ABSTRACT The dispersion parameter in proportions occurring in toxicology, biology, clinical medicine and epidemiology is important in making inference regarding the regression parameters on the mean. Most data in form of proportions often exhibit excess variation (extra-dispersion). This can arise when the data is from different sub-populations (clusters) or when the assumption of independence is violated. The Beta-Binomial distribution has been applied to model over-dispersion in binary res...
Traditional processed camel meat (Nyirinyiri) is a ready to eat meat product prepared traditionally from dehydrated camel meat that is deep fried in fat. The processed product is stored in the same fat and consumed little by little as required because of its long shelf life with desirable taste which pastoral households use in their diets, snack or sell for income. This study analyzed the biochemical, chemical and nutritional status of camel Nyirinyiri from production area in Isiolo Coun...
ABSTRACT Sweet potato an ideal tuber crop due to its hardy nature and consistent performance even in stressful growing conditions. Viral diseases such as sweet potato virus disease (SPVD) complex caused by synergistic interaction of Sweet Potato Feathery Mottle Virus and Sweet Potato Chlorotic Stunt Virus are a major cause of yield losses due to lack of resistant varieties. Breeding, promotion and adoption of orange fleshed sweet potato (OFSPs) varieties can be enhanced by identification of v...
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is one of more than 20 species of soil growing Bacilli, it is an ubiquitous gram positive, aerobic, spore- forming organism that forms parasporal crystals during the stationary phase of its growth cycle. Bt was initially characterized as an insect pathogen, and its insecticidal activity was attributed largely or completely depending on the insect and the parasporal crystals. This study addressed the need to characterize three Bt isolates with varying levels of...
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...