Veterinary Science & Technology

Carolyn Wanjira Muruthi

Publications

• Research Article
  Phenotypic and Genotypic Identification of Ticks Sampled from Wildlife Species in Selected Conservation Sites of Kenya
  Author(s): Carolyn Wanjira Muruthi, Olivia Wesula Lwande, Joseph Njuguna Makumi, Steven Runo, Moses Otiende and Wycliffe Arika MakoriCarolyn Wanjira Muruthi, Olivia Wesula Lwande, Joseph Njuguna Makumi, Steven Runo, Moses Otiende and Wycliffe Arika Makori
  
  Hard ticks are blood feeding ectoparasites that infest humans and animals and are vectors of pathogenic microorganism that cause severe infectious diseases. Morphological identification has been the main approach of identifying ticks but the technique is considered inaccurate and difficult. Molecular techniques have recently been considered to be appropriate approaches for accurate and rapid identification and Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS 2) has been shown to differentiate genus of hard ticks. Currently, genetic identification of ticks using ITS 2 has not been carried out in Kenya. In this study, 80 tick samples were collected from Lake Nakuru and Tsavo National Parks and were identified morphologically using appropriate identification keys. DNA was extracted from the appendages using DNA extraction kit followed by partial amplification of ITS 2 gene. The PCR products were then .. Read More»
  DOI: 10.4172/2157-7579.1000293

  Abstract PDF