A venue-based HIV prevention study which included Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) was conducted in three diverse areas of Kenya— Malindi, Nanyuki and Rachounyo. Aims of the study were to: 1) assess the acceptability of VCT for the general population, men who have sex with men (MSM), and injecting drug users (IDUs) within the context of a venue-based approach; 2) determine if there were differences between those agreeing and not agreeing to testing; and 3) study factors associated with being HIV positive. Approximately 98% of IDUs and 97% of MSM agreed to VCT, providing evidence that populations with little access to services and whose behaviors are stigmatized and often considered illegal in their countries can be reached with needed HIV prevention services. Acceptability of VCT in the general population ranged from 60% in Malindi to 48% in Nanyuki. There were a few significant differences between those accepting and declining testing. Notably in Rachuonyo and Malindi those reporting multiple partners were more likely to accept testing. There was also evidence that riskier sexual behavior was associated with being HIV positive for both men in Rachounyo and women in Malindi. Overall HIV prevalence was higher among the individuals in this study compared to individuals sampled in the 2008–2009 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, indicating the method is an appropriate means to reach the highest risk individuals including stigmatized populations.

No abstract

Murine Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection leads to elevated plasma endotoxin-like activity levels not related to parasitaemia levels accompanied by the development of acute-phase response and increased plasma levels of serum amyloid P (SAP) and haptoglobin (Hp). To determine the source of the endotoxin-like activity and role of secondary bacterial infection in the pathogenesis of trypanosomosis, infected mice were treated with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin. Plasma endotoxin-like activity levels, irrespective of treatment, were elevated three- to fourfold, beginning 7 days after infection. Plasma protein concentrations increased markedly following infection from 7 days after infection (DAI). Peak Hp and SAP concentrations in ciprofloxacin-treated and -untreated infected mice were attained 7 and 14 DAI, respectively. Thereafter, both protein levels gradually declined until the end of the experiment, but Hp levels for non-treated mice declined up to 21 DAI and thereafter significantly increased on 28 and 35 DAI. Whole-trypanosome lysate and the membrane-enriched fraction demonstrated endotoxin-like activity, with the former having higher levels. The results suggest that the endotoxin-like activity in trypanosome fractions and plasma of infected mice is due to the trypanosome. Further elevation of haptoglobin during the late stages of infection in non-treated mice suggests the involvement of secondary bacterial infection.

Background. The burden of nematode infections is high mostly in children below 5 years old, with clinical manifestations ranging from mild to painful symptoms due to severe infections that end up suppressing the immune system of the infected children. The occurrence of these infections is highest in areas of extreme poverty. This study evaluated the intensity of nematode infections and assessed the status of deworming in children aged 3 to 5 years living in Mukuru slum settlement, Nairobi County, Kenya. Methodology. A total of 172 children aged between 3 and 5 years were sampled across the 5 major villages of Mukuru Slum settlement: Kwa Njenga, Vietnum, Wapewape, Kwa Reuben, and Motomoto. Community health workers administered questionnaires on the deworming history of children. Stool samples were collected, macroscopically examined, and microscopically analysed using Kato-Katz technique to assess the intensity of infection. The intensities of nematode infections were expressed as eggs per gram (epg) of faeces. Results. The point prevalence of nematode infection among the 98 children in the 1st sampling was 25.5% with a mean infection intensity of 5424 epg, whereas among the 74 children sampled in 2nd sampling, 47.3% had nematode infection with a mean infection intensity of 12384 epg. The average nematode infection for the 172 participants was 34.9% with a mean intensity of 17808 epg. The highest number of children infected with nematodes was in the village of Wapewape where 34 participants were examined and 36.3% were infected with a mean intensity of 3216 epg. Kwa Reuben and Vietnum villages had the same prevalence values of 32.4% where 34 participants in each village had a mean intensity of 3624 epg and 4512 epg, respectively. In both samplings, more than 80% of children had been dewormed more than 6 months prior to the study. Ascaris lumbricoides was the only species of intestinal nematodes identified to be present in the stool samples of children in this study, whereas Trichuris trichiura and hookworm infections were found to be absent. The intensity of infection was not dependent on age or gender.

No abstract