Feeding preferences of the field cricket Scapsipedus icipe (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) for different species of Commelina

The field cricket, Scapsipedus icipe Hugel and Tanga (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) is edible and could be used to reduce malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa. As the demand for cricket products is increasing, there is a need to find cost-effective ways of rearing this cricket using locally available and affordable sources of food. This study evaluated the feeding preferences of the field cricket S. icipe for 11 species of dayflowers (Commelina spp.; Commelinaceae), using no-choice and multiple-choice experiments in controlled environments. Leaf feeding rates and the nutrient content and phytochemicals of the plants were determined. The ANOVA results indicate significantly higher feeding rates when offered Commelina petersii and C. forskaolii, than Commelina sp. and C. purpurea in no-choice experiments. Multiple-choice experiments ranked C. petersii as the most preferred species followed by C. forskaolii and the two reference species, C. benghalensis var. benghalensis (non-hybrid variant) and C. benghalensis (hybrid variant). The Spearman correlation and PCA revealed positive significant associations between leaf feeding and Ca and NDF content of leaves and a negative significant association between Ca and NDF. A high Ca/low NDF content was recorded for C. petersii and a low Ca/high NDF content for C. purpurea. The beta regression analysis and a biplot identified six phytochemical constituents influencing leaf feeding: phenols, alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, saponins and anthraquinones. Phenols stimulate feeding by S. icipe on C. petersii and C. forskaolii, whereas the tannins and alkaloids in Commelina sp. and C. purpurea, acted as deterrents. Nutrient content and phytochemicals are two important factors determining the suitability of species of Commelina for the field cricket S. icipe. Based on the results of this study, the leaves of C. petersii are highly recommended as a source of food for the mass rearing of this field cricket (S. icipe) and boosting entomophagy in Sub-Saharan Africa

Spatial Variations in Aquatic Insect Community Structure in the Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria, Kenya

Background. Aquatic insect community structure is dynamic due to threats by anthropogenic activities coupled with changing climatic conditions. The insect’s survival is dependent on the substrate, water quality, and environmental effects. The changes in water quality influence their distribution and abundance and are reflected in spatial and temporal trends. This study sought to document the effects of spatial variation on aquatic insects in Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria, Kenya. Materials and Methods. Systematic random design was used in sampling, and water quality parameters were assessed. Insects were sampled by profundal lake procedure, pooled, sorted, and identified based on the morphological approach and diversity indices analyzed. The relationship between insects and water quality was established. Results. Statistical homogeneity in water quality parameters was documented with the exception of nitrates, nitrites, soluble reactive phosphorus, ammonium, and silicates, which displayed significant variation at p<0.05. A total of 383 individual insects representing 19 species, 19 genera, 16 families, and six orders were obtained from Winam Gulf. Hemiptera, Ephemeroptera, and Diptera were the most predominant orders, respectively. Chironomus spp. and Ablebesmyia spp. were representatives of the Chironomidae family. Species distribution and water quality were determined using cluster analysis (CA) and conical correspondence analysis (CCA). Conclusion. The findings of this study demonstrated that spatial variations were associated with change in water quality and had a corresponding influence on insect community structure

Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Toxigenic Aspergillus flavus from Groundnut Kernels in Kenya

Pathogenesis of Aspergillus flavus on important agricultural products is a key concern on human health due to the synthesis and secretion of the hazardous secondary metabolite, aflatoxin. This study identified and further characterized aflatoxigenic A. flavus from groundnuts sampled from sundry shops in Kenya using integrated morphological and molecular approaches. The groundnuts were plated on potato dextrose agar for isolation and morphological observation of A. flavus based on macroscopic and microscopic features. Molecular characterization was done through amplification and comparison of the partial sequence of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region. The expression analysis of aflR, aflS, aflD, aflP, and aflQ genes in the aflatoxin biosynthesis pathways was conducted to confirm the positive identification of A. flavus. The gene expression also aided to delineate toxigenic isolates of A. flavus from atoxigenic ones. Morphologically, 18 isolates suspected to be A. flavus were identified. Out of these, 14 isolates successfully amplified the 500 bp ITS region of A. flavus or Aspergillus oryzae, while 4 isolates were not amplified. All the remaining 14 isolates expressed at least one of the aflatoxigenic genes but only 5 had all the genes expressed. Partial sequencing revealed that isolates 5, 11, 12, 13, and 15 had 99.2%, 97.6%, 98.4%, 97.5%, and 100% homology, respectively, to the A. flavus isolate LUOHE, ITS-5.8S-ITS2, obtained from the NCBI database. The five isolates were accurate identification of atoxigenic A. flavus. Precise identification of toxigenic strains of A. flavus will be useful in establishing control strategies of the fungus in food products

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially