ABSTRACT
Aims: To determine the microbial quality and the presence of antibiotic residues in raw beef from four major abattoirs in Accra, Ghana. Study Design: Cross sectional. Place and Duration of Study: Samples were obtained from the four major abattoirs namely; Madina, Tema (GIHOC), Accra, Amasaman and the University of Ghana (UG) Farms, transferred immediately to the Bacteriology Laboratory, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, for processing. The study was carried out between June 2013 and April, 2014. Methodology: Raw beef samples were aseptically collected from 200 cattle slaughtered for consumption. Total plate count, presence of foodborne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, E. coli 0157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and Shigella species were determined after culture and incubation on standard microbiological media. Both liver and kidney samples were also collected from each of the 200 carcasses and tested for antibiotic residues using Premi® test kit (R-Biopharm AG, Germany). Results: The total plate counts in all the samples from the abattoirs ranged between 8.3x103 – 5.5x105 cfu/g. A total of 43 pathogens were isolated. Of this number, 30 (69.76%) were E. coli, 8 (18.69%) S. aureus, 2 (4.65%) Salmonella Typhimurium, 2 (4.65%) L. monocytogenes and 1 (2.3%) Yersinia enterocolitica. Fifty-nine strains from other species were also isolated: Bacillus spp. (21), Enterobacter spp. (18), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1), Aeromonas spp. (3), coliforms (12) and Klebsiella spp. (4). None of the E. coli isolated were positive for O157: H7. Overall, 18% of both the liver and kidney samples were positive for the presence of antibiotic residues but the kidneys recorded the highest (12%) percentage of positive whilst the liver recorded (6%). Conclusion: Beef at the abattoirs were contaminated with foodborne pathogens and antibiotic residues, however, the total aerobic counts were within the acceptable range considered safe for human consumption. Detection of pathogens and antibiotic residues in beef is of public health concern.
ABSTRACT
Background: Later years of life are accompanied by many physical; emotional and environmental changes which may impact on the well-being of the individual. Many factors are known to influence the subjective well-being of older adults; but most; if not all of this information was the result of studies in the Western world. This study aimed at obtaining and documenting the predictors of subjective well-being (SWB) among older Ghanaians. Methods: Data for the study was obtained from the WHO SAGE study. The single item measure of life satisfaction was used to determine subjective wellbeing. Descriptive statistics as well as logistic regression analysis were carried out to determine the predictors of SWB. Results: A total of 4724 individuals aged 50 years and above responded to the questionnaires. Of these 50.4 were males. Following multivariate logistic regression analysis; age; sex; educational level; income and ethnic background were found to significantly affect the SWB of older Ghanaians. Being male was associated with higher level of SWB (OR=1.68; CI: 1.39 - 2.03). For those 50 years and above; being younger (50-59 years) was also associated with a high level of SWB (OR=17.72; CI: 10.13-30.98). Earning a low income and having low educational level were both associated with low levels of SWB (OR=0.304; CI: 0.22-0.42; and OR=0.47; CI: 0.37-0.60 respectively). Ewes (p=0.027); Grumas (p=0.002) and Mole-Dagbons (p=0.04) had significantly higher SWB compared to the other ethnic groups. Conclusion: Among older Ghanaians; factors that positively influence SWB are younger age; male sex; high educational level and high income
Subject(s)
Health , Quality of LifeABSTRACT
Les auteurs; a partir d'un cas de lymphagiome kystique cervical; signalent l'apport de l'imagerie medicale; surtout de l'echographie et la tomodensitometrie; dans le diagnostic de cette affection rare