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Item PROFILING NUCLEOSIDE REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASE INHIBITOR DRUG-RESISTANCE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERNS OF NAIVE HIV POSITIVE PATIENTS FROM MACHAKOS LEVEL 5 HOSPITAL(2022-07) Stanley Kipkurui KipropThis study focused on Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase drug-resistance profiling and the susceptibility patterns for the plasma samples obtained from HIV-positive naïve patients enrolled at Machakos Level 5 Hospital. The research's specific objectives were to profile resistance to Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor drugs and then identify the markers for resistance to Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor. This study used an experimental research design; DNA was extracted from the plasma samples, and PCR was amplified using polymerase-gene specific primers and later Gel electrophoresis. Then finally, cycle sequencing of the polymerase (pol) gen. The amplified products were sequenced, and drug-resistant mutations were determined using Los Alamos HIV DR database. All amplified samples from the PCR had the gel cut/excised and cleaned using the QIA quick gel extraction kit protocol. Sequences with high relatedness were fetched in a FASTA format and aligned using the Mega Evolutionary Genetic Analysis (MEGA) software version 10 using the Neighbour Joining (NJ) algorithm and the 1000 Bootstrap resampling algorithm. The main HIV strain detected in this study was the HIV A1 subtype, the major sub subtype in Kenya. No other subtypes were noted in the study. Regarding NRTIs, the major mutation noted was D67E which indicated inadequate level, zidovudine resistance, and drug susceptibility to abacavir, emtricitabine, lamivudine, and tenofovir noted with no resistance to NNRTIs. However, there were minor mutations noted. Drug resistance mutations were found in high numbers associated with viral load and treatment time. Importantly, patients with triple and dual-class drug resistance should immediately alter ART regimens to alter the possibility of transmitting multi-drug-resistant HIV-1 strains. This finding emphasizes the importance of targeted resistance monitoring as a tool for addressing the problem.Item OPPORTUNISTIC BACTERIA TYPES AND SENSITIVITY ON FREQUENTLY USED FOMITES IN THE UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN AFRICA BARATON IN NANDI COUNTY(2022-06) Richard Ngaru MagonduOutside and indoor settings, bacteria are found to be the ubiquitous microorganisms causing microbial contamination. Bacteria infect, transmits bacterial infections while they are in direct contact with vulnerable people. Fomites can act as environmental reservoirs to increase the ability of pathogens to be transferred from host to host. An inanimate object, which can transmit an infectious agent, is known as a fomite. The main objective of this study was to identify opportunistic bacteria types on frequently used fomites in University of Eastern Africa Baraton in Nandi County. The study area which was University of Eastern Africa Baraton was purposively selected as it is the post-secondary institution of higher learning, in the region. The research design that was employed was experimental design where the bacteria were isolated, characterized and antimicrobial activity the antibacterial sensible nature of the samples were performed through the disc diffusion method. Bacteria was isolated from various fomites, Stratified sampling technique was used to divide the population of fomites in subgroups (or strata) within the University and, due to the big number of the sampling sites. The researcher isolated, characterized and determined the antibacterial sensitivity of fomites bacteria. 365 swabs were obtained in different facilities inside the University by swabbing of the toilet cistern handles, office doors faucets and shopping baskets (sterile swabs moistened with buffered peptone water). They were then correctly labelled with reference numbers and transported in peptone water transport medium to the Biology Laboratory. This was done in the second semester of the academic year 2020/2021. The data was analyzed using SPSS Version 23. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the prevalence of bacteria types isolated from fomites within the University buildings. All values were expressed as means and findings were presented in the form of frequency tables. The study found out that 90.2% of the samples were bacteria with 9.8% being fungi. Doors had the greatest number of gram-positive cocci (78.9%) followed by faucets and cisterns. Doors had the greatest number of gram-negative cocci (17.6%) bacteria followed by faucets and cisterns. Doors had the greatest number of gram-negative rod (3.5%) bacteria as compared to doors. Doors had gram positive rod bacteria. Faucets did not have gram negative and gram-positive rods. The gram-positive bacterial isolates were Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus aureus. The gram-negative bacterial isolates were Escheichia coli and Morexella catarrhalis. 66.8% of the bacteria were resistant to Penicillin, Cotrimoxazole, Ampicillin, Erythromycin, Methicillin, Lincomycin, Minocycline and Chloramphenicol.Item IMPACT OF GENEXPERT MTBC/ RIF ASSAY USE ON Mycobacterium tuberculosis COMPLEX INCIDENCE IN PARTS OF NANDI COUNTY, KENYA USING GENEXPERT MACHINE.(2019-05) RAYMOND KIBET KOECH.Tuberculosis being an airborne infectious disease causes up to 2 million deaths yearly in the world. Rifampicin (RIF) is one of four first line antibiotics used to treat TB. It’s the 4th leading cause of deaths in Kenya at 6.3% of all causes of deaths, according to the National Strategic plan for Tuberculosis, leprosy and Lung Health (2015). Kenya is ranked 15th of 22 high burdened TB countries all accounting for more than 80% of the world’s TB cases hence the need for research for mitigation and eradication purposes. This research was carried out to scrutinize impact of the new diagnostic use of GeneXpert assay to analyze TB burden, and Rifampicin resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis considering age, gender, type of patient and facility. A laboratory investigation was done using a molecular based test called gene expert system to simultaneously detect M. tuberculosis and Rifampin resistance. Data analysis was done using SPSS 20; to determine frequencies and crosstabs. Of the 90 samples analyzed it was found that there is a 17.8% rate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and 5.6% are Rifampicin resistant. The most affected people were aged 61-65 at 4.4%, case detection with GeneXpert is more accurate than microscopyItem EFFECTS OF COMMUNITY FOREST ASSOCIATION ON MANAGEMENT, CONSERVATION AND UTILIZATION OF FOREST RESOURCES IN NORTH NANDI FOREST, KENYA(2022-07) Muskiton Chepkonga KennethA key feature of forest conservation and management is the practice of Participatory Forest Management (PFM). In PFM there is inclusion and collaboration with the local community members in managing and conserving forest resources mostly through the adjacent forest community, commonly referred to as Community Forest Association ‘(CFA)’. However, to date, most of the objectives of CFA on achieving management and conservation of forest resources are rarely met. This study assessed the effects of community forest association on management and conservation of plants, mammals and birds with a specific focus on local community sustainable forest utilization, forest structure, status of threatened biodiversity (plants and animals) conservation in North Nandi Forest. A Stratified systematic sampling method was employed to capture the relevant data. The study surveyed mammals’ abundance using straight and parallel transects. Transects were 500m long with sample plots laid at an interval of 100 m and 60 m from the edge of each habitat. To determine the structure of the forest, tree diameters, and tree heights were measured and the total number of trees in the sample plots were counted along each transect line. Removal of forest produce along the transect lines was also noted during sampling. To determine the utilization of plants, a household survey was carried out on the households within the sampling sites. Primary data was collected using questionnaires as well as holding discussions with focus groups and key informants. To determine sustainable utilization of forest resources, data was analyzed using frequency distributions and percentages. The Ordination was used to examine spatial patterns in forest structure, animal as well as plant abundance relative to human variables highlighted by the CFA. Joint forest management between the government and the community, use of sensitization meetings through barazas, workshops or conferences, the involvement of indigenous people within and outside the forest and the use of county and national government policies to support the conservation and protection of North Nandi Forest were the most significant strategies for the forest management and protection. The study found out that monkeys (mammals), and Hornbills (birds) were the most dominant species in all the forest sites. This is an indication that both colobus and black monkeys inhabit North Nandi Forest. Large trees such as Olea capensis, Fagaropsis angolensis, Celtis africana, Cassipourea malosana, Syzygium cordatum, Diospyros abyssinica and Croton megalocarpus were illegally exploited for fencing posts, timber, fuelwood and herbal medicine. These illegal activities have reduced the number of these trees in the forest leaving invasive saplings such as Cestrum aurantiacum and Solanum mauritianum to take over large areas of the forest. From the analysis it is s recommended that well thought out policies on expansion of land for agriculture and other development activities, excision of forest for settlement and illegal cutting of trees for posts, charcoal, fuelwood and timber need to be put in place by both the national and county governments. In addition, there is need for strategies of controlling invasive plant species in North Nandi Forest. It is anticipated that the findings of this study will contribute to the development of recommendations for forest conservation interventions in Kenya.Item ASSESSEMENT OF TREE SPECIES (Cupressus lusitanica and Pinus patula) DEBARKING BY MONKEYS IN CERENGONI FOREST-BLOCK IN NANDI COUNTY, KENYA(2022-07) BARBARA MONG’INA OGORIMonkeys strip the bark off the trees to feed on underlying vascular tissues, leading to the loss of trees, which causes the destruction of the habitat. The main objective of this study was to elucidate information and knowledge of debarking by monkeys and their effect on the forest ecosystem in Cerengoni forest in Nandi County, Kenya. This study was conducted in Cerengoni forest, Northern Tinderet part, which is 12,578 Ha located between Latitude 00 3” and Longitude 350 25” of Nandi County, Rift Valley Kenya. The study area is covered by 45.9 Ha of Cupressus lusitanica and 47.8 Ha Pinus patula plantations. The study employed a systematic survey and descriptive designs whereby, the systematic survey was field survey based on the ranging behavior of the monkeys, species identification, and belt transect sampling. The descriptive designs were surveys based on monkeys debarking in Cerengoni Forest. A random sampling technique was used where a troop population of monkeys was established, as they were crossing the observation paths. Fieldwork commenced in February 2021, and continued till May 2021. The average time spent on the forest compartments during this period was three days a week and three weeks a month. The Kernel Worton Method (1989), was the method implemented in studying the different range of behaviors of monkeys in their groups as animals, or as individuals. The Forester assistants located monkeys by use of GPS and visual and auditory cues, a form of method used by the endemic people who inhabit in this forest to locate primates in this forest. Data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel version 2016 for Windows 10, and SPSS statistical software version 25. The descriptive statistics used were; Chi-Square Tests which was used to find out the difference between the total number of trees, and the total debarked trees. Independent T-Test was used to find out the significant mean difference on the total percentages of debarked Cupressus lusitanica and Pinus patula trees, while the One- Sample T -test was used to test the significant mean difference between the diameter and height of both Cupressus and Pinus trees plantations. Debarking based on type of trees, age of trees, and height of trees was recorded in percentages form. The monkey species that debark Pinus patula and Cupressus lusitanica in Cerengoni Forest are the vervet (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), and sykes (Cercopithecus albogularis) monkeys respectively. Cupressus lusitanica trees are debarked at 31.9%, while Pinus patula trees are debarked at 72.8%. All of these results were presented in tables, and figure forms. The study found out that there is no recorded data on tree debarking in Cerengoni forest.