Isolation and Growth Kinetics of Bogoria Virus from Phlebotomine Sandflies Sampled in Baringo, Kenya.

Phleboviruses are an emerging threat to public health. Recent surveillance efforts in Kenya have unveiled novel phleboviruses. Despite these efforts, there remain knowledge gaps. This study tested female sandflies from diverse ecological settings in Kenya for arboviruses. Sandfly pools were cultured in Vero-CCL cells. Pools showing reproducible cytopathic effects were subjected to next-generation sequencing, followed by phylogenetic analysis. In vitro, cell kinetics analysis was performed using both Vero-E6 cells and C6/36 mosquito cells. One pool from Baringo, Kenya, tested positive for Bogoria virus (BOGV). The BOGV genome clustered in a single clade with previously obtained BOGV genomes. No significant differences were observed between Vero and C6/36 cell growth kinetics. This study has confirmed the presence of BOGV among sandflies in Baringo Kenya and demonstrated growth in mosquito cells.

Entomological assessment of the potential for malaria transmission in Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Malaria in urban and highland areas is emerging as a significant public health threat in Kenya which has seen a dramatic increase in malaria transmission in low risk highland areas. The objectives of the study were to find and incriminate potential vectors of malaria in Kibera, Nairobi. METHODS: One hundred and twenty houses within Lindi area of the southern central section of Kibera slum in Nairobi were chosen randomly and global positioning system (GPS) mapped. Day resting indoor mosquitoes were collected from January 2001 to December 2003. Larvae were collected between 2002 and 2004 and reared in the insectary to adults. RESULTS: A total of 176,993 mosquitoes were collected. Out of this, 176,910 were Culex fatigans and 83 were Anopheles gambiae s.l. Mosquito population peaked during the long rains in April to May and the short rains in November and December. Blood meal analysis of An. gambiae s.l. female mosquitoes revealed 0.97 human blood index. No mosquito was found positive for Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites. Anopheles gambiae s.l. mosquitoes were found breeding in polluted water and 95% of the larvae were identified as An. arabiensis. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Anopheles gambiae s.l., malaria vector is present in Nairobi and it breeds in polluted water. Anopheles arabiensis is predominantly preferring humans as blood meal source, thus, showing ecological flexibility within the species.