A5079944523- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Respiratory viral infections research
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Reproductive tract infections research
- Syphilis Diagnosis and Treatment
- Hepatitis Viruses Studies and Epidemiology
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Veterinary medicine and infectious diseases
- COVID-19 diagnosis using AI
- Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Antibiotic Use and Resistance
- Poxvirus research and outbreaks
- Sex work and related issues
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
2019-2024
Freie Universität Berlin
2021-2022
Institut Pasteur de Madagascar
2022
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
2020-2021
Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine
2019-2021
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
2013-2021
Kwame Nkrumah University
2020
University of Science and Technology
2020
University of Bonn
2019
Yaws, caused by Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue, is reportedly endemic in Ghana. Mass distribution of azithromycin now the cornerstone WHO yaws eradication campaign. at a lower target dose was previously undertaken two regions Ghana for control trachoma. Ongoing reporting raises possibility that resistance may have emerged T. or alternative infections be responsible some reported cases. We conducted cross-sectional survey thirty communities districts where MDA trachoma had been conducted....
Abstract Background Rabies, caused by a lyssavirus, is viral zoonosis that affects people in many parts of the world, especially those low income countries. Contact with domestic animals, dogs, main source human infections. Humans may present disease only after long period exposure. Nearly half rabies cases occur children <15 years old. We report on fatal case Ghanaian school child 5 exposure incident, and vital role molecular tools confirmation diagnosis. Case presentation The patient,...
Background Global cases of COVID-19 continue to rise, causing havoc several economies. So far, Ghana has recorded 48,643 confirmed with 320 associated deaths. Although summaries data are usually provided by the Ministry Health, detailed epidemiological profile limited. This study sought describe socio-demographic features, pattern spread and viral load dynamics among subjects residing in northern, middle part southern belt Ghana. Methods was a cross-sectional retrospective that reviewed...
Since late 2019, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has rapidly evolved to become a global pandemic. Each country was affected but with varying number of infected cases and mortality rates. Africa hit pandemic rose sharply. In this study, we investigated 224 SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences from Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID) in early part which 69 were Africa. We analyzed total 550 mutations comparing them reference sequence Wuhan....
Background The declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic on March 11 2020, by the World Health Organisation prompted need for sustained and rapid international response. In swift response, Government Ghana, in partnership with Zipline company, launched use Unmanned Automated Vehicles (UAV) to transport suspected samples from selected districts two foremost testing centres country. Here, we present experiences employing this technology its impact time second largest centre, Kumasi Centre...
A dose of 30 mg/kg azithromycin is recommended for treatment yaws, a disease targeted global eradication. Treatment with 20 the elimination trachoma as public health problem. In some settings, these diseases are co-endemic. We aimed to determine efficacy compared active and latent yaws. did non-inferiority, open-label, randomised controlled trial in children aged 6-15 years who were recruited from schools Ghana community Papua New Guinea. Participants enrolled based on presence clinical...
The study was conducted to determine the factors that influenced liana species richness and structure in forests of different disturbance intensities (high, moderate, low forests) Southern Scarp Forest Reserve, Ghana. Within each forest, lianas (dbh cm) were enumerated six m 2 plots located along transects. Soil physicochemical properties forest determined within plots. Liana abundance significantly lower high () whereas basal area higher (). Tree dbh predicted On basis importance value...
Abstract Background Apart from the huge worldwide economic losses often occasioned by bovine coronavirus (BCoV) to livestock industry, particularly with respect cattle rearing, continuous surveillance of virus in and small ruminants is essential monitoring variations that could enhance host switching. In this study, we collected rectal swabs a total 1,498 cattle, sheep goats. BCoV detection was based on reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Sanger sequencing partial RNA-dependent...
Dog-mediated rabies is responsible for approximately 60,000 human deaths annually worldwide. Although dog slaughter consumption and its potential risk transmission has been reported, mainly in some parts of Western Africa South-East Asia, more information on this factors that influence meat required a better understanding from places like Ghana where the practice common. We tested 144 brain tissues apparently healthy dogs slaughtered presence viruses using Lyssavirus-specific real-Time...
Known human coronaviruses are believed to have originated in animals and made use of intermediate hosts for transmission humans. The most the known, but not HCoV-NL63. This study aims assess possible role some major domestic livestock species as We developed a testing algorithm high throughput screening sera with ELISA confirmation recombinant immunofluorescence assay antibodies against HCoV-NL63 livestock. Optimization showed capability significantly distinguish from HCoV-229E (U = 27.50, p...
The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), continues to remain a global challenge. There is emerging evidence of SARS-CoV-2 virus found in the blood patients from China and some developed countries. However, there inadequate data reported Ghana other parts Africa, where transfusion service heavily relies on voluntary replacement donors. This study aimed investigate whether plasma infected individuals could pose...
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of human hepatitis worldwide. Zoonotic genotypes the have been found in diverse animal species with pigs playing role. Putative risk zoonotic infection from livestock particularly swine Sub-Saharan Africa including Ghana poorly understood due to scarcity available data, especially HEV sequence information.Serum samples were collected cattle, sheep, goats and Kumasi Ashanti region Ghana. Samples subjected nested RT-PCR screening quantification...
The emergence of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), nearly a decade ago with worldwide distribution, was believed to be zoonotic origin from bats dromedary camels as intermediate hosts. There is likelihood other domestic livestock serving hosts for this virus. presence coronaviruses, closely related MERS-CoV in Ghanaian bats, presented the opportunity test hypothesis transmissibility virus through species. possible interactions between and 31 household farms were...
This retrospective study highlights the degree of losses and time-course through which 2015 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in Ghana were managed. A total 102 760 birds from 35 farms across five regions included this affected. Out this, 89.3% was Greater Accra region. Majority culled (94.2%). Adult layers most affected destroyed (64.0%), followed by broilers (13.7%). Event initiation to reporting averaged 7.7 ± 1.3 days (range: 1-30 days). Laboratory confirmation...
Introduction: acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs) are responsible for significant proportions of illnesses and deaths annually. Most ARIs viral etiology, with human coronaviruses (HCoVs) playing a key role. This study was conducted prior to the outbreak severe syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) provide evidence about sero-epidemiology HCoVs in rural areas Ghana.
Abstract Respiratory viral infections are important causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Information on circulating respiratory viruses among prisoners is lacking, although this public health importance knowledge would assist in putting place preventive measures to forestall disease outbreaks. The aim study therefore was get the footprint such diseases that have epidemic potential be described quantified for control. Prisoners remand numbering 203 a prison Kumasi, Ashanti Regional...
Abstract Background Encephalitis is a serious disease of the brain characterized by prodromal and specific neurological symptoms. HIV infections offer opportunistic viruses, such as Varicella-zoster virus (VZV), chance to cause encephalitis in patients. There lack information on genetic diversity VZV Ghana other parts Africa which requires sequencing characterization studies address. The active evolution HIV-1 West also continuous surveillance for emergence new forms. Case presentation was...
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected healthcare systems worldwide, impacting the occurrence and management of respiratory illnesses. This also influenced infections’ role in childhood mortality. Surveillance common viruses Ghana is limited, making it crucial to assess prevalence viral infections, particularly children, post-pandemic era. study aimed determine identify associated risk factors children aged 5 or younger an urban paediatric hospital setting. Methods was...
Viral encephalitis is a rare, yet severe neurological disorder. It poses significant public health threat due to its high morbidity and mortality. Despite the disproportionate burden of disease in impoverished African countries, true extent problem remains elusive scarcity accurate diagnostic methods. The absence timely effective tools, particularly Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction, has led misguided treatment, an underestimation Ghana. We conducted prospective cross-sectional study...
Colonization of SARS-CoV-2 with specific bacteria may either protect or increase the risk disease severity. This study aimed to identify microbial organisms in lower respiratory tract and their association infection. was a cross-sectional conducted between May 2020 August 2021 at Tamale Public Health Laboratory Northern part Ghana. RT-PCRs for bacteriological cultures were performed on sputum samples collected from suspected COVID-19 patients. Biochemical identification antimicrobial...
Abstract Background Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is among the leading causes of viral hepatitis in most developing countries. Zoonotic acquisition HEV genotype 3 from swine has come into focus more recently. Available studies on Ghana and other countries region do not provide enough information towards understanding epidemiology human animal populations. Towards this end, we conducted a comparative cross-sectional study to determine seroprevalence risk factors associated with exposure, both...
Abstract Background : Apart from the huge worldwide economic losses often occasioned by bovine coronavirus (BCoV) to livestock industry particularly cattle, continuous surveillance of virus in cattle and small ruminants is essential monitoring variations that could enhance host switching. In this study, we collected rectal swabs a total 1,498 sheep goats. BCoV detection was based on reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Sanger sequencing partial RNA-dependent RNA (RdRp) region for...
In regions lacking genomic data, analysis of sequences from the early stages an outbreak can provide important insights into diversity pathogens present. Following detection first imported case COVID-19 in Northern sector Ghana on 13th March 2020, we have now molecularly characterized and phylogenetically analysed including three (3) complete genomes severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) isolated nine (9) patients observed Ghana. Eight (8) these reported with a recent...