Elijah Oyoo-Okoth

Effectiveness of option B highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) in pregnant HIV women

BackgroundEnsuring that no baby is born with HIV is an essential step towards achieving an AIDS-free generation. To achieve this, strategies that decouple links between childbirth and HIV transmission are necessary. Traditional forms of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT), has been recommended. Recognizing the importance and challenges of combination of methods to achieve rapid PMTCT, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended option B Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) for all HIV-positive pregnant women. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the HAART in PMTCT. A cohort of HIV-infected pregnant women in Kenya were obtained from the DREAM Center, Nairobi. The study participants underwent adherence counselling and Option B of HAART [Nevirapine(NVP) + Lamivudine + Zidovudine] at the fourth week of gestation followed by an intravenous NVP administration intrapartum and postpartum NVP syrup to the respective infants for six weeks. Absolute pre-HAART and post-HAART CD4 counts and viral loads counts were determined. Comparison of the CD4 counts and viral loads before and after administration of HAART were done using Wilcoxon’s Matched Pairs Signed-Ranks Test.FindingsThe mean absolute CD4 cell counts in mothers after administration of HAART was significantly higher (Z = 15.664, p < 0.001) than before the administration of HAART). Also the viral load of the mothers significantly (Z = 11.324, p < 0.001) reduced following HAART treatment. Following the HAART administration in mothers, up to 90% of children were confirmed to be HIV negative.ConclusionAdministration of HAART to mothers and children demonstrated an effective mechanism of PMTCT. However, other aspects of HAART such as adherence, costs, mothers behaviour during HAART, and the child feeding programme during the therapy should further be evaluated and ascertained how they can affect the overall efficacy of option B HAART in PMTCT.

Monitoring the effects of aquaculture effluents on benthic macroinvertebrate populations and functional feeding responses in a tropical highland headwater stream (Kenya)

Intensification of aquaculture may result in more fish culture waste being discharged into adjacent rivers and streams. Due to composition of such wastes, ecological conditions in waterbodies may be adversely affected. We determined the ecological consequences of freshwater land-based Tilapia farms on headwater streams using macroinvertebrate community attributes and functional feeding response in an upstream tributaries of a highland stream in Kenya. Nine aquaculture sites adjacent to tributaries of three headwater streams with different fish production volumes were sampled and monitored for macroinvertebrate abundance, richness, composition of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera, Oligochaetes and Chironomids (percentage Oligochaetes and Chironomids), species diversity as well as the functional feeding group responses. The total abundance of benthic macroinvertebrate consistently increased near discharge points and immediately downstream of the effluent outlets near the aquaculture farms. We observed positive correlations between macroinvertebrate attributes (except Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) with fish production at aquaculture facilities adjacent to the tributaries of the headwater streams. The proportion of Oligochaetes and Chironomids (percentage Oligochaetes and Chironomids) increased while that of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera at discharge points and downstream of the farms decreased. Also, relative abundance of scrapers and shredders decreased significantly, while significant increase of abundance was observed for deposit feeders, filter feeders and parasites with low predator population at discharge and downstream points. These consistent patterns indicated changes in ecosystem integrity and functioning, due to aquaculture effluents with particulate organic matter from fish food-derived wastes becoming a central source of energy in river benthic food webs.

Combined effects of photoperiod and temperature on growth and survival of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus, Burchell 1822) larvae under laboratory conditions

ABSTRACT The effect of photoperiod (24L:00D, 12L:12D, and 00L:24D) and temperature (22 ± 1°C and 28 ± 1°C) on performance of Clarias gariepinus larvae was tested. Larvae weighing 3.2 ± 0.24 mg were cultured in aquaria at a stocking density of 20 fish L−1 and fed twice a day on catfish starter diet (40% CP) at 10 % BW day−1. Highest mean weight gain (31.00 mg), SGR (7.56% day−1), and survival (83%) were achieved at photoperiod and temperature combination of 00L:24D and 28 ± 1°C. Percent survival of larvae differed significantly (p < .05) among treatments with optimal survival of (83%) in treatment combination of 28 ± 1°C and 00L:24D, while lowest survival (40%) in treatment combination of 22 ± 1°C and 24L:00D.