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

Opportunities and Challenges of Setting-Up an Articulate HACCP System in Export Slaughterhouses in Countries Emerging from Conflict: An Appraisal of North-Western Somalia

Report on an investigation carried out for more than two years in North-Western Somalia (Somaliland) to determine opportunities and challenges of setting up a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system to be adopted and complied with during operations in an export slaughterhouse.Warbixin ku saabsan baaritaan lagu samaeeyay muddo labo sano ah woqooyi-galbeed ee Soomaaliya (Somaliland) oo ku saabsan habkii lagu baari lahaa halsita iyo ilaalinta waxyaabaha khatarta marka la qalaya xoolaha hilibkooda la dhoofinaya.Relazione su un'indagine effettuata per più di due anni nel nord-ovest della Somalia (Somaliland) per determinare le opportunità e le sfide nella creazione di un sistema di Analisi dei Rischi e Controllo dei Punti Critici (HACCP) da adottare e rispettare durante le operazioni di esportazione di un macello

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

Challenges of camel production in Samburu District, Kenya

Abstract The objective of the study was to identify the challenges to camel production in Kenya&apos;s Samburu district. The data was collected through administration of structured and semi-structured questionnaire to a representative sample of the pastoralist household heads. The major causes of camel loss in the district were identified as predation (50.9%), drought (28.7%) and camel diseases (20.4%). Severe drought was reported to have occurred in the years; 1984 (12.4%), 1995 (9%), 2005 (42.1%), and 2006 (37.6%), and the livestock species most affected by the drought were cattle (98.1%), sheep (63.9%), donkeys (57.5%), goats (50.8%) and camels (31.2%). Water was reported to be inadequate in the district by 54.6% and 62.1% of the respondents respectively for livestock and human use. Herdsmen reported watering their camels from; rivers (24.6%), dry river beds (40%) and spring (7.7%). The livestock grazing area was reported to be getting smaller (45.7%), overgrazed (21.7%), and destroyed (13%), while only 13% believed that the grazing area had increased. Amongst the pastoralist who responded to the question on their source of income, 78.8% had no alternative source of income apart from livestock keeping. Conclusion: More resources should be allocated by the governments for improvement of camel production and the carrying capacity in pastoral production systems needs to be re-evaluated to ensure optimal productivity

Characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Patients in Busia County Referral Hospital, Kenya

Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen associated with hospital, community, and livestock-acquired infections, with the ability to develop resistance to antibiotics. Nasal carriage by hospital inpatients is a risk for opportunistic infections. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns, virulence genes and genetic population structure of S. aureus nasal isolates, from inpatients at Busia County Referral Hospital (BCRH) were analyzed. A total of 263 inpatients were randomly sampled, from May to July 2015. The majority of inpatients (85.9%) were treated empirically with antimicrobials, including ceftriaxone (65.8%) and metronidazole (49.8%). Thirty S. aureus isolates were cultured from 29 inpatients with a prevalence of 11% (10.3% methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA), 0.8% methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA)). Phenotypic and genotypic resistance was highest to penicillin-G (96.8%), trimethoprim (73.3%), and tetracycline (13.3%) with 20% of isolates classified as multidrug resistant. Virulence genes, Panton-Valentine leukocidin (pvl), toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (tsst-1), and sasX gene were detected in 16.7%, 23.3% and 3.3% of isolates. Phylogenetic analysis showed 4 predominant clonal complexes CC152, CC8, CC80, and CC508. This study has identified that inpatients of BCRH were carriers of S. aureus harbouring virulence genes and resistance to a range of antibiotics. This may indicate a public health risk to other patients and the community

Ethnopharmacological survey of Samburu district, Kenya

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ethnobotanical pharmacopoeia is confidently used in disease intervention and there is need for documentation and preservation of traditional medical knowledge to bolster the discovery of novel drugs. The objective of the present study was to document the indigenous medicinal plant utilization, management and their extinction threats in Samburu District, Kenya.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Field research was conducted in six divisions of Samburu District in Kenya. We randomly sampled 100 consented interviewees stratified by age, gender, occupation and level of education. We collected plant use data through semi-structured questionnaires; transect walks, oral interviews and focus groups discussions. Voucher specimens of all cited botanic species were collected and deposited at University of Nairobi's botany herbarium.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Data on plant use from the informants yielded 990 citations on 56 medicinal plant species, which are used to treat 54 different animal and human diseases including; malaria, digestive disorders, respiratory syndromes and ectoparasites.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The ethnomedicinal use of plant species was documented in the study area for treatment of both human and veterinary diseases. The local population has high ethnobotanical knowledge and has adopted sound management conservation practices. The major threatening factors reported were anthropogenic and natural. Ethnomedical documentation and sustainable plant utilization can support drug discovery efforts in developing countries.</p

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