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Seafood waste has gained attention globally due to its increasing demand and negative impact on the environment. Survey work was conducted because Ghana has a significant number of commercial seafood processing industries but documentation on seafood waste is limited. The objective of this survey was to gain an insight into the volume of seafood waste generation, utilization and management system in seafood processing companies. Specifically, the study was to identify bottlenecks in the reuse of waste from seafood processing companies, quantify the seafood waste and determine the composition of the seafood waste generated. This study evaluated seafood waste from ten seafood processing companies situated in Tema, Effutu, Takoradi and Accra Metropolis in Ghana. Production and Quality Assurance managers from on-shore seafood processing companies were interviewed using a semi structured interview schedule (SSIS). These seafood processing companies have been in existence for between one to forty years. The highest proportion (40%) of the companies have been in existence for six to ten years. The companies which were in operation for a period of twenty to twenty-five years accounted for 20%. Most (80%) of these processing companies processed prawns, octopus, lobsters, grouper, catfish, whereas a minority (20%) processed tuna seafood. A majority (80%) of the surveyed processing companies did not process the waste generated. The remaining percentage occupied a production volume ranging from 10-50 tons of raw fish production. A large portion of the waste generated was from grouper (60%) with the least being tuna (11%). Survey results revealed that the companies did not process their seafood waste because of the unavailability of processing equipment and lack of knowledge on the seafood waste value-added products. Another challenge confronting seafood waste management was the absence of management policy to regulate it. It can be concluded that the 60% of the surveyed companies generated seafood waste and there is a need for steps to be taken to reduce it. The study revealed that there were no laws in Ghana that controlled the reuse of seafood waste. It is recommended that a holistic seafood waste reduction approach must be established between actors in the fishing and seafood processing sector. This study could be a driving tool to improve the seafood waste management system in Ghana. Key words: Environment impact, seafood industry, value addition, seafood waste, production volume, INTRODUCTION There is an increasing global trend of interest towards Circular Economy to develop new approaches to transform the value chain in food systems, especially in supply chain management. This [...]

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is a legume that is cultivated throughout Africa and contributes a significant amount of plant-based protein to human diets. There are many varieties of cowpeas, and these have varying seed characteristics such as shape, size, colour and nutritional properties. The compositional, physico-mechanical, and functional properties of two new cowpea seed varieties were investigated in order to determine their full food-use potentials as well as key parameters for their postharvest machinery for processing, handling, and storage. The proximate composition of the two cowpea cultivars was determined using standard methods. Physico-mechanical analyses carried out were the hundred-seed weight and volume, bulk density, true density, size, aspect ratio, surface area, equivalent diameter, porosity and angle of repose. Functional properties determined were cooking time and water uptake of the grain as well as water and oil absorption, foam capacity and stability, and emulsion capacity and stability of the flour. The Padi-Tuya variety was longer, broader and thicker than Wang Kae. The results showed both varieties to be useful sources of macronutrients. The moisture, fat and fibre in Wang Kae were significantly higher (p Key words: Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) varieties; compositional; physico-mechanical and functional properties, INTRODUCTION Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is an important source of plant protein and therefore used in several tropical and subtropical countries all over the world. In Ghana, cowpea is primarily prepared [...]

Traditional processing and street vending of foods is a vital activity in the informal sector of the Ghanaian economy and offers livelihood for a large number of traditional food processors. Kenkey is a fermented maize 'dumpling' produced by traditional food processors in Ghana. Ga and Fante kenkey have received research attention and there is a lot of scientific information on kenkey production. White kenkey produced from dehulled maize grains is a less known kind of kenkey. A survey was held in three districts of Ghana to study production, vending and consumption of white kenkey and to identify major bottlenecks related to production, which can be addressed in studies to re-package kenkey for a wider market. Questionnaires were designed for producers, vendors and consumers of white kenkey to collate information on Socio-cultural data, processing technologies, frequency of production and consumption, product shelf life, reasons for consumption and quality attributes important to consumers using proportional sampling. The survey was conducted in white kenkey production zones and trade centers. Results showed that production of white kenkey is done on small-scale levels by middle-aged women in households with 10-50 kg of dehulled maize processed into white kenkey, 1-3 times weekly. A third (28%) of the women processed up to 50-100 kg of maize per week. Although 62% of vendors sell 50-100 balls of white kenkey daily, 15% of them sell more than 170 balls. Majority of consumers (45.9%) liked white kenkey because of its convenience (ready-to-eat). Texture and taste were quality attributes desired by kenkey consumers. Producers did not have written records of process controls and product throughputs. Inspite of their cottage nature, production of white kenkey is a profitable employment for producers and vendors and is popular among consumers. Product improvement, process and product characteristics could offer scale-up criteria for development of white kenkey production using standardized procedures for steeping times, steeping temperature and fermentation times.Key words: maize, white kenkey, value chain, traditional, product development, re-engineering, INTRODUCTIONKenkey is one of the most popular traditional fermented maize foods in Ghana. It is prepared from maize that has been fermented into a sour meal and subsequently cooked. The [...]

Introduction: In West Africa, the prevalence of sickle cell disease (SCD) is 2%. The disease adversely affects growth, development and organ function including the kidneys. There is however a dearth of information about the renal status of SCD children in Ghana. Objectives: To assess the renal status of children with SCD in steady state. Design: A cross-sectional case-control study. Setting: Paediatric Sickle Cell Clinic, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra. Participants: Cases-357 SCD cases and 70 of their HbAA siblings as controls. Methods: Documentation of their socio-demographic data, clinical data and dipstick urinalysis findings, and renal ultrasonography on selected participants. Results: The mean [SD] age was 7.18 [3.15]yrs for cases and 5.16[3.28]yrs for controls. The genotypes were Hb SS (76.7%), Hb SC (21.8 %), and Hb Sβthal (1.4%). Urinalysis showed leucocyturia in 12.6% versus 5.7% (χ²=62.5 and the p=0.000)), isolated proteinuria in 2.8% versus 1.43% (χ² =10.01 and p=0.001) haematuria in 2.6% versus 0% (χ² =9.233, p=0.002) and nitrites in 2.2% versus 1.4% (χ² =16.3,p=0.02) of cases and controls respectively. The youngest SCD case with proteinuria was 2yrs. old. Proteinuria prevalence increased with age, , occurring in 5.7% of cases aged 9-11yrs. and 20.6% of cases aged 12yrs. Two-thirds of the proteinuria cases were aged 9-12yrs., of whom 50% were aged 12yrs. Renal ultrasound findings were normal in all those examined. Conclusion: Urinary abnormalities suggesting nephropathy occur early in SCD patients in Ghana. Routine dipstick screening at clinic visits countrywide would help early detection and prompt intervention to limit renal impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Equity-deserving groups are communities marginalized from institutional power by oppressive forces (e.g., racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism). Dear MD to Be is a medical-student-led podcast created to interview physicians of intersectional backgrounds about their institutional experience. This study aims to evaluate the podcast as a tool for knowledge, mentorship, and psychological safety for equity-deserving listeners., Methods: Between February and March 2022, we recruited medical students across all levels of training from English-speaking Canadian medical schools using email listservs and social media. We disseminated a cross-sectional questionnaire assessing demographics, knowledge gained from podcast engagement, attitudes towards podcasts as a tool for mentorship, and psychological/emotional gains from the podcast content. We conducted descriptive and frequency analyses of quantitative data and applied thematic analysis to qualitative data., Results: Thirty-eight individuals completed the entire survey from all levels of training, with 97% self-identifying with at least one equity-deserving group. 100% agreed that the Dear MD to Be podcast was an accessible form of mentorship; participants appreciated self-pacing mentorship and interacting with many narratives. Listeners gleaned lessons about wellness, advocacy work, allyship, cultural imposter syndrome, and navigating discrimination. Furthermore, most listeners felt represented, empowered, and legitimized by podcast content., Conclusions: Podcasts can serve as a medium for accessible equity-centred mentorship. By disseminating multiple underrepresented narratives in medicine, the Dear MD to Be podcast serves as a source of EDI knowledge while contributing to learner safety., Competing Interests: There are no other conflicts of interest to declare., (© 2024 Kherani, Osei-Yeboah, Bushra, Mahendiran, Inibhunu, Mylopoulus, Law; licensee Synergies Partners.)

Introduction: Adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa have heightened risk for mental health and psychosocial burden owing to their exposure to a multiplicity of adverse conditions such as stigma and discrimination. However, there is no comprehensive evidence synthesis and evaluation of the effectiveness of mental health interventions for adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in this region. We aim to conduct a systematic review to synthesise the literature on existing mental health interventions for adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa., Methods and Analysis: This review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guidelines. Eligible studies will include those investigating the effectiveness of psychosocial, psychological or other forms of interventions on mental health outcomes, conducted in sub-Saharan African countries and involving adolescents (aged 10-19 years) living with HIV/AIDS. Comprehensive searches will be conducted in electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus and PsycINFO) and grey literature sources. The search will be restricted to studies published from 2004 onwards and in the English language. Study authors will be contacted, and reference lists of retrieved articles will be reviewed for additional papers. Study selection and data extraction will be performed by two independent reviewers, with any disagreements resolved by consensus or involving a third party. A narrative synthesis will be conducted, and if possible, meta-analyses will be performed to estimate the overall effect sizes of interventions on mental health outcomes. Eligible studies will undergo quality assessment using standardised criteria appropriate for each respective study design., Ethics and Dissemination: No primary data collection will be undertaken; therefore, no ethical approval is required. The findings of this review will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant conferences., Prospero Registration Number: CRD42024538975., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.)

Background: The incorporation of functional food ingredients in chocolate that seek to eliminate, if not completely, most of the added sugar content, as well as the use of alternative chocolate production techniques, have gained popularity in recent years. This study aimed to incorporate red beetroot powder into dark chocolate and investigate the effect of red beetroot powder concentration and processing time in a melanger on the physicochemical properties, sensory profile and consumer acceptability of beetroot dark chocolate., Results: The addition of red beetroot powder increased the moisture content, particle size distribution and hardness of the chocolates, while the opposite was true for processing time with no effect on the colour. Except for taste, which had an average score of 3.2 ± 1.8 on the 7-point hedonic scale, consumers scored all the other sensory attributes of the chocolates above 4.0. Among the chocolates with red beetroot powder, samples with a 15% red beetroot powder addition had a high average overall acceptability score of >5, while the 30% sample scored <4., Conclusion: Red beetroot powder can be used to replace sugar in dark chocolate without affecting its physicochemical properties, sensory profile or consumer acceptability. However, the target market should be considered when determining the level of red beetroot powder incorporation in terms of chocolate taste. This research has the potential to improve the overall health-promoting properties of dark chocolate by eliminating added sugar (partially or completely). It would also help to diversify beetroot utilization, allow small-scale processors to venture into chocolate production and expand the small-scale chocolate value chain. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is under-monitored in Africa, with few reports characterizing resistant bacteria from the environment. This study examined physicochemical parameters, chemical contaminants and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in waste stabilization pond effluents, hospital wastewater and domestic wastewater from four sewerage sites in Kumasi. The bacteria isolates were sequenced. Three sites exceeded national guidelines for total suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand and electrical conductivity. Although sulfamethoxazole levels were low, the antibiotic was detected at all sites. Multi-drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated with multi-locus sequence typing identifying K. pneumoniae strains as ST18 and ST147, and P. aeruginosa as ST235, all of clinical relevance. A comparison of ST147 genomes with isolates from human infections in Africa showed remarkable similarity and shared AMR profiles. Thirteen of the twenty-one plasmids from ST147 harbored at least one AMR gene, including blaCTX-M-15 linked to copper-resistance genes. Our study demonstrated high bacterial counts and organic matter in the analysed wastewater. The recovery of clinically significant isolates with multiple antibiotic and heavy metal resistance genes from the wastewater samples raises public health concerns., (© 2024 The Author(s). Environmental Microbiology Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

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).)

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.)

Background: The development of functional foods is receiving increased recognition as a result of the general interest in healthy diets as part of a healthier lifestyle. This project sought to incorporate red beetroot in dark chocolate and investigate the effect of beetroot powder concentration and processing time on the chocolates' bioactive compound composition, antioxidant capacity, and sugar content., Results: The results showed the presence of bioactive compounds such as betalains and vitamin C in the red beetroot with relatively high antioxidant capacity. The addition of beetroot powder to dark chocolate increased the majority of the bioactive compounds (e.g. catechin, epicatechin, betalains, vitamin C) while at the same time increasing the antioxidant capacity. It also resulted in a decrease in sugar content. Except for vitamin C, processing for more than 12 h had an increasing effect on the majority of the bioactive compounds. Beetroot powder incorporation at a maximum of 30% and processing for 24 h was regarded as optimal., Conclusion: Overall, the present study suggests that red beetroot powder could be added to dark chocolates and processed for more than 12 h to increase the bioactive compounds and overall antioxidant capacity. This research would help to diversify beetroot utilization, reduce post-harvest losses, and improve the overall health-promoting properties of dark chocolate for improved consumer well-being. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Dengue fever is expanding as a global public health threat including countries within Africa. For the past few decades, Cameroon has experienced sporadic cases of arboviral infections including dengue fever. Here, we conducted genomic analyses to investigate the origin and phylogenetic profile of Cameroon DENV-1 outbreak strains and predict the impact of emerging therapeutics on these strains. Bayesian and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic inference approaches were employed in virus evolutionary analyses. An in silico analysis was performed to assess the divergence in immunotherapeutic and vaccine targets in the new genomes. Six complete DENV-1 genomes were generated from 50 samples that met a clinical definition for DENV infection. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the strains from the current study belong to a sub-lineage of DENV-1 genotype V and form a monophyletic taxon with a 2012 strain from Gabon. The most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) of the Cameroon and Gabon strains was estimated to have existed around 2008. Comparing our sequences to the vaccine strains, 19 and 15 amino acid (aa) substitutions were observed in the immuno-protective prM-E protein segments of the Dengvaxia® and TetraVax-DV-TV003 vaccines, respectively. Epitope mapping revealed mismatches in aa residues at positions E155 and E161 located in the epitope of the human anti-DENV-1 monoclonal antibody HMAb 1F4. The new DENV strains constitute a conserved genomic pool of viruses endemic to the Central African region that needs prospective monitoring to track local viral evolution. Further work is needed to ascertain the performance of emerging therapeutics in DENV strains from the African region.

Commercial poultry feed required for proper growth of birds and egg production contains essential nutrients with maize as key component. Inadequately dried maize is prone to aflatoxin contamination and therefore when used in feed formulation for poultry may compromise the safety of the feeds and poultry products. This study investigated the levels of aflatoxins in feed ingredients, feed and poultry products sampled from Eastern and Greater -Accra regions of Ghana. The aflatoxin levels of B 1, B 2, G 1, and G 2 were determined using a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) methodology. Main feed ingredients used were fishmeal, cotton seed cake, soya meal, rice, wheat and maize bran as well as maize grains. There was correlation between the level of aflatoxins and moisture content in poultry feed ingredients. All the poultry feeds (100 %) analysed showed the presence of aflatoxins with total aflatoxins recorded ranging from 5.32 to 29.88 μg/kg. Maize samples of the poultry feeds, from all two regions, revealed maize to be a major contributor to the overall total aflatoxin contents found in the feed. Five (5) out of ten (10) communities investigated in the two (2) regions where the poultry feeds were examined recorded total aflatoxin levels in maize above the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA) specification of 20 μg/kg. Aflatoxins G 1 and G 2 were not detected in all samples of chicken meat and eggs. Total aflatoxin levels recorded for all chicken meat and eggs were below GSA specification of 5 μg/kg; implying that these products were safe for consumption., Competing Interests: The auth\ors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Malaria remains the leading cause of acute febrile illness (AFI) in Africa despite successful control measures and programs. Acute febrile illnesses can be misdiagnosed as malaria as a result of the overlapping spectrum of nonspecific symptoms or may not be pursued because of limited diagnostic capabilities. This study investigated potential etiologies of AFIs in Ghana and determined the relationship between coinfection between malaria and Q fever, leptospirosis, and culturable bacteria in febrile patients. Participants were enrolled between July 2015 and December 2019 from four Ghanaian military treatment facilities. Of the 399 febrile participants, 222 (55.6%) males and 177 (44.6%) females were enrolled. Malaria was diagnosed in 275 (68.9%) participants. Malaria coinfection occurred with leptospirosis, Q fever, and blood-cultured bacteria in 11/206 (5.3%), 24/206 (11.7%), and 6/164 (3.7%) participants, respectively. Among the 124 malaria-negative samples, the positivity rates were 4.1% (3/74), 8.1% (6/74), and 3.6% (2/56) for leptospirosis, Q fever, and bacterial pathogens isolated from blood culture, respectively. The majority of documented clinical signs and symptoms were not significantly associated with specific diseases. Approximately 10% of malaria-positive participants also had evidence suggesting the presence of a bacterial coinfection. Therefore, even in the case of a positive malaria test, other pathogens contributing to febrile illness should be considered. Understanding the frequency of malaria coinfection and other etiological agents responsible for AFIs will improve diagnosis and treatment and better inform public health knowledge gaps in Ghana.