The effect of pesticides and aqueous extracts of Azadirachta indica (A. Juss) and Jatropha carcus L. on Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrididae) and Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner)(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) found on tomato plants in Côte d’Ivoire.

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the effects of foliar application of Jatropha and neem aqueous extracts compared to a conventional insecticide treatment on the number of whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), yield of tomatoes in plots and the potentials of using any of these aqueous extracts to control these insect pests.Methodology and results: the study was conducted in the region of Moronou (Bongouanou, Koffikro, CBC Kangandissou). The insecticides Décis 12 EC® and Cypercal 50 EC®, and neem and jatropha aqueous extract were used for tomato foliar treatment (neem and jatropha seeds 80 and 50g/L, neem leaves 67 g/L). The treatments of tomato plant plots with pesticides Decis® and Cypercal® showed similar yields of biopestcide made of neem and jatropha in Ahorosso (P=0.00), Bongouanou (P=0.07) and CBC Kangandissou (P=0.01) plots. All of these treatments reduced the number of Bemisia tabaci adults, reduced the number of Helicoverpa armigera larvae on tomato plants and increased number of fruits per plant, the fruit weight per plant and the yield.Conclusion and application of findings: Statistical analysis shows that aqueous extract of jatropha and neem seed 80 g/L and 50 g/L, and of neem leaves 67 g/L are as effective as pesticides Décis® and Cypercal® on Bemisia tabaci and Helicoverpa armigera. Consequently, these biopesticides increased the number of fruits per plant and yield. This result should enable use of aqueous extract of neem and jatropha seed and of neem leaves to protect tomato plants against Bemisia tabaci and  Helicoverpa armigera at farm.Keywords: Bemisia tabaci; Helicoverpa armigera; tomato crop; aqueous extract; biocontro

Healthy aging: comparative analysis of local perception and diet in two health districts of Côte d'Ivoire and Japan

Context: Good health and longevity depend on dynamic interactions between biological, social, psychological, and environmental factors. Aging is globally a big challenge, particularly with the demographic transition, including population growth, and an emerging burden to society. Knowledge, behavior, diet, and consumption of animal source food were related to aging and emerged as the key factors modulating healthy aging. Objective: The study was designed to understand the main healthy aging factors, such as knowledge, social network, and diet of elders, and to derive mutual learning from it for healthy aging. Methods: A qualitative approach has been applied to explore health-related knowledge, attitude, and diet of elders from Ebetsu (Japan) and Tiassale (Cote d'Ivoire) health districts, using focus group discussions and comparative context analysis between high- and low-income countries. Results: The study shows that living longer is a common feature of people in Japan compared to Cote d'Ivoire, where the life expectancy is still low. Both groups of elders have social networks that support them, and both offer their gained experience to society. While Japanese elders depend on pension and insurance for income and medical treatments, Ivorians depend mostly on their children and social network in old age. The worries of elders differ between the two regions. In Ebetsu, elder members of the community are concerned about the future burden they pose for the younger generation if they develop ill-health, making them more resilient to aging. In Taabo, elders are considered to be culturally and socially useful to the society. Elders in Ebetsu pointed out that for healthy aging, education on diet at a younger age, physical activities, and access to basic social services are the key aspects. This was not observed in Taabo's context. Being inactive and dependent on others were described as the most worrying situations for elders in Ebetsu, as it is perceived to increase the risk of non-communicable diseases and anxiety. Elders in Ebetsu have good knowledge on what constitutes a healthy diet, and they believe that diversifying their diet, reducing portions, and substituting red meat with good animal and vegetable proteins are best eating practices to maintain good health. In Cote d'Ivoire, the diet is imbalanced and the whole family consumes the same meal made mainly with high-energy staples and little protein. However, it is observed in both societies that adopting a good diet is very expensive. Conclusion: The consciousness of aging is universal, but healthy aging varies according to the social systems, education, and knowledge on diet transition. Physical activities, protein-energy balance in diet, and social networks are the key for healthy aging in both contexts. The challenge is to find ways to increase knowledge regarding healthy aging and to strengthen the support system so that healthy aging becomes affordable

Analysis of caesarean rate and indications of university hospitals in sub-Saharan African developing countries using Robson classification system: the case of Cocody’s hospital center, Abidjan-Cote d’Ivoire

Background: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it has become imperative to monitor caesarean rates in hospitals since these rates continue to increase; WHO recommends this monitoring by the Robson’s system. The study objective was  to describe caesarean rates in a level 3 maternity of developing country using this system, to identify the groups likely increase overall rate of caesarean.Methods: A retrospective and comparative study made in Cocody University Hospital Center (Abidjan-Cote d’Ivoire) over a period of twelve years.  A total of 21,067 women who delivered during this period by caesarean were included.Results: The overall rate of caesarean during the study period was 38.7% with a significant increase from Period I to Period II (34.8 vs. 41.7%; p ˂0.000). The subgroup 2 (nulliparas, single cephalic term pregnancy, caesarean before labor) made the greatest contribution to the overall CS rate with an increase of +5% (10.1 vs. 15.1%; p˂0,000). Women with previous CS (groups 5, 7, 8, 9, 10) increased the caesarean rate of +3.4% (7 vs. 10.4%; p˂0.000). The group 6 increased it of +2.9% (4.7 vs 7.6%; p˂0.000). Caesarean indications were dominated by fetal acute distress (24.5 vs. 22.6%; p˂0,000), then followed by fetal-pelvic disproportion (21.8 vs. 10.7%), severe preeclampsia/eclampsia (13.5 vs. 17.5%; p˂0.000), scarred uterus and breech presentation.Conclusions: Robson classification has identified the groups led to a significant increase in caesarean rates in our service and therefore has good focus our preventive actions.

Perceived water-related risk factors of Buruli ulcer in two villages of south-central Côte d'Ivoire

Background Buruli ulcer, caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is a neglected tropical skin disease that is primarily endemic in West and Central Africa, including Côte d'Ivoire. Studies indicate that M. ulcerans infections are caused by contact with an environmental reservoir of the bacteria, governed by specific human biological conditions. Yet, the nature of this reservoir and the exact mode of transmission remain unknown. Methodology To identify ecologic risk factors of Buruli ulcer in south-central Côte d'Ivoire, we pursued a qualitative study matched with geo-referencing inquiry. Embedded in a broader integrated wound management research project, we (i) mapped households and water sources of laboratory confirmed Buruli ulcer cases and (ii) interviewed 12 patients and four health care workers to assess exposure to surface water and to deepen the understanding of perceived transmission pathways. Principal findings Water availability, accessibility, and affordability were reported as key determinants for choosing water resources. Furthermore, perceived risks were related to environmental, structural, and individual factors. Despite the presence of improved water sources (e.g., drilled wells), communities heavily relied on unprotected surface water for a multitude of activities. The nearby Bandama River and seasonal waterbodies were frequently used for washing, bathing, and collection of water for drinking and cooking. Many residents also reported to cross the river on a daily basis for agricultural chores, and hence, are exposed to stagnant water during farming activities. Conclusions/significance Our study in two Buruli ulcer endemic villages in south-central Côte d'Ivoire revealed a wide range of water-related domestic activities that might expose people to an increased risk of contracting the disease. Environmental, biological, social, and cultural risk factors are closely interlinked and should be considered in future investigations of Buruli ulcer transmission. Active participation of the communities is key to better understand their circumstances to advance research and fight against Buruli ulcer and other neglected tropical diseases

Phytochemical study and evaluation of the antiviral activity of aqueous extracts of three medicinal plants; Xylopia aethiopica, Gliricidia sepium and Ocimum gratissimum used in Cote d'Ivoire

Background: The present work is part of the exploration of new antiviral molecules to combat antimicrobial resistance. In purpose, this study determined the phytochemical analysis, cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of extracts from three Ivorian medicinal plants; Gliricidia sepium, Ocimum gratissimum and Xylopia aethiopica against poliovirus 1, a non-enveloped RNA virus. Methodology: Aqueous extract of the three plants, which were identified at the herbarium of National Floristic Center Abidjan, was done using a previously described method. The precipitation or staining technique was used to highlight the chemical groups in the three extracts while the polyphenol content of each extract was assessed by the colorimetric method. Cytotoxicity and antiviral activity tests were performed in 96-well plates. Cytotoxicity of each extract on L20B (a genetically engineered mouse cell line) was determined by observation of the cell line carpet. Antiviral activity of three extracts against poliovirus type I was determined after 72 hours using an assay that measures inhibition of the cytopathic effect on cell culture. Results: The three plant extracts contain polyterpenes, sterols and polyphenols, flavonoids, catechetical tannins, saponosides and quinones but none of the extract contains gallic tannins. With the exception of O. gratissimum, alkaloids were found in extracts from the two other plants, and extract of G. sepium was richer in polyphenol than the other two extracts. The cell carpet of L20B after 72 hours contact period with three extracts remained intact at concentrations ranging from 2 to 1000 μg/ml. The aqueous extract of G. sepium showed higher antiviral activity on poliovirus 1 (74.569%) at 2µg/ml than the extracts of O. gratissimum (45.6112%) and X. aethiopica (44.5247%) after 72 hours of incubation. Conclusion: The extract of G. sepium showed potent antiviral activity against poliovirus 1 than that of O. gratissimum and X. aethiopica. This was justified by its higher polyphenol content than the two extracts

Community-based wound management in a rural setting of Côte d'Ivoire

BACKGROUND: Wounds are a neglected health problem in rural communities of low-income countries, mostly caused by trauma and ulcerative skin diseases including Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and associated with systemic complications and disability. Rural communities have limited access to high quality health services-based wound care. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study on wound management at three levels-community (C), health centre (HC), district hospital (DH)-in a rural community of Cote d'Ivoire. Patients with skin wounds actively identified in a house-to-house survey and passively in the health services in a defined area of the Taabo Health and Demographic Surveillance System were asked to participate and followed-up longitudinally. Endpoints were proportion of wounds closed, time to wound closure, wound size over time, frequency of secondary bacterial infection, need for recapturing after follow-up interruption, and duration of treatment stratified by health service level and wound aetiology. RESULTS: We enrolled 561 patients with 923 wounds between May 2019 and March 2020. The observation period ended in March 2021. Median age was 10 years (IQR 7-15), 63.0% of patients were male. Almost all (99.5%, 870/874) wounds closed within the observation period, 5.3% (49/923) were lost to follow-up. Wounds primarily treated in C, HC and DH closed within a median time of 10, 16 and 170 days, respectively. Median time to acute wound and chronic wound closure was 13 and 72 days, respectively. Wounds treated in C, HC and DH presented with secondary bacterial infections in 10.3% (36/350), 31.0% (133/429) and 100% (5/5) of cases, respectively. Recapturing was required in 68.3% (630/923) of wounds with participants reporting wound closure as the main reason for not attending follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: We describe a wound management model based on national and WHO recommendations focusing on early identification and treatment in the community with potential for broad implementation in low-income countries. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registration at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03957447)

Skin wounds in a rural setting of Côte d'Ivoire: population-based assessment of the burden and clinical epidemiology

BACKGROUND: Data on the burden and clinical epidemiology of skin wounds in rural sub-Saharan Africa is scant. The scale of the problem including preventable progression to chronic wounds, disability and systemic complications is largely unaddressed. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study combining active (household-based survey) and passive case finding (health services-based survey) to determine the burden and clinical epidemiology of wounds within the Taabo Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in rural Cote d'Ivoire. Patients identified with wounds received free care and were invited to participate in the wound management study simultaneously carried out in the survey area. The data were analysed for wound prevalence, stratified by wound and patient characteristics. RESULTS: 3842 HDSS-registered persons were surveyed. Overall wound prevalence derived from combined active and passive case finding was 13.0%. 74.1% (403/544) of patients were below the age of 15 years. Most frequent aetiologies were mechanical trauma (85.3%), furuncles (5.1%), burns (2.9%) and Buruli ulcer (2.2%). Most wounds were acute and smaller than 5 cm2 in size. 22.0% (176/799) of wounds showed evidence of secondary bacterial infection. 35.5% (22/62) of chronic wounds had persisted entirely neglected for years. Buruli ulcer prevalence was 2.3 per 1000 individuals and considerably higher than expected from an annual incidence of 0.01 per 1000 individuals as reported by WHO for Cote d'Ivoire at the time of the study. CONCLUSIONS: Skin wounds are highly prevalent in rural West Africa, where they represent a widely neglected problem. The HDSS-based survey with combined active and passive case finding adopted in this study provides a better estimate than school- and health institution-based surveys which underestimate the frequency of skin wounds and, particularly, of neglected tropical diseases of the skin, such as Buruli ulcer and yaws. A comparison with country-specific WHO data suggests underreporting of Buruli ulcer cases. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registration at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03957447

Untreated Human Infections by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense Are Not 100% Fatal

The final outcome of infection by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, the main agent of sleeping sickness, has always been considered as invariably fatal. While scarce and old reports have mentioned cases of self-cure in untreated patients, these studies suffered from the lack of accurate diagnostic tools available at that time. Here, using the most specific and sensitive tools available to date, we report on a long-term follow-up (15 years) of a cohort of 50 human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) patients from the Ivory Coast among whom 11 refused treatment after their initial diagnosis. In 10 out of 11 subjects who continued to refuse treatment despite repeated visits, parasite clearance was observed using both microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Most of these subjects (7/10) also displayed decreasing serological responses, becoming progressively negative to trypanosome variable antigens (LiTat 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6). Hence, in addition to the “classic” lethal outcome of HAT, we show that alternative natural progressions of HAT may occur: progression to an apparently aparasitaemic and asymptomatic infection associated with strong long-lasting serological responses and progression to an apparently spontaneous resolution of infection (with negative results in parasitological tests and PCR) associated with a progressive drop in antibody titres as observed in treated cases. While this study does not precisely estimate the frequency of the alternative courses for this infection, it is noteworthy that in the field national control programs encounter a significant proportion of subjects displaying positive serologic test results but negative results in parasitological testing. These findings demonstrate that a number of these subjects display such infection courses. From our point of view, recognising that trypanotolerance exists in humans, as is now widely accepted for animals, is a major step forward for future research in the field of HAT

Prospects for the development of odour baits to control the tsetse flies Glossina tachinoides and G. palpalis s.l.

Field studies were done of the responses of Glossina palpalis palpalis in Côte d'Ivoire, and G. p. gambiensis and G. tachinoides in Burkina Faso, to odours from humans, cattle and pigs. Responses were measured either by baiting (1.) biconical traps or (2.) electrocuting black targets with natural host odours. The catch of G. tachinoides from traps was significantly enhanced (~5×) by odour from cattle but not humans. In contrast, catches from electric targets showed inconsistent results. For G. p. gambiensis both human and cattle odour increased (>2×) the trap catch significantly but not the catch from electric targets. For G. p. palpalis, odours from pigs and humans increased (~5×) the numbers of tsetse attracted to the vicinity of the odour source but had little effect on landing or trap-entry. For G. tachinoides a blend of POCA (P = 3-n-propylphenol; O = 1-octen-3-ol; C = 4-methylphenol; A = acetone) alone or synthetic cattle odour (acetone, 1-octen-3-ol, 4-methylphenol and 3-n-propylphenol with carbon dioxide) consistently caught more tsetse than natural cattle odour. For G. p. gambiensis, POCA consistently increased catches from both traps and targets. For G. p. palpalis, doses of carbon dioxide similar to those produced by a host resulted in similar increases in attraction. Baiting traps with super-normal (~500 mg/h) doses of acetone also consistently produced significant but slight (~1.6×) increases in catches of male flies. The results suggest that odour-baited traps and insecticide-treated targets could assist the AU-Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC) in its current efforts to monitor and control Palpalis group tsetse in West Africa. For all three species, only ~50% of the flies attracted to the vicinity of the trap were actually caught by it, suggesting that better traps might be developed by an analysis of the visual responses and identification of any semiochemicals involved in short-range interaction