http://repository.anu.ac.ke/handle/123456789/248 2026-09-13T04:59:09Z http://repository.anu.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1217 Molecular Detection of Tick-Borne Pathogen Diversities in Ticks from Livestock and Reptiles along the Shores and Adjacent Islands of Lake Victoria and Lake Baringo, Kenya Mwamuye, Micky M Although diverse tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) are endemic to East Africa, with recognized impact on human and livestock health, their diversity and specific interactions with tick and vertebrate host species remain poorly understood in the region. In particular, the role of reptiles in TBP epidemiology remains unknown, despite having been implicated with TBPs of livestock among exported tortoises and lizards. Understanding TBP ecologies, and the potential role of common reptiles, is critical for the development of targeted transmission control strategies for these neglected tropical disease agents. During the wet months (April–May; October–December) of 2012–2013, we surveyed TBP diversity among 4,126 ticks parasitizing livestock and reptiles at homesteads along the shores and islands of Lake Baringo and Lake Victoria in Kenya, regions endemic to diverse neglected tick-borne diseases. After morphological identification of 13 distinct Rhipicephalus, Amblyomma, and Hyalomma tick species, ticks were pooled (≤8 individuals) by species, host, sampling site, and collection date into 585 tick pools. By supplementing previously established molecular assays for TBP detection with high-resolution melting analysis of PCR products before sequencing, we identified high frequencies of potential disease agents of ehrlichiosis (12.48% Ehrlichia ruminantium, 9.06% Ehrlichia canis), anaplasmosis (6.32% Anaplasma ovis, 14.36% Anaplasma platys, and 3.08% Anaplasma bovis,), and rickettsiosis (6.15% Rickettsia africae, 2.22% Rickettsia aeschlimannii, 4.27% Rickettsia rhipicephali, and 4.95% Rickettsia spp.), as well as Paracoccus sp. and apicomplexan hemoparasites (0.51% Theileria sp., 2.56% Hepatozoon fitzsimonsi, and 1.37% Babesia caballi) among tick pools. Notably, we identified E. ruminantium in both Amblyomma and Rhipicephalus pools of ticks sampled from livestock in both study areas as well as in Amblyomma falsomarmoreum (66.7%) and Amblyomma nuttalli (100%) sampled from tortoises and Amblyomma sparsum (63.6%) sampled in both cattle and tortoises at Lake Baringo. Similarly, we identified E. canis in rhipicephaline ticks sampled from livestock and dogs in both regions and Amblyomma latum (75%) sampled from monitor lizards at Lake Victoria. These novel tick–host–pathogen interactions have implications on the risk of disease transmission to humans and domestic animals and highlight the complexity of TBP ecologies, which may include reptiles as reservoir species, in sub-Saharan Africa. 2017-05-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.anu.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1216 Novel Rickettsia and emergent tick-borne pathogens: A molecular survey of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Shimba Hills National Reserve, Kenya Mwamuye, Micky M. Ticks are important vectors of emerging and re-emerging zoonoses, the majority of which originate from wildlife. In recent times, this has become a global public health concern that necessitates surveillance of both known and unknown tick-borne pathogens likely to be future disease threats, as well as their tick vectors. We carried out a survey of the diversity of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Kenya’s Shimba Hills National Reserve (SHNR), an area with intensified human-livestock-wildlife interactions, where we collected 4297 questing ticks (209 adult ticks, 586 nymphs and 3502 larvae). We identified four tick species of two genera (Amblyomma eburneum, Amblyomma tholloni, Rhipicephalus maculatus and a novel Rhipicephalus sp.) based on both morphological characteristics and molecular analysis of 16S rRNA, internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS 2) and cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) genes. We pooled the ticks (3–8 adults, 8–15 nymphs or 30 larvae) depending on species and life-cycle stages, and screened for bacterial, arboviral and protozoal pathogens using PCR with high-resolution melting analysis and sequencing of unique melt profiles. We report the first molecular detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, a novel Rickettsia-like and Ehrlichia-like species, in Rh. maculatus ticks. We also detected Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Coxiella sp., Rickettsia africae and Theileria velifera in Am. eburneum ticks for the first time. Our findings demonstrate previously unidentified tick-pathogen relationships and a unique tick diversity in the SHNR that may contribute to livestock, and possibly human, morbidity in the region. This study highlights the importance of routine surveillance in similar areas to elucidate disease transmission dynamics, as a critical component to inform the development of better tick-borne disease diagnosis, prevention and control measures. Abbreviations SHNR, Shimba Hills National Reserve; HRM, high-resolution melting; EID, emerging infectious disease; TBD, tick-borne disease; CO1, cytochrome oxidase subunit 1; ITS 2, internal transcribed spacer 2; bp, base pair; IUCN, The International Union for Conservation of Nature; icipe, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology; ML-EID, Martin Lüscher Emerging Infectious Diseases (Laboratory) Keywords Tick diversity; Rickettsia; Anaplasma; Ehrlichia; Theileria; Coxiella 2017-02-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.anu.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1215 A review of recent research on Theileria parva: Implications for the infection and treatment vaccination method for control of East Coast fever Mwamuye, Micky The infection and treatment (ITM) live vaccination method for control of Theileria parva infection in cattle is increasingly being adopted, particularly in Maasai pastoralist systems. Several studies indicate positive impacts on human livelihoods. Importantly, the first detailed protocol for live vaccine production at scale has recently been published. However, quality control and delivery issues constrain vaccination sustainability and deployment. There is evidence that the distribution of T. parva is spreading from endemic areas in East Africa, North into Southern Sudan and West into Cameroon, probably as a result of anthropogenic movement of cattle. It has also recently been demonstrated that in Kenya, T. parva derived from cape buffalo can ‘breakthrough’ the immunity induced by ITM. However, in Tanzania, breakthrough has not been reported in areas where cattle co-graze with buffalo. It has been confirmed that buffalo in northern Uganda national parks are not infected with T. parva and R. appendiculatus appears to be absent, raising issues regarding vector distribution. Recently, there have been multiple field population genetic studies using variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) sequences and sequencing of antigen genes encoding targets of CD8+ T-cell responses. The VNTR markers generally reveal high levels of diversity. The antigen gene sequences present within the trivalent Muguga cocktail are relatively conserved among cattle transmissible T. parva populations. By contrast, greater genetic diversity is present in antigen genes from T. parva of buffalo origin. There is also evidence from several studies for transmission of components of stocks present within the Muguga cocktail, into field ticks and cattle following induction of a carrier state by immunization. In the short term, this may increase live vaccine effectiveness, through a more homogeneous challenge, but the long-term consequences are unknown. 2020-03-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.anu.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1214 Variant analysis of the sporozoite surface antigen gene reveals that asymptomatic cattle from wildlife-livestock interface areas in northern Tanzania harbour buffalo-derived T. parva Mwamuye, Micky M Buffalo-derived Theileria parva can ‘break through’ the immunity induced by the infection and treatment vaccination method (ITM) in cattle. However, no such ‘breakthroughs’ have been reported in northern Tanzania where there has been long and widespread ITM use in pastoralist cattle, and the Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is also present. We studied the exposure of vaccinated and unvaccinated cattle in northern Tanzania to buffalo-derived T. parva using p67 gene polymorphisms and compared this to its distribution in vaccinated cattle exposed to buffalo-derived T. parva in central Kenya, where vaccine ‘breakthroughs’ have been reported. Additionally, we analysed the CD8+ T cell target antigen Tp2 for positive selection. Our results showed that 10% of the p67 sequences from Tanzanian cattle (n = 39) had a buffalo type p67 (allele 4), an allele that is rare among East African isolates studied so far. The percentage of buffalo-derived p67 alleles observed in Kenyan cattle comprised 19% of the parasites (n = 36), with two different p67 alleles (2 and 3) of presumptive buffalo origin. The Tp2 protein was generally conserved with only three Tp2 variants from Tanzania (n = 33) and five from Kenya (n = 40). Two Tanzanian Tp2 variants and two Kenyan Tp2 variants were identical to variants present in the trivalent Muguga vaccine. Tp2 evolutionary analysis did not show evidence for positive selection within previously mapped epitope coding sites. The p67 data indicates that some ITM-vaccinated cattle are protected against disease induced by a buffalo-derived T. parva challenge in northern Tanzania and suggests that the parasite genotype may represent one factor explaining this. Keywords Theileria parva . p67 . Tp2 . Antigen diversity . Cape Buffalo . Live vaccine 2020-10-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.anu.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1213 Incidence of toxigenic Aspergillus and Fusarium species occurring in maize kernels from Kenyan households Mwamuye, M Aspergillus andFusarium are fungal genera that include toxigenic and pathogenic species, able to suffuse farmers’ crops and secrete an array of small molecular weight secondary metabolites which can cause health complications to humans and animals when ingested. In sub-Sahara Africa, contamination and persistence of these fungi is increased by the tropical climatic conditions which are ideal for the fungi to thrive. This study evaluated the incidence, regional distribution and toxigenic potential ofAspergillus andFusarium species occurring in maize kernels from Eastern, Western, Coastal and the Lake Victoria agro-ecological zones of Kenya. Maize kernels were collected from 16 households in each agro-ecological zone. Single spore technique was used to isolate pure cultures ofAspergillus andFusarium which were identified morphologically. Further, molecular analysis was done using the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS 1) region of the ribosomal DNA forAspergillus and the translation elongation factor-1 alpha (TEF-1α) forFusarium. The potential of the isolated fungi to produce mycotoxins was probed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the aflatoxin regulatoryaflaR gene inAspergillus, and the fumonisin backbone structure geneFUM1 inFusarium. Among the potentially aflatoxigenicA. flavus species isolated, 55% were from Eastern, 27% from the Coastal zone, 13% from Lake Victoria zone and 5% from Western Kenya. Among the potentially fumonisin producingF. verticillioides isolated, 45% were from the Lake Victoria agro-ecological zone, 30% were from Western, 15% from Eastern Kenya and 10% from the Coastal agro-ecological zone. This study adds data on potential mycotoxin hotspots in Kenya useful in employing targeted and regional mycotoxin mitigation strategies in efforts to avert future mycotoxicoses outbreaks in Kenya. 2022-09-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.anu.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1212 Conservation and variation in the region of the Theileria parva p104 antigen coding gene used for PCR surveillance of the parasite Obara, Isaiah The range of the protozoan parasite Theileria parva, which causes East Coast fever in cattle, has been expanding to countries where it has not previously been detected, as a result of cross-border domestic cattle movement. Countries where T. parva has not previously been observed until recently include Cameroon and South Sudan. This raises the issue of the conservation of the p104 antigen gene, on which the nested PCR assay that is widely used for T. parva surveillance in the blood of infected cattle is based. We sampled 40 isolates from six countries widely distributed across the geographical range of the parasite, including eastern, central and southern Africa, for p104 sequence polymorphism. These included parasites from both domestic cattle and the Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) wildlife reservoir. The most frequent allelic variants were present in cattle transmissible isolates from multiple widely separated geographical regions in Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and South Africa. These frequent p104 variants were also present in the three component stocks of the Muguga cocktail used for the infection and treatment live immunisation procedure to control T. parva in the field. Other isolates exhibited unique alleles. This includes some of the p104 sequences from Cameroon, which is outside the known range of the Rhipicephalus tick vector and whose origin is therefore unclear. The nested primer oligonucleotides used to generate the amplicons were universally conserved in cattle-derived parasites and a majority of buffalo-derived isolates across the geographical range of the parasite. However, some rare South African buffalo–derived isolates exhibited one or two mismatches with the primer sequences. It therefore remains possible that some p104 alleles may be so divergent that they do not amplify with the current diagnostic primers and are not detectable in surveys, hence the need for increasing knowledge of genetic heterogeneity of diagnostic targets. There was no evidence for positive selection among those p104 mutations that resulted in residue changes. Importantly, the data indicate that the p104-based PCR detection assay should be effective across the majority of the range of T. parva, and if the one or two mismatches are shown in future to result in the primers annealing less efficiently, then the assay can be further improved by introduction of degenerate bases to enable amplification of the less frequent South African buffalo–derived variant p104 genes. Keywords East Coast fever · Theileria parva · p104 antigen gene · Muguga cocktail 2023-04-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.anu.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1040 Advancing Strategic Planning For Families: Refacing Family Planning And Family Economics. Obwatho, Simon The concept of strategic thinking has failed to take its due place among families. While, organizations continue to execute robust and increasingly complex strategic plans, families endure in the tradition of extemporary, ad hoc short term and uncalculated long term decisions. This paper gives a blow-by-blow account of the historical and contemporary developments that have led to body of knowledge and general presuppositions concerning family planning as widely understood today. It sustains the opinion that the concept of strategic planning needs to be advanced among families. Meanwhile, this paper opines that “family planning” as is currently regarded, needs to be reviewed in terms of naming and disciplinary content to create a fit within its due scope under healthcare. Journal: MIND Journal Issue Year: 2019 Issue No: 7 Page Range: 1-8 Page Count: 8 Language: English 2019-12-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.anu.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1039 Antecedents of success among micro and small enterprises: A comparative analysis of Ongata Rongai, Kajiado County, Kenya and Nampa, Idaho, USA. Obwatho, Simon This comparative study sought to examine the success factors among micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado County Kenya, and Nampa, Idaho, USA, within their distinct socio-economic landscapes. Ongata Rongai, originally a peri-urban settlement near Nairobi, has become a commercial hub where MSEs are crucial for job creation and poverty alleviation despite facing challenges like limited financial resources and inadequate infrastructure. Conversely, Nampa has diversified from agriculture to a robust economy with better financial access and support services, focusing on business growth, market penetration,and personal fulfillment. The specific objectives of this study included to assess how entrepreneurs in micro and small enterprises define and perceive business success, the extent to which entrepreneurship in micro and small enterprises is perceived to reduce poverty, the role of trade secrets in the competitive advantage, the predictors of success, and the key success factors among micro and small enterprises in Ongata Rongai, Kenya, and Nampa, Idaho USA. A mixed method research design was used, combining qualitative and quantitative data from MSEs with fewer than 20 full-time employees. Non-probability sampling included purposive, snowballing,self-selection, and convenience sampling. The study had 138 respondents from Nampa and193 from Ongata Rongai. Findings revealed distinct differences: Ongata Rongai emphasized economic stability, community upliftment, and trade secrets, while Nampa focused on growth,innovation, and personal fulfillment. Both regions valued profitability and sustainability,influenced by their cultural and socio-economic contexts. Quantitative analysis highlighted these differences, with Ongata Rongai prioritizing trade secrets for competitive advantage and Nampa emphasizing financial resources, marketing strategies, and government support.Recommendations include improving financial resources, technology, and marketing strategies through funding, training, and legal support. Specifically, Ongata Rongai needs investment in infrastructure, technology transfer, and market access. Entrepreneurs should focus oncustomer-centric approaches, strong business networks, and creative innovation. Further studies should explore the role of trade secrets, cultural impacts on business growth, and the effectiveness of international partnerships in local entrepreneurship. Journal: MIND Journal Issue Year: 2024 Issue No: 17 Page Range: 1-27 Page Count: 27 Language: English 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.anu.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1038 Obwatho, S. (2024). Antecedents and consequences of accreditation among business schools and programs in Eastern Africa. Hong Kong Review of Belt and Road Studies Obwatho, Simon This study delved into exploring the antecedents and consequences of accreditation within business schools in Eastern Africa, with the objective of offering valuable insights into the current accreditation landscape, levels of awareness, barriers, and perceived advantages. Leveraging Legitimacy Theory as a theoretical foundation and drawing on empirical studies from diverse contexts, the research provides an in-depth understanding of the challenges and practices related to accreditation in the region. Through a mixed-methods research design that combined survey questionnaires and semi-structured interviews targeting a representative sample of business schools in the area, it was found that there is a low rate of full accreditation and a lack of established quality assurance measures. Notable barriers were found to include limited awareness of accreditation processes, resource constraints, administrative complexities, and governance lapses. The correlation analysis underscored the interplay of institutional and external factors affecting decisions on accreditation. Recommendations for practice and policy highlighted include the need for tailored educational programs, efficient resource allocation, simplified accreditation procedures, and incentives for accreditation. Moreover, the study emphasizes the significant role that international organizations such as UNESCO, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the European Union, and the African Development Bank can play in addressing these challenges. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is particularly highlighted as a crucial platform to enhance the strategic impact of education within the accreditation context. Future research avenues include examining individual institutional challenges, conducting comparative analyses across regions, investigating long-term effects, exploring stakeholder perspectives, and proposing innovative accreditation approaches. 2024-12-04T00:00:00Z http://repository.anu.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1037 Factors Affecting the Growth of Internationalization Among Universities in East Africa: Opportunities and Challenges in the Context of the Belt and Road Initiative. Hong Kong Review of Belt and Road Studies Obwatho, Simon Ph.D This study investigates the factors influencing the growth of internationalization among universities in East Africa, specifically in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi, within the strategic context of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI’s emphasis on infrastructure development, trade connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges has amplified opportunities for East African higher education institutions to deepen global linkages. Drawing on a mixed-methods design, the study collected data from university administrators, faculty, students, policymakers, and international office staff. Findings indicate that regional cooperation under the East African Community (EAC), the widespread use of English as a medium of instruction, and engagement in global research networks have significantly advanced internationalization. The BRI has further expanded prospects for cross-border academic mobility, joint research with Chinese universities, and harmonized academic programs that align with global standards. East African higher education institutions face significant challenges to internationalization, including inadequate infrastructure such as student housing and ICT facilities, limited funding and lack of dedicated internationalization budgets, and bureaucratic visa and immigration processes that hinder mobility. Delays in documentation have left some international students in prolonged undocumented stays, restricting movement for fear of arrest. Other barriers include language diversity, curricular mismatches, and slow recognition of foreign qualifications even within EAC states. Universities with stronger BRI partnerships reported higher research output, greater mobility, and improved access to advanced technologies. The study recommends harmonized regional and bilateral policies with BRI partners, the establishment of targeted funding schemes, investments in modern learning infrastructure, and intercultural competence training for staff. Such measures are essential to leverage the BRI as a catalyst for positioning East African universities as competitive and globally relevant players in higher education. Ph.D., Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic & Student Affairs, Africa Nazarene University, Nairobi (Kenya) 2025-12-24T00:00:00Z