ABSTRACT Protein-energy malnutrition remains a huge problem for children in sub-Saharan Africa. Kenyan children are no exception. These children rely on cereal porridge such as finger millet (Eleusine coracana) for nutrient supply. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), a locally available nutritious legume, could be an excellent complement to lysine-deficient millet diets. Therefore, the present study aimed at innovatively improving the protein quality and sensory properties of the complementary food, ...
ABSTRACT The Schiff base ligand, 2-[(E)-[{3--[(2-hydroxybenzylidene)amino]phenyl}imino)methyl]phenol was synthesized by condensing 1,3-diaminobenzene and 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde in absolute ethanol. Its Cr(III) and Cr(VI) complexes were equally synthesized. The ligand was characterized via UV, IR and NMR spectroscopy, whereas the complexes were characterized based on UV and IR spectroscopy and conductivity values. Stoichiometric studies indicated 1:1 metal to ligand ratio for both complexes. C...
ABSTRACT Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) is an indigenous fruit tree occurring in the savannah drylands of sub-Saharan Africa. A vast population of people in this region suffers from hidden hunger and malnutrition. Baobab fruits are a source of micronutrients, and their utilization in local diets has potential to improve health of the rural poor. The present study was conducted to determine the nutritional characteristics of baobab pulp and seeds across Africa geographical regions. Mature baob...
ABSTRACT Paka volcano is situated in active northern Kenya rift. It is considered one of the geothermal prospects. It has been covered by most studies that focused on the regional tectonic evolution of the East Africa Rift, lithospheric and crustal structural analysis. However, regional analysis overlooked local analysis, where key geothermal structural features like thin massive intrusive and shallow faults that are significant have remained relatively poorly constrained. Hence, the key conc...
ABSTRACT The poultry industry, especially chicken production has in recent times faced a major setback due to devastating effects of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactases (ESBL) producing organisms.This research aimed at investigating the diversity of ESBL genes in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli(APEC) among scavenging local chickens. A total of 400 cloacal and oropharyngeal swabs were obtained, out of which 192 Escherichia coli were isolated. By use of virulence factor profiling, these 192 samp...
ABSTRACT Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a large group of organic compounds included in the European Union and US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) priority pollutant list because of their mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. Several studies have shown that exposure to benzo[A]pyrene (BaP), a member of the PAHs increases the risk of cancer. PAHs have been the subject of much concern in the recent years due to their toxic potential. They are known as highly stable contamina...
ABSTRACT Agricultural land is an important resource for farm households as it forms the base for their livelihoods. Therefore, the manner in which households utilize this resource influences to a large extent their food security situation. This study sought to establish the impact of agricultural land use on household food security in Kisii Central sub-County, Kisii County. To achieve this objective the study focused on the following; examination of the various land use activities, assessment...
ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of juices manufactured and sold for immediate consumption in Dar es Salaam Municipalities, Tanzania. The assessments were based on identifying the levels of preservatives, hygienic practices in manufacturing industries and determine microbiological quality of the juices. High Performance Liquid Chromatographic (HPLC) method was modified and validated for determination of benzoic and sorbic acids, while direct titration method was ...
ABSTRACT Visible light plays an important role in the survival of species in our ecosystem. Light signals control seed germination, leaf expansion and stem elongation. Visible light consists of electric and magnetic fields. Earlier studies have focused on the exposure of magnetic field for a short span on the growth of plants, this study will investigate the effect of magnetic field on the whole lifespan of spinach with emphasis on its effect on chlorophyll and elemental composition. In this ...
ABSTRACT Terminalia superba Engl. & Diels (Combretaceae), is a member of the genus Terminalia that comprises around 100 species distributed in tropical regions of the world. In Africa it is found along the coast of west and central Africa. It has different uses in traditional medicine such as antimalarial, anti-diabetic, anti-fungal, and anti-hypertensive in the areas where it is found. Most of these uses are yet to be scientifically investigated. The powdered stem bark of Terminalia superba...
ABSTRACT Mosquito-borne viruses are an important cause of human and domestic diseases worldwide. As crucially important emerging pathogens, they have caused multiple, notable and unnoticed epidemics of human disease over recent decades. All mosquitoborne viruses circulate within sylvatic cycles among wildlife and forest mosquitoes and may cause diseases in rural and urban populations after spillover transmission to human and domestic animals. The aim of this study was to determine mosquito d...
ABSTRACT Respiratory infections cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide and are the second leading causes of death in Tanzania. Several studies involving national sentinel surveillance for influenza and epidemiology of influenza have been conducted in Tanzania. However, there is a dearth in information on the aetiology of respiratory diseases. This study screened for influenza viruses in subject with influenza-like illnesses in selected areas of Tanzania. A total of 735 subjects...
ABSTRACT The most important bovine theilerial species in sub-Saharan Africa, Theileria parva, causes widespread morbidity and mortality in endemic areas. A study was conducted in Kilosa District, Morogoro Region, to determine sero - prevalence of Theileria parva, knowledge, attitude and practices of livestock keepers on East Coast Fever (ECF). The prevalence of ECF in indigenous cattle was determined by measuring serum antibodies to Theileria parva using ELISA technique. Three hundred and ei...
ABSTRACT This study was conducted to establish the spatial and temporal distribution of foot-andmouth disease (FMD) virus (FMDV) serotypes and evaluate the awareness of people on FMD in the eastern zone of Tanzania. Both observational prospective studies involving serological analysis, FMDV antigen detection and questionnaire survey, and retrospective study on FMDV antigen detection were used in this research. Seroprevalence of antibodies to the nonstructural protein 3ABC of FMDV and seroty...
ABSTRACT Control of East Coast fever (ECF) depends on the use of acaricides against ticks, chemotherapy and vaccination. ECF vaccination is based on an infection and treatment method (ITM), which induces life-long immunity if cattle are exposed to mild tick infestation. However, ECF vaccination has several limitations, such as high cost of simultaneously used antibiotics. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether Toll-like receptor 7(TLR7) agonist could effectively induce ...