BackgroundMalaria vector control methods involving the use of pyrethroids remain the strategies being used against malaria vectors in Ghana. These methods include the use of long-lasting insecticidal nets and indoor residual spraying in many areas in Ghana. However, there is evidence that pyrethroid resistance is widespread in many areas in Ghana. Synergists have been shown to be useful in inhibiting the enzymes that are responsible for the development of resistance and hence enhance the insecticide susceptibility of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) in many areas. The present study investigated the effect of piperonyl butoxide (PBO) on the susceptibility status of An. gambiae s.l. across some sentinel sites in Ghana.MethodsThree to five day old An. gambiae s.l. reared from larvae were used in WHO susceptibility tube assays. Batches of 20–25 female adult An. gambiae s.l. were exposed simultaneously to the insecticide alone and to the PBO + insecticide. The knock down rate after 60 min and mortality at 24 h were recorded.ResultsDeltamethrin and permethrin resistance of An. gambiae s.l. was observed in all the sites in 2015 and 2016. The mortality after 24 h post exposure for deltamethrin ranged from 16.3% in Weija to 82.3% in Kade, whereas that for permethrin ranged from 3.8% in Gomoa Obuasi to 91.3% in Prestea. A significant increase in susceptibility to deltamethrin and less to permethrin was observed during both 2015 and 2016 years in most of the sites when An. gambiae s.l. mosquitoes were pre-exposed to PBO.ConclusionFindings from this study showed that the use of PBO significantly enhanced the susceptibility of An. gambiae s.l. mosquitoes in most of the sentinel sites. It is recommended that vector control strategies incorporating PBO as a synergist can be effective in killing mosquitoes in the presence of deltamethrin and permethrin resistance.

Ground maize cob (GMC) was characterized with respect to proximate, energy, fibre and mineral profile. The crude protein, fat, crude fibre, ash, NDF and ADF contents were, in g kg -1 DM: 25, 4, 347, 24, 687 and 480, respectively, with metabolizable energy of 4.82 MJ kg -1 DM. In a feeding trial, diets containing GMC (25, 50 and 75 g . kg -1 ) were fed ad libitum to 4 groups of 14-day-old commercial broiler chickens (n = 240) for a period of 6 weeks. Birds had free access to water. Growth performance data of birds fed diets containing GMC did not differ significantly from those on the control diet. Carcass yields were similar. No deaths nor health-related problems were recorded during the study. Haematological and blood biochemical indices were unaffected by the level of inclusion of the test ingredient. Dietary treatments had no impact on liver, gizzard and intestinal weights. It seems that in the tropics partial replacement of cereal and cereal by-products (maize and wheat bran) with GMC up to 75 g . kg -1 diet was possible.

Aedes-borne diseases remain a public health challenge for many countries globally. The extent of spread of invasive species of Aedes mosquitoes and risk of transmission of the diseases especially around the point of entry of goods such as ports is not well known in Ghana. This study investigated the ecology, distribution and risk of transmission of viral haemorrhagic fevers by How to cite this paper: Ojukwu, K.C.,

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