Browsing by Author "Murilla, G. A."
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Item Enzyme- Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for Determination of Homidium Residues in Meat(2010) Karanja, W. M.; Mdachi, R. E.; Murilla, G. A.; Kamidi, C. M.; Muchiri, M. W.; Kenya Trypanosomiasis Research InstituteHomidium bromide has been commonly used since 1950s to treat trypanosomosis in cattle. Due to its widespread use, there is a risk of residues in foods of animal origin. Due to the fact that homidium is a suspected carcinogenic and teratogenic agent, it has no allowed minimum residue level (MRL) and hence, no amount of the drug is allowed in food. It is therefore necessary to have a suitable analytical technique that is sensitive, simple, cost effective and rapid for detection of homidium residues. A direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to determine homidium presence in skeletal muscle tissue extract. The limit of detection and quantification were 1ng/ml and 2.6ng/ml respectively. The coefficients of intra-assay and inter-assay variation were less than 10%. Recoveries above 70% were obtained using simple and rapid extraction method utilizing cheap buffers. Assay accuracies for tissue extract spiked at 1ng/ml and 2.5ng/ml were above 90%. The homidium ELISA has a high throughput and therefore suitable for screening large amounts of samples for homidium residues. This would be a major step in safeguarding consumers against the harmful effects of homidiumItem Infectra-kit: A device for restraining mice and confining tsetse flies during trypanosome infection transmission experiments(2013) Ndungu, K.; Kibugu, J. K.; Gitonga, P. K; Thuita, J. K.; Auma, J.E.; Gitonga, S. K.; Ngae, G. N.; Murilla, G. A.; Kenya Trypanosomiasis Research Institute; Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), KenyaChemical(anaesthesia) and manual techniques are commonly used to restrain mice during vector mediated parasite transmission experiments in laboratory. Chemical restrain may interfere with natural fly vector-mouse interactions and therfore potentially affect the outcome of transmission experiments. Conversely, manual restraint is labour-intensive and exposes laboratory animals to excessive restraining- related discomfort. We report development of a mouse restraining device (infectra-kit)that allows essential transmission studies to be carried out with animal human manipilation and without the need for anaesthesia. Infectra- kit can be used as a single unit for restraining one mouse or as eight- assmbled units, thus significantly improving effeciency of a single operator in comparision to manual restraint. The kit was validated by comparing feeding success in tsetse flies fed on mice restrained usning infectra-kit(group 1 )to those manually restrained (group II). The mean +SE% feeding sucess was 75.0+8.2% for tsestse flies in Groups I and II respectively. Statistical analysis using two sample, test showed no significant difference between the two groups at p< 0.05, indicating that infectra -kit as restraining device was as good as the conventional manual restraint method. The main benefits of using infectra-kit for transmission studies therfore include reduction of man- hours and animal restrainining-related discomfort, which is an important consideration when working with zoonotic parasites.Item Kenya Trypanosomiasis Research Institute Cryobank forHuman and Animal Trypanosome Isolates to SupportResearch: Opportunities and Challenges(Kenya Agriculture Research Institute, 2014) Murilla, G. A.; Kenya Agriculture Research Institute; 1. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute – Trypanosomiasis Research Centre (KARI-TRC), Kikuyu, Kenya, 2.Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Geneva,Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is classified in the category of the most neglected tropical diseases. In man, the disease is caused by two tsetse (Glossina spp.)-transmitted trypanosome subspecies: Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, which is responsible for the chronic form of HAT in West and Central Africa, and T. b. rhodesiense, which causes acute disease in eastern and southern Africa. African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) is caused by various trypanosome species, the major ones being T. vivax, T. congolense, and T. evansi [1].Item Resistance to trypanocidal drugs-suggestions from field survey on drug use in Kwale district, Kenya(2003) Mugunieri, G. L.; Murilla, G. A.; Kenya Trypanosomiasis Research InstituteA household survey was conducted in 21 Villages of Kwale district, Kenya, to assess farmers' trypanocidal drug use characteristics for treatment of bovine trypanosomiasis and their relationship to drug effectiveness. Descriptive statistical tools were used to summarize the farmers' drug use patterns. The chi-square test was the done to establish the relationship between proper drug use and recovery. The results Indicate that the farmers had considerable knowledge about trypanocidal drugs with 82 % (n = 65) having used these drugs within 6 months preceding the survey. Cases of incorrect drug use were reported. This study established that there was no significant relationship between correct drug use and recovery of the treated animals, suggesting the presence of drug resistance In Kwale district.
