Insect Pests Control of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) by Using Plant Aqueous Extracts in Korhogo Area (Northern Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa)

In this study, we monitored for the impact of three aqueous extracts of plants (Azadirachta indica, Hyptis suaveolens and Solanum lycopersicum) on insect pests abundance in okra (Albermochus esculentus L.) crop, compared to a synthetic chemical « SAUVEUR 62 EC », having as active ingredients, acetamiprid 32g/l and Lambda-cyhalothrin 30g/l. Foliar applications by these extracts were done using manual sprayers. After treatment, the insects were caught using two methods (pitfall traps and colored bowls traps). A total of 6505 insects belonging to nine orders were recorded in four plots. The plot 1 (9 orders) was the most diverse, followed by the plot 3 (8 orders), the plot 2 and 4 (7 orders respectively). Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Orthoptera and Hemiptera were the most frequents. The chemical treatment has impacted significantly the number of orders (p < 0.05) but, the insect abundance was impacted significantly by the different biological treatments (p < 0.05). This study showed that the aqueous extract of Solanum lycopercicum was more effective on the abundance of pests belonging to Hemiptera, while the aqueous extracts of Azadirachta indica and Hyptis suaveolens were effectives on the abundance of pests belonging to Coleoptera. The chemical treatment was effective on the pests belonging to both orders

Genome-wide SNP analysis of Plasmodium falciparum shows differentiation at drug-resistance-associated loci among malaria transmission settings in southern Mali.

Plasmodium falciparum malaria cases in Africa represent over 90% of the global burden with Mali being amongst the 11 highest burden countries that account for 70% of this annual incidence. The persistence of P. falciparum despite massive global interventions is because of its genetic diversity that drives its ability to adapt to environmental changes, develop resistance to drugs, and evade the host immune system. Knowledge on P. falciparum genetic diversity across populations and intervention landscape is thus critical for the implementation of new strategies to eliminate malaria. This study assessed genetic variation with 12,177 high-quality SNPs from 830 Malian P. falciparum isolates collected between 2007 and 2017 from seven locations. The complexity of infections remained high, varied between sites, and showed a trend toward overall decreasing complexity over the decade. Though there was no significant substructure, allele frequencies varied geographically, partly driven by temporal variance in sampling, particularly for drug resistance and antigen loci. Thirty-two mutations in known drug resistance markers (pfcrt, pfdhps, pfdhfr, pfmdr1, pfmdr2, and pfk13) attained a frequency of at least 2% in the populations. SNPs within and around the major markers of resistance to quinolines (pfmdr1 and pfcrt) and antifolates (pfdhfr and pfdhps) varied temporally and geographically, with strong linkage disequilibrium and signatures of directional selection in the genome. These geo-temporal populations also differentiated at alleles in immune-related loci, including, protein E140, pfsurfin8, pfclag8, and pfceltos, as well as pftrap, which showed signatures of haplotype differentiation between populations. Several regions across the genomes, including five known drug resistance loci, showed signatures of differential positive selection. These results suggest that drugs and immune pressure are dominant selective forces against P. falciparum in Mali, but their effect on the parasite genome varies temporally and spatially. Interventions interacting with these genomic variants need to be routinely evaluated as malaria elimination strategies are implemented

Impact of a beehive on cucumber production parameters (number and weight of fruits) in Korhogo, Northern Côte d’Ivoire.

his study was carried in two plots of cucumber cultivation. One located in the University garden and the other within a district of Korhogo. In the first plot, a beehive (Kenyan beehive) was installed contrary to the second plot where anything was done (used as control). The goal of this study was to contribute to the improvement of cucumber yield in Korhogo city. For that, the impact of a beehive colonized mainly by Apis mellifera, on cucumber production parameters, has been assessed. The production parameters measured in each plot were, bees’ activity, the number and the weight of cucumber fruits. The beehive was installed to 30 m of the second cucumber plot. A total of 2380 bee specimens were recorded in the two experimental plots. Specifically, 1510 bee specimens (63.45%) were recorded in the plot nearby beehive and 870 specimens (36.55%) in the second plot without beehive. The average weight per fruit was 218.65 g in the plot nearby beehive and was 126.95 g in the plot without beehive. The average number of fruits was 18.1 in the plot nearby beehive against 9 in the plot without beehive. This study reveals a significant impact of bees on cucumber production parameters and will be very relevant in the resilience of farmer's systems

Principaux indices de l’intensité du feu dans une savane Guinéenne d’Afrique de l’Ouest

International audienc

Espaces verts comme une alternative de conservation de la biodiversité en villes : le cas des fourmis (Hyménoptère : Formicidae) dans le district d’Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)

Objectif: Cette étude vise à évaluer le rôle des espaces verts dans la préservation de la biodiversité dans le district d’Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire). Les fourmis ont été utilisées comme des indicateurs biologiques afin d’examiner l’influence des activités anthropiques sur la biodiversité de ces habitats localisés dans la matrice urbaine.Méthodologie et résultats: Les fourmis ont été collectées à l’aide d’appât de thon et du protocole ALL (pièges fosses et Winkler) dans trois types d’espaces verts (espaces verts publics, jardins botaniques et le Parc National du Banco). Les résultats indiquent que les espaces verts sont pollués (pourcentage de nuisance compris entre 1,7 % et 28,8 %) et illégalement occupés (pourcentage d’occupation compris entre 1,08 % à 52,3 %) par les activités humaines. Ces milieux abritent toutefois une faune de fourmis riche avec 176 espèces collectées. De plus, les jardins botaniques et les espaces verts publics partagent 8,51 % et 42,55 % des espèces de fourmis avec le Parc National du Banco, malgré leur faible connectivité à cet habitat naturel.Conclusion et application: Cette étude suggère que les espaces verts du district d’Abidjan présentent des atouts de conservation de la biodiversité, en particulier les fourmis. Toutefois, l’occupation de ces milieux par les activités commerciales conduit à leur dégradation progressive et à la disparition des communautés animales et végétales. Les résultats de cette étude devraient interpeller les décideurs à définir une politique de gestion des espaces verts et parcs urbains afin de rehausser leur valeur de conservation de la biodiversité en ville.Mots clés: Espaces verts urbains, conservation, biodiversité, fourmis, Abidjan, Côte d’IvoireEnglish Title: Green areas as an alternative of biodiversity conservation in cities: the case of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the district of Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)English AbstractObjective: This study aims to assess the role of green areas to preserve biodiversity in the district of Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire). Ants were used as biological indicators in order to examine the influence of anthropogenic activities on biodiversity of these habitats located in urban matrix.Methodology and results: Ants were sampled using tuna bait, ALL Protocol (Pitfalls and Winklers) in three types of green areas (Public green areas, Botanical Gardens and Banco National Park) under two categories of anthropogenic disturbance. Results indicate a strong pollution rate (between 1.7 % and 28.8 %) and a high percentage of illegal occupation (between 1.08% and 52.3%).. These areas shelter a rich ant fauna with 176 species collected. In addition, Botanical garden and public green areas share 8.51 % to 42.55 % of ant species with Banco National Park, although they are not strongly connected.Conclusion and application: This study suggests that the green areas of the Abidjan district have biodiversity conservation assets, especially for ants. However, the illegal occupation of these areas by commercial activities leads to their progressive degradation and the disappearance of animal and plant communities. The results of this study should challenge decision-makers to define a management policy for green areas and urban parks in order to enhance their conservation value of biodiversity in city.Keywords: Urban green areas, conservation, biodiversity, ants, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoir

Table1_Genome-wide SNP analysis of Plasmodium falciparum shows differentiation at drug-resistance-associated loci among malaria transmission settings in southern Mali

Plasmodium falciparum malaria cases in Africa represent over 90% of the global burden with Mali being amongst the 11 highest burden countries that account for 70% of this annual incidence. The persistence of P. falciparum despite massive global interventions is because of its genetic diversity that drives its ability to adapt to environmental changes, develop resistance to drugs, and evade the host immune system. Knowledge on P. falciparum genetic diversity across populations and intervention landscape is thus critical for the implementation of new strategies to eliminate malaria. This study assessed genetic variation with 12,177 high-quality SNPs from 830 Malian P. falciparum isolates collected between 2007 and 2017 from seven locations. The complexity of infections remained high, varied between sites, and showed a trend toward overall decreasing complexity over the decade. Though there was no significant substructure, allele frequencies varied geographically, partly driven by temporal variance in sampling, particularly for drug resistance and antigen loci. Thirty-two mutations in known drug resistance markers (pfcrt, pfdhps, pfdhfr, pfmdr1, pfmdr2, and pfk13) attained a frequency of at least 2% in the populations. SNPs within and around the major markers of resistance to quinolines (pfmdr1 and pfcrt) and antifolates (pfdhfr and pfdhps) varied temporally and geographically, with strong linkage disequilibrium and signatures of directional selection in the genome. These geo-temporal populations also differentiated at alleles in immune-related loci, including, protein E140, pfsurfin8, pfclag8, and pfceltos, as well as pftrap, which showed signatures of haplotype differentiation between populations. Several regions across the genomes, including five known drug resistance loci, showed signatures of differential positive selection. These results suggest that drugs and immune pressure are dominant selective forces against P. falciparum in Mali, but their effect on the parasite genome varies temporally and spatially. Interventions interacting with these genomic variants need to be routinely evaluated as malaria elimination strategies are implemented