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The development of resistance to insecticides has become a classic exemplar of evolution occurring within human time scales. In this study we demonstrate how resistance to DDT in the major African malaria vector Anopheles gambiae is a result of both target-site resistance mechanisms that have introgressed between incipient species (the M- and S-molecular forms) and allelic variants in a DDT-detoxifying enzyme. Sequencing of the detoxification enzyme, Gste2, from DDT resistant and susceptible strains of An. gambiae, revealed a non-synonymous polymorphism (I114T), proximal to the DDT binding domain, which segregated with strain phenotype. Recombinant protein expression and DDT metabolism analysis revealed that the proteins from the susceptible strain lost activity at higher DDT concentrations, characteristic of substrate inhibition. The effect of I114T on GSTE2 protein structure was explored through X-ray crystallography. The amino acid exchange in the DDT-resistant strain introduced a hydroxyl group nearby the hydrophobic DDT-binding region. The exchange does not result in structural alterations but is predicted to facilitate local dynamics and enzyme activity. Expression of both wild-type and 114T alleles the allele in Drosophila conferred an increase in DDT tolerance. The 114T mutation was significantly associated with DDT resistance in wild caught M-form populations and acts in concert with target-site mutations in the voltage gated sodium channel (Vgsc-1575Y and Vgsc-1014F) to confer extreme levels of DDT resistance in wild caught An. gambiae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a significant cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults, with both primary and secondary etiologies contributing to its pathogenesis. This case report explores the clinical course of a 69-year-old African American man with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who developed primary MN, progressing to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) despite treatment efforts. Initially diagnosed with IgA nephropathy and HIV-associated immune complex kidney disease (HIVICK), the patient later developed anti-phospholipase A2 receptor (anti-PLA2R) antibody-positive MN. Despite immunosuppressive therapy and partial remission with rituximab, non-adherence to treatment led to disease exacerbation and eventual hospitalization for acute heart failure and worsening renal function. A subsequent renal biopsy revealed severe interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy, limiting further therapeutic options. This case underscores the challenges in managing MN, particularly in high-risk patients with comorbidities such as HIV, and highlights the importance of adherence to treatment and tailored management strategies to optimize outcomes in this complex condition., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Opare-Addo et al.)

The presentation of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may differ from that of non-diabetic patients, potentially leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the clinical presentation of ACS between diabetic and non-diabetic patients. A systematic search of PubMed, Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE), and Web of Science databases was conducted for observational studies published from January 2010 onwards. Studies comparing ACS symptoms between diabetic and non-diabetic patients were included. The odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was calculated using a random-effects model. Eight studies with a total of 29,503 patients (23.03% diabetic) were included. Diabetic patients were significantly less likely to present with chest pain compared to non-diabetic patients (OR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.63, p<0.001). Anxiety (OR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.17-4.14), shortness of breath (OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.11-2.01), and neck pain (OR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.03-2.54) were significantly more common in diabetic patients. Sweating/cold sweat was less common in diabetics (OR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.34-1.07), though not statistically significant. Other symptoms showed minimal differences between groups. High heterogeneity was observed across studies for most symptoms. This meta-analysis demonstrates that diabetic patients with ACS are less likely to experience typical chest pain and more likely to present with atypical symptoms such as anxiety, shortness of breath, and neck pain. These findings emphasize the need for healthcare providers to maintain high vigilance for atypical ACS presentations in diabetic patients. Tailored diagnostic approaches, modified triage protocols, and enhanced patient education are crucial to improving the timely diagnosis and treatment of ACS in this high-risk population., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Tabowei et al.)

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a metabolic condition where vascular inflammation and oxidative stress contribute to disease progression and associated complications. Although statins are recommended for managing dyslipidemia in diabetes, additional therapies are often required to achieve target lipid levels. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of rosuvastatin monotherapy versus combination therapy with ezetimibe in patients with type 2 diabetes. A systematic literature search was conducted across multiple databases until April 2024, identifying six randomized controlled trials meeting the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis revealed that the rosuvastatin plus ezetimibe combination resulted in significantly greater reductions in total cholesterol (mean difference, or MD: 19.49; 95% CI: 13.99 to 24.99), triglycerides (MD: 13.44; 95% CI: 2.04 to 24.85), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (MD: -17.68; 95% CI: 12.85 to 22.51) compared to rosuvastatin monotherapy. Conversely, rosuvastatin monotherapy achieved a greater reduction in HbA1c levels (MD: -0.11; 95% CI: -0.17 to -0.04). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that using the same dose of rosuvastatin in both groups led to more significant improvements in lipid parameters with lower heterogeneity. The findings suggest that the rosuvastatin-ezetimibe combination may be a more effective lipid-lowering strategy for patients with type 2 diabetes, though larger studies are needed to assess long-term safety and optimal dosing. Additionally, while rosuvastatin monotherapy provided modest HbA1c reductions, the clinical relevance remains uncertain, and potential risks with high-dose statins should be considered., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Dadzie et al.)

Ticks are important disease vectors affecting animal health and causing substantial economic loss, especially in the tropics and subtropics. To examine the tick burden of cattle and associated risk factors for tick infestation, ticks were collected from 388 cattle within five regions in Ghana. Most of the cattle were males (50.3%) and generally older than 3 years (65%). Of the animals sampled, 2187 ticks were collected with a mean tick burden of 5.6 ticks per cattle, and the average tick burden on the udder/scrotum being significantly higher than in the anal region (Generalized Linear Mix Model [GLMM], p = 0.01197). The tick species identified were predominantly Amblyomma variegatum (42.6%) and Hyalomma rufipes (26.2%). High proportions of cattle examined were found to have A. variegatum infesting the udder/scrotum. Furthermore, H. rufipes infested mostly the anal region compared to other examined body parts (OR 14.8, 95% CI 8.6-25.4, p < 0.001). Using the GLMM, tick abundance was found to be significantly higher in cattle older than 3 years. The tick burden in the udder/scrotum was higher than that from the chest and leg/thigh of the cattle (GLMM, p < 0.05). The tick burden at the anal region was also significantly higher than the leg/thigh and chest. This study indicates that the preferred attachment sites of ticks on cattle are species-dependent and effective treatment with acaricides should take into consideration the udder/scrotum and anal regions as well as prioritizing older cattle., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the effect of pulmonary hypertension (PH) on survival in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The present study was conducted according to the guidelines of Preferred Reporting of Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). We conducted a comprehensive search of electronic databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from January 1, 2015, to March 10, 2024. Outcomes assessed in this meta-analysis included early and late all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. Total 15 studies were integrated into the pooled analysis to assess the impact of PH on outcomes among patients undergoing TAVR, comprising a total sample size of 35,732 individuals. The pooled prevalence of PH stood at 52.57% (n=18,767). Predominantly, the studies were conducted in the United States (n=6), followed by Germany (n=3), with one study each from Japan, Italy, Switzerland, Brazil, Poland, and Australia. Pooled analysis showed that risk of short-term mortality was greater in patients with PH compared to patients without PH (risk ratio (RR): 1.46, 95% CI: 1.19 to 1.80). Risk of long-term mortality was greater in patients with PH (RR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.29 to 1.55). Risk of cardiovascular mortality was also greater in patients with PH compared to patients without PH (RR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.36 to 2.02). We advocate for further research to address gaps in understanding different types of PH and their impacts on mortality and cardiovascular outcomes., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Khalil et al.)

Background The burden of mitral regurgitation is high, and studies show it is the most common valvular pathology. The management of mitral regurgitation varies and depends on the chronicity, severity, etiology, and comorbidities of the patient. Surgical repair is recommended over replacement. Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) has been shown to improve the prognosis of patients with mitral regurgitation and appears relatively safer than surgical repair in patients with high surgical risks. In this study, we examined the outcomes of TEER in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) by retrospectively evaluating data from the 2010 to 2016 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS). Methodology We retrospectively evaluated data from the 2010 to 2016 NIS. TEER was identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10- CM) codes of 35.97 and 02UG3JZ, respectively, from our dataset. The study sample was stratified based on renal function into two groups (CKD and no CKD). Patients with CKD were identified using ICD-9-CM codes 585.3, 585.4, 585.5, and 585.6 and ICD-10-CM codes N18.3, N18.4, N18.5, and N18.6. Results There was no significant difference in major complications and overall complications between patients with and without CKD. However, heart failure, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, cardiac tamponade, and cardiogenic shock were more prevalent in the CKD group. Patients with CKD were also more likely to sustain respiratory failure, post-procedure hemothorax, and require blood product transfusions. For renal complications, analysis showed that superimposed acute kidney injury and the need for hemodialysis were more common in the CKD group. Of note, there was no difference in neurologic complications, gastrointestinal bleeding, and thromboembolic complications between both groups. Patients with CKD who underwent TEER were more likely to have prolonged hospital stays without a significant increase in hospitalization charges. These patients were also more likely to be discharged to rehabilitation facilities. Conclusions CKD confers significant morbidity and mortality to patients undergoing TEER. Providers should be aware of these discrepancies in outcomes for patients with CKD in need of TEER to help better optimize their care., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Singireddy et al.)

Sampled ticks were screened for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) using an assay that targets the nucleoprotein gene region of the S segment, a conserved region of the CCHFV genome. Minimum infection rates of 0.34% and 0.10% were obtained when testing pools of Hyalomma rufipes and Amblyomma variegatum, respectively. Next-generation sequencing and phylogenetic analysis showed that the S and L segments of the CCHFV isolate clustered with those of similar isolates of genotype III. However, analysis of the M segment showed that reassortment had occurred, causing this segment to cluster with those of isolates of genotype I, providing the first evidence of such an occurrence in Ghana., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Ticks are competent vectors of a wide range of pathogens. They are of veterinary and public health importance as they affect both animal and human health. Transhumance and the transboundary movements of cattle within the West African Sub-region have facilitated the spread of ticks which threatens the introduction of invasive species. Currently, Rhipicephalus microplus have been identified in the Upper East Region of Ghana which could mean a wider distribution of the species across the country due to livestock trade. This study focused on three sites in the Greater Accra Region, which serves as the gateway to receiving most of the cattle transported from the northern regions of Ghana. Ticks were sampled from August 2022 in the wet season to January 2023 in the dry season. Three tick genera were identified: Amblyomma (19.5%), Hyalomma (1.1%), and Rhipicephalus (79.3%) from the 1,489 feeding ticks collected from cattle. Furthermore, Rhipicephalus microplus, Hyalomma rufipes and Amblyomma variegatum were identified molecularly using primers that target the mitochondrial COI gene. There was a significant association between the tick species and seasons (p < 0.001). Finding R. microplus in this study indicates the extent of the spread of this invasive tick species in Ghana and highlights the need for efficient surveillance systems and control measures within the country., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The threats from vector-borne pathogens transmitted by ticks place people (including deployed troops) at increased risk for infection, frequently contributing to undifferentiated febrile illness syndromes. Wild and domesticated animals are critical to the transmission cycle of many tick-borne diseases. Livestock can be infected by ticks, and serve as hosts to tick-borne diseases such as rickettsiosis. Thus, it is necessary to identify the tick species and determine their potential to transmit pathogens. A total of 1,493 adult ticks from three genera-Amblyomma, Hyalomma, and Rhipicephalus-were identified using available morphological keys and were pooled (n = 541) by sex and species. Rickettsia species were detected in 308 of 541 (56.9%) pools by genus-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay (Rick17b). Furthermore, sequencing of the outer membrane protein A and B genes (ompA and ompB) of random samples of Rickettsia-positive samples led to the identification of Rickettsia aeschlimannii and Rickettsia africae with most R. africae DNA (80.2%) detected in pools of Amblyomma variegatum. We report the first molecular detection and identification of the rickettsial pathogens R. africae and R. aeschlimannii in ticks from Ghana. Our findings suggest there is a need to use control measures to prevent infections from occurring among human populations in endemic areas in Ghana. This study underscores the importance of determining which vector-borne pathogens are in circulation in Ghana. Further clinical and prevalence studies are needed to understand more comprehensively the clinical impact of these rickettsial pathogens contributing to human disease and morbidity in Ghana.

Vector-borne diseases emergence, particularly malaria, present a significant public health challenge worldwide. Anophelines are predominant malaria vectors, with varied distribution, and influenced by environment and climate. This study, in Ghana, modelled environmental suitability for Anopheles stephensi, a potential vector that may threaten advances in malaria and vector control. Understanding this vector's distribution and dynamics ensures effective malaria and vector control programmes implementation. We explored the MaxEnt ecological modelling method to forecast An. stephensi's potential hotspots and niches. We analysed environmental and climatic variables to predict spatial distribution and ecological niches of An. stephensi with a spatial resolution of approximately 5 km 2 . Analysing geospatial and species occurrence data, we identified optimal environmental conditions and important factors for its presence. The model's most important variables guided hotspot prediction across several ecological zones aside from urban and peri-urban regions. Considering the vector's complex bionomics, these areas provide varying and adaptable conditions for the vector to colonise and establish. This is shown by the AUC = 0.943 prediction accuracy of the model, which is considered excellent. Based on our predictions, this vector species would thrive in the Greater Accra, Ashanti Central, Upper East, Northern, and North East regions. Forecasting its environmental suitability by ecological niche modelling supports proactive surveillance and focused malaria management strategies. Public health officials can act to reduce the risk of malaria transmission by identifying areas where mosquitoes may breed, which will ultimately improve health outcomes and disease control., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The ability of ticks to adapt to different ecological zones, coupled with the spread of infectious pathogens negatively affects livestock production and thus, there is a need for better control strategies. However, control measures within a geographical region can only be effective if there is available information on tick population dynamics and ecology. This study focused on ticks infesting livestock in the Kassena-Nankana Districts of the Upper East Region of Ghana. The ticks were morphologically identified, variables such as season, animal host, and predilection sites were recorded, and the data were analyzed using STATA version 13. Out of 448 livestock examined, tick infestation in cattle was (78.60%), followed by sheep (25%) and goats (5.88%). A total of 1,550 ticks including nymphs (303) and adults (1,247) were collected. Adult ticks were found to be significantly associated with season ( p < 0.001), with a high burden in the wet season. The nymph burden and body parts of livestock hosts were significantly associated with more nymphs collected from male animals than females ( p < 0.001). Three genera of ticks, Amblyomma (62.97%), Hyalomma (18.71%), and Rhipicephalus (18.32%) were morphologically identified with the most predominant tick species recorded as Amblyomma variegatum (62.97%). Matured A. variegatum was sampled primarily in the wet season with their predilection site as the udder/scrotum ( p < 0.001). However, adult Hyalomma truncatum was observed to have a significant association with the anal region ( p < 0.001). Findings from this study are essential for formulating tick control measures to prevent the spread of infectious pathogens., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Seth Offei Addo et al.)

Background: A significant decrease in malaria morbidity and mortality has been attained using long-lasting insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying. Selective pressure from these control methods influences changes in vector bionomics and behavioural pattern. There is a need to understand how insecticide resistance drives behavioural changes within vector species. This study aimed to determine the spatio-temporal dynamics and biting behaviour of malaria vectors in different ecological zones in Ghana in an era of high insecticide use for public health vector control., Methods: Adult mosquitoes were collected during the dry and rainy seasons in 2017 and 2018 from five study sites in Ghana in different ecological zones. Indoor- and outdoor-biting mosquitoes were collected per hour from 18:00 to 06:00 h employing the human landing catch (HLC) technique. Morphological and molecular species identifications of vectors were done using identification keys and PCR respectively. Genotyping of insecticide-resistant markers was done using the TaqMan SNP genotyping probe-based assays. Detection of Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites was determined using PCR., Results: A total of 50,322 mosquitoes belonging to four different genera were collected from all the study sites during the sampling seasons in 2017 and 2018. Among the Anophelines were Anopheles gambiae s.l. 93.2%, (31,055/33,334), An. funestus 2.1%, (690/33,334), An. pharoensis 4.6%, (1545/33,334), and An. rufipes 0.1% (44/33,334). Overall, 76.4%, (25,468/33,334) of Anopheles mosquitoes were collected in the rainy season and 23.6%, (7866/33,334) in the dry season. There was a significant difference (Z = 2.410; P = 0.0160) between indoor-biting (51.1%; 15,866/31,055) and outdoor-biting An. gambiae s.l. (48.9%; 15,189/31,055). The frequency of the Vgsc-1014F mutation was slightly higher in indoor-biting mosquitoes (54.9%) than outdoors (45.1%). Overall, 44 pools of samples were positive for P. falciparum CSP giving an overall sporozoite rate of 0.1%., Conclusion: Anopheles gambiae s.l. were more abundant indoors across all ecological zones of Ghana. The frequency of G119S was higher indoors than outdoors from all the study sites, but with higher sporozoite rates in outdoor mosquitoes in Dodowa and Kpalsogu. There is, therefore, an urgent need for a supplementary malaria control intervention to control outdoor-biting mosquitoes., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Cabozantinib, a multi-kinase receptor inhibitor, is utilized in the treatment of advanced malignancies such as metastatic renal cancers. While rare, cabozantinib-induced cardiotoxicity has emerged as a recognized adverse effect with potentially reversible outcomes. We report the case of a 55-year-old male who developed fatal cardiomyopathy 4 months after initiating cabozantinib therapy. Despite its rarity, cardiomyopathy after initiation of cabozantinib can be lethal if not diagnosed early. This case underscores a significant gap in the surveillance of patients treated with newer agents like cabozantinib. Larger observational studies are needed to assess the prevalence and impact of cardiomyopathy after initiation of cabozantinib therapy, and to determine the cost-effectiveness of early surveillance protocols.

Ticks are important vectors involved in the transmission of pathogens of zoonotic and veterinary importance. In this study, ticks were collected from cattle in Navrongo, Kintampo, and Kumasi and screened for pathogen DNA using PCR and Sanger sequencing. A total of 454 ticks were collected, morphologically identified and confirmed using primers that target the 660-bp segment of the mitochondrial COI gene. The predominant tick species was Amblyomma variegatum (70.26%). DNA was extracted from 85 tick pools and screened for the presence of Rickettsia DNA based on the 639 bp of the outer membrane protein A (ompA) gene, Ehrlichia/Anaplasma DNA based on the 345 bp fragment of the 16SrRNA gene and Babesia/ Theileria DNA based on the 560 bp fragment of the ssrRNA gene. From the 85 tick pools, the DNA of pathogens detected were Rickettsia africae (36.47%), Rickettsia aeschlimannii (16.47%), Ehrlichia canis (2.35%), Babesia occultans (1.18%), Theileria velifera (1.18%) and a symbiont Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii (8.24%). This study reports the first molecular detection of Candidatus Cryptoplasma californiense (1.18%) in Ghana. Coinfections were recorded in 8.24% of the tick pools. The findings of this study highlight the importance of tick species in Ghana and the need to adopt effective control measures to prevent pathogen spread., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Dengue, Zika and chikungunya are Aedes-borne viral diseases that have 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 these countries, such outbreaks are yet to be detected. Viral RNA and antibodies against dengue serotype-2 have recently been reported among individuals in some localities in the regional capital of Ghana. This is an indication of a possible silent transmission ongoing in the population. This study, therefore, investigated the entomological transmission risk of dengue, Zika and chikungunya viruses in a forest and domestic population in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana. All 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 were hatched and reared to larvae or adults for morphological identification together with larvae and adults collected from the field. The forest population had higher species richness with 7 Aedes species. The predominant species of Aedes mosquitoes identified from both sites was Aedes aegypti (98%). Aedes albopictus, an important arbovirus vector, was identified only in the peri-domestic population at a prevalence of 1.5%, significantly higher than previously reported. All risk indices were above the WHO threshold except the House Index for the domestic site which was moderate (19.8). The forest population recorded higher Positive Ovitrap (34.2% vs 26.6%) and Container (67.9% vs 36.8%) Indices than the peri-domestic population. Although none of the mosquito pools showed the presence of dengue, chikungunya or Zika viruses, all entomological risk indicators showed that both sites had a high potential arboviral disease transmission risk should any of these viruses be introduced. Continuous surveillance is recommended in these and other sites in the Metropolis to properly map transmission risk areas to inform outbreak preparedness strategies., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Akyea-Bobi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Ticks are efficient vectors for transmitting pathogens that negatively affect livestock production and pose a risk to public health. In this study, Babesia and Theileria species were identified in ticks collected from cattle, sheep and goats from the Kassena-Nankana Districts of Ghana between February and December 2020. A total of 1550 ticks were collected, morphologically identified, pooled and screened for pathogens using primers that amplify a 560 bp fragment of the ssrRNA gene and Sanger sequencing. Amblyomma variegatum (62.98%) was the predominant tick species. From the 491 tick pools screened, 12/15 (2.44%) positive pools were successfully sequenced. The pathogen DNA identified were Theileria ovis in eight (15.38%) pools of Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, Theileria velifera in two (0.78%) pools of A. variegatum and Babesia occultans and Babesia sp. Xinjiang in one (1.72%) pool each of Hyalomma truncatum. It was further observed that T. ovis occurred in ticks collected from only sheep (p < 0.001) which were females (p = 0.023) and < =1 year old (p = 0.040). This study reports the first identification of these pathogens in ticks within Kassena-Nankana. With the constant trade of livestock, there is a need for effective tick control measures to prevent infection spread., (© 2023 Royal Entomological Society.)

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., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Yellow fever virus, transmitted by infected Aedes spp. mosquitoes, causes an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. During October 2021-February 2022, a yellow fever outbreak in some communities in Ghana resulted in 70 confirmed cases with 35 deaths (case-fatality rate 50%). The outbreak started in a predominantly unvaccinated nomadic community in the Savannah region, from which 65% of the cases came. The molecular amplification methods we used for diagnosis produced full-length DNA sequences from 3 confirmed cases. Phylogenetic analysis characterized the 3 sequences within West Africa genotype II; strains shared a close homology with sequences from Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal. We deployed more sensitive advanced molecular diagnostic techniques, which enabled earlier detection, helped control spread, and improved case management. We urge increased efforts from health authorities to vaccinate vulnerable groups in difficult-to-access areas and to educate the population about potential risks for yellow fever infections.

Resistance to insecticides in Anopheles mosquitoes threatens the effectiveness of malaria control, but the genetics of resistance are only partially understood. We performed a large scale multi-country genome-wide association study of resistance to two widely used insecticides: deltamethrin and pirimiphos-methyl, using sequencing data from An. gambiae and An. coluzzii from ten locations in West Africa. Resistance was highly multi-genic, multi-allelic and variable between populations. While the strongest and most consistent association with deltamethrin resistance came from Cyp6aa1, this was based on several independent copy number variants (CNVs) in An. coluzzii, and on a non-CNV haplotype in An. gambiae. For pirimiphos-methyl, signals included Ace1, cytochrome P450s, glutathione S-transferases and the nAChR target site of neonicotinoid insecticides. The regions around Cyp9k1 and the Tep family of immune genes showed evidence of cross-resistance to both insecticides. These locally-varying, multi-allelic patterns highlight the challenges involved in genomic monitoring of resistance, and may form the basis for improved surveillance methods., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Background: Vector bionomics are important aspects of vector-borne disease control programs. Mosquito-biting risks are affected by environmental, mosquito behavior and human factors, which are important for assessing exposure risk and intervention impacts. This study estimated malaria transmission risk based on vector-human interactions in northern Ghana, where indoor residual spraying (IRS) and insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) have been deployed., Methods: Indoor and outdoor human biting rates (HBRs) were measured using monthly human landing catches (HLCs) from June 2017 to April 2019. Mosquitoes collected were identified to species level, and Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (An. gambiae s.l.) samples were examined for parity and infectivity. The HBRs were adjusted using mosquito parity and human behavioral observations., Results: Anopheles gambiae was the main vector species in the IRS (81%) and control (83%) communities. Indoor and outdoor HBRs were similar in both the IRS intervention (10.6 vs. 11.3 bites per person per night [b/p/n]; z = -0.33, P = 0.745) and control communities (18.8 vs. 16.4 b/p/n; z = 1.57, P = 0.115). The mean proportion of parous An. gambiae s.l. was lower in IRS communities (44.6%) than in control communities (71.7%). After adjusting for human behavior observations and parity, the combined effect of IRS and ITN utilization (IRS: 37.8%; control: 57.3%) on reducing malaria transmission risk was 58% in IRS + ITN communities and 27% in control communities with ITNs alone (z = -4.07, P < 0.001). However, this also revealed that about 41% and 31% of outdoor adjusted bites in IRS and control communities respectively, occurred before bed time (10:00 pm). The mean directly measured annual entomologic inoculation rates (EIRs) during the study were 6.1 infective bites per person per year (ib/p/yr) for IRS communities and 16.3 ib/p/yr for control communities. After considering vector survival and observed human behavior, the estimated EIR for IRS communities was 1.8 ib/p/yr, which represents about a 70% overestimation of risk compared to the directly measured EIR; for control communities, it was 13.6 ib/p/yr (16% overestimation)., Conclusion: Indoor residual spraying significantly impacted entomological indicators of malaria transmission. The results of this study indicate that vector bionomics alone do not provide an accurate assessment of malaria transmission exposure risk. By accounting for human behavior parameters, we found that high coverage of ITNs alone had less impact on malaria transmission indices than combining ITNs with IRS, likely due to observed low net use. Reinforcing effective communication for behavioral change in net use and IRS could further reduce malaria transmission., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Ticks are arthropods of veterinary and medical importance which spread zoonotic pathogens that link animal and human health. In this study, ticks were collected from 448 livestock between February and December 2020 in the Kassena-Nankana Districts of Ghana and screened for the presence of zoonotic pathogens DNA using PCR and sequencing approaches. In total, 1550 ticks were collected and morphologically identified. Three tick genera were identified with Amblyomma variegatum (63%) as the predominant tick species collected. DNA was extracted from 491 tick pools and screened for the presence of DNA of Rickettsia spp. based on the 115 bp fragment of the 17 kDa surface protein and 639 bp of the Outer membrane protein A (ompA) gene and the 295 bp fragment of the transposase gene of Coxiella burnetii IS1111a element. From the 491 pools screened, the DNA of Rickettsia spp. and C. burnetii was detected in 56.8 and 3.7%, respectively. Coinfections were identified in 2.4% of the tick pools. Characterization of the Rickettsia spp. in this study based on the ompA gene showed that the DNA of Rickettsia africae and Rickettsia aeschlimannii accounted for 39.7 and 14.7%, respectively, and were 100% similar to sequences in GenBank. Most R. africae and C. burnetii infections occurred in ticks collected in the wet season, whereas R. aeschlimannii occurred mostly in the dry season. These pathogens are potential public health threats, thus there is a need to implement control measures to reduce the risk of infections in vulnerable populations., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Ticks are a public health threat due to their tendency to spread pathogens that affect humans and animals. With reports of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus invasion in neighbouring countries, there is the risk of this species invading Ghana through livestock trade. Previous identification of tick species in Ghana has been based on morphological identification, which can be ineffective, especially with damaged tick specimens or engorged nymphs. This study focused on the Kassena-Nankana District, which serves as a trade route for cattle into Ghana, to determine the presence of R. microplus. Three genera of ticks were identified as Amblyomma (70.9%), Hyalomma (21.3%) and Rhipicephalus (7.8%). The engorged nymphs that could not be identified morphologically were analyzed using primers that target the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene. This study reports the first record of R. (B.) microplus in Ghana. Furthermore, R. microplus constituted 54.8% of the Boophilus species collected in this study. This finding is an addition to the diverse tick species previously collected in Ghana, most of which are of veterinary and public health importance. With reports of acaricide resistance in R. microplus and its role in spreading infectious pathogens, the detection of this species in Ghana cannot be overlooked. Nationwide surveillance will be essential to ascertain its distribution, its effects on cattle production, and the control measures adopted., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Tick-borne pathogens harm livestock production and pose a significant risk to public health. To combat these effects, it is necessary to identify the circulating pathogens to create effective control measures. This study identified Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species in ticks collected from livestock in the Kassena-Nankana Districts between February 2020 and December 2020. A total of 1550 ticks were collected from cattle, sheep and goats. The ticks were morphologically identified, pooled and screened for pathogens using primers that amplify a 345 bp fragment of the 16SrRNA gene and Sanger sequencing. The predominant tick species collected was Amblyomma variegatum (62.98%). From the 491 tick pools screened, 34 (6.92%) were positive for Ehrlichia and Anaplasma. The pathogens identified were Ehrlichia canis (4.28%), Ehrlichia minasensis (1.63%), Anaplasma capra (0.81%) and Anaplasma marginale (0.20%). This study reports the first molecular identification of the above-mentioned Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species in ticks from Ghana. With the association of human infections with the zoonotic pathogen A. capra, livestock owners are at risk of infections, calling for the development of effective control measures., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Arboviral diseases such as dengue, Zika and chikungunya transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes have been reported in 34 African countries. Available data indicate that in recent years there have been dengue and chikungunya outbreaks in the West Africa subregion, in countries including Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Senegal, and Benin. These viral diseases are causing an increased public health burden, which impedes poverty reduction and sustainable development. Aedes surveillance and control capacity, which are key to reducing the prevalence of arboviral infections, need to be strengthened in West Africa, to provide information essential for the formulation of effective vector control strategies and the prediction of arboviral disease outbreaks. In line with these objectives, the West African Aedes Surveillance Network (WAASuN) was created in 2017 at a meeting held in Sierra Leone comprising African scientists working on Aedes mosquitoes. This manuscript describes the proceedings and discusses key highlights of the meeting., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Malaria remains one of the most devastating diseases globally, and the control of mosquitoes as the vector is mainly dependent on chemical insecticides. Elevated temperatures associated with future warmer climates could affect mosquitoes' metabolic enzyme expression and increase insecticide resistance, making vector control difficult. Understanding how mosquito rearing temperatures influence their susceptibility to insecticide and expression of metabolic enzymes could aid in the development of novel tools and strategies to control mosquitoes in a future warmer climate. This study evaluated the effects of temperature on the susceptibility of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) mosquitoes to pyrethroids and their expression of metabolic enzymes., Methods: Anopheles gambiae s.l. eggs obtained from laboratory-established colonies were reared under eight temperature regimes (25, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40 °C). Upon adult emergence, 3- to 5-day-old female non-blood-fed mosquitoes were used for susceptibility tests following the World Health Organization (WHO) bioassay protocol. Batches of 20-25 mosquitoes from each temperature regime (25-34 °C) were exposed to two pyrethroid insecticides (0.75% permethrin and 0.05% deltamethrin). In addition, the levels of four metabolic enzymes (α-esterase, β-esterase, glutathione S-transferase [GST], and mixed-function oxidase [MFO]) were examined in mosquitoes that were not exposed and those that were exposed to pyrethroids., Results: Mortality in An. gambiae s.l. mosquitoes exposed to deltamethrin and permethrin decreased at temperatures above 28 °C. In addition, mosquitoes reared at higher temperatures were more resistant and had more elevated enzyme levels than those raised at low temperatures. Overall, mosquitoes that survived after being exposed to pyrethroids had higher levels of metabolic enzymes than those that were not exposed to pyrethroids., Conclusions: This study provides evidence that elevated temperatures decreased An. gambiae s.l. mosquitoes' susceptibility to pyrethroids and increased the expression of metabolic enzymes. This evidence suggests that elevated temperatures projected in a future warmer climate could increase mosquitoes' resistance to insecticides and complicate malaria vector control measures. This study therefore provides vital information, and suggests useful areas of future research, on the effects of temperature variability on mosquitoes that could guide vector control measures in a future warmer climate., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

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 analysed 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 identified, with Amblyomma variegatum (60%) most frequently found, followed by Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (21%), Rhipicephalus spp. (9%), Hyalomma truncatum (6%), Hyalomma rufipes (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., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Western Africa is vulnerable to arboviral disease transmission, having recently experienced major outbreaks of chikungunya, dengue, yellow fever and Zika. However, there have been relatively few studies on the natural history of the two major human arbovirus vectors in this region, Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus , potentially limiting the implementation of effective vector control. We systematically searched for and reviewed relevant studies on the behaviour and ecology of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus in Western Africa, published over the last 40 years. We identified 73 relevant studies, over half of which were conducted in Nigeria, Senegal, or Côte d'Ivoire. Most studies investigated the ecology of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus , exploring the impact of seasonality and land cover on mosquito populations and identifying aquatic habitats. This review highlights the adaptation of Ae. albopictus to urban environments and its invasive potential, and the year-round maintenance of Ae. aegypti populations in water storage containers. However, important gaps were identified in the literature on the behaviour of both species, particularly Ae. albopictus . In Western Africa, Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus appear to be mainly anthropophilic and to bite predominantly during the day, but further research is needed to confirm this to inform planning of effective vector control strategies. We discuss the public health implications of these findings and comment on the suitability of existing and novel options for control in Western Africa., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interests The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Ticks are blood-sucking arthropods that transmit many pathogens, including arboviruses. Arboviruses transmitted by ticks are generally referred to as tick-borne viruses (TBVs). TBVs are known to cause diseases in humans, pets, and livestock. There is, however, very limited information on the occurrence and distribution of TBVs in sub-Saharan Africa. This study was designed to determine the presence and distribution of ticks infesting dogs and cattle in Ghana, as well as to identify the tick-borne or tick-associated viruses they harbour. A more diverse population of ticks was found to infest cattle (three genera) relative to those infesting dogs (one genus). Six phleboviruses and an orthonairovirus were detected in tick pools screened by RT-PCR. Subsequent sequence analysis revealed two distinct phleboviruses and the previously reported Odaw virus in ticks collected from dogs and a virus (16GH-T27) most closely related to four unclassified phleboviruses in ticks collected from cattle. The virus 16GH-T27 was considered a strain of Balambala tick virus (BTV) and named BTV strain 16GH-T27. Next-generation sequencing analysis of the BTV-positive tick pool detected only the L and S segments. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that BTV clustered with viruses previously defined as M-segment-deficient phleboviruses. The orthonairovirus detected in ticks collected from cattle was confirmed to be the medically important Dugbe virus. Furthermore, we discuss the importance of understanding the presence and distribution of ticks and TBVs in disease prevention and mitigation and the implications for public health. Our findings contribute to the knowledge pool on TBVs and tick-associated viruses., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Tannery wastewater is one of the most toxic waste generated in industries. In spite of this, there still remains a paucity of information on characteristics of wastewater generated from artisanal tanneries. This study, therefore, assessed the water consumption, wastewater generation rates, physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of wastewater produced from each process unit of an artisanal tannery in Ghana. The study revealed that the total amount of water use in the tannery ranged between 1171 and 2120L/day whilst the total volume of wastewater generated was within 820 and 1324L/day. Physicochemical characteristics of the different wastewater types generated at the tannery including chemical oxygen demand (13600-24333.30 mg/L), biochemical oxygen demand (1445.64-2803 mg/L), ammonia (3.20-21.38 mg/L), colour (950.35-53900.10PtCo), electrical conductivity (8170 - 10080 μS/cm), turbidity (450.24-1805NTU), suspended (1033.50-3216.40 mg/L) and dissolved (26166.50-4996.65 mg/L) solids exceeded the guidelines set by the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency. There were also high levels of chlorides, sodium, sulphates and calcium ions. The most dominant anion and cation in the wastewater were chlorides (715-20490.60 mg/L) and sodium ions (258-14056.45 mg/L) respectively. Heavy metals identified in the wastewater included zinc, aluminium, iron and chromium ions with the most dominant one being aluminium ions (0.58-78.18 mg/L). Whilst the E-coli was below detectable limit, the count of total coliforms ranged between 0 and 4.5 × 10 4 CFU/100mL. Five helminth egg species ( Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm , Trichuris trichiura , Strongyloides stercoralis, and Enterobius vermicularis ) were identified with their numbers surpassing the safe limit set by the World Health Organisation for irrigation purposes. These results indicated that the indiscriminate discharge of the untreated wastewater on the bare soil as it is practised at the tannery has the potential to adversely affect public and environmental health. Appropriate treatment schemes are therefore, required to treat the wastewater to safe limits prior to discharge., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Author(s).)

A vertically transmitted microsporidian, Microsporidia MB, with the ability to disrupt Plasmodium development was reported in Anopheles arabiensis from Kenya, East Africa. To demonstrate its range of incidence, archived DNA samples from 7575 Anopheles mosquitoes collected from Ghana were screened. MB prevalence was observed at 1.8%. An. gambiae s.s constituted 87% of positive mosquitoes while the remaining were from An. coluzzii. Both sibling species had similar positivity rates (24% and 19%; p = 0.42) despite the significantly higher number of An. gambiae s.s analysed (An. gambiae s.s = 487; An. coluzzii = 94; p = 0.0005). The microsporidian was also more prevalent in emerged adults from field-collected larvae than field-caught adults (p < 0.0001) suggestive of an efficient vertical transmission and/or horizontal transfer among larvae. This is the first report of Microsporidia MB in Anopheles mosquitoes in West Africa. It indicates possible widespread among malaria vector species and warrants investigations into the symbiont's diversity across sub-Saharan Africa., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

The scale up of indoor residual spraying (IRS) and insecticide treated nets have contributed significantly to global reductions in malaria prevalence over the last two decades. However, widespread pyrethroid resistance has necessitated the use of new and more expensive insecticides for IRS. Partial IRS with pirimiphos-methyl in experimental huts and houses in a village-wide trial was evaluated against Anopheles gambiae s.l. in northern Ghana. Four different scenarios in which either only the top or bottom half of the walls of experimental huts were sprayed, with or without also spraying the ceiling were compared. Mortality of An. gambiae s.l. on partially sprayed walls was compared with the standard procedures in which all walls and ceiling surfaces are sprayed. A small-scale trial was then conducted to assess the effectiveness, feasibility, and cost of spraying only the upper walls and ceiling as compared to full IRS and no spraying in northern Ghana. Human landing catches were conducted to estimate entomological indices and determine the effectiveness of partial IRS. An established transmission dynamics model was parameterized by an analysis of the experimental hut data and used to predict the epidemiological impact and cost effectiveness of partial IRS for malaria control in northern Ghana. In the experimental huts, partial IRS of the top (IRR 0.89, p = 0.13) or bottom (IRR 0.90, p = 0.15) half of walls and the ceiling was not significantly less effective than full IRS in terms of mosquito mortality. In the village trial, the annual entomological inoculation rate was higher for the unsprayed control (217 infective bites/person/year (ib/p/yr)) compared with the fully and partially sprayed sites, with 28 and 38 ib/p/yr, respectively. The transmission model predicts that the efficacy of partial IRS against all-age prevalence of malaria after six months would be broadly equivalent to a full IRS campaign in which 40% reduction is expected relative to no spray campaign. At scale, partial IRS in northern Ghana would have resulted in a 33% cost savings ($496,426) that would enable spraying of 36,000 additional rooms. These findings suggest that partial IRS is an effective, feasible, and cost saving approach to IRS that could be adopted to sustain and expand implementation of this key malaria control intervention., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: Dengue virus (DENV) is a mosquito-borne arbovirus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, but is not endemic in all areas where this vector is found. For example, the relatively sparse distribution of cases in West Africa is generally attributed to the refractory nature of West African Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti) to DENV infection, and particularly the forest-dwelling Ae. aegypti formosus. However, recent studies have shown these mosquitoes to be competent vectors within some West African countries that have suffered outbreaks in the past, such as Senegal. There is however little information on the vector competence of the Ae. aegypti in West African countries such as Ghana with no reported outbreaks., Methods: This study examined the vector competence of 4 Ae. aegypti colonies from urban, semi-urban, and two rural locations in Ghana in transmitting DENV serotypes 1 and 2, using a single colony from Vietnam as control. Midgut infection and virus dissemination were determined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), while the presence and concentration of DENV in the saliva of infectious mosquitoes was determined by the focus forming assay., Results: There were significant differences in the colonies' susceptibility to virus infection, dissemination, and transmission. All examined Ghanaian mosquitoes were refractory to infection by DENV serotype 2, while some colonies exhibited potential to transmit DENV serotype 1. None of the tested colonies were as competent as the control group colony., Conclusions: These findings give insight into the possible risk of outbreaks, particularly in the urban areas in the south of Ghana, and highlight the need for continuous surveillance to determine the transmission status and outbreak risk. This study also highlights the need to prevent importation of different DENV strains and potential invasion of new highly vector-competent Ae. aegypti strains, particularly around the ports of entry.

Mosquitoes are generally considered one of the most important vectors of arboviruses, with Aedes aegypti regarded as the most important in transmission of yellow fever and dengue viruses. To investigate why there are differences in the incidence of dengue fever and Zika in different geographical areas and an absence of outbreaks in Ghana in spite of an abundance of A. aegypti mosquitoes, we established a continuous cell line from embryonic cells of A. aegypti collected in Ghana and assessed its susceptibility to dengue, yellow fever, and Zika viruses. The new cell line (designated AeAe-GH98), having an adhesive spindle-shaped web-like morphology, was serially subcultured in both VP-12 and Schneider's medium supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum. AeAe-GH98 cells were found to have a population doubling time of 1.3 d during exponential growth. The mosquito colony used to establish the cell line was confirmed to have originated from Africa using microsatellite assay. In terms of susceptibility to Aedes-borne flaviviruses, AeAe-GH98 cells were found to have different degrees of susceptibility to yellow fever, Zika, and dengue virus infection and propagation. While susceptibility of AeAe-GH98 cells to yellow fever and Zika viruses was comparable with that of C6/36 cells, susceptibility to dengue virus was significantly lower. This cell line will serve as a useful tool for determining molecular factors influencing virus-vector susceptibility in vitro.

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. Several molecular diagnostic techniques for distinguishing between An. coluzzii and An. gambiae are still under improvement. Although, 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 for identification of An. coluzzii, An. gambiae and An. arabiensis based on amplicon dissociation curve characteristics. Field-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 sampled from 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. The three species and hybrids were clearly differentiated using the melting temperature of the dissociation curves, with derivative peaks at 72°C for An. arabiensis, 75°C for An. gambiae and 86°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., Competing Interests: Joseph Chabi, Louis Kouadio N’Dri, Alex Datsomor and Dora Okyere were employed by Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) within Vestergaard-NMIMR project. Helen Pates Jamet and Melinda Hadi were employed by Vestergaard. This commercial affiliation of some authors does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Mass drug administration (MDA) is the current mainstay to interrupt the transmission of lymphatic filariasis. To monitor whether MDA is effective and transmission of lymphatic filariasis indeed has been interrupted, rigorous surveillance is required. Assessment of transmission by programme managers is usually done via serology. New research suggests that xenomonitoring holds promise for determining the success of lymphatic filariasis interventions. The objective of this study was to assess Wuchereria bancrofti infection in mosquitoes as a post-MDA surveillance tool using xenomonitoring. The study was carried out in four districts of Ghana; Ahanta West, Mpohor, Kassena Nankana West and Bongo. A suite of mosquito sampling methods was employed, including human landing collections, pyrethrum spray catches and window exit traps. Infection of W. bancrofti in mosquitoes was determined using dissection, conventional and real-time polymerase chain reaction and loop mediated isothermal amplification assays. Aedes , Anopheles coustani , An. gambiae , An. pharoensis , Culex and Mansonia mosquitoes were sampled in each of the four study districts. The dissected mosquitoes were positive for filarial infection using molecular assays. Dissected An. melas mosquitoes from Ahanta West district were the only species found positive for filarial parasites. We conclude that whilst samples extracted with Trizol reagent did not show any positives, molecular methods should still be considered for monitoring and surveillance of lymphatic filariasis transmission.

Background: Mass drug administration (MDA) programmes for the control of lymphatic filariasis in Ghana, have been ongoing in some endemic districts for 16 years. The current study aimed to assess factors that govern the success of MDA programmes for breaking transmission of lymphatic filariasis in Ghana., Methods: The study was undertaken in two "hotspot" districts (Ahanta West and Kassena Nankana West) and two control districts (Mpohor and Bongo) in Ghana. Mosquitoes were collected and identified using morphological and molecular tools. A proportion of the cibarial armatures of each species was examined. Dissections were performed on Anopheles gambiae for filarial worm detection. A questionnaire was administered to obtain information on MDA compliance and vector control activities. Data were compared between districts to determine factors that might explain persistent transmission of lymphatic filariasis., Results: High numbers of mosquitoes were sampled in Ahanta West district compared to Mpohor district (F = 16.09, P = 0.002). There was no significant difference between the numbers of mosquitoes collected in Kassena Nankana West and Bongo districts (F = 2.16, P = 0.185). Mansonia species were predominant in Ahanta West district. An. coluzzii mosquitoes were prevalent in all districts. An. melas with infected and infective filarial worms was found only in Ahanta West district. No differences were found in cibarial teeth numbers and shape for mosquito species in the surveyed districts. Reported MDA coverage was high in all districts. The average use of bednet and indoor residual spraying was 82.4 and 66.2%, respectively. There was high compliance in the five preceding MDA rounds in Ahanta West and Kassena Nankana West districts, both considered hotspots of lymphatic filariasis transmission., Conclusions: The study on persistent transmission of lymphatic filariasis in the two areas in Ghana present information that shows the importance of local understanding of factors affecting control and elimination of lymphatic filariasis. Unlike Kassena Nankana West district where transmission dynamics could be explained by initial infection prevalence and low vector densities, ongoing lymphatic filariasis transmission in Ahanta West district might be explained by high biting rates of An. gambiae and initial infection prevalence, coupled with high densities of An. melas and Mansonia vector species that have low or no teeth and exhibiting limitation.

Ghana has been implementing mass drug administration (MDA) of ivermectin and albendazole for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) since the year 2000, as part of the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF). It was estimated that 5⁻6 years of treatment would be sufficient to eliminate the disease. Tremendous progress has been made over the years, and treatment has stopped in many disease endemic districts. However, despite the successful implementation of MDA, there are districts with persistent transmission. In this study we assessed the epidemiology of LF in three adjoining districts that have received at least 16 years of MDA. The assessments were undertaken one year after the last MDA. 1234 adults and 182 children below the age of 10 years were assessed. The overall prevalence of circulating filarial antigen in the study participants was 8.3% (95% CI: 6.9⁻9.9), with an estimated microfilaria prevalence of 1.2%. The microfilarial intensity in positive individuals ranged from 1 to 57 microfilariae/mL of blood. Higher antigen prevalence was detected in males (13.0%; 95% CI: 10.3⁻16.2) compared to females (5.5%; 95% CI: 4.1⁻7.2). The presence of infection was also highest in individuals involved in outdoor commercial activities, with the risks of infection being four- to five-fold higher among farmers, fishermen, drivers and artisans, compared to all other occupations. Using bednets or participating in MDA did not significantly influence the risk of infection. No children below the age of 10 years were found with infection. Detection of Wb123 antibodies for current infections indicated a prevalence of 14.4% (95% CI: 8.1⁻23.0) in antigen-positive individuals above 10 years of age. No antibodies were detected in children 10 years or below. Assessment of infection within the An. gambiae vectors of LF indicated an infection rate of 0.9% (95% CI: 0.3⁻2.1) and infectivity rate of 0.5% (95% CI: 0.1⁻1.6). These results indicate low-level transmission within the districts, and suggest that it will require targeted interventions in order to eliminate the infection.

Ticks are ectoparasites that transmit various types of human and animal pathogens. In particular, emerging and re-emerging diseases caused by tick-borne viruses are public health concerns around the world. However, in many countries of the sub-Saharan African region, epidemiological information on tick-borne viral infections is limited, and their prevalence and distribution remain largely unknown. In this study, we conducted surveillance on ticks to detect medically important tick-borne bunyaviruses in three study sites in and near to Accra, the capital city of Ghana, in 2015. Domestic dogs and cattle were surveyed and were found to be infested with various tick species belonging to the genera Rhipicephalus, Amblyomma and Haemaphysalis. Importantly, we detected a novel putative phlebovirus in Rhipicephalus ticks, and successfully isolated a new strain of Dugbe virus from Am. variegatum ticks. To our knowledge, this is the first report of tick-associated viruses in Ghana other than Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Background: Dengue is one of the emerging diseases that can mostly only be controlled by vector control since there is no vaccine for the disease. Although, Dengue has not been reported in Ghana, movement of people from neighbouring countries where the disease has been reported can facilitate transmission of the disease., Objective: This study was carried on the University of Ghana campus to determine the risk of transmission of viral haemorrhagic fevers and the insecticide susceptibility status of Ae. aegypti in some sites in Accra, Ghana., Design: Larval surveys were carried to inspect containers within households and estimate larval indices and adult Aedes mosquitoes were collected using human landing collection technique. WHO tube assays was used to assess the insecticide susceptibility status of Aedes mosquitoes., Results: Ae. aegypti were the most prevalent species, 75.5% and followed by Ae. vittatus , 23.9 %. Ae. albopictus and Ae. granti were in smaller numbers. Household index (HI), Breteau index (BI), and container index were calculated as 8.2%, 11.2% and 10.3% respectively with man-vector contact rate of 0.67 bites/man-hour estimated for the area. The mortalities recorded for Ae. aegypti from WHO tube assays was 88%, 94%, 80% and 99% for DDT (4%), deltamethrin (0.05%), lambdacyhalothrin (0.05%) and permethrin (0.75%) respectively., Conclusion: The survey results indicated that the density of Aedes mosquitoes was considered to be sufficient to promote an outbreak of viral haemorrhagic fevers on Legon Campus. Aedes mosquitoes were found to be resistant to DDT, deltamethrin and lamdacyhalothrin, but susceptible to permethrin., Funding: This study was supported in part by Japan Initiative for Global Research Network on Infectious Diseases (J-Grid)., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: None declared