Abstract: Cellulolytic microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria are responsible for much of the cellulose degradation in soils. Despite this vast number of cellulase producers, there is a deficiency of microorganisms that can produce significant amount of the three cellulase enzyme specifities i.e. endoglucanases, exoglucanases and cellobiases to efficiently degrade cellulose to fermentable products. Little emphasis has been given to cellulase production from bacteria despite their extremel...
Abstract: Distinguishing pathogenic nematodes on the basis of morphological characters is difficult because differences in characters may be absent or difficult to observe. Hence identification to the species level is increasingly reliant on molecular based techniques. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) based techniques offer possibilities for precision, sensitivity and quantification. Tomato root-knot nematodes from the three selected areas in Kenya were characterized by analysis of isozyme ph...
Abstract: My foremost profound gratitude goes to God Almighty who has granted me good health,strength and ability to accomplish this study and more so during the challenging academic times. Second, I am grateful to my supervisors Dr. Maamun Jeneby and Dr. Vincent Owino Adung’a for their time, guidance, dedication and involvement in my academic pursuits. Special thanks to Dr. Maamun and Dr. Mercy Akinyi who were kind enough to offer an opportunity to conduct a research project for my thesis...
Abstract: Hippobosca camelina, also known as camel keds or camel louse flies, are the most common blood-sucking ectoparasites infesting camels in, Laisamis Ward, northern Kenya. The ability of these obligate haematophagous biting flies to transmit infectious agents is less understood. The aims of this study were to; I) screen for protozoan, bacterial and viral pathogens in camels and their biting keds, H. camelina, sampled from Laisamis Ward, Marsabit county II) assess the potential utility ...
ABSTRACT Trypanosomiasis is a vector-borne parasitic disease, transmitted to animals by tsetse fly (Glossina genus) bites. The human type causes sleeping sickness in man while animal type causes nagana in animals. The aim of this study is to characterize trypanosomes isolated from dogs and cattle in Jos South Abattoir. Isolated trypanosomes were subjected to polymerase chain reaction using kin primers targeting internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) of ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acids. The PCR ...
ABSTRACT Background: Studies to find the association between male infertility and mtDNA mutations have been carried out by many researchers but reports from these studies have been varied and contradictory at times. However studies of this nature are scarce in Ghana. The present study has therefore provided a baseline data on mtDNA mutations in relation to male infertility for further studies to be carried out in this area. Main Objective: The overall objective is to ascertain the common mtD...
ABSTRACT Medicinal plants continue to provide valuable therapeutic recipes, in orthodox and traditional healing systems, for the amelioration of diseases and disorders. The current study sought to evaluate the capacities of single herbal formulations (SHFs), double herbal formulations (DHFs), triple herbal formulations (this) and quadruple herbal formulation (QHF) of leaf extracts of Acanthus Montanus, Asystasia gangetica, Gongronema latifolium and Solanum melongena to ameliorate hyperglycem...
ABSTRACT This study investigated the effect of ethanol leaf extract of Mucuna utilis (EEMu) on lead acetate induced toxicity on Wistar albino rats. Acute toxicity analysis of the plant extract produced no lethality even at high doses of 3000 mg/kg body weight. Twenty albino rats weighing 115 – 235 g were divided into four (4) groups; the first groupof animals served as normal control and were not administered either lead acetate or EEMU. The second group was treated intraperitoneally with ...
ABSTRACT Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes are able to infect the mosquito even at levels below microscopic detection and are responsible for malaria transmission. Gametocytes are exposed to immune pressure from the host and as a result, the host is able to develop antibodies against these gametocytes. However, it has not been determined whether naturally acquired immune response against gametocytes have a direct correlation with the presence of sub-microscopic gametocytes in the peripheral ...
ABSTRACT The impact of pollution due to gas flaring on individuals native to Ebocha in Niger Delta Area was investigated. One hundred and five apparently healthy individuals between 21-70years who consented for the study were screened, seventy five individuals from Ebocha and thirty from Nsukka-a control location with no history of petroleum hydrocarbon pollution. Standard analytical procedures were used in the determination of the concentration of ascorbic acid (AA) of the individuals (male...
Most of biochemical reactions in the body generates Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which are involved in the pathogenesis of oxidative stress-related disorders like diabetes, nephrotoxicity, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, inflammation and neurological disorders when they attack biochemical molecules like proteins, lipids and nucleic acid. Antioxidants are used to protect the cells or tissues against potential attack by ROS. Natural based antioxidants such as catalase, glutathione, superoxi...
Hypoglycaemia in neonates is defined as blood glucose concentration below 1.1mmol/l for term neonates. A common abnormality in neonates, it is associated, with neurological damage and death when it occurs in the first few days of life. This is more pronounced in rural set-ups without the knowledge, detection and management facilities. When promptly diagnosed and managed, its effects can be prevented or minimized. Studies at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) show that 59.8% of all neonates ...
ABSTRACT Inflammation is a reaction to irritants that causes an injury to the body. Pain is a physical discomfort caused by injury or illness while pyrexia is an increase in body temperature above the normal range (36.5°C–37.5°C). Commonly used conventional drugs against inflammation, pain and pyrexia are effective but due to long term use, these drugs tend to be costly and are associated with adverse side effects. Traditional medicine has been used as an alternative and complementary d...
Cancer is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and accounts for up to 28,000 deaths annually in Kenya. Globally, approximately 13% of all deaths annually are attributed to cancer. Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are the current treatment techniques for cancer; however, these methods are expensive, have high failure rates and have been associated with detrimental side effects. Plants derived products could be good candidates in alleviating challenges being exp...
ABSTRACT Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common microvascular complication occurring five years from onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus, leading to renal failure and death. It is characterized by albuminuria and a reduced glomerular filtration rate. Although much emphasis has been placed on screening for albuminuria and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) to predict or diagnose DN, less attention has been focused on the role of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in risk asses...