with blanched, boiled, and toasted R. differens meals had higher protein, fat and energy levels, respectively, than the control cookies. Enrichment of cookies with differentially proce...