Explore the vast range of titles available.

Observed SARS-CoV-2 infections and deaths are low in tropical Africa raising questions about the extent of transmission. We measured SARS-CoV-2 IgG by ELISA in 9,922 blood donors across Kenya and adjusted for sampling bias and test performance. By 1st September 2020, 577 COVID-19 deaths were observed nationwide and seroprevalence was 9.1% (95%CI 7.6-10.8%). Seroprevalence in Nairobi was 22.7% (18.0-27.7%). Although most people remained susceptible, SARS-CoV-2 had spread widely in Kenya with apparently low associated mortality. The reported burden of SARS-CoV-2 has been relatively low in tropical Africa compared to Europe and the Americas, but estimating true infection rates is challenging. Here, the authors screen blood donors in Kenya for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and describe spatiotemporal seroprevalence dynamics.

BackgroundHypertension, the leading global risk factor for mortality, is characterized by low treatment and control rates in low- and middle-income countries. Poor linkage to hypertension care contributes to poor outcomes for patients. However, specific factors influencing linkage to hypertension care are not well known.ObjectiveTo evaluate factors influencing linkage to hypertension care in rural western Kenya.DesignQualitative research study using a modified Health Belief Model that incorporates the impact of emotional and environmental factors on behavior.ParticipantsMabaraza (traditional community assembly) participants (n = 242) responded to an open invitation to residents in their respective communities. Focus groups, formed by purposive sampling, consisted of hypertensive individuals, at-large community members, and community health workers (n = 169).ApproachWe performed content analysis of the transcripts with NVivo 10 software, using both deductive and inductive codes. We used a two-round Delphi method to rank the barriers identified in the content analysis. We selected factors using triangulation of frequency of codes and themes from the transcripts, in addition to the results of the Delphi exercise. Sociodemographic characteristics of participants were summarized using descriptive statistics.Key ResultsWe identified 27 barriers to linkage to hypertension care, grouped into individual (cognitive and emotional) and environmental factors. Cognitive factors included the asymptomatic nature of hypertension and limited information. Emotional factors included fear of being a burden to the family and fear of being screened for stigmatized diseases such as HIV. Environmental factors were divided into physical (e.g. distance), socioeconomic (e.g. poverty), and health system factors (e.g. popularity of alternative therapies). The Delphi results were generally consistent with the findings from the content analysis.ConclusionsIndividual and environmental factors are barriers to linkage to hypertension care in rural western Kenya. Our analysis provides new insights and methodological approaches that may be relevant to other low-resource settings worldwide.

ABSTRACT The fungal phytopathogen Magnaporthe oryzae causes blast disease in cereals such as rice and finger millet worldwide. In this study, we assessed genetic diversity of 160 isolates from nine sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and other principal rice producing countries and conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify the genomic regions associated with virulence of M. oryzae. GBS of isolates provided a large and high-quality 617K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) dataset. Disease ratings for each isolate was obtained by inoculating them onto differential lines and locally-adapted rice cultivars. Genome-wide association studies were conducted using the GBS dataset and sixteen disease rating datasets. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used an alternative to population structure analysis for studying population stratification from genotypic data. A significant association between disease phenotype and 528 SNPs was observed in six GWA analyses. Homology of sequences encompassing the significant SNPs was determined to predict gene identities and functions. Seventeen genes recurred in six GWA analyses, suggesting a strong association with virulence. Here, the putative genes/genomic regions associated with the significant SNPs are presented.