Typologie des élevages d’aulacodes (Thryonomys swinderianus) en Côte-d’Ivoire

Une étude de la typologie des élevages d’aulacode en Côte-d’Ivoire a été effectuée en 2007. L’objectif de cette étude était de caractériser la structure et le  fonctionnement de ces élevages pour mieux comprendre leurs résultats de production. La typologie s’est faite en utilisant la classification ascendante hiérarchique (CAH). Le critère d’agrégation utilisé a été l’algorithme d’agrégation de Ward et la mesure des distances entre les individus (élevages) était la distance euclidienne. Pour mieux interpréter la typologie des élevages, nous avons couplé la CAH avec l’analyse factorielle. Pour réaliser cette analyse, nous avons pris en compte 8  variables pertinentes sur un ensemble de 17. Un total de 66 élevages fonctionnels avec au moins 5 animaux reproducteurs ont été étudiés. Comme résultats,  quatre grands types d’élevages ont été identifiés: les élevages non financés à effectif croissant, les élevages financés à effectif stable, les élevages financés ou pas  à effectif en régression et les élevages financés à effectif croissant. Les variables qui contribuent le plus à la formation de ces groupes sont la nature du financement des élevages, la formation et l’encadrement des éleveurs et l’alimentation des aulacodes. Ainsi, pour une meilleure promotion des élevages d'aulacodes en Côte  d'Ivoire, l'installation et la conduite devraient tenir compte de l'hétérogénéité dans la structure, le fonctionnement et les résultats de production des élevages.Mots clés : Elevage, aulacode, Thryonomys swinderianus, typologie, Côte-d’Ivoire

Effet d’une réduction simultanée des taux de fibres et de protéines brutes de la ration sur la santé et la croissance de l’aulacode

L’aulacode est un monogastrique herbivore récemment domestiqué en Afrique subsaharienne pour la production de viande. L’élevage de cet animal connait un engouement auprès de la population locale mais son développement est freiné par la cherté des aliments. Il est possible de réduire le coût de l'aliment en diminuant les concentrés protéiques, très chers pour les éleveurs, mais aussi en substituant en partie les aliments fibreux par une céréale, nettement moins onéreuse que les tourteaux, pour limiter l’effet dépresseur des fibres sur la digestion des nutriments. Ainsi, nous avons formulé 3 aliments expérimentaux, avec une gamme croissante d'apport d’amidon (via une céréale) en substitution d'apports protéiques et de fibres. Ces aliments ont été testés sur trois lots d’aulacodes, du sevrage jusqu’à 96 jours d’âge. L'analyse des performances zootechniques et sanitaires obtenus indique qu’un bon compromis entre santé digestive et croissance de l’aulacode après son sevrage nécessite un taux de fibres supérieur à 13% de lignocellulose dans l’aliment. Par ailleurs, descendre au dessous de 6 g de protéines digestibles par MJ d’énergie digestible, via une hausse importante des apports d’amidon et une baisse importante du taux de protéines brutes (en dessous de 11%) est préjudiciable à la croissance des animaux. Mots clés : Thryonomys swinderianus, alimentation, performances zootechniques, taux de fibres, taux de protéine

Apport d’un fourrage vert tropical, Centrosema pubescens, en complément au granulé : effet sur les performances de croissance et sanitaire du lapin (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

L’objectif de ce travail est d’évaluer la digestibilité du fourrage vert, C. pubescens, et son impact sur la croissance ainsi que la santé digestive du lapin de chaire en élevage artisanal. Deux lots de 15 lapins sevrés à 35 jours, élevés en cage individuelle et nourris à l’aide de deux aliments complémentés ou non avec du C. pubescens ont été constitués. La digestibilité des nutriments à 50 jours d’âge de la ration contenant le fourrage C. pubescens est supérieure à la ration sans fourrage. Ainsi, la digestibilité de la MS, MO, MAT, ADF, NDF, Hc est respectivement de 1,6, de 1,5, de 1,8, de 2,2, de 1,6 et de 1,3 fois plus élevée dans la ration ayant reçu le fourrage C. pubescens en complément par rapport au témoin sans fourrage. L’indice de risque sanitaire est réduit de moitié avec l’apport de fourrage. Cependant, l’ingestion des 2 rations est équivalente, la moyenne est de 68 g/j entre le sevrage et 70 jours. Le gain de poids quotidien est également identique avec l’apport ou non de C. pubescens. La moyenne entre 35 et 70 jours d’âge est de 26,5 g/j.Mots clés : Lapin, fourrage, Centrosema pubescens, aliments, performances zootechniques

Spatial mapping and prediction of Plasmodium falciparum infection risk among school-aged children in Côte d'Ivoire

BACKGROUND: In Côte d'Ivoire, malaria remains a major public health issue, and thus a priority to be tackled. The aim of this study was to identify spatially explicit indicators of Plasmodium falciparum infection among school-aged children and to undertake a model-based spatial prediction of P. falciparum infection risk using environmental predictors. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted, including parasitological examinations and interviews with more than 5,000 children from 93 schools across Côte d'Ivoire. A finger-prick blood sample was obtained from each child to determine Plasmodium species-specific infection and parasitaemia using Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood films. Household socioeconomic status was assessed through asset ownership and household characteristics. Children were interviewed for preventive measures against malaria. Environmental data were gathered from satellite images and digitized maps. A Bayesian geostatistical stochastic search variable selection procedure was employed to identify factors related to P. falciparum infection risk. Bayesian geostatistical logistic regression models were used to map the spatial distribution of P. falciparum infection and to predict the infection prevalence at non-sampled locations via Bayesian kriging. RESULTS: Complete data sets were available from 5,322 children aged 5-16 years across Côte d'Ivoire. P. falciparum was the predominant species (94.5 %). The Bayesian geostatistical variable selection procedure identified land cover and socioeconomic status as important predictors for infection risk with P. falciparum. Model-based prediction identified high P. falciparum infection risk in the north, central-east, south-east, west and south-west of Côte d'Ivoire. Low-risk areas were found in the south-eastern area close to Abidjan and the south-central and west-central part of the country. CONCLUSIONS: The P. falciparum infection risk and related uncertainty estimates for school-aged children in Côte d'Ivoire represent the most up-to-date malaria risk maps. These tools can be used for spatial targeting of malaria control interventions

Comparison of growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Benin indigenous chickens and Label Rouge (T55×SA51)

A study on growth performance, carcass traits and meat quality was carried out on Savannah and Forest  ecotype chicken of Benin, using Label Rouge (T55 X SA51) as a control genotype. All the animals were fed ad  libitum with three diets (starter, grower and layer feed). They were individually weighed at hatching and during the growing stage, and the daily feed intake was recorded. A sample of 12 males of each genetic type was  slaughtered for carcass characteristics. Sensory analysis was done on each genetic type after boiling or  roasting. The Label Rouge chickens were heavier than the local chickens at hatch (P<0.001). At the end of 40  weeks, the weight of the Label Rouge was double that of the Savannah ecotype and 2.8 times that of the Forest ecotype. The feed efficiency of the Label Rouge was higher than that of the local chickens (P<0.001). The  genetic type influenced tenderness and juiciness, with the local Savannah chicken being the most tender and  juiciest (P<0.001). However, the cooking method and the carcass cut influenced tenderness only. The overall assessment of the meat of the Label Rouge chickens was similar to that of the local chickens, whereas the  assessment of the meat was significantly lower for local chickens of Forest ecotype compared to the Savannah ecotype (P<0.001). The local chickens would therefore be suitable for improving traditional poultry production, whereas controlled crossbreeding programmes using Label Rouge could be recommended to improve local chicken weight.Key words: Growth, carcass, sensory characters, indigenous chicken, Label Rouge

Impact of low molecular weight acids on oil impregnated paper insulation degradation

Aging of a power transformer’s insulation system produces carboxylic acids. These acids—acetic, formic and levulinic—are absorbed by the paper insulating material, thus accelerating the degradation of the whole insulation system. In this contribution, the effect of these acids on the aging of oil-impregnated paper insulation used in power transformer is reported. A laboratory aging experiment considering different concentrations of these three acids was performed to assess their effect on the insulation system’s degradation. Each acid was individually mixed with virgin oil, and a mixture of acids was also blended with oil. The paper’s degradation was assessed by the degree of polymerization (DPv). It was found that the DPv of paper aged with formic acid decreased much faster in comparison to the other acid

Researching, co-creating and testing innovations in paper-based health information systems (PHISICC) to support health workers' decision-making: protocol of a multi-country, transdisciplinary, mixed-methods research programme in three sub-Saharan countries

Background Health information systems are crucial to provide data for decision-making and demand for data is constantly growing. However, the link between data and decisions is not always rational or linear and the management of data ends up overloading frontline health workers, which may compromise quality of healthcare delivery. Despite limited evidence, there is an increasing push for the digitalization of health information systems, which poses enormous challenges, particularly in remote, rural settings in low- and middle-income countries. Paper-based tools will continue to be used in combination with digital solutions and this calls for efforts to make them more responsive to local needs. Paper-based Health Information Systems in Comprehensive Care (PHISICC) is a transdisciplinary, multi-country research initiative to create and test innovative paper-based health information systems in three sub-Saharan African countries. Methods/Design The PHISICC initiative is being carried out in remote, rural settings in Côte d'Ivoire, Mozambique and Nigeria through partnership with ministries of health and research institutions. We began with research syntheses to acquire the most up-to-date knowledge on health information systems. These were coupled with fieldwork in the three countries to understand the current design, patterns and contexts of use, and healthcare worker perspectives. Frontline health workers, with designers and researchers, used co-creation methods to produce the new PHISICC tools. This suite of tools is being tested in the three countries in three cluster-randomized controlled trials. Throughout the project, we have engaged with a wide range of stakeholders and have maintained the highest scientific standards to ensure that results are relevant to the realities in the three countries. Discussion We have deployed a comprehensive research approach to ensure the robustness and future policy uptake of findings. Besides the innovative PHISICC paper-based tools, our process is in itself innovative. Rather than emphasizing the technical dimensions of data management, we focused instead on frontline health workers' data use and decision-making. By tackling the whole scope of primary healthcare areas rather than a subset of them, we have developed an entirely new design and visual language for a suite of tools across healthcare areas. The initiative is being tested in remote, rural areas where the most vulnerable live

Effect of an integrated intervention package of preventive chemotherapy, community-led total sanitation and health education on the prevalence of helminth and intestinal protozoa infections in Côte d'Ivoire

Preventive chemotherapy with donated anthelminthic drugs is the cornerstone for the control of helminthiases. However, reinfection can occur rapidly in the absence of clean water and sanitation coupled with unhygienic behaviour. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of an integrated package of interventions, consisting of preventive chemotherapy, community-led total sanitation (CLTS) and health education, on the prevalence of helminth and intestinal protozoa infections and on participants' knowledge, attitude, practice and beliefs (KAPB) towards these diseases including water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).; A cross-sectional survey was carried out in nine communities of south-central Côte d'Ivoire to assess people's infection with helminths and intestinal protozoa and KAPB. Subsequently, interventions were targeted to five communities, while the remaining communities served as control. The intervention encouraged latrine construction and an evaluation was done 6-7 months later to determine open defecation status of the respective communities. Anthelminthic treatment was provided to all community members. A follow-up cross-sectional survey was conducted approximately one year later, using the same procedures.; Overall, 810 people had complete baseline and follow-up data and were given anthelminthic treatment. The baseline prevalence of hookworm, Schistosoma haematobium, Trichuris trichiura, Schistosoma mansoni and Ascaris lumbricoides was 31.1%, 7.0%, 2.0%, 1.0% and 0.3%, respectively. Four of the five intervention communities were classified open-defecation free. For hookworm infection, we observed higher negative changes in terms of proportion of decrease (-0.10; 95% confidence interval (CI): - 0.16, -0.04) and higher egg reduction rate (64.9 vs 15.2%) when comparing intervention with control communities. For intestinal protozoa, prevalence reduction was higher in intervention compared to control communities (8.2 vs 2.6%) and WASH indicators and intervention outcomes associated with lower odds for infection at follow-up. The intervention significantly impacted on reported latrine use (before: 15.5%, after: 94.6%), open defecation in the community surroundings (before: 75.0%, after: 16.7%) and awareness for environmental contamination through open defecation (before: 20.4%, after: 52.2%).; An integrated package of interventions consisting of preventive chemotherapy, health education and CLTS reduces the prevalence of helminth and intestinal protozoa infection. Additional studies in other social-ecological settings are warranted to confirm our findings

Does an innovative paper-based health information system (PHISICC) improve data quality and use in primary healthcare? Protocol of a multicountry, cluster randomised controlled trial in sub-Saharan African rural settings

INTRODUCTION: Front-line health workers in remote health facilities are the first contact of the formal health sector and are confronted with life-saving decisions. Health information systems (HIS) support the collection and use of health related data. However, HIS focus on reporting and are unfit to support decisions. Since data tools are paper-based in most primary healthcare settings, we have produced an innovative Paper-based Health Information System in Comprehensive Care (PHISICC) using a human-centred design approach. We are carrying out a cluster randomised controlled trial in three African countries to assess the effects of PHISICC compared with the current systems. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Study areas are in rural zones of Côte d'Ivoire, Mozambique and Nigeria. Seventy health facilities in each country have been randomly allocated to using PHISICC tools or to continuing to use the regular HIS tools. We have randomly selected households in the catchment areas of each health facility to collect outcomes' data (household surveys have been carried out in two of the three countries and the end-line data collection is planned for mid-2021). Primary outcomes include data quality and use, coverage of health services and health workers satisfaction; secondary outcomes are additional data quality and use parameters, childhood mortality and additional health workers and clients experience with the system. Just prior to the implementation of the trial, we had to relocate the study site in Mozambique due to unforeseen logistical issues. The effects of the intervention will be estimated using regression models and accounting for clustering using random effects. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics committees in Côte d'Ivoire, Mozambique and Nigeria approved the trials. We plan to disseminate our findings, data and research materials among researchers and policy-makers. We aim at having our findings included in systematic reviews on health systems interventions and future guidance development on HIS. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: PACTR201904664660639; Pre-results