Abstract: Pollination is an important ecosystem service in the maintenance of biodiversity and most importantly in food production as it brings about fruit formation and seed production. Pollination is, however, on the decline due to several factors including habitat loss, exotic pest invasions, pollution, overharvesting, and land use changes. The Ocimum kilimandscharicum plant is known for its medicinal values and has gained more attention locally and internationally for its commercial use ...
Abstract: The Lake Victoria region of western Kenya is malaria endemic with a suitable environment throughout the year for the transmission of Plasmodium parasites by its primary mosquito vector, Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.), as well as other secondary vectors. Malaria control largely depends on vector control using long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) that protect humans from infectious bites while sleeping. However, the success of this strategy is greatly threatened by resistance ...
Abstract: African animal trypanosomosis, transmitted by the tsetse fly (Glossina spp.) remains a major constraint to food security in areas of Africa that hold the continent's greatest potential for expanded agriculture production. The flies also transmit the parasite responsible for human sleeping sickness. Other haematophagous arthropods like stable flies also transmit trypanosomes mechanically. Mechanical transmission only accounts for a small percentage (-16 % ) of the trypanosomes trans...
Abstract: Crickets are drawing interest as sustainable source of protein for food and feed worldwide. However, there is little information on microbial quality of edible crickets thus the need for a profound insight into their safety. The objective of the study was to determine the microbial load of two edible cricket species Scapsipedus icipe and Gryllus bimaculatus and to evaluate the efficiency of different processing methods (boiling, sundrying, freeze-drying, snap freezing and deep fryi...
Abstract: Tsetse fly is an insect of great economic importance to man because it transmits sleeping sickness to both man and his livestock. The insect feeds on a bloodmeal thereby transmitting the disease from infected to healthy individuals. The tsetse fly, Glossina spp. belongs to the order Diptera and family Glossinidae and 22 species have been identified. The fly is mainly found in humid areas especially along the river valleys and bushes in Sub-Saharan Africa . Insects are known to poss...
Abstract: A quantitative study of the swelling capacity of polymer-oligomer particles, and the rate of transport of slightly water soluble compound 1, e.g. chlorobenzene, from bulk phase to the particles has been carried out. A much higher swelling capacity was attained when compound 1 was subdivided (before it was added to the swelling experiments) than when it was added as a bulk at the same experimental conditions. It is shown that the increased swelling capacity when compound 1 is subdiv...
Abstract: Various neem (Azadirachta indica. A. Juss) formulations were evaluated under laboratory and greenhouse conditions for their effects on two-spotted spider mites, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae), on tomatoes, Lycopersicum esculentum. Four neem formulations (Neemros: neem seed powder with 0.5% azadirachtin, Neemroc: a water miscible emulsifiable concentrate oil, with 0.03% azadirachtin, Saroneem: an alcohol extract; extracted in isopropyl alcohol, containing 1% a...
Abstract: Tsetse flies are vectors of African trypanosomes, the protozoan agent of devastating disease, trypanosomiasis that afflicts both humans and animals. Currently, there is no promising vaccine in the horizon and treatment efforts are further constrained by the rapid increase in parasite drug resistance observed in patients. In addition, little effort is being made to develop new and effective drugs. Alternative methods to control trypanosomiasis and its transmission are therefore requ...
Abstract: The tsetse fly is an insect of great economic importance to man as a vector of both human and animal trypanosomiasis. Trypanosomes are ingested by the tsetse fly vector with a bloodmeal taken from .an infected host. In the midgut, these parasites are exposed to a hostile environment which comprises of lectins/ trypanoagglutinins, proteolytic enzymes, trypanolysins and other unknown factors. Lectins or agglutinins are a group of proteins of non-immune in origin, that bind carbohydra...
Abstract: Soil is the primary reservoir for fungi of which Aspergillus and Fusarium species are the main causal agents of maize ear rot and mycotoxin production. Season and cropping systems are known to influence soil fungal community structure. It is imperative to establish the distribution and density of soil fungal communities as a requisite for formulating strategies for management of ear rot infections and mycotoxin contamination. The current study was carried out to investigate the dis...
Abstract: Tomato is rated the second most important horticultural crop after potato in most parts of the world. However, its cultivation is threatened by infestations of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). The pest originated from South America and is now invading fields and greenhouse production sites in the world. Tuta absoluta was first officially reported in Kenya in March 2014 at Isiolo and has spread to all parts where tomato is grown. The pest has been nicknamed tomato ‗Al–s...
Abstract: Malaria is a strong selective force in the human genome, selecting genes for resistance to disease in human populations living in malaria endemic areas. Selection by malaria has generated genetic variations, providing evolutionary driving force mediating polymorphisms such as Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase deficiency and sickle-cell anaemia. Genes encoding erythrocyte receptors of Plasmodium falciparum especially the sialoglycoproteins, glycophorins A, B and C, which are the mai...
The main purpose of this study was to establish the pathway(s) by which PEP from glucose catabolism is catabolised , the end products formed in the presence and absence of SHAM, the sub cellular localisation of some key enzymes involved in PEP catabolism and to partially characterise PEPCK in bloodstream T. congolense.
ABSTRACT Ticks pose a major challenge and economic burden to livestock rearing as they inflict physical injury and transmit diseases resulting in heavy losses of livestock. Their control has relied mainly on the use of synthetic acaricides which are expensive and hazardous to the environment and non-target organisms. Intensive use of these acaricides has also resulted in tick resistance. Plant extracts could provide a viable alternative to tick control and management strategies. Calpurnia...
Abstract: Cereal stemborers in Kenya include Busseola fusca, B. phaia, Sesamia calamistis, S. botanephaga, Eldana saccharina, Chilo orichalcociliellus, and Ch. partellus. The stemborers cause 50% yield losses in cereal crops including maize, sorghum, and sugarcane. Damage to the host plants results from the feeding and excavating of tunnels by the larvae. The different stemborer control options include pesticides, early planting, intercropping with non-cereals, and host plant resistance. ...