Genetic Diversity of Simulium damnosum complex Onchocerciasis Vector and its Influence on Entomological Monitoring in the West of Côte d'Ivoire

In West Africa, Onchocerca volvulus, the causative pathogen of human onchocerciasis, is transmitted by sibling species of the Simulium damnosum complex. Little is known about blackfly intraspecific variability and its consequences on vectorial capacity in Côte d’Ivoire. This study reports the use of microsatellite markers to study the genetic profile and evaluate the gene flow between populations of S. damnosum s.l from three (3) different epidemiological facies in western Côte d’Ivoire, fifteen years after the end of onchocerciasis control program. Adult flies were collected on human attractants from 07 : 00 to 18 : 00 hours for three consecutive days by site, from December 2016 to October 2017. Four (4) microsatellite loci were used to characterize individuals from these populations. The four (4) loci were polymorphic with 13.25 alleles per locus. Two (2) specific alleles (190 bp and 290 bp), were reveal abundant with respective frequencies of 0.46 % and 0.58 %. Asignificant heterozygosity deficiency and low genetic differentiation (FST = 0.046, P = 0.024) have been observed for all the populations. The genetic analysis showed significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg and significant heterozygosity deficiencies. Then, the great interspecific variability would be a general characteristic in S. damnosum s.l. At last, a probable evolution of the invasive strains of S. damnosum would have occurred in these localities. This study has shown significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg and significant heterozygosity deficiencies in the populations of the three localities. The loci give independent estimate genetic parameters. The H3-4 locus to a low genetic differentiation between the populations. &nbsp

Apport des moyens endoscopiques dans la dilatation des sténoses caustiques de l’oesophage

Introduction: The aim of this work was to present the contribution of the endoscopy in the management of esophageal dilatation for caustic esophageal stenosis (CES). Methods: This was a descriptive and prospective study in the thoracic surgery department at the Hospital of Mali. A total of 46 cases of CES is recorded and divided into 4 groups according to the topography of the esophageal lesions. For the different methods of dilatation the number of performed endoscopic support was determined to understand the contribution of endoscopic means in the success of dilatation for CES. The outcome, complications and mortality in the two methods were compared. Results: Fibroscopy was used in 41.30% of patients with Savary Guillard dilators and in 47.82% of patients with Lerut dilators. Video laryngoscopy was used in 58.69% of patients who underwent dilatation with Lerut dilators. The passage of the guide wire was performed in 39.13% under video laryngoscopy and 58.68% under fibroscopy. In comparison of the two methods, there is a significant difference in the occurrence of complications (p = 0.04075), general anesthesia (p = 0.02287), accessibility (p = 0.04805) and mortality (p = 0.00402). Conclusion: The CES is a serious disease and under evaluated in Mali. The endoscopies contribute significantly to the success of esophageal dilatation for caustic stenosis in the different methods we used.Keywords: Esophagus, caustic stenosis, dilatation, endoscopicPan African Medical Journal 2016; 2

Sustainable development of crop-livestock farms in Africa

Crop-livestock farms across Africa are highly variable due to in agroecological and socioeconomic factors, the latter shaping the demand and supply of livestock products. Crop-livestock farms in Africa in the 20-first century are very different from most mixed farms elsewhere in the world. African crop-livestock farms are smaller in size, have fewer livestock, lower productivity and less dependency on imported feed than farms in most countries of Europe, the Americas and the intensive agricultural systems of Asia. This paper discusses the role African crop-livestock farms have in the broader socio-agricultural economy, and how these are likely to change adapting to pressures brought on by the intensification of food systems. This intensification implies increasing land productivity (more food per hectare), often leading to more livestock heads per farm, producing fertilized feeds in croplands and importing feed supplements from the market. This discussion includes (1) the links between crop yields, soil fertility and crop-livestock integration, (2) the increasing demand for livestock products and the land resources required to meet to this demand, and (3) the opportunities to integrate broader societal goals into the development of crop-livestock farms. There is ample room for development of crop-livestock farms in Africa, and keeping integration as part of the development will help prevent many of the mistakes and environmental problems related to the intensification of livestock production observed elsewhere in the world. This development can integrate biodiversity, climate change adaptation and mitigation to the current goals of increasing productivity and food security. The inclusion of broader goals could help farmers access the level of finance required to implement changes

Profil épidémiologique de la rougeole au Mali de 2009 à 2018: Epidemiological profile of measles in Mali from 2009 to 2018

Introduction: La rougeole, maladie virale hautement contagieuse causée par un Morbillivirus, reste un important problèeme de santé publique dans de nombreux pays malgré l'existence d'un vaccin efficace. La surveillance de la rougeole est l'un des aspects clés de la lutte contre cette maladie. La présente étude avait pour objectif de décrire la mortalité et la morbidité de la rougeole au Mali entre 2009 et 2018. Méthodes: Il s'agissait d'étude transversale descriptive. Les données de surveillance de la rougeole au Mali de 2009 à 2018 ont été analysées en personne, lieu et temps. Résultats: De 2009 à 2018, le nombre de cas confirmés de rougeole était de 6461 dont 29 décès soit une létalité de 0,45%. La confirmation des cas avait été faite par le laboratoire pour 2551 cas (39,48%), par lien épidémiologique pour 3738 cas (57,85%) et cliniquement pour 172 cas (2,66%). Les enfants de moins de 5 ans représentaient 50,97% des cas et 75,86% des décès. La majorité des cas (95,71 %) n'avaient jamais été vaccinés contre la rougeole. Les incidences les plus élevées avaient été observées en 2009 (22,65 pour 100 000 hbts) et 2010 (11,81 pour 100 000 hbts). Tombouctou, Gao et Mopti avaient enregistrés les plus grands nombres de cas en 2009 et Bamako, Koulikoro et Mopti en 2010. Conclusion: La majorité des cas et des décès étaient les enfants non vaccinés de moins de cinq ans. Un renforcement du programme élargi de vaccination de routine, une riposte aux épidéemies et des stratéegies de vaccination couvrant tout le pays sont nécessaires. Introduction: Measles, a highly contagious viral disease caused by a Morbillivirus, remains an important public health problem in many countries despite the availability of an effective vaccine. Measles surveillance is one of the key aspects of measles control. The objective of this study was to describe measles mortality and morbidity in Mali between 2009 and 2018. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Measles surveillance data in Mali from 2009 to 2018 were analysed by person, place and time. Results: From 2009 to 2018, the number of confirmed measles cases was 6461 including 29 deaths, i.e. a case-fatality rate of 0.45%. Cases were confirmed by the laboratory for 2551 cases (39.48%), by epidemiological link for 3738 cases (57.85%) and clinically for 172 cases (2.66%). Children under 5 years of age represented 50.97% of cases and 75.86% of deaths. The majority of cases (95.71%) had never been vaccinated against measles. The highest incidences were observed in 2009 (22.65 per 100,000 inhabitants) and 2010 (11.81 per 100,000 inhabitants). Timbuktu, Gao and Mopti had the highest number of cases in 2009 and Bamako, Koulikoro and Mopti in 2010. Conclusion: The majority of cases and deaths were among unvaccinated children under five years of age. Strengthening of the routine expanded programme of immunisation, response to epidemics and nationwide immunisation strategies are needed

A comprehensive analysis of drug resistance molecular markers and Plasmodium falciparum genetic diversity in two malaria endemic sites in Mali.

BACKGROUND: Drug resistance is one of the greatest challenges of malaria control programme in Mali. Recent advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies provide new and effective ways of tracking drug-resistant malaria parasites in Africa. The diversity and the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum drug-resistance molecular markers were assessed in Dangassa and Nioro-du-Sahel in Mali, two sites with distinct malaria transmission patterns. Dangassa has an intense seasonal malaria transmission, whereas Nioro-du-Sahel has an unstable and short seasonal malaria transmission. METHODS: Up to 270 dried blood spot samples (214 in Dangassa and 56 in Nioro-du-Sahel) were collected from P. falciparum positive patients in 2016. Samples were analysed on the Agena MassARRAY® iPLEX platform. Specific codons were targeted in Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Pfdhfr, and Pfdhps, Pfarps10, Pfferredoxin, Pfexonuclease and Pfmdr2 genes. The Sanger's 101-SNPs-barcode method was used to assess the genetic diversity of P. falciparum and to determine the parasite species. RESULTS: The Pfcrt_76T chloroquine-resistance genotype was found at a rate of 64.4% in Dangassa and 45.2% in Nioro-du-Sahel (p = 0.025). The Pfdhfr_51I-59R-108N pyrimethamine-resistance genotype was 14.1% and 19.6%, respectively in Dangassa and Nioro-du-Sahel. Mutations in the Pfdhps_S436-A437-K540-A581-613A sulfadoxine-resistance gene was significantly more prevalent in Dangassa as compared to Nioro-du-Sahel (p = 0.035). Up to 17.8% of the isolates from Dangassa vs 7% from Nioro-du-Sahel harboured at least two codon substitutions in this haplotype. The amodiaquine-resistance Pfmdr1_N86Y mutation was identified in only three samples (two in Dangassa and one in Nioro-du-Sahel). The lumefantrine-reduced susceptibility Pfmdr1_Y184F mutation was found in 39.9% and 48.2% of samples in Dangassa and Nioro-du-Sahel, respectively. One piperaquine-resistance Exo_E415G mutation was found in Dangassa, while no artemisinin resistance genetic-background were identified. A high P. falciparum diversity was observed, but no clear genetic aggregation was found at either study sites. Higher multiplicity of infection was observed in Dangassa with both COIL (p = 0.04) and Real McCOIL (p = 0.02) methods relative to Nioro-du-Sahel. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals high prevalence of chloroquine and pyrimethamine-resistance markers as well as high codon substitution rate in the sulfadoxine-resistance gene. High genetic diversity of P. falciparum was observed. These observations suggest that the use of artemisinins is relevant in both Dangassa and Nioro-du-Sahel

Brucellosis in Sub-Saharan Africa:Current challenges for management, diagnosis and control

Brucellosis is a highly contagious zoonosis caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella and affecting domestic and wild mammals. In this paper, the bacteriological and serological evidence of brucellosis in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and its epidemiological characteristics are discussed. The tools available for the diagnosis and treatment of human brucellosis and for the diagnosis and control of animal brucellosis and their applicability in the context of SSA are presented and gaps identified. These gaps concern mostly the need for simpler and more affordable antimicrobial treatments against human brucellosis, the development of a B. melitensis vaccine that could circumvent the drawbacks of the currently available Rev 1 vaccine, and the investigation of serological diagnostic tests for camel brucellosis and wildlife. Strategies for the implementation of animal vaccination are also discussed.Publishe

Diagnostic path of a genetic disease : a case of Williams-Beuren syndrome in Burkina Faso

Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a set of somatic, psychological, and behavioral abnormalities, which is caused by a deletion of several genes. Herein we report a 6 year-old boy, who presented with mental retardation and psychological disorders. The result of the first clinical examination was poor, since it didn’t detect any dysmorphic feature which is a major component for the clinical diagnosis of WBS. Despite the multidisciplinary and the multicenter approaches used, the diagnosis of WBS (deletion of chromosome band 7q11. 23) was established more than 3 years after the first medical consultation. Rare partial forms of WBS have been recently described and they are both clinically and genetically difficult to diagnose. Unfortunately, this disorder is still little known by health professionals

Study of Temperature Fields and Heavy Metal Content in the Ash and Flue Gas Produced by the Combustion of Briquettes Coming from Paper and Cardboard Waste

The present study focused on the combustion of four types of briquettes made from paper and cardboard waste produced in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). Rotary and tubular kilns were used to study the combustion. The combustion mean temperatures, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) content in the ash and heavy metals content in the ash and the flue gas were analyzed. The combustion steady phase mean temperatures ranged from 950 °C to 750 °C were obtained according to briquettes type. The temperature favored the transfer of the heavy metal in the flue gas comparatively to the ash mainly for Hg, Cd and Pb. The Pb, Hg and Mn content in flue gas and the ash are higher than their content in the parent wood used for paper production due to the additive during the manufacturing process. The results showed a high content of heavy metal in flue gas produced by combustion of briquette made with office paper and in the ash for the briquette made of corrugated cardboard. Furthermore, the low heavy metal contain in the ash allow their use for soil amendment. However, ash contained a low proportion of NPK (less than 2%) which does not allow their usage as fertilizer alone