Research

Current Research

Animal health has been a significant limitation to livestock production in sub-Saharan Africa. Economically vital animals such as cattle, goats, and sheep play multiple roles, including providing draught power, manure, milk, and meat. However, diseases affecting these animals hinder productivity and food security in many African nations, impeding progress towards SDG goals 1 and 2, which focus on ending poverty and achieving food security while promoting sustainable agriculture. Investigating animal diseases is also crucial as they can act as reservoirs for parasites that infect humans, particularly with the close interaction between animals and humans in recent times. Additionally, maintaining animal health is essential for ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for people of all ages.

My research focuses on African trypanosome infections in Ghanaian food-producing animals, studying them throughout their lifetimes in areas with varying levels of tsetse fly exposure to identify potential biomarkers for effective diagnosis of animal trypanosomiasis. My team also investigates the molecular and cell biology of ticks and tick-borne parasites.

Currently, we are examining the prevalence of co-infections with African trypanosomes and tick-borne parasites in cattle across different ecological zones in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana, and assessing the impact of these co-infections on cytokine production, due to the limited information available on this topic in Ghana. Additionally, we are using metagenomic approaches to survey and characterise the tick microbiome in the coastal savannah zone of Ghana, addressing the scarcity of data on tick species diversity, their microbial communities, and associated pathogens.

Our research extends to antimicrobial resistance in livestock and poultry, particularly focusing on identifying and characterising carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in poultry in the Greater Accra region and nearby areas. The increasing reports of carbapenem resistance in bacteria from livestock, wildlife, and pets present significant public health concerns, necessitating a proactive surveillance approach.

The findings from these studies will help develop new strategies for controlling animal trypanosome and tick-borne diseases and contribute to effective measures against antimicrobial resistance. This research will enrich the animal health portfolio, especially within the One Health framework, which is a global priority.

Current Projects