Browsing by Author "Kirira, Peter G."

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    Determining the Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Leishmaniasis among Residents of Rural Marigat Sub-County, Baringo County- Kenya
    (current overview on disease and health research, 2022-06-24) Gwandi, Martin Philipo; Jeruto, Esleen; Kirira, Peter G.; Odongo, Alfred Owino
    Leishmaniasis is a parasitic and vector-borne disease with two primary forms: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis and Visceral Leishmaniasis, respectively, with an annual global incidence of 0.95 and 0.3 million cases. The study looked on the prevalence of Leishmaniasis and the risk factors linked with it in Kenya's Baringo County. The researchers used a mixed method analytical cross-sectional study design. In Kenya's Baringo County, 333 heads of households were recruited for the study. To enroll study participants, researchers utilized purposive and multistage sampling procedures. Leishmaniasis was reported by 96 out of 333 subjects, resulting in a prevalence of 28.8%. Increased odds of contracting Leishmaniasis were associated with living in a temporary house (OR = 5, 95% CI 2.64 – 9.44), Living below the poverty line (OR = 2.4, 95% CI 0.23 – 0.78), primary level of education (OR = 8.6, 95% CI 0.14 – 0.97), presence of termite hills (OR = 7.6, 95% CI 0.60 – 0.97) and presence of soil cracks (OR = 3.6, 95% CI 0.16 – 0.50). Having bed net (OR = 3.5, 95% CI 1.90 – 6.57), use of repellent (OR = 3.7, 95% CI 1.58 – 8.58), and wearing long sleeves after sunset (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 0.24 – 0.84) were associated with decreased odds of Leishmaniasis infection. Leishmaniasis was discovered to be exacerbated in the study region by a lack of education, living below the poverty line, living in a temporary house, the presence of termite hills, and soil cracks near the residential area. People should eliminate dormant termite mounds near their homes, and the government should collaborate with development partners to improve people's livelihoods.
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    Efficacy and safety evaluation of a novel trioxaquine in the management of cerebral malaria in a mouse model
    (BMC, 2017-07-03) Malala, Bonface J.; Odhiambo, Onyango C.; Wamakima,Hannah N.; Magoma, Gabriel N.; Kirira, Peter G.; Muregi, Francis W.; Kimani, Francis
    The emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum poses a great threat of increased fatalities in cases of cerebral and other forms of severe malaria infections in which parenteral artesunate monotherapy is the current drug of choice. The study aimed to investigate in a mouse model of human cerebral malaria whether a trioxaquine chemically synthesized by covalent linking of a 4,7-dichloroquinoline pharmacophore to artesunate through a recent drug development approach termed ‘covalent bitherapy’ could improve the curative outcomes in cerebral malaria infections. Methods Human cerebral malaria rodent model, the C57BL/6 male mice were infected intraperitoneally (ip) with Plasmodium berghei ANKA and intravenously (iv) treated with the trioxaquine from day 8 post-infection (pi) at 12.5 and 25 mg/kg, respectively, twice a day for 3 days. Treatments with the trioxaquine precursors (artesunate and 4,7-dichloroquine), and quinine were also included as controls. In vivo safety evaluation for the trioxaquine was done according to Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines 423, where female Swiss albino mice were orally administered with either 300 or 2000 mg/kg of the trioxaquine and monitored for signs of severity, and or mortality for 14 days post-treatment. Results The trioxaquine showed a potent and a rapid antiplasmodial activity with 80% parasite clearance in the first 24 h for the two dosages used. Long-term parasitaemia monitoring showed a total parasite clearance as the treated mice survived beyond 60 days post-treatment, with no recrudescence observed. Artesunate treated mice showed recrudescence 8 days post-treatment, with all mice in this group succumbing to the infection. Also, 4,7-dichloroquinoline and quinine did not show any significant parasitaemia suppression in the first 24 h post-treatment, with the animals succumbing to the infection.
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    Risk Factors Associated with Leishmaniasis among Residents of Rural Marigat Sub-County, Baringo County-Kenya
    (International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE& Health, 2022-04-19) Gwandi, Martin Philipo; Jeruto, Esleen; Kirira, Peter G.; Odongo, Alfred Owino
    Leishmaniasis is a parasitic and vector-borne disease existing in two main forms, Cutaneous Leishmaniasis and Visceral Leishmaniasis with an average global incidence of 0.95 and 0.3 million cases consecutively per annum. The study determined the prevalence and risk factors associated with Leishmaniasis in Baringo County-Kenya.Methods:Analytical cross-sectional study design that employed a mixed method was used. Study recruited 333 head of households in Marigat sub-County of Baringo County-Kenya. Purposive and multistage sampling techniques were used to recruit study participants. SPSS version 26 was used for analysis of quantitative data. Statistical test employed were X2test of independence and binary logistic regression. NVivo version 10 was used for analysis of qualitative data. Results:Of 333 participants, 96 reported to have had Leishmaniasis translating to the prevalence of 28.8%. Increased odds of contracting Leishmaniasis were associated with living in a temporary house (OR = 5, 95% CI 2.64 –9.44), Living below the poverty line (OR = 2.4, 95% CI 0.23 –0.78), primary level of education (OR = 8.6, 95% CI 0.14 –0.97),presence of termite hills (OR = 7.6, 95% CI 0.60 –0.97) and presence of soil cracks (OR = 3.6, 95% CI 0.16 –0.50). Having bed net (OR = 3.5, 95% CI 1.90 –6.57), use of repellent (OR = 3.7, 95% CI 1.58 –8.58), and wearing long
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    SYNTHESIS AND ANTIPLASMODIAL EVALUATION OF A NEW TRIOXAQUINE
    (EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND MEDICAL RESEARCH, 2019-01-11) Muregi, Francis W.; Wamakima, Hannah N.; Kirira, Peter G.; Nganga, Margaret M.; Gimode, Winnie R.; Naicker, Brandon; Tukulula, Matshawendile
    The ultimate objective of this work was to develop a novel antimalarial hybrid drug based on quinoline and trioxane pharmacophoric scaffold that is effective against drug-resistant malaria, especially in the face of emerging resistance against artemisinin based combination therapy (ACT). The synthetic design involved introduction of a linker to 4,7-dichloroquinoline and subsequent coupling with artesunate to form the dual drug. The structure’s molecular formula C30H38N3ClO7 was confirmed by electron spray ionization mass spectrum that showed a molecular ion peaks at m/z 588.24 and 590.24 amu with a relative abundance of 100% and 38.8% respectively against an exact value of 587.24 amu. Through biological studies, it was established that the drug’s antiplasmodial activity (IC50) against chloroquine (CQ)-sensitive (CQS, D6) and CQ-resistant (CQR, W2) isolates (CQS, 6.89 ng mL-1; CQR, 3.62 ng mL-1) was comparable (p>0.05) to that of artesunate (CQR, 6.67 ng mL-1; CQR, 4.04 ng mL-1), currently the most potent antimalarial in the artemisinin family. The drug had a good safety profile, with low percentage inhibition of human HeLa cell proliferation (29%), and IC50 values >10 000 ng mL-1. The findings validate the concept of ‘‘covalent bitherapy’’ as a feasible strategy in antimalarial drug development.