Susceptibility of Capsicum varieties to Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) infestation for production optimization.

Thaumatotibia leucotreta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a major threat to the production and marketing of pepper (Capsicum spp.) in Ghana. To reduce the damage of the pest on pepper farming, it is important to find appropriate control methods, which may include the use of resistant host plants.

Effects of four potent entomopathogenic fungal isolates on the survival and performance of , an egg parasitoid of fall armyworm.

Fall armyworm (FAW), is a generalist pest known to feed on more than 300 plant species, including major staple crops such as rice, maize and sorghum. Biological control of FAW using a combination of a major indigenous egg parasitoid and entomopathogenic fungi was explored in this study. strains (ICIPE 7, ICIPE 41, and ICIPE 78) and ICIPE 621 which demonstrated effectiveness to combat the pest, were evaluated through direct and indirect fungal infection to assess their pathogenicity and virulence against adults, eggs and their effects on parasitism rates.

Influence of sticky trap color, host plant species, and weather factors on the population dynamics of thrips species in Southern Ghana.

It is essential to correctly identify and keep track of the abundance of thrips species on infested host crops to understand their population dynamics and implement control measures promptly. The current study was conducted to evaluate the performance of sticky traps in monitoring thrips species in exporters' eggplant and chili farms and to assess the impact of weather factors on thrips population dynamics. Thrips species were monitored using blue, yellow, and white sticky traps on chili and eggplant farms in Tuba, respectively, in 2020 and 2021.

First report of and on and in farmer's fields in southern Ghana.

The eggplant fruit and shoot borer (EFSB) is a devastating pest of eggplants ( L. and L.) in Ghana, causing significant economic losses.

The use of Beauveria bassiana for the control of the larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus, in stored maize: Semi-field trials in Ghana.

Laboratory research in Ghana demonstrated the effectiveness of an isolate of Beauveria bassiana (IMI 389521) from the United Kingdom against the larger grain borer Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), a major pest of stored maize. The minimum effective concentration, following artificial infestation trials on maize, was between 10 and 10 cfu/kg maize. Before moving out to village-level control, a major requirement was to determine if the product could effect control in artificially infested maize held under real environmental conditions in several locations in Ghana.

Bionomic responses of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) to lethal and sublethal concentrations of selected insecticides.

Since 2016, the invasive insect Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from the Americas has made maize production unattainable without pesticides in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

Comparative bionomics and life table studies of (Davis) and (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on three cabbage varieties.

(Davis) and (Sulzer) are important pests of brassica crops, causing significant yield losses on cabbage in Ghana. To inform the development of ecologically sound and sustainable pest management strategies for these pests, their biological and population growth parameters were studied on three cabbage varieties (Oxylus, Fortune, and Leadercross). The study was conducted in a screen house under ambient conditions at 30 ± 1°C and 75 ± 5% RH and 12:12 h photoperiod from September to November 2020.

in Togo 5 years on: early impact of the invasion and future developments.

The infestation of the fall armyworm (FAW), (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Africa since 2016 has been a major threat to maize production.

Assessing the Potential of Inoculative Field Releases of to Control in Ghana.

In response to the threat caused by the fall armyworm to African maize farmers, we conducted a series of field release studies with the egg parasitoid in Ghana. Three releases of ≈15,000 individuals each were conducted in maize plots of 0.5 ha each in the major and minor rainy seasons of 2020, and compared to no-release control plots as well as to farmer-managed plots with chemical pest control.

Trapping Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Moths in Different Crop Habitats in Togo and Ghana.

The economic impact of the invasion of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith, Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) into Africa has so far been limited to maize agriculture but could potentially impact many other crops.

Pest status, bio-ecology and management of the false codling moth, (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and its implication for international trade.

The false codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is an insect pest which represents an important threat to the production and marketing of a wide range of agricultural crops in the African-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP) countries. The FCM reduces not only the yield and quality of the crop but also as a quarantine insect pest, restricts the trade of susceptible agricultural produce on the international market. In addition, little research has been conducted in the ACP countries on the bio-ecology and sustainable management of this pest, especially on vegetables for export.

Maize Infestation of Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Within Agro-Ecological Zones of Togo and Ghana in West Africa 3 Yr After Its Invasion.

The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) invaded several West African countries in 2016 causing severe injury to maize plants and economic damage.

First Report and Distribution of the Indian Mustard Aphid, Lipaphis erysimi pseudobrassicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var capitata) in Ghana.

The presence of large colonies of aphids is associated with a devastating novel necrotic disease of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) in Ghana that is thought to be of viral etiology. In this study, we used molecular taxonomic tools to identify the aphid species present on these diseased cabbage plants.

CD123 immunohistochemistry for plasmacytoid dendritic cells is useful in the diagnosis of scarring alopecia.

Background: Distinguishing types of lymphocytic scarring alopecia is often difficult because of the overlapping features. Recently, the presence of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) in cutaneous lupus erythematosus (LE) was demonstrated and further shown to help distinguish lupus from other dermatoses.1-6 This study aims to determine if the presence and distribution of PDCs can aid in the diagnosis of scarring alopecia.

Persistence of intact retinal ganglion cell terminals after axonal transport loss in the DBA/2J mouse model of glaucoma.

Axonal transport defects are an early pathology occurring within the retinofugal projection of the DBA/2J mouse model of glaucoma. Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons and terminals are detectable after transport is affected, yet little is known about the condition of these structures. We examined the ultrastructure of the glaucomatous superior colliculus (SC) with three-dimensional serial block-face scanning electron microscopy to determine the distribution and morphology of retinal terminals in aged mice exhibiting varying levels of axonal transport integrity.

Epidermolysis bullosa nevus in a patient with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa: a case report.

We present a case of a 6-year-old girl with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (EB) who presented with a large pigmented lesion clinically concerning for melanoma. After histological examination and fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis, diagnosis of EB nevus was performed. EB nevi are benign melanocytic neoplasms with histological findings similar to recurrent nevi occurring in all types of EB.

Correlation of USMLE Step 1 scores with performance on dermatology in-training examinations.

Background: Although United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 was not designed to predict resident performance, scores are used to compare residency applicants. Multiple studies have displayed a significant correlation among Step 1 scores, in-training examination (ITE) scores, and board passage, although no such studies have been performed in dermatology.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine if this correlation exists in dermatology, and how much of the variability in ITE scores is a result of differences in Step 1 scores.

Cutaneous rosai-dorfman disease persisting after surgical excision: report of a case treated with acitretin.

Objective: Cutaneous Rosai-Dorfman disease is rare, and there is a lack of literature on clinical evidence for treatment options. The objective of this report is to illustrate that acitretin may be effective in treating cutaneous Rosai-Dorfman disease.

Design: A patient with cutaneous Rosai-Dorfman disease refractory to antibiotics, steroids, and surgical excision was treated with acitretin for a period of four months and was closely monitored for improvement in the lesion.