Browsing by Author "Ogolla O., Fredrick"

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Medicinal Plants Used for Treatment of Gastrointestinal Infections in Tharaka-Nithi County
(International Journal of Pathogen Research, 2022-08-22) Kiteme M., Purity; Onyango O., Benson; Njagi C., Eric; Ogolla O., Fredrick
Health care is a basic need to humans which can only be achieved with medicines with high efficacy against disease causing pathogens. Globally, gastrointestinal infections are major health concern particularly to travelers since over 60% visiting tropical and subtropical regions develop diarrhea. Herbal plants have been used for decades to treat gastrointestinal infections globally including Tharaka-Nithi County in Kenya. However, there is little information on the demography of herbalist and the plants used in treatment of gastrointestinal infections such as typhoid, cholera and shigellosis. A cross sectional survey was carried out involving thirty herbalists to assess their demographic data and to establish herbs commonly used to treat typhoid, cholera and shigellosis in Tharaka-Nithi County. Data collected was subjected to Chi square test of association and descriptive statistics and presented in percentages. There were more male herbalists (65.52%) in the study than female herbalist (34.48%). Most of the herbalist (65.52%) were aged above 70 years. There was a significant (p < 0.05) association between herbalists’ level of education and age (X 2 (6, N = 30) = 17.349, p = 0.008). Most herbalists were found to have below primary education level 58.62%. Aloe vera, Aspilia pluriseta, Ficus sycomorus and Physalis peruviana were identified as commonly used plants for treatment of cholera with Aspilia pluriseta being most preferred (27%) by herbalist above the age of 70 years. Vangueria infausta, Eucalyptus globulus, Carissa edulis and Erythrina abysinnica were commonly used for treatment of shigellosis with Eucalyptus globulus being most preferred (58.6%) by herbalist above the age of 70 years. Erythrina abysinnica, Carissa edulis, Vangueria infausta and Eucalyptus globulus were commonly used for treatment of typhoid while 50.0% of herbalist above the age of 70 preferred Erythrina abysinnica. Most of the herbalists had below primary education level. In conclusion, herbal medicine is mostly dispensed by older people in Tharaka-Nithi County in Kenya. Different herbal plants are used in the treatment of cholera, shigellosis and typhoid.
Occurrence Of Bacterial Wilt Pathogen In Soils And Potato Tubers In Runyenjes In Embu County, Kenya.
(Research journali, 2021-04) Ong’au, Peterson M.; Muraya M., Moses; Onyango O., Benson; Mogaka M. Onyambu; Ogolla O., Fredrick; ; ;
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a starchy tuber crop that is widely cultivated in Africa as an income generator. Nutritionally, potato provides essential amino acids among other important body required nutrients. Despite the significance of potato as a crop, its production is constrained by various biotic and abiotic factors, which includes bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum. Ralstonia solanacearum is widely distributed in tropical, sub-tropical and warm temperate climates with a wide host range. In Kenya, the infection of potato farms by R. solanacearum has spread to all potato growing areas. It affects over 70% of potato farms causing yield losses of between 50 to 100% in Kenya. This study was carried out to assess the occurrence of bacteria wilt in small scale farmer’s potato farms in Runyejes in Embu County. A survey of potato farms was conducted in different tomato growing villages in between September and October 2019. Diseased potato samples and soil samples were collected from the farms and taken for laboratory study at Chuka University. Collected data on incidence of pathogen on tuber and soil were subjected to one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) in SAS version 9.4. Significance means of all the analysis were separated using Least Significance Difference at α = 0.05. Incidences of potato bacteria wilt disease in different villages surveyed was significantly different (p < 0.05). The incidence of R. Solanacearum in farmer’s fields ranged from 16.51% (Makutano village) to 50.42% (Kiangodu village). The overall mean score for the incidence was 32.2% across all the farms studied. In conclusion, incidence of bacterial wilt pathogen in soil and tuber sampled from Runyenjes area of Embu County differ from farm to farm and location to location. Study on incidence of potato bacterial wilt in is necessary in all small potato farmers in Embu County to determine the extent of spread of the disease in the area.