---

Striga hermonthica is a noxious, obligate hemi-parasite of cereal grasses that causes severe grain yield loss in susceptible maize cultivars in Africa. The development of host plant resistance is one of the most practical Stiga control strategies. In this study experiments on 36 maize inbred lines were conducted in pots and in field during the two rainy seasons of 2009 at Kibos and Alupe stations in Kenya. This study was carried out in order to determine the variation in Striga emergence, and the correlation between the attachments of the parasite to the roots. Significant differences (P < 0.001) were detected among the inbred lines for grain yield under Striga-free environment. The Striga damage rating (SDR) was significant (P < 0.05) among the inbred lines. A highly significant and negative correlation coefficient was observed between grain yield and Striga damage rating (r = - 0.67). Positive correlation coefficients were observed between grain yield and ear aspect (r = 0.46) and plant aspect (r = 0.75), respectively. For the experiment in pots, highly significant differences (P < 0.01) were observed among the inbred lines for Striga resistance traits. Striga attachments were found to be correlated with the number of emerged Striga plants. A significant correlation was found between Striga attachments and Striga counts in pots at the 10^th week after planting (WAP) (r = 0.25) and the 14^th WAP (r = 0.31). Inbred lines JI-30-19 and OSU231//56/44-6-4-17-3 were identified as the most resistant lines as they consistently performed well in both Striga-free and Striga-infested environments. These inbred lines could be used for breeding Striga-resistant maize varieties.  

---

New sources of maize resistance to the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais infestation are indispensable in successful breeding programs against post harvest grain damage. The study investigated the characters and mechanisms that confer resistance to weevil infestation using twenty elite maize genotypes. Detailed morphological and physical studies were conducted on whole-maize grain. The grain hull was separated from the whole-maize grain with a locally-fabricated machine and subjected to chemical analysis. Resistance was assessed at 33 days post infestation using weevil mortality, weevil survival, percent grain damage, weight of grain powder, percent weight loss and oviposition as indices rated on a scale developed by the present study. The resistant genotypes identified, particularly 2000SYNEE-WSTR and TZBRELD3C5 with very high degree of resistance should be used singly or best in an integrated pest management system for the control of S. zeamais infestation in stored maize. Though increases in the physical properties of grain hardness, weight, length and width increased varietal resistance, it was found that the bases of resistance were increased chemical attributes of phenolic acid, trypsin inhibitor and crude fiber while the bases of susceptibility were increased protein and starch. Characters that conferred resistance on the tested genotypes were found in the grain hull. The study identified antibiosis and antixenosis as the mechanisms of maize post harvest resistance to S. zeamais infestation.  

---

New sources of botanical pesticides in the management of Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) infesting rice grains are indispensable in farmers’ quest towards achieving maximum protection of their rice produce. In this study, the efficacy of root and stem bark of Cleistopholis patens as an insecticidal agent against S. cerealella was investigated at 28 ± 2 ºC and 75 ± 6% relative humidity. Moths were exposed to contact and fumigant toxicity test at 0.5-2.5 g/20 g of paddy rice and mortality was assessed at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours post-treatment respectively. Generally, moth exposed to root powders of C. patens showed higher mortality values (contact: 10 - 93%; fumigant: 13 - 100%) than their counterpart exposed to stem powder (contact: 6.67 - 78%; fumigant: 10 - 95%). Also, lethal doses (LD₅₀ and LD₉₅) revealed that lower doses of C. patens root powder resulted in higher mortality of S. cerealella when compared to that of stem powder. The only exception was observed in LD₉₅ values of stem (6.54 g / 20 g of paddy rice) and root (6.76 g / 20 g of paddy rice) powder of fumigant toxicity test. Both powders of C. patens also significantly reduced adult emergence in treated grains when compared to control. This study showed that powders of stem and root bark of C. patens would provide a much desired wherewithal to synthetic insecticides in the management of S. cerealella infesting rice grains in Nigeria.

---

Arthropods were sampled on an early- and late-season crop of watermelon in the 2016 cropping season using motorized suction sampler swept along 5m length of the middle row of 20 experimental plots at Federal University Wukari. Specimens were sorted to morphotypes, feeding guilds and as dominant based on percentage relative abundance (RA) and frequency of occurrence (FO). Different species diversity indices were computed. The collections made on the early- and late-sown crops were compared using Jaccard’s Similarity index (C_j). Spatial distribution pattern of the dominant arthropods were determined using Taylor’s power law and Iwao’s patchiness regression. Results showed that collections on both crops were similar (C_j= 0.83). A total of 14,466 specimens sorted to 1 order (Araneae) in the class Arachnida and 64 species in 41 families and 8 orders in the class Hexapoda were collected. Data showed moderately high species diversity (H = 2.8-3.0), richness (R = 6.0-7.2), but low evenness (E = 0.26-0.39). Coleopterous insects (22 species), dominated by chrysomelids, were the most diverse and species-rich followed by hymenopterans, mainly formicids. Dominant arthropods (RA≥1.0 and FO≥25.0%) included Asbecesta nigripennis, Aulacophora africana, Philanthus triangulum (parasitoid of bee), Pheidole sp., Camponotus sp., Rhynocoris nitidulus and spiders. Most dominant arthropods were aggregated; dispersion varied with model used and crop season. Only 27.3% of the diverse and rich arthropods on watermelon at Wukari require pest management intervention and validation of their dispersion pattern in large-scale watermelon production.

---

Three different solvents namely; hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol were used in partitioning the extracts obtained from Piper guineense seeds and solvent extracts were investigated for the presence or absence of secondary metabolites. Extracts were further evaluated on adult maize weevils, Sitophilus zeamais. Experiment was carried out under laboratory conditions at 27 ± 2 °C ambient temperatures and 65 ± 5% relative humidity and was arranged in a completely randomised design in four replicates. Parameters assessed, including contact toxicity, repellent effects as well as effect of solvent extracts on the germination of maize seeds. Results obtained showed that the solvent extracts contained all the secondary metabolites tested except flavonoids and steroids. As well, all the solvent extracts were lethal and possessed high repellent action against S. zeamais, with ethanol fraction being the most potent. There was no significant difference in the germination of seeds treated with the solvent extracts as well as the ethanol control. The results obtained from this study reveal P. guineese as a potential candidate for bio insecticide and could serve as an alternative to synthetic insecticides.

---

Backgrounds: The clinical and socioeconomic effects of COVID-19 are still being felt throughout the world. The disease affects people of all age groups, but it is known to have a milder clinical course in children including neonates. There is paucity of data from Sub-Saharan Africa on neonatal COVID-19 infection, and no such case has been reported in the literature in Ghana.
Case presentation: This study presented a case report of a neonate who was found to be positive for COVID-19 infection after presenting symptoms such as respiratory distress, rhinorrhoea, and cough. This neonate was managed with in-hospital standard protocol for sepsis with a focus on pneumonia.
Conclusion: The national guidelines on COVID-19 management were used for the neonate who was recovered and discharged.

---

The efficiency of neem based insecticides have been assessed by many studies however, there is scanty information on the cost:benefit ratio of their use vis-a-viz synthetics, particularly, in watermelon production. In this study, thirty-six 5 m long x 8 m wide plots were arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design in 4 replications of weekly spray of; 0.5% Cyper-diforce^® (CD); 1, 3 and 5% Neem Oil Emulsion (NOE); 0.25% CD + 1, 3 and 5% NOE; 1% soap solution and, Control (unsprayed plots). Arthropods were sampled on 5 m length of row using Suction Sampler and Yellow Sticky Board. Severity of leaf damage and aphid colony size was also assessed. At harvest, marketable fruits were weighed and used to compute cost-benefit ratio. The prevalent pests were five species of leaf-beetles, Aphis gossypii Glover, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) and Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner). The beneficials included; Apis mellifera L., Cardiochiles niger Szépligeti and Cheilomenes sulphurea (Olivier). The 0.5% CD was ineffective against Aphids but 3 and 5% NOE were. Overall, insecticide treatments reduced infestation by 2.9-95.3%. Though, combination of 0.25% CD with NOE treatments suppressed pest infestation relative to sole neem oil treatments, leaf injury and yields were statistically comparable. Sole NOE treatments were observed not to significantly suppress populations of beneficials when compared to 0.25% CD or their combinations. 0.25% CD + 5% NOE consistently gave the highest yield/season (39192-44642 kgha^-1). Monetary benefits exceeded US$3724 ha^-1. The insignificant differences in yield among the insecticide treatments showcased neem’s potential in managing watermelon pests. The ineffectiveness of Cyper-diforce^® against A. gossypii suggests resistance development. 

---

Background: Malnutrition is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children under five years. This study aimed to evaluate malaria and urinary tract infections among children under five years of age with malnutrition.
Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 189 children under five years with malnutrition. Their weight and height were measured using standard scales. Weight to height/length (wasting), weight to age (underweight), and height/length to age (stunting) ratios were computed using WHO growth charts. Clinical features were assessed. Blood smear, rapid diagnostic test for malaria, as well as urine dipstick test were done to detect those with malaria and urinary tract infections.
Findings: About 80.95% of participants had marasmus, and 11.64% had marasmic kwashiorkor, while 7.41% had kwashiorkor. Also, 23.70 and 62.42% of participants had moderate and severe malnutrition, respectively; in addition, 21.69 and 2.12% were moderately and severely stunted, respectively. Regarding underweight (weight to age), 50.26 and 4.76% were moderately and severely underweight, respectively. Also, 15.87% of participants had a positive blood smear for malaria, and 19.58% had a positive rapid diagnostic test for malaria, while 20.11 and 20.63% had positive results for nitrite and leukocyte esterase activity in urine dipstick test, respectively.
Conclusion: Malaria and urinary tract infections are common among children with malnutrition and could be diagnosed using simple laboratory tests such as rapid diagnostic tests and urine dipstick tests in health facilities without laboratory support in resource-limited countries.

---

The quest for new sources of cheap and eco-friendly insecticide for insect pest management remains a major challenge facing cowpea farmers in many developing countries. In this study, the toxicity and biochemical mechanisms associated with the insecticidal efficacy of acetone and n-hexane extracts of Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) and Senna occidentalis (L.) on Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) were investigated. The insecticidal efficacy varied with concentration, exposure time and extracts type. Acetone extract of X. aethiopica was less toxic (LD₅₀ = 2.47%) than its n-hexane extract (LD₅₀ = 1.39%) but with S. occidentalis, acetone extract was more toxic (LD₅₀ = 0.73%) than n-hexane extract (LD₅₀ = 1.37%). Acetone extract of both plants evoked a significant reduction in egg-laying and eclosion ability of adult C. chinensis compared to n-hexane extract except on cowpea pre-treated with acetone extract of S. occidentalis. Only the extracts of X. aethiopica reduced protein concentration compared to control. The activity of glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase was significantly reduced by both extracts of S. occidentalis while only n-hexane extract of S. occidentalis elicited a significant reduction in the activity of glutathione S-transferase and trehalase compared to other treatment levels. GC-MS analysis depicted Diisoocotyl phthalate (50.37%) and isomers of Aromandendrene (19.22%) as the main compounds in S. occidentalis and X. aethiopica respectively. Both botanical extracts also contained other insecticidal and insectifuge compounds in differential amounts. Overall, the findings demonstrated the potential of both botanical extracts, particularly acetone extract of S. occidentalis as alternatives to synthetic insecticide for controlling adult C. chinensis.