Cyclospora papionis, Cryptosporidium hominis, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi were detected in 42 (17.9%), 6 (2.6%), and 29 (12.3%) of 235 newly captured baboons in Kenya, respectively. Most C. hominis subtypes and E. bieneusi genotypes found have been detected in humans in the area, suggesting that cross-species transmission of cryptosporidiosis and microsporidiosis is possible.

This study demonstrates the feasibility of UTx by vascular anastomosis in a non-human primate species. The low success rate demonstrates the complexity involved in UTx surgery and the need for further methodological developments.

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Aim:  To determine the occurrence of eight human enteric viruses in surface water and sewage samples from different geographical areas in Kenya. Methods and Results:  Enteric viruses were recovered from the water and sewage sources by glass‐wool adsorption elution and/or polyethylene glycol/NaCl precipitation and detected by singleplex real‐time and conventional PCR and reverse transcriptase‐PCR assays. One or more enteric viruses were detected in nearly all sewage and river water samples except the urban Mbagathi River. The VP7 (G types) and the VP4 (P types) of the rotaviruses (RV) were characterized by multiplex nested PCR methods. The G and P types could be determined in 95·5% of the RV strains, respectively. Mixed G types were detected with G12 and G1 predominating, and unusual G types, G5 and G10, were present. P[4] predominated in the urban Karen sewage samples, while P[8] predominated in the urban and rural streams. Conclusions:  The high prevalence of RVs in surface water highlights the importance of assessing the water sources used for domestic purposes for viral contamination. Significance and Impact of the Study:  This study demonstrates the benefit of environmental surveillance as an additional tool to determine the epidemiology of RVs and other enteric viruses circulating in a given community.

Rotavirus gastroenteritis still remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among young children in developing countries, with approximately 150,000-200,000 deaths occurring annually in sub-Saharan Africa. We reviewed papers published over the last 30 years on the epidemiology of rotavirus diarrhoea among the hospitalized and out-patient children in Kenya. The analysis shows rotavirus prevalence of 6-56% with diarrhoea occurring throughout the year and generally exhibiting distinct peaks during the dry months. Among the common genotype, G1 was the most predominant up to the year 2002 but more recently there has been an emergence of genotype G9 as the most predominant genotype and to a less extent G8. It is important to continue rotavirus surveillance in Kenya to determine accurately the burden of rotavirus disease and the emerging new genotypes. This will assist policy makers in decision making on rotavirus vaccine introduction and determining the impact of the vaccine.