Publications by authors named "Sherry Ama Mawuko Johnson"
Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a zoonotic hemorrhagic disease with an estimated case fatality rate of up to 88%. Ghana recorded its first human MVD outbreak in June 2022 and although the outbreak was quickly brought under control, the transmission dynamics of the disease remained unclear. We assessed the presence of Marburg virus (MARV) antibodies in livestock and dogs and identified associated risk factors that increased the risk of these animals being exposed to MARV in five regions of Ghana.
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- * Out of 397 guinea fowls sampled, 24.7% tested positive for avian influenza antibodies, with adult birds showing higher rates than younger ones.
- * The findings emphasize the need for ongoing monitoring of avian influenza in guinea fowls to prevent virus spread and suggest nationwide surveillance to better understand its prevalence in Ghana.
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a re-emerging zoonotic disease of domestic ruminants and humans. While neighbouring countries have reported outbreaks of RVF, Ghana has not yet identified any cases. The aim of this study was to determine whether RVF virus (RVFV) was circulating in livestock and herders in the southern part of Ghana, to estimate its seroprevalence, and to identify associated risk factors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMonitoring the transboundary spread of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) virus is an essential part of the global efforts towards the eradication of PPR by 2030. There is growing evidence that Lineage IV is becoming the predominant viral lineage, replacing Lineage I and II in West Africa. As part of a regional investigation, samples collected in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea and Ghana were screened for the presence of PPRV.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSafety of Retailed Poultry: Analysis of Antibiotic Resistance in From Raw Chicken and Poultry Fecal Matter From Selected Farms and Retail Outlets in Accra, Ghana.
Microbiol Insights
April 2022
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate the safety of retail poultry by examining the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in a key intestinal bacterium, focusing on samples taken from farms and retail outlets in Accra, Ghana.
- Raw chicken (25 samples) and poultry fecal matter (50 samples) were collected, analyzed using various laboratory techniques, and tested for antibiotic susceptibility.
- Results showed significant levels of antimicrobial resistance, especially in fecal samples, raising public health concerns and underscoring the need for stricter surveillance and safety measures in poultry production to prevent the spread of resistant bacteria through the food supply.
Introduction: Rabies remains a neglected tropical zoonotic disease with 100% case fatality rate and estimated 6,000 global mortality annually, and yet vaccine preventable. In Ghana, rabies outbreaks receive poor response. We investigated rabies in a 5-year old boy to find the source of infection, identify exposed persons for post-exposure prophylaxis and describe animal-bite surveillance in Manya-Krobo District of Ghana.
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- Toxocariosis and ancylostomosis are significant parasitic infections in dogs that can affect both animal and human health, with limited information available in Ghana.
- A study conducted in the Greater Accra Region examined 380 dogs and found a 62.6% prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth infections, particularly hookworms and Toxocara canis.
- Most surveyed dog owners kept their pets for security reasons without housing, increasing the risk of zoonotic parasite transmission, especially in households with young children.