School of Biological Sciences

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    Consumption Patterns Of Energy Drinks At Lorry Stations In Accra And Concentration Of Their Main Constituents
    (University Of Ghana, 2022-08) Oscar, N.Y.C.
    Energy drinks are beverages that are rich in caffeine and sugars and contain other constituents. Energy drink consumption has become popular in Ghana in the last five years, and are mostly retailed at lorry stations in Accra. In spite of this, there is little information on the consumption patterns or reasons for consumption among consumers. There is also poor data on the concentrations of the main constituents (sugar and caffeine) of energy drinks in Ghana. Therefore, the objective of the study was to determine the consumption patterns of energy drinks at lorry stations in Accra, and the concentrations of the main constituents of energy drink. This was a combined cross sectional survey done at three lorry stations in Accra and laboratory analysis of main constituents (sugar and caffeine) of energy drink samples. The energy drinks that were analyzed were; Local (Rush, Storm, Run, BigBoss and 5Star energy drink) and imported (Red Bull, Xploza, Bullet, Lucozade). A total of 360 participants were surveyed in the study. Most of the participants (78.3 %) were consumers of energy drink and males were dominant. The dominant age for the consumers was (21-30 years, 39.4 %), with JHS (33 %) and SHS (30.5 %) being the dominant level of education. Commercial drivers (25.5 %) and traders (25.2 %) were the top occupations amongst the consumers. Most of the consumers drank 1-2 bottles of energy drinks in a week (29.7%), and the energy drinks were mostly drunk in the afternoons (55.3 %). The foreign energy drinks had higher caffeine concentrations than the local ones. The caffeine concentrations of imported energy drinks were above 300mg/L except for Lucozade that was below 150 mg/L whereas the local energy drinks were below 300 mg/L except Rush, which was above 320 mg/L. The sugar concentrations of the energy drinks were within similar ranges; majority of them were above 100 g/L and less than 120 g/L. The sugar concentrations of the energy drinks were within similar ranges; majority of them were above 100 g/L and less than 120 g/L. The local energy drinks were mostly consumed by the participants in the study than the foreign ones due to their cheaper price, and also they were very accessible because they were sold by hawkers at lorry stations but the foreign ones were mostly sold at marts and big malls. Energy drink consumption is highly prevalent at lorry stations in Accra. In spite of the consumption rate being excessive, few experienced adverse health effects. Some of the adverse effects were insomnia, accelerated heartbeat and sexual weakness. Most consumers of energy drink perceived it to be helpful whiles most non-consumers perceived them to be harmful.
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    Nutritional Status And Anaemia Prevalence, Malaria And Helminths Infestations Levels Among Children Aged 6-23 Months In Peri-Urban Communities In Accra
    (University Of Ghana, 2022-01) Datohe, D.D.
    Background and objective: The first two years of life is very critical. Children especially those under two years are vulnerable to stunting, wasting, and anaemia. However, information on these growth indices in peri-urban areas are scanty. In this study, we examined the nutritional status, anaemia prevalence, malaria and helminthes infestation levels among children aged 6 to 23 months old living in peri-urban areas in the La-Nkwantanang-Madina Metropolitan Assembly (LaNMMA) area. Methodology: The study was cross-sectional. A one-time-point data was collected which involved 268 child/ mother (key caregiver) pairs from five peri-urban communities. A semistructured questionnaire was used to interview mothers with children aged 6 to 23 months old about socio-demographic characteristics, dietary intakes and breastfeeding patterns. The weight, recumbent length and mid-upper arm circumferences (MUAC) of the children were taken using procedures specified by the World Health Organization (WHO). Five millilitres of blood samples were collected to determine haemoglobin (Hb) levels and malaria infection. Stool samples were also collected to determine helminth infestations. The anthropometric indices were converted to z-scores with the help of WHO Anthro software. The data were summarized through descriptive statistics. Crude binary logistic regression was employed to check for associations and the logistic regression model was employed to control and determine factors that predicted anaemia, wasting, stunting and underweight in lined with the objectives of the study. Results: Anaemia prevalence among the study children was 85.1% with 2% being severely anaemic. However, stunting, wasting and underweight prevalence were relatively low; 9.0%, 8.2% and 10.1% respectively. About 1.5% of the study participants were infected with malaria and no helminthic infestation was detected. Colostrum, eating or drinking something else apart from breast milk during the first three days after delivery, start month on complementary feeding, food made from vitamin A-rich dark green leafy vegetables, food made from oil, fat, or butter, red palm oil, palm nut soup/ sauce and number of times a child received solids, semisolids, or soft foods during the day/ night significantly predicted anaemia (p<0.05). Mothers who were part time workers, sex of child, initiation of breastfeeding, breastfeeding duration and households salt used predicted wasting. Conclusion: Very high anaemia prevalence was found in this study. Efforts to prevent increased anaemia prevalence especially in rural and peri-urban settings and to improve the nutritional status of young children are warranted.
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    Microbiological Quality Assessment and Characterisation of Salmonella SPP. Associated with Chicken from Different Live Bird Processing Outlets in Accra, Ghana.
    (University Of Ghana, 2019-07) Otwey, R.Y.
    Live bird markets (LBM) are generally known as a storefront or open market slaughter operations that slaughter, dress, and trade dressed or live poultry on demand. Poultry meat is a major vehicle for foodborne pathogens (Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli O157:H7) responsible for more than half of the global burden of foodborne illnesses. The activities of theses live bird operators are scarcely monitored hence many of them do not conform to regulations, increasing the risk of microbial contamination. The aim of this study was to use molecular and culture-based methods to identify and quantify significant microbiological hazards and characterize Salmonella spp. associated with broiler carcasses and processing environment at live bird markets in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Samples (148) comprising of 60 broiler carcasses from LBM, supermarkets and cottage farms, and 33 bench-top swabs, 33 faecal samples and 22 rinse water samples from LBM were assessed for Aerobic Plate Count (APC), Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and prevalence of Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli O157:H7 using standard culture-based methods. Presumptive Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli O157:H7 were confirmed with Oxoid Microbact. Salmonella isolates were further confirmed using Salmonella ompC gene amplification by conventional PCR. Traditional serological test was used in the determination of the serotypes of the confirmed Salmonella isolates. Biofilm formation ability of Salmonella isolates were determined using 96-well-plate-crystal violet assay. Lethal and sub-lethal concentrations of biocides were determined against Salmonella using the tube dilution method. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of Salmonella against 14 antibiotics was determined using disc diffusion assay and EUCAST breakpoints. Prevalence data for categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages of occurrences whereas One-way ANOVA was employed to test the significant difference between the means of the dependent (retail outlets, serovars, environmental samples and biocide concentrations) and independent variables (log10CFU, log10CFU reduction, pH, and AMR breakpoints) The mean microbial load (aerobic plate count, S. aureus and Salmonellae) on chicken carcasses from the live bird markets were significantly higher (P=0.0000) than those from the supermarkets and cottage farms except for E. coli counts, which was significant higher (P=0.0000) in the chicken samples from the cottage farms as compared to those from the supermarket and the live bird market. A total of 61% Salmonella prevalence was recorded for the chicken carcasses. The prevalence of Salmonella was also relatively higher in live bird market samples although none of the retail outlets was compliant with GSA standards. Nine non-typhoidal (S. Typhimurium, S. Enteritidis, S. Newport, S. Senftenberg, S. Agona. S. Infantis, S. Mississippi, S. Westhampton and S. Adelaide) and one typhoidal (S. Paratyphi B) Salmonella serotypes were identified from the carcass, faecal matter, bench surfaces and rinse water samples. The Salmonella serotypes isolated exhibited moderate to strong biofilm forming ability hence frequent and effective cleaning is required to prevent the formation of these biofilms. Biocide concentrations of 5% NaCl, 0.5% KOH, 0.5% Acetic acid, 3% Citric Acid and 1% H2O2 were able to cause an average of 4 log10CFU/ml reduction. Most (93%) of the isolates were multidrug resistant; showing resistance against 3 to 9 antibiotics. Especially towards the antibiotics commonly administered to the birds for prophylactic purposes such as amoxicillin-clavulanic, oxacillin, erythromycin acid and tetracycline. Some of the Salmonella isolates recorded resistance against 3rd generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones prescribed for the treatment of invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) and typhoidal Salmonella (TS) infections in humans. There is therefore the need for regulators to ensure the implementation of good agricultural and hygienic practices coupled with food safety awareness training for both processors and consumers of the chicken.
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    Prevalence Of Escherichia Coli O157:H7, Listeria Monocytogenes And Staphylococcus Aureus In Ready-To-Eat Fresh Milk And Fresh Milk Products Inmilk Markets In Accra
    (University of Ghana, 2017-07) Baffoe, P.K.
    The fresh milk industry in Ghana is a source of livelihood for a significant proportion of smallscale farming households in the country. However, lack of consumer food safety assurance of fresh milk and fresh milk products have limited business growth of this sector. Reports on lack of cooling infrastructure, unhygienic handling, inadequate processing and post-process contamination contributes to microbial spoilage in dairy products leading to loss of large volumes of milk in developing countries. This study therefore sought to assess the microbiological quality and hygiene of raw milk from assemblers and fresh milk products from five informal milk markets. This was accomplished by subjecting randomly sampled fresh milk and fresh milk products (22 brukina, 18 boiled milk, 15 raw milk, 8 nunu, 24 yoghurt, 17 raw wagashi and 13 fried wagashi) to standard cultural methods of microbial assessments. Products were tested for concentration of index and hygiene indicators including total coliforms, fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli and Staphylococci. Confirmation of suspected pathogens was done with biochemical tests, API 20E and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time Of Flight (MADLI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) was done to confirm the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus in the ready-to-eat (RTE) dairy products tested. Mean counts were reported in Log cfu/g or Log cfu/ml using Microsoft Excel (2016). Significant differences between total coliforms, fecal coliforms, E. coli and Staphylococci counts was determined using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with a P value of <0.05 using IBM SPSS version 21. The study in general identified insufficient heat treatment used to pasteurize the dairy products, poor hygienic practices and possible post-process contamination as reasons for the poor University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh V microbiological quality of the samples tested. The quality of the raw milk had a direct effect on the quality of the final milk products. There was statistical similarity (P≤0.05) in the coliform content between raw milk (3.64± 2.56 Log cfu/ml) and boiled milk (3.61± 3.06 Log cfu/ml) which signified insufficient heat treatment used in processing the boiled milk. The study identified a general high prevalence of coliform contamination (67%), with raw wagashi having the highest coliform and Escherichia coli concentrations of 5.90± 3.79 Log cfu/g and 2.61± 2.65 Log cfu/g respectively. Fried wagashi emerged as the only product which was safe from coliform contamination. The staphylococci concentration of the products analyzed were within the acceptable (3.0 Log cfu/ml/g) limits. L. monocytogenes was not detected in any of the products analyzed using cultural methods. Results from qPCR indicated high prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in boiled milk (66%), nunu (37%) and brukina (14%). Boiled milk had a 42.8% S. aureus prevalence and 11.11% prevalence of L. monocytogenes. The results from the viability tests suggests shortfalls in the processing of the RTE fresh milk products in the local milk markets. The presence of significant pathogens in the product has implications on food security with respect to food safety. Overall microbiological analysis conducted suggests a poor quality of RTE fresh milk products sold in the informal markets in Accra. This indicates an urgent need for intervention measures with highlights on effective pasteurization of raw milk and training of the various stakeholders in the dairy value chain on hygienic handling to prevent post-process contamination.
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    Molecular Characterization Of Tick-Borne Parasites In Naturally Infected Cattle In Accra And Adidome, Ghana
    (University of Ghana, 2017-07) Adzigbe, J.
    Tick-borne pathogens and ticks pose significant problem to livestock production especially cattle production. This causes huge economic decline to livestock farmers in tropic and sub-tropic regions of Africa. The most economically important tick-borne pathogens to the production of bovine include Babesia, Anaplasma, Theileria and Ehrlichia. In Ghana, inadequate data exists on the species and genetic diversity of tick-borne hemoparasites. The current study was conducted to detect and characterize tick-borne pathogens and determine their genetic diversity in naturally infected cattle in two agro-ecological zones in Ghana. A total of forty cattle, twenty from each study site were sampled at four to five week interval over a duration of six months. A nested PCR amplifying the 18S rRNA gene was performed to detect the presence of tick-borne parasites. Host and environmental factors were assessed to determine whether they played a role on frequency of detection of these parasites. Species and genetic identity of the tick-borne parasites were established through sequencing of their 18S rRNA gene amplicons followed by sequence homology search at NCBI DNA data base and phylogenetic analysis of the sequenced amplicons. Theileria species and Babesia species were the two genera of tick-borne pathogens identified. T. velifera was the predominant species of tick-borne hemoparasite identified at both study locations. Also, T. mutans and B. bovis were identified at Accra and Adidome respectively. The tick-borne parasites exhibited diverged dynamics of infection throughout the period of the study. Breed of cattle significantly affected the frequency of detection of the tick-borne parasites. Environment and sex did not play a role in the frequency of detection of the parasites. There was no genetic diversity between the same species of parasites identified from the same agro-ecological zones.
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    Assessment Of Pregnant Women’s Awareness And Knowledge Of Mercury Toxicity In Smoked Fish On Pregnancy Outcomes In Greater Accra Region
    (University of Ghana, 2017-07) Tour, F.V.
    Background: Fish is recognised as a rich source of quality protein and other essential nutrients including omega-3 fatty acids needed for good health. However, it may be contaminated with mercury above tolerable limits which may pose health risks to consumers especially pregnant women and the developing foetus. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge level of pregnant women on mercury toxicity in fish on pregnancy outcomes and determine the concentration of mercury and proximate composition of smoked fish. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 384 pregnant women attending Adabraka Clinic, Madina Polyclinic and Tema General Hospital. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to gather information on participant’s demographic characteristics, identify widely and frequently consumed fish and knowledge of mercury toxicity from fish consumption on pregnancy outcomes. Focus group discussion was organised among fish sellers to identify the most dominant and widely purchased fish. The most widely consumed smoked fish species, apataa (tilapia zilli), brolovi (chrysichthys nigrodigitatus), salmon (scomber japonicas), herrings (katsuwono pelamis), tuna (Sardinella maderensis), saflo (caranx crysos), Oheneba (bagrus bayad) and red fish (entex angolensis) as reported by the pregnant women were bought from Madina, Tema and Adabraka markets and transported in polyethene bags to the laboratory for proximate analysis and determination of mercury concentration. Results: Most (68.8%) of the participants consumed fish 5-7 meals/week. Though, more than half (57.3%) of the pregnant women who took part in this study were aware of mercury contamination of fish the majority (65.5%) of them had poor knowledge of its toxicity on pregnancy outcomes. All the analysed smoked fish species had high levels of protein, fat, fibre and ash content. The mercury concentrations of the analysed smoked fish samples were all within the recommended (0.2 μg/g wwt) allowable safe limit intake for pregnant women except apataa (0.327±0.006 μg/g) from Madina and Brolovi from Tema (0.214±0.023 μg/g) and Adabraka (0.347±0.03 μg/g). All the fish species had lower target hazard quotients (THQ) values less than 1 (THQ < 1) except apataa (1.42) and brolovi (1.50) from Madina and Adabraka markets respectively. Conclusion: Majority of the pregnant women consumed fish 5-7 meals/week and the most frequently consumed fish was herring. More than half of the pregnant women were aware of mercury contamination in fish but majority had poor knowledge of its toxicity on pregnancy outcomes. Mercury concentration and THQ were high in apataa from Madina and Brolovi from Tema and Adabraka. The high THQ in these fishes may pose health risk to pregnant women. There is the need to educate the general public especially pregnant women on mercury contamination of fish and its possible health risk on pregnancy outcomes.
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    Investigating The Virulent Genes And Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns Of V. Cholerae O1 In Environmental And Clinical Isolates In Accra
    (University of Ghana, 2016-07) Abana, D.
    Background: Cholera has been endemic in Ghana, since it was first detected in 1970. Outbreaks have often started in slums of the city especially Accra. In spite of the overwhelming nature of cholera outbreak that has resulted in high mortality and morbidity, there is little information on the reservoir of the causative agent. It has however, been shown that long-term survival of the bacteria may be attained in watery environments or in humans with no signs of cholera. Consequently, cholera outbreaks may be triggered predominantly in large densely populated urban areas. The perennial environmental reservoir of toxigenic V. cholerae O1 has not yet been identified in West Africa due to inadequate research. With environmental cholera sources being suspected in Ghana, enhanced monitoring of aquatic reservoirs and drinking water is therefore important particularly within urban agglomerations. This project was conducted to investigated clinical and environmental isolates of V. cholerae O1 in Accra, determine their virulent genes, their antibiotic susceptibility pattern and the environmental factors maintaining their persistence in the environment. Method: Water samples from various sources (taps, dug wells, streams and storage tanks) were analyzed for contamination with V. cholerae O1 by culturing on TCBS and TSA plates using standard methods. Forty clinical isolates from a previous cholerae outbreak were included in the study. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the bacteria were determined by the disc diffusion method. Virulent genes were identified by analyzing for genes for ctx, tcpA (tcpAEl tcpACl), zot, ompW, rbfO1 and attRS by PCR. Physicochemical characteristics of water (pH, temperature and salinity, total dissolved solids and conductivity) were investigated using standard methods. One-way ANOVA and student t- test were used to analyze the relationship between physicochemical factors and the occurrence of V. cholerae O1. Differences were considered significant at P≤0.05. Results: Eleven V. cholerae O1 strains isolated from streams, storage tanks and wells during the study period were added to 40 clinical isolates for analysis. All isolates were resistant to one or more of the eight antibiotics used. Multidrug resistant was observed in over 97% of the isolates. All isolates had genes for at least one virulence factor. Vibrio cholera toxin gene was detected in 42 (82.4%) isolates. Approximately 81.8% of the isolates were positive for tcpAET gene, but also harbored the tcpAcl gene. Isolates were grouped into thirteen genotypes based on the genes analyzed. pH salinity, TDS and conductivity significantly correlated positively with isolation of V. cholerae O1. Conclusion: V. cholerae serotype Ogawa biotype El tor is the main biotype circulating in Ghana with the emergence of a hybrid strain. Multidrug resistant Vibrio cholerae O1 with different genotypes and pathogenicity as well as the non 01/0139 are present in water sources in the study area. Temperature, salinity, TDS and conductivity are among the factors maintaining the persistence of the V. cholerae. These findings indicate an urgent need for the appropriate use of antibiotics, provision of potable water supply and regular disinfection of water from contaminated sources to prevent outbreak of cholera.