Antimicrobial susceptibilities and plasmid patterns of Neisseria gonorrhoeae

This study describes antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates obtained from female sex workers in Cotonou, Bénin. All isolates were susceptible to spectinomycin, ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin, and susceptible to moderately susceptible to kanamycin; 9.8% of isolates were resistant to thiamphenicol; 9%, 87.5% and 3.5% were susceptible, moderately susceptible, resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, respectively; 94.4% and 99.3% were resistant to penicillin and tetracycline, respectively. All isolates with a minimal inhibitory concentration of tetracycline of >8 mg/l carried the 'American type' tetM plasmid; 94% and 6% of penicillinase-producing isolates possessed a 3.2 MDa and a 4.4MDa beta-lactamase plasmid, respectively. Surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility of N. gonorrhoeae isolates to currently used drugs in Africa should become part of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) control programmes

Performances zoo-economiques en milieu reel des ovins Djallonke complementes par les Blocs Multi Nutritionnels (BMN) au Benin

L’expérimentation a été réalisée dans la commune de Gogounou au Bénin sur 24 ovins Djallonké répartis en 4 lots de 6 ovins dont un témoin nourris suivant les pratiques locales qui offrent une quantité variable de fourrages et de sous-produits aux animaux. Ceux des lots expérimentaux ont bénéficié en outre d’un complément en BMN (300 g par animal pendant 90 jours). Le lot 1 a été complémenté avec des BMN dont le liant est à base d’argile (BMN argile), le lot 2 avec l’amidon de manioc appelé goma (BMNgoma) et pour le lot 3, le liant est à base du remoulage de la farine de manioc dénommé garigo (BMNgarigo). Les BMN ont été ingérés à plus de 85% (jusqu’à 266,7 g/j/animal). Les BMNgarigo et BMNgoma ont permis d’enregistrer un GMQ de 58 g/j. Avec ces deux types de BMN, le rendement carcasse était de 45%. Le bénéfice net par animal est passé du simple (917 FCFA, pour un éleveur qui utilise les pratiques locales) au double (1 905 FCFA dans le lot BMNargile), au quadruple (3 645 FCFA, dans le lot BMN garigo) et même au quintuple (4 918 FCFA dans le lot BMNgoma en complément). En somme, cette étude démontre qu’en saison sèche, pour améliorer la croissance pondérale, le rendement carcasse et la marge bénéficiaire, il est intéressant de complémenter les ovins Djallonké avec des BMN à base d’amidon de manioc (goma).Mots clés: Blocs multi nutritionnels, liants, rendement carcasse, rentabilité, ovins Djallonké, BéninEnglish AbstractThe experiment was conducted in the municipality of Gogounou in Benin on 24 Djallonké sheeps divided into 4 groups of 6 sheeps fed according to local practices that offer a varying amount of forage and agro-industrial by-products to animals. In the experimental groups sheeps received 300 g of multi-nutritional blocks (MNB) per animal in addition to local practices. Group 1 was supplemented with MNB having clay as binder (MNB clay), group 2 with MNB based on cassava starch (BMN starch) and group 3 based on cassava flour called garigo . The MNB were ingested at more than 85% (up to 266.7 g / day / animal). The BMN garigo and BMN starch allowed recording a daily weight gain of 58 g/d. In BMN treatments, the carcass yield was 45%. Profit margins per animalpasted from simple (917 FCFA in farms using local practices) to double (1905 FCFA in farm using MNB clay), quadruple (3.645 FCFA, in farm using MNBgarigo) and quintuple (4918 FCFA in farm using local practices and MNB starch  supplementation). On the whole, this study demonstrated that in dry season, to improve the growth performances, the carcass yield and the profit, it is interesting to supplement Djallonké sheeps with MNBstarch.Keywords: Multi nutritional blocks, binders, carcass yield, profit margins, sheep, Beni

A novel nested polymerase chain reaction targeting the testis-specific protein Y-encoded family of genes for high sensitivity of recent semen exposure detection: Comparison with four other assays of semen detection.

ObjectivesBecause self-report of sexual behaviours is prone to biases, biomarkers of recent semen exposure are increasingly used to assess unprotected sex. We aimed to present a novel nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting testis-specific protein Y-encoded (TSPY) genes and to compare its performance in detecting recent semen exposure with that of four other assays.MethodsForty-five vaginal samples were selected at baseline of a prospective observational demonstration study of early antiretroviral treatment and pre-exposure prophylaxis among female sex workers in Benin. Semen exposure was assessed with: a rapid prostate-specific antigen (PSA) detection assay, a quantitative PCR targeting the sex-determining region (SRY) gene, a standard PCR targeting SRY, a standard PCR targeting TSPY, and a nested PCR targeting TSPY (n-TSPY). Because we had hypothesized that n-TSPY would be the most sensitive of the five assays while remaining specific, and as our results suggested that it was the case, sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each assay in comparison with n-TSPY.ResultsThe n-TSPY could detect male DNA at concentration 16 and 64 times lower compared to s-TSPY and s-SRY, respectively. Among the 45 vaginal samples, prevalences of semen exposure according to the different assays varied from 22.2% (95%CI: 11.2%-37.1%) to 70.5% (95%CI: 54.8%-83.2%), with the highest prevalence measured with n-TSPY. The n-TSPY products were of expected size and we observed no false-positive in female DNA controls. The assay that offered the second best performance in detecting semen exposure was the PSA rapid test, with a sensitivity of 61.3% and a specificity of 100% compared to n-TSPY.ConclusionsCompared to n-TSPY, all other PCR assays had poor performance to detect semen exposure. The n-TSPY is an accessible assay that may have great utility in assessing semen exposure in studies where many factors are expected to accelerate biomarkers' clearance

Intermediate vaginal flora is associated with HIV prevalence as strongly as bacterial vaginosis in a cross-sectional study of participants screened for a randomised controlled trial

Objective: The authors analysed data from female sex workers screened prior to participation in a microbicide trial to examine the association between prevalent vaginal flora abnormalities and HIV infection, with special emphasis on the role of the intermediate vaginal flora (IVF) in this association. Methods: Data from the Kampala, Cotonou, Chennai and Mudhol/Jamkhandi sites were analysed. Participants were interviewed and provided blood for HIV and syphilis antibody testing, genital samples for the diagnosis of vaginal flora abnormalities (using Nugent score) and other reproductive tract infections. Log-binomial regression was used to estimate the HIV prevalence ratio (PR) in relation to IVF and bacterial vaginosis (BV). Results: Among 1367 women, BV, IVF and HIV prevalences were 47.6% (95% CI=45.0% to 50.3%), 19.2% (95% CI=17.1% to 21.2%) and 27.0% (95% CI=24.6% to 29.3%), respectively. In multivariate analysis, adjusting for study site, age, years of education, occupation, female sterilisation, oral sex, past history of sexually transmitted infection, gonorrhoea and candidiasis, IVF was significantly associated with HIV infection with a PR similar to that of BV (adjusted PR=1.56 (95% CI=1.22 to 1.98) and 1.48 (95% CI=1.20 to 1.84), respectively). Conclusions: Though the cross-sectional design of the study precludes directional interpretation of the findings, the data do suggest that IVF may be as important as BV in HIV acquisition. The authors recommend prospective research to better understand the association between IVF and HIV acquisition

Differences in immunoregulatory cytokine expression patterns in the systemic and genital tract compartments of HIV-1-infected commercial sex workers in Benin

Initial exposure to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) during heterosexual transmission occurs in the genital tract. Although much of the literature on the immune response to HIV-1 infection is based on studies performed at the systemic level, our understanding of tissue-specific immunity is lacking. Levels of both genital mucosal and blood interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interferon (IFN)-gamma production were compared between 57 HIV-1-uninfected and 52 HIV-1-infected female commercial sex workers (CSWs) as well as 73 HIV-1-uninfected non-CSW control women at low risk for exposure. HIV-1-infected CSWs had significantly higher genital mucosal levels of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma compared with those in both the HIV-uninfected CSW and non-CSW groups. In contrast, the serum levels of all the cytokines tested were lower in HIV-1-infected CSWs compared with those in the other groups. The increased production of genital mucosal pro-inflammatory cytokines in HIV-1-infected CSWs possibly reflects susceptibility to HIV-1 infection and disease progression/perpetuation at the initial site of exposure

Chemokine expression patterns in the systemic and genital tract compartments are associated with HIV-1 infection in women from Benin

INTRODUCTION: Understanding the genital mucosal immunity and the factors involved in linking innate to adaptive immunity is crucial for the design of efficient preventive strategies against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1. METHODS: Levels of both genital mucosal and blood chemokines were compared between 58 HIV-1-uninfected and 50 HIV-1-infected female commercial sex workers (CSWs) as well as 53 HIV-1-uninfected non-CSW control women at low risk for exposure, recruited in Cotonou, Benin. RESULTS: HIV-1-infected CSWs had significantly higher blood and genital levels of monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP-3/CCL7) and monokine induced by gamma interferon (MIG/CXCL9) compared with those in both the HIV-1-uninfected CSW and non-CSW groups. In the HIV-1-infected group, levels of MCP-3 and MIG were significantly higher in the genital mucosa than in the blood. However, the blood levels of macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP-1a/CCL3) and MIP-1b/CCL4 were higher in HIV-1-uninfected CSWs compared with those in the other groups. CONCLUSION: Increased production of chemokines in the genital tract may favour the recruitment of HIV-1 target cells causing a mucosal environment that promotes viral replication and dissemination, whereas higher expression of beta-chemokines at the systemic level is associated with protection from HIV-1 infection

Diagnostic Performance of the Roche AMPLICOR PCR in Detecting Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Genitourinary Specimens from Female Sex Workers in Cotonou, Benin

The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the Roche multiplex AMPLICOR Chlamydia trachomatis/Neisseria gonorrhoeae PCR test for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in female urine specimens and wet and dry endocervical swabs. Endocervical swabs and urine specimens were collected from 342 female sex workers from Cotonou, Benin, and were tested using the AMPLICOR C. trachomatis/N. gonorrhoeae test (Roche Diagnostic Systems, Inc., Branchburg, N.J.) with internal control detection. Endocervical swabs were also cultured on Thayer-Martin medium. A series of alternate standards that included a combination of all the tests but not the test being evaluated was used to assess the performance of the test with each type of specimen. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for the urine were 53.8, 98.9, 93.5, and 87.5%, respectively. Corresponding figures for the wet swab were 91.5, 100, 100, and 97.4%, respectively. Those for the dry swab were 96.3, 96.2, 88.5, and 98.8%, respectively. Based on this study, the AMPLICOR PCR assay showed a low sensitivity for detection of N. gonorrhoeae infection in urine specimens, whereas the test was found to be highly sensitive and specific with endocervical specimens

Syndromic versus laboratory-based diagnosis of cervical infections among female sex workers in Benin

BACKGROUND: The syndromic diagnostic approach is the most realistic and cost-effective strategy for controlling sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the developing world. Its potential advantages should be evaluated. GOAL: The goal of the current study was to examine whether the syndromic approach might diagnose more cases of cervicitis due to Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis than laboratory tests. STUDY DESIGN: The participants were 481 female sex workers in Benin, screened for STIs and treated on the basis of the clinical findings. They were asked to return to the clinic within 10 days for laboratory test results and appropriate treatment when necessary. RESULTS: The prevalence of cervical infections was 24.5%. In comparison to the gold standard, the sensitivity of the syndromic diagnosis approach for the detection of N gonorrhoeae/C trachomatis infections was 48.3%; that of the locally performed laboratory tests was 74.6%. However, the sensitivity of the laboratory tests dropped to 28.8% when it was taken into consideration that 57.6% of the infected women did not return to the clinic within 10 days. CONCLUSIONS: The syndromic diagnosis approach should continue to be used for female sex workers in Benin because returning for treatment is problematic. Presumptive treatment at their initial visit could be a complement to this approach, given the high prevalence of cervicitis in this population