Research

Current Research Projects

1. Population biology of microorganisms associated with gastroenteritis at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital.

Overview

Gastroenteritis (diarrhea) is a major public health problem in Ghana and other developing countries. The groups greatly affected by this include children and the poor in the society. Mentally challenged persons are often left out in the consideration of persons at risk of infectious diseases. However, to ensure that adequate information and the necessary control measures are in place to curb any such conditions that may prevail in this "neglected" group, the call for this project arises. The project aims at determining the major sources of microorganisms that are associated with diarrhea.

The students working on this study are:

1. Yaw Asamoah Karikari
2. Joana Ampah (nee Twasam)
3. George Offei

The supervisors for this project include:

1. Rev. Prof. Patrick F. Ayeh-Kumi, MPhil, PhD
2. Dr. Eric Sampane-Donkor, MPhil, PhD
3. Mr. Kwabena O. Duedu, MPhil, CBiol, MSB, AFHEA, FRSTMH, PhD (Cand.)
4. Mr. Francis Cudjoe, MSc, MPhil, PhD (Cand.)

2. Parasitic contamination of fresh vegetables sold in Accra
Overview:

Food borne pathogens are a major problem in both the developed and developing worlds. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that "Each year, 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) gets sick from and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases. Reducing foodborne illness by just 10% would keep 5 million Americans from getting sick each year." The story is not different for Ghana and other areas. There has been several efforts to monitor bacterial food borne illnesses like those caused by Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, among others. Information however on parasitic organisms are often scanty and neglected. This study therefore aims at obtaining current information on the state of parasitic pathogen contamination on some common fresh vegetables sold in various markets and shops in the Accra metropolis.

The student on this project is Ms. Elizabeth Yarnie and it is supervised by Mr. Kwabena O. Duedu and Prof. Patrick F. Ayeh-Kumi.

Results from this study has been published. See selected publications below

3. Surveillance for intestinal parasites

Overview:

Persons in institutionalized facilities are often faced with over-crowding and poor sanitary conditions. These factors favor the spread of intestinal parasites. A multi-center study is underway to obtain current data on the prevalence, sources and risk factors of gastrointestinal parasites among children at selected orphanages and prisons in Ghana.

The students on the project include:

1. Eric Peprah
2. Haruna Sa-eed

The supervisors are:

1. Rev. Prof. Patrick F. Ayeh-Kumi, MPhil, PhD
2. Mr. Kwabena O. Duedu, MPhil, PhD (Cand.)
3. Mr. Isaac Anim-Baidoo, MPhil, PhD (Cand.)

Selected Publications of past research projects

Full Article Papers

i.      Kwabena O. Duedu, Elizabeth A. Yarnie, P. B. Tetteh-Quarcoo, Simon K. Attah, Eric S. Donkor, Patrick F. Ayeh-Kumi. A comparative survey of the prevalence of human parasites found in fresh vegetables sold in supermarkets and open-aired markets in Accra, Ghana. BMC Research Notes 2014, 7:836 DOI:10.1186/1756-0500-7-836

ii.     Patrick F Ayeh-Kumi, Patience B Tetteh-Quarcoo, Kwabena O Duedu, Akua S Obeng, Kantanka Addo-Osafo, Samuel Mortu and Richard H Asmah. A survey of pathogens associated with Cyperus esculentus L (tiger nuts) tubers sold in a sub-Saharan African city. BMC Research Notes 2014, 7:343  DOI:10.1186/1756-0500-7-343

iii.     Tetteh-Quarcoo PB, Sampane-Donkor E, Attah SK, Duedu KO, Afutu E,  Boamah I, Olu-Taiwo M, Ayeh-Kumi PF. Microbial carriage of cockroaches at a tertiary hopital in Ghana: Public health implications. Environmental Health Insights 2013, 7:59-66 DOI: 10.4137/EHI.S12820

iv.    Kwabena Obeng Duedu, Kwamena William Coleman Sagoe, Patrick Ferdinand Ayeh-Kumi, Raymond Bedu Affrim, Theophilus Adiku. The effects of co-infection with human parvovirus B19 and Plasmodium falciparum on type and degree of anaemia in Ghanaian children. Asian Pac. J. Trop. Biomed. 2013, 3(2): 129-139 DOI: 10.1016/S2221-1691(13)60037-4

v.     Duedu KO, Hayford AA and Sagoe KW. Misclassification of recent HIV-1 seroconversion in sub-Saharan Africa using the sensitive/less sensitive technique. Virology Journal 2011, 8:176. DOI: 10.1186/1743-422X-8-176

vi.    Ayeh-Kumi PF, Nti SA, Duedu KO, Addo-Osafo K, Obeng AS, Mortu S, Manu CS, Kwakye-Nuako G, Tetteh-Quarcoo PB, Asmah, RH, Obeng Nkrumah N. Intestinal Parasitosis among pregnant women in Accra, Ghana. Ghana J Allied Health Sciences 2009, 3(1):9-14

Abstracts

1.  Biney EE, Mills-Pappoe W, Duedu KO, Amanfo S., Owusu-Bediako IO, Teesdale S, and Benevente L. Quality Assurance of Laboratory Diagnosis of Malaria in Ghana: Insights from Outreach Training and Support Supervision (OTSS) 2009-2011. Presented at the 7th Annual National Delegates Congress of the Ghana Association of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists, December 14 – 15, 2011, Accra, Ghana

2. Duedu KO, Sagoe KW, Ayeh-Kumi PF, Affrim RB, Adiku TK and Mingle JAA. The effects of co infection with human parvovirus B19 and Plasmodium falciparum on type and degree of anaemia in Ghanaian children. 5th Annual Scientific Conference, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. September 21-23 2010, Accra, Ghana. Abstract No. 005:p. 24

3. Sagoe KWC, Adjei AA, Ziga F, Seshi M, Duedu KO, Adiku TK, Lartey M, Mingle JAA, Arens MQ (2010). Presence of Human immunodeficiency virus type I drug resistance mutations in treatment of naïve patients and the national HIV/AIDS control program. 4th Annual Scientific Conference, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. September 22-24 2010, Accra, Ghana. Abstract No. 007:p. 21 

4. Sakyi H, Duedu KO, Martin-Odoom A, Sagoe KWC (2010). Very low prevalence of Human T.cell lymphotropic viruses type I and II (HTLV-I/II) among treatment naïve HIV infected patients at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra. 4th Annual Scientific Conference, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. September 22-24 2010, Accra, Ghana. Abstract No. 021:p. 15 

5. Wilson E, Duedu KO, Martin-Odoom A, Sagoe KWC (2010). Prevalence of past and ongoing rubella infections among non-vaccinated adolescent and adult Ghanaian females. 4th Annual Scientific Conference, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. September 22-24 2010, Accra, Ghana. Abstract No. 001:p. 14 

6. Amoah-Barnie P, Duedu KO, Asmah RH, Damanka S, Anning KG, Adiku TK (2010). Likely reassortment of rotaviruses in communities where human and animal closely together in Accra, Ghana. 4th Annual Scientific Conference, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. September 22-24 2010, Accra, Ghana. Abstract No. 034:p. 48 

7. Yemoh BY, Duedu KO, Martin-Odoom A, Sagoe KWC (2010). Evaluation of a commercial rapid test used for determining antibodies and antigens to Hepatitis B Virus. 4th Annual Scientific Conference, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. September 22-24 2010, Accra, Ghana. Abstract No. 020:p. 34 

8. Duedu KO, Ansah J, Bekoe V, Adukpo R, Biney E, Narter-Olaga EG, Sagoe KWC (2009). Use of a modified rapid test to determine recent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroconversion among blood donors in a resource-limited setting. 2nd Ghana Biomedical Convention, August 12th-14th 2009, Accra, Ghana. Book of Abstracts p.31 

9. Duedu KO, Enworenu-Laryea C, Sagoe KWC (2009). Immunogenetic epidemiology of human Erythrovirus B19 among sickle cell and hospitalized anaemia children at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana. Ghana Biomed 2009, August 12th-14th 2009, Accra, Ghana. Book of Abstracts p.59