Insecticide resistance status of Culex species in urban areas in Ghana and efficacy of long lasting nets against them

Background Current strategic plans for malaria control in Ghana include the attainment of 80% of the general population sleeping under insecticide treated materials (ITM) by 2015. This coverage may not be attained if there is non-compliance in the use of bed nets. Failure of ITM to protect users from nuisance mosquitoes, particularly Culex mosquitoes has been cited as one of the major threats to the sustained use of ITM. A nationwide survey was therefore carried out to determine insecticide resistance status of Culex species and efficacy of ITM against them. Methods and materials Mosquito larvae were sampled from various land use and ecological settings and at different seasons. These were reared to adults and used for the various tests. In adults, insecticide susceptibility tests to eight insecticides as well as cone and tunnel bioassays were performed. Biochemical and molecular analyses were also conducted to determine the resistance mechanisms in the study populations. Results Culex quinquefasciatus and C. decens were the Culex species that were identified in the study area. DDT and deltamethrin resistances were evident across the country. A strong relationship between resistance status and urban size was observed in the study population (Pearson χ2 =48.2; df = 1; P<0.0001). Not only kdr and ace1 mutations but also elevated levels of three detoxifying enzymes were found in the study populations. New ITMs evaluated had reduced efficacy against pyrethroid-resistant Culex mosquitoes. Conclusions Insecticide resistance status of Culex species in urban areas of Ghana was determined. Insecticide resistance levels were high in large urban areas. Urbanization and its associated problems as well as ecology and different land use were observed to have some impact on level of insecticide resistance in the Culex population. ITM with synergist and organophosphate insecticides were seen as a possible resistance management tool against pyrethroid-resistant Culex mosquitoes

Insecticide resistance status of Culex species in urban areas in Ghana and efficacy of long lasting nets against them

Background Current strategic plans for malaria control in Ghana include the attainment of 80% of the general population sleeping under insecticide treated materials (ITM) by 2015. This coverage may not be attained if there is non-compliance in the use of bed nets. Failure of ITM to protect users from nuisance mosquitoes, particularly Culex mosquitoes has been cited as one of the major threats to the sustained use of ITM. A nationwide survey was therefore carried out to determine insecticide resistance status of Culex species and efficacy of ITM against them. Methods and materials Mosquito larvae were sampled from various land use and ecological settings and at different seasons. These were reared to adults and used for the various tests. In adults, insecticide susceptibility tests to eight insecticides as well as cone and tunnel bioassays were performed. Biochemical and molecular analyses were also conducted to determine the resistance mechanisms in the study populations. Results Culex quinquefasciatus and C. decens were the Culex species that were identified in the study area. DDT and deltamethrin resistances were evident across the country. A strong relationship between resistance status and urban size was observed in the study population (Pearson χ2 =48.2; df = 1; P<0.0001). Not only kdr and ace1 mutations but also elevated levels of three detoxifying enzymes were found in the study populations. New ITMs evaluated had reduced efficacy against pyrethroid-resistant Culex mosquitoes. Conclusions Insecticide resistance status of Culex species in urban areas of Ghana was determined. Insecticide resistance levels were high in large urban areas. Urbanization and its associated problems as well as ecology and different land use were observed to have some impact on level of insecticide resistance in the Culex population. ITM with synergist and organophosphate insecticides were seen as a possible resistance management tool against pyrethroid-resistant Culex mosquitoes

Biodiversity status of urban remnant forests in Cape coast, Ghana

Cape Coast Metropolis, which is close to Kakum forest, has its native forests being reduced to fragments. Biodiversity in these forest reserves are exposed to the threat of being cleared over night as a result of urbanization. There are reported cases of some rare or potential medicinalplant species that have disappeared from the Cape Coast environ and is worth noting that basic knowledge of the organisms that make up most of the ecosystems in these remnant forests are woefully inadequate. In this study, inventory of vertebrates and invertebrates were undertaken infive remnant forests in Cape Coast. The study sites were surveyed for small terrestrial mammals, large mammals, avifauna, herpetofauna and invertebrates. From the inventory taken, 15604 species of invertebrates belonging to 51 families, 83 species of birds belonging to 30 familieswere sampled. Furthermore 14 species of mammals belonging to 8 families and 8 species of herpetofauna were also sampled. Although these species were of least concern under IUCN category, it is important to protect these native forests from total destruction. Benefits such as theprotection of numerous native pollinators and biological control agents can be derived when these reserves are protected. Furthermore, such reserves can be developed to become biological field stations for research or ecotourism parks which can generate employment and revenue forthe community. Conservation of biodiversity is in the interest of generations unborn; not only Ghanaians or Africans but the whole of tomorrow’s mankind

The potential role of the educational system in addressing the effect of inadequate knowledge of mosquitoes on use of insecticide-treated nets in Ghana

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Since 2001, there has been a tremendous increase in number of households protected by ITN and IRS in Ghana. However, there has not been evidence of a reduction in malaria cases as expected and reported deaths have rather increased since 2007. As a result, this study was undertaken to get a better understanding of perceptions of malaria, knowledge on mosquitoes and the value attached to ITNs among secondary and tertiary students in Cape Coast.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Structured questionnaires were administered randomly to gather data on demographic characteristics of students, knowledge of mosquitoes and ITNs and attitude towards the use of ITN in seven public high schools and four tertiary institutions in Cape Coast metropolis. In addition, curriculums of science courses common to all students from junior high school to the university were carefully examined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 492 students took part in this study and more than 90% of them had high knowledge of malaria transmission and ITN, but little knowledge of mosquito life history. Only 1% in secondary and 2.1% in tertiary institutions had seen or knew about all the development stages of mosquitoes. In high school and tertiary institutions, 24.2% and 10.8% of respondents, respectively, were able to mention other genera of mosquitoes, apart from <it>Anopheles</it>. Though 93.9% in senior high school and 86.7% in the tertiary institutions knew that ITNs are either used to protect oneself from mosquito bites or to prevent malaria, 32.7% of the respondents in secondary and 21.9% in tertiary institutions who owned ITN did not use them.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The study reveals that respondents did not have adequate knowledge on the biology and behaviour of mosquitoes. This appears to weaken their knowledge of the link between the use of ITN and malaria control; the effect of this is that a significant number owned ITNs but did not use them. The implication is that if people will really accept and use ITN or other mosquito control interventions, then just creating awareness of those interventions is not enough but people should also be educated on the life history of mosquitoes and on the mechanism of the control strategies. This can be effectively done through the formal education system.</p

Factors affecting birth weight in Cape Coast, Ghana

Background: This study aimed at determining the incidence of low birth weight among live births and maternal anaemia and to investigate the association between some maternal factors and birth weight.Methods: This was a retrospective cross sectional study that involved mothers who regularly attended antenatal clinics and had delivered singleton live births between January 2014 to December 2014 in the University of Cape Coast Hospital, Cape Coast, Ghana.Results: Out of the 405 newborns included in the study, 194 (47.90%) were females and 211 (52.10%) males with a mean birth weight of 3.25±0.52kg. There was a low birth weight prevalence of 7.7% and a maternal anaemia prevalence of 38.8%. The period of gestation (p=0.00001), maternal anaemia (p=0.0217) and maternal age (p=0.0030) were found to be significantly associated with birth weight. Sex of baby (p=0.6668), parity of mother (p=0.6959) and maternal sickling status (p=0.7915) were not significantly associated with birth weight.Conclusions: As far as low birth weight is concerned, frequency is not high among live babies born to mothers who regularly attended antenatal clinics. This agrees with studies that suggest that antenatal clinic attendance positively affects birth weight. Thus in order to reduce the high prevalence of low birth weight and maternal anaemia in developing countries all pregnant women must be encouraged to attend antenatal clinics regularly

Aqueous Neem Extract Versus Neem Powder on Culex quinquefasciatus: Implications for Control in Anthropogenic Habitats

Control programs using conventional insecticides to target anthropogenic mosquito habitats are very expensive because these habitats are widespread, particularly in cities of most African countries. Additionally, there are serious environmental concerns regarding large-scale application of most conventional insecticides. Clearly there is a need for alternative methods that are more effective, less expensive, and environmentally friendly. One such method would be the application of preparations made from parts of the neem tree, Azadirachta indica A. Jussieu (Sapindales: Meliaceae). In this study, aqueous crude extracts and crude powder were prepared from different parts of neem, and the efficacies of the preparations on juvenile stages of Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) were evaluated in the laboratory. When larvae were exposed to a concentration of 0.1 g/mL extract for 24 hours, percent mean mortality (± SE) was 72.7 plusmn; 1.8 for the bark, 68.7 ± 1.6 for fruits and 60 ± 1.6 for leaves. These means were not significantly different (χ2 = 4.12; df = 2; p = 0.127). At a concentration of 0.01 g/mL, > 95% of the larvae died within 24 hours of exposure to powdered neem leaf, but it took 120 hours to reach the same level of larval mortality in aqueous leaf extract. The crude extract slowly inhibited the growth and development of mosquitoes while the crude powder acted more as a barrier; the mosquitoes probably died from suffocation. However, both types of preparations can be made and used by local people to control mosquito breeding in anthropogenic habitats, especially in urbanized areas

A report on the Ghana country level inception workshop of the CGIAR Initiative on Aquatic Foods

Inception workshop of the Aquatic Foods initiative in Ghana held in September 2022. This workshop also aimed to convey multiple stakeholders and initiate cross-institutional collaboration for the uptake of aquatic food production in reservoirs

Investigating preferences for mosquito-control technologies in Mozambique with latent class analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It is common practice to seek the opinions of future end-users during the development of innovations. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate latent classes of users in Mozambique based on their preferences for mosquito-control technology attributes and covariates of these classes, as well as to explore which current technologies meet these preferences.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Surveys were administered in five rural villages in Mozambique. The data were analysed with latent class analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>This study showed that users' preferences for malaria technologies varied, and people could be categorized into four latent classes based on shared preferences. The largest class, constituting almost half of the respondents, would not avoid a mosquito-control technology because of its cost, heat, odour, potential to make other health issues worse, ease of keeping clean, or inadequate mosquito control. The other three groups are characterized by the attributes which would make them avoid a technology; these groups are labelled as the bites class, by-products class, and multiple-concerns class. Statistically significant covariates included literacy, self-efficacy, willingness to try new technologies, and perceived seriousness of malaria for the household.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>To become widely diffused, best practices suggest that end-users should be included in product development to ensure that preferred attributes or traits are considered. This study demonstrates that end-user preferences can be very different and that one malaria control technology will not satisfy everyone.</p