Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in Kenyan blood donors.

The spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Africa is poorly described. The first case of SARS-CoV-2 in Kenya was reported on 12 March 2020, and an overwhelming number of cases and deaths were expected, but by 31 July 2020, there were only 20,636 cases and 341 deaths. However, the extent of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in the community remains unknown. We determined the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G among blood donors in Kenya in April-June 2020. Crude seroprevalence was 5.6% (174 of 3098). Population-weighted, test-performance-adjusted national seroprevalence was 4.3% (95% confidence interval, 2.9 to 5.8%) and was highest in urban counties Mombasa (8.0%), Nairobi (7.3%), and Kisumu (5.5%). SARS-CoV-2 exposure is more extensive than indicated by case-based surveillance, and these results will help guide the pandemic response in Kenya and across Africa

Maize (Zea mays L.) Genome Diversity as Revealed by RNA-Sequencing

Maize is rich in genetic and phenotypic diversity. Understanding the sequence, structural, and expression variation that contributes to phenotypic diversity would facilitate more efficient varietal improvement. RNA based sequencing (RNA-seq) is a powerful approach for transcriptional analysis, assessing sequence variation, and identifying novel transcript sequences, particularly in large, complex, repetitive genomes such as maize. In this study, we sequenced RNA from whole seedlings of 21 maize inbred lines representing diverse North American and exotic germplasm. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection identified 351,710 polymorphic loci distributed throughout the genome covering 22,830 annotated genes. Tight clustering of two distinct heterotic groups and exotic lines was evident using these SNPs as genetic markers. Transcript abundance analysis revealed minimal variation in the total number of genes expressed across these 21 lines (57.1% to 66.0%). However, the transcribed gene set among the 21 lines varied, with 48.7% expressed in all of the lines, 27.9% expressed in one to 20 lines, and 23.4% expressed in none of the lines. De novo assembly of RNA-seq reads that did not map to the reference B73 genome sequence revealed 1,321 high confidence novel transcripts, of which, 564 loci were present in all 21 lines, including B73, and 757 loci were restricted to a subset of the lines. RT-PCR validation demonstrated 87.5% concordance with the computational prediction of these expressed novel transcripts. Intriguingly, 145 of the novel de novo assembled loci were present in lines from only one of the two heterotic groups consistent with the hypothesis that, in addition to sequence polymorphisms and transcript abundance, transcript presence/absence variation is present and, thereby, may be a mechanism contributing to the genetic basis of heterosis

Temporal trends of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence during the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in Kenya.

Observed SARS-CoV-2 infections and deaths are low in tropical Africa raising questions about the extent of transmission. We measured SARS-CoV-2 IgG by ELISA in 9,922 blood donors across Kenya and adjusted for sampling bias and test performance. By 1st September 2020, 577 COVID-19 deaths were observed nationwide and seroprevalence was 9.1% (95%CI 7.6-10.8%). Seroprevalence in Nairobi was 22.7% (18.0-27.7%). Although most people remained susceptible, SARS-CoV-2 had spread widely in Kenya with apparently low associated mortality

Prevalence, years lived with disability, and trends in anaemia burden by severity and cause, 1990-2021: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background Anaemia is a major health problem worldwide. Global estimates of anaemia burden are crucial for developing appropriate interventions to meet current international targets for disease mitigation. We describe the prevalence, years lived with disability, and trends of anaemia and its underlying causes in 204 countries and territories. Methods We estimated population-level distributions of haemoglobin concentration by age and sex for each location from 1990 to 2021. We then calculated anaemia burden by severity and associated years lived with disability (YLDs). With data on prevalence of the causes of anaemia and associated cause-specific shifts in haemoglobin concentrations, we modelled the proportion of anaemia attributed to 37 underlying causes for all locations, years, and demographics in the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Findings In 2021, the global prevalence of anaemia across all ages was 24·3% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 23·9–24·7), corresponding to 1·92 billion (1·89–1·95) prevalent cases, compared with a prevalence of 28·2% (27·8–28·5) and 1·50 billion (1·48–1·52) prevalent cases in 1990. Large variations were observed in anaemia burden by age, sex, and geography, with children younger than 5 years, women, and countries in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia being particularly affected. Anaemia caused 52·0 million (35·1–75·1) YLDs in 2021, and the YLD rate due to anaemia declined with increasing Socio-demographic Index. The most common causes of anaemia YLDs in 2021 were dietary iron deficiency (cause-specific anaemia YLD rate per 100 000 population: 422·4 [95% UI 286·1–612·9]), haemoglobinopathies and haemolytic anaemias (89·0 [58·2–123·7]), and other neglected tropical diseases (36·3 [24·4–52·8]), collectively accounting for 84·7% (84·1–85·2) of anaemia YLDs. Interpretation Anaemia remains a substantial global health challenge, with persistent disparities according to age, sex, and geography. Estimates of cause-specific anaemia burden can be used to design locally relevant health interventions aimed at improving anaemia management and prevention. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Production De Lait: Une Intervention En Nutrition Dans Une Region De Culture De La Canne A Sucre Dans La Province De L&Apos;Ouest Du Kenya

A study to assess the impact of dairy production on the nutritional status of preschool children aged between 24 and 59 months in Mumias Division, a predominantly sugarcane growing zone of Western Kenya was undertaken between 1997 and 1998. Nutritional status was assessed by taking height, weight and age of the study children and comparing this with the height and weight of well fed children of the same age using the WHO/NCHS growth reference standards. Height-for-age, weight-for-height and weight-for-age indices for each child were determined. Measures of disparity were also calculated to determine the extent of malnutrition in this study area. Children falling below the cut-off point ( ±2SD) from the median of the reference population were classified as stunted, wasted and under-weight. The influence of dairy production and a select number of household characteristics on the children&apos;s nutritional status was evaluated. Up to 44.7% of preschool children were stunted, 10.4% were wasted and 27% were under-weight. Stunting was more prevalent (26.1%) among children from households whose main enterprise was sugarcane farming and where men controlled income from this enterprise. Children from households keeping dairy cattle as an additional farming activity had lower stunting prevalence. Such households were better off in terms of food security, increased milk consumption and improved nutritional status especially of the young children. Appropriate policies to improve dairy production and household food security are crucially needed. Such policies should encourage the diversification of farming activities to incorporate both food and cash crops. Dairy production is clearly a positive activity in a food security program.Une étude a été entreprise entre 1997 et 1998 dans le but d&apos;évaluer l&apos;impact de la production de lait sur la situation nutritionnelle des enfants d&apos;âge pré-scolaire qui avaient entre 24 et 59 mois. L&apos;étude s&apos;est déroulée dans la division de Mumias, une région où l&apos;on cultive la canne à sucre en prédominance dans la province de l&apos;ouest du Kenya. La situation nutritionnelle a été évaluée en mesurant la taille/hauteur, le poids et l&apos;âge des enfants qui ont fait l&apos;objet de cette étude et en comparant ces mesures avec la taille/hauteur et le poids des enfants de même âge bien nourris. La comparaison se faisait en utilisant les indicateurs standards de l&apos;OMS/NCHS qui servent de référence pour mesurer la croissance. Les indices de la taille/hauteur par rapport à l&apos;âge, du poids par rapport à la taille/hauteur et du poids par rapport à l&apos;âge pour chaque enfant ont été déterminés. Les mesures de la disparité ont également été calculées en vue de déterminer le degré de malnutrition dans chaque région étudiée. Les enfants se situant sous le seuil ( < -2SD) de la médiane de la population de référence ont été classés comme ayant du retard dans la croissance, étant décharnés et ayant un poids insuffisant. L&apos;influence de la production de lait et d&apos;un nombre sélectionné de caractéristiques des ménages sur la situation nutritionnelle des enfants a été évaluée. Jusqu&apos;à 44,7% des enfants d&apos;âge pré-scolaire avaient un retard de croissance, 10,4% étaient décharnés et 27% avaient un poids insuffisant. Le retard de croissance était plus prévalent (26,1%) chez des enfants des familles dont la principale activité était la culture de la canne à sucre et où les hommes contrôlaient le revenu de cette entreprise. Les enfants des familles qui pratiquent l&apos;élevage de vaches laitières comme activité complémentaire de l&apos;agriculture avaient une prévalence inférieure du retard dans la croissance. Ces ménages se portaient mieux en ce qui concerne la sécurité alimentaire, une plus grande consommation de lait et une meilleure situation nutritionnelle, plus particulièrement chez les petits enfants. Des politiques appropriées permettant d&apos;améliorer la production de lait et la sécurité alimentaire des familles sont d&apos;une nécessité cruciale. De telles politiques devraient encourager la diversification des activités agricoles afin d&apos;incorporer à la fois les cultures vivrières et les cultures commerciales. La production de lait est sans aucun doute une activité positive dans un programme de sécurité alimentaire

DAIRY PRODUCTION: A NUTRITION INTERVENTION IN A SUGARCANE GROWING AREA IN WESTERN KENYA

A study to assess the impact of dairy production on the nutritional status of preschool children aged between 24 and 59 months in Mumias Division, a predominantly sugarcane growing zone of Western Kenya was undertaken between 1997 and 1998. Nutritional status was assessed by taking height, weight and age of the study children and comparing this with the height and weight of well fed children of the same age using the WHO/NCHS growth reference standards. Height-for-age, weight-for-height and weight-for-age indices for each child were determined. Measures of disparity were also calculated to determine the extent of malnutrition in this study area. Children falling below the cut-off point ( ±2SD) from the median of the reference population were classified as stunted, wasted and under-weight. The influence of dairy production and a select number of household characteristics on the children's nutritional status was evaluated. Up to 44.7% of preschool children were stunted, 10.4% were wasted and 27% were under-weight. Stunting was more prevalent (26.1%) among children from households whose main enterprise was sugarcane farming and where men controlled income from this enterprise. Children from households keeping dairy cattle as an additional farming activity had lower stunting prevalence. Such households were better off in terms of food security, increased milk consumption and improved nutritional status especially of the young children. Appropriate policies to improve dairy production and household food security are crucially needed. Such policies should encourage the diversification of farming activities to incorporate both food and cash crops. Dairy production is clearly a positive activity in a food security program. Key Words: intervention, dairy production, preschool children, nutritional status. PRODUCTION DE LAIT: UNE INTERVENTION EN NUTRITION DANS UNE REGION DE CULTURE DE LA CANNE A SUCRE DANS LA PROVINCE DE L'OUEST DU KENYA Résumé Une étude a été entreprise entre 1997 et 1998 dans le but d'évaluer l'impact de la production de lait sur la situation nutritionnelle des enfants d'âge pré-scolaire qui avaient entre 24 et 59 mois. L'étude s'est déroulée dans la division de Mumias, une région où l'on cultive la canne à sucre en prédominance dans la province de l'ouest du Kenya. La situation nutritionnelle a été évaluée en mesurant la taille/hauteur, le poids et l'âge des enfants qui ont fait l'objet de cette étude et en comparant ces mesures avec la taille/hauteur et le poids des enfants de même âge bien nourris. La comparaison se faisait en utilisant les indicateurs standards de l'OMS/NCHS qui servent de référence pour mesurer la croissance. Les indices de la taille/hauteur par rapport à l'âge, du poids par rapport à la taille/hauteur et du poids par rapport à l'âge pour chaque enfant ont été déterminés. Les mesures de la disparité ont également été calculées en vue de déterminer le degré de malnutrition dans chaque région étudiée. Les enfants se situant sous le seuil ( < -2SD) de la médiane de la population de référence ont été classés comme ayant du retard dans la croissance, étant décharnés et ayant un poids insuffisant. L'influence de la production de lait et d'un nombre sélectionné de caractéristiques des ménages sur la situation nutritionnelle des enfants a été évaluée. Jusqu'à 44,7% des enfants d'âge pré-scolaire avaient un retard de croissance, 10,4% étaient décharnés et 27% avaient un poids insuffisant. Le retard de croissance était plus prévalent (26,1%) chez des enfants des familles dont la principale activité était la culture de la canne à sucre et où les hommes contrôlaient le revenu de cette entreprise. Les enfants des familles qui pratiquent l'élevage de vaches laitières comme activité complémentaire de l'agriculture avaient une prévalence inférieure du retard dans la croissance. Ces ménages se portaient mieux en ce qui concerne la sécurité alimentaire, une plus grande consommation de lait et une meilleure situation nutritionnelle, plus particulièrement chez les petits enfants. Des politiques appropriées permettant d'améliorer la production de lait et la sécurité alimentaire des familles sont d'une nécessité cruciale. De telles politiques devraient encourager la diversification des activités agricoles afin d'incorporer à la fois les cultures vivrières et les cultures commerciales. La production de lait est sans aucun doute une activité positive dans un programme de sécurité alimentaire. Mots-clés : intervention, production de lait, enfants d'âge pré-scolaire, situation nutritionnelle. AJFAND Vol.4(1) 200

Survey of medicinal plants used by the giriama of basi, Kenya

Though the Giriama people of Kenya rely mostly on ethno-medicine to manage human ailments, the indigenous knowledge remains largely undocumented. This study was set to survey, record and report some of the medicinal plant species they use to manage human ailments. The Main Objective of this study was to identify some of the indigenous medicinal plants used amongst the Giriama community of Kenya. Methodoloy: Observations and semi-structured interviews (see Appendix 1) were used to gather ethno-botanical data for each plant. About 3 Kg of suitable specimens were harvested, with leaves pressed and preserved for identification at SUDIC Herbarium. Voucher specimens were also deposited at SUDIC and excess material powdered and kept dry. The pressed specimens were dried at 200 C to 250 C using plant blower. Results: A total of 23 medicinal plants, belonging to 15 families, were harvested and identified. The families Lamiaceae, Malvaceae and Fabaceae were the most represented. The medicinal use of three of the plant species (Deinbollia borbonica Scheff., Clerodendrum incisum Klotzsch and Gardenia posoquerioides S. Moore) had hitherto not been documented and may be new records for treating various ailments. Conclusion and Suggestions: It is apparent that the Giriama of Basi are well endowed with knowledge on indigenous ethno-medicine and forest contours. Their passion and protection of the Kayas and medicinal plants help them in contributing not only to sustainable provision of community health care but also a potential to share this knowledge far beyond their Kilifi County. If nurtured well, this knowledge could empower the people economically. It could also be incorporated into key policies to guide conservation efforts for the rainforest and its biodiversity, to stave off over-utilization and loss of plant genetic reservoir. The ethno-medicinal knowledge needs to be well researched and recorded before it is irretrievably lost. UR