Browsing by Author "Lugalia, Reuben"

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    Characterization and Comparison of Leishmania-Like Isolates from Rodents, Lizards and Sand Flies Caught at Masinga Location in Machakos District, Kenya
    (African Journal of Health Sciences, 2011-06) Kinuthia, Geoffrey K.; Lugalia, Reuben; Mwanyumba, Panuel J.; Ngeiywa, Moses M.; Anjili, Christopher O.; Tonui, Willy K.
    A laboratory based study was designed to characterize 43 cryo-preserved Leishmania-like flagellates. These Leishmania-like flagellates were originally obtained from non-human hosts that included spiny mice (Acomys subspinosus), plated lizards (Gerrosaurus major) and sand flies of the Genus Sergentomyia caught at Masinga location, Machakos District in Kenya. Morphological features and isoenzyme banding patterns of the flagellates were studied. The isoenzyme markers which were used for isoenzyme electrophoresis included Malate dehydrogenase (MDH), Phosphoglucomutase (PGM), Glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI), Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), Malic enzyme (ME), 6 phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) and Mannose phosphate isomerase (MPI). The isoenzyme banding patterns of the flagellates’ lysates were compared with those of six WHO Leishmania reference strains and those of seven well characterized reference strains of Trypanosoma, Crithidia, Herpetomonas and Leptomonas species. The results showed that the morphological changes of the Leishmania-like flagellates in the growth medium were indistinguishable from those of Leishmania WHO reference strains used. The isoenzyme profiles of the flagellates were all distinguishable from the reference strains used except for isolate NLB-1236 from G. major which had an enzyme profile identical to that of L. tropica (NLB-305) in 6 enzymes (MDH, GPI, MPI, ME, PGM, and G6PD). The banding pattern of isolate NLB-1261 from A. subspinosus was indistinguishable from that of L. major (NLB-326) in 3 enzymes only (MDH, GPI and ME) while isolate NLB-1231 from A. subspinosus had an enzyme profile identical to those of L. tropica (NLB-305) and L. arabica (NLB-664) in six enzymes (MDH, GPI, ME, PGM, MPI, and 6PGD). More than 80% of the Leishmania-like flagellates had enzyme profiles indistinguishable from each other, in all the isoenzyme markers. The morphological traits of the flagellates suggested that they were Leishmania or strains closely related to Leishmania. Isoenzyme analysis suggested that Sergentomyia sand flies most likely feed on both lizards (reptiles) and rodents (mammals). There is need to carry further investigations on NLB-1236 (from plated lizards), NLB-1261 (from wild spiny mice) and NLB-1231 (from wild spiny mice).
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    In Vitro Effects of Warburgia Ugandensis, Psiadia Punctulata and Chasmanthera dependens on leishmania major promastigotes.
    (Afr. J. Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 2010) Githinji, Edward K.; Irungu, Lucy; Tonui, Willy K.; Rukunga, Geoffrey; Mutai, Charles; Muthaura, Charles N.; Lugalia, Reuben; Gikandi, Geoffrey; Wainaina, Caroline W.; Ingonga, Johnston M.; Wanjoya, Antony
    Plant extracts from Warburgia ugandensis Sprague (Family: Canellaceae), Psiadia punctulata Vatke (Family: Compositae) and Chasmanthera dependens Hoschst (Family: Menispermaceae) were tested for activity on Leishmania major promastigotes (Strain IDU/KE/83 = NLB-144) and infected macrophages in vitro. Plants were collected from Baringo district, dried, extracted, weighed and tested for antileishmanial activity. Serial dilutions of the crude extracts were assayed for their activity against Leishmania major in cell free cultures and in infected macrophages in vitro. Inhibitory concentrations and levels of cytotoxicity were determined. Warburgia ugandensis, Psiadia punctulata and Chasmanthera dependens had an IC50 of 1.114 mg/ml, 2.216 mg/ml and 4.648 mg/ml, respectively. The cytotoxicity of the drugs on BALB/c peritoneal macrophage cells was insignificant as compared to the highly toxic drug of choice Pentostam®. The supernatants from control and Leishmania infected macrophages were analyzed for their nitrite contents by Griess reaction and nitrite absorbance measured at 540 nm. Warburgia ugandensis (stem bark water extract), Chasmanthera dependens (stem bark water extract) and Psiadia punctulata (stem bark methanol extract) produced 112.3%, 94% and 88.5% more nitric oxide than the untreated infected macrophages respectively. Plant crude extracts had significant (p<0.05) anti-leishmanial and immunomodulative effects but insignificant cytotoxic effects at 1mg/ml concentration. All experiments were performed in triplicate. Statistical analysis of the differences between mean values obtained from the experimental group compared to the controls was done by students’t test. ANOVA was used to determine the differences between the various treatment groups. The analysis program Probit was used to determine IC
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    Levels of heavy metals in wastewater and soil samples from open drainage channels in Nairobi, Kenya: community health implication
    (Scientific Reports, 2020) Kamau, Luna; Kinuthia, Geoffrey K.; Ngure, Veronica; Beti, Dunstone; Lugalia, Reuben; Wangila, Agnes
    Levels of Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni) & Thallium (Tl) were established in wastewater & soil samples obtained from 8 sites in open drainage channels at Nairobi industrial area, Kenya. Ultra-trace inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) was used for metal analysis. Temperature, pH & turbidity of wastewater ranged from 16.75 to 26.05 °C; 7.28 to 8.78; 160.33 to 544.69 ppm respectively and within World Health Organization (WHO) allowable limits. Wastewater conductivities in 4 sites ranged from 770 to 1074 μS/cm and above WHO limits at 25 °C. The mean concentrations of the metals in wastewater ranged from 0.0001 to 0.015 ppm in an ascending order of Tl
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    Mosquito Diversity in the Nairobi – Kenya Urban Environment and Implications for Disease Transmission
    (2020-05-23) Kinuthia, Geoffrey K.; Ngure, Veronica ; Kamau, Luna; Beti, Dunstone; Lugalia, Reuben; Wangila, Agnes; Ngari, Florence Wanja; Mburu, Faith W.; Kiarie, Martha
    Mosquito surveillance and control efforts especially those carried out under programmatic settings by mosquito control departments of governments in many situations in Africa tend to focus on rural locales, mainly because this is where mosquito transmitted diseases have been found to be prevalent. In a recent study, we found an abundance of mosquitogenic conditions conducive for mosquito breeding in Nairobi in areas in close proximity to informal settlements, similar to previous studies. Thirteen different mosquito species were identified with Culex pipiens accounting for over 97% of the 7,605 mosquitoes sampled. Implications for disease transmission within the context of climate change and other factors are discussed. The evidence points to the need for enhanced vector surveillance and control in urban environments to minimize the risk of emergence and resurgence of mosquito-borne diseases.