Fungi associated with sweet potato tuber rot at CSIR - PGRRI, Bunso, Eastern Region, Ghana

Rotten sweet potato root tuber samples were collected from a barn and experimental field of the CSIR - Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute (PGRRI), Bunso. Isolation and identification of the fungi associated with the samples were carried out at the Plant Pathology Laboratory of the same institute. In all, six fungal species belonging to four genera, namely Fusarium solani, Sclerotium rolfsii, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger were isolated from the samples from both the barn and the experimental field of CSIR - PGRRI. Fusarium solani and Aspergillus niger were frequently isolated from the sweet potato tuber samples from both the field and the barn. Pathogenicity tests carried out using the six fungal isolates on fresh and healthy sweet potato tubers showed that all the six fungi isolated were pathogenic in causing rot of sweet potato tubers with Lasiodiplodia theobromae being the most virulent

Effect of NPK (23-10-5) on Nodulation in Two Cowpea Varieties (Asontem and Asetenapa)

Effect of NPK fertilizer on nodulation at flowering / podding and at harvesting, was investigated in two early maturing cowpea varieties (Asontem and Asetenapa) in the major cropping seasons (March to August) of 2009 and 2013. In Trial 1 (2009), three levels of NPK fertilizer, comprising (i) no fertilizer, (ii) starter fertilizer only, using 23-10-05 at 125 kg/ha applied 9 days after sowing, and (iii) starter fertilizer plus a top-dress of 50 kg/ha sulphate of ammonia 21 days after sowing were tested in  . 2 x 3 factorial in a randomized complete block design with four replications. In Trial 2, a blanket dressing of 40 kg/ha triple super phosphate was combined with four rates of 23-10-05 NPK at 0, 30, 60 and 120 kg/ha, in a 2x4 factorial randomized complete block design with eight replications. In Trial 1, total nodule count per plant was higher than active nodules (p<0.05) at early flowering (12.66 & 2.24, respectively) and at harvest  (10.49 & 0.23, respectively) in both varieties. However, in Trial 2, total and active nodules were not significantly different at the same stage of development: 6.1 & 5.9, respectively, at podding and 2.3 & 1.9, respectively,  at harvest. In the two trials, variety and fertilizer significantly affected nodulation but the trends were not consistent. In Trial 1, neither fertilizer nor variety was significant in total or active nodule count at early flowering or at harvest (p>0.05). On the other hand, in Trial 2, Asontem bore significantly more nodules at podding (8.4 per plant) than Asetenapa (3.7 per plant), though fertilizer was not significant. By harvesting time, the total number of nodules per plant had reduced to a mean of 2.2. In this, Asontem had 2.5 at harvesting, while Asetenapa had 1.9 nodules per plant. Keywords: cowpea, nodulation, NPK, Asontem, Asetenapa Acknowledgement: The authors are grateful to Prof. F. K. Fianu for his mentorship and guidance in the statistical analysis and for proof-reading the write-up

Some blood indices in finisher broiler chickens fed cocoa pod husk (Theobroma cacao L.) fermented with Pleurotus ostreatus or treated with enzymes as ingredients in their diets

The dietary effects of pre-treated cocoa pod husk (CPH) on some blood indices of 21-day old COBB-500 finisher broiler chicks were evaluated in a 35-day experiment with a completely randomized design. The birds were allotted to seven treatments (diets) having 0-g kg-1, 100- g kg-1, 200-g kg-1 and 300-g kg-1 of either Pleurotus ostreatus fermented CPH (PF-CPH) or enzyme (Viscoyme®L+Pectinex®5XL) supplemented CPH (E-CPH). Each treatment was replicated three times with 12 chicks per replicate. The haemoglobin concentration (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), activities of the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum levels of cholesterol (CH), uric acid, total protein, albumin and globulin were determined. Across dietary treatments Hb, PCV, CH, uric acid and AST activity level in blood of birds varied significantly (P < 0.05). However, there was insignificant influence (P > 0.05) of pre-treated CPH on all the other evaluated parameters among treatment groups. All blood indices measured were within acceptable or reference ranges. The study has revealed that incorporating either E-CPH or PF-CPH up to 30 per cent of broiler finisher diet had no adverse effect on the blood values of the broiler chickens. However, up to 20 per cent PF-CPH and 10 per cent E-CPH incorporation rates for broiler finisher diets, based on best results observed for growth and feed conversion, is recommende

“We now have a patient and not a criminal” : An exploratory study of judges and lawyers’ views on suicide attempters and the law in Ghana

This study explored the views of judges and lawyers of the superior courts of Ghana on the law criminalizing attempted suicide. Qualitative data were collected from 12 experienced legal practitioners of the superior courts (five judges and seven lawyers) using a semi-structured interview schedule. Thematic analysis of the data yielded three main perspectives: In defence of the Law, Advocating a Repeal, and Pro-Health Orientation. Although exploratory, the findings of this study offer cues for stepping up suicide literacy and advocacy programmes toward either a repeal of the law or a reform

Police views of suicidal persons and the law criminalizing attempted suicide in Ghana: A qualitative study with policy implications

The penal code of Ghana condemns suicide attempt. The present study sought to explore the views of the police on persons who attempt suicide and the law criminalizing the act. Qualitative in-depth interviews were used to explore the views of 18 officers of the Ghana Police Service. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis technique. Findings showed that the police officers profiled suicide attempters as needy, enigmatic, ignorant, and blameworthy. Majority (n = 14) of them disagreed with the law and suggested a repeal, whereas only four of them agreed with the law. Regardless of their positions on criminalization, they showed an inclination to help, rather than arrest, when confronted with such persons in line of their duty. Educating the police on suicidal behavior may help to deepen their understanding and help improve the way they handle suicidal persons. This may also strengthen police suicide prevention gatekeeping obligations

Adolescent self-harm in Ghana: a qualitative interview-based study of first-hand accounts

Background: Recent prevalence studies suggest that self-harm among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa is as common as it is in high income countries. However, very few qualitative studies exploring first-person accounts of adolescent self-harm are available from sub-Saharan Africa. We sought to explore the experiences and first-person perspectives of Ghanaian adolescents reporting self-harm - for deeper reflections on the interpretive repertoires available in their cultural context for making sense of self-harm in adolescents. Methods: Guided by a semi-structured interview protocol, we interviewed one-to-one 36 adolescents (24 in-school adolescents and 12 street-connected adolescents) on their experiences of self-harm. We applied experiential thematic analysis to the data. Results: Adolescents’ description of the background to their self-harm identified powerlessness in the family context and unwanted adultification in the family as key factors leading up to self-harm among both in-school and street-connected adolescents. Adolescents’ explanatory accounts identified the contradictory role of adultification as a protective factor against self-harm among street-connected adolescents. Self-harm among in-school adolescents was identified as a means of “enactment of tabooed emotions and contestations”, as a “selfish act and social injury”, as “religious transgression”, while it was also seen as improving social relations. Conclusions: The first-person accounts of adolescents in this study implicate familial relational problems and interpersonal difficulties as proximally leading to self-harm in adolescents. Self-harm in adolescents is interpreted as an understandable response, and as a strong communicative signal in response to powerlessness and family relationship difficulties. These findings need to be taken into consideration in the planning of services in Ghana and are likely to be generalisable to many other countries in sub-Saharan Africa

Adolescents at risk of self-harm in Ghana: a qualitative interview study exploring the views and experiences of key adult informants

Background In Ghana, rates of self-harm in young people are as high as they are in high income countries. Self-reported interpersonal, familial and societal stressors form the most important background, and self-harm is seen by young people as a way of responding to that stress. In the present study, we obtained the views of key adult informants about self-harm among adolescents in Ghana – what they thought as possible reasons for self-harm in young people and what actions might be needed at an individual or population level to respond to the problem. Methods We interviewed face-to-face 11 adults, using a semi-structured interview guide. We used an experiential thematic analysis technique to analyse the transcribed interviews. Results The analysis identified five themes: “underestimating the prevalence of self-harm in adolescents”, “life on the streets makes self-harm less likely”, “self-harm in adolescents is socially and psychologically understandable”, “ambivalence about responding to adolescent self-harm”, and “few immediate opportunities for self-harm prevention in Ghana”. Adolescent self-harm was acknowledged but its scale was underestimated. The participants offered explanations for adolescent self-harm in social and psychological terms that are recognisable from accounts in high income countries. Low rates among street-connected young people were explained by their overarching orientation for survival. Participants agreed that identification was important, but they expressed a sense of inadequacy in identifying and supporting adolescents at risk of self-harm. Again, the participants agreed that self-harm in adolescents should be prevented, but they recognised that relevant policies were not in place or if there were policies they were not implemented – mental health and self-harm were not high on public or political priorities. Conclusions The adults we interviewed about young people who self-harm see themselves as having a role in identifying adolescents at risk of self-harm and see the organisations in which they work as having a role in responding to individual young people in need. These are encouraging findings that point to at least one strand of a policy in Ghana for addressing the problem of self-harm in young people

Antibody levels to multiple malaria vaccine candidate antigens in relation to clinical malaria episodes in children in the Kasena-Nankana district of Northern Ghana

BACKGROUND: Considering the natural history of malaria of continued susceptibility to infection and episodes of illness that decline in frequency and severity over time, studies which attempt to relate immune response to protection must be longitudinal and have clearly specified definitions of immune status. Putative vaccines are expected to protect against infection, mild or severe disease or reduce transmission, but so far it has not been easy to clearly establish what constitutes protective immunity or how this develops naturally, especially among the affected target groups. The present study was done in under six year old children to identify malaria antigens which induce antibodies that correlate with protection from Plasmodium falciparum malaria. METHODS: In this longitudinal study, the multiplex assay was used to measure IgG antibody levels to 10 malaria antigens (GLURP R0, GLURP R2, MSP3 FVO, AMA1 FVO, AMA1 LR32, AMA1 3D7, MSP1 3D7, MSP1 FVO, LSA-1and EBA175RII) in 325 children aged 1 to 6 years in the Kassena Nankana district of northern Ghana. The antigen specific antibody levels were then related to the risk of clinical malaria over the ensuing year using a negative binomial regression model. RESULTS: IgG levels generally increased with age. The risk of clinical malaria decreased with increasing antibody levels. Except for FMPOII-LSA, (p = 0.05), higher IgG levels were associated with reduced risk of clinical malaria (defined as axillary temperature ≥37.5°C and parasitaemia of ≥5000 parasites/ul blood) in a univariate analysis, upon correcting for the confounding effect of age. However, in a combined multiple regression analysis, only IgG levels to MSP1-3D7 (Incidence rate ratio = 0.84, [95% C.I.= 0.73, 0.97, P = 0.02]) and AMA1 3D7 (IRR = 0.84 [95% C.I.= 0.74, 0.96, P = 0.01]) were associated with a reduced risk of clinical malaria over one year of morbidity surveillance. CONCLUSION: The data from this study support the view that a multivalent vaccine involving different antigens is most likely to be more effective than a monovalent one. Functional assays, like the parasite growth inhibition assay will be necessary to confirm if these associations reflect functional roles of antibodies to MSP1-3D7 and AMA1-3D7 in this population