Impact of intermittent preventive anti-malarial treatment on the growth and nutritional status of preschool children in rural Senegal (west Africa).

Negative consequences of malaria might account for seasonality in nutritional status in children in the Sahel. We report the impact of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of seasonal intermittent preventive anti-malarial treatment on growth and nutritional status in 1,063 Senegalese preschool children. A combination of artesunate and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine was given monthly from September to November. In the intervention arm, mean weight gain was significantly greater (122.9 +/- 340 versus 42.9 +/- 344 [SD] g/mo, P < 0.0001) and losses in triceps and subscapular skinfold measurements were less (-0.39 +/- 1.01 versus -0.66 +/- 1.01 mm/mo, and -0.15 +/- 0.64 versus -0.36 +/- 0.62 mm/mo, respectively, P < 0.0001 for both). There was no difference in height increments. The prevalence of wasting increased significantly in the control arm (4.6% before versus 9.5% after, P < 0.0001), but remained constant in intervention children: 5.6% versus 7.0% (P = 0.62). The prevention of malaria would improve child nutritional status in areas with seasonal transmission

Effect of Deep-Fat Frying on Chemical Properties of Edible Vegetable Oils Used By Senegalese Households

Deep-fat frying performed at high temperatures under atmospheric pressure is a common method of preparing dishes in Senegalese culinary practices. This operation can lead to deterioration of physical, chemical, nutritional and sensory properties of oil, which affects its frying performance. It also results in the production of volatile products such as aldehydes and non volatile fraction which remains in the frying medium. Some of these remaining products have been implicated in producing adverse health effects. Highly oxidized oils may also produce polyaromatic hydrocarbons, which have carcinogenic effect. This work was intended to evaluate the effect of frying on chemical properties of edible vegetable oils. Frying process was applied to meat, fish and potatoes in Senegalese culinary conditions. Ten (10) oil samples, each of three different brands, were purchased from wholesalers and retailers in different neighborhoods of Dakar. The samples were subjected to frying at 220°C for 40 min and then oils were withdrawn in amber bottles samples of which were taken for analysis. Acid value, peroxide value and total polar components were used to evaluate the quality of these oils after initial determination of the iodine value and the moisture and volatile matter content. Acid value increased after 40 min of frying and values ranged from 0.62 to 1.08 mg/kg after frying fish, while those for meat and potatoes ranged from 0.39 to 0.73 and 0.37 to 0.51 mg/kg, respectively. Peroxide value increased slightly for peanut oil (A) and sharply for peanut oil (B) and sunflower oil (C). Frying fish led to high values of total polar components whereas those obtained after frying meat and potatoes during 40 min did not exceed 15.27% except for peanut oil (A). Therefore, frying affects chemical parameter values of edible vegetable oils, which increase at a level depending on the product to be fried. A sharp Total Polar components increase was obtained after frying fish using the three types of oil with values exceeding, sometimes, the maximum level set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. This latter chemical parameter is considered a good indicator of overall quality of frying oil. Thus in Senegalese culinary practices where frying oil is often reused in families with low-income, such a situation may lead to significant sanitary risks. In view of these results, investigations need to be extended to other types of oil marketed in Senegal.Keywords: edible-oils, quality, frying, fish, mea

CRISPR System Acquisition and Evolution of an Obligate Intracellular Chlamydia-Related Bacterium.

Recently, a new Chlamydia-related organism, Protochlamydia naegleriophila KNic, was discovered within a Naegleria amoeba. To decipher the mechanisms at play in the modeling of genomes from the Protochlamydia genus, we sequenced the full genome of Pr. naegleriophila, which includes a 2,885,090 bp chromosome and a 145,285 bp megaplasmid. For the first time within the Chlamydiales order, we describe the presence of a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system, the immune system of bacteria, located on the chromosome. It is composed of a small CRISPR locus comprising eight repeats and associated cas-cse genes of the subtype I-E. A CRISPR locus is also present within Chlamydia sp. Diamant, another Pr. naegleriophila strain, suggesting that the CRISPR system was acquired by a common ancestor of Pr. naegleriophila, after its divergence from Pr. amoebophila. Both nucleotide bias and comparative genomics approaches identified probable horizontal gene acquisitions within two and four genomic islands in Pr. naegleriophila KNic and Diamant genomes, respectively. The plasmid encodes an F-type conjugative system highly similar to 1) that found in the Pam100G genomic island of Pr. amoebophila UWE25 chromosome, as well as on the plasmid of Rubidus massiliensis and 2) to the three genes remaining in the chromosome of Parachlamydia acanthamoebae strains. Therefore, this conjugative system was likely acquired on an ancestral plasmid before the divergence of Parachlamydiaceae Overall, this new complete Pr. naegleriophila genome sequence enables further investigation of the dynamic processes shaping the genomes of the family Parachlamydiaceae and the genus Protochlamydia

Prevalence and associated risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections among children in pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities in the Adadle woreda of the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) can cause illness, morbidity, and occasional mortality in children. Agro-pastoralist and pastoralist children in the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia (ESRS) are especially at risk for IPIs, as access to safe water, sanitation, and health services is lacking. Minimal data on the prevalence of IPIs and associated risk factors exists in this region. METHODOLOGY: We assessed the prevalence of IPIs and associated risk factors during the wet season from May-June 2021 in 366 children aged 2 to 5 years in four agro-pastoralist and four pastoralist kebeles (wards) in Adadle woreda (district) of the Shebelle zone, ESRS. Household information, anthropometric measurements, and stool samples were obtained from included children. Parasites were identified microscopically using Kato-Katz and direct smear methods. Risk factors were assessed using general estimating equation models accounting for clustering. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Overall prevalence of IPIs was 35%: 30.6% for single infections and 4.4% for poly-parasitic infections. Intestinal protozoan prevalence was 24.9%: 21.9% Giardia intestinalis, and 3.0% Entamoeba spp.. Intestinal helminth prevalence was 14.5%: 12.8% Ascaris lumbricoides, 1.4% hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale /Necator americanus.), and 0.3% Hymenolepis nana. G. intestinalis infection was associated with drinking water sourced from the river (aOR 15.6, 95%CI 6.84, 35.4) and from collected rainwater (aOR 9.48, 95%CI 3.39, 26.5), with toilet sharing (aOR 2.93, 95%CI 1.36, 6.31) and with household ownership of cattle (1-5 cattle: aOR 1.65, 95%CI 1.13, 2.41; 6+ cattle: aOR 2.07, 95%CI 1.33, 3.21) and chickens (aOR 3.80, 95%CI 1.77, 8.17). A. lumbricoides infection was associated with children 36 to 47 months old (aOR 1.92, 95%CI 1.03, 3.58). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Improving access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services in Adadle and employing a One Health approach would likely improve the health of children living in (agro-) pastoralist communities in Adadle and the ESRS; however, further studies are required

Clinical and pathological kidney aspects of sickle cell anemia at Dakar: study of 11 cases of renal biopsies

Few studies are devoted to the practice of renal biopsy in sickle cell nephropathy; our objective was to determine the histological and evolutionary patterns of renal lesions in sickle cell patients who underwent renal biopsy in Dakar.Methods:This was a retrospective multicentric study (conducted from December 2009 to August 2011) on renal biopsies performed on sickle cell anaemic patients at the Nephrology Department of Teaching Hospital Aristide Le Dantec and the Albert Royer Childrens Hospital. The histological, therapeutic and evolutionary data were analysed.From the 292 total renal biopsies, 11 (3.80%) were performed on sickle cell patients (6SS, 1SBth + 4 AS) with a mean age of 23.1 [13-51 years]. Nephrotic syndrome was the indication of renal biopsy in all cases. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis was the most frequent histological finding (five cases), followed by a combination of various specific lesions (hypertrophy of glomerular and peritubular capillaries), minimal glomerular lesions (three cases), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (two cases) and extra-membranous glomerulonephritis (one case). Complete remission after treatment was achieved in seven cases and one patient expired. Three patients did not continue with follow-up appointments.Conclusions:Renal biopsy is not very frequent in the course of sickle cell anaemia and in most cases it is performed because of nephrotic syndrome. The histological findings are diverse with a predominance of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

Revalorisation des déchets solides plastiques à la zone industrielle de Yopougon (Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire) et risques sanitaires associés

La filière de revalorisation des déchets solides plastiques à la zone industrielle de Yopougon à Abidjan utilise les eaux usées issues des activités industrielles pour le lavage des sachets plastiques. Cette revalorisation et les risques sanitaires associés ont été étudiés d’août à novembre 2006. Des visites exploratoires de certains sites de récupération des déchets solides plastiques et de la zone industrielle de Yopougon ont été réalisées. Dix sept entretiens semi dirigés ont été exécutés avec les différents groupes d’acteurs identifiés. Des analyses physico-chimiques et microbiologiques des eaux de lavage des sachets, ont été faites. Plus de 600 acteurs sont impliqués dans la filière sous deux groupes principaux à savoir le groupe des acteurs du secteur informel et celui des acteurs du secteur formel. Les acteurs du secteur informel identifiés sont les récupérateurs, les laveurs, les récupérateurs intermédiaires grossistes, les grossistes broyeurs et les récupérateurs intermédiaires des industriels. Seuls les industriels impliqués dans la filière de revalorisation des déchets solides plastiques font partie du secteur formel. Les déchets plastiques rigides sont vendus entre 150 F CFA et 200 F CFA le kilogramme et les plastiques souples sont vendus entre 125 et 300 F CFA le kilogramme. Les femmes représentent environ 65 % de l’effectif. Elles ont des revenus moyens de 1 000 F CFA par jour. Quant aux hommes, ils ont en général des revenus supérieurs au SMIG de la Côte d’Ivoire qui est de 36 000 F CFA. Les teneurs moyennes en coliformes fécaux et en streptocoques fécaux des eaux usées de lavage des sachets plastiques sont respectivement de 1,6.107 UFC/ 100 ml et 3,8.106 UFC/ 100 ml. Le rapport DCO/DBO5 est de 11,7. Ces eaux sont donc impropres à toutes activités humaines et sont à risque pour la santé des laveurs de sachets plastiques. Les problèmes de santé rapportés par les acteurs de la filière de revalorisation des déchets solides plastiques en contact avec les eaux usées de la zone industrielle de Yopougon sont les dermatoses (démangeaisons, dermatites), les troubles neurologiques (maux de tête, nausées et vertiges) et les difficultés respiratoires qui surviennent surtout lorsqu’il y a dégagement de gaz suffocants, les blessures par les objets tranchant contenus dans les sachets plastiques et les brûlures occasionnées par les eaux de refroidissement des moteurs. A ces problèmes de santé, les différents acteurs sont également confrontés à des dangers comme les noyades en cas de pluie