Prevalence of Trachoma in Northern Benin: Results from 11 Population-Based Prevalence Surveys Covering 26 Districts.

AIMS: We sought to evaluate trachoma prevalence in all suspected-endemic areas of Benin. METHODS: We conducted population-based surveys covering 26 districts grouped into 11 evaluation units (EUs), using a two-stage, systematic and random, cluster sampling design powered at EU level. In each EU, 23 villages were systematically selected with population proportional to size; 30 households were selected from each village using compact segment sampling. In selected households, we examined all consenting residents aged one year or above for trichiasis, trachomatous inflammation - follicular (TF), and trachomatous inflammation - intense. We calculated the EU-level backlog of trichiasis and delineated the ophthalmic workforce in each EU using local interviews and telephone surveys. RESULTS: At EU-level, the TF prevalence in 1-9-year-olds ranged from 1.9 to 24.0%, with four EUs (incorporating eight districts) demonstrating prevalences ≥5%. The prevalence of trichiasis in adults aged 15+ years ranged from 0.1 to 1.9%. In nine EUs (incorporating 19 districts), the trichiasis prevalence in adults was ≥0.2%. An estimated 11,457 people have trichiasis in an area served by eight ophthalmic clinical officers. CONCLUSION: In northern Benin, over 8000 people need surgery or other interventions for trichiasis to reach the trichiasis elimination threshold prevalence in each EU, and just over one million people need a combination of antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental improvement for the purposes of trachoma's elimination as a public health problem. The current distribution of ophthalmic clinical officers does not match surgical needs

Genetic polymorphism of merozoite surface protein-1 and merozoite surface protein-2 in

The aim of this study was to determine the genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum by analyzing the polymorphism of the msp-1 and msp-2 genes and the multiplicity of infection in children with uncomplicated malaria in southern Benin. Blood samples of children with fever or history of fever with thick smear positive P. falciparum were collected on filter paper. After extraction of DNA by Chelex®, the samples underwent nested PCR. 93 isolates from children were genotyped. For the msp-1 gene, the K1 and R033 sequences were the most represented in the study population with 85.2% and 83% prevalence, respectively. Regarding the msp-2 gene, the FC27 family was more highly represented with 99% prevalence against 81.5% for 3D7. Mixed infections accounted for 80.4% of the samples. Twenty-five alleles were identified for msp-1 and 28 for msp-2. Fourteen and ten alleles belonged to the K1 (100–500 bp) and MAD20 (100–500 bp) families, respectively. The RO33 sequence did not show any polymorphism, with only one variant (160 bp) detected. The msp-2 gene was present as 16 FC27 family fragments (250–800 bp) and 12 of the 3D7 family (350–700 bp). The multiplicity of infection was estimated at 3.8 for msp-1 and 3.9 for msp-2 with 77 (87.5%) and 84 (91.3%) samples harboring more than one parasite genotype for msp-1 and msp-2, respectively. The multiplicity of infection (MOI) was influenced neither by age nor by parasite density. This study shows a significant diversity of P. falciparum in southern Benin with an MOI unaffected by age or by parasite density

Comparative study of the effectiveness of combination therapies based on atemisinine in Dassa Zounme and Parakou: case of Artemether lumefantrine and Artesunate amodiaquine

The National Malaria Control Program recommended in 1993, the use of Chloroquina (CQ) as first line drug for malaria treatment, and sulfadoxin pyrimethamin as second drug. After years, Benin knows resistance about these antimalarials. Quinina was to treat gravities. In 2004, the strategy of treatment changed. Treatment of malaria cases is based on use of arteminisinia therapeutic combination. The goal of this study is to be sure that these drugs are efficace before general use in the country and in some regions as Dassa Zounmè where the resistance is up (61. 3% for Chloroquina CQ and 45.9% for SP in 2002).The study is based on: comparison of therapeutic efficacy of artemether Lumefantrine and Artesunate Amodiaquine. Results show that all of the tested drugs have good therapeutic efficacy. Most important rate failure is in Dassa Zounmè (33, 86%) than Parakou (23, 44%). They are parasitologic failure and are probably due to the reinfestation of children. Two drugs have a good parasitological clearance and eliminate fever after 2 days of treatment. Published by the International journal of Microbiology and Mycology (IJMM

Lack of artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum in northwest Benin after 10 years of use of artemisinin-based combination therapy

Aim: In Benin, artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) has been recommended as the first-line treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria since 2004. The emergence in Southeast Asia of parasites that are resistant to artemisinins poses a serious threat to global control of this disease. The presence of artemisinin resistance genotypes in parasite populations in Benin is currently unknown. The present study investigated the prevalence of relevant K13-propeller gene polymorphisms in parasite isolates from the north-western region of Benin. Method: Plasmodium falciparum isolates were collected from children with a confirmed diagnosis of malaria aged 6 months to 5 years in two towns, Cobly and Djougou, in the north-western part of Benin. The study was conducted during the rainy season from July to November 2014 in local health facilities. The K13-propeller gene was amplified in parasite isolates using nested PCR and subsequently sequenced. Results: A total of 108 children were recruited into the study. The efficiency of amplification reactions was 72% (78/108). The propeller domain of the K13 gene was successfully sequenced in 78 P. falciparum isolates; all of them were wild type with no polymorphisms detectable. Conclusion: The absence of mutations in the K13 gene indicates that P. falciparum parasite populations in the study area are still fully susceptible to artemisinins

Etude de l’efficacité et de la tolérance d’une tisane à base de Artemisia annua L. (Asteraceae) cultivée au Bénin pour la prise en charge du paludisme simple

Artemisia annua L. est une plante annuelle, glabre, de la famille des Asteraceae et originaire de la Chine. Cette plante contient plusieurs sesquiterpènes dont l’artémisinine (0,01% à 1,4% du poids des feuilles sèches) et d’autres composés comme les flavonoïdes, les coumarines, les triterpènes, les stéroïdes, les composés phénoliques, les purines, les lipides et les composés aliphatiques. Cette plante a été acclimatée et cultivée au Bénin. Elle a ensuite été testée pour la prise en charge du paludisme simple par un essai clinique. La concentration en artémisinine de cette plante était d’environ 0,30%.Il ressort de notre étude que la tisane de Artemisia annua L. (Asteraceae) obtenue au Bénin a une capacité d’action sur Plasmodium falciparum avec un taux d’efficacité supérieur à 95%, taux retenu par l’OMS pour valider un traitement

Séroprévalence et facteurs associés à la toxoplasmose chez la femme enceinte en milieu rural au Bénin

Introduction: Le dépistage sérologique de la toxoplasmose chez la femme enceinte n'est pas systématique en milieu rural au Bénin où l'hygiène de vie, souvent précaire des population, constitue un facteur favorable à la survenue de la maladie. Le but de notre étude était de déterminer le profil sérologique pergravidique de la toxoplasmose et les facteurs de risque associés dans la commune de Kpomassè en milieu rural au Bénin. Méthodes: Une enquête transversale a été menée de Janvier à Septembre 2016 dans une population de gestantes de deux centres de santé les plus fréquentés de la commune de Kpomassè au sud du Bénin. Les sérologies toxoplasmiques ont été réalisées à partir du sérum des gestantes par la technique immunologique microparticulaire par chimiluminescence (CIMA). Un questionnaire sur les facteurs de risque et la connaissance de l'affection a été administré aux participantes. Résultats: L'étude a porté sur 399 gestantes âgées de 15 à 47ans (âge moyen de 26,56±10,02 ans). La quasi-totalité des enquêtées (99,05%) ne connaissait pas les modes de transmission de la toxoplasmose. Des anticorps IgG anti Toxoplasma gondii ont été retrouvés chez 144 patientes soit une séroprévalence de 36,1%. Deux cas de séroconversion pergravidique ont été diagnostiqués et traités par de la spiramycine avec une évolution favorable pour les deux enfants au cours de la première année de suivi. La consommation de crudités a été le facteur de risque identifié dans notre population d'étude. Dans la commune rurale de Kpomassé, la majorité des gestantes (64,9%) n'est pas immunisée contre le toxoplasme. Conclusion: Une sensibilisation sur les risques de contamination, une surveillance sérologique systématique et des mesures d'hygiène devraient être proposées lors des consultations prénatales afin de prévenir les séroconversions toxoplasmiques pergravidiques et protéger l'enfant

Entomological Characteristics of Malaria Transmission across Benin: An Essential Element for Improved Deployment of Vector Control Interventions

Entomological surveillance in Benin has historically been limited to zones where indoor residual spraying was performed or where long-standing sentinel surveillance sites existed. However, there are significant country-wide gaps in entomological knowledge. The National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) assessed population dynamics of Anopheles vectors and malaria transmission in each of Benin’s 12 departments to create an entomological risk profile. Two communes per department (24/77 communes) were chosen to reflect diverse geographies, ecologies and malaria prevalence. Two villages per commune were selected from which four households (HH) per village were used for human landing catches (HLCs). In each HH, an indoor and outdoor HLC occurred between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. on two consecutive nights between July–September 2017. Captured Anopheles were identified, and ovaries were dissected to determine parous rate. Heads and thoraces were tested for Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites by ELISA. The Entomological Inoculation Rate (EIR) was calculated as the product of mosquito bite rate and sporozoite index. Bite rates from An. gambiae s.l., the primary vector species complex, differed considerably between communes; average sporozoite infection index was 3.5%. The EIR ranged from 0.02 infectious bites (ib) per human per night in the departments of Ouémé and Plateau to 1.66 ib/human/night in Collines. Based on transmission risk scales, Avrankou, Sakété and Nikki are areas of low transmission (0 30 ib/human/year). The heterogeneous and diverse nature of malaria transmission in Benin was not readily apparent when only assessing entomological surveillance from sentinel sites. Prospectively, the NMCP will use study results to stratify and deploy targeted vector control interventions in districts with high EIRs to better protect populations most at-risk