http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/29 Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:17:49 GMT 2026-04-19T08:17:49Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2625 Improving aquaculture productivity in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya: Addressing pathogens, water quality, and management challenges Mutai, E. Kipyegon; Ngeiywa, M.M.Moses; Liti, D. Aquaculture in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya, has grown significantly due to government support, favorable climatic conditions, and an increasing demand for fish as a protein source. However, fish farming in the region faces severe challenges from pathogenic parasites and microbes, which significantly impact fish health and aquaculture productivity. Poor water quality, overcrowded ponds, and agricultural runoff exacerbate the proliferation of pathogens, including protozoan parasites (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis), monogeneans (Gyrodactylus species), bacterial pathogens (Aeromonas hydrophila, Edwardsiella tarda), and fungal infections (Saprolegnia species). These pathogens cause diseases that lead to high mortality rates, reduced productivity, and economic losses. This review synthesizes current research on fish pathogens in Uasin Gishu, contextualizing the findings within regional and global frameworks, and identifies critical gaps in disease management. It also proposes strategies to mitigate disease prevalence, improve water quality, and enhance aquaculture sustainability. Sat, 01 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2625 2025-03-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2622 PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF Guizotia scabra LEAF, STEM BARK AND ROOT EXTRACTS FOR DENTAL CARIES CONTROL PAUL, ANJELINE JEPCHUMBA Medicinal plants offer promising alternatives for treating oral infections. This study investigated the phytochemical composition and antibacterial activity of Guizotia scabra tender leaf, stem bark, and root extracts against Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus, key pathogens in dental caries. Ethanol and acetone extracts were subjected to Standard laboratory tests for phytochemicals analysis, High- performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for quantification of flavanoids, Fourier- transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for determination of functional groups and antibacterial bioassays to assess antibacterial activity. Phytochemical tests revealed the presence of anthraquinones, alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids, saponins, and quinones. HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of myricetin and quercetin, with leaf extracts showing the highest concentrations (myricetin: 7.0013 ppm; quercetin: 0.901 ppm). Stem bark lacked myricetin but contained quercetin (2.4991 ppm), while root extracts had moderate levels of both (myricetin (2.0627 ppm) and quercetin (0.7027 ppm). FTIR spectra identified key functional groups, including O-H/N-H (3441 cm−1)1 linked to alkanoids (Quercetin ) (N-H /O-H group), C=O (1643 cm−1) which correlate to terpenoids, C-H/C-O (1396 cm−1) linked to alkaloids structure having N /O-H bond,2000 cm−1 to terpenoids /flavanoids and possible metal-ligand vibrations (538 cm−1). There is also a distinct C-N stretch (1250 cm−1) likely due to C-N stretching in alkaloids showed by leaf and root extracts. Antibacterial evaluation demonstrated that ethanol leaf extract had the highest inhibition against Streptococcus mutans (5.0 mm, 62.5%) and Streptococcus sobrinus (4.0 mm, 50%), followed by root extracts (3.0 mm, (37.5%) and 2.5 mm , (31.25%) respectively. Acetone extracts showed similar trends with the leaf extract at 4.6 mm, (57.5%) and 4.3 mm, (53.75%). However, commercial toothpastes showed superior inhibition (up to 7.0 mm, 87.5%) likely due to fluoride content and other additives. These findings suggest that Guizotia scabra possesses bioactive compounds with potential for natural oral healthcare applications. Further studies should optimize extraction; evaluate compound synergy, ensuring safety and efficacy for possible formulation of dental products. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2622 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2621 ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY AND PREVALENCE OF Staphylococcus aureus IN DIABETIC WOUNDS AMONG PATIENTS AT MOI TEACHING AND REFFERAL HOSPITAL, KENYA OGUDA, OWUOR DOMNIC The frequent source of deferred healing processes in wounds is Staphylococcus aureus worldwide. Diabetic wounds in diabetic patients contribute to delayed healing due to antibacterial resistance, which has caused a lot of suffering and a low quality of life for patients. This study investigated the prevalence, possible risk factors, and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of S. aureus isolated from diabetic wounds of patients attending Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH). It involved purposive sampling; patients with diabetic wound infections who were willing to participate in the study were selected. The study included Type 2 Diabetes patients aged 13 years and above, who presented at the MTRH diabetic clinic during the study, and had not used antibiotics for any reason. The study targeted 156 diabetic patients attending MTRH. A questionnaire was administered to collect socio-demographic data. Wound swabs were aseptically collected and cultured on blood agar, then sub-cultured on Mannitol Salt Agar to isolate S. aureus. It was further identified by catalase and coagulase tests. Determination of antimicrobial susceptibility was by the Agar disk diffusion method. The occurrence of S. aureus in diabetic wounds was significantly (p=0.025) influenced by the sex of patients attending the diabetic clinic at MTRH. However, age (p=0.6503), underlying conditions (p=0.8437), previous hospitalization (p=0.808), previous antibiotic use (p=0.6874), marital status (p=0.118), and the level of education (p=0.192) do not significantly predispose the wounds of diabetic patients attending an outpatient diabetic clinic at MTRH to S. aureus. 31 samples were positive for S. aureus. An instance of intermediate sensitivity 26 (10.48%) was shown by S. aureus isolated in this study, with 72 (29.03%) resistance to antibiotics. However, most of the isolates were vulnerable to the test antibiotics. A higher number of S. aureus isolates were susceptible to Cefoxitin (96.77%) and Clindamycin (80.65%), with lesser susceptibility to Ampicillin (25.81%). A prevalence of 19.87%, Cefoxitin being effective against most of the S. aureus isolates, and a significant relation between sex and occurrence of S. aureus in diabetic wounds were established. Early surveillance and screening to detect any presence of MRSA in diabetic wounds and the susceptibility profile of S. aureus in diabetic wounds of patients attending the diabetic clinic at MTRH is recommended. Re- evaluation of the use of Ampicillin should also be taken into consideration to prevent widespread antibiotic resistance. Female diabetic patients should take more precautions to prevent any traumatic injury, which could lead to diabetic wound infections. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2621 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2620 PLASMID-MEDIATED ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN GRAM-NEGATIVE PATHOGENIC BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM RIVER SOSIANI AND WASTE WATER SYSTEMS IN UASIN GISHU COUNTY, KENYA AUMA, SHARON The widespread of bacteria resistance to antibiotics poses an immense threat to the public health. Aquatic ecosystems receive waste water which invariably contain different bacteria, chemicals and antibiotic residues that induces bacterial resistance to antibiotics, resulting into several treatments failures and deaths. Plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance of bacteria through horizontal gene transfer has been reported to significantly cause resistance in susceptible bacteria. The current study identified antibiotic resistance genes present in gram-negative bacterial plasmids, isolated from River Sosiani and wastewater systems in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. The sampling sites included Outspan-Nairobi bridge, Pioneer bridge, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret prison, Kipkaren bridge, Huruma quarry influent, Huruma quarry effluent, Kipkenyo boundary influent and Kipkenyo boundary effluent. The study entailed bacteria isolation, identification, antibiotic susceptibility testing, plasmid DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction of the antibiotic-resistant genes. Mean and standard deviations were analyzed using Microsoft Excel while Chi square was used to determine significant relationship existing between the phenotypic and genotypic resistance in bacteria. Most of the bacteria coliforms obtained were too numerous to count. A total of 10 gram-negative pathogenic bacteria species were detected, including Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Citrobacter freundii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Proteus vulgaris, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enteriditis and Yersinia enterocolitica. All the 10 bacteria conferred resistance to penicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ceftazidime, tetracycline, streptomycin and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. Multi antibiotic resistance index was higher in E. aerogenes (0.83) but lower in Y. enterocolitica (0.58). Out of the nine antibiotic-resistant genes investigated, qepA and qnrA genes were present in the plasmids of all the 10 bacteria species, 70% of the total bacteria species had dfrA5, 70% had aadA1, 50% had blaKPC, 40% had mphA, 30% of the bacteria species had blaSHV and sul 1 genes (P≥1) while none of the bacterial plasmid DNA had AmpC gene. The study findings suggested that River Sosiani and the sampled wastewater systems contained different pathogenic bacteria and their plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance genes which confer resistance to commonly used antibiotics. Therefore, effective waste disposal, continuous monitoring and proper pretreatments of water from River Sosiani and the sampled wastewater systems may reduce bacteria contamination and antibiotic resistance inducers, addressing challenges associated with antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2620 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2586 Enhancing fisheries productivity through improved fish pond management in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya: A comprehensive review Kosgei, J. Patricia; Liti, David M; Chemoiwa, Emily J.; Mutai, Edwin K. Aquaculture is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of global food security and economic development. However, its potential remains underexploited in many developing regions, including Uasin Gishu County in Kenya. This review synthesizes local and global research on the challenges and opportunities for enhancing fisheries productivity in the county through improved pond management practices. By examining production systems, water quality variables, and nutritional management, this review presents practical strategies for sustainable intensification of aquaculture in the region. The findings underscore the need for coordinated efforts among stakeholders to unlock the full potential of aquaculture in Uasin Gishu County, positioning it as a viable pathway toward rural development and long-term food security. The recommendations focus on capacity building, resource access, policy support, and integrated farming approaches aimed at improving productivity, profitability, and environmental sustainability. Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2586 2025-07-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2585 Influence of Water Quality on Growth Dynamics of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Uasin Gishu Aquaculture Systems Kosgei, J. Patricia; Liti, M. David,; Mutai, K. Edwin; Chemoiwa, J. Emily Aquaculture in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya, supports food security and livelihoods but faces challenges from unstable water quality affecting Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) growth. This study examined the relationship between water quality and fish growth across five farms representing earthen, tank, and raised liner systems from May 2023 to April 2024. Physico-chemical parameters—dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and biological oxygen demand (BOD)—were measured at three-hour intervals, while fish growth was monitored monthly. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Tukey’s HSD, and multiple regression to assess water quality effects on growth. Temperature (21–23 °C) was below the optimal 25–30 °C range; pH (8–9) was acceptable; DO occasionally dropped below 3 mg/L; and COD (32–95 mg/L) and BOD (33–103 mg/L) indicated organic loading. Significant differences occurred among farms for temperature, DO, COD, and BOD. Growth parameters derived from the von Bertalanffy Growth Function showed the best performance in raised liner systems, with Cheplaskei Farm A recording the highest growth (L∞ = 36.78 cm; W∞ = 630.02 g). COD and BOD were the strongest predictors of maximum growth rate. The findings emphasize the need for stable water quality management to enhance O. niloticus productivity and ensure sustainable aquaculture in the region. Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2585 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2583 PREDICTIVE MODELING OF CHILD MORTALITY IN MIGORI AND NYAMIRA COUNTIES USING INDIRECT METHODS OMARE, BRIAN Child mortality remains a critical public health challenge, particularly in developing countries like Kenya, where disparities in healthcare are stark across different regions. In counties such as Nyamira and Migori, persistent high rates of under-five child mortality demonstrate the need for more precise statistical predictions for and targeted interventions. Traditional methods for estimating child mortality, such as those derived from household surveys, are often hampered by issues like missing data and survivor bias, leading to inaccurate mortality estimates. This study sought to develop a comprehensive predictive model for under-five child mortality in Migori and Nyamira counties, Kenya, by incorporating temporal patterns and social determinants of health. Utilizing a retrospective cohort design, the study analyzed historical data from health records, census reports, and household surveys spanning 34 years (1989-2022). The analysis incorporated indirect estimation techniques to address data gaps and employed multiple linear regression, gradient boosting regressor, and spatio-temporal modeling to capture temporal and seasonal trends in child mortality. The multiple linear regression model was significant, explaining 89.9% of the change in neonatal mortality in Migori County and 80.6% of the variation in Nyamira County. Gradient boosting regressor performed optimally, accounting for 80.9% of the change in child mortality, indicating good predictive capability and suggesting that the chosen independent variables effectively capture the complexity of the response variable. Spatio-temporal modeling log-likelihood value of -111.87 indicated a relatively good fit, capturing the observed data well (pseudo-R-squared = 0.9415). Results indicated that infant mortality rates in both counties have fluctuated historically, with distinct seasonal trends influenced by factors such as disease prevalence and access to healthcare services. The temporal and seasonal analysis revealed that periods of increased respiratory complications and malaria prevalence corresponded with higher mortality rates. The study provides a methodological framework that can be adapted to other regions with comparable challenges. By addressing the limitations of traditional mortality estimation methods and leveraging advanced predictive modeling techniques, the study contributes to the ongoing efforts to improve child health outcomes in Kenya and beyond. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2583 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2564 Detection and classification of cervical cancer disease among women using machine learning technique Model in Western Kenya. Murere, JF; Wangila, S.; Koech, J. Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths among Kenyan women, claiming approximately the lives of 3,200 women annually. This is primarily due to the low screening uptake (16%) and late diagnosis. The aim of this study was to develop a machine leaning based model to enhance early detection of cervical cancer in Western Kenya, a region in Kenya with limited healthcare resources. Demographic, reproductive, and clinical characteristics data were collected from 968 women across health facilities in western Kenya (MTRH and Kakamega Referral hospital) utilizing a cross sectional study design. The dataset was divided into training set (70%) and testing set (30%). The training set was used to develop the five machine learning model: Logistic Regression, Random Forest, Decision Tree, Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The testing set was used to evaluate the models. The machine learning model were trained to classify the cervical cancer cases, addressing the class imbalances using class weighting method for SVM, decision tree, random forest and logit model and synthetic minority oversampling class technique (SMOTE) for ANN. The random forest model demonstrated the superior performance compared to the other four models as it achieved the highest accuracy (94.33%) and specificity (98.37%) making it to be highly effective at ruling out negative cases. It however had a sensitivity of 20% which indicated that it had challenges in detecting positive cases. The logistic regression model excelled in sensitivity (70%) making it suitable for initial screening. ANN model showed the lowest precision (10%). The findings from this study suggested that a two-step approach which combine both Logistic Regression for screening and Random Forest for confirmation of cervical cancer cases which will go a long way in improving early detection and reduce cervical cancer mortality in resource-constrained settings like Western Kenya. Sun, 01 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2564 2025-06-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2553 CHARACTERIZATION OF SELECTED KENYAN COWPEA CULTIVARS FOR TOLERANCE TO ACIDITY SANG, JANETH Acid soils are normally deficient in available phosphorus and have high levels of soluble aluminium. Crops vary in sensitivity to acidity and associated stresses. Kenyan varieties of cowpea have not been tested for tolerance to acidity and phosphorus deficiency. This study was conducted to assess the response of selected cowpea cultivars to acidity and aluminium stress under laboratory and field conditions. A total of nine cowpea cultivars namely UOE-COWPEA-1, UOE-COWPEA-2, UOE-COWPEA-3, UOE-COWPEA-4, UOE-COWPEA-5, KENKUNDE-1, K-80, M-66 and KVU-27-1, were screened in culture solution containing 0 µM and 185 µM AlCl 3 at a pH of 4.3 and four which showed a greater ability to modify the culture solution pH and a higher relative net root length were further evaluated in the field. pH values of the culture solution were taken daily for a period of six days without adjustment. Root and shoot lengths were measured and recorded after six days. The field experiment were laid out in RCBD, where the two main plots were either limed (4 t/ha) or not limed. The treatments were phosphorus (TSP) (0.06 t/ha), lime, phosphorus plus lime and control (-P, -L) and four cowpea cultivars; UOE-COWPEA-2, KVU 27-1, K-80 and KENKUNDE-1 were grown for a duration of four months. Soil samples were analyzed prior to and after planting. Plant height, total number of leaves per plant, total number of branches per plant, leaf area per plant, plant biomass, number of pods per plant, pod length, number of seeds per pod, 100 seed weight and seed yield per plant were assessed using standard procedures. The nine cowpea cultivars screened increase the pH of the culture solution as the days progressed. The increase in the culture solution pH could be due to cowpea cultivars secreting chelating agents that reduce H + thereby increasing the culture solution pH and reducing Al toxicity. UOE-COWPEA-4 cultivar grown at 185 µM Al was the most tolerant with higher relative net root length (75.6%) while UOE-COWPEA-1 cultivar was the most Al sensitve (63.7%). Lime increased the soil pH from 5.23 to 6.37 while both P+L increased soil P to the maximum of 28.93 mg/kg with K-80 cultivar. UOE-COWPEA-2 produced the greatest number of leaves (52) and number of pods per plant (59) while K-80 yielded the highest total seed weight per plant (42g) with KENKUNDE-1 recording the greatest number of seeds per pod (12) all under phosphorus plus lime treatment. UOE-COWPEA- 2, UOE-COWPEA-4, UOE-COWPEA-5, K-80 and KEN-KUNDE-1 cultivars that showed greater promise in modifying the pH, superior growth and yield attributes, could be grown in acidic soils. The cultivars can be tested further to establish their stability in alleviating acidity. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2553 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2540 Antibacterial Activity of the Tender Leaf, Stem Bark and Root Extracts of Guizotia Scabra against Streptococci Bacteria Using Bioassay Paul, Anjeline Jepchumba; Lagat, Grace; Lutta, Samuel Dental caries remains a major public health concern globally, largely attributed to bacterial pathogens such as Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. The search for plant-based alternatives to synthetic oral care products has intensified in recent years. This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of ethanol and acetone extracts of Guizotia scabra leaf, stem bark and root against these key oral pathogens in comparison with commercial toothpastes. The ethanol leaf extract exhibited the highest activity against Streptococcus mutans with an inhibition zone of 5.0 mm (62.5%), followed by the root extract (3.0 mm, 37.5%) and stem extract (2.0 mm, 25.0%). Against Streptococcus sobrinus., the ethanol leaf extract recorded 4.0 mm (50.0%), root extract 2.5 mm (31.25%), and stem extract 1.5 mm (18.75%). Similarly, the acetone leaf extract demonstrated the highest inhibition against Streptococcus mutans (4.6 mm, 57.5%) and Streptococcus sobrinus. (4.3 mm, 53.75%), compared to the root extract (2.8 mm, 35.0%; 2.3 mm, 28.75%) and stem extract (1.9 mm, 23.75%; 1.7 mm, 21.25%). In contrast, commercial toothpaste brand 1 produced inhibition zones of 6.0 mm (75.0%) against both pathogens, while brand 2 showed 7.0 mm (87.5%) against Streptococcus mutans and 6.0mm (75.0%) against Streptococcus sobrinus. These findings demonstrate that Guizotia scabra extracts possess significant antibacterial activity, with leaf extracts showing the greatest potential. Although commercial toothpastes were more effective likely due to fluoride and other active ingredients. The results highlight the potential of Guizotia scabra as a natural complementary agent for dental caries prevention. Future research should explore its integration with fluoride or other natural antibacterials to enhance its efficacy. Keywords: Antibacterial Activity, Guizotia scabra, Streptococcus mutans & Streptococcus sobrinus bacteria, Bioassay. Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2540 2025-09-01T00:00:00Z