Biology subjects

Dadzie, S. K.

Publications and source records attributed to Dadzie, S. K..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Entomological investigations into yellow fever outbreak in northern Ghana

BackgroundRecently, arboviruses have been of concern as pathogens for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. In Ghana, yellow fever outbreak occurred in Savannah Region in the year 2021. A team from different institutions, organisations, and stakeholders of health with varying vital expertise was assembled to respond to this national emergency to assess, contain and/or control the rapid spread of the disease. This paper presents findings from the entomological investigations conducted during the yellow fever outbreak. MethodsImmature stages of Aedes mosquitoes were collected from breeding containers in and around houses, and adult mosquitoes sampled using BG-Sentinel traps, human landing catches and Prokopack collections. After morphological identification of these mosquitoes, they were screened for Chikungunya, Dengue Fever, Yellow Fever, and Zika viruses using real time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. ResultsIn all, 12,264 breeding containers were examined. A total of 3,885 larvae and 1,186 pupae were obtained from 173 containers. Out of 1,001 houses surveyed, 130 were positive for larvae and/or pupae. The breeding receptacles included plastic (6,529), metallic (6,024), clay jar (753), tire (565), and well (34). The WHO thresholds for arboviruses larval indices were used to assess risk. A total of 1571 adults identified [Aedes aegypti aegypti (35), Aedes aegypti formosus (619), and Culex (917)] were collected with adult mosquito sampling methods or emerged from immature mosquitoes stages. None of the arboviruses were detected using qPCR. ConclusionVectors had no yellow fever infections. There was a high risk of arbovirus transmission in the study areas although mosquito vectors were not positive for arboviruses. Aedes aegypti formosus was the dominant Aedes species. They might be drivers for yellow fever transmission during outbreak. Generally, arboviral transmission was high in all study districts. Although yellow fever virus was not detected, Aedes aegypti populations and transmission risk in study districts was high. Author summaryIn 2021, Savannah Region of Ghana experienced yellow fever outbreak. This spread quickly to adjoining regions. The disease is transmitted by some female mosquitoes infected with yellow fever virus. These same mosquitoes can transmit other viral infections resulting in disease outcomes such as chikungunya, dengue, and zika. A team of experts from stakeholders of health were mobilised to control and/or contain the spread of the disease to other parts of Ghana. The team carried out several activities and assessments to stop the spread of yellow fever. Notably is the investigation to determine different types of mosquitoes involved in transmitting the disease. We collected some mosquitoes and processed them for vital information that could prevent future outbreaks of the aforementioned diseases. There is no surveillance system in Ghana to pick up early warnings regarding potential viral disease outbreaks. Therefore, there is scanty information on these type of mosquitoes and viruses found in different places. We used standard procedures to assess the risk of these mosquitoes in causing future disease outbreaks. Our findings suggested a high risk of future outbreaks for any of the viral diseases tested. We therefore recommended the implementation of a mosquito surveillance system to prevent future outbreaks.

zoology↗

bioRxiv2022

Transmission risk assessment of Aedes-borne arboviral diseases in Accra, Ghana

BackgroundDengue, Zika and Chikungunya are Aedes-borne viral diseases that have risen to become great global health concerns in the past years. Several countries in Africa have reported outbreaks of these diseases and despite Ghana sharing borders with some of such countries, it remains free of these outbreaks. Recent studies in Ghana have revealed that there are antibodies and viral RNA of the Dengue virus serotype-2 among individuals in some localities in the Greater Accra Region. This is an indication of a possible silent transmission ongoing in the population, hence the need to assess the risk of transmission of these viruses within the country. This cross-sectional study, therefore, assessed the risk of transmission of Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya viruses in a domestic/peri-domestic (Madina) and a forest (Achimota Forest) population in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana. Methodology/FindingsAll stages of the Aedes mosquito (egg, larvae, pupae and adults) were collected around homes and in the forest area for estimation of risk indices. All eggs and immature stages were reared to adults and morphologically identified. The predominant species of Aedes mosquitoes identified from both sites were Aedes aegypti (98 % in Madina and 98.1% in Achimota forest). Aedes albopictus, an important arbovirus vector, was identified only in Madina at a prevalence of 1.5% but Achimota forest had the higher species diversity. Both study sites recorded high risk indices; Madina: Positive Ovitrap Index = 26.6%, Container Index = 36.8%, House Index = 19.8%, Breteau Index = 70.4%; Achimota: Positive Ovitrap Index = 34.2% and Container Index = 67.9%. RT-PCR to detect the presence of Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika viruses was negative for all pools tested. ConclusionAll entomological risk indicators estimated showed that both sites had a high potential of an outbreak of arboviral diseases following the introduction of these viruses. Author SummaryThe detection of antibodies and viral RNA of the dengue virus serotype 2 in some communities in the urban city of Accra, suggested the possibility of silent transmission of arboviral disease within the city. We assessed the risk of arboviral disease transmission using entomological risk indices. The study was a cross-sectional study conducted in a forest and peri domestic setting located in the southern urban city of Accra. The different stages of the Aedes mosquito were collected and, houses and containers positive for Aedes mosquitoes were also noted. The Breteau (BI), House (HI), Container (CI) and Positive ovitrap (POI) indices were determined. Real Time-PCR was conducted to determine the presence of Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya viruses in the larvae and adults collected. Aedes aegypti was the most common species identified from both sites. Aedes albopictus another competent arbovirus vector was identified in the peri-domestic site. Almost all risk indices recorded for both sites were higher than the WHO thresholds allowed for these indices. However, real time-PCR to detect the presence of Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika viruses was negative. The high entomological risk indicators estimated showed that both sites had a great potential of an outbreak following the introduction of these viruses, and a well-structured surveillance for these vectors is highly recommended. The detection of the presence of Ae. albopictus, an invasive species is also of great concern.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2018

Rapid high throughput SYBR green assay for identifying the malaria vectors Anopheles arabiensis, Anopheles coluzzii and Anopheles gambiae s.s. Giles

The Anopheles gambiae sensu lato species complex consists of a number of cryptic species with different habitats and behaviours. These morphologically indistinct species are identified by chromosome banding and molecular diagnostic techniques which are still under improvement even though the current SINE method for identification between An. coluzzii and An. gambiae works reliably. This study describes a refinement of the SINE method to increase sensitivity and high throughput method for the identification of both species and An. arabiensis using amplicon dissociation characteristics.\n\nField collected samples, laboratory reared colonies and crossed specimens of the two species were used for the design of the protocol. An. gambiae, An. coluzzii, and hybrids of the two species were provided by the insectary of Vestergaard-NMIMR Vector Labs at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (Ghana) and An. arabiensis from Kenya. Samples were first characterised using conventional SINE PCR method, and further assayed using SYBR green, an intercalating fluorescent dye.\n\nThe three species and hybrids were clearly differentiated using the melting temperature of the dissociation curves, with derivative peaks at 72 Celsius for An. arabiensis, 75{degrees}C for An. gambiae and 86{degrees}C for An. coluzzii. The hybrids (An. gambiae / An. coluzzii) showed both peaks. This work is the first to describe a SYBR green real time PCR method for the characterization of An. arabiensis, An. gambiae and An. coluzzii and was purposely designed for basic melt-curve analysis (rather than high-resolution melt-curve) to allow it to be used on a wide range of real-time PCR machines.

molecular biology↗