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Kenya Institute of Primate ResearchKIPRE
MERCY
Affiliation

Dr. Mercy Y. Akinyi

Senior Research Scientist

makinyi@kipre.go.ke

Qualifications

  • BVM, Ph.D.

Projects

  • Tana River Ecosystem Conservation and One Health Program (TRECOP)

    TRECOP is a multidisciplinary research initiative focused on understanding the interactions between human, animal, and environmental health within the Tana River ecosystem. The programme combines on-site field sampling with laboratory analyses undertaken at the Kenya Institute of Primate Research, in collaboration with the Department of Primate Behavior and Evolution at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Germany. It applies a One Health approach to investigate the drivers of zoonotic disease transmission in a region characterized by close human–wildlife–livestock interfaces.

Publications

  1. 1.Lagat, C.J, Kivai S, Mwaura D.K, Nyachieo A, Lekolool I, Wango T.J, Nganga S.I, Ochola-Oyier I, Nyanjom S.G, Kamau L, Ochola L, Akinyi M.Y(2026). Epidemiology and molecular characterisation of Entamoeba species in selected non-human primate populations in Tana River and Trans Nzoia Counties, Kenya. doi.org/10.37284/2707-3920View →
  2. 2.Andreadis, CR, Kulahci, IG, Ndung'u, J, Kigen, D, Kimiti, P, Kibe, KM, Laske, NR, Mwadime, J, Wanjala, N, Pontzer, H, Laske, TG, Akinyi, MY & Archie, EA (2026). Using insertable cardiac monitors to test determinants of heart rate and activity in captive baboons. Zoology. doi.org/10.64898/2026.03.13.710869View →
  3. 3.Magudha, J, Ndwiga, L, Akinyi, MY, Wamae, K, Osoti, V, Kandie, R, Kiplagat, R, Keitany, K, Bargul, JL, Akala, HM, & Ochola-Oyier, LI (2026). Evolving patterns of antimalarial drug resistance markers in symptomatic infections in Kenya, 2013–2022. Parasites & Vectors, 19(1), 105. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-026-07280-wView →
  4. 4.Parsimei, FN, Nyanjom, SG, Akinyi, MY, Ogara, G, Ngudi, C, Karanja, PK, Odiere, MR, & Ochola, L (2026). Ecological influences on host–parasite dynamics among Biomphalaria snails in two schistosomiasis endemic regions of Kenya. Frontiers in Parasitology, 5, 1729760. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpara.2026.1729760View →
  5. 5.Mwaura DK, Anderson JA, Kiboi DM, Akinyi MY, Tung J. Enhancing Student Comprehension of Paternity Assignment in Molecular Primatology: A Pilot Study Using a Shiny Web Application in Kenya. Am J Primatol. 2025 Mar;87(3):e70024. doi: 10.1002/ajp.70024. PMID: 40119860; PMCID: PMC11929524.View →
  6. 6.Chege M, Ferretti P, Webb S, Macharia RW, Obiero G, Kamau J, Alberts SC, Tung J, Akinyi MY, Archie EA. Eukaryotic composition across seasons and social groups in the gut microbiota of wild baboons. anim microbiome 7, 70 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42523-025-00436-6View →
  7. 7.Obanda V, Akinyi M, King’ori E, Nyakundi R, Ochola G, Oreng P, et al. Epidemiology and ecology of the sylvatic cycle of African Swine Fever Virus in Kenya. Virus Res. 2024 Oct;348:199434.
  8. 8.Akinyi MY, Chifwete M, Ndwiga L, Kimenyi KM, Osoti V, Ochola-Oyier LI. A cross-sectional analysis identifies a low prevalence of Plasmodium ovale species infections in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals in Kilifi county, Kenya. Wellcome Open Res. 2024 Sep;7:207
  9. 9.Anderson JA, Lin D, Lea AJ, Johnston RA, Voyles T, Akinyi MY, et al. DNA methylation signatures of early-life adversity are exposure-dependent in wild baboons. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2024 Mar;121(11).
  10. 10.Kimenyi KM, Akinyi MY, Mwikali K, Gilmore T, Mwangi S, Omer E, et al. Distinct transcriptomic signatures define febrile malaria depending on initial infective states, asymptomatic or uninfected. BMC Infect Dis. 2024 Jan;24(1):140.
  11. 11.Chege M, Ferretti P, Webb S, Macharia RW, Obiero G, Kamau J, et al. Eukaryotic composition across seasons and social groups in the gut microbiota of wild baboons. 2024.
  12. 12.Lewis CM, Akinyi MY, DeWitte SN, Stone AC. Ancient pathogens provide a window into health and well-being. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2023 Jan;120(4).
  13. 13.Anderson JA, Lea AJ, Voyles TN, Akinyi MY, Nyakundi R, Ochola L, et al. Distinct gene regulatory signatures of dominance rank and social bond strength in wild baboons. Philos Trans R Soc B Biol Sci. 2022 Feb;377(1845).
  14. 14.Osoti V, Akinyi M, Wamae K, Kimenyi KM, Laurent Z de, Ndwiga L, et al. Targeted Amplicon Deep Sequencing for Monitoring Antimalarial Resistance Markers in Western Kenya. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2022 Apr;66(4).
  15. 15.Nyakundi RK, Hau J, Ogongo P, Nyamongo O, Jeneby M, Akinyi M, et al. Acquired Clinical Immunity to Malaria in Nonhuman Primates Coinfected with Schistosoma and Plasmodium Parasites. Infect Immun. 2022 Feb;90(2).
  16. 16.Ndwiga L, Kimenyi KM, Wamae K, Osoti V, Akinyi M, Omedo I, et al. A review of the frequencies of Plasmodium falciparum Kelch 13 artemisinin resistance mutations in Africa. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist. 2021 Aug;16:155–61.
  17. 17.Mbuthia P, Murungi E, Owino V, Akinyi M, Eastwood G, Nyamota R, et al. Potentially zoonotic gastrointestinal nematodes co‐infecting free ranging non‐human primates in Kenyan urban centres. Vet Med Sci. 2021 May;7(3):1023–33.
  18. 18.Anderson JA, Johnston RA, Lea AJ, Campos FA, Voyles TN, Akinyi MY, et al. High social status males experience accelerated epigenetic aging in wild baboons. eLife. 2021 Apr;10
  19. 19.Akinyi MY, Kivai S, Mbuthia P, Kiragu D, Wango T, Shikoli C, et al. Surveillance of emerging infectious diseases in wild non-human primates in Kenya: Successes and challenges. 2021.
  20. 20.Fredrick M, Danson M, John K, Stanislaus K, David N, Maina N, et al. Schistosoma mansoni and soil transmtted helminths in olive baboons and potential zoonosis. Vet Med Sci. 2021 Sep;7(5):2026–31.
  21. 21.Akinyi MY, Jansen D, Habig B, Gesquiere LR, Alberts SC, Archie EA. Costs and drivers of helminth parasite infection in wild female baboons. J Anim Ecol. 2019;88(7).
  22. 22.Habig B, Jansen DAWAM, Akinyi MY, Gesquiere LR, Alberts SC, Archie EA. Multi-scale predictors of parasite risk in wild male savanna baboons (Papio cynocephalus). Behav Ecol Sociobiol. 2019;73(10).
  23. 23.Lea AJ, Akinyi MY, Nyakundi R, Mareri P, Nyundo F, Kariuki T, et al. Dominance rank-associated gene expression is widespread, sex-specific, and a precursor to high social status in wild male baboons. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2018 Dec;115(52).
  24. 24.Akinyi MY, Gesquiere LR, Franz M, Onyango PO, Altmann J, Alberts SC. Hormonal correlates of natal dispersal and rank attainment in wild male baboons. Horm Behav. 2017;94.
  25. 25.Nyakundi RK, Nyamongo O, Maamun J, Akinyi M, Mulei I, Farah IO, et al. Protective effect of chronic schistosomiasis in baboons coinfected with Schistosoma mansoni and Plasmodium knowlesi. Infect Immun. 2016;
  26. 26.Mwangi DK, Akinyi M, Maloba F, Ngotho M, Kagira J, Ndeereh D, et al. Socioeconomic and health implications of human–wildlife interactions in Nthongoni, Eastern Kenya.
  27. 27.Schapiro SJ, Coleman K, Akinyi M, Koenig P, Hau J, Domaingue MC. Chapter 13 - Nonhuman Primate Welfare in the Research Environment. In: Bayne K, Turner PV, editors. Laboratory Animal Welfare [Internet]. Academic Press; 2014. p. 197–212. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123851031000130View →
  28. 28.Akinyi MY, Tung J, Jeneby M, Patel NB, Altmann J, Alberts SC. Role of grooming in reducing tick load in wild baboons (Papio cynocephalus). Anim Behav. 2013;85(3).
  29. 29.Tung J, Akinyi MY, Mutura S, Altmann J, Wray GA, Alberts SC. Allele-specific gene expression in a wild nonhuman primate population. Mol Ecol. 2011;20:725–39.
  30. 30.Maamun JM, Suleman MA, Akinyi M, Ozwara H, Kariuki T, Carlsson HE. Prevalence of Babesia microti in free-ranging baboons and African green monkeys. J Parasitol. 2011;97(1):63–7.