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JOURNAL OF THE GHANA SCIENCE ASSOCIATION

Vol 23 (1) | Date of Publication: 4 January 2025 | ISSN: 2737-713X

Table of Contents

Indexed on Scopus
INSECTICIDE SUSCEPTIBILITY STATUS OF AEDES AEGYPTI (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE) AND THE RISK OF YELLOW FEVER TRANSMISSION IN THE SAVANNAH, UPPER EAST AND UPPER WEST REGIONS OF GHANA
Authors: Millicent Captain-Esoah*, Kwadwo K. Frempong, Philip Kweku Baidoo, Joseph Chabi, Dorothy Obuobi, Godwin Kwame Amlalo, Chrysantus Kubio, Samson Abah Abagale, Martin Ntiamoah Donkor, Francis Balungnaa Dhari Veriegh, Daniel Adjei Boakye, and Samuel Kweku Dadzie. Affiliations:
  1. Department of Applied Biology, School of Environment and Life Sciences, C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, Ghana.
  2. Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
  3. Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
  4. Vestergaard NMIMR Vector Labs, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Legon, Accra.
  5. Ghana Health Service, Regional Health Directorate, Savannah Region, Damongo, Ghana.
  6. Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Chemical and Biochemical Sciences, C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, Ghana.
  7. Department of Biochemistry and Forensic Sciences, School of Chemical and Biochemical Sciences, C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, Ghana.
  8. Department of Basic and Applied Biology, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana.
Corresponding Author: mcaptain-esoah@cktutas.edu.gh; SDadzie@noguchi.ug.edu.gh
Abstract: Aedes-borne diseases such as Yellow Fever and Dengue remain major public health challenges in many countries including Ghana. Ghana reported yellow fever in 2016 and recently in 2021 in the northern regions following an outbreak in neighbouring Burkina Faso. Sampling of Aedes mosquito larvae and adults was done in Damongo, Bolgatanga and Nadowli from 100 houses in each area using a stratified sampling method for 16 months, in the years 2015 and 2016. Standard methods were used to assess the risk of transmission and insecticide susceptibility status of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. A total of 6,630 Aedes mosquitoes were collected using larval sampling from all the three study areas. Out of this number, 34.0% were from Bolgatanga, 43.3% from Damongo and 22.3% from Nadowli. Among the Aedes species collected, 97% were Aedes aegypti, 2.8% were Aedes vittatus and 0.2% were Aedes simpsoni. All the study sites were identified as high risk by the high larval indices observed in 2015 and 2016. All the Aedes aegypti collected from Bolgatanga showed suspected resistance to deltamethrin, permethrin and propoxur based on WHO criteria (deltamethrin 94%, permethrin 93% and propoxur 96%). Aedes aegypti obtained from Damongo were resistant to pyrethroids but susceptible to carbamates. Out of the 200 Aedes aegypti tested, 130 (65%) had the kdr gene mutation (F1534C). Regular monitoring of insecticide resistance development in the Aedes population is necessary to help improve control strategies and reduce risk of yellow fever transmission in the study sites.

Keywords: Aedes aegypti, Insecticide Resistance, Yellow Fever, Dengue, Vector Control, Ghana.
MORPHOMETRIC TRAITS AS PREDICTORS OF LIVE BODY WEIGHT IN LARGE WHITE PIGS OF VARYING AGES
Authors: S.A. Ofori, B.A. Hagan*, J.K. Hagan, A. Yakubu, and N.E.T. Tor. Affiliations:
  1. Department of Animal Science, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
  2. Department of Animal Production and Health, School of Agriculture and Technology, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana.
  3. Department of Animal Science, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Lafia, Nigeria.
  4. Department of Animal Breeding and Physiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.
Corresponding Author: bernard.hagan@uenr.edu.gh
Abstract: The effects of four predictor variables (body length, heart girth, neck circumference, and head length) on the body weight of 240 intensively managed Large White pigs of different age categories were investigated. The models were developed for pigs categorized as piglets (less than 6 weeks), growers (6–15 weeks), finishers (16–24 weeks), and breeders (>24 weeks). Body weight was regressed on linear body measurements using stepwise multiple linear regression. Results showed that age and sex-associated differences were significant (p < 0.05) for all morphometric traits. Pearson correlations between body weight and morphometric traits ranged from 0.02–0.99 and 0.04–0.99 for male and female pigs, respectively. Head length (0.99) and heart girth (0.97) were most highly correlated with body weight in males and females under 6 weeks. The optimum regression equations achieved R2 values of 97.1% (male piglets) and 98.3% (female piglets). Heart girth alone predicted weight for pigs aged 0–15 weeks with 99.0% accuracy.

Keywords: Body length, Head length, Heart girth, Large White, Live weight, Neck circumference.