Journal of the Ghana Science Association最新文献

{"title":"Gamma radiation processing of Clam (Galatea paradoxa Born 1778) from the Volta River estuary for microbiological decontamination.","authors":"C. Amoah, G. Odamtten, P. Akpedonu","doi":"10.4314/jgsa.v12i2.62802","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/jgsa.v12i2.62802","url":null,"abstract":"The Clam ( Galatea paradoxa Born 1778) is a dermesal dweller of riverine water and filter feed by passing water through gut concentrating particulate matter including bacteria in the gut and mantle. Microbial profile of contaminating bacteria and their sensitivity to gamma irradiation (0 – 20 kGy) were ascertained in vivo and in vitro under laboratory conditions. Conventional cul-tural and morphological characteristics were used to detect the resident Total Aerobic Bacteria (TAB), Total Heterotrophic and Total Coliform bacteria (TC) populations in the clam and the species encountered were confirmed using biochemical methods and the API 20E identification kit. Twenty (20) bacteria species in the samples belonged to 18 genera (Acinetobacter, Aeromo-nas, Chromobacterium, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Flavobacterium, Klebsiella, Mi-crococcus, Morganella, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Serratia, Staphylococcus, Strepto-coccus, Vibrio and Yersinia) predominated by Acinetobacter (22%), Staphylococcus aureus (12%) and Klebsiella ornitholytica (11%) in the clam mantle and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (32%), Klebsiella ornitholytica (24%) and Flavobacterium meningosepticum (12%) in the water. A dose of 20 kGy eliminated all microorganisms in the “in vitro” studies; at 15 kGy only two bacteria species Micrococcus radiodurans and Vibrio cholera survived. The most radio resistant species was M. radiodurans (D10=6.19 kGy), followed by Vibrio cholera (D10=5.2 kGy). A dose of 10 kGy eliminated Staphylococcus aureus (D10=1.7 kGy). Practical implications from these find-ings are discussed in the light of food safety of preserved clams.","PeriodicalId":301438,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Ghana Science Association","volume":"43 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125727749","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiological survey of soil-transmitted helminths in occupational risk groups and non school going children in the Kintampo North District of Ghana.","authors":"S. Tay, W. A. Twum, H. H. Abruquah","doi":"10.4314/JGSA.V12I2.62809","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JGSA.V12I2.62809","url":null,"abstract":"Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) remain a major health threat to humans especially children throughout the world, mostly in developing nations including Ghana. The present de-worming programme by the Ministry of Health is only for children of school-going age; hence occupa-tional risk groups and non-school going children may remain as sources of infection throughout the year. The aim of this study was to conduct a survey on STHs in occupational risk groups and non-school going children in the Kintampo North District of the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. Seven hundred and eleven (711) individuals made up of occupational risk groups and non-school going children, between the ages of 1-90 years, were recruited in a cross sectional survey in six (6) rural communities in the Kintampo North District for various STHs. All faecal samples collected were analyzed using the Kato-Katz method which is recognized as the gold standard for the diagnosis of intestinal helminths. A total of 443 (62.3%) individuals were infected with at least one intestinal parasite. Parasites isolated included hookworm, 376/711 (52.9%); Ascaris lumbricoides, 15 (2.1%); Trichuris trichiura, 6 (0.8%); Hymenolepis nana, 38 (5.3%) and Tae-nia spp., 8 (1.1%). Hookworm prevalence was higher in all the six communities (p 0.05). Hookworm intensities observed included 362/376 (96.3%) light infections, 10 (2.7%) moderate infections and 4 (1.1%) heavy infections. All the observed cases of Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura were of light intensities. The incidence rate of STH infection declined with age with the highest of 151/225 observed in the 1-10 age group. The highest prevalence of 81.1% (99/122) was however recorded among the 11-20 age group. Overall prevalence of intestinal parasite infection was found to be 62.3%. Hookworm is the predominant STH found among the general populace. The most affected risk groups are the non-school going children. General knowledge on STHs among the community members is low, with poor attitudes and practices towards STH prevention, control and treat-ment. It is recommended that future MoH de-worming programmes should include non-school going children and occupational risk groups.","PeriodicalId":301438,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Ghana Science Association","volume":"48 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124505210","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Improving the Efficiency of Inland Valley Rice Production in Northern Ghana","authors":"S. Donkoh, J. Awuni, R. Namara","doi":"10.4314/JGSA.V12I2.62818","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JGSA.V12I2.62818","url":null,"abstract":"In northern Ghana rice cultivation is believed to have a great potential in reducing poverty lev-els. Despite this, present yields are generally low due to lack of water control systems, high level of risks caused by uneven rainfall distribution, and inefficient farming practices. Against this background three interventions have been introduced in the Tamale area of the Northern Re-gion of Ghana, namely: the Agence Francaise de Development /Ministry of Food and Agricul-ture Lowland Rice Development Project (AFD/MOFA-LRDP); the Transfer of Effective Irriga-tion and Water Resources Management Project (TEIWRMT); and the Gollinga Irrigation Scheme of the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA). The objective of this paper is to identify the socio-economic factors that influence the inefficiency of farmers under the three rice cultivation schemes. The method of analysis involves a one-step estimation of a stochastic fron-tier model. Though the average efficiency is low, it is relatively high for intensive rice cultivation with improved water harvesting schemes such as bunds and water regulating structures. Other factors that reduce farmers’ inefficiency are: education; extension visits; farmers’ experience and group membership. However, general inaccessibility increases farmers’ inefficiency. To help bring the much needed development in northern Ghana it is important that rice cultivation be supported with more of the following: water harvesting and regulating structures; improve-ment in the road net-work; as well as education and extension services, among others.","PeriodicalId":301438,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Ghana Science Association","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127074068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determination of heavy metals and human health risk assessment of road dust on the Tema motorway and Tetteh Quarshie interchange in Accra, Ghana","authors":"S. Atiemo, F. Ofosu, I. Aboh, P. Yeboah","doi":"10.4314/JGSA.V12I2.62816","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JGSA.V12I2.62816","url":null,"abstract":"Street dust samples were collected from Tema Motorway (near Ashiaman overhead) and Tetteh Quarshie interchange in Accra. The samples were segregated into two groups of grain sizes be-tween 100 um - 250 um and the other being less than 100 um. Energy dispersive X-ray flores-cence technique was used to determine their elemental compositions. In all twenty (20) elements were identified: K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr and Pb. The results show significant concentrations levels of K, Ca, Ti Pb, Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr and Cr in all the samples. Enrichment factors determined for the elements show high enrich-ment of V, Zn, Cu, Zr, Cr, Br and Pb from the sample sites. There was no indication of signifi-cant anthropogenic contribution of manganese (Mn) which gave average enrichment factor val-ues of 0.60 and 0.78 in the road dust at the Tema motorway and Tetteh Quarshie Interchange respectively. Risk assessment of selected heavy metal contaminants from both sites indicate that Pb gave Hazard Index (HI) values of 0.56 and 0.62 which falls below the safe level of one (1). It was also observed that ingestion which gave HI values of 2.1 and 2.3 was the highest risk of ex-posure pathway. Tetteh Quarshie Interchange gave the highest cumulative risk of exposure.","PeriodicalId":301438,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Ghana Science Association","volume":"12 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116016737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"New sources of resistance in cowpea to the cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch) (Homoptera: Aphididae).","authors":"F. Kusi, D. Obeng-Ofori, S. Asante, F. Padi","doi":"10.4314/JGSA.V12I2.62811","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JGSA.V12I2.62811","url":null,"abstract":"Twenty-two advanced breeding genotypes of cowpea were evaluated for their responses to infes-tation by the cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch. The aim of the study was to identify geno-type(s) of cowpea resistant to A. craccivora to be used as breeding line(s). Seedling screening technique and aphid growth and reproduction on each genotype were used to classify the geno-types into resistant and susceptible groups. The cowpea genotypes SARC 1-57-2 and SARC 1-91-1 were found to be the most resistant genotypes, whereas five of the genotypes namely, Apag-baala, IT 97K-499-35, IT 98K-506-1, IT 95K-193-2 and Marfo-Tuya were highly susceptible. The high susceptibility of the IITA lines must be a cause for concern, particularly the IT 97K-499-35 line which is known to be resistant to A. craccivora in Nigeria. This suggests the exis-tence of cowpea aphid biotype in northern Ghana which is more virulent than the biotypes in Nigeria. The results support earlier findings of the development of aphid biotypes that are more aggressive and are not controlled by the aphid resistance varieties of cowpea developed by IITA for Nigeria.","PeriodicalId":301438,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Ghana Science Association","volume":"65 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131119414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anti-Typhoid Properties of Phyllanthus Amarus Extracts","authors":"G. Adukpo, N. Dayie, J. Adotey, G. Fuachie-Sobreh, J. Quaynor, D. Agyirifo","doi":"10.4314/jgsa.v12i2.62812","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/jgsa.v12i2.62812","url":null,"abstract":"Phyllanthus amarus is a medicinal plant belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae and commonly known as ‘carry-me-seed’ or quinine weed. The whole plant was subjected to solvent extractions using petroleum ether and ethanol. Both crude extracts were tested for antimicrobial activity against Salmonella typhi using agar well-diffusion method of sensitivity testing. The crude etha-nolic extract showed good inhibitory effect against the bacteria but the petroleum ether extract showed no activity. The crude ethanol extract was subjected to column chromatographic separa-tion using dichloromethane: ethyl acetate (DCM/EA) solvent system. The column was finally eluted with methanol. The fractions eluted from the column were tested against the Salmonella typhi. The organism was sensitive to the methanol fractions at different concentrations (4.37mg/ml, 8.75mg/ml, 17.50mg/ml, 35.00mg/ml and 70.00mg/ml) with a zone of inhibition of 8mm, 12mm, 16mm, 20mm, and 22mm respectively. The Salmonella typhi was insensitive to the DCM/EA fractions. Phytochemical screening tests performed on the crude ethanolic extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, steroids, saponins, lignans, tannins and flavonoids.","PeriodicalId":301438,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Ghana Science Association","volume":"89 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130758693","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Length-Weight Relationship and Distribution of Tympanotonus Fuscata (Mollusca: Potamididae) in Brenu Lagoon, Ghana","authors":"J. Aggrey-Fynn","doi":"10.4314/jgsa.v12i2.62796","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/jgsa.v12i2.62796","url":null,"abstract":"A total of 1894 specimens of Tympanotonus fuscata were obtained by random sampling with Ekman grab from Brenu Lagoon to determine the size distribution of the organism as a result of perceived human predation on the resource in the area. Samples of the edible snail were col-lected monthly from November 2003 to October 2004, and the physico-chemical parameters de-termined for the entire study period. Variations were observed in the quarterly mean density (numbers/cm3) of the snails in all the four sampling stations A to D with values ranging from 18.67±4.81 to 99.00±17.80 at station A, 21.67±7.06 to 29.33±4.41 at station B, 21.70±10.50 to 71.70±12.30 at station C and 9.67±7.22 to 41.30±5.70/ cm3 at station D. There were patchy distri-butions of the snail in the lagoon at replicate stations which might be due to the variation of physical conditions in the water. The height-weight relationship of the snail indicates negative allometric growth with high individual variability and the body weight was most closely related to the shell height (R 2 = 0.89). The snails in Brenu Lagoon were not growing to the large size this was observed in size frequency distribution. The modal size class was 1.5 – 1.9 cm. The domination of smaller snail size could be due to human predation pressure on the larger snails and or the effect of physical and chemical factors that prevail in Brenu Lagoon.","PeriodicalId":301438,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Ghana Science Association","volume":"30 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129028780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Numerical Taxonomy and Morphological Variation of Cultivated Okra Species ( Abelmoschus Esculentus and A. Caillei ) in Ghana","authors":"M. Essilfie, I. Asante, L. Enu-Kwes, C. Markwei","doi":"10.4314/JGSA.V12I1.56808","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JGSA.V12I1.56808","url":null,"abstract":"A numerical taxonomic study was conducted to investigate the patterns of morphological and phenological variations in 45 okra accessions from different agroecological zones of Ghana dur-ing the rainy season of 2005. The results of the study showed that there were two main phenetic groupings of okra accessions in Ghana based on both 14 quantitative and 17 qualitative mor-phological and phenological characteristics. These two phenetic groupings could be tentatively linked to the taxonomic descriptions of A. esculentus and A. caillei accessions. Morphological and phenological characters like stem diameter, leaf length, petiole length, fruit positions and days to flower opening were identified as diagnostic characters that could be used to separate okra accessions in Ghana into A. esculentus and A. caillei. The study also indicated that there was a weak agroecological adaptation among the 45 okra accessions and therefore agroecologi-cal origins of the various accessions could not be used as one of the criteria in the development okra core collection in Ghana.","PeriodicalId":301438,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Ghana Science Association","volume":"39 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114569225","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phylogenetic Analysis of the Bee Tribe Anthidiini","authors":"R. Combey, P. Kwapong, C. Eardley, M. Botchey","doi":"10.4314/JGSA.V12I1.56803","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JGSA.V12I1.56803","url":null,"abstract":"The phylogenetic relationships among members of long tongue bee tribe Anthidiini (Megachilidae: Megachilinae) were investigated at the Department of Entomology and Wildlife, University of Cape Coast (Ghana) and the Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria (South Af-rica) from July, 2006 to May, 2007. Ten museums located in three continents loaned the 990 specimens used for the studies. Thirty-three ingroup taxa out of the 37 known genera of the world’s Anthidiini and two outgroup genera, were included in a cladistic analysis of the tribe based on 51 adult external morphological characters. The cladograms yielded three major clades which have been erected as subtribes for the world’s Anthidiini, namely Afranthidina, Anthidina and Euaspina. Monophyly of the Anthidiini was confirmed. Based on the result of the cladistic analysis and biogeographic data, it is suggested that the origin and center of radiation for the Anthidiini probably occurred in the southern pantropic region (Southern Africa to South East Asia) of Gondwana. A second and independent migration to the Neotropical region by the prob-able ancestors of the current Neotropic genera is also conceivable.","PeriodicalId":301438,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Ghana Science Association","volume":"74 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126394949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Soybean peptide as additive on yellow feather broiler chicks: nutritional and biochemical profiles.","authors":"P. Wallace, L. Yang","doi":"10.4314/JGSA.V12I1.56812","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JGSA.V12I1.56812","url":null,"abstract":"The peptide under investigation was biotechnologically manufactured from non-GM soybean and sold on the Chinese market by China CF Duqing (Heze) Biotech Co. Ltd, Shandong Prov-ince, China. For the purpose of this study, the peptide was designated marketed soybean peptide (MSBP). In order to show its efficacy as growth promotant, it was used as additive in experimen-tal diets at the inclusion levels of 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4% and 0.5%. The control diet was mainly basal broiler starter feed. The duration of the study was 3 weeks. The total number of day-old-chicks used was 1,620 and the experimental design was such that it had 6 treatments of 6 repli-cates with 45 chicks per replicate. Six chicks were randomly selected from each replicate at the end of the study and blood samples as well as some organs were taken for biochemical assays. There were significant improvement in average daily weight gain (ADWG) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) in chicks fed diets containing 0.1% and 0.4% MSBP compared to those fed the other diets, including the control [P 0.05). The study further revealed that increasing the con-centration of MSBP in the diets did not cause a corresponding increase or decrease in the serum levels of AST, ACP, total protein, albumin and globulin. Also, MSBP, at all the levels of inclu-sion studied, resulted in significant serum cholesterol reduction compared to the control treat-ment (P<0.05) i.e. the cholesterol lowering ability of MSBP was established.","PeriodicalId":301438,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Ghana Science Association","volume":"2 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115594235","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}