Analysis of the Use of Phytosanitery Producsts in Vegetable Crops in the District of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivore

The development of vegetable crops contributes to the food security of populations while reducing the problems of unemployment. However, these crops are subject to many pests that cause quantitative and qualitative damage to crops. To improve their yield, most market gardeners resort to the use of phytosanitary products. In order to take stock of the use of these products in the fight against pathogens of vegetable crops in the district of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, a survey was carried out from January to February 2018 among 33 producers in the communes of Cocody and Port-Bouët. Twenty-seven pesticide trade names divided into 8 different families were identified. The majority of pesticides used were insecticides (53%) followed by fungicides (25%). Seventy-five percent (75%) of market gardeners were aware of the risk of pesticide toxicity, however 53% of market gardeners did not use any means of protection during pesticide spraying. These bad practices jeopardize their health, that of consumers and the environment. It is therefore important to train and educate market gardeners on phytosanitary products and to provide them with adequate protective equipment

Analysis of the Use of Phytosanitery Producsts in Vegetable Crops in the District of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivore

The development of vegetable crops contributes to the food security of populations while reducing the problems of unemployment. However, these crops are subject to many pests that cause quantitative and qualitative damage to crops. To improve their yield, most market gardeners resort to the use of phytosanitary products. In order to take stock of the use of these products in the fight against pathogens of vegetable crops in the district of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, a survey was carried out from January to February 2018 among 33 producers in the communes of Cocody and Port-Bouët. Twenty-seven pesticide trade names divided into 8 different families were identified. The majority of pesticides used were insecticides (53%) followed by fungicides (25%). Seventy-five percent (75%) of market gardeners were aware of the risk of pesticide toxicity, however 53% of market gardeners did not use any means of protection during pesticide spraying. These bad practices jeopardize their health, that of consumers and the environment. It is therefore important to train and educate market gardeners on phytosanitary products and to provide them with adequate protective equipment

A comparative, randomized clinical trial of artemisinin/naphtoquine twice daily one day versus artemether/lumefantrine six doses regimen in children and adults with uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Côte d'Ivoire

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Drug resistance in <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>poses a major threat to malaria control. Combination anti-malarial therapy, including artemisinins, has been advocated to improve efficacy and limit the spread of resistance. The fixed combination of oral artemether-lumefantrine (AL) is highly effective and well-tolerated. Artemisinin/naphtoquine (AN) is a fixed-dose ACT that has recently become available in Africa.</p> <p>The objectives of the study were to compare the efficacy and safety of AN and AL for the treatment of uncomplicated <it>falciparum </it>malaria in a high transmission-intensity site in Ivory Coast.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We enrolled 122 participants aged 6 months or more with uncomplicated <it>falciparum </it>malaria. Participants were randomized to receive either artemisinin/naphtoquine or artemether/lumefantrine with variable dose according to their weight. Primary endpoints were the risks of treatment failure within 28 days, either unadjusted or adjusted by genotyping to distinguish recrudescence from new infection.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among 125 participants enrolled, 123 (98.4%) completed follow-up. Clinical evaluation of the 123 participants showed that cumulative PCR-uncorrected cure rate on day 28 was 100% for artemisinin/naphtoquine and 98.4% for artemether/lumefantrine. Both artemisinin-based combinations effected rapid fever and parasite clearance.</p> <p>Interpretation</p> <p>These data suggest that Arco^®could prove to be suitable for use as combination antimalarial therapy. Meanwhile, pharmacokinetic studies and further efficacy assessment should be conducted before its widespread use can be supported.</p

Cross sectional study on prevalence of sickle cell alleles S and C among patients with mild malaria in Ivory Coast

Abstract Objectives Sickle cell anemia is due to a mutations on the betaglobin gene, inducing abnormal hemoglobin. In West Africa the main mutations lead to S or C types of hemoglobin. Patients with homozygote mutations seem protected against severe malaria, but not against mild disease. The prevalence of abnormal hemoglobin among patients attending dispensaries for mild malaria is thus unknown. A retrospective study was conducted to update data on the prevalence of S and C hemoglobin among patients attending dispensaries with mild malaria. Enrolment of patients was conducted during in vivo malaria treatment efficacy survey following the 42 days WHO protocol. A group of non-infected pregnant women and a group of patients with fever different from malaria, were also recruited in the same dispensaries. Results 794 blood samples were included. S and C genotypes were found in all the regions of Ivory Coast with the highest prevalence in the Northern region (S and C genotypes, 27%). In non-infected patients, prevalence of mutations was higher than in malaria patients. Conclusion A high proportion of patients with mild malaria carried genetic hemoglobin disorder. This population of high risk must be better investigated to control treatment efficacy and to manage complications

Genotyping of S and C Mutated Beta Globin Gene: Development of a Set of Primers for Use with DfV'VnG PCR Systems

International audienceSickle cell disease is a genetic disorder that affects nearly 5% of world population. In ivory coast, SCD is a real problem of health and screening is not systematic after born. Here, we designed a set of primers to detect abnormal hemoglobin S and C which can be used both in conventional and quantitative PCR (by curves combinations analysed). A total of 60 blood samples including 13 AA, 23 AS, 9 SS, 12 SC and 3 CC hemoglobin type were screened using hemoglobin electrophoresis and PCR. The universal control primer HBU/R4 was successfully amplified for all of 60 samples. In conventional PCR, for typing of allele S sensibility and specificity of primers were respectively 86.36% and 87.50%. For allele C, sensibility and specificity of this pair were respectively 53.33% and 91.11%. In qPCR, specificity and sensitivity of primers were greater than 85% for allele S and C specific primers

Towards a re-emergence of chloroquine sensitivity in Côte d’Ivoire?

Abstract Background Resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to anti-malarial drugs has hampered efforts to eradicate malaria. Recent reports of a decline in the prevalence of chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum in several countries, including Malawi and Zambia, is raising the hope of reintroducing chloroquine in the near future, ideally in combination with another anti-malarial drug for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria. In Côte d’Ivoire, the decrease in the clinical efficacy of chloroquine, in addition to a high proportion of clinical isolates carrying the Thr-76 mutant allele of the pfcrt gene, had led to the discontinuation of the use of chloroquine in 2004. Previous studies have indicated the persistence of a high prevalence of the Thr-76 mutant allele despite the withdrawal of chloroquine as first-line anti-malarial drug. This present study is conducted to determine the prevalence of the Thr-76T mutant allele of the Pfcrt gene after a decade of the ban on the sale and use of chloroquine in Côte d’Ivoire. Results Analysis of the 64 sequences from all three study sites indicated a prevalence of 15% (10/64) of the Thr-76 mutant allele against 62% (40/64) of the Lys-76 wild-type allele. No mutation of the allele Thr-76 was observed at Anonkoua Kouté while this mutant allele was in 31% (5/16) and 25% (5/20) of isolate sequences from Port-Bouët and Ayamé respectively. Conclusion More than a decade after the discontinuation of the use of chloroquine in Côte d’Ivoire, the proportion of parasites sensitive to this anti-malarial seems to increase in Anonkoua-kouté, Port-bouët and Ayamé

Malaria parasite clearance from patients following artemisinin-based combination therapy in Côte d'Ivoire

International audienceIntroduction:Parasite clearance is useful to detect artemisinin resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate parasite clearance in patients treated with artesunate + amodiaquine (AS + AQ) and artemether + lumefantrine (AL): the two artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) recommended in the first-line treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Côte d'Ivoire.Methods:This study was conducted in Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire, from April to June 2016. Patients aged at least 6 months with uncomplicated malaria and treated with AS + AQ or AL were hospitalized for 3 days, and follow-up assessments were performed on days 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42. Blood smears were collected at the time of screening, pre-dose, and 6-hour intervals following the first dose of administration until two consecutive negative smears were recorded, thereafter at day 3 and follow-up visits. Parasite clearance was determined using the Worldwide Antimalarial Resistance Network's parasite clearance estimator. The primary end points were parasite clearance rate and time.Results:A total of 120 patients (57 in the AS + AQ group and 63 in the AL group) were randomized among 298 patients screened. The median parasite clearance time was 30 hours (IQR, 24-36 hours), for each ACT. The median parasite clearance rate had a slope half-life of 2.36 hours (IQR, 1.85-2.88 hours) and 2.23 hours (IQR, 1.74-2.63 hours) for AS + AQ and AL, respectively. The polymerase chain reaction-corrected adequate clinical and parasitological response was 100% and 98.07% at day 42 for AS + AQ and AL, respectively.Conclusion:Patients treated with AS + AQ and AL had cleared parasites rapidly. ACTs are still efficacious in Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire, but continued efficacy monitoring of ACTs is needed

Artemisinin derivative-containing therapies and abnormal hemoglobin: Do we need to adapt the treatment?

International audienceBackground: Artemisinin-based treatment in malaria patients with abnormal hemoglobin may be ineffective because of their genetic particularity, which could lead to resistance. The main purpose of this study was to assess the effect of artemisinin derivatives on in vivo parasite clearance according to erythrocyte variants. In vivo response was investigated through retrospective data obtained over a 42-day artemether-lumefantrine/artesunate amodiaquine efficacy protocol conducted from 2012 to 2016. Results: A total of 770 patients in Côte d’Ivoire attending the hospitals of Anonkoua-koute (Abidjan), Petit Paris (Korhogo), Libreville (Man), Dar es salam (Bouaké), Ayamé and Yamoussoukro with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria were selected for successful hemoglobin typing. HbAS, HbSS, HbAC, and HbSC genotypes were found. Parasite clearance time was obtained for 414 patients. In the population with abnormal hemoglobin, parasite densities on admission and parasite clearance rates were significantly lower in the HbSC group compared to HbAA (p = 0.02 and p = 0.007, respectively). After PCR correction on day 42, the acute treatment rate was 100% for each group. Parasite half-life and time for initial parasitaemia to decline by 50 and 99% were longer for the HbSC group (p < 0.05). The study also investigated the prevalence of K13-propeller polymorphisms across different hemoglobin genotype groups. A total of 185 and 63 samples were sequenced in the HbAA group and patients with abnormal Hb, respectively. Only two nonsynonymous mutations D559N and V510M were found in the HbAA group. Conclusion: Although this study proved good efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine and artesunate amodiaquine in the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in patients with abnormal hemoglobin, the increased delay of parasite clearance may represent a threat to health in these patients in relation with sickle cell crisis, which could support selection of parasites resistant to artemisinin