Browsing by Author "Brandful, J.A."
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Item Epidemic acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis due to coxsackie virus A24 variant in Ghana.(East African Medical Journal, 1990) Brandful, J.A.; Yoshii, T.; Addy, E.T.; Adiku, T.K.; Osei-Kwasi, M.; Mingle, J.A.An outbreak of acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) occurred in Accra, Ghana, reaching a peak in July 1987. Individuals ranging from infants to adults over 50 years were infected, with those between 20 and 30 years being the most affected group. There was a female preponderance. Clinical features included conjunctivitis, subconjunctival haemorrhage and ocular pain. Some patients reported of blurred vision due to mild keratitis. Isolation of virus from clinical specimens of AHC patients was successful only in cells of human origin such as HeLa and FL. Coxsackie virus A24 variant (CA 24v) was identified as the aetiologic agent. This is the first report to associate CA 24v with an epidemic of AHC in Africa, south of the Sahara, which is outside the endemic area of Southeast Asia and the Caribbeans. This finding suggests that earlier outbreaks of AHC in Ghana and Africa may have been due to CA 24v but went undetected. The results of various tests performed during this study suggest that, at least, two antigenically different viruses of CA 24v circulated during the course of this epidemic.Item HIV-1 drug-resistance surveillance among treatment-experienced and -naïve patients after the implementation of antiretroviral therapy in Ghana.(Public Library of Science, 2013) Nii-Trebi, N.I.; Ibe, S.; Barnor, J.S.; Ishikawa, K.; Brandful, J.A.; Ofori, S.B.; Yamaoka, S.; Ampofo, W.K.; Sugiura, W.Limited HIV-1 drug-resistance surveillance has been carried out in Ghana since the implementation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). This study sought to provide data on the profile of HIV-1 drug resistance in ART-experienced and newly diagnosed individuals in Ghana. Samples were collected from 101 HIV-1-infected patients (32 ART-experienced cases with virological failure and 69 newly diagnosed ART-naïve cases, including 11 children), in Koforidua, Eastern region of Ghana, from February 2009 to January 2010. The pol gene sequences were analyzed by in-house HIV-1 drug-resistance testing. The most prevalent HIV-1 subtype was CRF02_AG (66.3%, 67/101) followed by unique recombinant forms (25.7%, 26/101). Among 31 ART-experienced adults, 22 (71.0%) possessed at least one drug-resistance mutation, and 14 (45.2%) had two-class-resistance to nucleoside and non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors used in their first ART regimen. Importantly, the number of accumulated mutations clearly correlated with the duration of ART. The most prevalent mutation was lamivudine-resistance M184V (n = 12, 38.7%) followed by efavirenz/nevirapine-resistance K103N (n = 9, 29.0%), and zidovudine/stavudine-resistance T215Y/F (n = 6, 19.4%). Within the viral protease, the major nelfinavir-resistance mutation L90M was found in one case. No transmitted HIV-1 drug-resistance mutation was found in 59 ART-naïve adults, but K103N and G190S mutations were observed in one ART-naïve child. Despite expanding accessibility to ART in Eastern Ghana, the prevalence of transmitted HIV-1 drug resistance presently appears to be low. As ART provision with limited options is scaled up nationwide in Ghana, careful monitoring of transmitted HIV-1 drug resistance is necessary.Item Laboratory diagnosis of dual HIV-1/HIV-2 infection in Ghanaian patients(East African Medical Journal 85(11): 534-543, 2008) Bonney, E.Y.; Sackey, S.T.; Brandful, J.A.To determine the true prevalence of HIV dual infections in a previously characterised HIV seropositive patient group due to inconsistencies between different diagnostic methods. 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. 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. Result: 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.Item Phenotypic characterization of HIV type 1 isolates from Ghana(AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 23(1): 144-152, 2007) Brandful, J.A.; Coetzer, M.E.; Cilliers, T.; Phoswa, M.; Papathanasopoulos, M.A.; Morris, L.; Moore, P.L.Viral isolates from 27 HIV-1-infected patients in Ghana, most of whom were symptomatic, were characterized for coreceptor usage using MT-2 and U87.CD4 cells. Irrespective of clinical status, most infections were caused by CCR5-tropic viruses although three CXCR4-tropic viruses were also found. Genotyping was performed by sequencing the gp41 region. Seven viruses clustered with subtype G reference strains, while the remaining 20 viruses clustered within the subtype A reference viruses. Most subtype A isolates clustered loosely with the CRF02_AG viruses and are described as CRF02_AG-like. The V3 loop was sequenced in selected isolates including all isolates capable of using CXCR4. The V3 region of CXCR4-using viruses contained genetic traits characteristic of CXCR4-using subtype B and C viruses, such as increased charge, the presence of positively charged residues at positions 11 and 25, and loss of a predicted glycosylation site. This study supports previous work showing that CRF02_AG is responsible for most HIV-1 infections in Ghana at this time. The predominance of CCR5-using viruses, even in symptomatic patients, suggests that CCR5-blocking strategies may be useful for prevention and treatment of HIV-1 infections in Ghana.Item A report on Human Immuno- deficiency virus (HIV) Infection in Ghana up to December 1986(Ghana Medical Journal, 1987-09) Neequaye, A.R.; Mingle, J.A.A.; Neequaye, J.E.; Agadzi, V.K.; Nettey, V.; Osei-Kwasi, M.; Hayami, M.; Ishikawa, K,; Ankra-Badu, G.; Bentsi, C.; Asamoah-Adu, A.; Aggrey, S.E.; Ampofo, W.; Brandful, J.A.; Grant, F.; Biggar, R.J.One hundred and fifteen people detected to be seropositive for HIV infection in Ghana in 1986 are described. Ninety per cent were female, most were of the sexually active age group. Ninety-six per cent had recently resided abroad, particularly in Cote d'lvoire. and many had worked abroad as prostitutes. They had most probably acquired infection there. Seventy-six per cent were ill with AIDS or AIDS related complex. Random sampling of groups of the general population revealed no seropositives, although 4 prostitutes working in Accra/ Tema were infected. Of attendants at an Accra venereal disease clinic 3 were infected all of whom had been to Cote d’Ivoire recently. Our results show that the AIDS virus has now spread into Ghana and urgent measures are described to try to prevent the spread of AIDS throughout the community.