Molecular and serological evidence of flea-associated typhus group and spotted fever group rickettsial infections in Madagascar

This research was supported by the Wellcome Trust (RCDF and Senior Fellowship to ST, #081705 and #095171), the Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, and the Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System, a Division of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center [847705.82000.25GB.A0074].Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Convergence angles of tooth preparations assessed on dies for full crowns and bridge retainers

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the convergence angles of tooth preparations on dies for full crowns and bridge retainers done by oral health providers in Nairobi, Kenya. Study design: This was a descriptive cross sectional study.Setting: Selected dental laboratories in Nairobi, Kenya.Subject: Dies of full crown and bridge retainers.Results: A majority (59%) of the tooth preparations were for single crowns and 41% were for bridge retainers. The mean convergence angle for all the dies was 24.0○ with a mean buccal-lingual convergence angle of 26.7 ○ +11.93SD and a mean mesio-distal convergence angle of 22.1 ○ +10.89SD. Ideal tooth preparations were found in 18.1% of the dies. Majority of which were for single crowns (58.9%) followed by the abutment preparations for three unit bridges at 23.2%.Conclusion: Most of the tooth preparations did not have both ideal mesio-distal and buccal-lingual convergence angle measurements. There is therefore a need to provide Continuing Professional Education courses for dentists on tooth preparation for crown and bridge to enhance clinical application of tooth preparation guidelines

Agrobiodiversity endangered by sugarcane farming in Mumias and Nzoia Sugarbelts of Western Kenya

Commercial sugarcane farming has been practised in western Kenya for nearly forty years. This monocultural land use is associated with loss of natural vegetation and cropland, thus undermining food security status of a place. Further, sugarcane farming is a major contributor to loss of biodiversity in western Kenya. This study was therefore aimed at determining the long-term effects of sugarcane farming on indigenous food crops and vegetables in Mumias and Nzoia sugarbelts of western Kenya. Up to 188 respondents in three divisions of Mumias and 178 respondents of three divisions in Nzoia were purposively selected. These included small-scale and large-scale farmers. Data were collected using questionnaires, Participatory Rural Appraisal tool, interviews and field observations. Secondary data were obtained from documented materials. Land under indigenous food crops and vegetable has been declining since the introduction of sugarcane. Indigenous food crops and vegetable cultivation by farmers in the sugarbelts has been declining. Furthermore, some farmers have abandoned the growing of these crops altogether. Our results imply that sugarcane farming is a major contributor to agrobiodiversity erosion, but that there are also other important reasons such as change of consumer preference, land fragmentation, climate variability among others. In order to curb further loss of biodiversity, efforts should particularly focus on food crops and livelihood diversification and adoption of farming technologies such as agroforestry.Key words: Biodiversity, farming, indigenous crops, monoculture, Western Kenya

Using Landsat Imagery to Analyse Land Cover Change in the Njoro Watershed, Kenya

In developing nations where resources are scarce and increased population pressures create stress on available resources, methods are needed to examine effects of human migration and resultant changes in land cover. Widespread availability and low cost of remotely sensed imagery and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are making such methods a reality to develop quantitative resource mapping and land cover change detection in developing nations (Sheng et al., 1997). However, difficulties arise in tropical regions when trying to analyse traditional vegetation bands (Bands 3 and 4), or indices such as NDVI because saturated pixels limit spectral distinction

Assessing suicide risk in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: a dimensional approach

Objectives: Although an association has been found recently between obsessive-compulsive disorder and an increased risk of suicide, the prevalence of both suicidal ideation and attempts vary considerably and are generally assessed categorically. Our aims were to evaluate the prevalence of suicidal ideation and behaviors using a dimensional approach. Methods: The sample included 129 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Suicidality was assessed by administering the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Logistic and linear regres-sions were used to examine predictors of suicidal ideation, severe suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior. Results: The lifetime prevalence of suicidal ideation and behaviors were 64.3% and 16.3%, respectively. Lifetime suicidal ideation was associated with the number of stressful life events, duration of illness, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression scores, and family history of mood disorders. A family history of obsessive-compulsive disorder was associated with a lower probability of lifetime suicidal ideation. Severe suicidal ideation was related to greater severity of the most stressful life event, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression scores, and longer duration of untreated illness. The probability of lifetime suicidal behavior was related to Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety scores, symmetry obsessions, and washing and checking compulsions. The probability of lifetime non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors was related to Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety scores. Conclusions: Recognizing predictors of suicidal ideation/behavior is crucial to identifying patients at greater risk

Erratum to: Local analytic sector subtraction at NNLO

Eq. (3.55) should be replace

High prevalence of <i>Rickettsia africae</i> variants in <i>Amblyomma variegatum</i> ticks from domestic mammals in rural western Kenya: implications for human health

Tick-borne spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsioses are emerging human diseases caused by obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria of the genus Rickettsia. Despite being important causes of systemic febrile illnesses in travelers returning from sub-Saharan Africa, little is known about the reservoir hosts of these pathogens. We conducted surveys for rickettsiae in domestic animals and ticks in a rural setting in western Kenya. Of the 100 serum specimens tested from each species of domestic ruminant 43% of goats, 23% of sheep, and 1% of cattle had immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to the SFG rickettsiae. None of these sera were positive for IgG against typhus group rickettsiae. We detected Rickettsia africae–genotype DNA in 92.6% of adult Amblyomma variegatum ticks collected from domestic ruminants, but found no evidence of the pathogen in blood specimens from cattle, goats, or sheep. Sequencing of a subset of 21 rickettsia-positive ticks revealed R. africae variants in 95.2% (20/21) of ticks tested. Our findings show a high prevalence of R. africae variants in A. variegatum ticks in western Kenya, which may represent a low disease risk for humans. This may provide a possible explanation for the lack of African tick-bite fever cases among febrile patients in Kenya