DISEASE CAUSING VECTORS IN THE KENYAN COAST (PICTURES)

Photo: Courtesy (Biting Midges in a Picture)

In the season of festivities, many families will visit the coastal region or at least one country where there is a lake or a swamp. Despite the fact that many people are water phobic, a significant number still find pleasure while in deep waters.

Visiting the coast will for sure act as the best recreational activity for many families who are oblivious of inevitable dangers that they will get predisposed to once they get in the coast. Vectors are all over but for this article, I will educate the people on the specific type of vectors that they are likely to encounter in the coast. A Vector is an organism that carries and transmits infectious pathogens directly or indirectly from an infected animal to human or from human to human.

To start with, Mosquitoes are all over the coastal region. In many instances, anti-malaria vaccination is prescribed before visiting the region from the highlands if always advisable. Mosquitoes are Arthropods in the class insecta. There are many species of these insects but only a few of them are dangerous and capable of disease and pathogen transmission. Notably, only female mosquitoes, both for the Anopheline subfamily and Culicine subfamily bit human to suck blood. Male mosquitoes feed on Vector and plant sap molecule.

A Photo of Malaria causing female anopheles mosquito Photo: Courtesy 

Many people already know that female anopheles mosquito transmits Malaria. However, this same mosquito and all the other human vector mosquitoes also transmit filariasis. This is a dangerous disease that entails acquiring of filari worms which damages vital organs such as liver, heart, and lungs, among others.

The Culicine mosquitoes which include the genera Aides, Culex, and Mansonia transmit Yellow fever, Dengue fever, and Encephalitis virus. All these are diseases that people might acquire when they visits the coasts. They may seem ordinary diseases but some like Dengue are deadly while others such as Encephalitis will lead to enlargement of the scrotum which might extend to below the knees.

Tsetse flies are another category of vectors that people might encounter in the Kenyan coasts. Although it is said that these flies are in the DRC, in the tropical rain forest, it is good to note that there are over 30 species of Tsetse flies mostly in the subgenera Glossina. These monsters transmit African Trypanosomiasis in both animals and human.

There are different types of human Trypanosomiasis and they include Gambiense Trypanosomiasis which is caused by a type parasite transmitted by of Tsetse fly called Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. The other type of Trypanosomiasis is called Rhodesiense sleeping sickness and it is caused by Tryponosoma brucei rhodesiense. This is the type of sleeping sickness or Trypanosomiasis that people might encounter in the coast as it is prevalent in East Africa. Sadly, it is fatal and death occurs in a few hours if not treated unlike the other type which is chronic and more prevalent in West Africa.

A Kissing Bug Photo Courtesy 

Another Vector that is chronic in the Coastal region is the Reduviid bug or the kissing bug. This is the vector for Chagas disease. Chagas disease is not common in Kenya but since this bug is common in poor sanitation areas and mud constructed houses, there is likelihood of people contracting the disease as a result of Kissing Bug bites as they are numerous mud constructed houses in the coast.

A Photo of resting Black Fly Photo courtesy 

Blackflies are also in plenty in the Kenyan coast. These flies are also called Buffalo gnats, turkey gnats, or Kolumbtz flies. They transmit a parasite called Onchocerca volvulus. This parasite causes among others, fibrous nodules which form in the subcutaneous tissue of the skin. They also cause visual problem a condition mostly referred to as Liver Blindness. The problem with Onchocerca volvulus is prevalent among the Africans and Black Americans with World Health Organization estimating that about 17.7 million people have Onchocerciasis.  

Biting midges are another category of vectors that transmit parasites called Mansonella ozzardi. The parasite is not harmful to the humans, but just thinks having filarial worms circulating in your bloodstream, is that pretty? Biting midges as the names suggest have very painful bites. They are distributed all over the cost region.

Biting midges behave the same way as Stable flies. The stable flies is a look alike of the housefly only that the stable fly has a forward pointing mouthpart which is very painful when piercing a human skin.

Image of a Stable Fly. Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia 

Nonetheless, the presence of these nuisance vectors in the coastal region should not deter anyone from visiting but it is advisable to take necessary measures. Always remember prevention is better than cure.

More about the Author:

Benjamin Nyenjeri has a Graduate degree in Microbiology and Biotechnology.

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