Assessment of animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) vulnerability in cattle-owning communities of sub-Saharan Africa

Background: Animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) is one of the biggest constraints to livestock production and a threat to food security in sub-Saharan Africa. In order to optimise the allocation of resources for AAT control, decision makers need to target geographic areas where control programmes are most likely to be successful and sustainable and select control methods that will maximise the benefits obtained from resources invested. Methods: The overall approach to classifying cattle-owning communities in terms of AAT vulnerability was based on the selection of key variables collected through field surveys in five sub-Saharan Africa countries followed by a formal Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) to identify factors explaining the variations between areas. To categorise the communities in terms of AAT vulnerability profiles, Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) was performed. Results: Three clusters of community vulnerability profiles were identified based on farmers’ beliefs with respect to trypanosomiasis control within the five countries studied. Cluster 1 communities, mainly identified in Cameroon, reported constant AAT burden, had large trypanosensitive (average herd size = 57) communal grazing cattle herds. Livestock (cattle and small ruminants) were reportedly the primary source of income in the majority of these cattle-owning households (87.0 %). Cluster 2 communities identified mainly in Burkina Faso and Zambia, with some Ethiopian communities had moderate herd sizes (average = 16) and some trypanotolerant breeds (31.7 %) practicing communal grazing. In these communities there were some concerns regarding the development of trypanocide resistance. Crops were the primary income source while communities in this cluster incurred some financial losses due to diminished draft power. The third cluster contained mainly Ugandan and Ethiopian communities which were mixed farmers with smaller herd sizes (average = 8). The costs spent diagnosing and treating AAT were moderate here. Conclusions: Understanding how cattle-owners are affected by AAT and their efforts to manage the disease is critical to the design of suitable locally-adapted control programmes. It is expected that the results could inform priority setting and the development of tailored recommendations for AAT control strategies

Dosimetrie et radioprotection des patients lors des examens tomodensitomtriques au Chu Sylvanus Olympio (CHU-SO) de Lomé (Togo)

Méthodologies : Etude rétrospective des rapports de doses de 660 scanners de la tête,du thorax, de l’abdomen et du pelvis des adultes de plus 15 ans réalisés au pavillonscanner du CHU-SO de juillet à décembre 2011.Résultats : La tête était la région la plus explorée (565), suivie de thorax (43), del’abdomen (33) et enfin du pelvis (19). On notait une prédominance masculine avec unratio de 1,5 homme pour une femme. La tranche d’âge la plus représentée était latranche 46-51 ans. Les CTDI vol moyens étaient de 61,5 mGy pour les scanners de latête, 8,7mGy pour le thorax, 70,9 mGy pour l’abdomen et 2,8 mGy pour le pelvis. LesDLP moyens étaient de 1850mGy/cm pour les scanners de la tête, 281,8 mGy/cm pourle thorax, 476,2 mGy/cm pour l’abdomen et 351,6 pour le pelvis. Quatre cent quarantequatrescanners (78,58%) de la tête avaient une dose supérieure à 2,2 mSv. Pour lesscanners du thorax, 4 (9,30%) dépassaient les 8,5 mSv, 24,24% (8/33) des scanners del’abdomen dépassaient 9,8 mSv et 47,37%(9/19) des scanners du pelvis avaient uneexposition supérieure à 7,2 mSv.Conclusion : Il ressort de notre étude que les doses délivrées aux patients lors desexamens TDM sont supérieurs aux NRD françaises et européennes, surtout pour la tête.Mots clés : Dosimétrie, radioprotection, tomodensitométrie, crâne, Lomé.ABSTRACTMethodology: A retrospective study doses reports of 660 scans of the head, thorax,abdomen and pelvis of adults over 15 years made in the CHU-SO from July toDecember 2011.Results: The head was the most explored region (565), followed by chest (43), abdomen(33) and the pelvis (19). We noted a male predominance with a male ratio of 1.5 for awoman. The most represented age group was the 46-51 year bracket. The CTDI volmeans were 61.5 mGy for scanners of the head, thorax 8,7mGy, 70.9 mGy for theabdomen and 2.8 mGy for the pelvis. The DLP means were 1850mGy / cm for scannersof the head, 281,8mGy / cm for the thorax, 476,2mGy / cm, and 351.6 for the abdomenand pelvis. Four hundred forty-four scanners (78.58%) of the head had a dose higherthan 2.2 mSv. For scanners chest, 4 (9.30%) exceeded 8.5 mSv, 24.24% (8/33) of theabdomen scanners exceeded 9.8 mSv and 47.37% (9/19) of pelvic scanners were greaterthan 7,2mSv exposure.Conclusion: Our study shows that patient dose during CT examinations are superior tothe French and European DRLs, especially for the head.Keywords: Dosimetry, radioprotection, CT, head, Lome

Aberrant use and poor quality of trypanocides: a risk for drug resistance in south western Ethiopia

Abstract Background Trypanocidal drugs have been used to control African animal trypanosomosis for several decades. In Ethiopia, these drugs are available from both authorized (legal) and unauthorized (illegal) sources but documentation on utilization practices and quality of circulating products is scanty. This study looked at the practices of trypanocidal drug utilization by farmers and the integrity of active ingredient in trypanocides sold in Gurage zone, south western Ethiopia. The surveys were based on a structured questionnaire and drug quality determination of commonly used brands originating from European and Asian companies and sold at both authorized and unauthorized markets. One hundred farmers were interviewed and 50 drug samples were collected in 2013 (Diminazene aceturate = 33 and Isometamidium chloride = 17; 25 from authorized and 25 from unauthorized sources). Samples were tested at the OIE-certified Veterinary Drug Control Laboratory (LACOMEV) in Dakar, Senegal, by using galenic standards and high performance liquid chromatography. Results Trypanosomosis was found to be a major threat according to all interviewed livestock keepers in the study area. Diminazene aceturate and isometamidium chloride were preferred by 79% and 21% of the respondents respectively, and 85% of them indicated that an animal receives more than six treatments per year. About 60% of these treatments were reported to be administered by untrained farmers. Trypanocidal drug sources included both unauthorized outlets (56%) and authorized government and private sources (44%). A wide availability and usage of substandard quality drugs was revealed. Twenty eight percent of trypanocidal drugs tested failed to comply with quality requirements. There was no significant difference in the frequency of non-compliance between diminazene-based and isometamidium chloride products (P = 0.87) irrespective of the marketing channel (official and unofficial). However, higher rates of non-compliant trypanocides were detected for drugs originating from Asia than from Europe (P = 0.029). Conclusion The findings revealed the presence of risk factors for the development of drug resistance, i.e. wide distribution of poor quality drugs as well as substandard administration practices. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to enforce regulatory measures for quality control of veterinary drugs, to expand and strengthen veterinary services and to undertake trypanocidal drug efficacy studies of wider coverage

Additional file 1: Annex 1. of Aberrant use and poor quality of trypanocides: a risk for drug resistance in south western Ethiopia

Questionnaire survey data: trypanocidal drug utilization practices, perception of risks of bovine trypanosomosis and efficacy of existing trypanocidal drugs. (DOCX 42 kb

A survey of antimicrobial residues in table eggs in Khartoum State, Sudan, 2007–2008

The risk to consumers of antimicrobial residues in table eggs produced in Khartoum State, Sudan, was studied. All producing layer farms (n = 175) in the state were sampled in April, June and August 2008. A total of 933 eggs from 335 layer houses were screened for antimicrobial residues by using the growth inhibition of Geobacillus stearothermophilus var. calidolactis in-house test. A high proportion of layer farms (72% in April, 61% in June and 66% in August) and layer houses (63% April, 59% in June and 61% in August) were found to have antimicrobial residues, with no significant difference in prevalence (p = 0.57) between study periods. The study showed that the consumer was at constant risk of exposure to antimicrobial residues in table eggs. The paper discusses reasons for the high prevalence of antimicrobial residues in Sudanese eggs and its implications, and makes recommendations to address this important public health problem