Laboratory Diagnosis Of Dual Hiv-1/Hiv-2 Infection In Ghanaian Patients

Objective: To determine the true prevalence of HIV dual infections in a previously characterised HIV seropositive patient group due to inconsistencies between different diagnostic methods. Design: A cross-sectional study of an HIV seropositive group with different diagnostic methods. Setting: Three hospitals in the Northern, Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions of Ghana. Subjects: One hundred and forty five HIV infected patients/individuals sampled from June to September 2002. Main outcome measures: Using serological and molecular methods, the seropositive status of HIV-infected patients, previously determined by a preliminary screening process, was confirmed and discrepancies noted. The data was used to propose a more accurate laboratory diagnosis of HIV dual infections involving HIV-1 and HIV-2. Results: HIV-1 infections were mostly accurately detected, but difficulties were encountered in diagnosing HIV-2 infections. To achieve a positive detection on confirmatory immunoblots, antibody concentration in some samples tested was enhanced by using larger volumes. In other cases, diagnosis of HIV infections by PCR, especially HIV-2, was possible only after increasing the DNA template or MgCl2 concentrations. Such samples would otherwise have been inaccurately scored for HIV infections. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, we propose that the accurate diagnosis of HIV dual infections, especially HIV-2 component, must use an algorithm that involves PCR. Our results however underscore conclusions of a previous study that most dually seroreactive samples are predominantly HIV-1 infections with crossreactivity to HIV-2 antigens. East African Medical Journal Vol. 85 (11) 2008: pp. 534-54

Trypanosoma brucei Infection in a herd of sedentary cattle in Danja Local Government Area, Katsina State, Northern Nigeria– A possible resurgence of Tsetse flies in the previous Tsetse-free area of Nigeria

In Nigeria, African animal trypanosomosis still constitutes a major obstacle to food security in spite of previous attempts towards chemotherapy and tsetse control (Onyiah, 1997; Abenga et al., 2004). The disease is most devastating in terms of poverty and lost of agricultural production (Hursey, 2000). These losses include; reductions in herd sizes as a result of deaths drop in calving rate, reduced market value of animals as a result of loss in body condition, drop in milk production and reduced work efficiency of draft animals (Swallow, 2000). The seasonal migration and grazing from the supposedly tsetse – free (with scarce feed and water resources during dry seasons) to the tsetse infested (but pasture rich and water abundant) areas in the Southern part of the country have tremendously contributed to the persistence infection of the nomadic cattle by trypanosomes; this has resulted in advocacy for pastoralists to settle down into productive cattle production compared to the nomadic behavior which does not enhance productivity.The approximately one fifth area of the country which tends to be effectively free of tsetse was due to good climatic conditions such as deforestation and bush burning that does not favour the survival of tsetse flies. However, with forestations, strict laws on bush burning and global warming, tsetse flies seems to be moving back into this hitherto declared tsetse - free zone. Several reports of the incidence of tsetse flies in this zone have been received by the Clinical And Ambulatory Services Unit of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and these reports were confirmed by a recent diagnosis of trypanosomosis caused by T. brucei in a herd of Sedentary cattle located within the Northern Guinea Savannah area

The use cloned DNA probes for the detection and identification of cocoa swollen shoot virus (CSSV) 1A and CSSV Nsaba

No Abstract. Journal of the Ghana Association Vol. 2 (3) 1999: pp.102-10

ERRATA:Selected Ghanaian Cassava and Sweet Potato Cultivars: Evaluation of Flour and Wort Quality

Studies were conducted on the suitability of flour samples of three cultivars of cassava (Afisiafi, Gblemoduade, and Tekbankye) and sweetpotato (Sauti, Farah, and TIB2) as brewing adjuncts. Significant varietal differences (

Malting and Brewing Properties of Selected Cereals Cultivated in Ghana

To promote the industrial use of local cereals in Ghana, studies were carried out on the suitability of malts from rice (WITA 1), sorghum (Kapala) and local late millet for the production of beer. The values obtained for mean diastatic power at the end of the malting period were rice (129.1oWK), millet (102.1oWK) and sorghum (84.0oWK). The saccharification time for each of the flour samples was less than 15 min using barley malt of diastatic power 340oWK. Significant differences (

KEYWORDS Pod integrity Sterilization Cocoa beans Ochratoxin A Contamination

ABSTRACT To investigate the effects of pod integrity, pod surface contamination and effective bean drying on the level of Ochratoxin A contamination in dried cocoa beans from Ghana, ripe cocoa pods were harvested at Akim Tafo (Eastern Region) and sorted into four groups: healthy pods, diseased pods, diseased and damaged pods and damaged/broken pods. Each group was subjected to three main recommended fermentation systems, i.e. traditional heap, tray and box. Some of the treatments were replicated in two other ecological zones in Ghana where cocoa is produced viz Assin-Worakese (Central Region) and Wantram (Western Region). Fermented beans were dried in the open sun for a minimum period of nine days during which samples were taken for quantitative analysis of the level of Ochratoxin A using commercially available kit from Helica Biosystem Inc. Ochratoxin A contamination appear to be associated with the integrity (intactness) of the pods from which they were obtained, duration and conditions of drying, farm to farm practices and season of primary processing. Beans obtained from diseased pods and damage/broken pods gave the highest Ochratoxin A levels. None of the levels detected was however in the range considered by the European Union as inimical to human health. Ghana Cocoa Board recommendation to farmers is that damaged and diseased pods should not be fermented with wholesome pods, and that beans should be dried to completion in maximum of seven days. The study shows that if these conditions are adhered to, contamination of Ghana's Cocoa beans by Ochratoxin A can be entirely prevented

The consequences of cocoa production on soil fertility in Ghana : A review

Cocoa cultivation over the past 20 years has been concentrated in the Western Region of Ghana where Most of the soils have been found to be unsuitable for the crop. During the 10-year period (1982-92), the estimated total amounts of major nutrients removed from the soil through the harvested beans alone were 76 000, 4 700 and 18 000 tonnes of NPK respectively. The non-use of fertilizer has led to decline in soil fertility with consequential decrease in production. The paper reviews and discusses the effects of cocoa production on soil fertility in Ghana and offers possible solution to the declined soil fertility. Ghana Jnl agric. Sci. Vol.30(2) 1997: 183-19