Browsing by Author "Ladzekpo, D."
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Item Distribution and Abundance of Tick Species and Their Preferred Attachment Sites on Cattle in Ghana(University of Ghana, 2018-07) Ladzekpo, D.Ticks are important vectors and reservoirs for many zoonotic pathogens worldwide. Some African countries including Ghana have reported tick-borne infections like Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, however, there is scarce data on the tick vector in Ghana. This study was aimed at determining the distribution, abundance of tick species and preferred sites of attachments in six selected study sites. Ticks were collected from cattle in two ecological zones in Ghana (Guinea Savannah and Coastal Grasslands). The tick samples were grouped by species and sites of attachment and morphologically identified. The data obtained was collated and analyzed. A total of 1,625 sampled ticks were collected and morphologically identified. The combined results showed that Amblyomma (73.66%), Rhipicephalus (15.51%) and Hyalomma (10.83%) genera were predominant in the study sites. A total of 883 ticks were collected in the Guinea savannah sites and the species distribution was Amblyomma (84.7%) and Hyalomma (15.3%). A total of 742 ticks were collected in the Coastal Savannah sites and the species distribution was Amblyomma (60.5%), Rhipicephalus (34.0%) and Hyalomma (5.5%). The Amblyomma variegatum (73.66%) species was the most common in both ecological zones while the Rhipicephalus genus was absent in the three Guinea savannah sites. A total of 1416 ticks were assessed for the preferential sites of attachment. The results showed that overall, the most preferred site of attachment was the udder/scrotum area where 49.72% of ticks were collected from. This preference of attachment was consistent for all the tick species found except for the Hyaloma rufipes where 70% were found in the anal region. All the tick species found in the sites are all implicated vectors of immense public health importance. The knowledge of the distribution, abundance and prefered sites of attachment is useful in the application of effective tick control measures. The study highlights the need for continuous tick surveillance for the formulation of future strategies.Item A possible circulation of a dominant Dibothriocephalus nihonkaiensis haplotype in Japan revealed by molecular analysis of clinical tapeworm samples(Parasitology International, 2023) Ladzekpo, D.; Kwofie, K.D.; Dadzie, S.K.; et al.Human diphyllobothriasis, caused by Dibothriocephalus nihonkaiensis, is prevalent globally, especially in regions where raw fish is consumed. Recent molecular diagnostic techniques have made species identification of tapeworm parasites and the determination of genetic variations among parasite populations possible. However, only a few studies done over a decade ago, have reported on the genetic variation among D. nihonkaiensis in Japan. The present study employed PCR-based mitochondrial DNA analysis to specifically detect D. nihonkaiensis from archived clinical samples, and to determine any genetic variation that may exist among the Japanese broad tapeworms from patients of Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Target genes were amplified from DNA extracted from the ethanol- or formaldehyde-fixed samples by PCR. Further sequencing and comparative phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial COI and ND1 sequences were also performed. In our results, all PCR-amplified and sequenced samples were identified as D. nihonkaiensis. Analysis of COI sequences revealed two haplotype lineages. However, clustering of almost all COI (and ND1) sample sequences into one of the two haplotype clades, together with reference sequences from different countries worldwide, revealed a common haplotype among D. nihonkaiensis samples in our study. Our results suggest a possible presence of a dominant D. nihonkaiensis haplotype, with a global distribution circulating in Japan. Results from this study have the potential to improve the management of clinical cases and establish robust control measures to reduce the burden of human diphyllobothriasis in Japan.Item A possible circulation of a dominant Dibothriocephalus nihonkaiensis haplotype in Japan revealed by molecular analysis of clinical tapeworm samples(Elsevier, 2023) Dadzie, S.K.; Ladzekpo, D.; Kwofie, K.D.; et al.A B S T R A C T Human diphyllobothriasis, caused by Dibothriocephalus nihonkaiensis, is prevalent globally, especially in regions where raw fish is consumed. Recent molecular diagnostic techniques have made species identification of tape- worm parasites and the determination of genetic variations among parasite populations possible. However, only a few studies done over a decade ago, have reported on the genetic variation among D. nihonkaiensis in Japan. The present study employed PCR-based mitochondrial DNA analysis to specifically detect D. nihonkaiensis from archived clinical samples, and to determine any genetic variation that may exist among the Japanese broad tapeworms from patients of Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Target genes were amplified from DNA extracted from the ethanol- or formaldehyde-fixed samples by PCR. Further sequencing and comparative phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial COI and ND1 sequences were also performed. In our results, all PCR-amplified and sequenced samples were identified as D. nihonkaiensis. Analysis of COI sequences revealed two haplotype line- ages. However, clustering of almost all COI (and ND1) sample sequences into one of the two haplotype clades, together with reference sequences from different countries worldwide, revealed a common haplotype among D. nihonkaiensis samples in our study. Our results suggest a possible presence of a dominant D. nihonkaiensis haplotype, with a global distribution circulating in Japan. Results from this study have the potential to improve the management of clinical cases and establish robust control measures to reduce the burden of human diphyllobothriasis in Japan.Item Ticks and prevalence of tick‑borne pathogens from domestic animals in Ghana(Parasites & Vectors, 2022) Nimo‑Paintsil, S.C.; Mosore, M.; Addo, S.O.; Lura, T.; Tagoe, J.; Ladzekpo, D.; Addae, C.; Bentil, R.E.; Behene, E.; Dafeamekpor, C.; Asoala, V.; Fox, A.; Watters, C.M.; Koehler, J.W.; Schoepp, R.J.; Arimoto, H.; Dadzie, S.; Letizia, A.; Diclaro, J.W.Background: Ticks are important vectors of various pathogenic protozoa, bacteria and viruses that cause serious and life-threatening illnesses in humans and animals worldwide. Estimating tick-borne pathogen prevalence in tick populations is necessary to delineate how geographical differences, environmental variability and host factors influence pathogen prevalence and transmission. This study identified ticks and tick-borne pathogens in samples collected from June 2016 to December 2017 at seven sites within the Coastal, Sudan and Guinea savanna ecological zones of Ghana. Methods: A total of 2016 ticks were collected from domestic animals including cattle, goats and dogs. Ticks were morphologically identified and analyzed for pathogens such as Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), Alkhurma haemorrhagic fever virus (AHFV), Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella burnetii using polymerase chain reaction assays (PCR) and sequence analysis. Results: Seven species were identifed, with Amblyomma variegatum (60%) most frequently found, followed by Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (21%), Rhipicephalus spp. (9%), Hyalomma truncatum (6%), Hyalomma rufpes (3%), Rhipicephalus evertsi (1%) and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) sp. (0.1%). Out of 912 pools of ticks tested, Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella burnetii DNA was found in 45.6% and 16.7% of pools, respectively, whereas no CCHFV or AHFV RNA were detected. Co-infection of bacterial DNA was identified in 9.6% of tick pools, with no statistical difference among the ecozones studied. Conclusions: Based on these data, humans and animals in these ecological zones are likely at the highest risk of exposure to rickettsiosis, since ticks infected with Rickettsia spp. displayed the highest rates of infection and co-infection with C. burnetii, compared to other tick-borne pathogens in Ghana.