Prevalence of Giardia species in Cattle Faecal Matter in Selected Farms in Weija and Kpong Major Water Supply Heads to Accra, Ghana.

In developing countries including Ghana, giardiasis plays a major role in gastroenteritis in vertebrate. It poses health and socio-economic burden, and continues to be one of the causes of infant and calf mortality. Their infection continues to thrive in humans due to the zoonotic transmission of infected domesticated animals including cattle, dogs and cats, and their con­tinual presence in water bodies. The objective of this study was to establish their presence and evaluate the prevalence of Giardia sp. in cattle faecal matter in the environment in the Kpong and Weija communities. The Iron-haematoxylin staining techniques was used to analyze the faecal samples in order to identify Giardia sp. (Student t- test and Chi square were the statistical analyses) used for the studies. About five percent (5.3%) prevalence was obtained in both com­munities and this was significant (p> 0.05). The parasite was found to be most prevalent (9.4%) in calves less than 3 months old and this decreased with age of calf. It was also observed that Giardia plays an important role in the cause of diarrhoea in cattle. There is the need to educate people on the disease and its implication on the quality of water from the treatment plants. Keywords: Giardia sp, water, contamination, diarrhoea, infant mortality

Tool kits for the Sustainable Management of Ghana’s Riverine Biodiversity: an Overveiw

The Darwin Initiative funded project Tool kits for the Sustainable Management of Ghana’s Riverine Biodiversity was a collaboration between the Centre for African Wetlands at the University of Ghana, various units of the University of Ghana and the Ghana Wildlife Society. The project also involved collaborators from Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo and Benin. The project aimed to address the impediments that remain for Ghana (and its neighbouring countries) in applying the Ecosystem Approach (EA) to riverine wetland management and the delivery of the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD). Priority needs were identified as taxonomic capacity building, a contemporary assessment of the status of aquatic biodiversity in Ghana, the development of practical management tools for rivers and increased engagement of stakeholders in decision-making together with an enhanced environmental awareness throughout Ghanaian society. These were addressed in this project by regional and local staff training, reporting on the current status of aquatic communities, the production of educational and taxonomic resources for a range of users, the development of a set of nested indicators of ecosystem health adapted for use at various levels, and the production of a policy document outlining the means of applying the EA in the management of Ghana’s rivers

Resilience of microbial respiration, respiratory quotient and stable isotope characteristics to soil hydrocarbon addition.

On the basis of CO2 evolution rate, O2 uptake rate, and 13C isotopic signature of respired CO2, the metabolic response to the addition of 13C labelled n-hexadecane and palmitic acid each with supplementary nitrogen was studied for two topsoils, one under continuous agricultural management and the other under beech forest. The CO2 evolution rate was immediately stimulated in the agricultural soil and the respiratory quotient (RQ) decreased from 0.8 to 0.4 mol CO2 evolution rate per mol O2 uptake rate, which was below the theoretically expected value of 0.65 and 0.70 for the degradation of n-hexadecane and palmitic acid, respectively. The microbial response was delayed in the forest soil, but developed better than in the agricultural soil throughout the subsequent 2–4 weeks. Consequently, the respiration rate returned earlier to the initial level for the beech forest soil and the δ13C of respired CO2 and RQ approached values before hydrocarbon addition. Based on the link among respiration rates, RQ and 13C–CO2 value, the added oil-analogue compounds induced a more rapid response in the agricultural soil and were degraded more completely in the forest soil. We concluded that the resilience, which we defined here as the capacity of the soil microbiota to buffer perturbance and to reorganise in response to change resulting in a more desirable system, was higher in our forest soil than for the agricultural soil

Microbial actvity and 13C/ 12C ratio as evidence of N-hexadecane and N-hexadecanoic acid biodegradation in agricultural and forest soils.

The dynamics of microbial degradation of exogenous contaminants, n-hexadecane and its primary microbial oxidized metabolite, n-hexadecanoic (palmitic) acid, was studied for top soils, under agricultural management and beech forest on the basis the changes in O 2 uptake, CO 2 evolution and its associated microbial and non-microbial carbon isotopic signature, the respiratory quotient (RQ) and the priming effect (PE) of infstrates. Soil microbial communities in agricultural soil responded to the n-hexadecane addition more rapidly compared to those of forest soil, with lagperiods of about 23 ± 10 and 68 ± 13 hours, respectively. Insignificant difference in the lag-period duration was detected for agricultural (t lag = 30 ± 13 h) and forest (t lag = 30 ± 14 h) soils treated with n-hexadecanoic (palmitic) acid. These results demonstrate that the soilmicrobiota differed inmetabolic activities for using n-hexadecane as a reductive hydrocarbon and n-hexadecanoic acid as a partly oxidized hydrocarbon. The corresponding δ 13C of respired CO 2 after the addition of the hydrocarbon contaminants to soils indicates a shift in microbial activity towards the consumption of exogenous infstrates with a more complete degradation of n-hexadecane in the agricultural soil, for which some initial contents of hydrocarbons are inherent. It was reflected in the carbon isotope signature of microbial biomass. It is supposed that the observed deviation of RQ from theoretically calculated value under microbial infstrate mineralization is determined by difference in the time (Δt i) of registration of CO 2 production and O 2 consumption. Positive priming effect (PE) of n-hexadecane and negative PE of n-hexadecanoic (palmitic) acid were detected in agricultural and forest soils. It is suggested that positive PE of n-hexadecane is conditioned by the induction of microbial enzymes that perform hydroxylation/oxygenation of stable SOM compounds mineralized by soil microbiota to CO 2. The microbial metabolism coupled with oxidative decarboxylation of n-hexadecanoic acid is considered as one of the most probable causes of the revealed negative PE value. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Microbial activity and ¹³C/¹²C ratio as evidence of N-Hexadecane and N-Hexadecanoic acid biodegradation in agricultural and forest soils.

The dynamics of microbial degradation of exogenous contaminants, n-hexadecane and its primary microbial oxidized metabolite, n-hexadecanoic (palmitic) acid, was studied for topsoils, under agricultural management and beech forest on the basis the changes in O-2 uptake, CO2 evolution and its associated carbon isotopic signature, the respiratory quotient (RQ) and the priming effect (PE) of substrates. Soil microbial communities in agricultural soil responded to the n-hexadecane addition more rapidly compared to those of forest soil, with lag-periods of about 23 +/- 10 and 68 +/- 13 hours, respectively. Insignificant difference in the lag-period duration was detected for agricultural (t(lag) = 30 +/- 13 h) and forest (t(lag) = 30 +/- 14 h) soils treated with n-hexadecanoic (palmitic) acid. These results demonstrate that the soil microbiota has different metabolic activities for using n-hexadecane as a reductive hydrocarbon and n-hexadecanoic acid as a partly oxidized hydrocarbon. The corresponding delta C-13 of respired CO2 after the addition of the hydrocarbon contaminants to soils indicates a shift in microbial activity towards the consumption of exogenous substrates with a more complete degradation of n-hexadecane in the agricultural soil, for which some initial contents of hydrocarbons are inherent. It is supposed that the observed deviation of RQ from theoretically calculated value under microbial substrate mineralization is determined by difference in the time (Delta t(i)) of registration of CO2 production and O-2 consumption. Positive priming effect (PE) of n-hexadecane and negative PE of n-hexadecanoic (palmitic) acid were detected in agricultural and forest soils. It is suggested that positive PE of n-hexadecane is conditioned by the induction of microbial enzymes that perform hydroxylation/oxygenation of stable SOM compounds mineralized by soil microbiota to CO2. The microbial metabolism coupled with oxidative decarboxylation of n-hexadecanoic acid is considered as one of the most probable causes of the revealed negative PE value

Cross-linked polyacrylates in post-mining substrates: persistence and effects on plant growth

Application of hydrophilic polymers composed of cross-linked polyacrylate can improve soil water-holding capacity and accelerate the restoration of post-mining substrates. In this work, we studied the persistence of a polyacrylate polymer incorporated into a soil and its impact on plant nutrients at a reclamation site of former lignite mining in Lusatia (Germany). In contrast to autumn application, the incorporation of the polymer enhanced the sequestration of plant-derived carbon in the soil, which was reflected by a significant increase in the concentration of a lignin marker. Attenuated total reflexion–Fourier transform infrared spectra (ATR-FTIR) and total elemental contents in the applied polymer suggested an intensive cation exchange between the polymer framework and the soil-forming substrate. In addition, there was an enrichment of carbonaceous material, which seems to reduce the swelling and thus the water-holding capacity of the cross-linked polyacrylate. Conversely, this process protected the polymer structure from rapid decomposition

HIV testing in community based research: a case study of female genital schistosomiasis and HIV in the Volta Basin of Ghana

HIV testing is a major issue of concern in developing countries. This paper aims at documenting field experiences in regard to testing for HIV in a community- based research. Detailed protocol was followed and participation in the study was on voluntary basis. Focus group discussionswere held in study community. The study objectives were deliberated on and participants were informed of the procedures to be undertaken. Those who gave consent were then recruited for the study. A total of 331 volunteered to undergo further screening for genital schistosomiasis.Vaginal swabs, cervical biopsy and blood was collected and tested for genital schistosomiasis, some common sexually transmitted infections and HIV. Female genital schistosomiasis prevalence found was 10.3%, Trichomonas vaginalis, 2.1%, Candida albicans, 9.6%, Gardnerellavaginalis, 11.8% and HIV 6.6%. The study also showed that, the location of Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) services in rural communities in the Volta Basin were unavailable. The use of trained counselors from the governmental health facilities for field work was a challenge due to their heavy work load. It was also observed that the problem of fear and stigmatization still had a negative influence on opting for HIV testing. The authors recommend the scaling up of VCT services in rural communities through the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) initiative and NHIS scheme using the Maternal and Child Health service providers. The training of community leaders on HIV issues is also recommended as they occupy positions of influence and can impact positively on community-based HIV-related activitie

A Survey of Female Genital Schistosomiasis of the Lower Reproductive Tract in the Volta Basin of Ghana

Objective: To determine the prevalence of female genital schistosomiasis in riparian communities in the Volta basin of Ghana,Design: The study was a cross-sectional study conducted among women 15-49 years in the Volta Basin. Urinary schistosomiasis prevalence wasdetermined using microscopy. A structured questionnaire was also administered to collect information on the demography, obstetric history and reproductive health experiences. Cervical punch biopsywas collected from women who consented to be screened for FGS. Descriptive statistics was used to determine frequency of occurrence, chi squared and logistic regression to identify associated variablesResults: Urinary schistosomiasis prevalence among the women was 24.8% while 10.6% of them diagnosed with FGS. More FGS diagnosed women (57.7%, p value =0.04%) were observed to report copious discharge, vaginal itch (80.8%, p=0.042) and lower abdominal pain (66.7%, p= 0.041) compared to FGS negative women. The predominant abnormalobservation of the lower genital tract made was erythematous cervix (18.8%).Conclusion: The study confirms the reproductive health symptoms associated with FGS and recommends awareness creation on FGS amongwomen in endemic communities to facilitate early treatment

Cytotoxycity and antiplasmodial activity of phenolic derivatives from Albizia zygia (DC.) J.F. Macbr. (Mimosaceae)

© The Author(s).[Background]: The proliferation and resistance of microorganisms area serious threat against humankind and the search for new therapeutics is needed. The present report describes the antiplasmodial and anticancer activities of samples isolated from the methanol extract of Albizia zygia (Mimosaseae).[Material]: The plant extract was prepared by maceration in methanol. Standard chromatographic, HPLC and spectroscopic methods were used to isolate and identify six compounds (1–6). The acetylated derivatives (7–10) were prepared by modifying 2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid and quercetin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, previously isolated from A. zygia (Mimosaceae). A two-fold serial micro-dilution method was used to determine the IC50s against five tumor cell lines and Plasmodium falciparum.[Results]: In general, compounds showed moderate activity against the human pancreatic carcinoma cell line MiaPaca-2 (10 20 μM). Additionally, the two semi-synthetic derivatives of quercetin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside exhibited significant activity against P. falciparum with IC50 of 7.47 ± 0.25 μM for compound 9 and 6.77 ± 0.25 μM for compound 10, higher than that of their natural precursor (IC50 25.1 ± 0.25 μM).[Conclusion]: The results of this study clearly suggest that, the appropriate introduction of acetyl groups into some flavonoids could lead to more useful derivatives for the development of an antiplasmodial agent.RRK is grateful to the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) who granted him a scholarship (N°L/ICA/ICB/201822/17) which allow him to conduct part of his PhD study at the Fundación MEDINA (Spain).Peer reviewe

Antiparasitic Activities of Compounds Isolated from <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> Strain Discovered in Northcentral Nigeria

In this study, we explored a fungal strain UIAU-3F identified as Aspergillus fumigatus isolated from soil samples collected from the River Oyun in Kwara State, Nigeria. In order to explore its chemical diversity, the fungal strain UIAU-3F was cultured in three different fermentation media, which resulted in different chemical profiles, evidenced by LC-ESI-MS-based metabolomics and multivariate analysis. The methanolic extract afforded two known compounds, fumitremorgin C (1) and pseurotin D (2). The in vitro antiparasitic assays of 1 against Trypanosoma cruzi and Plasmodium falciparum showed moderate activity with IC50 values of 9.6 µM and 2.3 µM, respectively, while 2 displayed IC50 values > 50 µM. Molecular docking analysis was performed on major protein targets to better understand the potential mechanism of the antitrypanosomal and antiplasmodial activities of the two known compounds