Publications

Outreach and engagement

To translate scientific findings to actionable outputs, I communicate science through peer reviewed publications and other media platforms.


An update list is always available here

Journal publications

2023

33. Nakarin Pamornchainavakul, Igor AD Paploski, Dennis N Makau, Mariana Kikuti, Albert Rovira, Samantha Lycett, Cesar A Corzo, and Kimberly VanderWaal, 2023. Mapping Dynamics of Contemporary PRRSV-2 Evolution, Emergence, and Spreading Hotspots in the U.S. using Phylogeography. Pathogens

34. Eman Ahmed, Dennis N. Makau, Mohamed Afifi , Omar A. Al-Jabr, Mohammed Abdulrahman Alshahrani, Ahmed Saif,  Reham G. A. Anter, Waafa M. El-Neshwy, Doaa Ibrahim,  Rasha M. M. Abou Elez. Interplay between cross sectional analysis of risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women and their domestic cats. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 

35. Hellen Njeri Maingi, Willy Edwin Mwangi, James Ng’ang’a Chege, Peter Kimeli, Dennis N, Makau, Maurine Cherotich Chepkwony, Gabriel Oluga Aboge, John B. Kaneene, 2023. Prevalence and risk factors of canine Giardia duodenalis in Nairobi County, Kenya. Journal of Vet. Med. And Anim. Health 

36. Nakarin Pamornchainavakul , Dennis N. Makau, Igor A. D. Paploski, Cesar A. Corzo, Kimberly VanderWaal. Unveiling invisible farm-to-farm PRRSV transmission links and routes through transmission tree and network analysis. Evolutionary Applications 


2022

26.  Karyn A. Havas, Dennis N. Makau, Sergei Shapovalov, Ekaterina Tolkova, Kim VanderWaal, Tymofii Tkachyk, Gordon D. Spronk, Brad Heron, Scott A. Dee, Andres Perez, 2021. A molecular, epidemiological, and clinical description of a severe porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome outbreak in a commercial swine production system in Russia. Viruses 

27. Nakarin Pamornchainavakul, Mariana Kikuti, Igor A. D. Paploski, Dennis N. Makau, Albert Rovira, Cesar A. Corzo, Kimberly VanderWaal, 2022. Measuring How Recombination Re-shapes the Evolutionary History of PRRSV-2: A Genome-Based Phylodynamic Analysis of the Emergence of a Novel PRRSV-2 Variant. Frontiers in Veterinary Science

28. Dennis N. Makau, Ilya Slizovskiy, Vincent Obanda, Noelle R. Noyes, James R. Johnson, Michael Oakes, Dominic Travis, Kimberly VanderWaal, George P. Omondi, 2022. Factors influencing usage of antimicrobial drugs among pastoralists in Kenya. (Tropical Animal Health and Production) 

29. Dennis N. Makau, Samantha Lycett, Matthew Michalska-Smith, Igor Paploski, Maxim Cheeran, Meggan Craft, Rowland Kao, Declan Schroeder, Andrea Wilson, Kimberly VanderWaal, 2022 Ecological and evolutionary dynamics of multi-strain viruses. Nature Ecology and Evolution

30. Dennis N. Makau, Ilya Slizovskiy, Vincent Obanda, Noelle R. Noyes, James R. Johnson, Michael Oakes, Dominic Travis, Kimberly VanderWaal, George P. Omondi. Factors influencing usage of antimicrobial drugs among pastoralists in Kenya, 2022. (Tropical Animal Health and Production) 

31. Igor A. D. Paploski, Dennis N. Makau, Nakarin Pamornchainavakul, Julia Baker, Declan Schroeder, Albert Rovira, Kimberly VanderWaal. Novel N-glycosylation patterns are associated with emergence of new genetic variants of PRRSV-2 in the U.S., 2022. (Vaccines) 

32. Dennis N. Makau, Cinta Prieto, F. Javier Martínez-Lobo, Igor A.D. Paploski, Kim VanderWaal. Predicting antigenic distance for PRRSV type 1: Applications of Machine learning. (ASM Microbiology spectrum) 


2021

25. B. M. El-said, A. R. M. Mahmoud, S. E. Mohamed, S. M. Gouda, D. N. Makau, M. Afifi, 2021. Electrocardiography, echocardiography, and vertebral heart score in healthy local Egyptian male dogs: Bias corrected bootstrap reference intervals. Slovenian Veterinary Research   

24. Vanleeuwen J A., Muraya J., Gitau G K., Makau D N., Crane M B., Makenna S L B., Wichtel J J., 2021. Seroprevalence and risk factors of Neospora caninum and Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus in smallholder dairy cattle in Kenya. East African Journal of Science, Technology and Innovation  

23. Vanleeuwen J A., Muraya J., Gitau G K., Makau D N., Crane M B., Makenna S L B., Wichtel J J., 2021. Randomised controlled trial on estrus and conception impacts of reproductive and nutrition interventions for sex-sorted semen on Kenyan smallholder dairy farms. East African Journal of Science, Technology and Innovation  

22. Declan C. Schroeder, Nkechi M. Odogwu, Jessica Kevill, My Yang,a Venkatramana D. Krishna, Mariana Kikuti, Nakarin Pamornchainavakul, Carles Vilalta, Juan Sanhueza, Cesar A. Corzo, Albert Rovira, Scott Dee, Eric Nelson, Aaron Singrey, Perle Zhitnitskiy, Cecilia Balestreri, Dennis N. Makau, Igor A. D. Paploski, Maxim C.-J. Cheeran, Kimberly VanderWaal, Montserrat Torremorell, 2021. Phylogenetically Distinct Near-Complete Genome Sequences of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Type 2 Variants from Four Distinct Disease Outbreaks at U.S. Swine Farms over the Past 6 Years. American Society for Microbiology 

21. James M. Kincheloe, Dennis N. Makau, Scott J. Wells, Amy R. Horn-Delzer, 2021. Chronic Wasting Disease Transmission Risk Assessment for Farmed Cervids in Minnesota and Wisconsin; Viruses 

20. Dennis N. Makau, Moh A. Alkhamis, Igor A. D. Paploski, Cesar A. Corzo, Samantha Lycett, Kimberly VanderWaal, 2021. Integrating animal movements with phylogeography to model the spread of PRRS virus in the U.S. Virus Evolution

19. Paploski I. A.D, Pamornchainavakul N., Makau D.N, Rovira A, Corzo C. A, Schroeder D. C, Cheeran M. C-J, Doeschl-Wilson A, Kao R. R, Lycett S, VanderWaal K, 2021. Phylogenetic structure and sequential dominance of sub-lineages of PRRSV Type 2 Lineage 1 in the United States. Vaccines 

18. Dennis N. Makau; Igor A. D. Paploski; Kimberly VanderWaal, 2021. Temporal stability of swine movement networks in the U.S. Preventive Veterinary Medicine

17. Dennis N. Makau; Igor A. D. Paploski; Cesar A. Corzo; Kimberly VanderWaal, 2021. Dynamic network connectivity influences the spread of a sub-lineage of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 


2020

16. Dennis N. Makau, Kimberly VanderWaal, James Kincheloe, Scott J. Wells, 2020. Implications of farmed-cervid movements on the transmission of chronic wasting disease; Preventive Veterinary Medicine

 15. Nashon Wavumbah Wanjala, George K. Gitau, Gerald M. Muchemi, Dennis N. Makau, 2020.  Effect of Bismuth Subnitrate Teat Canal Sealant with Ampicillin-Cloxacillin Combination in Control of Bovine Mastitis in Selected Farms in Kenya; International Journal of Veterinary Science 

14. Hany Abdalla, Dennis Makau, Shebl E.Salem 2020. Treatment of cows that fail to respond to pre-synchronization treatments with a CIDR-Ovsynch regimen improves the overall pregnancy percentage after a double Ovsynch treatment regimen; Animal Reproduction Science. 

13. Kimberly VanderWaal, Igor A.D. Paploski, Dennis N. Makau, Cesar A. Corzo 2020. Contrasting animal movement and spatial connectivity networks in shaping transmission pathways of a genetically diverse virus; Preventive Veterinary Medicine. 

12. Makau D N, VanLeeuwen J A, Gitau G K, McKenna S L, Muraya J, Walton C and Wichtel J J 2020. Effects of Calliandra and Sesbania on daily milk production in dairy cows on commercial smallholder farms in Kenya; Hindawi Veterinary Medicine International. 


2019

11. Essau Serem Kipyego, George Gitau, John Vanleeuwen, Peter Kimeli, Tequiero Okumu Abuom, Daniel Gakuya, Joan Muraya, Dennis Makau, 2019. Sero-prevalence and risk factors of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (type 1) in Meru County, Kenya; Preventive Veterinary Medicine. 

10. Makau D N, VanLeeuwen J A, Gitau G K, McKenna S L, Muraya J, Walton C and Wichtel J J 2019. Livelihood impacts of C. calothyrsus and S. sesban: supplementary feed in smallholder dairy farms in Kenya; Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics 11(10):234-246  

9. P. Kimeli, D. Makau, J. Van Leeuwen, G. Gitau, J. Muraya, S. McKenna, L. Heider. Factors associated with leg cleanliness of smallholder dairy cows in Kenya; East African Journal of Science, Technology and Innovation, 1 (1): 2019,11-26. 

8. Makau D N, VanLeeuwen J A, Gitau G K, McKenna S L, Muraya J, Walton C and Wichtel J J 2019. Effects of Calliandra and Sesbania supplementation on weight gain in dairy calves on smallholder farms in Kenya; Preventive Veterinary Medicine Vol 172 

7. Makau D N, VanLeeuwen J A, Gitau G K, Muraya J, McKenna S L, Walton C and Wichtel J J 2018. Effectiveness of using cellphone technology as a dairy management training tool for smallholder dairy farms in Kenya. Livestock Research for Rural Development. Volume 30 (11), Article #195. 


2015-2018

6. Makau DN, VanLeeuwen JA, Gitau G K, Muraya J, McKenna SL, Walton C, Wichtel JJ 2018. Animal and management factors associated with weight gain in dairy calves and heifers on smallholder dairy farms in Kenya. Preventive Veterinary Medicine Vol 161, pp 60-68, ISSN 0167-5877. 

5. Muraya J, VanLeeuwen J A, Gitau G K, Wichtel J J, Makau D N, Crane M B, McKenna S L B and Tsuma V T 2018: Cross-sectional study of productive and reproductive traits of dairy cattle in smallholder farms in Meru, Kenya. Livestock Research for Rural Development. Volume 30 (10), Article #171. 

4. Makau D.N., Gitau G.K., Muchemi G.K., Thomas L.F., Cook E.A.J., Wardrop N.A., Fèvre E.M., de Glanville W.A. 2017. Environmental predictors of bovine Eimeria infection in western Kenya; Tropical Animal Health and Production, 49

3. D. N. Makau, C. M. Mulei, H. M. Mutembei, J. Muraya and J. W. Aleri. 2015. Assessment of Fecal Parasitism for Decision Making in Continued Deworming of Slum Stray Dogs in Nairobi Areas of Kenya; Journal of Vet Med & Animal Health. Vol.7(11), pp. 328-330 

2. Mutembei HM, AE Cook, Muraya J, Makau DN, Aleri J, Kipyegon A and Mulei CM 2015. A One-Health Approach to Control the Incidence of Rabies in the Slums of Nairobi; Journal of Medical and Biological Science Research 1 (9), pp. 130-133 (ISSN: 2449-1810). 

1. Makau, D., Matole, A., Gitari, A., Karoki, B. and Tutu, D. 2015. A case of acute respiratory distress syndrome in a 2-year-old Maltese terrier; International Journal of Current Research, 7 (12), pp.24309-24310 (ISSN: 0975-833X). 


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