Risk of spread of the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) in Ghana.

The impact of invasive species on biodiversity, food security and economy is increasingly noticeable in various regions of the globe as a consequence of climate change. Yet, there is limited research on how climate change affects the distribution of the invasive Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera:Liviidae) in Ghana. Using maxnet package to fit the Maxent model in R software, we answered the following questions; (i) what are the main drivers for D. citri distribution, (ii) what are the D. citri-specific habitat requirements and (iii) how well do the risk maps fit with what we know to be correctly based on the available evidence?. We found that temperature seasonality (Bio04), mean temperature of warmest quarter (Bio10), precipitation of driest quarter (Bio17), moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer land cover and precipitation seasonality (Bio15), were the most important drivers of D. citri distribution. The results follow the known distribution records of the pest with potential expansion of habitat suitability in the future. Because many invasive species, including D. citri, can adapt to the changing climates, our findings can serve as a guide for surveillance, tracking and prevention of D. citri spread in Ghana.

Buruli ulcer in Africa: Geographical distribution, ecology, risk factors, diagnosis, and indigenous plant treatment options - A comprehensive review.

Buruli ulcer (BU), a neglected tropical disease (NTD), is an infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. The disease has been documented in many South American, Asian, and Western Pacific countries and is widespread throughout much of Africa, especially in West and Central Africa. In rural areas with scarce medical care, BU is a devastating disease that can leave patients permanently disabled and socially stigmatized. Mycobacterium ulcerans is thought to produce a mycolactone toxin, which results in necrosis of the afflicted tissue and may be involved in the etiology of BU. Initially, patients may notice a painless nodule or plaque on their skin; as the disease progresses, however, it may spread to other parts of the body, including the muscles and bones. Clinical signs, microbial culture, and histological analysis of afflicted tissue all contribute to a diagnosis of BU. Though antibiotic treatment and surgical removal of infected tissue are necessary for BU management, plant-derived medicine could be an alternative in areas with limited access to conventional medicine. Herein we reviewed the geographical distribution, socioeconomic, risk factors, diagnosis, biology and ecology of the pathogen. Complex environmental, socioeconomic, and genetic factors that influence BU are discussed. Further, our review highlights future research areas needed to develop strategies to manage the disease through the use of indigenous African plants.

Mango anthracnose disease: the current situation and direction for future research.

Mango anthracnose disease (MAD) is a destructive disease of mangoes, with estimated yield losses of up to 100% in unmanaged plantations. Several strains that constitute Colletotrichum complexes are implicated in MAD worldwide. All mangoes grown for commercial purposes are susceptible, and a resistant cultivar for all strains is not presently available on the market. The infection can widely spread before being detected since the disease is invincible until after a protracted latent period. The detection of multiple strains of the pathogen in Mexico, Brazil, and China has prompted a significant increase in research on the disease. Synthetic pesticide application is the primary management technique used to manage the disease. However, newly observed declines in anthracnose susceptibility to many fungicides highlight the need for more environmentally friendly approaches. Recent progress in understanding the host range, molecular and phenotypic characterization, and susceptibility of the disease in several mango cultivars is discussed in this review. It provides updates on the mode of transmission, infection biology and contemporary management strategies. We suggest an integrated and ecologically sound approach to managing MAD.

Insects as food and medicine: a sustainable solution for global health and environmental challenges.

Insects are a significant source of food for millions of people worldwide. Since ancient times, insects in medicine have been contributing to the treatment of diseases in humans and animals. Compared to conventional animal farming, the production of insects for food and feed generates significantly less greenhouse gas emissions and uses considerably less land. Edible insects provide many ecosystem services, including pollination, environmental health monitoring, and the decomposition of organic waste materials. Some wild edible insects are pests of cash crops. Thus, harvesting and consuming edible insect pests as food and utilizing them for therapeutic purposes could be a significant progress in the biological control of insect pests. Our review discusses the contribution of edible insects to food and nutritional security. It highlights therapeutic uses of insects and recommends ways to ensure a sustainable insect diet. We stress that the design and implementation of guidelines for producing, harvesting, processing, and consuming edible insects must be prioritized to ensure safe and sustainable use.

Remediation of pesticide residues using ozone: A comprehensive overview.

Pesticide residues historically represent a severe threat to public health and the environment. Several species worldwide are still in danger from pesticide residues, despite efforts to mitigate the adverse health effects of these pollutants. As agricultural output has increased and scientific understanding has advanced, new methods have emerged for degrading pesticide traces. The remarkable effectiveness of ozone as a broad-spectrum disinfectant and its potential to destroy pesticide residues have led to its widespread use as a residue-free method for improving soil quality, disinfecting food, and treating water, among other benefits. Ozone is cheap to manufacture, making it an affordable option for treating harmful pesticide residues. Its capacity to degrade pesticides without negatively impacting the environment has increased its adoption as a tool for cleaning up after pesticide use. This review extensively provides an overview of ozonation for pesticide residues removal in different settings and applications. Ozone treatment of pesticide residues in the soil, water and food is effective in removing pesticides residues. We highlight recent advances in methods of removing pesticide residues. We discuss several challenges related to the ozone treatment of pesticide residues. Whether used alone or in conjunction with other processes, ozone is highly effective at removing pesticide residues from the environment. Therefore, we recommend this holistic and environmentally friendly strategy to reduce pesticide residues.

Determining the potential distribution of Oryctes monoceros and Oryctes rhinoceros by combining machine-learning with high-dimensional multidisciplinary environmental variables.

The African coconut beetle Oryctes monoceros and Asiatic rhinoceros beetle O. rhinoceros have been associated with economic losses to plantations worldwide. Despite the amount of effort put in determining the potential geographic extent of these pests, their environmental suitability maps have not yet been well established. Using MaxEnt model, the potential distribution of the pests has been defined on a global scale. The results show that large areas of the globe, important for production of palms, are suitable for and potentially susceptible to these pests. The main determinants for O. monoceros distribution were; temperature annual range, followed by land cover, and precipitation seasonality. The major determinants for O. rhinoceros were; temperature annual range, followed by precipitation of wettest month, and elevation. The area under the curve values of 0.976 and 0.975, and True skill statistic values of 0.90 and 0.88, were obtained for O. monoceros and O. rhinoceros, respectively. The global simulated areas for O. rhinoceros (1279.00 × 104 km2) were more than that of O. monoceros (610.72 × 104 km2). Our findings inform decision-making and the development of quarantine measures against the two most important pests of palms.