Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services in Sahel's Wetlands: Case of Bourgou (Echinochloa stagnina) in the Inner Niger Delta

The Inner Niger Delta (IND) located in Mali provides several ecosystem services to Sahelian people. Among these services, the bourgou fields (Echinochloa stagnina) have a very high value for inhabitants' livelihood and biodiversity. The main objective of this study is to assess the economic value of bourgou ecosystem services in the IND. Specific objectives are to analyze ecosystem services from Echinochloa stagnina and the benefit-cost of its regeneration (plantation) in the IND. The adopted methodology is based on market price and benefit-cost approaches through analysis of collected data from conducted inhabitants' surveys in the circle of Youwarou located in Mali center. The findings show that each Bourgou producer farms on average 7 hectares that provide fish, pasture, livelihoods, and habitats for biodiversity as ecosystem services. The revenue received by bourgou producers with payment for access to pasture for 89,347 cattle is estimated at USD 150,674.78 (47,085,869 FCFA). The benefit of ecosystem services from bourgou is USD/ha 999.22 (312,257 FCFA/ha). To restore bourgou fields, 98.5% of producers are willing to pay USD 192.07 (60,023 FCFA) for it to improve seeds of 1 hectare cultivation. The bourgou culture is a green financing opportunity for income generation, ecosystem services restoration, and biodiversity conservation. Keywords: Bourgou, Biodiversity, Ecosystem services, Income, Inner Niger Delta DOI: 10.7176/JESD/14-17-03 Publication date: November 30th 202

Acetylcholinesterase (ace‑1R) target site mutation G119S and resistance to carbamates in Anopheles gambiae (sensu lato) populations from Mali

Open Access Journal; Published online: 05 Jun 2020Background The long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying of insecticide (IRS) are major malaria vector control strategies in Mali. The success of control strategies depends on a better understanding of the status of malaria vectors with respect to the insecticides used. In this study we evaluate the level of resistance of Anopheles gambiae (sensu lato) to bendiocarb and the molecular mechanism that underlies it. Methods Larvae of An. gambiae (s.l.) were collected from breeding habitats encountered in the three study sites and bioassayed with bendiocarb. The ace-1 target site substitution G119S was genotyped using a TaqMan assay. Results The three species of the An. gambiae complex in Mali, i.e. An. arabiensis, An. coluzzii and An. gambiae (s.s.) were found in sympatry in the three surveyed localities with different frequencies. We observed a resistance and suspicious resistance of the three species to bendiocarb with a mortality rate ranging from 37% to 86%. The allelic frequency of the G119S mutation was higher in An. gambiae (s.s.) compared to the other two species; 42.86%, 25.61% and 16.67% respectively in Dangassa, Koula, and Karadié. The allelic frequency of G119S in An. coluzzii ranged from 4.5% to 8.33% and from 1.43% to 21.15% for An. arabiensis. After exposure to bendiocarb, the G119S mutation was found only in survivors. The survival of Anopheles gambiae (s.l) populations from the three surveyed localities was associated with the presence of the mutation. Conclusions The study highlights the implication of G119S mutation in bendiocarb resistance in An. gambiae (s.s.), An. arabiensis and An. coluzzii populations from the three surveyed localities

Virus genomes reveal factors that spread and sustained the Ebola epidemic.

The 2013-2016 West African epidemic caused by the Ebola virus was of unprecedented magnitude, duration and impact. Here we reconstruct the dispersal, proliferation and decline of Ebola virus throughout the region by analysing 1,610 Ebola virus genomes, which represent over 5% of the known cases. We test the association of geography, climate and demography with viral movement among administrative regions, inferring a classic 'gravity' model, with intense dispersal between larger and closer populations. Despite attenuation of international dispersal after border closures, cross-border transmission had already sown the seeds for an international epidemic, rendering these measures ineffective at curbing the epidemic. We address why the epidemic did not spread into neighbouring countries, showing that these countries were susceptible to substantial outbreaks but at lower risk of introductions. Finally, we reveal that this large epidemic was a heterogeneous and spatially dissociated collection of transmission clusters of varying size, duration and connectivity. These insights will help to inform interventions in future epidemics

Absence of dry season Plasmodium parasitaemia, but high rates of reported acute respiratory infection and diarrhoea in presschool-aged children in Kaédi, southern Mauritania

BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of malaria in the Senegal River Gorgol valley, southern Mauritania, requires particular attention in the face of ongoing and predicted environmental and climate changes. While 'malaria cases' are reported in health facilities throughout the year, past and current climatic and ecological conditions do not favour transmission in the dry season (lack of rainfall and very high temperatures). Moreover, entomological investigations in neighbouring regions point to an absence of malaria transmission in mosquito vectors in the dry season. Because the clinical signs of malaria are non-specific and overlap with those of other diseases (e.g. acute respiratory infections and diarrhoea), new research is needed to better understand malaria transmission patterns in this region to improve adaptive, preventive and curative measures. METHODS: We conducted a multipurpose cross-sectional survey in the city of Kaedi in April 2011 (dry season), assessing three major disease patterns, including malaria. Plasmodium spp. parasite rates were tested among children aged 6--59 months who were recruited from a random selection of households using a rapid diagnostic test and microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood films. Acute respiratory infection and diarrhoea were the two other diseases investigated, administering a parental questionnaire to determine the reported prevalence among participating children. FINDINGS: No Plasmodium infection was found in any of the 371 surveyed preschool-aged children using two different diagnostic methods. Acute respiratory infections and diarrhoea were reported in 43.4 % and 35.0 % of the participants, respectively. About two thirds of the children with acute respiratory infections and diarrhoea required medical follow-up by a health worker. CONCLUSIONS: Malaria was absent in the present dry season survey in the capital of the Gorgol valley of Mauritania, while acute respiratory infections and diarrhoea were highly prevalent. Surveys should be repeated towards the end of rainy season, which will enhance our understanding of the potential changes in malaria transmission in a region known as 'hot spot' of predicted climate change

Evaluation de la pauvreté en zone Office du Niger

Rapport

Dérivations bilio-digestives dans la chirurgie palliative du cancer de la tête du pancréas : à propos de 45 cas.

Le but de ce travail était d’évaluer l’importance de la dérivation bilio-digestive dans le traitement palliatif des cancers de la tête du pancréas. Il s’agissait d’une étude rétrospective sur une période de 11 ans et 6 mois (janvier 1999 à juin 2010) dans le service de chirurgie A du CHU du Point G. Les dossiers cliniques de 45 patients atteints de cancer de la tête du pancréas à des stades avancés ont été colligés. Ont été inclus dans l’étude les malades opérés pour tumeurs malignes de la tête du pancréas non résécables confirmées à l’histologie. Les malades non opérés ou ceux présentant des tumeurs d’autres localisations pancréatiques n’ont pas été inclus dans l’étude. Les procédures de dérivations bilio-digestives ont été conduites chez 45 malades pour tumeurs de la tête du pancréas. Elles ont consisté en une anastomose cholédoco-jéjunale dans 18 cas (40%), une cholécysto-jéjunostomie dans 15 cas (33,3%), une anastomose cholédoco-duodénale dans 12 cas (28%). Cette dérivation bilio-digestive a été associée à une gastro-entéro-anastomose dans 100% des cas. La morbidité était de 13,3% avec 3 cas de fistules bilio-digestives et 3 cas d’éviscération. La mortalité opératoire a été de 11,1%. Les dérivations bilio-digestives dans la prise en charge chirurgicale palliative des cancers de la tête du pancréas permettent d’améliorer la qualité de vie des patients.Mots clés : cancer, pancréas, dérivation bilio-digestiv