Parasites Gastro-Intestinaux des Populations Humaines du Parc National de Taï, Côte d’Ivoire

Les affections parasitaires sévissent dans les pays en voie de développement, en particulier au sein des populations pauvres des régions tropicales. En Côte d’Ivoire, des précédents travaux ont montré des taux de prévalence élevés pour les infestations parasitaires intestinales. Le but de notre étude était d’investiguer sur la présence des parasites gastro-intestinaux chez les populations de 3 villages situés autour du parc national de Taï (PNT) ainsi que chez les chercheurs et les assistants de recherche travaillant au sein du PNT. L’analyse de 586 échantillons de selles par la méthode de Ritchie et par la technique de concentration Merthiolate-Iodine-Formaldehyde (MIF) a mis en évidence la présence de 21 parasites dont 12 helminthes et 9 protozoaires. Les prévalences parasitaires globales étaient élévées (69,1%) dans l’ensemble des sites échantillonnés. Les prévalences parasitaires globales étaient élévées (69,1%) dans l’ensemble des sites échantillonnés. Le village de Gouléako 1 a enregistré la prévalence parasitaire globale la plus élevée (81,43%), et le vilage de Paulé Oula la plus faible (64,58%). Les individus de la classe d’âge [7-14ans] étaient les plus infestés avec un pic d’infestations pendant la saison pluvieuse. Le polyparasitisme est très marqué avec 89% des sujets infestés par au moins deux espèces de parasites. L’inventaire faunistique des parasites intestinaux des populations humaines vivant à proximité du PNT a permis de rajouter six nouvelles espèces à la liste des parasites identifiés chez les populations de Côte d’Ivoire. Il s’agit d’Oesophagostomum sp., de Capillariidae Gen. sp. 2, de Dicrocoelium sp., de Trichostrongylus sp., de Strongyloides fuelleborni et de Balantidium coli. Parasitic diseases are prevalent in developing countries, especially among poor communities in the tropics. In Côte d'Ivoire, previous studies have recorded high prevalence for intestinal parasite infestations. This paper focuses on investigating the presence of gastro-intestinal parasites in rural populations from 3 villages located near the Tai National Park (TNP) and among researchers and research assistants working in TNP. Screening of 586 stool samples by Ritchie method and Merthiolate-Iodine-Formaldehyde concentration technique has revealed the presence of 21 parasites including 12 helminths and 9 protozoa. The overall parasite prevalence was high (69.1%). We found the highest and lowest prevalence in Gouléako 1 (81.43%) and Paule Oula (64.58%) villages respectively. The age group [7-14] has been more infested with a peak of infestations during rainy season. Polyparasitism is very marked with 89% of individuals harboring at least two species of parasites. The intestinal parasites inventory, detected in rural populations living near the PNT, allowed us to add six species to the list of parasites identified in the human population of Côte d'Ivoire. These are Oesophagostomum sp., Capillariidae Gen. sp., 2 Dicrocoelium sp., Trichostrongylus sp., Strongyloides fuelleborni and Balantidium coli

Diversité Et Abondance Des Micromammifères Terrestres: Indicateurs De L’anthropisation De La Forêt Classée De Monogaga, Sud-Ouest De La Côte d’Ivoire

Anthropization of Classified Forests (CF) is a recurrent phenomenon in Côte d'Ivoire. It particularly affects coastal forests including Monogaga classified forest. Currently, flora composition and vegetation structure are the only biological tools available to better appreciate impacts of anthropic pressures on Monogaga classified forest. Yet, fauna and more particularly terrestrial small mammals constitute an essential component of this forest. Thus, this study aims to contribute to the understanding of the effects of anthropization of Monogaga classified forest based on "terrestrial small mammal" model. We used conventional Sherman traps to fairly investigate terrestrial small mammal communities in four plots (A, B, C and D) subjected to different anthropogenic pressures through Monogaga classified forest. Plots A and B were more disturbed than plots C and D. We collected 66 specimens in 1920 trap nights. These specimens are distributed among seven rodent species Dephomys defua, Hybomys trivirgatus, Hylomyscus simus, Lophuromys sikapusi, Malacomys edwardsi, Mastomys erythroleucus and Praomys rostratus and one soricomorph Crocidura olivieri. Abundances of terrestrial small mammals are higher in plots C and D. In the same way, diversity indices decrease from the most conserved to the least conserved plots. However, differences in species richness are weak between plots. Hierarchical classification of the four plots based on small mammal’s assemblages allows a good segregation. This study confirms that "terrestrial small mammal" model can contribute to the assessment of anthropization of forest habitats in lower Côte d'Ivoire

Mental health related determinants of parenting stress among urban mothers of young children – results from a birth-cohort study in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire

Background There are limited data on the parenting stress (PS) levels in sub-Saharan African mothers and on the association between ante- and postnatal depression and anxiety on PS. Methods A longitudinal birth cohort of 577 women from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire was followed from the 3rd trimester in pregnancy to 2 years postpartum between 2010 and 2013. Depression and anxiety were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire depression module (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) at baseline, 3 month, 12 month and 24 month postpartum. PS was measured using the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF) at 3, 12 and 24 month. The mean total PS score and the subscale scores were compared among depressed vs. non-depressed and among anxious vs. non-anxious mothers at 3, 12 and 24 month postpartum. The proportions of clinical PS (PSI-SF raw score > 90) in depressed vs. non-depressed and anxious vs. non-anxious mothers were also compared. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) approach was used to estimate population-averaged associations between women’s depression/anxiety and PS adjusting for age, child sex, women’s anemia, education, occupation, spouse’s education, and number of sick child visits. Results A total of 577, 531 and 264 women completed the PS assessment at 3 month, 12 month and 24 month postpartum across the two sites and the prevalences of clinical PS at each time point was 33.1%, 24.4% and 14.9% in Ghana and 30.2%, 33.5% and 22.6% in Côte d’Ivoire, respectively. At all three time points, the PS scores were significantly higher among depressed mothers vs. non-depressed mothers. In the multivariate regression analyses, antepartum and postpartum depression were consistently associated with PS after adjusting for other variables. Conclusions Parenting stress is frequent and levels are high compared with previous studies from high-income countries. Antepartum and postpartum depression were both associated with PS, while antepartum and postpartum anxiety were not after adjusting for confounders. More quantitative and qualitative data are needed in sub-Saharan African populations to assess the burden of PS and understand associated mechanisms. Should our findings be replicated, it appears prudent to design and subsequently evaluate intervention strategies

Long-term trends in Anopheles gambiae insecticide resistance in Côte d’Ivoire

Background Malaria control is heavily dependent on the use of insecticides that target adult mosquito vectors via insecticide treated nets (ITNs) or indoor residual spraying (IRS). Four classes of insecticide are approved for IRS but only pyrethroids are available for ITNs. The rapid rise in insecticide resistance in African malaria vectors has raised alarms about the sustainability of existing malaria control activities. This problem might be particularly acute in Côte d’Ivoire where resistance to all four insecticide classes has recently been recorded. Here we investigate temporal trends in insecticide resistance across the ecological zones of Côte d’Ivoire to determine whether apparent pan-African patterns of increasing resistance are detectable and consistent across insecticides and areas. Methods We combined data on insecticide resistance from a literature review, and bioassays conducted on field-caught Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes for the four WHO-approved insecticide classes for ITN/IRS. The data were then mapped using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and the IR mapper tool to provide spatial and temporal distribution data on insecticide resistance in An. gambiae sensu lato from Côte d’Ivoire between 1993 and 2014. Results Bioassay mortality decreased over time for all insecticide classes, though with significant spatiotemporal variation, such that stronger declines were observed in the southern ecological zone for DDT and pyrethroids than in the central zone, but with an apparently opposite effect for the carbamate and organophosphate. Variation in relative abundance of the molecular forms, coupled with dramatic increase in kdr 1014F frequency in M forms (An. coluzzii) seems likely to be a contributory factor to these patterns. Although records of resistance across insecticide classes have become more common, the number of classes tested in studies has also increased, precluding a conclusion that multiple resistance has also increased. Conclusion Our analyses attempted synthesis of 22 years of bioassay data from Côte d’Ivoire, and despite a number of caveats and potentially confounding variables, suggest significant but spatially-variable temporal trends in insecticide resistance. In the light of such spatio-temporal dynamics, regular, systematic and spatially-expanded monitoring is warranted to provide accurate information on insecticide resistance for control programme management

Giardiose et oesophagostomose nodulaire au parc national de Taï : risque zoonotique ?

L’homme est sensible à des parasites qui trouvent des réservoirs naturels chez les singes. En Côte d’Ivoire, les risques de zoonoses auxquels sont exposées les populations rurales constituent un enjeu majeur de santé publique. Le Parc National de Taï (PNT) abrite plusieurs espèces de primates arboricoles qui bénéficient d’un suivi depuis 1991. Afin de mieux comprendre les interactions entre les communautés d’hôtes, humains et simiens, et d’évaluer les risques sanitaires liés à la transmission des parasites intestinaux, nous avons recueilli les selles de sept espèces de singes, de 385 personnes dans 3 villages situés à 1 km du PNT et des assistants de recherche. Un examen coprologique a été réalisé afin de dresser un inventaire faunistique des parasites intestinaux. La technique PCR nichée a été retenue pour amplifier et séquencer les gènes de la TPI et de la Gdh à partir d’extraits d’ADN d’origine humaine et simienne de Giardia duodenalis. De même, la technique PCR-RFLP a été appliquée à l’amplification d’un fragment d’ADN ribosomique ITS2 destiné à différencier deux espèces d’Oesophagostomum : O. bifurcum et O. stephanostomum. L’examen microscopique des selles a permis de mettre en évidence des kystes de Giardia sp. dans 9 % des échantillons humains et dans 16 % des prélèvements de singes. Parallèlement, le gène de la TPI a été identifié dans 63 % des selles humaines et 43 % des selles de singes et le gène de la Gdh détecté dans 37 % des selles humaines et 87 % de celles des singes. Par ailleurs, des œufs d’Oesophagostomum ont été observés au microscope dans 10 % des selles humaines et 32 % des prélèvements simiens. La différenciation moléculaire a permis de détecter 7 % de selles humaines positives à la fois à O. bifurcum età O. stephanostomum, 13 % à O. stephanostomum et 33 % à O. bifurcum. Chez les singes, 20 % étaient positifs à O. stephanostomum, 73 % à O. bifurcum et 13 % à la fois à O. bifurcum et O. stephanostomum. Ces résultats mettent en évidence une prévalence relativement élevée de ces parasites connus pour leur potentiel zoonotique et posent la question des modalités et du risque de transmission interspécifique dans cette réserve protégée. Les analyses phylogénétiques en cours nous permettront d’évaluer le risque zoonotique réel lié à la cohabitation entre les populations humaines locales et les populations simiennes dans cette région tropicale.Travail soutenu par le Programme d’Appui Stratégique à la Recherche Scientifique (PASRES, Project No. 48) et US National Science Foundation (NSF) 0921770 and 0922429

Diversity and prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in seven non-human primates of the Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire

Parasites and infectious diseases are well-known threats to primate populations. The main objective of this study was to provide baseline data on fecal parasites in the cercopithecid monkeys inhabiting Côte d’Ivoire’s Taï National Park. Seven of eight cercopithecid species present in the park were sampled: Cercopithecus diana, Cercopithecus campbelli, Cercopithecus petaurista, Procolobus badius, Procolobus verus, Colobus polykomos, and Cercocebus atys. We collected 3142 monkey stool samples between November 2009 and December 2010. Stool samples were processed by direct wet mount examination, formalin-ethyl acetate concentration, and MIF (merthiolate, iodine, formalin) concentration methods. Slides were examined under microscope and parasite identification was based on the morphology of cysts, eggs, and adult worms. A total of 23 species of parasites was recovered including 9 protozoa (Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Entamoeba hartmanni, Endolimax nana, Iodamoeba butschlii, Chilomastix mesnili, Giardia sp., Balantidium coli, and Blastocystis sp.), 13 nematodes (Oesophagostomum sp., Ancylostoma sp., Anatrichosoma sp., Capillariidae Gen. sp. 1, Capillariidae Gen. sp. 2, Chitwoodspirura sp., Subulura sp., spirurids [cf Protospirura muricola], Ternidens sp., Strongyloides sp., Trichostrongylus sp., and Trichuris sp.), and 1 trematode (Dicrocoelium sp.). Diversity indices and parasite richness were high for all monkey taxa, but C. diana, C. petaurista, C. atys, and C. campbelli exhibited a greater diversity of parasite species and a more equitable distribution. The parasitological data reported are the first available for these cercopithecid species within Taï National Park

Phenetic and genetic structure of tsetse fly populations (<it>Glossina palpalis palpalis</it>) in southern Ivory Coast

Abstract Background Sleeping sickness, transmitted by G. p. palpalis, is known to be present in the Ivory Coast. G. p. palpalis has recently been reported to occur in several places within the town of Abidjan, including: (i) the Banco forest, (ii) the Abobo Adjamé University campus and (iii) the zoological park. Could these three places be treated sequentially, as separate tsetse populations, or should they be taken as one area comprising a single, panmictic population? Methods The amount of gene flow between these places provides strategic information for vector control. It was estimated by the use of both microsatellite DNA and morphometric markers. The idea was to assess the interest of the faster and much less expensive morphometric approach in providing relevant information about population structure. Thus, to detect possible lack of insect exchange between these neighbouring areas of Abidjan, we used both genetic (microsatellite DNA) and phenetic (geometric morphometrics) markers on the same specimens. Using these same markers, we also compared these samples with specimens from a more distant area of south Ivory Coast, the region of Aniassué (186 km north from Abidjan). Results Neither genetic nor phenetic markers detected significant differentiation between the three Abidjan G. p. palpalis samples. Thus, the null hypothesis of a single panmictic population within the city of Abidjan could not be rejected, suggesting the control strategy should not consider them separately. The markers were also in agreement when comparing G. p. palpalis from Abidjan with those of Aniassué, showing significant divergence between the two sites. Conclusions Both markers suggested that a successful control of tsetse in Abidjan would require the three Abidjan sites to be considered together, either by deploying control measures simultaneously in all three sites, or by a continuous progression of interventions following for instance the "rolling carpet" principle. To compare the geometry of wing venation of tsetse flies is a cheap and fast technique. Agreement with the microsatellite approach highlights its potential for rapid assessment of population structure.</p

Study flow.

<p>Study flow.</p