A5028984068- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Livestock and Poultry Management
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Animal Diversity and Health Studies
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
National Museums of Kenya
2015-2024
Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries
2022
Kunming Institute of Zoology
2019
Chinese Academy of Sciences
2019
University of Kinshasa
2015
University of Pretoria
2008-2015
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
2015
The Wistar Institute
2015
National Institute for Communicable Diseases
2015
International Livestock Research Institute
2014
Although there are over 1,150 bat species worldwide, the diversity of viruses harbored by bats has only recently come into focus as a result expanded wildlife surveillance. Such surveys importance in determining potential for novel to emerge humans, and optimal management their habitats. To enhance our knowledge viral present bats, we initially surveyed 415 sera from African Central American bats. Unbiased high-throughput sequencing revealed presence highly diverse group bat-derived related...
Diverse coronaviruses have been identified in bats from several continents but not Africa. We group 1 and 2 Kenya, including SARS-related coronaviruses. The sequence diversity suggests that are well-established reservoirs for likely sources of many species, humans.
A new subspecies of giant sengi or elephant-shrew, first documented in 2008, is described from northern coastal Kenya. All five currently species and most known Rhynchocyon are compared to this lineage. Molecular analyses using mitochondrial nuclear markers the single DNA sample available for lineage show differences other forms reveal a close relationship with allopatric golden-rumped R. chrysopygus (0.43% divergence at 12S locus). This level similar that between pairs within Rhynchocyon....
Abstract The establishment of protected areas (PAs) is a central strategy for global biodiversity conservation. While the role PAs in protecting habitat has been highlighted, their effectiveness at mammal communities remains unclear. We analyzed dataset from over 8671 camera traps 23 countries on four continents that detected 321 medium‐ to large‐bodied species. found strong positive correlation between taxonomic diversity and proportion surveyed area covered by scale ( β = 0.39, 95%...
During lyssavirus surveillance, 1,221 bats of at least 30 species were collected from 25 locations in Kenya. One isolate Lagos bat virus (LBV) was obtained a dead Eidolon helvum fruit bat. The most similar phylogenetically to LBV isolates Senegal (1985) and France (imported Togo or Egypt; 1999), sharing with these viruses 100% nucleoprotein identity 99.8 glycoprotein identity. This genome conservancy across space time suggests that is well adapted its natural host populations reservoir hosts...
Abstract We report the presence and diversity of Bartonella spp. in bats 13 insectivorous frugivorous species collected from various locations across Kenya. isolates were obtained 23 Eidolon helvum, 22 Rousettus aegyptiacus, 4 Coleura afra, 7 Triaenops persicus, 1 Hipposideros commersoni, 49 Miniopterus bats. Sequence analysis citrate synthase gene showed a wide assortment strains. Phylogenetically, clustered specific host bat species. All R. C. T. persicus separate monophyletic groups. In...
African green monkeys ( Chlorocebus ) represent a widely distributed and morphologically diverse primate genus in sub‐Saharan Africa. Little attention has been paid to their genetic diversity phylogeny. Based on morphological data, six species are currently recognized, but taxonomy remains disputed. Here, we aim characterize the mitochondrial (mt) DNA diversity, biogeography phylogeny of monkeys. We analyzed complete cytochrome b gene 126 samples using feces from wild individuals material...
Bats are known reservoirs of viral zoonoses. We report genetic characterization a bat rotavirus (Bat/KE4852/07) detected in the feces straw-colored fruit (Eidolon helvum). Six genes (viral protein [VP] 2, VP6, VP7, nonstructural [NSP] NSP3, and NSP5) shared ancestry with other mammalian rotaviruses but were distantly related. The VP4 gene was nearly identical to that human P[6] strains, NSP4 closely related those previously described rotaviruses, including strains. Analysis partial sequence...
Many blood-feeding arthropods are known vectors of viruses that a source unprecedented global health concern. Mosquitoes an integral part these arthropod vectors. Advancements in next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics has expanded our knowledge on the richness harbored by arthropods. In present study, we applied metagenomic approach to determine intercontinental virome diversity Culex quinquefasciatus tritaeniorhynchus Kwale, Kenya provinces Hubei Yunnan China. Our results showed...
Many species of large wildlife have declined drastically worldwide. These reductions often lead to profound shifts in the ecology entire communities and ecosystems. However, effects these large-wildlife declines on other taxa likely hinge upon both underlying abiotic properties systems types secondary anthropogenic changes associated with loss, making impacts difficult predict. To better understand how important contextual factors determine consequences animals a community, we examined three...
Abstract This is the first country-wide surveillance of bat-borne viruses in Kenya spanning from 2012–2015 covering sites perceived to have medium high level bat-human interaction. The objective this study was apply a non-invasive approach using fresh feces detect circulating within diverse species Kenyan bats. We screened for both DNA and RNA viruses; specifically, astroviruses (AstVs), adenoviruses (ADVs), caliciviruses (CalVs), coronaviruses (CoVs), flaviviruses, filoviruses,...
Zoonotic viruses cause substantial public health and socioeconomic problems worldwide. Understanding how evolve spread within among wildlife species is a critical step when aiming for proactive identification of viral threats to prevent future pandemics. Despite the many proposed factors influencing diversity, genomic diversity structure communities in East Africa are largely unknown.
Leptospirosis is a widespread but under-reported cause of morbidity and mortality. Global re-emergence leptospirosis has been associated with the growth informal urban settlements in which rodents are thought to be important reservoir hosts. Understanding multi-host epidemiology essential control prevent disease. A cross-sectional survey Kibera settlement Nairobi, Kenya was conducted September–October 2008 demonstrate presence pathogenic leptospires. real-time quantitative polymerase chain...
Polyomaviruses (PyVs) have been identified in a wide range of avian and mammalian species. However, little is known about their occurrence, genetic diversity evolutionary history bats, even though bats are important reservoirs for many emerging viral pathogens. This study screened 380 specimens from 35 bat species Kenya Guatemala the presence PyVs by semi-nested pan-PyV PCR assays. PyV DNA was detected 24 specimens. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that sequences formed 12 distinct lineages....
We describe the first genome isolation of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Kenya. This fatal zoonotic pathogen was described Kingdom Saudi Arabia 2012. Epidemiological and molecular evidence revealed transmission from camels to humans between humans. Currently, MERS-CoV is classified by WHO as having high pandemic potential requiring greater surveillance. Previous studies Kenya mainly focused on site-specific archived camel human serum samples for antibodies....
Understanding the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on zoonotic disease risk is both a critical conservation objective and public health priority. Here, we evaluate multiple forms across precipitation gradient abundance pathogen-infected small mammal hosts in multi-host, multi-pathogen system central Kenya. Our results suggest that conversion to cropland wildlife loss alone drive systematic increases rodent-borne pathogen prevalence, but pastoral has no such effects. The are most likely...
Over the past century, lion (Panthera leo) populations across Africa have experienced rapid and severe declines. Despite this, East is considered a modern day stronghold. Here, we use whole genome sequencing of both recent historical populations, primarily collected during Smithsonian Roosevelt African (1909 to 1911) Rainey (1911 1912) Expeditions, investigate changes in population structure, connectivity, diversity over last ~100 years Africa. We find clear signal fragmentation when...
The prevalence of neutralizing antibody against West Caucasian bat virus (WCBV) in Miniopterus bats collected Kenya ranged from 17% to 26%. Seropositive were detected 4 5 locations sampled across the country. These findings provide evidence that WCBV, originally isolated Europe, may emerge other continents.
Plant toxins are sequestered by many animals and the toxicity is frequently advertised aposematic displays to deter potential predators. Such 'unpalatability appropriation' common in invertebrate groups also found a few vertebrate groups. However, potentially lethal acquisition has so far never been reported for placental mammal. Here, we describe complex morphological structures behaviours whereby African crested rat, Lophiomys imhausi, acquires, dispenses advertises deterrent toxin. Roots...
Abstract Biodiversity loss can alter disease transmission; however, the magnitude and direction of these effects vary widely across ecosystems, scales, pathogens. Here we experimentally examine one most globally pervasive patterns biodiversity decline, selective large wildlife, on infection probability, intensity population size a group common rodent‐borne parasites – macroparasitic helminths. Consistent with previous work vector‐borne pathogens, found that wildlife removal causes strong...