Etude de la croissance relative chez l’escargot Limicolaria flammea (Muller,1774), soumis a deux types de regimes alimentaires

Des naissains de Limicolaria flammea au nombre de 200 ont été soumis à deux types de régimes. Cent d’entre eux ont été nourris avec un mélange de feuilles de Carica papaya (Caricaceae), feuilles de manioc Manihot esculenta tandis que les 100 autres ont été nourris avec un aliment à base de concentré. L’objectif est de comparer les deux types d’aliments et de déterminer le régime alimentaire induisant les meilleures performances biologiques. Chaque mois, 20 escargots de chaque lot sont conduits au laboratoire pour la détermination des paramètres métriques à savoir le poids vif des sujets, la longueur, la largeur et la hauteur des coquilles. Les régimes concentrés ont donné de meilleurs résultats de croissance pondéralepar rapport aux régimes à base de végétaux. La relation existante entre le poids et la largeur est très faible chez les escargots nourris à base de concentré mais le contraire se produit chez les sujets consommateurs d’un mélange de feuilles de végétaux. Qu’ils soient nourris avec un mélange de feuilles de végétaux ou avec un aliment composé, le poids augmente plus vite que la hauteur. Ainsi le régime alimentaire induisant les meilleures performances de croissance pondérale et coquillère et un faible taux de mortalité cumulée est le régime concentré. Mots clés: Limicolaria flammea, naissains, régimes alimentaires English Title: Study of the relative growth in Limicolaria flammea snail (Muller,1774), subjected to two types of diets English Abstract A number of 200 Limicolaria flammea spats have been subjected to two types of diets. One hundred of them were fed on a mixture of Carica papaya leaves (Caricaceae), Manihot esculenta cassava, while the other 100 were fed on concentrate feed. The goal is to compare the two types of foods and determine the diet that induces the best biological performance. Each month, 20 snails of each batch are taken to the laboratory to determine the metric parameters, namely individuals live weight, the length, the width and the height of the shells. Concentrate diets gave better weight growth results compared to plant-based diets. The existing relation ship between weight and width is very low in concentrate-fed snails, but the opposite occurs in individuals consuming a mixture of plant leaves. Whether they are fed with a mixture of plant leaves or with a compound feed, the weight increases faster than the height. So the diet with the best weight and shell growth performance and a cumulative low mortality rate is the concentrate diet. Keywords: Limicolaria flammea, spat, diet

Preliminary assessment of cadmium mobility in surface sediments of a tropical estuary

Cadmium is a toxic metal often found with a strong enrichment factor in coastal sediments. The sequential extraction procedure proposed by the BCR (Community Bureau of Reference) was applied for partitioning of Cd in tropical estuary sediments. The method showed satisfactory recoveries. The repartition of Cd in different phases of sediment was controlled by the residual phase (50.32 to 67.45 %). However, the exchangeable and acid soluble fraction (F1) was in general found to be the second most abundant fraction in the surface sediments (11.14 to 15.24 %), indicating that an important portion of Cd could be remobilized, thus becoming available to aquatic biota. Cd also showed different distribution patterns in the sediment phases due to the heterogeneity of the sediments, as well as the physical and chemical conditions along with the different sources of Cd in the bays. The risk assessment code investigation showed a medium risk of Cd in the estuary. KEY WORDS: Cadmium, Mobility, Sediment toxicity, Sequential extraction Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2014, 28(2), 245-254. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v28i2.

Family And Community Practices Relating To Infant Feeding In Central Togo:A study preceding implementation of the family and community component of the «Integrated Management of Childhood Illness» strategy (C-IMCI).

The aim of this study was to assess neonate and infant feeding practices in the central region of Togo before implementation of the community component of the «Integrated Management of Childhood Illness» (C-IMCI) strategy. It was a cross-sectional study from 29th March to 8th April 2004 and included a random sample of 983 households, 506 caretakers and 733 under-five children. Using the Epi-info and SPSS softwares, this study assessed mainly breast feeding, the use of breast milk substitutesand weaning practices. It was noted that out of the 733 children, 52% were males and 48% females, 27% less than one year and 21.6% between 12 and 23 months. After delivery, 29.3% of infants were breastfed within one hour, and 75.6% within the first 24 hours. Only 78.4% of the children received colostrum after birth. It was also noted insufficient breast milk flow in 53.1% of the mothers and water was the main substitute for breast milk in 21% of the children. If 57.7% of the children were exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months, only 9.5% of the infants were breastfed up to the 23rd month. Complementary foods were introduced at an average age of 6 months with water, pap, «diuri» (a plant decoction), and at an average age of 11 months with other family foods. Altogether,65% of mothers stopped breastfeeding between 18 and 30 months for varying reasons : 7% because of pregnancy, 6% due to insufficient breast milk flow, 3% professional constraints and 3% death. From this study we recommend that sustained efforts have to be made on the sensitization of mothers during C-IMCI implementation on cultural practices that do not support optimal feeding of the neonate and young infant

Optimisation de l’implantation géophysique des forages en zone de socle au Nord du Burkina Faso

 Cet article traite et analyse des données de prospection géophysique et de forage recueillies par le projet Eau et Environnement dans la région Nord du Burkina Faso. A partir de ce traitement, nous avons essayé d’identifier des critères pertinents en vue d’optimiser les conditions d’implantation de forages dans des zones difficiles comme celles du projet PEEN.  Ces critères ont été testés ; ils ont permis d’améliorer le taux de succès de plus de 10% et particulièrement dans les zones difficiles. Ce travail a aussi permis de donner quelques explications à des incohérences observées entre les épaisseurs d’altérations calculées à partir des résultats de sondages électriques et celles identifiées après le forage

Application d’un modèle conceptuel et d’un modèle de réseaux de neurones artificiels à la simulation des débits annuels dans le bassin versant du N’zi-Bandama (Côte d’Ivoire)

Cette étude présente la comparaison de deux approches de modélisation de la transformation pluie-débit à l'échelle annuelle : un modèle conceptuel et un réseau de neurones artificiels (RNA). Les deux modèles sont appliqués sur trois sous-bassins du fleuve N’zi-Bandama en Côte d'Ivoire. L’analyse comparative est basée sur les performances de simulation en termes de critère de Nash-Sutcliffe. Les modèles ont été testés sur deux périodes, l’une sèche (1973-1997) et l’autre humide (1961-1972). Les données d’entrée des deux modèles sont la pluie et l’évapotranspiration potentielle au pas de temps annuel. Les principaux résultats de ce travail montrent que les performances des deux modèles (conceptuel et neuronal) restent en général satisfaisantes avec des critères de Nash-Sutcliffe supérieurs à 60%. Ces modèles se sont révélés aussi robustes et adaptés pour la simulation des débits annuels des rivières. La comparaison des deux modèles a montré que le réseau de neurones a obtenu des résultats significativement meilleurs que le modèleconceptuel.Mots-clés : modélisation pluie-débit, modèle conceptuel, réseaux de neurones artificiels, N’zi-Bandama, Côte d’Ivoir.Application of a conceptual model and a model of artificial neural networks for the simulation of annual flows in the N'Zi-Bandama watershed (Ivory Coast).This study presents the comparison of two approaches of modelisation of the rainfall-runoff transformation on an annual scale: a conceptual model and an artificial neural network. The two models are applied to three watersheds of the N’zi-Bandama river in Ivory Coast. The comparative analysis is based on the performances of simulation in terms of criterion of Nash-Sutcliffe. The models were tested over two periods, one dries (1973-1997) and the other wet one (1961-1972). The data input of the two models are the rain and the potential evapotranspiration with the step of annual time. The principal results of this work show that the performances of the two models (conceptual and neuronal) remain satisfactory in general with criteria of Nash-Sutcliffe higher than 60%. These models appeared also robust and adapted for the simulation of the annual flow of the rivers. The comparison of the two models showed that the network of neurons had results significantly better than the conceptual model.Keywords : rainfall-runoff modelling, conceptual model, artificial neural network, N’zi-Bandama, Ivory Coast

Climate Variability in the Sudano-Guinean Transition Area and Its Impact on Vegetation: The Case of the Lamto Region in Côte D’Ivoire

Based on unique 50-year datasets from 1962 to 2011, this study diagnoses the variability of climate at Lamto (6.13°N, 5.02°W) in Côte d’Ivoire. A combined pluviothermal index is used to identify climate regions of West Africa. The interdecadal change of the climate is analyzed along with a discussion on the West African Monsoon (WAM) circulation. The impact of vegetation is also analyzed. It is shown that Lamto has mainly a subhumid climate but, in some particular years, this area has a humid climate. Two decades (1962–1971 and 2002–2011) exhibit rainfall excess and the last three ones (1972–1981, 1982–1991, and 1992–2001) show a rainfall deficit that affected West Africa in the early 1970s. The meridional wind field from 1000 hPa to 700 hPa is used to study the WAM variability. The level of the WAM is the lowest (~860–890 hPa) during the active period of the northern wind coming from the Sahara desert (November–February). During 1962–1971 and 2007–2009, the depth of the monsoon at Lamto reaches 300 hPa with an increase in the rainfall. A relationship between potential evapotranspiration and the climate highlights rainfall deficit in 1969 and rainfall excess in 2001–2011

Introduction de l’assainissement écologique en Côte d’Ivoire

L’introduction de l’assainissement écologique (EcoSan) en milieu rural s’est fait avec succès. L’utilisation de l’urine comme fertilisant en culture d’igname est possible sur le plan technique agronomique et socio-anthropologique. Des ouvrages d’assainissement ont été installés en milieu communautaire de même que des parcelles expérimentales fertilisées à l’urine. La richesse de l’urine en azote et en potassium permet d’accroitre la productivité des sols pauvres. Les sols ainsi fertilisés permettent, en culture d’igname, d’obtenir un rendement largement supérieur à ce celui obtenu avec la culture traditionnelle lorsque la culture est placée en tête de rotation. Ces résultats sont d’autant plus encourageants que l’on se trouve à la deuxième répétition culturale sur les mêmes terres. La valorisation de l’urine en agriculture améliore le cadre de vie en éliminant les excréta avec la réduction des mixions sauvages dans et alentour du village. De plus, les populations manifestent une forte adhésion au projet avec l’adoption de la démarche et des ouvrages. Elles n’hésitent pas non plus dans leur grande majorité à consommer les produits de récoltes provenant de champs fertilisés à l’urine parce que la qualité organoleptique n’est pas affectée par ce fertilisant. La pratique culturale endogène pratiquée sur les dépotoirs familiaux ou lélougoun constitue le facteur dynamisant de l’adoption du concept EcoSan

Effect of an integrated intervention package of preventive chemotherapy, community-led total sanitation and health education on the prevalence of helminth and intestinal protozoa infections in Côte d'Ivoire

Preventive chemotherapy with donated anthelminthic drugs is the cornerstone for the control of helminthiases. However, reinfection can occur rapidly in the absence of clean water and sanitation coupled with unhygienic behaviour. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of an integrated package of interventions, consisting of preventive chemotherapy, community-led total sanitation (CLTS) and health education, on the prevalence of helminth and intestinal protozoa infections and on participants' knowledge, attitude, practice and beliefs (KAPB) towards these diseases including water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).; A cross-sectional survey was carried out in nine communities of south-central Côte d'Ivoire to assess people's infection with helminths and intestinal protozoa and KAPB. Subsequently, interventions were targeted to five communities, while the remaining communities served as control. The intervention encouraged latrine construction and an evaluation was done 6-7 months later to determine open defecation status of the respective communities. Anthelminthic treatment was provided to all community members. A follow-up cross-sectional survey was conducted approximately one year later, using the same procedures.; Overall, 810 people had complete baseline and follow-up data and were given anthelminthic treatment. The baseline prevalence of hookworm, Schistosoma haematobium, Trichuris trichiura, Schistosoma mansoni and Ascaris lumbricoides was 31.1%, 7.0%, 2.0%, 1.0% and 0.3%, respectively. Four of the five intervention communities were classified open-defecation free. For hookworm infection, we observed higher negative changes in terms of proportion of decrease (-0.10; 95% confidence interval (CI): - 0.16, -0.04) and higher egg reduction rate (64.9 vs 15.2%) when comparing intervention with control communities. For intestinal protozoa, prevalence reduction was higher in intervention compared to control communities (8.2 vs 2.6%) and WASH indicators and intervention outcomes associated with lower odds for infection at follow-up. The intervention significantly impacted on reported latrine use (before: 15.5%, after: 94.6%), open defecation in the community surroundings (before: 75.0%, after: 16.7%) and awareness for environmental contamination through open defecation (before: 20.4%, after: 52.2%).; An integrated package of interventions consisting of preventive chemotherapy, health education and CLTS reduces the prevalence of helminth and intestinal protozoa infection. Additional studies in other social-ecological settings are warranted to confirm our findings

Using and improving the PHISICC paper-based tools in the health facility laboratories: examples of Human Centered Design taking systems thinking into practice, in Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria

BackgroundHealth workers in low- and middle-income countries are increasingly demanded to collect more and more data to report them to higher levels of the health information system (HIS), in detriment of useful data for clinical and public health decision-making, potentially compromising the quality of their health care provison. In order to support health workers' decision-making, we engaged with partners in Côte d'Ivoire, Mozambique and Nigeria in a research project to conceive, design, produce, implement and test paper-based health information tools: the PHISICC tools. Our aim was to understand the use of PHISICC tools by health workers and to improve them based on their feedback.MethodsThe design Health Facility Laboratories (HF Labs) in Côte d'Ivoire and in Nigeria were set up after months of use of PHISICC tools. Activities were structured in three phases or 'sprints' of co-creative research. We used a transdisciplinary approach, including anthropology and Human Centered Design (HCD), observations, shadowing, structured interviews and co-creation.ResultsHealth workers appreciated the standardization of the tools across different health care areas, with a common visual language that optimized use. Several design issues were raised, in terms of formats and contents. They strongly appreciated how the PHISICC registers guided their clinical decision-making and how it facilitated tallying and counting for monthly reporting. However, adherence to new procedures was not universal. The co-creation sessions resulted in modifications to the PHISICC tools of out-patient care and postnatal care.DiscussionAlthough health systems and systemic thinking allowed the teams to embrace complexity, it was the HCD approach that actually produced a shift in researchers' mind-set: from HIS as data management tools to HIS as quality of care instruments. HCD allowed navigating the complexity of health systems interventions due to its capacity to operate change: it not only allowed us to understand how the PHISICC tools were used but also how to further improve them. In the absence of (or even with) an analytical health systems framework, HCD approaches can work in real-life situations for the ideation, testing and implementation of interventions to improve health systems and health status outcomes