Report on the evaluation of surveillance systems relevant to zoonotic diseases in Kenya, 2015: A basis for design of an integrated human–livestock surveillance system

The Zoonoses in Livestock in Kenya (ZooLinK) is a project that seeks to enable Kenya develop an effective surveillance programme for zoonotic diseases (infectious diseases transmissible between animals and human beings). The surveillance programme will be integrated across both human and animal health sectors. To achieve this goal the project will work in close collaboration with Kenyan government departments in responsible for animal and human health. As a prelude to the start of the project, an evaluation of the existing surveillance systems for human and animal health was carried out. The evaluation focused on the national surveillance system and the systems at the western part of Kenya (Busia county, Kakamega county and Bungoma county) where the initial programme will be developed. In conducting the evaluation the investigators used key informant interviews, focused group discussion participant questionnaires, audio recordings and observation for data collection. Data analysis for the qualitative data focused on generating themes or theory around the responses obtained in the key informants interviews and focused group discussions. Univariate analysis was performed by use of simple proportions in calculation for surveillance system attributes like sensitivity, completeness, PVP and Timeliness for the human health surveillance systems. The findings of the evaluation revealed that there was poor linkage between animal health surveillance and the human health surveillance systems. None of the systems had surveillance structures dedicated to zoonotic diseases. Most practitioners used clinical signs for diagnosis of diseases with little reference to acceptable case definitions. Laboratory diagnosis in animal health services focused more on suspected notifiable diseases as opposed to being a standard operating procedure for diagnosis. In Human health services the health care facilities that had laboratory within the facility conducted laboratory diagnosis for cases referred by the clinicians. However, some clinicians preferred using clinical signs for diagnosis to avoid the wait or turn-around time in the laboratory. For effective surveillance of zoonoses to be realized it would be advisable to establish surveillance structures specific to zoonoses and the necessary resources allocated to the surveillance activities. In addition, an integrated approach that incorporated both human and animal disease surveillance should be employed in the surveillance of zoonoses

Climate variability and gender differentials in decision making processes among farming households in Baringo county, Kenya and Jigawa state, Nigeria: A comparative assessment

This paper describes the impact of household activities by gender in areas vulnerable to climatic variability. A multistage sampling technique was applied, using both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. Primary data was collected using a structured questionnaire while secondary data was obtained from the Meteorological Department Nairobi, Kenya and Lagos, Nigeria. Data obtained were analysed using frequency distribution, trend analysis, percentage and means. A total of 338 respondents were sampled in Baringo County and 158 respondents in Jigawa State. Trend in rainfall pattern has been unstable and fluctuates by 0.44mm and 19.96mm in Baringo County, Kenya and Jigawa State, Nigeria respectively. Majority of the respondents 94.1 % (Baringo county) and 60.68% (Jigawa State) affirmed that the climate is no longer stable following observed variations in the elements of climate over time. Perception of respondents were in line with the climatic data records. A differential assessment on socially contructed roles of male and female respondents in farming households of Baringo County, Kenya revealed that males are key decision makers in choice of crop/seed to plant (50.6%), livestock keeping/feeding (57.4%), land preparation (52.4%) and coping strategies to adopt for climate variability (57.1%). Similarly, males in Jigawa State, Nigeria took charge, leading decisions on crop/seed to plant (60.7%), livestock keeping/feeding (51.6%), and coping strategies to adopt for climate variability (58.8%) while their females are key decion makers in land preparation activities (57.5%). This implies that female decisions (on agricultural activities and climate variability) in the study areas are secondary.Keywords: Climate variability, Livelihood, Gender, Adaptation/coping strategies

A practical guideline to remote biopsy darting of wildebeests for genetic sampling

The use of biopsy darts for remote collection of tissue samples from free-ranging terrestrial and aquatic animal species has gained popularity in the recent past. The success of darting is very important since scientists may not have many chances to re-dart the same animal, especially with the free-ranging elusive wildlife species. We used wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) as a model to estimate the optimum shooting distance, pressure and the shot part of the body through which a researcher can optimize the success and amount of tissue collected from similar wild land mammalian species. Wildebeests were darted at six categories of distances ranging between 10 and 45 m and dart gun pressures of 5–14 millibar. The number of failed darts increased by increasing the darting distance: 0% (10 m), 0% (20 m), 6% (30 m), 20% (35 m), 71% (40 m), and 67% (45 m). There was a notable effect of the distances on the amount of tissue collected 20 m offered the best results. Dart gun pressure had no effect on the amount of tissue samples obtained. The amount of tissue obtained from successful darts was the same whether the animal was darted on the shoulder or thigh. In this paper, we present a practical guideline for remote biopsy darting of wildebeest to obtain optimum amount of tissue samples, which could be generalized for similar wild land mammalian species

N-(2,4,6-Trimethyl­phen­yl)formamide

The title compound, C10H13NO, was obtained as the unexpected, almost exclusive, product in the attempted synthesis of a manganese(I)–N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complex. The dihedral angle between the planes of the formamide moiety and the aryl ring is 68.06 (10)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming infinite chains along the c axis

The performance of electric fences as elephant barriers in Amboseli, Kenya

Electric fencing is increasingly used as a tool for elephant (Loxodonta africana) conservation in human-dominated landscapes and there are few empirical studies to demonstrate that electrified barriers are effective in deterring elephants from raiding crops. The factors determining the effectiveness of electric fences are not fully understood. We assessed the performance of Namelok and Kimana fences in reducing human-elephant conflict by comparing the frequency of crop-raiding by elephants and the perceptions of farmers on the effect of the fences in reducing elephant crop-raiding within fenced and adjacent unfenced farmlands. We also examined the effect of intact fence wires, presence of current and amount of voltage on fence breakage by elephants. Electric fencing reduced elephant crop-raiding and other forms of human-elephant conflicts. Namelok fence was not broken by elephants whereas Kimana fence was broken several times probably because it borders Kimana Sanctuary which provided cover where elephants could retreat after crop-raiding. The mere presence of current did not minimize fence breakage by elephants. Elephants entered fenced areas more frequently when the fence wires were broken than when wires were intact. Our results suggest that, location of fences in relation to landscape factors, maintenance of effective non-electrified fences and proximity of fences to areas of high elephant concentration are significant determinants of fence performance in mitigating elephant crop-raiding

tert-Butyl 2-hy­droxy-3-(4-methyl­benzene­sulfonamido)­butano­ate

In the crystal of the title compound, C15H23NO5S, mol­ecules are linked through N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen-bond inter­actions, resulting in centrosymmetric dimers in which the N—H⋯O inter­actions generate R 2 2(12) rings and the O—H⋯O inter­actions generate R 2 2(14) rings. Weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O inter­actions are also observed

Banana and plantain production systems in Benin: ethnobotanical investigation, varietal diversity, pests, and implications for better production

The cultivated banana and plantain (Musa spp.) are valuable for nutritional and socio-economic security for millions of people worldwide. In Benin, banana and plantain are among the most produced, consumed, and traded commodities. Its production is mainly for local consumption and remains insufficient to the demand. However, the varietal diversity of banana and plantain cultivated in Benin is not documented. This study aims at characterizing the banana and plantain cropping systems, genetic diversity, and production constraints as a baseline to the full utilization of this resource in crop improvement and to identify the potential production and agronomic qualities. A baseline investigation of ethnobotanical attributes of banana cultivars was done in 51 randomly chosen villages in southern Benin. Interviews with randomly selected representative farmers were carried out. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used for global confirmatory investigation of survey data. Socio-demographic data and indigenous knowledge on the farmer uses of banana and plantain diversity, such as cultural practices, origin, and availability of banana and plantain planting materials, and the constraints and criteria of varietal preference cited by farmers were ranked. Eighty-seven locally recognized cultivars were found: 73 of banana and 14 of plantain groups. The most popular cultivars were Sotoumon (banana) (52.94%), Aloga (plantain) (41.17%), Planta (banana) (33.33%), and Adjangan (plantain) (27.45%). Of the eleven production constraints identified, the main biotic challenges were banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus Germar and banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), while abiotic problems were drought and the wind. Some local varieties like Amandan, Assonwonnou, Coleti, and Ninkouin are extremely rare owing to agronomic and economic preference perceptions. This study provides a baseline for banana diversity in Benin and the West African region and entry points for biological characterization and production improvement. This would enable the exploitation of this resource for plant breeding towards biotic and abiotic challenges facing banana production

First reported case of fatal tuberculosis in a wild African elephant with past human-wildlife contact

Tuberculosis is emerging/re-emerging in captive elephant populations, where it causes morbidity and deaths, although no case of TB in wild African elephants has been reported. In this paper we report the first case of fatal TB in an African elephant in the wild. The infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis was confirmed by post-mortem and histological examinations of a female sub-adult elephant aged >12 years that died in Tsavo East National Park, Kenya, while under treatment. This case is unique in that during its lifetime the elephant had contact with both humans and wild elephants. The source of the infection was unclear because the elephant could have acquired the infection in the orphanage or in the wild. However, our results show that wild elephants can maintain human TB in the wild and that the infection can be fata

Impedance technology reveals correlations between cytotoxicity and lipophilicity of mono and bimetallic phosphine complexes

Label free impedance technology enables the monitoring of cell response patterns post treatment with drugs or other chemicals. Using this technology, a correlation between the lipophilicity of metal complexes and the degree of cytotoxicity was observed. Au(L1)Cl (1), AuPd(L1)(SC4H8)Cl3 (1a) and Au(L2)Cl (2) [L1 = diphenylphosphino-2-pyridine; L2 = 2-(2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl)-pyridine] were synthesised, in silico drug-likeness and structure– activity relationship monitored using impedance technology. Dose dependent changes in cytotoxicity were observed for the metal complexes resulting in IC50s of 12.5 ± 2.5, 18.3 ± 8.3 and 16.9 ± 0.5 lM for 1, 1a and 2 respectively in an endpoint assay. When a real time impedance assay was used, dose-dependent responses depicting patterns that suggested slower uptake (at a toxic 20 lM) and faster recovery of the cells (at the less toxic 10 lM) of the bimetallic complex (1a) compared to the monometallic complexes (1 and 2) was observed. These data agreed with the ADMET findings of lower aqueous solubility of 1a and non-ideal lipophilicity (AlogP98 of 6.55) over more water soluble 1 and 2 with ideal lipophilicity (4.91 and 5.03 respectively) values. The additional coordination of a Pd atom to the nitrogen atom of a pyridine ring, the sulfur atom of a tetrahydrothiophene moiety and two chlorine atoms in 1a could be contributing to the observed differences when compared to the monometallic complexes. This report presents impedance technology as a means of correlating drug-likeness of lipophilic phosphine complexes containing similar backbone structures and could prove valuable in filtering drug-like compounds in a drug discovery project.Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), the University of Pretoria.Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) formerly Third World Organization for Women in Science (TWOWS) and University of Johannesburg.http://link.springer.com/journal/105342016-08-31hb201

(2R,3S)-Methyl 2-hy­droxy-3-(4-methyl­benzene­sulfonamido)-3-phenyl­propano­ate

In the title mol­ecule, C17H19NO5S, the p-tolyl ring is oriented approximately parallel to the phenyl ring [dihedral angle = 17.2 (1)°], resulting in an intra­molecular π–π inter­ation [centroid–centroid distance = 3.184 (10) Å]. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked through O—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming hydrogen-bonded sheets lying diagonally across the ac face