Aqueous Neem Extract Versus Neem Powder on Culex quinquefasciatus: Implications for Control in Anthropogenic Habitats

Control programs using conventional insecticides to target anthropogenic mosquito habitats are very expensive because these habitats are widespread, particularly in cities of most African countries. Additionally, there are serious environmental concerns regarding large-scale application of most conventional insecticides. Clearly there is a need for alternative methods that are more effective, less expensive, and environmentally friendly. One such method would be the application of preparations made from parts of the neem tree, Azadirachta indica A. Jussieu (Sapindales: Meliaceae). In this study, aqueous crude extracts and crude powder were prepared from different parts of neem, and the efficacies of the preparations on juvenile stages of Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) were evaluated in the laboratory. When larvae were exposed to a concentration of 0.1 g/mL extract for 24 hours, percent mean mortality (± SE) was 72.7 plusmn; 1.8 for the bark, 68.7 ± 1.6 for fruits and 60 ± 1.6 for leaves. These means were not significantly different (χ2 = 4.12; df = 2; p = 0.127). At a concentration of 0.01 g/mL, > 95% of the larvae died within 24 hours of exposure to powdered neem leaf, but it took 120 hours to reach the same level of larval mortality in aqueous leaf extract. The crude extract slowly inhibited the growth and development of mosquitoes while the crude powder acted more as a barrier; the mosquitoes probably died from suffocation. However, both types of preparations can be made and used by local people to control mosquito breeding in anthropogenic habitats, especially in urbanized areas

Adolescent and Young Adult Injuries in Developing Economies: A Comparative Analysis from Oman and Kenya

Background: Adolescence is a distinct period of rapid and dramatic biological, cognitive, psychological, and social development. The burden of injuries among young people (aged 10-24) is both substantial and maldistributed across regions and levels of economic development. Objectives: Our objective was to compare sociodemographic correlates of injury cause, intentionality, and mortality between Kenya and Oman, 2 countries with different levels of economic development and position in the demographic and epidemiologic transitions. Methods: Data on 566 patients in Oman and 5859 in Kenya between 10 and 24 years old were extracted from 2 separate multicenter trauma registries. Multivariable log binomial and Poisson regressions were used to evaluate social and demographic factors associated with injury cause, intentionality, and mortality. Literature on adolescent development was used to parameterize variables, and Akaike information criteria were used in the final model selections. Findings: The trauma registry data indicated a substantial burden of adolescent and young adult injury in both Oman and Kenya, particularly among males. The data indicated significant differences between countries ('P' interpersonal violence also resulting in severe injury across contexts. Both road traffic injuries and interpersonal violence were more common among older adolescents and young adults. Education and being in school were protective against injury, after controlling for gender, age category, occupation, and country. ConclusionsA rising burden of injuries among young people has been documented in every region of the world, irrespective on income status or level of development. Cost-effective injury control measures targeting this age group exist, including involvement in educational, vocational, and other prosocial activities; environmental alterations; and road safety measures

Acaricide resistance in the cattle tick, Amblyomma variegatum, in the coastal savanna zone of Ghana

Field strains of the cattle tick, Amblyomma variegatum, collected from 10 herds scattered in the western part of the coastal savanna zone of Ghana, were tested for resistance to acaricides, according to the FAO Acaricide Test kit. Discriminating doses were obtained from tests with a reference susceptible strain of Boophilus microplus. The LC50 values, where possible, were derived from fitted lines for graphs of mortality rates versus acaricide concentration for the various herds. Tick larvae from all the herds were completely susceptible to cypermethrin (0.025, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, 0.40, and 0.80 %) and flumethrin (0.003, 0.006, 0.012, 0.015, 0.03, 0.06, 0.12, 0.25, and 0.50 %). However, eight herds had significant proportions of tick larvae showing resistance to diazinon at 0.2 per cent concentration, while three herds showed resistance to 0.2 per cent dieldrin. At the discriminating dose of 0. 2 per cent coumaphos, none of the ticks from the herds tested showed resistance. The results indicate possible resistance of field strains of A. variegatum to organophosphates, toxaphene, and/or lindane. The implications of this finding are important, if tick control measures should be effective in the coastal savanna zone of Ghana. Ghana Jnl agric Sci. Vol.32(2) 1999: 199-20

The morphology of a muscular component of myometrium of primipara women with physiological contractile activity

Conducted quantitative light-optical study of structures of biopsy samples of myometrium taken from 5 primiparas aged 21-38 years with physiological contractile activity. It was shown that the smooth muscle cells had different affinity to toluidine blue and were conditionally divided into light, dark and intermediate cells. Estimated the following parameters: the number of smooth muscle cells on 1 mm2 of myometrium, the percentage ratio of each types of muscle cells and cellular diameters. All estimated components have had intergroup variations. Results of this research can be used for comparative analysis of the same parameters in women with pathological contractile activity

Effects of Ingesting Bacillus Thuringiensis (Berliner) Spores on Developmental Stages and Fecundity of Surviving Sesamia Calamistis (Hampson) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner was isolated from dead Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae collected from maize farms in Cape Coast, Ghana. Spores produced from the vegetative cells were incorporated into an artificial diet and fed to 2nd instar S. calamistis larvae. The duration of larval and pupal periods was calculated for both the treated and untreated larvae. Sex ratio was determined. The total numbers of eggs laid by treated and untreated females were recorded. Total generation periods for both the treated and untreated larvae were calculated. 40.9% of treated larvae survived infection and pupated, whilst 75.8% of the untreated larvae pupated. Sex ratio of pupae developing from both the treated and untreated larvae did not differ significantly (P>0.05). Female pupae developing from the untreated larvae were significantly heavier than those from treated larvae (

Phylogenetic Analysis of the Bee Tribe Anthidiini

The phylogenetic relationships among members of long tongue bee tribe Anthidiini (Megachilidae: Megachilinae) were investigated at the Department of Entomology and Wildlife, University of Cape Coast (Ghana) and the Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria (South Af-rica) from July, 2006 to May, 2007. Ten museums located in three continents loaned the 990 specimens used for the studies. Thirty-three ingroup taxa out of the 37 known genera of the world’s Anthidiini and two outgroup genera, were included in a cladistic analysis of the tribe based on 51 adult external morphological characters. The cladograms yielded three major clades which have been erected as subtribes for the world’s Anthidiini, namely Afranthidina, Anthidina and Euaspina. Monophyly of the Anthidiini was confirmed. Based on the result of the cladistic analysis and biogeographic data, it is suggested that the origin and center of radiation for the Anthidiini probably occurred in the southern pantropic region (Southern Africa to South East Asia) of Gondwana. A second and independent migration to the Neotropical region by the prob-able ancestors of the current Neotropic genera is also conceivable

Short Communication - Effects of Calyx Fluid from a Population of Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on the Immune Response of Its Host Busseola fusca Fuller (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Busseola fusca Fuller is one of the major lepidopteran stemborers of maize and sorghum in Africa. Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is an indigenous, gregarious larval endoparasitoid that attacks mid- to late-instar stemborer larvae, which is reported to be one of the most important larval parasitoids of B. fusca in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Previous work has shown that two biotypes of C. sesamiae occur in Kenya which express differential abilities to develop in B. fusca. A biotype from western Kenya successfully develops in B. fusca, while a biotype from the eastern coastal area does not. We treated fourth-instars of B. fusca with calyx fluid from C. sesamiae from western Kenya (Kitale) before offering them to C. sesamiae from the Coast (Mombasa) for oviposition, and found that the eggs were not encapsulated. This suggests that factors in the calyx fluid of C. sesamiae from the western Kenya biotype were responsible for suppressing the immune system of B. fusca. We speculate that polydnaviruses in the calyx fluid were involved in disarming the host immune system, and that the polydnaviruses in the two biotypes are genetically different. RÉSUMÉ En Afrique, le lépidoptère Busseola fusca est l'un des foreurs les plus importants sur le maïs et le sorgho. Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron) (Hyménoptère: Braconidae) est un parasitoïde larvaire grégaire et interne qui attaque les larves des foreurs à partir du troisième stade. Il est considéré comme le parasitoïde indigène le plus important de B. fusca dans plusieurs pays d'Afrique sub-saharienne. Des études antérieures ont montré qu'il existe au Kenya deux biotypes de C. sesamiae ayant différentes capacités de développement dans B. fusca. Le biotype originaire de l'Ouest du Kenya se développe avec succès dans B. fusca, tandis que le biotype originaire de l'Est, sur la côte du Kenya, n'arrive pas á se développer dans B. fusca. Nous avons traité les larves du quatrième stade de B. fusca avec le fluide du calyx de C. sesamiae originaire de l'Ouest du Kenya (Kitale) et les avons offertes à C. sesamiae de la côte (Mombasa) pour ponte, nous avons observé que les oeufs pondus n'étaient pas encapsulés. Ce qui suggère que des facteurs dans le fluide du calyx de C. sesamiae de l'Ouest du Kenya étaient responsables de la suppression du système immunitaire de B. fusca. Nous pensons que des virus presents dans le fluide du calyx sont impliqués dans la suppression du système immunitaire de l'hôte et que les virus des deux biotypes sont probablement différents génétiquement

Understanding patterns of injury in Kenya: Analysis of a trauma registry data from a National Referral Hospital

© 2017 Elsevier Inc. Background Injuries contribute to a substantial proportion of the burden of disease in Kenya. Trauma registries can be a very useful source of data to understand patterns of injuries and serve to provide information about potential improvements in the care of injured patients. In Kenya, health facility-based injury data has been largely administrative. Our aim was to develop and implement a prospective trauma registry at the largest trauma hospital in Kenya, the Kenyatta National Hospital, and to understand the nature of injuries presenting to the hospital, their treatment and care, and their outcomes. Methods An electronic, tablet-based instrument was developed and implemented between January 2014 and June 2015. Data were collected at the emergency department, and patients were followed through disposition from the emergency department or in-patient wards if admitted. Variables included demographics, type of prehospital care received, details of the injury, and initial assessment and disposition from the emergency department or in-patient wards. Bivariate and multiple logistic regressions were used to assess potential risk factors associated with outcomes. Results A total of 8,701 injury patients were included in the registry during the study period. The mean age of the injured patients was 28 years (standard deviation, 26 years). The majority of these patients were males (81.7%). The leading mechanisms of injuries were road traffic injury (41.7%), assault (25.3%), and falls (18.9%). Only 7.4% of patients received prehospital care; 49.6% of injured patients arrived within 1 hour after their injury. Hospital mortality was 4.4% and close to 1% of patients died in the emergency department. The independent predictors of in-hospital death were older age (≥60 years), injury mechanism (burns and road traffic injuries), and admission type (transfer) after controlling for injury severity. Conclusion The establishment of hospital-based trauma registries can be an important tool for injury surveillance. This information will facilitate identifying priority areas for trauma care and quality improvement, as well as guiding the development of injury prevention and control programs

Epidemiology and outcomes of injuries in Kenya: A multisite surveillance study

© 2017 Elsevier Inc. Background Injury is a leading cause of disability and death worldwide, accounting for over 5 million deaths each year. The injury burden is higher in low- and middle-income countries where more than 90% of injury-related deaths occur. Despite this burden, the use of prospective trauma registries to describe injury epidemiology and outcomes is limited in low- and middle-income countries. Kenya lacks robust data to describe injury epidemiology and care. The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiology and outcomes of injuries at 4 referral hospitals in Kenya using hospital-based trauma registries. Methods From January 2014 to May 2015, all injured patients presenting to the casualty departments of Kenyatta National, Thika Level 5, Machakos Level 5, and Meru Level 5 Hospitals were enrolled prospectively. Data collected included demographic characteristics, type of prehospital care received, prehospital time, injury pattern, and outcomes. Results A total of 14,237 patients were enrolled in our study. Patients were predominantly male (76.1%) and young (mean age 28 years). The most common mechanisms of injury were road traffic injuries (36.8%), falls (26.4%), and being struck/hit by a person or object (20.1%). Burn was the most common mechanism of injury in the age category under 5 years. Body regions commonly injured were lower extremity (35.1%), upper extremity (33.4%), and head (26.0%). The overall mortality rate was 2.4%. Significant predictors of mortality from multivariate analysis were Glasgow Coma Scale ≤12, estimated injury severity score ≥9, burns, and gunshot injuries. Conclusion Hospital-based trauma registries can be important sources of data to study the epidemiology of injuries in low- and middle-income countries. Data from such trauma registries can highlight key needs and be used to design public health interventions and quality-of-care improvement programs

Exploring injury severity measures and in-hospital mortality: A multi-hospital study in Kenya

© 2017 Elsevier Ltd Introduction Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have a disproportionately high burden of injuries. Most injury severity measures were developed in high-income settings and there have been limited studies on their application and validity in low-resource settings. In this study, we compared the performance of seven injury severity measures: estimated Injury Severity Score (eISS), Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), Mechanism, GCS, Age, Pressure score (MGAP), GCS, Age, Pressure score (GAP), Revised Trauma Score (RTS), Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) and Kampala Trauma Score (KTS), in predicting in-hospital mortality in a multi-hospital cohort of adult patients in Kenya. Methods This study was performed using data from trauma registries implemented in four public hospitals in Kenya. Estimated ISS, MGAP, GAP, RTS, TRISS and KTS were computed according to algorithms described in the literature. All seven measures were compared for discrimination by computing area under curve (AUC) for the receiver operating characteristics (ROC), model fit information using Akaike information criterion (AIC), and model calibration curves. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to include all trauma patients during the study period who had missing information on any of the injury severity measure(s) through multiple imputations. Results A total of 16,548 patients were included in the study. Complete data analysis included 14,762 (90.2%) patients for the seven injury severity measures. TRISS (complete case AUC: 0.889, 95% CI: 0.866–0.907) and KTS (complete case AUC: 0.873, 95% CI: 0.852–0.892) demonstrated similarly better discrimination measured by AUC on in-hospital deaths overall in both complete case analysis and multiple imputations. Estimated ISS had lower AUC (0.764, 95% CI: 0.736–0.787) than some injury severity measures. Calibration plots showed eISS and RTS had lower calibration than models from other injury severity measures. Conclusions This multi-hospital study in Kenya found statistical significant higher performance of KTS and TRISS than other injury severity measures. The KTS, is however, an easier score to compute as compared to the TRISS and has stable good performance across several hospital settings and robust to missing values. It is therefore a practical and robust option for use in low-resource settings, and is applicable to settings similar to Kenya