About

Dr Matilda Ayim-Akonor is a part-time Lecturer in the Department of Animal Science at the University of Ghana.  She has expertise in molecular and clinical Microbiology, disease outbreak investigations, infectious disease epidemiology, One Health and Science communication.

Research Interest

Her research interests are in emerging and re-emerging viral infectious diseases of livestock, elucidating zoonotic disease transmission pathways at the human-animal-environment interface, antimicrobial resistance in the farmed-animal environment and the food value chain, and the development and implementation of practical intervention programmes for the safety of animal products.

Publications

Publications over the last 5 years (2020 to 2025)

• Hackman H.K, Annison L, Arhin R.E, Aidoo E.K, Wilberforce E.A, Mensah A.C, Appiah L, Annison S, Ayim-Akonor M (2025). Awareness of antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic use among poultry farmers in Accra, Ghana: A cross-sectional survey. PLOS ONE 20(12): e0337531 doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0337531
• Faburay B, O’Hara K, Remmenga M, Odoom T, Johnson S, Tasiame W, Ayim-AkonorM, Anderson B, Kwabena Amoako K, Holder D, et al. Evaluation of Aggregate Oral Fluid Sampling for Early Detection of African Swine Fever Virus Infection. Viruses. 2025; 17(8):1089. https://doi.org/10.3390/v17081089
• Owusu-Ntumy DD, Ayim-Akonor M, Ohene Larbi R, Ohene Asa HE (2025). Astroviruses in animals and the environment in Africa: a review. EMI: Animal and amp: Environment, 1(1). doi.org/10.1080/29986990.2025.2525097
• Acheampong R, Osei Tutu C, Owusu-Bempah J, Kumador K.D, Mahama S, Kortei N.K, Wiafe-Kwagyan M, Akonor P.T, Ayim-Akonor M (2025). Underutilized legumes in regenerative agriculture: Implications for food and nutritional security-A review. Applied Food Research, 5(2).101313. doi.org/10.1016/j.afres.2025.101313
• Amegayibor E.F, Ohene Larbi R, Ayim-Akonor M, Ansa E.D.O, Thekkur P, Owusu H, Terry RF, Harries AD, Sasu BK, Hedidor GK, et al. (2025). Prevalence of Antimicrobial and Colistin Resistance in Enterobacterales in Healthy Pigs in Ghana Before and After Farmer Education. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease. 2025; 10(9):266. doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed1009026
• Amegayibor E.F, Ohene Larbi R, Owusu H, Sasu B.K, Ayim-Akonor M, Terry R.F, Mills R.O, Harries A.D and Kuukyi S.F (2025). Enterobacterales and Antimicrobial Resistance in Feed, Water, and Slurry in Pig Production Farms in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, 2024. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2025, 10, 239. https://doi.org/10.3390/ tropicalmed10090239
• Ayim-Akonor M, Ohene Larbi R, Owusu-Ntumy D.D, Sasu B.K, Ohene Asa H.E and Odoom T (2025). Antimicrobial susceptibility profile and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase phenotype of E. coli isolated from poultry. International Journal of Microbiology. 2025: 1-6. doi.org/10.1155/ijm/9468425
• Ohene Larbi R, Adeapena W, Ayim-Akonor M, Ansa E.D.O, Tweya H, Terry R.F, Larbi A and Harries A.D (2022). Antimicrobial, multi-drug and colistin resistance in Enterobacteriaceae in healthy pigs in the Greater Accra region of Ghana, 2022: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 19:10449
• Ohene Larbi R, Ofori L.A, Sylverken A.A, Ayim-Akonor M and Obiri-Danso K (2021). Antimicrobial Resistance of  Escherichia coli  from Broilers, Pigs, and Cattle in the Greater Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana. International Journal of Microbiology. 2021:1-7 doi.org/10.1155/2021/5158185
• Kortei N.K, Anna T, Akonor P.T, Seidu A.R, Annan H.A, Wiafe-Kwagyan M, Ayim-Akonor M and Akpaloo P.G (2021). Aflatoxins in randomly selected groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea) and its products from some local markets across Ghana: Human risk assessment and monitoring. Toxicology Reports 8:186-195
• Ayim-Akonor M, Mertens E, May J and Harder T (2020). Exposure of domestic swine to Influenza A viruses in Ghana suggests unidirectional, reverse zoonotic transmission at the human–animal interface. Zoonoses and Public Health 67(6): 697-707
• Ayim-Akonor M, Krumkamp R, May J, Mertens E (2020). Understanding attitude, practices and knowledge of zoonotic infectious disease risks among poultry farmers in Ghana. Veterinary Medicine and Science 6(3): 631-638 doi.org/10.1002/vms3.257
• Kortei N.K, Heymann M.E, Essuman E.K, Kpodo F.M, Akonor P.T, Lokpo S.Y, Boadi N.O, Ayim-Akonor M and Tettey C (2020). Health risk assessment and levels of toxic metals in fishes (Oreochromis noliticus and Clarias anguillaris) from Ankobrah and Pra basins: Impact of illegal mining activities on food safety. Toxicology Reports 7: 360-369 doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2020.02.011