PREVALENCE AND INTENSITY OF SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI BEFORE AND AFTER CHEMOTHERAPY IN SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN

Aims: To determine prevalence rate and intensity of Schistosoma mansoni infection in School Aged Children before and after chemotherapy Methodology: This study was carried out in Mwea Division of Kirinyaga County. Stool samples were collected from children in Mianya primary school. The samples were collected from each child and analysed for the presence or absence of S. mansoni eggs. Stool analysis was done at the Kimbimbi County Hospital- Division of Vector Borne Disease laboratories. The positive cases were treated with Praziquantel. Stool samples were again collected from the treated children at 6 and 12 week post treatment and analysed for the presence of S. mansoni eggs. Eggs were quantified per gram of the feacal sample. Results: Baseline prevalence for the selected pupils in the school was above 60% before chemotherapy with most children having heavy infections ≥400epg/feaces. The prevalence reduced significantly after treatment at six weeks (20%) but increased slightly at twelve weeks (50%) indicating re-infection. However most of the positive children had light infections during this period. Conclusion: The prevalence rate in the study area remains high but after intervention there is a reduction but only for a limited time. Reinfection is also high which thought to be a contributing factor to the continuous cycle of the disease in the area. This calls for a more integrated approach for control of the disease in the area. Drug administration alone is not adequate in alleviating the burden of diseases. Keywords: Schistosomiasis, prevalence, chemotherap

Evaluation of the Knowledge and Activities of a Local Community in Mwea Endemic with Schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis infection remains a neglected tropical disease in the tropics. Despite successive years of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) targeting school aged children prevalence rates have remained high over the years. This study sought to evaluation of the knowledge of the surrounding communities in close proximity to the schools previously targeted and activities predisposing them infection as a key indicator to successive control programs. Data collection involved semi structured interviews using a questionnaire and also through observation. A total of 99 people across the locality both male and female were interviewed. The people were selected randomly for the interviews at different points within the locality. Observations of their awareness of risks factors predisposing them to the disease was done within the different watering points. Qualitative data was analysed according to the common characteristics and the main themes identified and descriptive statistics was used in accessing these parameters with a percentage frequency of the variables. Spearman’s Rank correlations were performed on various variables to check for bivariate correlations between the demographic parameters and the various aspects of the knowledge of the residents on awareness of the disease at P≤ 0.05. The study revealed that knowledge about the cause, transmission and prevention of schistosomiasis among the rural population in Karii locality was adequate and well known with 95% of the sampled population being aware of disease, many of whom have heard about it from a health worker (73%). There was a positive correlation between occupation and activities leading to infection whereas there was no correlation between the education level and knowledge of disease prevention. Ultimately the challenge is that with a high awareness level there was still a persistent high prevalence that can be attributed to occupation, education level and the activities leading to reinfection. The community is therefore continuously exposed despite efforts being made. Keywords: Schistosomiasis, community, contro

Antioxidant activities in extracts of selected indigenous vegetables from Kenya and Malawi

Antioxidant activities and phytochemical compounds of ethanol and hot water extracts of 7 selected indigenous vegetable species from Malawi and Kenya were Spectophotometrically determined and evaluated. Their effectiveness were also evaluated by their EC50 values through interpolation from linear regression analysis of their respective data. Generally, ethanolic extracts portrayed high quantities of total phenol, carotenoids and lycopene while hot water extracts showed high ascorbic acid. The highest total phenol (475.88±0.02 mg/g) and lycopene (0.13±0.02 mg/g) were detected in the ethanol extracts of I. batatas and C. gynandria, respectively. In the hot water extracts, the highest ascorbic acid (2.59±0.06 mg/g) and flavonoids (156.43±0.02 mg/g) were from M. esculenta. Dose-dependent antioxidant activities of the extracts were observed. Based on the EC50 values (mg/ml), the hot water extracts were significantly (p<0.05) more effective in all antioxidant activities assayed (DPPH, hydroxyl, superoxide anion radicals and reducing power) than ethanol extracts. It was observed that a single vegetable species did not posses all sorts of antioxidant phytochemical compounds in significant quantities and hence not effective in scavenging all different radicals. A combinatory intake of these vegetables species in sufficient concentrations should thus be recommended to enhance an optimal antioxidant capacity in the body.Keywords: Antioxidants, free radicals, health benefits, indigenous vegetablesAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol 13(17), 1824-183

Isolation and biochemical characterization of transferrin from the tsetse fly, Glossina morsitan centralis

No Abstract. The Egyptian Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Vol. 23(2) 2005: 169-18

Effect of fish oil omega-3 fatty acids on reduction of depressive symptoms among HIV-seropositive pregnant women: a randomized, double-blind controlled trial

Abstract Background Globally, it is known that HIV-infected pregnant women are prone to depressive symptoms. Research evidences also suggest that nutrient deficiencies may enhance the depressive illness, and that fish oil omega-3 fatty acids may alleviate the depressive symptoms. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of fish oil omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid-rich supplements on depressive symptoms among HIV-seropositive pregnant women. Trial design A randomized double-blinded controlled trial with two parallel groups was conducted. The intervention group received fish oil omega-3 of 3.17 g (eicosapentaenoic acid = 2.15 g; docosahexaenoic acid = 1.02 g) per day for 8 weeks, while the control group received soybean oil for a similar period. Method Participants were HIV-seropositive pregnant women who were enrolled in prevention of mother-to-child transmission programs and attending antenatal clinics at selected Nairobi city county’s health facilities. Recruitment was done from health records of HIV-infected pregnant women. Data analysis followed per-protocol analysis. Participants who completed the 8-week trial were included in the analysis of covariance statistical model with omega-3 as main effect. The covariates in the change in BDI-II depressive symptom score outcome were baseline characteristics and nutrient adequacy. Results 282 participants were recruited 109 randomized to fish oil, and 107 to soybean oil. Completion rate was 86/109 (78.9%) and 96/107 (89.7%) respectively. At the end of week-8 of follow up most participants in both arms had mild depressive symptoms 82/86 (95.3%) in the Fish oil group and 94/96 (97.9%) in the Soybean oil group. The difference in effect between the intervention and control group was not statistically significant (1.01 (95% CI − 0.58 to 2.60), p = 0.21). Conclusion Fish oil omega-3 with a daily dosage of 3.17 g (eicosapentaenoic acid = 2.15 g; docosahexaenoic acid = 1.02 g) appears to provide no added benefit in reduction of the symptoms of depression in HIV-infected pregnant women. Trial Registration Clinical Trial Registry: NCT01614249. Registered on June 5, 2012. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT0161424

Comparative assessment of farmers' understandings towards adoption of GM varieties in Burkina Faso and Kenya

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Viral load, CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts and antibody titres in HIV-1 infected untreated children in Kenya; implication for immunodeficiency and AIDS progression

BACKGROUND: There are limited reports on HIV-1 RNA load, CD4+T-lymphocytes and antibody responses in relation to disease progression in HIV-1 infected untreated children in Africa. METHODS: To describe the relationships between these parameters, we conducted a longitudinal cohort study involving 51 perinatally HIV-1 infected children aged between 1 and 13 years. HIV status was determined by ELISA and confirmed by western blot and PCR. Antibodies were quantified by limiting dilution ELISA, plasma HIV-1 RNA load by RT-PCR and CD4+T-lymphocytes by FACSCount. RESULTS: Asymptomatic and symptomatic disease had, respectively, a rise in median HIV-1 RNA load from 1,195 to 132,543 and from 42,962 to 1,109,281 copies/ml in children below 6 years. The increase in viral load was 10-fold higher for asymptomatic compared to other categories and 2-fold faster for children less than 6 years than those above. Similarly, symptomatic children below 6 years had initial median CD4+T-lymphocyte counts of 647 (22%) cells/µL, declining to 378 (20%) while those above 6 years had initial values of below 335 (15%) but which increased to 428 (17%). Median viral load correlated significantly with median CD4+T-lymphocyte percentage in children above 6 years (p=0.026) but not below. CONCLUSIONS: Viral load is lower in older than younger children and correlates significantly with percentage CD4+T-lymphocytes. Survival by HIV-1 infected children requires a competent immune response early in infection to counter the rapidly replicating virus. Interventions aimed at boosting the naïve immune system may prolong survival in these children