Structure et composition floristiques des forêts denses sèches de la région des Monts Kouffé au Bénin

Objectif: L’objectif général de cette étude est la gestion rationnelle des écosystèmes forestiers en vue d’une conservation durable de la biodiversité floristique. Méthodologie et résultats: La méthodologie adoptée est basée sur les techniques de la phytosociologie. Ainsi, le groupement végétal des forêts denses sèches a été déterminé. Les forêts denses sèches sont généralement sur des plateaux. En leur sein, Anogeissus leiocarpa et Diospyros mespiliformis sont les espèces ligneuses végétales dominantes. Les valeurs moyennes de la richesse spécifiques, de l’indice de diversité de Shannom et de l’équitabilité de Piélou sont respectivement 7,5±2,38 espèces/placeaux, 1,98 ±0,45bits et 0,82±0,08. La densité moyenne des ligneux est de 379,25±158,61 individus/ha avec une surface terrière moyenne de 2,03±1,03 m²/ha. Conclusions et application des résultats: Les résultats ci-dessus ont permis de connaître l’importance floristique des forêts denses. Ainsi, l’administration forestière pourra suivre et planifier l’exploitation du bois d’oeuvre dans ces formations végétales. Mots Clés : Caractéristiques floristiques, phytoécologie, forêts denses sèches, région des Monts Kouffé, Béni

Species composition and insecticide resistance in malaria vectors in Ellibou, southern Côte d'Ivoire and first finding of; Anopheles arabiensis; in Côte d'Ivoire

Background Knowing the species composition and insecticide resistance status of the target vector population is important to guide malaria vector control. The aim of this study was to characterize the malaria vector population in terms of species composition, insecticide susceptibility status and potential underlying resistance mechanisms in Ellibou, southern Côte d'Ivoire. Methods A 1-year longitudinal entomological survey was conducted using light traps and pyrethroid spray catches to sample adult mosquitoes in combination with larval sampling. The susceptibility status of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) to bendiocarb, deltamethrin, DDT and malathion was assessed using the World Health Organization insecticide susceptibility test. Additionally, An. gambiae specimens were screened for knockdown (kdr) and acetylcholineesterase (ace1) target site resistance alleles, and the expression levels of eight metabolic resistance genes, including seven cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) and one glutathione S-transferase (GST), measured with reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results Overall, 2383 adult mosquitoes from 12 different taxa were collected with Culex quinquefasciatus and An. gambiae being the predominant taxa. Molecular identification of An. gambiae s.l. revealed the presence of Anopheles arabiensis, Anopheles coluzzii, An. gambiae sensu stricto (s.s.) and Anopheles coluzzii/An. gambiae s.s. hybrids. Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes were resistant to all insecticides except malathion. PCR diagnostics revealed the presence of ace1-G280S and the kdr L995F, L995S and N1570Y target-site mutations. Additionally, several genes were upregulated, including five P450s (i.e., CYP6P3, CYP6M2, CYP9K1, CYP6Z1, CYP6P1) and GSTE2. Conclusion This is the first documented presence of An. arabiensis in Côte d'Ivoire. Its detection - together with a recent finding further north of the country - confirms its existence in the country, which is an early warning sign, as An. arabiensis shows a different biology than the currently documented malaria vectors. Because the local An. gambiae population was still susceptible to malathion, upregulation of P450s, conferring insecticide resistance to pyrethroids, together with the presence of ace1, suggest negative cross-resistance. Therefore, organophosphates could be an alternative insecticide class for indoor residual spraying in the Ellibou area, while additional tools against the outdoor biting An. arabiensis will have to be considered

Increase in susceptibility to insecticides with aging of wild \u3ci\u3eAnopheles gambiae\u3c/i\u3e mosquitoes from Côte d’Ivoire

Background: Appropriate monitoring of vector insecticide susceptibility is required to provide the rationale for optimal insecticide selection in vector control programs. Methods: In order to assess the influence of mosquito age on susceptibility to various insecticides, field-collected larvae of An. gambiae s.l. from Tiassalé were reared to adults. Females aged 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 days were exposed to 5 insecticides (deltamethrin, permethrin, DDT, malathion and propoxur) using WHO susceptibility test kits. Outcome measures included the LT50 (exposure time required to achieve 50% knockdown), the RR (resistance ratio, i.e. a calculation of how much more resistant the wild population is compared with a standard susceptible strain) and the mortality rate following 1 hour exposure, for each insecticide and each mosquito age group. Results: There was a positive correlation between the rate of knockdown and mortality for all the age groups and for all insecticides tested. For deltamethrin, the RR50 was highest for 2 day old and lowest for 10 day old individuals. Overall, mortality was lowest for 2 and 3 day old individuals and significantly higher for 10 day old individuals (P \u3c 0.05). With permethrin, the RR50 was highest for 1 to 3 day old individuals and lowest for 10 day old individuals and mortality was lowest for 1 to 3 day old individuals, intermediate for 5 day old and highest for 10 day old individuals. DDT did not display any knockdown effect and mortality was low for all mosquito age groups (\u3c7%). With malathion, the RR50 was low (1.54 - 2.77) and mortality was high (\u3e93%) for all age groups. With propoxur, no knockdown effect was observed for 1, 2 and 3 day old individuals and a very low level of mortality was observed (\u3c 4%), which was significantly higher for 5 and 10 day old individuals (30%, P \u3c 0.01). Conclusion: Results indicate that for An. gambiae s.l. adults derived from wild-collected larvae, there was an influence of age on insecticide susceptibility status, with younger individuals (1 to 3 days old) more resistant than older mosquitoes. This indicates that the use of 1 – 2 day old mosquitoes in susceptibility assays as recommended by the WHO should facilitate detection of resistance at the stage where the highest rate of the resistance phenotype is present

Ectopia cordis about a case at Ourossogui regional hospital center

We report in this work, an extremely rare and major case of anterior body wall defects included ectopia cordis define by abnormal location of heart outside of the thorax. This case was diagnosed at the maternity of Ourossogui regional hospital center, in Senegal. Any scan was performed during the pregnancy. Newborn died 10 minutes after birth. Ectopia cordis is related to a possible ventral midline developmental abnormality. It’s associated to other midline abnormalities and is a part of pentalogy of Cantrell. An X-linked genetic abnormality

Use of insecticides in agriculture and the prevention of vector-borne diseases: population knowledge, attitudes, practices and beliefs in Elibou, South Cote d'Ivoire

People's knowledge, attitudes, practices and beliefs (KAPB) pertaining to malaria are generally well described. However, little is known about population knowledge and awareness of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors. The aim of this study was to investigate KAPB related to insecticide resistance in malaria vectors due to the use of insecticides in agriculture and the prevention against mosquitoes. In mid-2017, we carried out a cross-sectional survey in Elibou, South Côte d'Ivoire, employing a mixed methods approach. Quantitative data were obtained with a questionnaire addressed to household heads. Interviews were conducted with key opinion leaders, including village chiefs, traditional healers, heads of health centres and pesticide sellers. Focus group discussions were conducted with youth and elders. A total of 203 individuals participated in the questionnaire survey (132 males, 65%). We found that people had good knowledge about malaria and mosquitoes transmitting the disease, while they felt that preventing measures were ineffective. Pesticides were intensively used by farmers, mainly during the rainy season. Among the pesticides used, insecticides and herbicides were most commonly used. While there was poor knowledge about resistance, the interviewees stated that insecticides were not killing the mosquitoes anymore. The main reason given was that insecticides were diluted by the manufacturers as a marketing strategy to sell larger quantities. More than a third of the farmers used agricultural pesticides for domestic purposes to kill weeds or mosquitoes. We observed a misuse of pesticides among farmers, explained by the lack of specific training. In the community, long-lasting insecticidal nets were the most common preventive measure against malaria, followed by mosquito coils and insecticide sprays. The interviewees felt that the most effective way of dealing with insecticide resistance was to combine at least two preventive measures. In conclusion, population attitudes and practices related to insecticides used in agriculture and the prevention against mosquitoes could lead to resistance in malaria vectors, while people's knowledge about insecticide resistance was limited. There is a need to raise awareness in communities about the presence of resistance in malaria vectors and to involve them in resistance management

Numerical Simulation of Land and Sea Breeze (LSB) Circulation along the Guinean Coast of West Africa

This study uses observed and simulated data to analyze the dynamics LSB rotation along the Guinean Coast of West Africa. A non-hydrostatic fully compressible numerical model is used to simulate LSB circulation. To evaluate the model’s ability to capture the LSB kinematics, the study used a modified model code with ERA-Interim and CFS as forcing data. Comparison of observed and simulated LSB patterns shows that the model reliably captures the LSB circulation in the region. The simulated diurnal evolutions of hodographs and onshore/offshore winds also follow the observations. A dynamical analysis performed by extracting individual forcing terms from the horizontal momentum equations at selected regions within the study area showed that the direction of the wind rotation is a result of a complex interaction between surface and synoptic pressure gradients, advection, and horizontal and vertical diffusions forces. However, hourly analysis of the rotation term suggests that surface gradient seems to dominate over oceanic region, while diffusion terms are more important for land area. This may be attributed to the variation of surface roughness due the landscape and urbanization. Therefore, this reveals the link between urbanization and LSB circulation in coastal region of West Africa, where most important cities are located

Mise en place d’un Village Intelligent face au Climat pour la réduction des risques climatiques et de l’insécurité alimentaire à Daga-Birame, Sénégal. Guide de visite de terrain pour la Réunion du Comité Scientifique Indépendant du CCAFS

À Daga Birame, au Sénégal, CCAFS et ses partenaires ont mis en place un village climato-intelligent (CSV) dans lequel plusieurs activités sont menées. Sur la base de la vision du village et de son avenir, un ensemble d'actions ont été identifiées par la communauté afin d'atteindre les changements souhaités dans la productivité agricole et la sécurité alimentaire tels que les activités génératrices de revenus, l'amélioration de la résilience et la gestion durable des ressources naturelles du village. Ces actions ont été structurées autour de quatre composantes: Les services d'information climatologique (SIC); le développement des technologies / pratiques agricoles adaptées au climat; le renforcement de capacités des villageois et celle des connaissances et des institutions locales

Completeness of information in electronic compared with paper-based patients’ records in a maternity setting in Dakar, Senegal

Background: Evaluate the consistency of information in paper-based records when registered in parallel with an electronic medical record.Methods: The study was performed at PMSHC in Dakar Senegal. From the end of year 2016, patients’ files were recorded on both paper-based and electronically. Additionally, previous records were electronically registered. To investigate the completeness of records before and after the electronic recording system has been implemented, information about some maternal and fetal/neonatal characteristics were assessed. When the variable was recorded, the system returned 1, unrecorded variables were coded as 0. We then calculated, for each variable, the unrecorded rate before 2017 and after that date. The study period extended from 2011 to June 2019, a nearly ten-year period. Data were extracted from E-perinatal to MS excel 2019 then SPSS 25 software. Frequencies of unrecorded variables were compared with chi-squared test at a level of significance of 5%.Results: A total of 48,270 unique patients’ records were identified during the eight-year period.  Among the study population, data for patients’ age, address and parity were available most of the time before and after 2017 (0.5% missing data versus 0.3% for age and 2.6% versus 1.3% for home address and from 0.3% to 0.0% for parity). However, phone number, maternal weight, maternal height, last menstrual period and blood group were found to be missing up to 96% before 2017. From 2017, these rates experienced a sudden decrease at a significant level: from 82.4% to 27.8% for phone number, from 96% to 56.3% for maternal weight and from 60.1% to 21.3% for blood group. Regarding newborns’ data, it was found that fetal height, head circumference and chest circumference were missing up to just under 25% before 2017. After that date, their completeness improved and flattened under 5%.Conclusions: Structured and computerized files reduce missing data. There is an urgent need the Ministry of health provides hospitals and health care providers with guidelines that describes the standardized information that should be gathered and shared in health and care records

Plant growth drives soil nitrogen cycling and N-related microbial activity through changing root traits

Relationships between plants and nitrogen-related microbes may vary with plant growth. We investigated these dynamic relationships over three months by analyzing plant functional traits (PFT), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) colonization, potential N mineralization (PNM), potential nitrification (PNA) and denitrification activities (PDA) in Dactylis glomerata cultures. D. glomerata recruited AMF during early growth, and thereafter maintained a constant root colonization intensity. This may have permitted high enough plant nutrient acquisition over the three months as to offset reduced soil inorganic N. PFT changed with plant age and declining soil fertility, resulting in higher allocation to root biomass and higher root C:N ratio. Additional to root AMF presence, PR' changes may have favored denitrification over mineralization through changes in soil properties, particularly increasing the quality of the labile carbon soil fraction. Other PFT changes, such as N uptake, modified the plants' ability to compete with bacterial groups involved in N cycling. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd and British Mycological Society. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Multi-insecticide resistant malaria vectors in the field remain susceptible to malathion, despite the presence of Ace1 point mutations

Insecticide resistance in Anopheles mosquitoes is seriously threatening the success of insecticide-based malaria vector control. Surveillance of insecticide resistance in mosquito populations and identifying the underlying mechanisms enables optimisation of vector control strategies. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of insecticide resistance in three Anopheles coluzzii field populations from southern Cote d'Ivoire, including Agboville, Dabou and Tiassale. All three populations were resistant to bendiocarb, deltamethrin and DDT, but not or only very weakly resistant to malathion. The absence of malathion resistance is an unexpected result because we found the acetylcholinesterase mutation Ace1-G280S at high frequencies, which would typically confer cross-resistance to carbamates and organophosphates, including malathion. Notably, Tiassale was the most susceptible population to malathion while being the most resistant one to the pyrethroid deltamethrin. The resistance ratio to deltamethrin between Tiassale and the laboratory reference colony was 1,800 fold. By sequencing the transcriptome of individual mosquitoes, we found numerous cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases - including CYP6M2, CYP6P2, CYP6P3, CYP6P4 and CYP6P5 - overexpressed in all three field populations. This could be an indication for negative cross-resistance caused by overexpression of pyrethroid-detoxifying cytochrome P450s that may activate pro-insecticides, thereby increasing malathion susceptibility. In addition to the P450s, we found several overexpressed carboxylesterases, glutathione S-transferases and other candidates putatively involved in insecticide resistance