Applying social network analysis, centrality measures in identification of climate change adaptation opinion leaders

Climate change is negatively affecting livelihoods dependent on rain fed agriculture in Kenya. Adaptation through adoption of appropriate agricultural technologies is necessary. Communication plays a critical role in dissemination of climate change information and adaptation. The study applied social network analysis (SNA) using NodeXL computer programme to generate socio-grams that showed patterns of information flow from which important network and individual characteristic of the opinion leaders were described. This study shows that SNA is applicable in climate change communication to identify opinion leaders by mapping out information flow patterns and using measures of centrality.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 6 (1): 1-7, June, 201

Sarcoptic mange and cheetah conservation in Masai Mara (Kenya): epidemiological study in a wildlife/livestock system

The sanitary control of threatened wild animals is of pivotal interest for their conservation. This task, however, is highly complex in wildlife/livestock systems. In this paper we report findings from a 2-year cross-sectional study of the epidemiology and attempted control of a Sarcoptes mite infestation in the threatened cheetah population in Masai Mara (Kenya), and discuss its interaction with sympatric wild (lion, wildebeest and Thomson's gazelle) and domestic (dog, cattle and sheep) animals. Sarcoptes scabiei was isolated from cheetahs, Thomson's gazelles, wildebeests, lions, cattle, goats and dogs; Psoroptes ovis, on the other hand, was only isolated from sheep. The prevalence study revealed 12·77% infection rates in cheetahs, 4·7% in dogs, 0·8% in Thomson's gazelles, 0·8% in sheep, 0·09% in cattle, and 0·09% in goats, while it opportunistically affected lions and wildebeest. Our study revealed that prevalence of Sarcoptes mite in cheetah population was not associated with the studied geographical blocks, animal sex or the presence of affected domestic animals. Cheetah infection with S. scabiei was associated with the climatic conditions (dry more than wet season) and the balancing between the total number of Thomson's gazelles and the prevalence of infected individuals. Apparently the high prevalence of mangy gazelles has a negative effect on cheetah; this negative effect was reduced when the number of healthy gazelles was increased. Treatment with injectable ivermectin of the clinically affected wild and domestic animals during the first year of this study was associated with much lower incidence of sarcoptic mange during the second yea

The curse of the prey: Sarcoptes mite molecular analysis reveals potential prey-to-predator parasitic infestation in wild animals from Masai Mara, Kenya

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recently, there have been attempts to understand the molecular epidemiology of <it>Sarcoptes scabiei</it>, to evaluate the gene flow between isolates of <it>S. scabiei </it>from different hosts and geographic regions. However, to our knowledge, a molecular study has not been carried out to assess the molecular diversity and gene flow of <it>Sarcoptes </it>mite in a predator/prey ecosystem.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our study revealed an absence of gene flow between the two herbivore (Thomson's gazelle and wildebeest)- and between the two carnivore (lion and cheetah)-derived <it>Sarcoptes </it>populations from Masai Mara (Kenya), which is in discrepancy with the host-taxon law described for wild animals in Europe. Lion- and wildebeest-derived <it>Sarcoptes </it>mite populations were similar yet different from the Thomson's gazelle-derived <it>Sarcoptes </it>population. This could be attributed to <it>Sarcoptes </it>cross-infestation from wildebeest ("favourite prey") of the lion, but not from Thomson's gazelle. The cheetah-derived <it>Sarcoptes </it>population had different subpopulations: one is cheetah-private, one similar to the wildebeest- and lion-derived <it>Sarcoptes </it>populations, and another similar to the Thomson's gazelle-derived <it>Sarcoptes </it>mite population, where both wildebeest and Thomson's gazelle are "favourite preys" for the cheetah.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In a predator/prey ecosystem, like Masai Mara in Kenya, it seems that <it>Sarcoptes </it>infestation in wild animals is prey-to-predator-wise, depending on the predator's "favourite prey". More studies on the lion and cheetah diet and behaviour could be of great help to clarify the addressed hypotheses. This study could have further ramification in the epidemiological studies and the monitoring protocols of the neglected <it>Sarcoptes </it>mite in predator/prey ecosystems.</p

Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards spotted fever group rickettsioses and Q fever in Laikipia and Maasai Mara, Kenya

Many factors contribute to misdiagnosis and underreporting of infectious zoonotic diseases in most sub-Saharan Africa including limited diagnostic capacity and poor knowledge. We assessed the knowledge, practices and attitudes towards spotted fever group rickettsioses (SFGR) and Q fever amongst local residents in Laikipia and Maasai Mara in Kenya. A semistructured questionnaire was administered to a total of 101 respondents including 51 pastoralists, 17 human health providers, 28 wildlife sector personnel and 5 veterinarians. The pastoralists expressed no knowledge about SFGR and Q fever. About 26.7% of the wildlife sector personnel in Laikipia expressed some knowledge about SFGR and none in Maasai Mara. None of these respondents had knowledge about Q fever. About 45.5 and 33.3% of the health providers in Laikipia and Maasai Mara respectively expressed knowledge about SFGR and 9.1% in Laikipia expressed good knowledge on Q fever and none in Maasai Mara. The diseases are not considered amongst potential causes of febrile illnesses in most medical facilities except in one facility in Laikipia. Majority of pastoralists practiced at least one predisposing activity for transmission of the diseases including consumption of raw milk, attending to parturition and sharing living accommodations with livestock. Education efforts to update knowledge on medical personnel and One-Health collaborations should be undertaken for more effective mitigation of zoonotic disease threats. The local communities should be sensitized through a multidisciplinary approach to avoid practices that can predispose them to the diseases

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Adolescent Blood Donors within Selected Counties of Western Kenya

Hepatitis B virus is a widespread public health menace approximated to have infected 257 million people chronically by 2015. Data on the prevalence of HBV is important in formulating public health policies on HBV control like safe blood transfusion. Adolescents aged 15 to 24 years, known to engage in risky activities associated with HBV spread, constitute major blood donors in Kenya. Notwithstanding current blood donation safety measures, HBV still remain hazardous transfusion-transmissible infections in donated blood. This study therefore was to determine the prevalence of HBsAg and related risk factors among this donor group. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2019 to August 2019 in Siaya, Kisumu, and Homa Bay counties. One thousand (1000) voluntary blood donors 18 to 25 years old were recruited. A predonation questionnaire was used to record their sociodemographic features and prior risk exposures. Blood samples were initially tested for HBsAg using Murex HBsAg Version 3 (DiaSorin, UK) and positives confirmed using ARCHITECT HBsAg Qualitative Confirmatory assay (Abbott Ireland) as per the manufacturer’s instructions. A result was considered positive if the first and confirmatory tests were all reactive. Generally, the prevalence of HBV was 3.4%, with no significant association between various sociodemographic variables and HBsAg positivity. Nevertheless, scarification and risky sexual behavior were significantly linked to HBV infections (odds ratio OR=8.533, 95%confidence interval CI=3.128‐23.275, p value of 0.001 and OR=5.471, 95%CI=1.925‐15.547, p value of 0.002, respectively). This study revealed a prevalence of 3.4% HBsAg among adolescent blood donors, with perilous sexual behaviors being the most significant risk factor, evidence that sexual contact still plays a major role in transmission of HBV among this donor group despite blood transfusion safety measures put in place. These study findings should therefore be put into consideration while framing health policies to mitigate effects of HBV infection on safe blood transfusion

Molecular surveillance of spotted fever group rickettsioses in wildlife and detection of <i>Rickettsia sibirica</i> in a Topi (<i>Damaliscus lunatus</i> ssp. <i>jimela</i>) in Kenya

Spotted fever group rickettsioses are a group of tick-borne zoonotic diseases caused by intracellular bacteria of the genus Rickettsia. The diseases are widely reported amongst international travellers returning from most sub-Saharan Africa with fever, yet their importance in local populations largely remains unknown. Although this has started to change and recently there have been increasing reports of the diseases in livestock, ticks and humans in Kenya, they have not been investigated in wildlife. We examined the presence, prevalence and species of Rickettsia present in wildlife in two regions of Kenya with a unique human–wildlife–livestock interface. For this purpose, 79 wild animals in Laikipia County and 73 in Maasai Mara National Reserve were sampled. DNA extracted from blood was tested using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the intergenic spacer rpmE-tRNAfMet and the citrate synthase-encoding gene gltA. Rickettsial DNA was detected in 2 of the 79 (2.5%) animals in Laikipia and 4 of the 73 (5.5%) in Maasai Mara. The PCR-positive amplicons of the gltA gene were sequenced to determine the detected Rickettsia species. This revealed Rickettsia sibirica in a Topi (Damaliscus lunatus ssp. jimela). This is the first report of spotted fever group rickettsioses in wildlife and the first to report R. sibirica in Kenya. The finding demonstrates the potential role of wild animals in the circulation of the diseases

Sarcoptic mange and cheetah conservation in Masai Mara (Kenya): Epidemiological study in a wildlife/livestock system

The sanitary control of threatened wild animals is of pivotal interest for their conservation. This task, however, is highly complex in wildlife/livestock systems. In this paper we report findings from a 2-year cross-sectional study of the epidemiology and attempted control of a Sarcoptes mite infestation in the threatened cheetah population in Masai Mara (Kenya), and discuss its interaction with sympatric wild (lion, wildebeest and Thomson's gazelle) and domestic (dog, cattle and sheep) animals. Sarcoptes scabiei was isolated from cheetahs, Thomson's gazelles, wildebeests, lions, cattle, goats and dogs; Psoroptes ovis, on the other hand, was only isolated from sheep. The prevalence study revealed 12·77% infection rates in cheetahs, 4·7% in dogs, 0·8% in Thomson's gazelles, 0·8% in sheep, 0·09% in cattle, and 0·09% in goats, while it opportunistically affected lions and wildebeest. Our study revealed that prevalence of Sarcoptes mite in cheetah population was not associated with the studied geographical blocks, animal sex or the presence of affected domestic animals. Cheetah infection with S. scabiei was associated with the climatic conditions (dry more than wet season) and the balancing between the total number of Thomson's gazelles and the prevalence of infected individuals. Apparently the high prevalence of mangy gazelles has a negative effect on cheetah; this negative effect was reduced when the number of healthy gazelles was increased. Treatment with injectable ivermectin of the clinically affected wild and domestic animals during the first year of this study was associated with much lower incidence of sarcoptic mange during the second year. © Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012.Peer Reviewe

Applying social network analysis, centrality measures in identification of climate change adaptation opinion leaders

Climate change is negatively affecting livelihoods dependent on rain fed agriculture in Kenya. Adaptation through adoption of appropriate agricultural technologies is necessary. Communication plays a critical role in dissemination of climate change information and adaptation. The study applied social network analysis (SNA) using NodeXL computer programme to generate socio-grams that showed patterns of information flow from which important network and individual characteristic of the opinion leaders were described. This study shows that SNA is applicable in climate change communication to identify opinion leaders by mapping out information flow patterns and using measures of centrality.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. &amp; Tech. 6 (1): 1-7, June, 201