Browsing by Author "Ayim-Akonor, M."
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Item Blood metabolite concentrations and postpartum resumption of ovarian cyclicity in sanga cows(South African Journal of Animal Sciences, 2014) Damptey, J.K.; Obese, F.Y.; Aboagye, G.S.; Ayim-Akonor, M.; Ayizanga, R.A.An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of concentrations of certain blood nutrient-sensitive metabolites and the resumption of postpartum ovarian cyclicity in 16 Sanga cows (mean BCS 5). Blood samples were taken from cows from weeks 1 to 13 (90 days) postpartum, processed and the plasma progesterone concentration measured to determine the resumption of postpartum ovarian cyclicity. The cows were classified as having resumed ovarian cyclicity when a plasma progesterone concentration of ≥1.0 ng/mL was recorded for two consecutive weekly samples. Based on the resumption of ovarian activity, cows were classified as early cycling, late cycling or non-cycling. The plasma glucose, cholesterol, total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations recorded were similar in the early cycling, late cycling and non-cycling cows. The mean blood glucose, cholesterol, total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations were 3.60 mmol/L, 2.47 mmol/L, 83.1 g/L, 29.9 g/L and 52.9 g/L, respectively. Plasma urea concentrations in late (6.57 ± 0.17 mmol/L) and non-cycling (6.59 ± 0.17 mmol/L) cows were higher than in the early cycling (5.99 ± 0.17 mmol/L) cows in weeks 1 to 13 postpartum. In addition, the plasma creatinine concentration in the early cycling cows was higher than in late cycling cows (101.8 ± 1.82 versus 94.0 ± 1.99 mmol/L). Cows with higher plasma concentrations of urea and lower creatinine concentrations were at risk of delayed resumption of postpartum ovarian cyclicity. Results suggest poor nutritional status, especially energy deficiency, as a major underlying factor suppressing the postpartum resumption of ovarian cyclicity.Item Health risk assessment and levels of toxic metals in fishes (Oreochromis noliticus and Clarias anguillaris) from Ankobrah and Pra basins: Impact of illegal mining activities on food safety(Toxicology Reports, 2020-02-17) Akonor, P.T.; Kortei, N.K.; Heymann, M.E.; Essuman, E.K.; Kpodo, F.M.; Lokpo, S.Y.; Boadi, N.O.; Ayim-Akonor, M.; Tettey, C.Arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) are toxic heavy metals that naturally occur in the ecosystem. Their levels are on the rise due to anthropogenic activities posing threat to aquatic wildlife and humans. In Ghana, pollution of some water bodies has led to unsafe consumption of riverine fishes as well as a shortage of treated potable water principally because the cost of treating polluted water has become expensive across the country. This study aimed to assess the As, Hg, Pb and Cd concentrations in water and fishes from rivers Pra and Ankobrah where activities of artisanal gold mining were carried out resulting in gross pollution of the water bodies. An experimental study was performed to ascertain the levels of As, Hg, Pb and Cd in fish species of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis noliticus) and mudfish (Clarias anguillaris) and aquatic media (water) from the Pra and River Ankobrah basins using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) (Varian AA240FS). Both river water samples recorded ranges of 0- 0.0040, 0.0060- 0.0387, 0 - 0.0020, 0.006-0.0093 mg/l for Cadmium, Lead, Arsenic and Mercury respectively. For Cadmium and Arsenic, their levels were comparable (p > 0.05). However, detected values for Lead and Mercury were no comparable (p < 0.05). Toxic metals concentrations in the rivers decreased in the order of Hg > Pb > Cd > As. For the fish samples, values ranged 0-0.08, 0.04-0.42, 0-0.04, and 0.40- 0.60 mg/kg for Cadmium, Lead, Arsenic and Mercury respectively. Generally, appreciably high values were obtained for Mercury. Toxic metals concentrations in the rivers decreased in the order of Hg > Pb > Cd > As. Human health risk assessment from heavy metal exposure through fish consumption from the Rivers for both children and adults showed no significant non-carcinogenic adverse health risk to humans since all calculated values for Hazard Quotient (HQ) were<1. Nonetheless, Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) values calculated for children and adult exposure to Cadmium and Mercury were>1 which implied a likely cause of adverse effects during a person's lifetime.Item Modeling the solar drying kinetics of gamma irradiation-pretreated oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatu(Universiti Putra Malaysia, 2016) Kortei, N.K.; Odamtten, G.T.; Ayim-Akonor, M.; Akonor, P.T.Oyster mushroom slices (Pleurotus ostreatus) were exposed to γ-radiation as a pretreatment and solar dried to investigate the influence of irradiation on drying kinetics. Processing conditions included exposure of mushrooms to 0 kGy (control), 0.5 kGy, 1.0 kGy, 1.5 kGy and 2.0 kGy of γ-radiation at a dose rate of 1.7 kGy/h and drying at a mean temperature of 53.2±6.4°C. Experimental drying data were fitted to 5 thin layer drying models by non-linear regression. Irradiation was observed to enhance the drying rate of mushroom slices, with higher doses causing faster moisture removal. Drying characteristics of slices exposed to lower dosages were best described by Page's model (R2=0.9878, 0.9967, 0.9925 correspondingly for "control" (0.0 kGy), 0.5 and 1.0 kGy while the Diffusion model best fit the data for those exposed to higher doses of radiation (R2=0.9938, 0.9890 for 1.5 and 2.0 kGy respectively). Deffranged from 1.88 to 2.44 x 10-08 and increase from "control", 0.5 kGy, 1.0 kGy, 1.5 kGy to 2.0 kGy. Irradiation of mushrooms as a pretreatment for drying increases moisture diffusivity and drying rate with higher doses having the most effect. © All Rights Reserved.Item Potential health risk assessment of toxic metals contamination in clay eaten as pica (geophagia) among pregnant women of Ho in the Volta Region of Ghana(BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 2020-03-14) Akonor, P.T.; Kortei, N.K.; Koryo-Dabrah, A.; Manaphraim, N.Y.B.; Ayim-Akonor, M.; Boadi, N.O.; Essuman, E.K.; Tettey, C.Introduction: Geophagia although pleasurable and somewhat a necessity among pregnant women, also comes along with its own attendant problems such as exposure to potentially hazardous substances like bacteria, fungi, helminthes and ova, radioactive materials, and toxic elemental minerals in the soil depending on the geographical location. Methodology: This study evaluated the potential health risk involved during the exposure of pregnant women to toxic elemental minerals via the consumption of clay as pica (geophagia). Elemental mineral analysis was carried out using Buck Scientific 210VGP Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Buck Scientific, Inc. East Norwalk, USA). Risk assessment methods were also used to ascertain the various risks factors and the overall risk level. Results: Concentrations of the macro elements investigated were 1.38 ± 1.5, 2.40 ± 1.5, 7.74 ± 1.5, 4.01 ± 1.0, 13.24 ± 2.2 and 13.76 ± 2.1 mg/Kg for iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na) respectively. While that for the micro elements were 1.63 ± 0.03 μg/Kg, 4.72 ± 0.8, 0.53 ± 0.02 and 1.85 ± 0.3 mg/kg respectively for arsenic (As), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni). Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Hazard Quotient (HQ), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Total Target Hazard Quotient (TTHQ) values ranged 0.611–5.44 (mg/kg Bw/ day), 6.26 × 10− 4 – 106.5, 0.067–10.34 and 15 respectively. Conclusion: There is the likelihood of posing adverse health problems when clay samples obtained from Anfoega which is sited in the Volta region of Ghana is consumed due to the fact that the HQ’s of these elemental minerals were > 1 which points to high content of Manganese (Mn) and Nickel (Ni). It is also likely to cause adverse health problems in an individual’s life time since THQ for Arsenic, Lead and Nickel were above 1. Ultimately, the cumulative effect of these toxicants were exceedingly great (≤ 15) which implied a high level of unsafety associated with this clay. Per the results from this study, it is not safe for pregnant women to consume clay as pica since these toxic elements may cause detrimental effects on the foetus of the unborn child.Item Upgrading local cattle in tropical west Africa: Metabolic hormone concentrations during the post-partum period in Sanga and Friesian-Sanga crossbred cows(Livestock Science, 2015-01) Obese, F.Y.; Martin, G.B.; Blackberry, M.A.; Ayim-Akonor, M.; Gomda, Y.Cattle farmers in Ghana want larger animals with better milk yield and have therefore focused on improving the indigenous tropical Sanga breed by crossing with the temperate Friesian breed. However, in the Friesian-Sanga crossbred, a major limitation to reproductive performance is extended postpartum anoestrus, perhaps exacerbated by under-nutrition under field conditions. We therefore tested whether the breeds vary in the circulating concentrations of metabolic hormones that mediate the effects of nutrition on the reproductive axis during the postpartum period. Two herds comprising 16 Sanga, and 16 Friesian-Sanga cows, were grazed separately on natural pastures of similar nutritive value with no feed supplements. Every week during weeks 1 to 10 postpartum, the cows were weighed, body condition score (BCS) was assessed, and blood was sampled. Resumption of ovarian activity, detected from progesterone profiles, was used to classify cows as 'early-cycling' (≤45 days), 'late-cycling' (46-70 days) or 'non-cycling' (after 70 days). Resumption of ovarian cyclicity, body weight and body condition score did not differ between breeds, but daily milk yield was lower for Sanga (1.01±0.02. kg/day) than for Friesian-Sanga crossbreds (1.57±0.02. kg/day; P<0.001). Compared with Friesian-Sanga crossbreds, Sanga cows had greater plasma concentrations of IGF-I (18.7±0.7 versus 14.8±0.7. ng/mL; P<0.001) and leptin (1.12±0.01 versus 0.96±0.01. ng/mL; P<0.001), but the two breeds had similar concentrations of GH and insulin. After calving, the IGF-I/GH ratio recovered more rapidly in the Sanga than in the crossbred (. P=0.01). In both breeds, early-cycling cows had greater concentrations of IGF-I and leptin than late- or non-cycling cows. It was concluded that, during the postpartum period, the Sanga breed is better able to avoid the effects of negative energy balance, maintain metabolic homeostasis and prevent uncoupling of the GH-IGF axis, compared with the Friesian-Sanga crossbreed. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.