Isolation, Characterization, and Quantification of Bacteria from African Sausages Sold in Nairobi County, Kenya.

African sausages are local popular delicacies in Kenya. Demand for these sausages has resulted in this delicacy's vendors being on the increase. However, health risk posed to unsuspecting consumers of African sausages sold in informal, unhygienic make shift road-side kiosks in major cities of Kenya is largely unknown. A descriptive study was designed to isolate, characterize and quantify bacteria from African sausages sold in Nairobi County. A total of hundred (100) African sausages (62 roasted and 38 nonroasted) were conveniently collected from three meat eatery points of Westlands, Kangemi slum, and Pangani estates. Five genera of bacteria, namely, Staphylococcus spp. at 50.4%, Bacillus spp. at 19.5%, Streptococcus spp. 9.8%, Proteus spp. 2.4%, and E. coli spp. at 1.6%, were isolated from 80 African sausage samples. The total aerobic bacterial count range was between 1.0-9.9x101 and 1.0-9.9x107 log cfu/g with 37 samples having total aerobic bacterial count of between 1.0-9.9 x104 and 1.0-9.9 x107 log cfu/g. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in distribution of isolates and total aerobic bacterial count across geographical sites studied among the roasted and nonroasted African sausages. This study has demonstrated presence of bacteria in African sausages which are potentially zoonotic to humans. Comprehensive study is needed to sample more eatery meat points in Nairobi and other areas in order to demonstrate pathogenic attributes of these isolates and establish the respective total aerobic bacterial count. There is also need to establish the sources of bacteria due to high total aerobic bacterial count determined in the current study.

Prevalence, pathology and risk factors for coccidiosis in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in selected regions in Kenya.

BACKGROUND: The potential for rabbit production in Kenya is high. However, high morbidity and mortality of domestic rabbits were reported. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the pathology, prevalence and the predisposing factors to coccidiosis in domestic rabbits in selected regions in Kenya. ANIMALS AND METHODS: A total of 61 farms keeping rabbits in six different counties were visited in the survey. A total of 2680 live rabbits were examined and 61 rabbits and 302 fecal samples were randomly collected from the farms and examined for coccidian oocysts by ante-mortem and post-mortem methods. The predisposing factors to coccidiosis were assessed through questionnaires and direct observation. Chi square (χ(2)) statistics was used with P values < 0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Of the 302 fecal samples, 85% (P < 0.001) contained coccidian oocysts and 2% harbored nematode eggs (Passalurus ambiguous). The overall prevalence of Eimeria spp. infestation was 85.1% in the study area and 90.2% in the individual rabbits, while prevalence of intestinal coccidiosis and hepatic coccidiosis was 29.5% and 11.5%, respectively. Higher counts of coccidian oocysts per gram of feces were recovered in weaners than in growers and adults rabbits (P < 0.001), rabbits that were kept in high density group housing (P < 0.05) and housing with more than two tiers. CONCLUSION: This study identified group housing of rabbits of different ages and inadequate control of concurrent infections as the major risk factors associated with coccidiosis in domestic rabbits in Kenya.

The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth infections in pigs in Kenya.

The prevalence of helminth infection, species spectrum and worm burdens in Kenyan pigs was examined. A total of 115 gastrointestinal tracts (GIT) from 61 growers and 54 adult pigs were examined between February 2005 and January 2006. Seventy eight (67.8%) had one or more helminth parasites, of which thirty six (31.3%) were mixed infection. Ten types of helminth parasites encountered in descending order of prevalence were, Oesophagostomum dentatum (39.1%), Trichuris suis (32.2%), Ascaris suum (28.7%), Oesophagostomum quadrispinulatum (14.8%), Trichostrongylus colubriformis (10.4%), Trichostrongylus axei (4.3%), Strongyloides ransomi (4.3%), Hyostrongylus rubidus (1.7%), Ascarops strongylina (1.7%) and Physocephalus sexalutus (0.9%). Oesophagostomum dentatum was the most prevalent species (51.9%) in the adult pigs, while Trichuris suis was the most prevalent species (44.3%) in growers. The highest worm counts were recorded in the out door production system. Oesophagostomum quadrispinulatum, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Trichostrongylus axei, Hyostrongylus rubidus, Ascarops strongylina and Physocephalus sexalutus were recorded in Kenya for the first time. The high prevalence and wide spectrum observed in the present study suggests that helminth infection may be a constraint to economic pig production in the country and there is need to institute control measures.

Progressive atrophic rhinitis in a medium-scale pig farm in Kiambu, Kenya.

Forty-two pigs in a herd of 117 displayed various clinical signs of progressive atrophic rhinitis. The main signs included sneezing, coughing, lachrymation, serous to mucopurulent nasal discharge, and nasal bleeding in 1 pig. Three pigs had lateral deviation of the snout, while 4 had brachygnathia superior with obvious deformation of the face. Four acutely affected weaner pigs appeared weak, while the 7 chronically-affected pigs appeared smaller than their apparently unaffected penmates of the same age. Treatment of the acutely affected pigs with long-acting oxytetracycline at 20 mg/kg body weight intramuscularly, repeated once after 7 days, reduced the severity but did not clear the sneezing from all the pigs. Fifteen pigs were slaughtered 2 months after the clinical diagnosis was made. The carcasses of the chronically affected pigs were about 15% lighter than those of the apparently normal pigs of the same age and from the same pen, which translated to a loss of 921.00 Kenya shillings per pig (US$13.7). Diagnosis of progressive atrophic rhinitis was confirmed by sectioning the snouts of randomly selected slaughtered pigs with obvious deformation of the snout. Sections were made at the level of the 1st/2nd upper premolar tooth. Varying degrees of turbinate atrophy, from mild to complete, were noted. Histopathology of the turbinates revealed metaplasia of nasal epithelium and fibrosis in the lamina propria.

Donkey klossiellosis in Kenya.

Out of eight donkeys examined, two had gametogonic and sporogonic stages of Klossiella equi in their kidneys. Gametogonic stages included microgametocytes and macrogametocytes, some of them in syzygy. They were found in enlarged parasitophorous vacuoles situated in epithelial cells of the renal tubules. Sporonts were seen in the epithelial cells protruding into the tubular lumen while sporoblasts, sporocysts and sporozoites were found freely in the tubular lumen. Entire sporocysts were rarely encountered but sporozoites liberated from the ruptured sporocysts could be seen. No inflammatory reaction could be attributed to the presence of these parasites.