ABSTRACT The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Convention on Economic and Social Cultural Rights underpin freedom from hunger and dignified lives for all. The study aimed at developing an innovative methodology for assessment of realization of the right to adequate food at household level and its validation; investigation of realization of the right to adequate food and its influence on food security, perception of rights to adequate food among pastoral and small farm h...
ABSTRACT Molecular characterization and pathogenicity of two isolates of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, one resistant to melarsoprol and the other sensitive to melarsoprol were investigated in Swiss white mice. The two trypanosome populations had been isolated from sleeping sickness patients in Uganda. The study aimed at investigating whether there are any molecular and pathogenesis differences between the two isolates. Each form of parasite was inoculated into eighteen mice at 104 trypanos...
ABSTRACT Vegetable oils are triglycerides extracted from plants. Deep frying is one method which involves submerging the food in hot oil. When this oil is overused it undergoes a series of chemical reactions which may affect human health. This has made it important to study the oxidative stability of selected vegetable oils as relates to the different types of food fried. The main objective was to determine the relative thermal oxidative stability of the palm, corn, peanut, soybean, and sunf...
ABSTRACT Polyethylene (PE) is a polymer of ethylene (ethene) used in the manufacture of packaging bags. The considerable growth in use is due to the beneficial properties it has over other alternatives. These include, extreme versatility, it is light, extreme durability, resistance to chemicals, water and impact, good hygiene properties for food packaging, excellent thermal and electrical insulation properties and relatively inexpensive. However PE disposal is a challenge, resulting in the u...
ABSTRACT Tsetse flies are the cyclical vectors of African trypanosomes, flagellated protozoa parasites that cause sleeping sickness in man and nagana in cattle, diseases collectively known as African trypanosomiasis. Vector reduction and chemotherapy are the main strategies for controlling trypanosomiasis but their limitations necessitate improvement of current and/or development of novel methods. Tsetse has three maternally transmitted bacterial endosymbionts namely Wigglesworthia, Sodalis ...
ABSTRACT Human malaria is the most important disease in tropical countries in terms of morbidity and mortality. Malaria transmission involves complex interactions between Plasmodium falciparum and Anopheles gambiae. For successful establishment of invasion/infection of the Anopheles gambiae midgut the parasite must overcome the immune responses of the vector. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) are a family of zinc metalloendopeptidases known to disrupt subendothelial membranes, destroy tight ju...
ABSTRACT The legume species Lablab purpureus L. Sweet grows in most tropical environments. It is used as a cover crop and green manure and provides a high–protein food for humans and livestock feed. The study was carried out to analyse flavour components and molecular diversity of Kenyan lablab accessions. Twenty four accessions from the National genebank and farmers were evaluated for odour and bitter taste intensities using sensory tests. Analysis of cyanogenic glycosides was carried out...
ABSTRACT Recently, there has been a considerable attention on modeling overdispersed binomial data that occur in toxicology, biology, clinical medicine, epidemiology and other related fields using a class of Binomial mixture distribution. Specifically, Beta-Binomial (BB) and KumaraswamyBinomial distribution (KB) in this class have been extensively used to model the overdispersed Binomial outcomes. A new three parameter binomial mixture distribution namely, McDonald Generalized Beta-Binomial ...
ABSTRACT Maize production in sub-Saharan Africa remains low and the yields are on the decline. This has been attributed to a variety of factors which include soil nutrient depletion and Striga infestation. Soil phosphorous, nitrogen and Striga hermonthica are the major constraints to maize production in Nyanza Province of Kenya. The yields are typical of low input systems ranging below 1.0 t ha-1 against a potential of 5.0 t ha-1 per season. In an attempt to overcome these constraints, field...
ABSTRACT Vector control in the highlands of western Kenya has resulted in a significant reduction of malaria vectors. This has made the current entomological parameters being used to measure transmission to become insensitive and challenging. Antibodies to the Circum-sporozoite protein (CSP) have been associated with transmission intensity and have corresponded well with EIR. The study objective was to determine the association between the level of circum-sporozoite protein and merozoite sur...
ABSTRACT Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) is an important disease causing losses of up to 70% in the most susceptible cultivars. Its effects include: reduced root quality due to pitting, root constriction and necrosis, and reduced number and weight of tuberous roots. To contribute to CBSD management, a study was conducted to: (i) Screen East African cassava landraces and F1 populations for CBSD resistance; (ii) Analyse symptom expression and virus accumulation in CBSV graft inoculated cas...
ABSTRACT Tea industry in Kenya forms the largest agribusiness contributing up to 4% of the country’s gross domestic product and over 26% of total foreign exchange earnings. However, significant revenue is lost when tea is sold in undiversified form. Therefore, this study aimed at determining the biochemical diversity in Kenyan tea clones and their potential for diverse product development. Samples were obtained from 197 tea clones conserved in Kericho and Kangaita substation and assayed fo...
ABSTRACT Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake located about 80 km northwest of Nairobi and lies about 1890 metres above sea level. The freshwater system is used for drinking, washing and livestock watering by more than 600,000 people. However, declining water quality due to environmental perturbations has raised public concerns worldwide. The occurrence of blooms of cyanobacteria has become a serious problem as they produce a wide spectrum of toxins including microcystin which cause various ad...
ABSTRACT Microbial infections remain to be a major global public health challenge. In Kenya, these infections cause significant morbidity and mortality. Their devastating effects are majorly attributed to antimicrobial drug resistance. Nonetheless, the biodiversity and ecology of tropical Basidiomycetes fungi is an untapped source of potential bioactive compounds. Therefore, the current study aimed to isolate and test crude extracts and antimicrobial compounds from Basidiomycetes against sel...
ABSTRACT Different communities in Kenya use a wide variety of indigenous plants for food. About 850 species of plants are used for food. To this group belong Amaranthus species that has important nutrients and a rich array of biologically active secondary metabolites. Corriandrum sativum is a leafy spice/ herb that contain volatile oils from which it derives its flavour and aroma and also antimicrobial properties. Essential oils from fresh leaves of C. sativum were extracted by hydro distill...