Données préliminaires sur l’écologie des chauves-souris frugivores de la commune du Plateau (Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire)

La communauté de chauves-souris frugivores de la Commune du Plateau à Abidjan a été étudiée d’août 2005 à juillet 2006. Cette étude a été réalisée en procédant à des observations directes et des comptages aux pieds d’arbres en vue de connaître les espèces présentes, leur effectif et d’établir leur préférence d’habitat. Les résultats indiquent que cette commune héberge deux espèces de Mégachiroptères, la chauve-souris paillée, Eidolon helvum (Kerr, 1792) représentée par une très forte colonie et la chauve-souris à tête de marteau, Hypsignathus monstrosus H. Allen, 1861, observée pour la première fois et représentée par quelques individus. L’effectif de la population de chauves-souris paillées est en moyenne de 185 049 ± 1291,5 individus. Les effectifs ont varié selon le site et la saison. Les chauves-souris paillées ont une préférence d’habitat marquée pour les sites dortoirs à Mangifera indica L. (Anacardiaceae).Mots clés : Chauves-souris frugivores, inventaire, habitat, milieu urbain

Epidemiology of malaria in the Taabo health and demographic surveillance system, south-central Côte d'Ivoire

A deep understanding of the local epidemiology of malaria is essential for the design and implementation of setting-specific control and elimination efforts. In Côte d'Ivoire, new initiatives are underway to reduce the burden of malaria, which requires high-quality longitudinal data. The epidemiology of malaria was studied in the Taabo health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) in south-central Côte d'Ivoire and implications for control are discussed.; Two cross-sectional surveys were carried out in the rainy season of June/July in 2010 and 2011. Inhabitants of approximately 7 % of randomly selected households in the Taabo HDSS were invited to participate. People were clinically examined, ear temperature was measured and spleen size determined. Finger-prick blood samples were collected and subjected to a rapid diagnostic test (RDT). Additionally, thick and thin blood films were prepared on microscope slides and diagnosed under a microscope for Plasmodium infection and parasitaemia. Haemoglobin (Hb) level was determined using a HemoCue device.; A total of 1187 and 1264 people in 2010 and 2011, respectively, had complete data records. The prevalence of Plasmodium infection was 46.0 % in 2010 and 56.6 % in 2011, owing to a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). Males showed a higher Plasmodium infection prevalence than females (49.6 and 62.8 % versus 42.6 and 51.2 %; respectively, in 2010 and 2011; both p < 0.05). The highest malaria prevalence was observed among infants and young children (aged ≤9 years). The risk of Plasmodium infection was significantly higher in villages compared to small hamlets and urban settings (p < 0.05). Fever, Hb level and splenomegaly were associated with parasitaemia.; Malaria is highly endemic in the Taabo HDSS in south-central Côte d'Ivoire with considerable spatial heterogeneity of Plasmodium infection. There is a pressing need to scale-up control interventions against malaria

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial And Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Properties of Lannea Barteri (Anacardiaceae)

Abstract: Lannea barteri (Oliv.) Engl (Anacardiaceae) is a medicinal plant used in west African countries such as Côte d'Ivoire for the treatment of various diseases (wound, rheumatic, diarrhoea). Dichloromethane and methanol extracts from the roots and stem bark of L. barteri were screened for their antibacterial, antifungal, radical scavenging and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. TLC bioautography and agar overlay assay for antifungal activity were run with Cladosporium cucumerinum, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and Candida albicans respectively. Also extracts were tested on bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermis, Enterococcus faecalis, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli), some of which were multidrug resistant bacteria. DPPH and Acetylcholinesterase solutions sprayed on TLC plates were used for radical scavengers and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. L. barteri gave high positive responses in all four tests, exhibiting activity against bacteria, fungi, free radicals and acetycholinesterase. The phytochemical screening showed that all the extracts contained at least trace amount of steroids, terpenoïds, saponins, quinones, tannins and flavonoïds. This study which is the first report on the biological activities and phytochemicals of Lannea barteri, supports its traditional uses in the treatment of infectious and non infectious diseases

Effects of Different Solid Loading Rates of Faecal Sludge on the Dewatering Performance of Unplanted Filter Bed.

The aim of this study was to investigate which Solid Loading Rate (SLR) of faecal sludge will best improve the dewatering performance of selected sand with particle sizes range of (? 0.1 ? 0.5) mm raised on bench scale filter beds. Public toilet sludge  and septage collected from suction trucks discharging at Dompoase stabilisation  ponds in Kumasi , Ghana, mixed in the ratio of 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 by volume representing SLR1, SLR2 and SLR3 respectively, were used for the dewatering. Percolate volume was measured every 24 hour. The faecal sludge of SLR1, SLR2 and SLR3 dewatered at average dewatering times of 7, 5 and 4 days respectively. Removal efficiencies of the different solid loading rates though very high for TS, SS, TVS, COD, DCOD, NH3-N, did not show any significant difference. Organic matter build up in the top 10cm of the filter bed was least in SLR3. Again SLR3 showed the highest potential for annual generation of biosolids at 438, 421 and 379 (kg/m2 year) for SL3, SLR2 and SLR1 respectively. Therefore SLR3 of faecal sludge is recommended for dewatering on the selected filter bed. Key words: Faecal sludge, solid loading rate, dewatering time, filter bed, percolate

Basal fertilizer effects on weed occurrence and rice yield in acid upland soil of West Africa at Bénin

Fertilizers application is required in order to improve rice production in low fertile soils of West Africa. This practice can also increase weed pressure in rice field, thereby reducing yield significantly. Chemotropism of weed was hypothesized to identify nutrient effects on weed abundance and biomass production as well as rice yield for suitable recommendation of basal fertilizer in terre de barre soil agro-ecology. Two years (2005 and 2006) fertilizer omission trial including nitrogen (N), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn) was conducted in a randomized completed block design, with 4 replications at the Africa Rice Center experiment station, in Benin. The New Rice for Africa named NERICA 4 was sown. Weed dominance-abundance indices and biomass, as well as, rice grain yield were assessed. Results show that Digitaria horizontalis Wild and Mariscus cylindristachyus Steudel were the most dominant weed species in rainfed rice fields on terre de barre soils and the omission of Zn has ability to discriminate among weeds. Base on weed biomass (60.11 – 129.26 g m-2) reduction by 36 – 53% in treatments with Ca, Mg and P omission, the application of N, K and Zn was recommendable for basal fertilizer as integrated weed management practice for boosting rice production on terre de barre soils in West Africa

Pression d’inoculum de la maladie des raies noires (MRN) causée par Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet, dans les plantations industrielles de bananiers, en Côte d’ivoire

The Black Leaf Streak Disease (BLSD) is one of main parasitic constraints of the agro-industrial plantations of banana in the world. Caused by a fungus ascomycete (Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet), the losses of yield are up to 50 %, without of resistant cultivars and effective management. This study relative to the level of the disease has been conducted in 12 industrial plantation in 6 production area: Aboisso, Grand- Bassam, Dabou, Agboville, Azaguié and Tiassalé; for a total surface of 2576 ha. The observations concerned the ranks of Youngest Leaf Spotted (YLS), of the Youngest Leaf Necrosed (YLN), the Number of Standing Leaves (NSL) and the gap between the Youngest Leaf Spotted and the Number of Standing Leaves. The results showed that chronic re-infestation of industrial plantation during the last five years, except CDBCI Tiassalé-Songon in 2011 and 2012. An acceptable level of re-infestation was observed in 2012 on other plantations, with the rank of YLS greater than or equal to 3, except BATIA Tiassalé and CDBCI Azaguié. The internal inoculum pressure (YLS) varied a lot from one plantation to another and from one year to another. Except plantation SBMK Aboisso and BATIA Tiassalé, other plantations had at least one value of the rank of the top YLS or equal to 8, during the study indicating a relatively low severity of the BLSD. From 2009 to 2012, all plantations have shown over 8 standing leaves, the minimum required for proper filling of the bunch of banana regime at the time of flowering

Impact of newly constructed primary healthcare centres on antenatal care attendance, facility delivery and all-cause mortality: quasi-experimental evidence from Taabo health and demographic surveillance system, Côte d'Ivoire

OBJECTIVES: Access to quality care remains limited, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. Although better health outcomes for families living in close proximity to healthcare facilities have been documented in cross-sectional studies, evidence on the extent to which additional health facilities can contribute to improved population health remains scanty. We aimed to estimate the causal impact of newly constructed primary healthcare facilities within a health and demographic surveillance (HDSS) site in Cote d'Ivoire. DESIGN: We conducted a quasi-experimental study. Logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the impact of new healthcare facilities on healthcare-seeking behaviour and all-cause mortality. SETTING: Data were collected prospectively through the Taabo HDSS located in south-central Cote d'Ivoire between 2010 and 2018. PARTICIPANTS: We analysed 2957 deaths across 440 973 person-year observations as well as 14 132 live births. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes were antenatal care (ANC) attendance, facility delivery and mortality. Logistic and Cox proportional hazards models were employed to estimate the impact of the new health facilities on ANC attendance, facility delivery and child as well as adult mortality. RESULTS: Average distance to the nearest healthcare facility declined from 5.5 km before to 2.8 km after opening of four new healthcare facilities in targeted villages. No improvement was observed for ANC attendance, institutional deliveries and adult mortality. New facilities reduced the risk of post-neonatal infant mortality by 46% (HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.94, p<0.05), suggesting a mortality gradient of 2 deaths per 1000 for each additional km (Coef=0.002, 95% CI 0.000 to 0.004, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that new facilities do not necessarily improve healthcare utilisation and health outcomes. Further research is needed to identify the best ways to ensure access to quality care in resource-constrained settings

Diagnosis, clinical features, and self-reported morbidity of Strongyloides stercoralis and hookworm infection in a Co-endemic setting

BACKGROUND: Infections with Strongyloides stercoralis and other helminths represent important, yet often neglected issues in developing countries. Indeed, strongyloidiasis can be fatal, but only a few studies provide information regarding its health relevance in Africa. Moreover, clinical data on symptomatology and typical recognition patterns mainly originate from Western travel clinics. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional epidemiological survey was carried out in a rural part of south-central Côte d'Ivoire. Stool samples from 292 randomly selected individuals were examined for intestinal helminths, using a suite of diagnostic techniques (i.e., Kato-Katz, Baermann funnel, and Koga agar plate). Participants were interviewed with a pre-tested questionnaire and clinically examined. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to relate perceived morbidity and clinical findings to helminth infection status. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The prevalence of hookworm and S. stercoralis was 51.0% and 12.7%, respectively. Both infections were strongly associated with each other (adjusted odds ratio, 6.73; P < 0.001) and higher prevalences were observed with age. S. stercoralis-infected individuals expressed self-reported morbidity considerably more often than those with hookworm infection. Clinical examination identified high prevalences of various pathologies and detected tendencies to worse health conditions in helminth-infected subjects. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The use of multiple diagnostic tools showed that S. stercoralis and hookworm are co-endemic in rural Côte d'Ivoire and that each infection causes clinical symptoms and sequelae. Our findings are important for (re-)estimating the burden of helminth infections, and highlight the need for integrating epidemiological surveys, rigorous diagnostic approaches, and clinical assessments in the developing world