Background. Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite and a major cause of diarrhea in children and immunocompromised patients. Current diagnostic methods for cryptosporidiosis such as microscopy have low sensitivity while techniques such as PCR indicate higher sensitivity levels but are seldom used in developing countries due to their associated cost. A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique, a method with shorter time to result and with equal or higher sensitivity compared to PCR, has been developed and applied in the detection of Cryptosporidium species. The test has a detection limit of 10 pg/µl (~100 oocysts/ml) indicating a need for more sensitive diagnostic tools. This study developed a more sensitive lateral flow dipstick (LFD) LAMP test based on SAM-1 gene and with the addition of a second set of reaction accelerating primers (stem primers). Results. The stem LFD LAMP test showed analytical sensitivity of 10 oocysts/ml compared to 100 oocysts/ml (10 pg/ul) for each of the SAM-1 LAMP test and nested PCR. The stem LFD LAMP and nested PCR detected 29/39 and 25/39 positive samples of previously identified C. parvum and C. hominis DNA, respectively. The SAM-1 LAMP detected 27/39. On detection of Cryptosporidium DNA in 67 clinical samples, the stem LFD LAMP detected 16 samples and SAM-2 LAMP 14 and nested PCR identified 11. Preheating the templates increased detection by stem LFD LAMP to 19 samples. Time to results from master mix preparation step took ~80 minutes. The test was specific, and no cross-amplification was recorded with nontarget DNA. Conclusion. The developed stem LFD LAMP test is an appropriate method for the detection of C. hominis, C. parvum, and C. meleagridis DNA in human stool samples. It can be used in algorithm with other diagnostic tests and may offer promise as an effective diagnostic tool in the control of cryptosporidiosis.

The World Health Organization has targeted Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) for elimination by 2020 with zero incidence by 2030. To achieve and sustain this goal, accurate and easy-to-deploy diagnostic tests for Gambian trypanosomiasis which accounts for over 98% of reported cases will play a crucial role. Most needed will be tools for surveillance of pathogen in vectors (xenomonitoring) since population screening tests are readily available. The development of new tests is expensive and takes a long time while incremental improvement of existing technologies that have potential for xenomonitoring may offer a shorter pathway to tools for HAT surveillance. We have investigated the effect of including a second set of reaction accelerating primers (stem primers) to the standard T. brucei gambiense LAMP test format. The new test format was analyzed with and without outer primers. Amplification was carried out using Rotorgene 6000 and the portable ESE Quant amplification unit capable of real-time data output. The stem LAMP formats indicated shorter time to results (~8 min), were 10–100-fold more sensitive, and indicated higher diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy compared to the standard LAMP test. It was possible to confirm the predicted product using ESE melt curves demonstrating the potential of combining LAMP and real-time technologies as possible tool for HAT molecular xenomonitoring.

Background: As Kenya accelerates the momentum to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3 on health and 13 on combatting impacts of climate change, it is critically important not to overlook their impacts on the elderly, i.e. people aged 60 years and above (elderly). The objective of this study was to estimate the indirect cost (productivity losses) of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost among the elderly in Kenya in 2015.Methods: The indirect cost associated with jth disease (or health condition) DALYs lost among the elderly is the product of the per capita non-health GDP in purchasing power parity (PPP) and the total jth disease (or health condition) DALYs lost in a specific age group. Per capita non-health GDP equals Kenya’s per capita GDP minus total health expenditure in 2015. The study covers all the diseases and health conditions reported in WHO Global Health Observatory (GHO). The data on DALYs and per capita total health expenditure were obtained from WHO GHO; while per capita GDP data was from IMF World Economic Outlook database.Results: About 2,238,004 DALYs were lost among the elderly in 2015. That health loss resulted into a total indirect cost of Int$ 7,088,274,986; which was evenly distributed among males and females. Approximately, 64.1% of the indirect cost resulted from non-communicable diseases, 29.3% from communicable and nutritional conditions, and 12.2% from injuries. If Kenya is able to fully achieve SDG targets 3.1 on maternal mortality, 3.3 on communicable diseases, 3.4 on NCDs and 3.6 on road traffic accidents by 2030, that would lead to a reduction of 625,238.21 DALYs (38.4%) lost among the elderly, which is equivalent to a saving of Int$ 1,986,641,742 (44.9%) in indirect costs (productivity losses).Conclusions: Kenya incurs every year substantive productivity losses due to morbidity and premature mortality among the elderly. Therefore, there is need for increased government, private sector and partner investments into health and wellbeing of the elderly to prolong their intrinsic and functional capacities.Key words: Elderly, indirect cost, productivity loss, disability-adjusted life year (DALY)

Entamoeba histolytica, the causative agent for amoebiasis is a considerable burden to population in the developing countries where it accounts for over 50 million infections. The tools for detection of amoebiasis are inadequate and diagnosis relies on microscopy which means a significant percent of cases remain undiagnosed. Moreover, tests formats that can be rapidly applied in rural endemic areas are not available.

Background: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are an important cause of death and disability in Africa. This study estimates the monetary value of human lives lost due to NTDs in the continent in 2015. Methods: The lost output or human capital approach was used to evaluate the years of life lost due to premature deaths from NTDs among 10 high/upper-middle-income (Group 1), 17 middle-income (Group 2) and 27 low-income (Group 3) countries in Africa. The future losses were discounted to their present values at a 3% discount rate. The model was re-analysed using 5% and 10% discount rates to assess the impact on the estimated total value of human lives lost. Results: The estimated value of 67 860 human lives lost in 2015 due to NTDs was Int$ 5 112 472 607. Out of that, 14.6% was borne by Group 1, 57.7% by Group 2 and 27.7% by Group 3 countries. The mean value of human life lost per NTD death was Int$ 231 278, Int$ 109 771 and Int$ 37 489 for Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 countries, respectively. The estimated value of human lives lost in 2015 due to NTDs was equivalent to 0.1% of the cumulative gross domestic product of the 53 continental African countries. Conclusions: Even though NTDs are not a major cause of death, they impact negatively on the productivity of those affected throughout their life-course. Thus, the case for investing in NTDs control should also be influenced by the value of NTD morbidity, availability of effective donated medicines, human rights arguments, and need to achieve the NTD-related target 3.3 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 (on health) by 2030.

Aims: This study was conducted to evaluate low cost protocol for the micropropagation of three

The Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) through its Agrobiodiversity and Biotechnology Programme is enhancing the utilization of biotechnology research and development innovations in Eastern and Central Africa (ECA). We present successes in the application of biotechnology to enhance the productivity of cassava, sweet potato, banana, maize and sorghum in ECA. These products—drought tolerant maize, sorghum resistant to striga, as well as the technology for producing and distributing disease free planting materials of cassava, sweet potato and banana to farmers—are central for the agro-ecological intensification of farming systems in the central African highlands.

The production of promiscuous soybean by smallholder farmers in Kenya would improve soil fertility through biological n itrogen fixation (BNF), boost food security, and contribute to generation of cash. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of soil amend ments on growth and yields of promiscuous soybean cultivars under varying soil carbon levels. Field experiments using early maturing SB 19 and late maturing SB 20 pro miscuous soybean cultivars and different levels of phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulphur (S) fertilizers were conducted in two sites in the south-eastern slopes of Mt. Kenya, appro ximately 1500 m above sea level. The soybean cultivars were observed for phenology, plant biomass production, pod fresh weight, 1000 seed weight and haulm weight. Significant differences were observed on most yield co mponents due to field carbon level, soybean cultivar and fert ilizer amendments, wh ile the p lant height was only affected by fert ilizer application and soy bean cultivar. However, the effects due to the interaction of these factors were not significant. Therefore, the benefits of co mbined use of BNF by soybean and application of PKS fertilizers could be a promising entry point into maximized fert ilizer use efficiency by smallholder systems in Kenya.

Nitrogen deficiency is a major factor limiting bean production in Africa. This problem can be alleviated by the use of nitrogen fertilizers which on the other hand adversely affect the environment. The problem can also be alleviated by the use of environmental friendly biological nitrogen fixation technology. In this study, growth experiments were designed to investigate biological nitrogen fixation in three determinate (bush) beans namely Ayenew, GLP 24, and Ecab 0807. Greenhouse and field studies were carried out to determine the most efficient bean cultivar and rhizobia strain in nitrogen fixation. Each bean cultivar was inoculated with the rhizobia strains CIAT 899, USDA 2674, USDA 2676, the three rhizobia strains combined and one was not inoculated. Results from greenhouse studies showed significant statistical differences in nodulation within the bean cultivars. The bush bean cultivar GLP24 was poorly nodulated (40.0 nodules on average) as compared to Ayenew (52.0 nodules on average) and Ecab 0807 (58.0 nodules on average). It was also observed that bush beans inoculated with USDA 2674 strain of rhizobia in the greenhouse produced the highest nodule number although in the field, it was those inoculated with strain CIAT 899. Bush beans inoculated with USDA 2674 gave the highest total plant dry weight. Treatments within each of the cultivars showed differences in total plant dry weight yield in response to rhizobia strain used. Field experiments showed that plant dry weight differed statistically between cultivars at P<0.05. Bush beans inoculated with USDA 2674 gave the highest total plant dry weight but there were no significant differences in yield.

Sweet potato production in Eastern Africa has been declining due to lack of healthy planting materials . Developing countries have not maximised in vitro sweet potato regeneration due to the high costs in curred. The objective of this research was to reduce the cost of sweet potato tis sue culture nutrients by using affordable alternati ve nutrient sources. The conventional sources of Murashige and Skoog (MS) salts were substituted with Easygro® vegetative ferti lizer containing both macro and micronutrients. Two grams of the fertilizer were supplemented with 30 g/L of table suga r and 9 g/L of agar. Conventional MS medium supplemented with 30 g/L of sucrose and 3 g/L of gelrite was used as the contro l. Two farmerpreferred sweet potato varieties, Kemb-36 and Tainu rey were initiated on the two media. The mean number of nodes, leaves, roots and plant height were determined and comparisons made between the two media. There was 96.9% reduction in the cost of the nutrients used in media preparat ion. Significant differences were detected on the n umber of nodes produced by Kemb-36 on the two media with plantlets cultured on the low cost medium producing four nodes per plantlet while those cultured on the conventional MS medium had an average of five nodes per plantlet. Signific ant differences were not detected on the number of nodes produced b y Tainurey on the two media. The developed low cost medium can be used to boost the production of affordable disease- free sweet potato seedlings.

Adoption of drought-tolerant crops such as cassava can help alleviate food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa. However, production is constrained by lack of disease-free planting materials. This can be circumvented through tissue culture but the technology is costly limiting its adoption. There is therefore, need to put in place interventions that will reduce the cost of production hence making tissue culture products affordable. In this research, a low cost protocol for cassava tissue culture was developed and used to regenerate two farmer- preferred cassava varieties, KME 1 and Muchericheri. Easygro ® vegetative fertilizer, a locally available foliar feed was used as an alternative source for conventional MS salts. Nodal explants were initiated on a low cost medium containing 2 g/L of Easygro ® vegetative fertilizer supplemented with 30 g/L of table sugar and 9 g/L of agar and conventional medium containing MS salts supplemented with 30 g/L of sucrose and 9 g/L of agar. The conventional MS medium was used as the control. The number of leaves, nodes, roots and average plant heights for the resultant plantlets were determined and compared. The variety Muchericheri had a significantly higher regeneration index compared to KME 1 having produced a mean of 6.8 nodes on the low cost medium and 5.6 nodes on the conventional medium compared to KME 1 which had a mean of 5.6 nodes on the low cost medium and 4.5 nodes on the conventional medium. This is an indication that Muchericheri had a better regeneration efficiency compared to KME 1.

Plant tissue culture continues to be of great interest within the realms of molecular biology, plant breeding and plant health. However, different plant cultivars have different culture efficiency to tissue culture. In this research, the response of two Kenyan sweet potato varieties cultured on a low cost tissue culture medium was evaluated. The low cost medium contained plant nutrients that were obtained from locally available materials such as fertilizers. Each conventional Murashige and Skoog (MS) macronutrient was individually substituted with a locally available fertilizer. The conventional source of micronutrients was substituted with Stanes® Iodized Microfood while sucrose was obtained from table sugar. Performance of the two cultivars was monitored over a period of six weeks. KEMB 36 had a better performance than Tainurey with an average of 8 nodes, 7 leaves, 3 roots and height of 4 centimeters per plantlet indicating genotype-dependent response.