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Yeboah R, Gorman R, Acheampong HK, Nyarko-Afriyie E, Aryeetey S, Tetteh HD, Owusu M, Yeboah ES, Adade T, Bonney J, Amoako YA, El-Duah P, Obiri-Danso K, Drosten C, Phillips RO, Sylverken AA. Clinical epidemiology, determinants, and outcomes of viral encephalitis in Ghana; a cross-sectional study. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297277. [PMID: 38346087 PMCID: PMC10861038 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Viral encephalitis is a rare, yet severe neurological disorder. It poses a significant public health threat due to its high morbidity and mortality. Despite the disproportionate burden of the disease in impoverished African countries, the true extent of the problem remains elusive due to the scarcity of accurate diagnostic methods. The absence of timely and effective diagnostic tools, particularly Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction, has led to misguided treatment, and an underestimation of the disease burden in Ghana. We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study to determine the viral aetiologies of encephalitis among patients presenting to a major referral hospital in Ghana from May 2019 and August 2022. The study aimed at providing a comprehensive information on the clinical epidemiology, and outcomes of viral encephalitis in Ghana. Clinical samples were collected from patients presenting with signs and symptoms of encephalitis and tested for viral agents using real-time polymerase chain reaction. We assessed the clinical epidemiology, risk factors and outcome of individuals using descriptive and logistic regression analysis. Seventy-seven (77) patients were enrolled unto the study. The participants frequently presented with fever (85.7%), seizures (80.5%), lethargy (64.9%) and headache (50.6%). Viruses were detected in 40.3% of the study participants in either cerebrospinal fluid, rectal or oral swab samples. The most frequently detected viruses were cytomegalovirus (48.4%), enteroviruses (38.7%) and HSV (29.0%). Twenty-one (27.3%) of the patients died while on hospital admission. Gender (OR = 5.70 (1.536-1.172), p = 0.01), and negative polymerase chain reaction test results were identified as significant factors associated with death. Antiviral treatment increased the chance of survival of viral encephalitis patients by 21.8%. Our results validate the crucial role of molecular tools as essential for the rapid diagnosis of viral encephalitis, enabling effective treatment and improved patient outcomes. This study contributes valuable epidemiological and clinical insight into viral encephalitis in Ghana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richmond Yeboah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Richmond Gorman
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | | | - Sherihane Aryeetey
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Michael Owusu
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Medical Diagnostics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Titus Adade
- Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Joseph Bonney
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
- Emergency Medicine Directorate, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Yaw Ampem Amoako
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Philip El-Duah
- Institute of Virology, Charite, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kwasi Obiri-Danso
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Christian Drosten
- Institute of Virology, Charite, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Richard Odame Phillips
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Augustina Angelina Sylverken
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
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El-Duah P, Sylverken AA, Owusu M, Amoako YA, Yeboah R, Gorman R, Nyarko-Afriyie E, Schneider J, Jones TC, Bonney J, Adade T, Yeboah ES, Binger T, Corman VM, Drosten C, Phillips RO. Genetic characterization of varicella-zoster and HIV-1 viruses from the cerebrospinal fluid of a co-infected encephalitic patient, Ghana. Virol J 2022; 19:122. [PMID: 35883083 PMCID: PMC9327158 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-022-01854-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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), the chance to cause encephalitis in patients. There is a lack of information on the genetic diversity of VZV in Ghana and other parts of Africa which requires sequencing and characterization studies to address. The active evolution of HIV-1 in West Africa also requires continuous surveillance for the emergence of new genetic forms. CASE PRESENTATION VZV was detected in the CSF sample of an 11-year-old patient presenting with symptoms of encephalitis by real-time PCR diagnostics. To identify possible unknown aetiological pathogens, next-generation sequencing was performed, and revealed an HIV-1 co-infection. Alignments of concatenated HIV-1 genome fragments in the gag, pol, vif, env and nef regions and a near-complete VZV genome were analyzed by Bayesian inference, and phylogenetic trees were generated. The VZV sequence belongs to clade 5 and the HIV-1 sequence is a member of the CRF02_AG predominant circulating recombinant form in Ghana. CONCLUSIONS Diagnostic tests for CSF HIV would be useful where possible in patients presenting with encephalitis due to VZV and other opportunistic viruses in Kumasi to shed light on the role of HIV in encephalitis cases in Ghana. This report reaffirms the role of the CRF02_AG circulating recombinant form in HIV infections in Ghana and also gives a preliminary genetic characterization of VZV in Kumasi, Ghana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip El-Duah
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Augustina Angelina Sylverken
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research Into Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Michael Owusu
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research Into Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Department of Medical Diagnostics, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Yaw Ampem Amoako
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research Into Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Richmond Yeboah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research Into Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Richmond Gorman
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research Into Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Emmanuella Nyarko-Afriyie
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research Into Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Julia Schneider
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Terry C Jones
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Zoology, Centre for Pathogen Evolution, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Joseph Bonney
- Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Titus Adade
- Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Eric Smart Yeboah
- Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Tabea Binger
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research Into Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Victor Max Corman
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Drosten
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Richard Odame Phillips
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research Into Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. .,Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
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Sylverken AA, Owusu M, Agbavor B, Kwarteng A, Ayisi-Boateng NK, Ofori P, El-Duah P, Yeboah R, Aryeetey S, Addo Asamoah J, Ekekpi RZ, Oppong M, Gorman R, Brempong KA, Nyarko-Afriyie E, Owusu Bonsu F, Larsen-Reindorf R, Rockson Adjei M, Boateng G, Asiedu-Bekoe F, Sarkodie B, Laryea DO, Tinkorang E, Kumah Aboagye P, Nsiah Asare A, Obiri-Danso K, Owusu-Dabo E, Adu-Sarkodie Y, Phillips RO. Using drones to transport suspected COVID-19 samples; experiences from the second largest testing centre in Ghana, West Africa. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0277057. [PMID: 36318579 PMCID: PMC9624400 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic on March 11 2020, by the World Health Organisation prompted the need for a sustained and a rapid international response. In a swift response, the Government of Ghana, in partnership with Zipline company, launched the use of Unmanned Automated Vehicles (UAV) to transport suspected samples from selected districts to two foremost testing centres in the country. Here, we present the experiences of employing this technology and its impact on the transport time to the second largest testing centre, the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR) in Kumasi, Ghana. METHODS Swab samples collected from suspected COVID-19 patients were transported to the Zipline office by health workers. Information on the samples were sent to laboratory personnel located at KCCR through a WhatsApp platform to get them ready to receive the suspected COVID-19 samples while Zipline repackaged samples and transported them via drone. Time of take-off was reported as well as time of drop-off. RESULTS A total of 2537 COVID-19 suspected samples were received via drone transport from 10 districts between April 2020 to June 2021 in 440 deliveries. Ejura-Sekyedumase District Health Directorate delivered the highest number of samples (765; 30%). The farthest district to use the drone was Pru East, located 270 km away from KCCR in Kumasi and 173 km to the Zipline office in Mampong. Here, significantly, it took on the average 39 minutes for drones to deliver samples compared to 117 minutes spent in transporting samples by road (p<0.001). CONCLUSION The use of drones for sample transport during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced the travel time taken for samples to be transported by road to the testing site. This has enhanced innovative measures to fight the pandemic using technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Augustina Angelina Sylverken
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- * E-mail:
| | - Michael Owusu
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Bernadette Agbavor
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Alex Kwarteng
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Nana Kwame Ayisi-Boateng
- University Hospital, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Patrick Ofori
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Philip El-Duah
- Institute of Virology, Charite, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Richmond Yeboah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Sherihane Aryeetey
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Jesse Addo Asamoah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Rita Ziem Ekekpi
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Morrah Oppong
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Richmond Gorman
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Kofi Adjei Brempong
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Emmanuella Nyarko-Afriyie
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | | | | | - Gifty Boateng
- National Public Health Reference Laboratory, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Badu Sarkodie
- Public Health Division, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Emmanuel Tinkorang
- Ashanti Regional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Anthony Nsiah Asare
- Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, Office of the President, Jubilee House, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kwasi Obiri-Danso
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Ellis Owusu-Dabo
- Department of Global and International Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Yaw Adu-Sarkodie
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Richard Odame Phillips
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
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4
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Amoako YA, El-Duah P, Sylverken AA, Owusu M, Yeboah R, Gorman R, Adade T, Bonney J, Tasiame W, Nyarko-Jectey K, Binger T, Corman VM, Drosten C, Phillips RO. Rabies is still a fatal but neglected disease: a case report. J Med Case Rep 2021; 15:575. [PMID: 34847928 PMCID: PMC8632207 DOI: 10.1186/s13256-021-03164-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rabies, caused by a lyssavirus, is a viral zoonosis that affects people in many parts of the world, especially those in low income countries. Contact with domestic animals, especially dogs, is the main source of human infections. Humans may present with the disease only after a long period of exposure. Nearly half of rabies cases occur in children <15 years old. We report on a fatal case of rabies in a Ghanaian school child 5 years after the exposure incident, and the vital role of molecular tools in the confirmation of the diagnosis. Case presentation The patient, an 11-year-old junior high school Ghanaian student from the Obuasi Municipality in Ghana, presented with aggressive behavior, which rapidly progressed to confusion and loss of consciousness within a day of onset. Her parents reported that the patient had experienced a bite from a stray dog on her right leg 5 years prior to presentation, for which no antirabies prophylaxis was given. The patient died within minutes of arrival in hospital (within 24 hours of symptom onset). Real-time polymerase chain reaction testing of cerebrospinal fluid obtained after her death confirmed the diagnosis of rabies. Subsequent phylogenetic analysis showed the virus to belong to the Africa 2 lineage of rabies viruses, which is one of the predominant circulating lineages in Ghana. Conclusion The incubation period of rabies is highly variable so patients may only present with symptoms long after the exposure incident. Appropriate molecular testing tools, when available as part of rabies control programmes, are vital in confirming cases of rabies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y A Amoako
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. .,Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - P El-Duah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Institute of Virology, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - A A Sylverken
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - M Owusu
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - R Yeboah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - R Gorman
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - T Adade
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - J Bonney
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - W Tasiame
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Institute of Virology, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - T Binger
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - V M Corman
- Institute of Virology, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - C Drosten
- Institute of Virology, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - R O Phillips
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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5
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Tasiame W, El-Duah P, Johnson SAM, Owiredu EW, Bleicker T, Veith T, Schneider J, Emikpe B, Folitse RD, Burimuah V, Akyereko E, Drosten C, Corman VM. Rabies virus in slaughtered dogs for meat consumption in Ghana: A potential risk for rabies transmission. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:e71-e81. [PMID: 34331389 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Dog-mediated rabies is responsible for approximately 60,000 human deaths annually worldwide. Although dog slaughter for human consumption and its potential risk for rabies transmission has been reported, mainly in some parts of Western Africa and South-East Asia, more information on this and factors that influence dog meat consumption is required for a better understanding from places like Ghana where the practice is common. We tested 144 brain tissues from apparently healthy dogs slaughtered for human consumption for the presence of rabies viruses using a Lyssavirus-specific real-Time RT-PCR. Positive samples were confirmed by virus genome sequencing. We also administered questionnaires to 541 dog owners from three regions in Ghana and evaluated factors that could influence dog meat consumption. We interacted with butchers and observed slaughtering and meat preparation procedures. Three out of 144 (2.1%) brain tissues from apparently healthy dogs tested positive for rabies virus RNA. Two of the viruses with complete genomes were distinct from one another, but both belonged to the Africa 2 lineage. The third virus with a partial genome fragment had high sequence identity to the other two and also belonged to the Africa 2 lineage. Almost half of the study participants practiced dog consumption [49% (265/541)]. Males were almost twice (cOR = 1.72, 95% CI (1.17-2.52), p-value = .006) as likely to consume dog meat compared to females. Likewise, the Frafra tribe from northern Ghana [cOR = 825.1, 95% CI (185.3-3672.9), p-value < .0001] and those with non-specific tribes [cOR = 47.05, 95% CI (10.18-217.41), p-value < .0001] presented with higher odds of dog consumption compared to Ewes. The butchers used bare hands in meat preparation. This study demonstrates the presence of rabies virus RNA in apparently healthy dogs slaughtered for human consumption in Ghana and suggests a potential risk for rabies transmission. Veterinary departments and local assemblies are recommended to monitor and regulate this practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Tasiame
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Philip El-Duah
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Sherry A M Johnson
- School of Veterinary Medicine, CBAS, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Eddie-Williams Owiredu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Tobias Bleicker
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Talitha Veith
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Schneider
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Benjamin Emikpe
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Raphael D Folitse
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Vitus Burimuah
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Ernest Akyereko
- Disease Surveillance Department, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana
| | - Christian Drosten
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Associated Partner Site at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Victor Max Corman
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Associated Partner Site at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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6
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Yeboah R, Sylverken AA, Owusu M, El-Duah P, Burimuah V, Frimpong Y, Lamptey J, Eckerle I, Meyer B, Antwi C, Agbenyaga O, Folitse R, Emikpe B, Oppong SK, Adu-Sarkodie Y, Drosten C. Sero-molecular epidemiology of hepatitis E virus in pigs and human contacts in Ghana. One Health Outlook 2021; 3:13. [PMID: 34154674 PMCID: PMC8218416 DOI: 10.1186/s42522-021-00043-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is among the leading causes of viral hepatitis in most developing countries. Zoonotic acquisition of HEV genotype 3 from swine has come into focus more recently. Available studies on HEV in Ghana and other countries in the region do not provide enough information towards understanding the epidemiology of HEV in human and animal populations. Towards this end, we conducted a comparative cross-sectional study to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with HEV exposure, both in swine and humans working on pig farms in typical local settings. The presence of viral RNA in human and swine samples was also evaluated, along with classification of viral sequences from HEV-positive samples. METHODS Structured questionnaires soliciting information on pigs reared, as well as socio-demographic information including age, sex and educational background of humans was collected. A total of 10 ml and 5 ml of whole blood was collected from pigs and human participants respectively. ELISA and real-time RT-PCR were performed on the sera for the qualitative detection of IgG antibodies to hepatitis E virus and viral RNA, respectively. RESULTS Five hundred and forty-four (544) human participants including 264 swine contacts and 280 swine non-contacts were enrolled in the study. Although the proportion of HEV IgG antibodies was higher in contact groups (114; 54.3%) than non-contact groups (96; 45.7%), a multivariate analysis did not show any significant difference. No HEV RNA was detected in human samples. Similarly, 720 pigs were sampled from 18 farms located in five regions in Ghana. Twenty-three (23) of the pigs (3.2, 95%CI = 2.0-4.8) were positive for HEV RNA by real-time RT-PCR testing. Sequences obtained from HEV-positive samples were found to share high sequence identities with each other and clustered with other genotype 3 viruses indicating the existence of circulating zoonotic genotype 3 viruses on farms. Although we did not find evidence of pig to human transmission of HEV genotype 3, the presence of this genotype in pigs shows the potential for possible zoonotic transmission in African farm settings and buttresses the importance of active surveillance for the infection among at risk populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richmond Yeboah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Augustina Angelina Sylverken
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Michael Owusu
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Medical Diagnostics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Philip El-Duah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Institute of Virology, Charite, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vitus Burimuah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Yaw Frimpong
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Jones Lamptey
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Benjamin Meyer
- Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, Germany
| | - Christopher Antwi
- Department of Animal Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Olivia Agbenyaga
- Department of Agroforestry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Raphael Folitse
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Benjamin Emikpe
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Samuel Kingsley Oppong
- Department of Wildlife and Range Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Yaw Adu-Sarkodie
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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7
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Lamptey J, Oyelami FO, Owusu M, Nkrumah B, Idowu PO, Adu-Gyamfi EA, Czika A, El-Duah P, Yeboah R, Sylverken A, Olasunkanmi OI, Owusu-Dabo E, Drosten C, Adu-Sarkodie Y. Genomic and epidemiological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 in Africa. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009335. [PMID: 33901167 PMCID: PMC8101992 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
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 a varying number of infected cases and mortality rates. Africa was hit late by the pandemic but the number of cases rose sharply. In this study, we investigated 224 SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences from the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID) in the early part of the outbreak, of which 69 were from Africa. We analyzed a total of 550 mutations by comparing them with the reference SARS-CoV-2 sequence from Wuhan. We classified the mutations observed based on country and region, and afterwards analyzed common and unique mutations on the African continent as a whole. Correlation analyses showed that the duo variants ORF1ab/RdRp 4715L and S protein 614G variants, which are strongly linked to fatality rate, were not significantly and positively correlated with fatality rates (r = -0.03757, P = 0.5331 and r = -0.2876, P = 0.6389, respectively), although increased number of cases correlated with number of deaths (r = 0.997, P = 0.0002). Furthermore, most cases in Africa were mainly imported from American and European countries, except one isolate with no mutation and was similar to the original isolate from Wuhan. Moreover, unique mutations specific to countries were identified in the early phase of the outbreak but these mutations were not regional-specific. There were common mutations in all isolates across the continent as well as similar isolate-specific mutations in different regions. Our findings suggest that mutation is rapid in SARS-CoV-2 in Africa and although these mutations spread across the continent, the duo variants could not possibly be the sole cause of COVID-19 deaths in Africa in the early phase of the outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jones Lamptey
- Centre for Health System Strengthening (CfHSS), Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Michael Owusu
- Centre for Health System Strengthening (CfHSS), Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | | | - Enoch Appiah Adu-Gyamfi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Armin Czika
- Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, Brasov, Romania
| | - Philip El-Duah
- Institute of Virology, Charite University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Richmond Yeboah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Augustina Sylverken
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Ellis Owusu-Dabo
- School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Yaw Adu-Sarkodie
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
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8
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Sylverken AA, El-Duah P, Owusu M, Schneider J, Yeboah R, Ayisi-Boateng NK, Gorman R, Adu E, Kwarteng A, Frimpong M, Binger T, Aryeetey S, Asamoah JA, Amoako YA, Amuasi JH, Beheim-Schwarzbach J, Owusu-Dabo E, Adu-Sarkodie Y, Obiri-Danso K, Corman VM, Drosten C, Phillips R. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in northern Ghana: insights from whole-genome sequencing. Arch Virol 2021; 166:1385-1393. [PMID: 33723631 PMCID: PMC7959303 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-021-04986-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Following the detection of the first imported case of COVID-19 in the northern sector of Ghana, we molecularly characterized and phylogenetically analysed sequences, including three complete genome sequences, of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 obtained from nine patients in Ghana. We performed high-throughput sequencing on nine samples that were found to have a high concentration of viral RNA. We also assessed the potential impact that long-distance transport of samples to testing centres may have on sequencing results. Here, two samples that were similar in terms of viral RNA concentration but were transported from sites that are over 400 km apart were analyzed. All sequences were compared to previous sequences from Ghana and representative sequences from regions where our patients had previously travelled. Three complete genome sequences and another nearly complete genome sequence with 95.6% coverage were obtained. Sequences with coverage in excess of 80% were found to belong to three lineages, namely A, B.1 and B.2. Our sequences clustered in two different clades, with the majority falling within a clade composed of sequences from sub-Saharan Africa. Less RNA fragmentation was seen in sample KATH23, which was collected 9 km from the testing site, than in sample TTH6, which was collected and transported over a distance of 400 km to the testing site. The clustering of several sequences from sub-Saharan Africa suggests regional circulation of the viruses in the subregion. Importantly, there may be a need to decentralize testing sites and build more capacity across Africa to boost the sequencing output of the subregion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Augustina Angelina Sylverken
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, PMB, UPO, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Philip El-Duah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, PMB, UPO, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana
- Institute of Virology, Charite, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Owusu
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, PMB, UPO, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Medical Diagnostics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Julia Schneider
- Institute of Virology, Charite, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Richmond Yeboah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, PMB, UPO, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Richmond Gorman
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, PMB, UPO, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Eric Adu
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, PMB, UPO, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Alexander Kwarteng
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, PMB, UPO, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Michael Frimpong
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, PMB, UPO, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Tabea Binger
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, PMB, UPO, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Sherihane Aryeetey
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, PMB, UPO, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Jesse Addo Asamoah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, PMB, UPO, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Yaw Ampem Amoako
- Department of Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - John Humphrey Amuasi
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, PMB, UPO, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Global and International Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Ellis Owusu-Dabo
- Department of Global and International Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Yaw Adu-Sarkodie
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Kwasi Obiri-Danso
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Victor Max Corman
- Institute of Virology, Charite, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Drosten
- Institute of Virology, Charite, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Richard Phillips
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, PMB, UPO, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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9
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Owusu M, Sylverken AA, El-Duah P, Acheampong G, Mutocheluh M, Adu-Sarkodie Y. Sero-epidemiology of human coronaviruses in three rural communities in Ghana. Pan Afr Med J 2021; 38:244. [PMID: 34104292 PMCID: PMC8164429 DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2021.38.244.26110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs) are responsible for significant proportions of illnesses and deaths annually. Most of ARIs are of viral etiology, with human coronaviruses (HCoVs) playing a key role. This study was conducted prior to the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) to provide evidence about the sero-epidemiology of HCoVs in rural areas of Ghana. METHODS this was a cross-sectional study conducted as part of a large epidemiological study investigating the occurrence of respiratory viruses in 3 rural areas of Ghana; Buoyem, Kwamang and Forikrom. Serum samples were collected and tested for the presence of IgG-antibodies to three HCoVs; HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-NL63 using immunofluorescence assay. RESULTS of 201 subjects enrolled into the study, 97 (48.3%) were positive for all three viruses. The most prevalent virus was HCoV-229E (23%; 95% CI: 17.2 - 29.3), followed by HCoV-OC43 (17%; 95% CI: 12.4 - 23.4), then HCoV-NL63 (8%, 95% CI: 4.6 - 12.6). Subjects in Kwamang had the highest sero-prevalence for HCoV-NL63 (68.8%). human coronaviruses-229E (41.3%) and HCoV-OC43 (45.7%) were much higher in Forikrom compared to the other study areas. There was however no statistical difference between place of origin and HCoVs positivity. Although blood group O+ and B+ were most common among the recruited subjects, there was no significant association (p = 0.163) between blood group and HCoV infection. CONCLUSION this study reports a 48.3% sero-prevalence of HCoVs (OC43, NL63 and 229E) among rural communities in Ghana. The findings provide useful baseline data that could inform further sero-epidemiological studies on SARS-CoV-2 in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Owusu
- Department of Medical Diagnostics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Centre for Health Systems Strengthening, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Augustina Angelina Sylverken
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Philip El-Duah
- Institute of Virology, Charite, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Mohammed Mutocheluh
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Yaw Adu-Sarkodie
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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Burimuah V, Sylverken A, Owusu M, El-Duah P, Yeboah R, Lamptey J, Frimpong YO, Agbenyega O, Folitse R, Emikpe B, Tasiame W, Owiredu EW, Oppong S, Antwi C, Adu-Sarkodie Y, Drosten C. Molecular-based cross-species evaluation of bovine coronavirus infection in cattle, sheep and goats in Ghana. BMC Vet Res 2020; 16:405. [PMID: 33109183 PMCID: PMC7590242 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02606-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Apart from the huge worldwide economic losses often occasioned by bovine coronavirus (BCoV) to the livestock industry, particularly with respect to cattle rearing, continuous surveillance of the virus in cattle and small ruminants is essential in monitoring variations in the virus that could enhance host switching. In this study, we collected rectal swabs from a total of 1,498 cattle, sheep and goats. BCoV detection was based on reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Sanger sequencing of the partial RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) region for postive samples were done and nucleotide sequences were compared with homologous sequences from the GenBank. Results The study reports a BCoV prevalence of 0.3%, consisting of 4 positive cases; 3 goats and 1 cattle. Less than 10% of all the animals sampled showed clinical signs such as diarrhea and respiratory distress except for high temperature which occurred in > 1000 of the animals. However, none of the 4 BCoV positive animals manifested any clinical signs of the infection at the time of sample collection. Bayesian majority-rule cladogram comparing partial and full length BCoV RdRp genes obtained in the study to data from the GenBank revealed that the sequences obtained from this study formed one large monophyletic group with those from different species and countries. The goat sequences were similar to each other and clustered within the same clade. No major variations were thus observed between our isolates and those from elsewhere. Conclusions Given that Ghana predominantly practices the extensive and semi-intensive systems of animal rearing, our study highlights the potential for spillover of BCoV to small ruminants in settings with mixed husbandry and limited separation between species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitus Burimuah
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. .,School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. .,Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Augustina Sylverken
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana.,Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Michael Owusu
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana.,Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Philip El-Duah
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana.,Institute of Virology, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charite, Germany
| | - Richmond Yeboah
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Jones Lamptey
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Yaw Oppong Frimpong
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana.,Department of Animal Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Olivia Agbenyega
- Department of Agroforestry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Raphael Folitse
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Ben Emikpe
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - William Tasiame
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Institute of Virology, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charite, Germany
| | - Eddie-Williams Owiredu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Samuel Oppong
- Department of Wildlife and Range Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Christopher Antwi
- Department of Animal Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Yaw Adu-Sarkodie
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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11
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El-Duah P, Dei D, Binger T, Sylverken A, Wollny R, Tasiame W, Oppong S, Adu-Sarkodie Y, Emikpe B, Folitse R, Drexler JF, Phillips R, Drosten C, Corman VM. Detection and genomic characterization of hepatitis E virus genotype 3 from pigs in Ghana, Africa. One Health Outlook 2020; 2:10. [PMID: 33829131 PMCID: PMC7993477 DOI: 10.1186/s42522-020-00018-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of human hepatitis worldwide. Zoonotic genotypes of the virus have been found in diverse animal species with pigs playing a major role. Putative risk of zoonotic infection from livestock particularly swine in Sub-Saharan Africa including Ghana is poorly understood due to scarcity of available data, especially HEV sequence information. METHODS Serum samples were collected from cattle, sheep, goats and pigs from Kumasi in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Samples were subjected to nested RT-PCR screening and quantification of HEV RNA-positive samples using real-time RT-PCR and the World Health Organization International Standard for HEV. Testing of all pig samples for antibodies was done by ELISA. Sanger sequencing and genotyping was performed and one representative complete genome was generated to facilitate genome-wide comparison to other available African HEV sequences by phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS A total of 420 samples were available from cattle (n = 105), goats (n = 124), pigs (n = 89) and sheep (n = 102). HEV Viral RNA was detected only in pig samples (10.1%). The antibody detection rate in pigs was 77.5%, with positive samples from all sampling sites. Average viral load was 1 × 105 (range 1.02 × 103 to 3.17 × 105) International Units per mL of serum with no statistically significant differences between age groups (≤ 6 month, > 6 months) by a T-test comparison of means (t = 1.4272, df = 7, p = 0.1966). Sequences obtained in this study form a monophyletic group within HEV genotype 3. Sequences from Cameroon, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Madagascar were found to share a most recent common ancestor; however this was not the case for other African HEV sequences. CONCLUSION HEV genotype 3 is highly endemic in pigs in Ghana and likely poses a zoonotic risk to people exposed to pigs. HEV genotype 3 in Ghana shares a common origin with other virus strains from Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip El-Duah
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Dickson Dei
- Ghana Veterinary Service, Kumasi, Ghana
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Tabea Binger
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Augustina Sylverken
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Robert Wollny
- Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, Germany
| | - William Tasiame
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Samuel Oppong
- Department of Wildlife and Range Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Yaw Adu-Sarkodie
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Benjamin Emikpe
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Raphael Folitse
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Jan Felix Drexler
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Richard Phillips
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Christian Drosten
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Victor Max Corman
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research, Berlin, Germany
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12
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Burimuah V, Sylverken A, Owusu M, El-Duah P, Yeboah R, Lamptey J, Frimpong YO, Agbenyega O, Folitse R, Tasiame W, Emikpe B, Owiredu EW, Oppong S, Adu-Sarkodie Y, Drosten C. Sero-prevalence, cross-species infection and serological determinants of prevalence of Bovine Coronavirus in Cattle, Sheep and Goats in Ghana. Vet Microbiol 2019; 241:108544. [PMID: 31928696 PMCID: PMC7117134 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2019.108544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Bovine coronavirus has considerable seroprevalence in cattle across Ghana. Sheep and goats are kept without strict separation from cattle and show seropositivity against bovine coronavirus. Bovine coronavirus seroprevalence is positively correlated with large farm size. Highest bovine coronavirus seroprevalence was found in Ghana´s Northern Province with prevailing arid climate.
Cattle, goats and sheep are dominant livestock species in sub-Saharan Africa, with sometimes limited information on the prevalence of major infectious diseases. Restrictions due to notifiable epizootics complicate the exchange of samples in surveillance studies and suggest that laboratory capacities should be established domestically. Bovine Coronavirus (BCoV) causes mainly enteric disease in cattle. Spillover to small ruminants is possible. Here we established BCoV serology based on a recombinant immunofluorescence assay for cattle, goats and sheep, and studied the seroprevalence of BCoV in these species in four different locations in the Greater Accra, Volta, Upper East, and Northern provinces of Ghana. The whole sampling and testing was organized and conducted by a veterinary school in Kumasi, Ashanti Region of Ghana. Among sampled sheep (n = 102), goats (n = 66), and cattle (n = 1495), the seroprevalence rates were 25.8 %, 43.1 % and 55.8 %. For cattle, seroprevalence was significantly higher on larger farms (82.2 % vs 17.8 %, comparing farms with >50 or <50 animals; p = 0.027). Highest prevalence was seen in the Northern province with dry climate, but no significant trend following the north-south gradient of sampling sites was detected. Our study identifies a considerable seroprevalence for BCoV in Ghana and provides further support for the spillover of BCoV to small ruminants in settings with mixed husbandry and limited separation between species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitus Burimuah
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Augustina Sylverken
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Michael Owusu
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Philip El-Duah
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana; Institute of Virology, Charite, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.
| | - Richmond Yeboah
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Jones Lamptey
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Yaw Oppong Frimpong
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Animal Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Olivia Agbenyega
- Department of Agroforestry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Raphael Folitse
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - William Tasiame
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Institute of Virology, Charite, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.
| | - Benjamin Emikpe
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Eddie-Williams Owiredu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Samuel Oppong
- Department of Wildlife and Range Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Yaw Adu-Sarkodie
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Christian Drosten
- Institute of Virology, Charite, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.
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Ghinai R, El-Duah P, Chi KH, Pillay A, Solomon AW, Bailey RL, Agana N, Mabey DCW, Chen CY, Adu-Sarkodie Y, Marks M. A cross-sectional study of 'yaws' in districts of Ghana which have previously undertaken azithromycin mass drug administration for trachoma control. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003496. [PMID: 25632942 PMCID: PMC4310597 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2014] [Accepted: 12/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Yaws, caused by Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue, is reportedly endemic in Ghana. Mass distribution of azithromycin is now the cornerstone of the WHO yaws eradication campaign. Mass distribution of azithromycin at a lower target dose was previously undertaken in two regions of Ghana for the control of trachoma. Ongoing reporting of yaws raises the possibility that resistance may have emerged in T. pallidum pertenue, or that alternative infections may be responsible for some of the reported cases. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in thirty communities in two districts of Ghana where MDA for trachoma had previously been conducted. Children aged 5–17 years with ulcerative lesions compatible with yaws were enrolled. Samples for treponemal serology and lesion PCR were collected from all children. 90 children with 98 lesions were enrolled. Syphilis serology was negative in all of them. PCR for T. pallidum ssp pertenue was negative in all children, but Haemophilus ducreyi DNA was detected in 9 lesions. In these communities, previously treated for trachoma, we found no evidence of ongoing transmission of yaws. H. ducreyi was associated with a proportion of skin lesions, but the majority of lesions remain unexplained. Integration of diagnostic testing into both pre and post-MDA surveillance systems is required to better inform yaws control programmes. Yaws is a chronic bacterial infection of the skin and bones that is endemic in Ghana. Since 2012, mass distribution of the antibiotic azithromycin has become the cornerstone of the WHO yaws eradication campaign. Accurate surveillance data are necessary to guide decisions about where MDA is required. Many national surveillance systems report only clinical cases without laboratory confirmation, which may lead to misdiagnosis. Mass distribution of azithromycin, at a lower dose than is used for yaws, is also used in the control of the eye disease trachoma. Between 2001 and 2008, two regions of Ghana undertook distribution of azithromycin to eliminate trachoma. These regions still report cases of yaws, and it is unclear if these are due to drug resistant yaws or other causes. We conducted a survey of patients with skin ulcers that looked like yaws in one of these regions of Ghana. Blood tests for yaws were negative in all the individuals examined and molecular testing of the ulcers did not show evidence of yaws caused by drug resistant Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue. Our data suggest that previous treatment for trachoma may have also treated yaws in these districts. These findings highlight the need for yaws control programmes to integrate diagnostic testing into surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanna Ghinai
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Philip El-Duah
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Kai-Hua Chi
- Laboratory Reference and Research Branch, Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Allan Pillay
- Laboratory Reference and Research Branch, Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Anthony W. Solomon
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin L. Bailey
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nsiire Agana
- Public Health Division, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana
| | - David C. W. Mabey
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Cheng-Yen Chen
- Laboratory Reference and Research Branch, Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Yaw Adu-Sarkodie
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Michael Marks
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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