Escherichia coli pathogènes et résistantes aux antibiotiques dans les effluents d'origine humaine et animale : prévalence et caractérisation avant et après traitement épuratoire

Les souches de Escherichia coli se trouvent dans le tractus gastro-intestinal de nombreux animaux à sang chaud, y compris les humains, où ils jouent généralement le rôle de bactéries commensales. Cependant, par acquisition et combinaison de gènes de virulence et de résistance aux antibiotiques, ces souches commensales normalement inoffensives peuvent devenir des agents pathogènes très adaptés capables de causer une variété de maladies, de la gastro-entérite (EHEC, EPEC, EAEC...) à des infections extra-intestinales de l'appareil urinaire, du sang ou du système nerveux central (ExPEC). La recherche des gènes de virulence associés aux EHEC et aux ExPEC et la production de BLSE a été réalisée sur une collection de souches isolées d'effluents d'origine humaine ou animale. La prévalence des gènes de virulence associés aux ExPEC était plus élevée au niveau des effluents urbains (26,9%) et dans les effluents traités (13,2%) que dans les effluents d'abattoir (2,6%). Par contre, les gènes associés aux EHEC étaient plus souvent retrouvés dans les effluents d'origine animale. Par ailleurs, les souches E. coli productrices de BLSE ont été principalement détectées dans les effluents humains (1,7%). Malgré le traitement en station d'épuration, des E. coli potentiellement pathogènes et résistantes aux antibiotiques étaient rejetées dans l'environnement qui constitue une source potentielle de contamination des humains et des animaux. La comparaison des résultats obtenus en France et au Sénégal montre que les prévalences de souches E. coli potentiellement pathogènes étaient plus élevées dans les effluents rejetés en FranceStrains of Escherichia coli are found in the gastrointestinal tract of many warm-blooded animals, including humans, where they commonly play the role of commensal bacteria. This normally harmless commensal needs only to acquire a combination of virulence factors to become a highly adapted pathogen capable of causing a range of diseases, from gastroenteritis (EHEC, EPEC, EAEC...) to extraintestinal infections of the urinary tract, bloodstream or central nervous system (ExPEC). Genes associated with EHEC and ExPEC and ESBL producing strains were sought in E. coli strains isolated from human or animal effluent. Prevalence of genes associated with ExPEC was higher in urban effluents (26.9%) and in the treated effluent (13.2%) than in the effluents from livestock (2.6%). In contrast, the genes associated with EHEC were higher in animal waste. Moreover, ESBL-producing E. coli were mainly detected in human waste. The treatment at the WWTP had not completely eliminated the pathogenic E. coli and / or ESBL-producing E. coli. These strains will eventually end up in the watercourse to become a source of human and animal contamination. The comparison of results obtained in France and Senegal shows that the prevalence of potentially pathogenic E. coli was higher in the effluents in Franc

The social dynamics of infant immunisation in Africa : perspectives from the Republic of Guinea

Infant immunisation is currently a focus of national and global policy attention in relation to Africa as a key means to address ill-health and contribute to the Millennium Development Goals. Yet vaccination coverage is stagnant or falling in many African countries. Redressing such declines, and ensuring the effectiveness and sustainability of proposed expansion of immunisation programmes, requires a sound understanding of the factors shaping vaccine delivery and acceptance in contemporary African health systems. This paper explores these issues through an anthropological approach. It considers how vaccine delivery is influenced by the wider context of the health care system; how vaccination demand is shaped by socially-differentiated knowledges and political identities, and how interactions with delivery institutions and their frontline health workers unfold. It focuses on urban and rural sites in the Republic of Guinea, where dominant policy perspectives often see increasing immunisation coverage as a matter of (a) improving demand through educational approaches that enhance people’s biomedical understandings of the reasons for vaccination, and quell misguided ‘anti-vaccination’ rumours, and (b) redressing supply difficulties through improvements to vaccine delivery system infrastructure, financing and management. In contrast, our ethnographic findings suggest that high demand already exists, although underlain by socially- embedded forms of knowledge and reasoning that fail to match, and often contradict, biomedical views. Yet people frequently cannot realise effective access to vaccines, less because of inherent problems in vaccine delivery systems, but because of the ways these are embedded in the multiple, pluralised processes through which health services are now provided in the Guinean context. As health workers struggle to cope with provision dilemmas, interactions arise which mothers often experience as negative, and which can deter their future demand. Such an analysis, and its implications for policy, emerge only through detailed ethnography of what vaccination practices actually mean to Guinean parents in the context of everyday child care and social relations. Keywords: immunisation, vaccination, Guinea

Usutu virus in Africa.

Usutu virus (USUV) was discovered in South Africa in 1959. Since then, it has been reported in several African countries including Senegal, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, and Morocco. In 2001, USUV has been identified for the first time outside of Africa, namely in Europe, where it caused a significant mortality among blackbirds in Vienna, Austria. In 2009, the first two human cases of USUV infection in Europe have been reported in Italy, causing encephalitis in immunocompromised patients. The host range in Africa includes mainly Culex mosquitoes, birds, and also humans with one benign and one severe case. Given its role as a potential human pathogen and the similar appearance compared with other emerging arboviruses, it is essential to investigate the natural history and ecology of USUV in Africa. In this regard, we review the emergence of USUV in Africa, summarizing data about isolations, host range, and potential vectors, which should help to improve our understanding of the factors underlying the circulation of USUV in Europe and Africa

Prevalence and awareness of diabetes in Guinea: findings from a WHO STEPS

Aims: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of diabetes, and to assess its awareness and related risk factors among adult Guineans.Methods: A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1 100  adults (46.6% women) aged 35–64 years from Lower Guinea, during September to December 2009, using the WHO STEPwise approach of surveillance of chronic  disease risk factors. Data were collected in three steps: demographic and  behavioural risk factors, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements, and fasting blood cholesterol and glucose testing. A multi-stage cluster sample design was applied to generate nationwide representative data.Results: The mean age of all participants was 47.3 years (SD 8.8), similarly in  Conakry, rural Lower Guinea and urban Lower Guinea. The prevalence of diabetes was 5.7% (95% CI 4.0–8.1). Among participants with diabetes, only 44.0% were aware of their status. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, determinants of diabetes prevalence were urban residency, male sex, age group 45–64 years, increased waist circumference, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Male sex, rural residency, age group 45–54 years, no formal education, waist circumference, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were independent predictors of screen-detected diabetes.Conclusion: The present study found a high prevalence and low awareness of  diabetes, suggesting the need for appropriate actions to strengthen primary  healthcare approaches towards non-communicable diseases in Guinea.Keywords: Diabetes, epidemiology, Guine

Vector competence of Aedes vexans (Meigen), Culex poicilipes (Theobald) and Cx. quinquefasciatus Say from Senegal for West and East African lineages of Rift Valley fever virus

Background Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV; Phlebovirus, Bunyaviridae) is a mosquito–borne, zoonotic pathogen. In Senegal, RVFV was first isolated in 1974 from Aedes dalzieli (Theobald) and thereafter from Ae. fowleri (de Charmoy), Ae. ochraceus Theobald, Ae. vexans (Meigen), Culex poicilipes (Theobald), Mansonia africana (Theobald) and Ma. uniformis (Theobald). However, the vector competence of these local species has never been demonstrated making hypothetical the transmission cycle proposed for West Africa based on serological data and mosquito isolates. Methods Aedes vexans and Cx. poicilipes, two common mosquito species most frequently associated with RVFV in Senegal, and Cx. quinquefasciatus, the most common domestic species, were assessed after oral feeding with three RVFV strains of the West and East/central African lineages. Fully engorged mosquitoes (420 Ae. vexans, 563 Cx. quinquefasciatus and 380 Cx. poicilipes) were maintained at 27 ± 1 °C and 70–80 % relative humidity. The saliva, legs/wings and bodies were tested individually for the RVFV genome using real-time RT-PCR at 5, 10, 15 and 20 days post exposure (dpe) to estimate the infection, dissemination, and transmission rates. Genotypic characterisation of the 3 strains used were performed to identify factors underlying the different patterns of transmission. Results The infection rates varied between 30.0–85.0 % for Ae. vexans, 3.3–27 % for Cx. quinquefasciatus and 8.3–46.7 % for Cx. poicilipes, and the dissemination rates varied between 10.5–37 % for Ae. vexans, 9.5–28.6 % for Cx. quinquefasciatus and 3.0–40.9 % for Cx. poicilipes. However only the East African lineage was transmitted, with transmission rates varying between 13.3–33.3 % in Ae. vexans, 50 % in Cx. quinquefasciatus and 11.1 % in Cx. poicilipes. Culex mosquitoes were less susceptible to infection than Ae. vexans. Compared to other strains, amino acid variation in the NSs M segment proteins of the East African RVFV lineage human-derived strain SH172805, might explain the differences in transmission potential. Conclusion Our findings revealed that all the species tested were competent for RVFV with a significant more important role of Ae. vexans compared to Culex species and a highest potential of the East African lineage to be transmitted

Use of Viremia to Evaluate the Baseline Case Fatality Ratio of Ebola Virus Disease and Inform Treatment Studies: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The case fatality ratio (CFR) of Ebola virus disease (EVD) can vary over time and space for reasons that are not fully understood. This makes it difficult to define the baseline CFRs needed to evaluate treatments in the absence of randomized controls. Here, we investigate whether viremia in EVD patients may be used to evaluate baseline EVD CFRs. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We analyzed the laboratory and epidemiological records of patients with EVD confirmed by reverse transcription PCR hospitalized in the Conakry area, Guinea, between 1 March 2014 and 28 February 2015. We used viremia and other variables to model the CFR. Data for 699 EVD patients were analyzed. In the week following symptom onset, mean viremia remained stable, and the CFR increased with viremia, V, from 21% (95% CI 16%-27%) for low viremia (V < 104.4 copies/ml) to 53% (95% CI 44%-61%) for intermediate viremia (104.4 ≤ V < 105.2 copies/ml) and 81% (95% CI 75%-87%) for high viremia (V ≥ 105.2 copies/ml). Compared to adults (15-44 y old [y.o.]), the CFR was larger in young children (0-4 y.o.) (odds ratio [OR]: 2.44; 95% CI 1.02-5.86) and older adults (≥ 45 y.o.) (OR: 2.84; 95% CI 1.81-4.46) but lower in children (5-14 y.o.) (OR: 0.46; 95% CI 0.24-0.86). An order of magnitude increase in mean viremia in cases after July 2014 compared to those before coincided with a 14% increase in the CFR. Our findings come from a large hospital-based study in Conakry and may not be generalizable to settings with different case profiles, such as with individuals who never sought care. CONCLUSIONS: Viremia in EVD patients was a strong predictor of death that partly explained variations in CFR in the study population. This study provides baseline CFRs by viremia group, which allow appropriate adjustment when estimating efficacy in treatment studies. In randomized controlled trials, stratifying analysis on viremia groups could reduce sample size requirements by 25%. We hypothesize that monitoring the viremia of hospitalized patients may inform the ability of surveillance systems to detect EVD patients from the different severity strata

Surgical intervention on uterine fibromyoma in a country with limited resources: case of the gynaecology-obstetrics department of the Communal Medical Centre of Ratoma Conakry - Guinea

Background: In developing countries, treatment of uterine fibromyoma is confronted with numerous problems, namely: financial inaccessibility to the proposed treatments, fear of surgery and the weakness of the technical platform. The objectives of the study were to calculate the frequency of uterine fibromyomas, describe the socio-demographic characteristics of patients, identify the main clinical data and to describe the modalities of surgical management.Methods: It was a mixed descriptive study, cumulative over a period of 5 years (60 months) with data collection in two phases: a 4-year retrospective study from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2018 and a 1-year prospective study from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019.Results: Authors collected 135 cases of uterine fibromyomas operated on out of a total of 260 cases of gynaecological pathologies, i.e. a frequency of 51.92%. Nulliparous women were the most concerned (45.18%), and women who attended school (60%) and those who did not attend school (40%). Women at home and housewives accounted for 42.20% and 54.07% respectively. Clinically, the circumstances of discovery were dominated by menometrorrhagia and menorrhagia respectively 77.77% and 68.14%. The large uterus was the most frequent physical sign found in 96.29% of cases. Uterine fibromyomas were recorded in 86.6% of cases in women with genital activity. The operative indications were dominated by the large polymyomatous uterus (64.44%), followed by hemorrhagic fibroma (18.52%) The surgical treatment was conservative in 92.60%. The total hysterectomy was performed in 7.40. Lethality was 1.4%.Conclusions: The surgical management of fibroids contrasts conservative treatment (myomectomy) with radical treatment (hysterectomy) with multiple possible approaches (hysteroscopy, vaginal surgery, laparoscopy or laparotomy). In this context, only laparotomy was possible due to lack of equipment. Laparoscopy and hysteroscopy equipment are necessary for less invasive surgery

Real-Time RT-PCR Assays for Detection and Genotyping of West Nile Virus Lineages Circulating in Africa

West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging arbovirus, circulating worldwide between birds and mosquitoes, which impacts human and animal health. Since the mid-1990s, WNV outbreaks have emerged in Europe and America and represent currently the primary cause of encephalitis in the United States. WNV exhibits a great genetic diversity with at least eight different lineages circulating in the world, and four (1, 2, Koutango, and putative new) are present in Africa. These different WNV lineages are not readily differentiated by serology, and thus, rapid molecular tools are required for diagnostic. We developed here real-time RT-PCR assays for detection and genotyping of African WNV lineages. The specificity of the assays was tested using other flaviviruses circulating in Africa. The sensitivity was determined by testing serial 10-fold dilutions of viruses and RNA standards. The assays provided good specificity and sensitivity and the analytical detection limit was 10 copies/ reaction. The RT-PCR assays allowed the detection and genotyping of all WNV isolates in culture medium, human serum, and vertebrate tissues, as well as in field and experimental mosquito samples. Comparing the ratios of genome copy number/infectious virion (plaque-forming units), our study finally revealed new insight on the replication of these different WNV lineages in mosquito cells. Our RT-PCR assays are the first ones allowing the genotyping of all WNV African variants, and this may have important applications in surveillance and epidemiology in Africa and also for monitoring of their emergence in Europe and other continents

Recours a la Médecine Traditionnelle chez les Rhumatisants en Guinée

Aim: To determine the frequency and pattern of use of traditional medicine in rheumatic patients at Ignace Deen National Hospital in Conakry, Guinea. Patients and methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study in the rheumatology department of HNID between January and March 2018 Results: Of the 108 patients interviewed, 40 had used traditional medicine (37.03%). There was a female predominance (21 women, 52.5%) with a sex ratio of 0.90. The mean age of the patients was 44.75 ± 17.24 years. Rheumatoid arthritis and knee osteoarthritis were the main rheumatic diseases observed with 41.86% and 16.27% respectively. The diagnostic delay was 6.54 ± 1.25 years. The nature of the treatment used was dominated by taking a decoction (57.50%) and the reason for using traditional treatment was to relieve pain (85%). The oral route was the main mode of use of traditional treatment (67.5%). More than half of the patients (52.50%) were not satisfied with the outcome of traditional treatment received and did not know the name of the treatment used in their vernacular language. In 47.50% of cases they thought that traditional treatment had adverse effects and had possible interactions with modern drug therapy. Conclusion: More than a third of rheumatology consulting patients use traditional medicine even though they believe it has side effects. This phenomenon leads to a delay in consultation with the rheumatologist, hence the need for better communication between the different actors.Objectif : Déterminer la fréquence et le profil de l’utilisation de la médecine traditionnelle chez les patients souffrant de rhumatisme à l'hôpital national Ignace Deen de Conakry (Guinée). Patients et méthodes : Etude transversale de type descriptif dans le service de rhumatologie de l'HNID entre janvier et mars 2018. Résultats : Sur 108 patients interrogés, 40 avaient eu recours à la médecine traditionnelle soit 37,03 %. On notait une prédominance féminine (21 femmes ; 52,5 %) avec un sexe ratio de 0,90 H/F. L’âge moyen des patients était de 44,75 ± 17,24 ans. La polyarthrite rhumatoïde et la gonarthrose étaient les principales affections rhumatologiques observées avec respectivement 41,86% et 16,27%. Le délai diagnostique était de 6,54 ±1,25 ans. La nature du traitement utilisé était dominée par la prise de décoction (57,50%) et le motif d’utilisation du traitement était de soulager la douleur (85%). La voie orale était le principal mode d’utilisation (67,5%). Plus de la moitié des patients (52,50%) n’étaient pas satisfaits du résultat du traitement traditionnel reçu et ne connaissaient pas le nom du traitement utilisé dans leur langue vernaculaire. Ils pensaient dans 47,50% des cas que le traitement traditionnel entrainait des effets indésirables et avait de possibles interactions avec le traitement médicamenteux moderne. Conclusion : Plus du tiers des patients consultant en rhumatologie ont recours à la médecine traditionnelle même s’ils croient qu’elle a des effets indésirables. Ce phénomène entraîne un retard à la consultation chez le rhumatologue, d’où la nécessité d’une meilleure communication entre les différents acteurs

Effects of Ebola epidemic on obstetrical emergencies and outcomes in the region of Kindia, Guinea

Background: Maternal mortality is still high in Guinea despite a decline from 724 to 550 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births between 2012 and 2018. The proportion of births attended by skilled personnel is estimated at 45%. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic on the frequency of absolute maternal indications, as well as the outcomes of these interventions for mother and child in the region of Kindia.Methods: This was a longitudinal study using 20 months of retrospective data collected in the pre-Ebola (March to December 2012 and March to December 2013) and intra-Ebola (March to December 2014 and March to December 2015) periods. The proportions of maternal health indicators in both study periods were compared using a significance level of 0.05.Results: A total of 1747 women were included in this study. The proportion of women who received a major obstetric procedure in Kindia regional hospital was 85% in each pre and post Ebola periods. Ebola, however, contributed to a significant increase in maternal deaths.Conclusions: The Ebola epidemic has contributed to a significant increase in maternal deaths in health facilities. Measures encouraging health workers to manage obstetric emergencies during critical periods would be necessary