Biomonitoring of 29 trace elements in whole blood from inhabitants of Cotonou (Benin) by ICP-MS

International audienceThis study aimed to investigate the blood concentration of 29 trace elements, metals or metalloids, in a healthy population of Cotonou not directly exposed to metals in order to propose reference values. Blood samples from 70 blood donors were collected in K2 EDTA tubes for trace elements during September 2015 and a questionnaire was used to assess lifestyle exposure. Blood metal concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) equipped with a quadrupole-based reaction cell. Among the selected blood donors 51.4% were aged from 18 to 36 years and 49.6% from 37 to 65 years. Among the 29 elements analyzed As, Pb, Mn, Pd, Sb, Co, Se, Sr showed blood concentrations higher than the reference values found in the literature for non-exposed healthy European populations and their geometric means were respectively 5.81; 47.39; 19.71; 1.91; 7.50; 0.66; 163.01; 30.53μg/L. This study provides the first reference value (5th-95th percentiles) for each element in Cotonou, which enables us to carry out further investigations on environmental and occupational exposure

First detection of human T-lymphotropic virus in blood donors in Benin shows that testing is required to improve blood safety

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2018-09-18T11:57:36Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Amoussa AE First detection of human....pdf: 133202 bytes, checksum: ed776ce0e231480498e40d01f24ad232 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2018-09-18T12:10:17Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Amoussa AE First detection of human....pdf: 133202 bytes, checksum: ed776ce0e231480498e40d01f24ad232 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-18T12:10:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Amoussa AE First detection of human....pdf: 133202 bytes, checksum: ed776ce0e231480498e40d01f24ad232 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018Brazilian Research councils: (CNPq-140152/2014-8; Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientíıfico e Tecnológico. This is my PhD fellowship grant which is the result of collaboration between Brazil and Africa), (FAPESP-2013/08135-2; Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo), (FINEP-1387/10; Ministério da Ciencia, Technologia, Inovações e Comunicações-Financiadora de Estudo e Projetos (Empresa Brasileira de inovação e Pesquisas), and the Centre de Prise en Charge Medicale Integree du Nourrisson et de la Femme Enceinte atteints de Drépanocytose (CPMINFED), the national instititute of sickle cell disease, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of hight Education, Benin, Afrique and Agence National de Transfusion Sanguine (ANTS), the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of hight Education, Benin, Afrique.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, BrasilHemocentro de Ribeirão Preto. Ribeirão Preto, SP, BrasilService d’Immunologie Banque de Sang. Cotonou, BeninFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, BrasilAgence Nationale pour la Transfusion Sanguine. Cotonou, BeninService d’Immunologie Banque de Sang. Cotonou, BeninAgence Nationale pour la Transfusion Sanguine. Cotonou, BeninUniversity of Oxford. Oxford, UKFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, BrasilUniversity of São Paulo. São Paulo, BrasilCentre de Prise en Charge M edicale Int egr ee du Nourrisson et de la Femme Enceinte atteints de Drépanocytose. Cotonou, BeninFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, BrasilIntroduction Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) is a blood-borne infection that can be transmitted via blood transfusion. Knowing that blood safety can improve blood transfusion to prevent dissemination of viral infections in medical facilities, there is no routine pre-transfusion screening for HTLV in all blood banks in the Republic of Benin. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of HTLV infection in blood donors and describes the characteristics of positive donors. Methods A HTLV prevalence study was carried out by screening 2,035 samples by an enzyme-linked immunoassay obtained from six blood banks located throughout the Republic of Benin. The PCR method was used to confirm and type all the ELISA reactive samples. Results and discussion Twelve subjects, all volunteer blood donors, were found with positive serology confirmed by a specific HTLV type 1 PCR assay, representing an overall seroprevalence of 0 59%. Furthermore, seven subjects were indeterminate for anti-HTLV-1/2 antibody and only one sample was confirmed positive for HTLV type 1 in a PCR reaction. These are the first cases of HTLV detection among blood donors in Benin Republic, whose blood was already transfused to recipients. This result emphasizes that HTLV needs to be considered as a Public Health issue in the Republic of Benin. Conclusion This study reports positive result of HTLV infection among blood donors in the blood banks of Benin Republic in West Africa and highlights the inclusion of screening tests and strategies to reduce its transmission

The hide and seek of Plasmodium vivax in West Africa: report from a large-scale study in Beninese asymptomatic subjects

International audienc

Transfusion safety in francophone African countries: an analysis of strategies for the medical selection of blood donors.

BackgroundThe goal of selecting a healthy blood donor is to safeguard donors and reduce the risks of infections and immunologic complications for recipients.Study design and methodsTo evaluate the blood donor selection process, a survey was conducted in 28 blood transfusion centers located in 15 francophone African countries. Data collected included availability of blood products, risk factors for infection identified among blood donor candidates, the processing of the information collected before blood collection, the review process for the medical history of blood donor candidates, and deferral criteria for donor candidates.ResultsDuring the year 2009, participating transfusion centers identified 366,924 blood donor candidates. A mean of 13% (range, 0%-36%) of the donor candidates were excluded based solely on their medical status. The main risk factors for blood-borne infections were having multiple sex partners, sexual intercourse with occasional partners, and religious scarification. Most transfusion centers collected this information verbally instead of having a written questionnaire. The topics least addressed were the possible complications relating to the donation, religious scarifications, and history of sickle cell anemia and hemorrhage. Only three centers recorded the temperature of the blood donors. The deferral criteria least reported were sickle cell anemia, piercing, scarification, and tattoo.ConclusionsThe medical selection process was not performed systemically and thoroughly enough, given the regional epidemiologic risks. It is essential to identify the risk factors specific to francophone African countries and modify the current medical history questionnaires to develop a more effective and relevant selection process

MOESM2 of The hide and seek of Plasmodium vivax in West Africa: report from a large-scale study in Beninese asymptomatic subjects

Additional file 2: Fig. S1. Sequence alignment of the seven Plasmodium vivax sequence from nested-PCR. Sequence variations are highlighted by black boxes

How to implement medical and patient associations in low‐income countries: A proposition from the African French Alliance for the Treatment of Haemophilia (AFATH)

International audienceIntroduction: There is a lack of joint recommendations by healthcare professionals (HCP) and patient organizations when a partnership between high and low-income countries in the field of haemophilia is planned.Aim: To draft recommendations to clarify the methodology when a partnership between low- and high-income countries is planned with the objective of a long-term implication. This methodology is to be implemented for fulfilling both medical and associative aims.Methods: Based on the available literature, a first document was written, then diffused to AFATH (Alliance Franco-Africaine pour le Traitement de l'Hémophilie) members, and after a one-day meeting and further amendments, a second draft was approved by all members before submission for publication.Results: Based on 6 years experience, several recommendations regarding the joint and separate roles of patient association and HCP for a first mission in French-speaking sub-Saharan African countries have been established. The proposed methodology for establishing preliminary contacts, the first visit and the key points for diagnostic action, medical follow-up, patient education and advocacy strategy outlines a model of partnership between patients and HCP.Conclusion: This paper written jointly by patients and physicians underlines the importance of reciprocal expert guidance and a partnership based on complementary inputs