Browsing by Author "Ingonga, Johnstone M."
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Item Comparative Analysis of the Effectiveness of Sand Fly Traps with Different Baits(IOSR-JPBS, 2015-08) Mong’are, Samuel ; Ng’ang’a Zipporah; Ngumbi, Philip; Ingonga, Johnstone M.; Ngure, PeterSand flies are small haematophagous insects that transmit Leishmania parasites. Infection with Leishmania parasites results in diseases known as leishmaniases which can be grouped into three main forms: cutaneous, mucocutaneous and visceral leishmaniases. The CDC light trap is the standard surveillance technique used to determine sand fly densities in a given locality, although this technique has been hampered by several logistic issues. Therefore, this study sought to use host blood, urine and ripe fruits as baits in a modified trap to come up with a cheap device for sand fly surveillance. This study also aimed at identifying the sand fly species attracted to this new device. Defibrinated blood from cattle, goat, sheep and chicken; urine from cattle, sheep and goat and fruits: grapes, mangoes, bananas and apples were placed inside each trap to act as sand fly attractants. A total of 1302 sand flies were collected within 3 trapping nights. Blood baited trap yielded more sand flies (202.33 ± 2.85) while chicken baited trap trapped the least (65.00 ±1.53). Among the fruit baited traps, bananas attracted the highest number of sand flies (94.33 ± 4.63) followed by mango baited trap which caught (89.67 ± 2.33) although the difference between these two was not significant (P=0.682). 64.3% of the collected sand flies belonged to the genus Sergentomyia and 35.7% to Phlebotomus. The collected sand flies belonged to 7 species with P. martini (35.7%), S. schwetzi (34.1%) and S. antennata (15.7%) being the dominant species. Volatiles from plant and animal hosts may be used instead of light or carbon dioxide to improve the efficiency of traps for haematophagous insects. These volatiles can also be used to synergize each other and be incorporated in traps targeting sand flies.Item A Descriptive Survey on Knowledge, Attitude, Practices and Beliefs on Kalaazar among the Residents of Marigat Sub-county, Baringo County, Kenya(International Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, 2016) Kiarie, Martha; Nzau, Anastasia; Ngumbi, Philip; Waithima, Abraham K.; Bowen, Michael; Nzunza, Rosemary; Ingonga, Johnstone M.; Ngure, PeterObjective: To establish the level of knowledge, attitude, practices and beliefs related to kala azar among residents of Marigat sub - County, Baringo County. Methods: The sub-County is divided into 37 sub-locations and of these 8 herein referred to as villages were considered for this study. A total of 670 households were randomly drawn from the 8 villages, and this formed the sample population. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews of key informants. Results: The findings indicated that the respondents were well informed on kala azar; the cause and treatment. They also had favorable attitude toward the disease. They were aware that the disease was curable and sought treatment from health facilities as opposed to traditional alternatives. In seeking treatment, the residents were faced with challenges such as the long distance to health facilities, long period of treatment and the attendant cost of caring for a leishmaniasis patient. The respondents were aware that the disease was spread by an insect; however, they were not aware of preventive measures. Most live in destitute houses which predisposed them to the infective bite of the vector. Most of the respondents are not employed and the cost of treatment, in addition to attendant costs places a heavy economic burden on them. Conclusion: The results showed good awareness of leishmaniasis, positive attitude and practices among the respondents which are important attributes in community participation. These findings are quite encouraging to researchers planning control programs because such a community would be more receptive to suggested control measures.Item Efficacy of crude methanolic extracts of Allium sativum L. and Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Cufod. against Leishmania major(Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants, 2014-03) Gikonyo, Nicholas K.; Kinuthia, Geoffrey K.; Kabiru, Ephantus Wanjohi ; Anjili, Christopher O.; Kigondu, Elizabeth M.; Ngure, Veronica N.; Ingonga, Johnstone M.Leishmania major is a protozoan parasite responsible for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in humans. CL is transmitted via a bite by infected female phlebotomine sand fly. Research on herbal therapy for leishmaniases is increasing globally because conventional drugs are costly, toxic and require a prolonged administration. In vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activities of dried Allium sativum (garlic) and Moringa stenopetala methanolic extracts against L. major were studied. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of methanolic extracts of A. sativum (A) and M. stenopetala(M) against L. major were 3 and 5 mg/ml and IC50 of 863.12 and 1752.92 μg/ml respectively. The blend AM (1:1) hadIC50 of 372.1μg/ml and promastigotes’ viability of 71.03% compared to IC50 of 0.26 and 0.82μg/ml and promastigotes’viability of 18.41% and 12.22% for Pentostam and Liposomal amphotericin B respectively. Multiplication indices (MIs) of L. major amastigotes ranged from 43.67% to 45.93% after treatment with extracts A or M or blend AM at 125μg/ml and were significantly different (P < 0.05) from Liposomal amphotericin B at 12.5μg/ml. Oral extract A reduced significantly (P > 0.05) L. major caused foot pad lesions in BALB/c mice while oral extract M did not. Blend AM (ip) reduced the lesion sizes and its efficacy was close to Pentostam and Liposomal amphotericin B. Oral extract A had a high parasite reduction rate of 60.70% and average LDU of 0.22±0.15 compared to Pentostam at 66.40% and LDU of 0.18±0.08. In conclusion, methanolic extract of A. sativum showed anti-leishmanial activity both in vitro and in vivo and it decreased L. major caused foot pad lesions in BALB/c mice. Methanolic extracts of M. stenopetala (ip) reduced the amastigotes burden in spleens of BALB/c mice. A blend of garlic and moringa methanolic extracts (AM at 1:1) were active against L. major. The active ingredients in crude methanolic extracts of garlic and moringa plants should be established and tested against L. major when blended.Item From Mud and Stick-Walled Houses to Corrugated Iron Sheet Houses: A New Strategy for Preventing Human-Vector Contact in Marigat Sub-County; a Leishmaniasis-Endemic Area in Kenya(Annals of Clinical Cytology and Pathology, 2017) Ngure, Peter; Nzau, Anastasia; Kiarie, Martha; Waithima, Abraham K.; Bowen, Michael; Ingonga, Johnstone M.; Ngumbi, PhilipObjective: The objective of this study was to assess if improved housing would result in reduced sand fly-human contact which in turn would be assumed to result in reduced chances of leishmaniasis transmission. The transmission of leishmaniasis is heavily influenced by socio-economic factors and this is the main reason why it has been described as the disease of the poor. Methods: This studied compared the sand fly densities in targeted houses before and after improvement. The houses to be improved were selected based on indoor sand fly density, construction materials and economic status of the household. These houses were upgraded to two-roomed corrugated iron sheet houses. Sand fly densities were determined using CDC light traps in the mud and stick-walled grass-thatched houses before moving the occupants to houses made of corrugated iron sheets. 146 houses were used, selected from 670 in the 4 villages. Findings: There were significant differences (p< 0.05) in sand fly densities between the mud, stick-walled houses and the corrugated iron sheet houses; the improved houses had fewer sand flies. The average density of sand flies in stick-walled houses ranged from 32 to 13 compared to 4 to 1 in corrugated iron sheet houses. Conclusion: The improved housing reduces the density of sand flies indoors; in turn reducing the vector–human contact hence reducing the chances of infective bites. This strategy is long lasting and has additional benefits to residents.Item In vitro activity of aqueous and methanol extracts of Callistemon citrinus (Family Myrtaceae) against Leishmania major(Health Sciences, 2014-04) Kinuthia, Geoffrey K.; Kabiru, Ephantus Wanjohi ; Gikonyo, NK; Ingonga, Johnstone M.; Kigondu, EM; Anjili, Christopher O.Leishmania major is a protozoan parasite that causes cutaneous leishmaniasis and the standard drugs are expensive and toxic. Cheaper and safer natural drugs are therefore needed. In this study, the in vitro efficacy of crude extracts of Callistemon citrinus were tested against L. major. Controls were anti leishmanial drugs pentostam and liposomal amphotericin B. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of C. citrinus crude aqueous and methanolic extracts were 5mg/ml and 1mg/ml respectively compared to 12.5µg/ml and 6.25µg/ml for pentostam and liposomal amphotericin B respectively. The IC 50 for C. citrinus extracts against promastigotes ranged from 297.75 to 572.69µg/ml compared to 0.26 and 0.82µg/ml for pentostam and liposomal amphotericin B. The IC 50 for C. citrinus extracts against vero cells ranged from 467µg/ml to 1314.65µg/ml. The promastigotes' viability after treatment with aqueous and methanolic extracts was 69.58% and 75.74% respectively. At 125µg/ml, the aqueous and methanolic C. citrinus extracts had in vitro amastigotes' infection rates (IRs) of 77.0±2.50 % and 77.5±3.50% respectively. The multiplication indices (MIs) and IRs of amastigotes treated with C. citrinus crude aqueous extracts and those treated with crude methanolic extracts differed insignificantly (P > 0.05). C. citrinus methanolic extracts stimulated production of about 20µM nitric oxide in BALB/c mice peritoneal macrophages suggesting immuno-modulatory role of the extracts. The crude aqueous and methanolic extracts of C. citrinus were therefore concluded to be relatively less toxic and possessed in vitro anti-leishmanial activity against L. major promastigotes and amastigotes.Item In vitro and in vivo activities of blends of crude aqueous extracts from Allium sativum L, Callistemon citrinus (Curtis) Skeels and Moringa stenopetala (Baker F) Cufodontis against Leishmania major(Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants, 2013-06) Kabiru, Ephantus Wanjohi; Kinuthia, Geoffrey K.; Anjili, Christopher O.; Gikonyo, Nicholas K.; Kigondu, Elizabeth M.; Ingonga, Johnstone M.Leishmania major caused cutaneous leishmaniasis leads to painful skin sores in humans and usual drugs are expensive, toxic, and require prolonged use. The in vitro and in vivo efficacy of aqueous crude extracts from Callistemon citrinus flowers (B), Allium sativum bulbs (C) and Moringa stenopetala leaves (A) against L. major was studied. Controls were pentostam, liposomal amphotericin B, and phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Dried and ground plant materials were soaked in distilled water at 70oC for 1.5 hours, filtered and freeze dried to obtain aqueous extracts. L. major infected BALB/c mice were treated orally or intra peritoneally (ip) with blends of the extracts. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of single extracts ranged from 3 to 5mg/ml while IC50 from 297 to 575μg/ml compared to MICs of 12.50 and 6.25μg/ml and IC50 of 0.26 and 0.82μg/ml for pentostam and liposomal amphotericin B respectively. Blends of M. stenopetala and C. citrinus (AB), M. stenopetala and A. sativum (AC), and C. citrinus and A. sativum (BC) at concentrations based on MICs of individual extracts were active at ratios 1:1, 1:9 and 1:1 with promastigotes’ viabilities of 33.82%, 17.41% and 60.74 % respectively. IC50 for blends AB, AC, and BC ranged from 174μg/ml to 1314μg/ml against promastigotes. The individual extracts comprising blends AB, AC and BC interacted additively and synergistically in several combination ratios. Blend AC (1:1) at 125μg/ml had in vitro infection rate (IR) of 71% and multiplication index (MI) of 48.20% for L. major amastigotes compared to IR of 67% and MI of 47.51% for pentostam at 12.50μg/ml. Oral blend BC (1:1) reduced the mice footpad lesion size significantly (P < 0.05). Both oral blends BC and AC reduced mice spleen amastigotes by 48.33% and 60.94% with total LDUs of 6.35 ± 0.66 and 4.80 ± 0.95 respectively. Oral blend AB (1:1) lowered spleen amastigotes by 6.5% with total LDU of 11.49 ± 6.84. In conclusion, aqueous blends of C. citrinus, A. sativum and M. stenopetala extracts that interacted additively or synergistically were less toxic but active against L. major.Item IN VIVO EFFICACY OF ORAL AND INTRAPERITONEAL ADMINISTRATION OF EXTRACTS OF WARBURGIA UGANDENSIS (CANELLACEAE) IN EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENT OF OLD WORLD CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS CAUSED BY LEISHMANIA MAJOR.(Afr. J. Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 2009) Ngure, Peter Kamau; Ng’ang’a, Zipporah; Ingonga, Johnstone M.; Rukunga, Geoffrey; Tonui, Willy KiprotichThe antileishmanial activity of extracts of Warburgia ugandensis Spraque (Canellaceae), a known traditional therapy in Kenya was evaluated in vivo. Treatment of infected BALB/c mice with W. ugandensis extracts orally resulted in a reduction of the size of lesions compared to the untreated control. The lesion sizes differed significantly for the four extracts (p=0.039) compared to the untreated control. For mice treated by intraperitoneal injection, the lesion sizes increased initially for the hexane, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts and healed by day 42. The lesion sizes for mice treated with methanol increased steadily from 2.47mm to 3.57mm. The parasitic burden was significantly higher (p<0.001) in mice treated with methanol extracts and PBS compared to those treated with hexane, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate. This study demonstrated the antileishmanial potential of extracts of W. ugandensis.Item Knowledge, Attitude, Practices and Beliefs (KAPBs) on Kala-azar among the Residents of Marigat Sub-County, Baringo County(2015-12) Kiarie, Martha; Nzau, Anastasia; Ngumbi, Philip; Waithima, Abraham; Bowen, Michael; Nzunza, Rosemary; Ingonga, Johnstone M.; Ngure, PeterA survey on knowledge, attitude, practices and beliefs (KAPBs) was conducted in Marigat sub- County, Baringo County. The sub- County is divided into 37 sub-locations and of these 8 herein referred to as villages is considered for this study. A total of 670 households were randomly drawn from the 8 villages and this formed the sample population. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and in depth interviews of key informants. The result findings indicated that the respondents were well informed on kala-azar; the cause and treatment and had favorable attitude towards the disease. They were aware that the disease was curable and sought treatment from health facilities as opposed to traditional alternatives. In seeking treatment, the residents were faced with challenges such as the long distance to the health facility, long period of treatment and the attendant cost of caring for a leishmaniasis patient. The respondents were aware that the disease was spread by an insect however, they were not aware of preventive measures. Most live in destitute houses which predisposed them to the infective bite of the vector. Most of the respondents are not employed and the cost of treatment, in addition to attendant costs places a heavy economic burden on them. The results showed good awareness of leishmaniasis, positive attitude and practices among the respondents which are important attributes in community participation. These findings were quite encouraging to researchers planning control programs because such a community would be more receptive to suggested control measures.Item Ovicidal and Larvicidal Effects of Ricinus communis L. (Euphorbiaceae) Extracts on Phlebotomus duboscqi(European Journal of Medicinal Plants, 2015-11-07) Mong’are, Samuel; Ng’ang’a, Zipporah; Ngumbi, Philip; Ingonga, Johnstone M. ; Ngure, PeterAims: To evaluate the Ovicidal and larvicidal effects of Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae) extracts on Phlebotomus duboscqi. Study Design: A comparative experimental design using extracts obtained from the leaf and bark of Ricinus communis plant. Study Site: Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development (CBRD), Nairobi Kenya from January to July, 2015. Methodology: Aqueous, methanol and ethyl acetate extracts were prepared from Ricinus communis plant. Freshly laid eggs were moistened with 1 ml of each extract separately during the incubation period. Larvae were also fed on larval food mixed with the powdered crude extract and a second group was fed on larval food sprinkled with 5 ml of each extract daily. Results: No significant difference when bark and leaf extracts were compared (P=0.061). 250 μg/ml and 500 μg/ml of extract eroded all the chorionic membranes of the egg shell while egg hatchability was significantly inhibited with only 7%, 9% and 26% of eggs hatching at 500 μg/ml of aqueous, methanol and ethyl acetate extracts respectively (P<0.001). 100% larval mortality noted when at 500 μg/ml methanol extract. The larval period was prolonged to 87 days with the life cycle lasting for 101 days. Conclusion: R. communis extracts have deleterious effects on hatching of eggs, larval and pupal development and adult emergence of P. duboscqi; hence R. communis should be used against sand flies and Leishmania in situ.