Browsing by Author "Wanyangu, S.W."
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Item An Appraisal of Livestock Marketing, Grazing Management and Helminth Control Practices amongst Smallholder Farms in Nyeri District, Kenya(1983) Omore, A.O.; Gatongi, P.M.; Duncan, J.L.; Nginyi, J.M.; Peeler, E.; Mellor, D.J.; Wanyangu, S.W.; Emongor, E.; Bain, R.K.A cross-sectional study to appraise existing livestock marketing practices, grazing management and current helminth control strategies in smallholder farms in Mathira Division of Nyeri District, Kenya, was carried out to provide preliminary data for a long-term epidemiological investigation of helminth infections in domestic ruminants. Rapid rural appraisals were carried out with the local veterinarians and animal health assistants to provide information on livestock marketing and current and recommended helminth control strategies. A questionnaire survey of local farmers was also carried out on 116 randomly selected smallholder farms to investigate livestock management and helminth control practices. The main findings were as follows: First, livestock sales were related to specific cash demands with no structured production or marketing strategies or targets for age and weight at offtake. Secondly, the majority of ruminants were kept on pasture most of the time with a high proportion (>50%) grazing on communal pastures. Thirdly, local farmers relied on anthelmintics alone for helminth control, treating small ruminants 1-4 times (mean 3.3) and cattle 1-8 times (mean 3.5) a year. Based on these findings, it was considered that the generation of local epidemiological information on helminth infections would allow the development of appropriate anthelmintic treatment strategies which could reduce the frequency of drenching and be therefore more cost effective.Item Control of Gastrointestinal Nematode Infections in the Arid and Semi-Arid Areas of Kenya(2002) Nginyi, J.M.; Gatongi, P.M.; Rugut, M.K.; Wanyangu, S.W.; Wamae, L.W.A background to epidemiological aspects of gastrointestinal nematode infections in the arid and semi-arid areas is essential. The rainfall distribution in these areas is uneven during the year. This means that there are times when grazing is in short supply and animals suffer from nutritional stress. Chronic helminth conditions are common in these areas due a slow build-up of worm burdens coupled with poor feeding. Tichostrongylus, Haemonchus, and Oesophagostomum can all be present resulting in a generalized parasitic gastroenteritis. During the dry season, the invading larvae (L3) may enter a period of delayed development in the animals. This phenomenon, called hybobiosis, is an adaptive characteristic that facilitates the survival of H. contortus and subsequent transmission in semi-arid areas of Kenya. Essentially, this phenomenon allows the persistence of larval stages in the host in a physiologically inert form that resumes development when conditions become conducive for transmission. The stocking rates in most areas are low although this may not be the case in areas around the watering places and the bomas. Toxocara may be encountered in young suckling calves.Item Epidemiology of parasitic gastrointestinal nematode infections of ruminants on smallholder farms in central Kenya(2001) Nginyi, J.M.; Duncan, J.L.; Mellor, D.J.; Stears, M.J.; Wanyangu, S.W.; Bain, R.K.; Gatongi, P.M.In order to establish the infection pattern with gastrointestinal nematodes in ruminants in the central Kenya highlands, a study was carried out in 58 smallholder farms. The study involved monthly faecal examinations from sheep, goats and cattle and pasture sampling from eight communal grazing areas. Each month, six Dorper worm-free tracer lambs were introduced and four locally grazed cross-bred sheep were purchased for parasite recovery. The mean faecal egg counts (FEC) for cattle were low throughout the study period, whereas those for sheep and goats showed a seasonal pattern with high levels of infection occurring during the two main rainy seasons, especially in March, April and October. There were significant differences in egg counts over time and among farms. Haemonchus contortus was the most prevalent nematode in the tracer lambs whereas the previously exposed locally grazed sheep had significantly lower numbers of H contortus but significantly higher numbers of Trichostrongylus species The highest levels of infection in the tracer lambs occurred in November 1995 and January, May and June 1996. Based on this study, it is now possible to explore the possibility of using strategic treatments for the control of parasitic gastroenteritis in this area of Kenya. ©2001 Harcourt Publishers LtdItem The epidemiology of small ruminant helminthoses in Kakamega district: A sub-humid agro-climatic zone in Kenya(1966) Wanyangu, S.W.; Onyango, J.A.; Onyango, A.; KARI- National Veterinary Research Centre MugugaResearch into helminth species affecting ruminants in different agro-climatic zones of Kenya has been a subject of interest at the National Veterinary Research Centre (NVRC) Muguga in the current decade (Gatongi, 1995; Nginyi, 1991; Wanyangu et aI., 1993). The specific aims of these studies have been to understand the epidemiology of the parasites in an attempt to develop feasible control strategies, particularly amongst resource-poor farmers. Previous studies undertaken in the country have either been limited in terms of areas covered, helminth species involved or the source of data.Item An estimate of the economic impact of fasciolosis in cattle, sheep and goats in Kenya(1991) Wanyangu, S.W.; Nginyi, J.M.; Wamae, L.W.; Mugambi, J.M.This article reviews on prevalence, and economic losses associated with fasciolosis in cattle, sheep and goats. It relates some of the findings in the literature on the economic impact of F hepatica and applies this to situations as they occur in Kenya where F gigantica is the main infecting species to livestock. Based on the livestock numbers, the pathology and related losses associated with faciolosis, it is estimated that a total of US$ 68,207,646 is lost annually as a result of Fasiola infection in livestock in Kenya.Item An estimate of the economic impact of fasciolosis In cattle, sheep and goats in Kenya(1966) Wanyangu, S.W.; Nginyi, J.M.; Wamae, L.W.; Mugambi, J.M.; Peeler, E.This article reviews on prevalence and economic losses associated with fasciolosis in cattle, sheep and goats. It relates some of the findings in the literature on the economic impact of F hepatica and applies this to situations as they occur in Kenya where F gigantlca is the main infecting species to livestock. Based on the livestock numbers, the pathology and related losses associated with faciolosis, it is estimated that a total of US$ 68,207,646 is lost annually as a result of Fasiola infection in livestock in Kenya.Item A Preliminary Serological Survey for Leptospiral Agglutinins in Sheep and Goats of Kenya(1991) Wanyangu, S.W.; Angolio, A.; Macharia, S.; Litamoi, J.K.; Odongo, O.M.; Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, National Veterinary Research CenterOvine and caprine leptospirosis was first recognised in Kenya by Burdin et al. (1958). Ball (1966) recorded a 12.10% serological prevalence of caprine leptospirosis in 92 animals with the highest titres against serogroups Hebdomadis and Icterobaemorrhagiae. Later, Wanyangu et al. (1988) demonstrated a 4.16% serological prevalence of caprine leptospirosis on Rusinga Island located within Lake Victoria. Apart from these limited reports, there has been no further information on the prevalence of ovine and caprine leptospirosis in Kenya. This survey was carried out to determine the likely prevalences of the disease in these animal species obtained from various parts of Kenya.Item Proceedings of the Scientific Conference held at the National Veterinary Research Centre, Muguga, 6th - 8th December, 1995(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, 1995) Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, National Veterinary Research Centre Muguga; The KARI/ODA Livestock Projects; Kenya Trypanosomiasis Research Institute; Kariuki, D.P.; Wanyangu, S.W.; Mbogo, S.K.; Kenya Agricultural Research InstituteSince KARI begun this annual event in 1992, there has been tremendous improvement on what is being presented. The purpose is to tell on how scientists spent 12 months at the Centre as a Scientist. This year, the scientific conference included Scientists from Animal Production, CRISP and from Kenya Trypanosomiasis Research Institute. This is an indication that the Conference is becoming an established annual activity at this Centre In future we shall invite more institutes to participate. For research results to be of any use, they must be communicated to the end user - extension service and farmers. As a result of our training each individual at this Centre is becoming a specialist. This is very important for the development of each individual scientist. However, the Centre, through its training programme does not wish to produce a class of specialists or experts who work in isolation We are all working for farmers who have expertise and certain traditional approaches. This calls for collaboration with farmers (on-farm-research) and other scientists at the Centre and elsewhere so that at the end of day the Centre can produce an integrated package that the farmers can use to improve on what they know. Our research is not about problems but to generate technologies solve farmers problems. The Conference is organized around a number of themes There are 27 papers to be given ranging from epidemiology and socio-economics, animal production, tick-borne diseases, trypanosomiasis, helminthiasis and virology and rapporteurs have been appointed to summarize the status of knowledge and anticipated discussions in each area. They should summarize the gist of presentations and note significant points arising in discussions and particularly any gaps in knowledge or recommendation for further work.Item Response of Dorper and Red Maasai Lambs to Trickle Haemonchus Contortus Infections(1996) Wanyangu, S.W.; Mugambi, J.M.; Bain, R.K.; Owango, M.O.; Duncan, J.L.; Stear, M.J.Six-month-old red Maasai lambs were more resistant than Dorper lambs to repeated infections at one-to-two-week intervals with 1000 Haemonchus contortus infective larvae. Resistance after infection was assessed by means of faecal egg counts, packed cell volumes, eosinophil counts, total serum protein concentrations and mortality rates. The weight gains of the infected animals were only marginally lower than those of their uninfected controls, most probably because of their significantly higher feed consumption, and evidently the infected lambs were not utilizing all of the extra feed for growth. This absence of anorexia in spite of the infection was probably due to the palatability of the high protein diet fed to the lambs.Item Seasonal transmission of Fasciola gigantica infections and the possibility of a strategic anthelmintic control in an endemic area of central Kenya(1995) Nginyi, J.M.; Duncan, J.L.; Bairden, K.; Wanyangu, S.W.A study to investigate the seasonality of infections with Fasciola gigantica was carried out in Mathira Division of Nyeri District, Kenya from June 1995 to August 1996. Six young Dorper lambs, each less than six months of age. were used as tracers every month for Fasciola infection as they grazed alongside a farmer’s flock. Four adult ewes, permanently grazed on pastures in the study area were also bought from farmers' flocks from the region. These two groups were necropsied after a three and six-week housing period respectively, under worm-free conditions, and the flukes from the livers and lungs were recovered and counted. The tracer lambs had) infections with F gigantica in II out of the 15 months of study with at least half of the group infected in eight months. There were two ' peaks of infections with F: gigantica; August to October 1995 and February to April 1996. The permanent grazers harboured infection in ten out of 15 months, with peak infections in April and July 1996. One ewe had exceptionally high parasite load in July total of 199, with 189 liver flukes in the bile ducts, six in the lungs and.four in the gall bladder). From the results of this study, It IS proposed that one main 'treatment with triclabendazolc instituted in October, when most tracer lambs were. Infected with many F gigantica, can significantly reduce the production losses associated with fasciolosis. Clinical cases could be treated individually whenever they occur during the other times of the year. This proposed treatment regime is intended for areas of the Kenya highlands where fasciolosis is endemic and with similar climatic conditions to the study area.Item Survival analysis techniques in the study of the development and survival of Haemonchus Contortus L3 larvae on pasture in Kenya(1966) Wanyangu, S.W.; Sakwa, D.P.; Kyule, M.N.; Bain, R.K.; Mugambi, J.M.; Muthee,S.; KARI (National Veterinary Research Centre Muguga Kenya P.o Box 32 Kikuyu)Life tables and survival analyses with covariates were used to assess the development and survival of Haemonchus contortus infective larvae 13 on pasture composed of mixed grasses. Thirty nine plots, each measuring 2 m2, were subdivided into 144 sub-plots, each measuring 10 cm.2 three randomly selected plots were every month uniformly contaminated with sheep faeces containing 2 x 106 H. contortus eggs. Every week after contamination, grass and faecal material from three randomly preselected sub-plots were collected and analysed for larval recovery. Life table analyses showed that 50% of the total L3 that developed from contaminated sheep faeces were recovered from pasture within two to eight weeks. Ninety percent recovery occurred within 6-20 weeks post-seeding. Comparisons of survival curves of from plots seeded at different times of the year revealed significant (P:::: 0.01) differences which were shown by trend tests to be seasonally related. An Accelerated Failure Time Model (AFTM) assessed the effect of the major meteorological factors (covariates) on survival of L30n pasture. Sunshine had the greatest influence on survival (=- 0.1123) followed by temperature (6 = 0.(839), relative humidity (B =-0.(29) and rainfall (B=O.0013). Sunshine and relative humidity had an adverse effect on survival whereas rainfall and temperature enhanced it. Using these techniques intervention points for strategic anthelmintic control for haemonchosis identified the end of December (beginning of the hot dry period) and July (beginning of the cold dry period) as the most suitable times to administer anthelmintic. Tactical treatments could be carried out during the rainy periods.
