Bethel Kwansa-Bentum (Bsc, MPhil (Ghana) PhD (Tokyo))

Research interests
• Characterisation and control of tropical parasitic diseases and vector-borne pathogens of medical, zoonotic and veterinary importance. This include but not limited to malaria, filariasis, tungiasis, schistosomiasis, trypanosomiasis, cryptosporidiosis.
• Bionomics of bedbugs and disease vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, sandflies, and their control using modern techniques.

Current research/project(s)
• Diversity, abundance and zoonotic implications of ticks infestation on wild small mammals at Muni-Pomadze Ramsar site, Ghana
• Characterization of bedbugs (cimicidae) and assessment of environmental factors that influence their survival fitness in Ghana.
• Assessment of risk factors and the health burden associated with tungiasis in Mankoadze, Gomoa West district of Ghana

Past research projects
• Molecular characterisation of Cryptosporidium parasites in cattle that graze around water treatment plants in Southern Ghana (Funded by UGRF )

• Characterisation of bedbugs (cimicidae) and assessment of environmental factors that influence their survival fitness in Ghana (Funded by UGRF)

• Identification of ecto- and endo-parasites of the Brooke’s house gecko Hemidactylus brookii in Ghana

• Role of antimalarial herbal medicines on Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes and their implications for malaria transmission in Ghana

• Molecular characterisation of Plasmodium falciparum parasites in Ghana

• Trends in transmission of lymphatic filariasis after mass drug administration with ivermectin and albendazole in the Gomoa District of Ghana

Awards
1. Japanese Government Scholarship (Monbukagakusho) (October 2007 - September 2011)
2. University of Ghana Research Fund (March 2015 - February 2017)

Recent publications
1. Kwansa-Bentum B, Agyeman K, Larbi-Akor J, Anyigba C & Appiah-Opong R. In vitro assessment of antiplasmodial activity and cytotoxicity of Polyalthia longifolia leaf extracts on Plasmodium falciparum strain NF54. Malaria Research and Treatment 2019: 6976298; 1-9.
2. Nuamah HG, Nuamah MA, Kwansa-Bentum B, Tetteh-Quarcoo PB, Ahenkorah J, Korankye E, Torto M, Ntumi M & Samba A. The impact of malaria parasites on the placenta and perinatal outcome at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana: A case control study. Postgraduate Medical Journal of Ghana 2019: 8(2). 134-139.
3. Ahenkorah J, Tetteh-Quarcoo P, Nuamah M, Kwansa-Bentum B, Nuamah HG, Hottor B, Korankye E, Torto M, Ntumy M & Addai FK. The impact of Plasmodium infection on placental histomorphology: A stereological preliminary study. Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology 2019: 2096560; 1-8.
4. Kwansa-Bentum B, Kwansa-Bentum HT, Baah EO, Otchere J & Aboagye-Antwi F. Ecto- and Endo-parasites infecting the Brooke's house gecko Hemidactylus brookii (Sauria: Gekkonidae) in Ghana. Journal of Ghana Science Association 2018: 18(1).
5. Gbogbo F, Arthur-Yartel A, Bondzie JA, Winfred-Peck D, Dadzie S, Kwansa-Bentum B, Ewool J & Billah MK. Risk of heavy metal ingestion from the consumption of two commercially valuable species of fish from the fresh and coastal waters of Ghana. PLoS ONE 2018: 13(3); e0194682.

Professional membership(s)
1. American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
2. Japanese Society of Parasitology