Le régime alimentaire de trois espèces de rapaces nocturnes en Tunisie: la chouette chevêche, la chouette effraie et le hibou grand-duc

Nous présentons ci-dessous les résultas de l'analyse du régime alimentaire de trois espèces de rapaces nocturnes, la chouette chevêche (Athene noctua), la chouette effraie (Tyto alba) et le hibou grand-duc (Bubo bubo) à partir de l'examen de leurs pelotes de réjection récoltées durant la saison 2003–2004 dans deux régions différentes en Tunisie. Le régime alimentaire de la chouette chevêche est basé sur les invertébrés (particulièrement les insectes) qui représentent 93% de la totalité des proies consommées au printemps dans une région au nord de la Tunisie. Dans la même région le régime alimentaire de l'effraie, pendant la saison estivale, est composé de 86% de vertébrés (principalement mammifères et oiseaux). Ainsi les niches trophiques des deux espèces sont très dissemblables. Les pelotes du hibou grand-duc récoltées pendant la saison automnale hivernale, dans une localité au centre de la Tunisie, renferment 87,5% de restes de vertébrés dont les petits mammifères constituent les proies principales comme l'effraie au nord de la Tunisie. Data are presented on the food of three species of owls, Little Owl (Athene noctua), Barn Owl (Tyto alba) and Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) from the analysis of pellets collected from 2003 to 2004 in two different localities in Tunisia. Invertebrates (mainly insects) were the most important prey category for Little Owl, making up 93% of prey in spring in a habitat of northern Tunisia, while vertebrates (primarily mammals) accounted for 86% of Barn Owl prey in summer in the same locality. The diet overlap is extremely low. The analysis of Eagle Owl pellets collected in autumn and winter indicated that vertebrates were the major prey items (87.5%). Thus the primary prey of Barn Owl and Eagle Owl in two different habitats of northern and central Tunisia was small mammals. Ostrich 2007, 78(2): 377–37

Mitochondrial DNA variability of the pipefish <i>Syngnathus abaster</i>

This study provides data on the genetic structuring of the pipefish Syngnathus abaster in the western Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas. A total of 109 specimens were collected in brackish-water biotopes. The control region and three other regions of the mitochondrial genome were analysed. The most relevant result was the high genetic structuring found by Bayesian inference (BI), maximum likelihood (ML) and network analyses, which were consistent in showing three well-separated clusters of S. abaster populations. Furthermore, BI and ML did not support the monophyly of the taxon S. abaster. These results suggest the occurrence of a species complex in the study area, whose differentiation may have occurred since the Pleistocene. The results also show a very high genetic variability at the inter-population level, with no shared haplotypes among sites. Evolutionary forces due to the fragmented nature of the brackish-water habitats may account for the high genetic divergence found among the groups and populations. Finally, although dispersal by rafting over long distances may occasionally occur, this study suggests linear stepping-stone model of colonization to be most likely. The complexity of the results obtained suggests that further studies are needed to elucidate the phylogeny of S. abaster

Humoral and Cellular Immunogenicity of Six Different Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in Adults: A Comparative Study in Tunisia (North Africa)

Background: The mass vaccination campaign against SARS-CoV-2 was started in Tunisia on 13 March 2021 by using progressively seven different vaccines approved for emergency use. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the humoral and cellular immunity in subjects aged 40 years and over who received one of the following two-dose regimen vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, namely mRNA-1273 or Spikevax (Moderna), BNT162B2 or Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech), Gam-COVID-Vac or Sputnik V (Gamaleya Research Institute), ChAdOx1-S or Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca), BIBP (Sinopharm), and Coronavac (Sinovac). Material and methods: For each type of vaccine, a sample of subjects aged 40 and over was randomly selected from the national platform for monitoring COVID-19 vaccination and contacted to participate to this study. All consenting participants were sampled for peripheral blood at 3–7 weeks after the second vaccine dose to perform anti-S and anti-N serology by the Elecsys® (Lenexa, KS, USA) anti-SARS-CoV-2 assays (Roche® Basel, Switzerland). The CD4 and CD8 T cell responses were evaluated by the QuantiFERON® SARS-CoV-2 (Qiagen® Basel, Switzerland) for a randomly selected sub-group. Results: A total of 501 people consented to the study and, of them, 133 were included for the cellular response investigations. Both humoral and cellular immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 antigens differed significantly between all tested groups. RNA vaccines induced the highest levels of humoral and cellular anti-S responses followed by adenovirus vaccines and then by inactivated vaccines. Vaccines from the same platform induced similar levels of specific anti-S immune responses except in the case of the Sputnik V and the AstraZeneca vaccine, which exhibited contrasting effects on humoral and cellular responses. When analyses were performed in subjects with negative anti-N antibodies, results were similar to those obtained within the total cohort, except for the Moderna vaccine, which gave a better cellular immune response than the Pfizer vaccine and RNA vaccines, which induced similar cellular immune responses to those of adenovirus vaccines. Conclusion: Collectively, our data confirmed the superiority of the RNA-based COVID-19 vaccines, in particular that of Moderna, for both humoral and cellular immunogenicity. Our results comparing between different vaccine platforms in a similar population are of great importance since they may help decision makers to adopt the best strategy for further national vaccination programs

Prevalence, Genotype Distribution and Risk Factors for Cervical Human Papillomavirus Infection in the Grand Tunis Region, Tunisia.

Implementation of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination should be considered a key cervical cancer prevention strategy in Tunisia, where Pap smear screening is not efficient. This study aims to estimate the prevalence and to identify risk factors associated with HPV infection among women from Grand Tunis, Tunisia. We conducted a cross-sectional study, between December 2012 and May 2013. Eligible women for this study were those aged 18-65 years, sexually active, who sought medical attention at their primary health care centre or clinic in Grand Tunis, Tunisia and who gave written consent. A liquid-based Pap smear sample was obtained from all women using a cervical brush. Only women with betaglobin positive test were further analysed for HPV detection and typing. A nested-PCR of the L1 region was performed followed by reverse line blot hybridization to facilitate the specific detection of 31 HPV genotypes. Multiple logistic regression modeling was used for the analysis of associations between variables with some considered possible confounders after checking for interactions. A total of 391 women were enrolled in this study and 325 out of the 391 cervical samples were positive for the betaglobin test. Overall HPV prevalence was 13.2% [9.8%-17.5%], with the following most prevalent HPV genotypes: HPV6 (40%), HPV40 (14%), HPV16 (12%), HPV52 (9%), HPV31 and HPV59 (7%), followed by HPV68 (4%). Mean age of HPV positive women was 40.7±0.92 years. Independently associated risk factors of HPV infection were smoking (OR:2.8 [0.8-9.6]), low income (OR:9.6 [1.4-63.4), bad housing type (OR:2.5 [1-6.8]), partner with multiple sexual relationship (OR:4.5 [0.9-22.9]) and single women (widowed, divorced, separated, never married) (OR:6.9 [1.1-42.2]). This study provides the first national-based estimate of HPV prevalence in Tunisia. Our findings contribute to the evidence on the current burden of HPV infection, the critical role of sexual behaviour and socioeconomic status and call for increased support for the screening program in Tunisia to prevent cervical cancer. These results allow us to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of vaccine program implementation in Tunisia in future

HPV prevalence according to age groups.

<p>HPV prevalence according to age groups.</p

Map showing the 4 governorates of the Grand Tunis region.

<p>Map showing the 4 governorates of the Grand Tunis region.</p

HPV Type prevalence in Grand Tunis Region.

<p>HPV Type prevalence in Grand Tunis Region.</p

Univariate analysis of associated factors with HPV infection.

<p>Univariate analysis of associated factors with HPV infection.</p

Sample size of each governorate included in the study.

<p>Sample size of each governorate included in the study.</p