NRF Rated Researchers

Research Profile

Peter Mbati

Professor Peter Amunga Mbati is a C2 rated researcher by the National Research Foundation.  He obtained his PhD in Parasitology from Kenyatta University in 1994 and did a post doctoral training in advanced studies in protozoan diseases from the Research Centre for Protozoan Molecular Immunology, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Japan in 1996/97.  Peter belongs to a variety of professional bodies including the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology, Parasitological Society of Southern Africa and the Kenya Society for Immunology.  He serves in various committees and portfolios and was recently appointed to serve on the Limpopo Premier’s Employment Growth and Development Advisory Council. Between 2002 – 2003 he served as an Expert Review Panel member that evaluated the Amoebiasis Research Unit and, the Malaria Lead Research Programmes of the South African Medical Research Council.  Peter also served as a Temporary Advisor to the World Health Organization in 1996 when he conducted specialist diagnostic assays for human leishamaniosis in Asmara, Eritrea.  Some of the studies he has conducted include •Molecular diagnosis of Babesiosis •Sero-epidemiological studies and immuno-diagnosis of parasites of medical and veterinary importance in the north eastern Free State, South Africa •Evaluation of Leishmania-donovani-derived Lipophospho- glycan as a candidate vaccine against visceral leishmaniasis in murine models •Development of live vaccines against the leishmaniosis •Use of PCR for diagnosis and treatment follow-up of experimental Trypanosoma brucei infections •Identification and characterization of target antigens for transmission blocking vaccines in leishmaniasis •Field Evaluation of a Direct Agglutination Test (DAT) prototype test kit for routine diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis.

Selected peer reviewed publications (in alphabetical order)

1. Alhassan, A., Thekisoe, O., Yokoyama, N., Inoue, N., Motloang, M.Y., Mbati, P.A., Yin, H., Katayama, Y., Anzai, T., Sugimoto, C. and Igarashi, I. (2007).  Development of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for diagnosis of equine piroplasmosis. Veterinary Parasitology, 143: 155 – 160
2. Anjili, C.O., Ngichabe, C.K., Mbati, P.A., Lugalia, R.M., Wamyayi, H.M. and Githure, J.I. (1998). Experimental infection of domestic sheep with culture-derived Leishmania donovani promastigotes. Veterinary Parasitology, 74: 315-318
3. Anjili, C.O., Olobo, J.O., Mbati, P.A., Robert, L. and Githure, J.I. (1994). Experimental infection of domestic goats with Leishmania major through bites of infected Phlebotomus duboscqi and needle inoculation of culture derived promastigotes. Veterinary Research Communications, 18: 301-305
4. Anjili, C.O., Mbati, P.A., Mwangi, R.W., Githure, J.I., Olobo, J.O., Robert, L.L. and Koech, D.K. (1995). The chemotactic effect of Phlebotomus duboscqi (Diptera: Psychodidae) salivary gland lysates to murine monocytes. Acta Tropica, 60: 97-100
5. Bakheit, M.A., Torra, D., Palomino, L.A., Thekisoe, OM.M., Mbati, P.A., Ongerth, J. and Karanis, P. (2008). Sensitive and specific detection of Cryptosporidium species in PCR-negative samples by loop mediated isothermal DNA amplification and confirmation of generated LAMP products by sequencing. Veterinary Parasitology, 158: 11 – 22
6. Bakheit, M.A., Seitzer, U., Mbati, P.A. and Ahmed, J.S.  (2007).  Serological diagnostic tools for the major tick-borne protozoan diseases of livestock.  Parasitologia, 49 (supplementary 1) 53 – 62
7. Boelaert, M., El Safi, S., Mousa, H., Githure, J., Mbati, P.A., Gurubacharya, V., Shrestha, J., Jacquet, D., DeMuynck, A., Le Ray, D. and Van der Stuyft, P. (1999). Multi-centre evaluation of repeatability and reproducibility of the direct agglutination test for visceral leishmaniasis. Tropical Medicine and International Health, 4: 31-37
8. de la Fuente, J., Ruybal, P., Mtshali, M.S., Naranjo, V., Shuqing, L., Mangold, A.J., Rodriguez, S.D., Jimenez, R., Vicente, J., Moretta, R., Torina, A., Almazan, C., Mbati, P.A., Farber, M., Gortazar, C. and Kocan, K.M.  (2007).  Analysis of world strains of Anaplasma marginale using major surface protein 1a repeat sequences.  Veterinary Microbiology, 119: 382 – 390.
9. Hlatshwayo, M., Szabo, M.J.P., Bechara, G.H. and Mbati, P.A. (2004). Cross - reactivity between antigens from Amblyomma cajennense and A. hebraeum (Acari: Ixodidae).  Journal of the South African Veterinary Association, 75(1): 40-42
10. Ingonga, P., Mbati, P.A., Anjili, C.O., Mutani, A., Wishitemi, B., Robert, L.L. and Githure, J.I. (1996). The effect of immune serum from hamsters immunized with sandfly gut and whole body extract  antigens on the fecundity and mortality of Phlebotomus duboscqi (Diptera: Psychodidae). Acta Tropica, 60: 269-279
11. Inoue, N., Narumi, D., Mbati, P.A., Hirumi, K., Situakibanza, N.T.H. and Hirumi, H. (1998). Susceptibility of severe combined immuno-deficient (SCID) mice to Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and T.b. rhodesiense. Tropical Medicine and International Health, 3(5): 408-412
12. Mbati, P.A., Hlatshwayo, M., Mtshali, S., Thekisoe, A., Tsotetsi, A., Masangane, F., Motloang, M. and de Waal, T. (2004).  Livestock diseases in communal grazing areas of the north eastern Free State, South Africa.  Reprinted from: Multidisciplinarity for Parasites, Vectors and Parasitic Diseases.  Proceedings of the IX European Multicolloquium of Parasitology: Volume 2. Valencia, Spain, July 18-23, 2004, Santiago Mas-Come (Editor)
13. Mbati, P.A., Hlatshwayo, M., Mtshali, M.S., Mogaswane, K.R., de Waal, T.D. and Dipeolu, O.O. (2003). Ticks and tick-borne diseases of livestock belonging to resource-poor farmers in the eastern Free State of South Africa.  Experimental and Applied Acarology, 28: 217-22
14. Mbati, P.A., Anjili, C.O., Odongo, S., Ogaja, P. and Tonui, W.K. (2000). Leishmania major infection in Phlebotomus duboscqi fed on murine models immunized with L. major subcellular antigens and sand fly gut antigens. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 67: 57-63
15. Mbati, P.A., Hirumi, K., Inoue, N., Situakibanza, N.H. and Hirumi, H. (2000). Suggested dosage rates of melarsoprol in the treatment of mice experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 67: 71-74
16. Mbati, P.A., Hirumi, K., Inoue, N., Situakibanza, N.T.H. and Hirumi, H. (1999). Towards developing a diagnostic regimen for the treatment follow up of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. Korean Journal of Parasitology, 37(4): 289-292
17. Mbati, P.A., Githure, J.I., Kagai, J.M., Kirigi, G., Kibati, F., Wasunna, K. and Koech, D.K. (1999). Evaluation of a standardized direct agglutination test (DAT) for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in Kenya. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, 93(7): 703-710
18. Mbati, P.A. (1996). Chelators in biomedical research: a review. East African Medical Journal, 73(6): 350-356
19. Motloang, M.Y., Thekisoe, O.M.M., Alhassan, A., Bakheit, M., Motheo, M.P., Masangane, F.E.S., Thibedi, M.L., Inoue, N., Igarashi, I., Sugimoto, C. and Mbati, P.A. (2008). Prevalence of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infections in horses belonging to resource-poor farmers in the north-eastern Free State Province, South Africa.  Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 75: 141 – 146
20. Mtshali, M.S., de la Fuente, J., Ruybal, P., Kocan, K.M., Vicente, J., Mbati, P.A., Shkap, V., Blouin, E.F., Mohale, N.E., Moloi, T.P., Spickett, A.M. and Latif, A.A. (2007). Prevalence and genetic diversity of Anaplasma marginale strains from cattle in South Africa. Zoones and Public Health, 54: 23 – 30.
21. Olobo, J.O., Anjili, C.O., Gicheru, M.M., Mbati, P.A., Kariuki, T.M., Githure, J.I., Koech, D.K. and McMaster, W.R. (1995). Vaccination of vervet monkeys against cutaneous leishmaniosis using Leishmania major surface glycoprotein (gp63). Veterinary Parasitology, 60: 199-212
22. Thekisoe, O.M., Rambritch, N.E., Nakao, R., Bazie, R.S., Mbati, P., Namangala, B., Malele, Skilton, R.A., Jongejan, F., Sugimoto, C., Kawazu, S.I. and Inoue, N.  (2010).  Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays for detection of Theileria parva infections targeting the PIM and p150 gene. International Journal of Parasitology, 40: 55 – 61