Structural features of outdoor latrines influence the abundance of Anopheles gambiae s.l. and Culex quinquefasciatus in a village in Kisumu County, western Kenya.

Background: Malaria remains a leading cause of mortality in Kenya, despite concerted efforts in malaria vector control. Reducing outdoor transmission is a key factor in addressing residual malaria. Outdoor latrines are characterized as semi-sheltered structures with humid environments, which may provide an ideal resting site for Anopheles species to feed on human blood and subsequently rest.

Snakebite victim profiles and treatment-seeking behaviors in two regions of Kenya: results from a health demographic surveillance system.

Introduction: Snakebites are a major cause of permanent injury and death among poor, rural populations in developing countries, including those in East Africa. This research characterizes snakebite incidence, risk factors, and subsequent health-seeking behaviors in two regions of Kenya using a mixed methods approach.

Methods: As a part of regular activities of a health demographic surveillance system, household-level survey on snakebite incidence was conducted in two areas of Kenya: Kwale along the Kenyan Coast and Mbita on Lake Victoria.

Factors related to long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) use during travel in western Kenya: A descriptive analysis.

Background: Overnight travel predicts increased likelihood of Plasmodium infection and may introduce parasite strains to new areas, but deviations from routine at-home use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) during travel are not well studied.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were taken in 2015 from the western Kenyan highlands and lowlands. Household surveys assessed individual travel activity during the previous month, LLIN use (at home and away), and current Plasmodium infection status.

Protective effects of Olyset® Net on Plasmodium falciparum infection after three years of distribution in western Kenya.

Background: Several types of insecticides, treating technologies and materials are available for long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs). The variations may result in different efficacies against mosquitoes and correspondingly infection risks for the Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite. This cross-sectional study investigated whether infection risk varied among children who slept under different LLIN brands in rural villages of western Kenya.

Development of a quantitative, portable, and automated fluorescent blue-ray device-based malaria diagnostic equipment with an on-disc SiO nanofiber filter.

There is an urgent need to develop an automated malaria diagnostic system that can easily and rapidly detect malaria parasites and determine the proportion of malaria-infected erythrocytes in the clinical blood samples. In this study, we developed a quantitative, mobile, and fully automated malaria diagnostic system equipped with an on-disc SiO nanofiber filter and blue-ray devices. The filter removes the leukocytes and platelets from the blood samples, which interfere with the accurate detection of malaria by the blue-ray devices.

Antimalarial bednet protection of children disappears when shared by three or more people in a high transmission setting of western Kenya.

A sizeable proportion of households is forced to share single long-lasting insecticide treated net (LLIN). However, the relationship between increasing numbers of people sharing a net and the risk for Plasmodium infection is unclear. This study revealed whether risk for Plasmodium falciparum infection is associated with the number of people sharing a LLIN in a holoendemic area of Kenya.

Copper excess promotes propagation and induces proteomic change in root cultures of Hyoscyamus albus L.

Hyoscyamus albus L. seedlings respond positively to copper (Cu) excess. In the present study, to understand how roots cope with Cu excess, propagation and proteome composition in the presence of Cu were examined using a root culture system.