Myrmécofaune arboricole associée aux couples Phragmanthera capitata (Sprengel) S. Balle/ hôte au verger de la chefferie de Ndogbong (Douala, Cameroun)

Parmi les Loranthaceae, l’espèce Phragmanthera capitata s’est mieux adaptée aux conditions du milieu modifié par l’homme et aux arbres cultivés ou spontanés devenant un véritable fléau agronomique. La méthode de lutte ciblée plus prometteuse ne peut être satisfaisante que si les mécanismes qui régulent l’adaptation des Loranthaceae à leurs hôtes cultivés ou spontanés sont identifiés et maîtrisés. Dans cette optique, une étude de la myrmécofaune arboricole a été menée sur trois couples P. capitata/hôte au verger de la chefferie de Ndogbong. Auparavant, un inventaire exhaustif de tous les arbres parasités ou non et de la myrmécofaune du verger de la chefferie de Ndogbong (Douala) a été entrepris et toutes les touffes de P. capitata comptabilisés sur les arbreshôtes qui en possédaient. Tous les arbres du verger sont exotiques excepté Spondias mangifera. Le taux de parasitisme est de 42,85%. Quatre espèces de fourmis (Crematogaster sp. 1, Crematogaster sp.2, Pheidole megacephala et Camponotus sp.) ont une activité fourragère notamment florifère sur les individus de P. capitata. Leur densité varie avec la floraison et semble liée à la chute des boutons floraux et des fleurs. Ces fourmis pourraient constituer des forces d’organisation et d’évolution exploitables dans la lutte biologique contre les Loranthaceae. Mots clés: Loranthaceae, myrmécofaune arboricole, plantes hôtes

Dynamique d’offre de fourrages relative a l’environnement : Facteurs explicatifs sur les marches du Benin et du Burkina Faso

Les changements climatiques accentuent la pression sur les ressources naturelles et interrogent le potentiel fourrager disponible en zones pastorales pour l’alimentation des ruminants, en particulier celle des bovins et ovins. La présente étude a examiné les facteurs qui influencent l’offre de fourrages, en relation avec l’environnement, sur les marchés du Bénin et du Burkina-Faso. Au total, 272 vendeurs de fourrages ont été enquêtés de façon aléatoire et et en boule de neige dans l’ensemble de la zone d’étude. Le modèle de régression linéaire multiple estimé par les Moindres Carrés Ordinaires a permis d’identifier les facteurs qui affectent l’offre de fourrages dans la zone d’étude. En effet, les zones agro-écologiques, la distance de recherche de fourrages, le prix du fourrage, les caractéristiques des vendeurs et le coût du transport sont les facteurs décisifs qui influencent significativement le niveau d’offre de fourrages dans l’ensemble de la zone d’étude. Toutefois, la zone agro-écologique nord-soudanienne et l’expérience du vendeur dans la collecte du fourrage affectent significativement et positivement la quantité de fourrage offerte au Burkina Faso tandis que la zone agro-écologique I et la distance de recherche de fourrages ont un effet positif et significatif sur l’offre de fourrages au Bénin. La prise en compte de ces facteurs dans les politiques agricoles et actions de développement permettrait d’améliorer l’offre de fourrages et par ricochet la production animale.Mots clés : Déterminants, disparités environnementales, MCO, offre fourragère, Bénin et BurkinaFaso Dynamics of feedstuff’s supply under environmental dimension: determinant factors on Benin and Burkina Faso markets (West Africa)The present study analyses the factors influencing the feedstuff’s supply on the markets of Bénin and Burkina Faso, in relation with environnemental disparity. A sample of 272 feedstuff’s selters was randomly and by snowball selected for a survey. The regression model estimated by OLS allowed to identify the factors that affect the supply of feedstuffs in the study area.As results, the agro-ecological zones, the feedstuffs search distance, feedstuff’s price, the characteristics of the sellers and the cost of transport are the decisive factors that significantly influence the level of forage supply in the study area. However, the North-Sudanese agro-ecological zone and the sellor’s experience in fodder collection significantly and positively affect the level of feedstuffs offered in Burkina Faso while the agroecological zone I and feedstuffs search distance have a positive and significant effect on the supply of feedstuffsin Benin. Considering these factors in agricultural policies and development actions, will lead to improving feedstuffs supply and indirectly the animal production.Keywords: Determinants, environmental disparities, OLS, feedstuffs supply, Benin and Burkina Faso

Dispersible formulation of artemether/lumefantrine: specifically developed for infants and young children

Infants and children under five years of age are the most vulnerable to malaria with over 1,700 deaths per day from malaria in this group. However, until recently, there were no WHO-endorsed paediatric anti-malarial formulations available

Uncertain pasts and risk-sensitive futures in sub-Saharan urban transformation

This chapter explores the status and the scope for transition of risk- sensitive and transformative urban development in diverse cities of sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa is important because of its large proportions of urban populations with high vulnerability and growing exposure to risks. High rates of urban growth pose increasing risks as we go into the future, yet there is also opportunity to reduce risk through integrating risk management into development. However, this opportunity space is often constrained by limited capacities to plan and manage the rapid urbanisation process, particularly in informal settlements. Limited capacities to prevent processes of risk accumulation pose threats to poverty reduction and sustainable development. In this context, there is an increasingly urgent need for squarely recognising and addressing the underlying vulnerabilities of urban populations and their root causes. Transitioning towards such sustainable urban pathways will require the strengthening of capacities and accountability of city authorities and broader governance systems, both formal and informal

Different methodological approaches to the assessment of in vivo efficacy of three artemisinin-based combination antimalarial treatments for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in African children.

BACKGROUND: Use of different methods for assessing the efficacy of artemisinin-based combination antimalarial treatments (ACTs) will result in different estimates being reported, with implications for changes in treatment policy. METHODS: Data from different in vivo studies of ACT treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria were combined in a single database. Efficacy at day 28 corrected by PCR genotyping was estimated using four methods. In the first two methods, failure rates were calculated as proportions with either (1a) reinfections excluded from the analysis (standard WHO per-protocol analysis) or (1b) reinfections considered as treatment successes. In the second two methods, failure rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier product limit formula using either (2a) WHO (2001) definitions of failure, or (2b) failure defined using parasitological criteria only. RESULTS: Data analysed represented 2926 patients from 17 studies in nine African countries. Three ACTs were studied: artesunate-amodiaquine (AS+AQ, N = 1702), artesunate-sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (AS+SP, N = 706) and artemether-lumefantrine (AL, N = 518).Using method (1a), the day 28 failure rates ranged from 0% to 39.3% for AS+AQ treatment, from 1.0% to 33.3% for AS+SP treatment and from 0% to 3.3% for AL treatment. The median [range] difference in point estimates between method 1a (reference) and the others were: (i) method 1b = 1.3% [0 to 24.8], (ii) method 2a = 1.1% [0 to 21.5], and (iii) method 2b = 0% [-38 to 19.3].The standard per-protocol method (1a) tended to overestimate the risk of failure when compared to alternative methods using the same endpoint definitions (methods 1b and 2a). It either overestimated or underestimated the risk when endpoints based on parasitological rather than clinical criteria were applied. The standard method was also associated with a 34% reduction in the number of patients evaluated compared to the number of patients enrolled. Only 2% of the sample size was lost when failures were classified on the first day of parasite recurrence and survival analytical methods were used. CONCLUSION: The primary purpose of an in vivo study should be to provide a precise estimate of the risk of antimalarial treatment failure due to drug resistance. Use of survival analysis is the most appropriate way to estimate failure rates with parasitological recurrence classified as treatment failure on the day it occurs

Towards risk-sensitive and transformative urban development in sub Saharan Africa

Risk-sensitive urban development is required to reduce accumulated risk and to better consider risk when planning new developments. To deliver a sustainable city for all requires a more frank and comprehensive focus on procedure: On who makes decisions, under which frameworks, based upon what kind of data or knowledge, and with what degree and direction of accountability? Acting on these procedural questions is the promise of transformative urban development. This paper explores the status of risk sensitive and transformative urban development and the scope for transition towards these components of sustainability in urban sub-Saharan Africa through the lens of diverse city cases: Karonga (Malawi), Ibadan (Nigeria), Niamey (Niger) and Nairobi (Kenya). The paper draws from a 3-year research and capacity building programme called Urban Africa: Risk Knowledge that aims to address gaps in data, understandings and capacity to break cycles of risk accumulation. A common analytical framework is presented to help identify blockages and opportunities for transition towards a risk-sensitive and transformative urban development. This framework is then illustrated through each city in turn and a concluding discussion reflects on city observations to draw out recommendations for city level and wider action and research partnerships