Résistance de la Tique Invasive Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) Microplus à la Nouvelle Gamme d’Acaricides Distribués en Côte d’Ivoire

Ce travail avait pour objectif d’améliorer la lutte contre la tique Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus en Côte d’Ivoire en apportant une assistance aux éleveurs dans le choix des acaricides qui leur sont proposés. Pour ce faire, il a été question de répertorier les spécialités d’acaricides distribuées en Côte d’Ivoire pour le détiquage des bovins et par la suite, évaluer le niveau de résistance-sensibilité des tiques R. (B.) microplus à ces acaricides dans les élevages péri-urbains de bovins au sud de la Côte d’Ivoire, précisément dans la zone d’Azaguié où la tique exotique R. (B.) microplus a été découverte pour la première fois en Afrique de l’Ouest. Il ressort de l’étude que six (6) molécules acaricides sont officiellement distribuées en Côte d’Ivoire (Alphacyperméthrine, Cyperméthrine, Amitraz, Fluméthrine, Deltaméthrine et Fipronil) sous diverses appellations commerciales. Face aux échecs thérapeutiques recurents et aux plaintes des éleveurs, une nouvelle gamme d’acaricides est actuellement proposée aux éleveurs. Elle est essentiellement constituée de produits à base de fluméthrine, de fipronil, de deltaméthrine ou de cyperméthrine associée au chlorpyriphos, au butoxide de pipéronyl et à la citronnelle. La méthode de référence LPT (Larval Packet Test) standardisée par la FAO a été utilisée pour évaluer le niveau de résistance de cette tique invasive R. (B.) microplus à trois (3) molécules acaricides de cette gamme à savoir la deltaméthrine, la fluméthrine et la nouvelle spécialité de molécules associées (cyperméthrine-chlorpyriphos-citronnelle-butoxide de pipéronyl). Une variation du niveau de résistance a été signalée d’un acaricide à l’autre vis-à-vis des populations de tiques R. (B.) microplus testées. L’étude a montré une résistance des populations de tiques R. (B.) microplus à la deltaméthrine et à la fluméthrine. Quant à la nouvelle spécialité de molécules associées, elle a présenté un niveau de sensibilité acceptable exprimé par les populations de tiques R. (B.) microplus.   This work aimed to improve the fight against the tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in Côte d'Ivoire by providing assistance to breeders in the choice of acaricides marketed. To do this, the acaricides distributed in Côte d'Ivoire for cattle treatment was inventoried and then, the level of resistance- susceptibility of R. (B.) microplus to these acaricides was estimated in peri-urban cattle farms in southern Côte d'Ivoire, precisely in the area of Azaguié where the exotic tick R. (B.) microplus was discovered for the first time in West Africa. It appears from the study that six (6) acaricidal molecules are officially distributed in Côte d'Ivoire (Alphacypermethrin, Cypermethrin, Amitraz, Flumethrin, Deltamethrin and Fipronil) under various trade names. Faced with recurrent treatment failures and complaints from breeders, a new range of acaricides is currently being offered to breeders. It essentially consists of products based on flumethrin, fipronil, deltamethrin or cypermethrin associated with chlorpyrifos, piperonyl butoxid and citronella. The reference method LPT (Larval Packet Test) standardized by the FAO was used to estimate the level of resistance of the invasive tick R. (B.) microplus to three (3) acaricides, namely deltamethrin, flumethrin and the new product of associated acaricides (cypermethrin-chlorpyrifos-piperonyl butoxid- citronella). A variation of the resistance of R. (B.) microplus has been reported from one acaricide to another. The study showed a resistance of R. (B.) microplus tick populations to deltamethrin and flumethrin. However, an acceptable level of susceptibility expressed by the population ticks of R. (B.) microplus to the association of acaricides (cypermethrin-chlorpyrifos-piperonyl butoxid-citronella) was reported

Résistance de la Tique Invasive Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) Microplus à la Nouvelle Gamme d’Acaricides Distribués en Côte d’Ivoire

Ce travail avait pour objectif d’améliorer la lutte contre la tique Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus en Côte d’Ivoire en apportant une assistance aux éleveurs dans le choix des acaricides qui leur sont proposés. Pour ce faire, il a été question de répertorier les spécialités d’acaricides distribuées en Côte d’Ivoire pour le détiquage des bovins et par la suite, évaluer le niveau de résistance-sensibilité des tiques R. (B.) microplus à ces acaricides dans les élevages péri-urbains de bovins au sud de la Côte d’Ivoire, précisément dans la zone d’Azaguié où la tique exotique R. (B.) microplus a été découverte pour la première fois en Afrique de l’Ouest. Il ressort de l’étude que six (6) molécules acaricides sont officiellement distribuées en Côte d’Ivoire (Alphacyperméthrine, Cyperméthrine, Amitraz, Fluméthrine, Deltaméthrine et Fipronil) sous diverses appellations commerciales. Face aux échecs thérapeutiques recurents et aux plaintes des éleveurs, une nouvelle gamme d’acaricides est actuellement proposée aux éleveurs. Elle est essentiellement constituée de produits à base de fluméthrine, de fipronil, de deltaméthrine ou de cyperméthrine associée au chlorpyriphos, au butoxide de pipéronyl et à la citronnelle. La méthode de référence LPT (Larval Packet Test) standardisée par la FAO a été utilisée pour évaluer le niveau de résistance de cette tique invasive R. (B.) microplus à trois (3) molécules acaricides de cette gamme à savoir la deltaméthrine, la fluméthrine et la nouvelle spécialité de molécules associées (cyperméthrine-chlorpyriphos-citronnelle-butoxide de pipéronyl). Une variation du niveau de résistance a été signalée d’un acaricide à l’autre vis-à-vis des populations de tiques R. (B.) microplus testées. L’étude a montré une résistance des populations de tiques R. (B.) microplus à la deltaméthrine et à la fluméthrine. Quant à la nouvelle spécialité de molécules associées, elle a présenté un niveau de sensibilité acceptable exprimé par les populations de tiques R. (B.) microplus.   This work aimed to improve the fight against the tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in Côte d'Ivoire by providing assistance to breeders in the choice of acaricides marketed. To do this, the acaricides distributed in Côte d'Ivoire for cattle treatment was inventoried and then, the level of resistance- susceptibility of R. (B.) microplus to these acaricides was estimated in peri-urban cattle farms in southern Côte d'Ivoire, precisely in the area of Azaguié where the exotic tick R. (B.) microplus was discovered for the first time in West Africa. It appears from the study that six (6) acaricidal molecules are officially distributed in Côte d'Ivoire (Alphacypermethrin, Cypermethrin, Amitraz, Flumethrin, Deltamethrin and Fipronil) under various trade names. Faced with recurrent treatment failures and complaints from breeders, a new range of acaricides is currently being offered to breeders. It essentially consists of products based on flumethrin, fipronil, deltamethrin or cypermethrin associated with chlorpyrifos, piperonyl butoxid and citronella. The reference method LPT (Larval Packet Test) standardized by the FAO was used to estimate the level of resistance of the invasive tick R. (B.) microplus to three (3) acaricides, namely deltamethrin, flumethrin and the new product of associated acaricides (cypermethrin-chlorpyrifos-piperonyl butoxid- citronella). A variation of the resistance of R. (B.) microplus has been reported from one acaricide to another. The study showed a resistance of R. (B.) microplus tick populations to deltamethrin and flumethrin. However, an acceptable level of susceptibility expressed by the population ticks of R. (B.) microplus to the association of acaricides (cypermethrin-chlorpyrifos-piperonyl butoxid-citronella) was reported

Effectiveness of Nifurtimox Eflornithine Combination Therapy (NECT) in T. b. gambiense second stage sleeping sickness patients in the Democratic Republic of Congo: report from a field study

BACKGROUND: Nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapy (NECT) for the treatment of second stage gambiense human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) was added to the World Health Organization's Essential Medicines List in 2009 after demonstration of its non-inferior efficacy compared to eflornithine therapy. A study of NECT use in the field showed acceptable safety and high efficacy until hospital discharge in a wide population, including children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and patients with a HAT treatment history. We present here the effectiveness results after the 24-month follow-up visit. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In a multicenter, open label, single arm phase IIIb study, second stage gambiense HAT patients were treated with NECT in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Clinical cure was defined 24 months after treatment as survival without clinical and/or parasitological signs of HAT. Of the 629 included patients, 619 (98.4%) were discharged alive after treatment and were examined for the presence of trypanosomes, white blood cell count in cerebro-spinal fluid, and disease symptoms. The clinical cure rate of 94.1% was comparable for all subpopulations analyzed at the 24-month follow-up visit. Self-reported adverse events during follow-up were few and concerned mainly nervous system disorders, infections, and gastro-intestinal disorders. Overall, 28 patients (4.3%) died during the course of the trial. The death of 16 of the 18 patients who died during the follow-up period was assessed as unlikely or not related to NECT. Within 24 months, eight patients (1.3%) relapsed and received rescue treatment. Sixteen patients were completely lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: NECT treatment administered under field conditions was effective and sufficiently well tolerated, no major concern arose for children or pregnant or breastfeeding women. Patients with a previous HAT treatment history had the same response as those who were naive. In conclusion, NECT was confirmed as effective and appropriate for use in a broad population, including vulnerable subpopulations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00906880

In-hospital safety in field conditions of Nifurtimox Eflornithine Combination Therapy (NECT) for T. B. Gambiense Sleeping Sickness

Trypanosoma brucei (T.b.) gambiense Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT; sleeping sickness) is a fatal disease. Until 2009, available treatments for 2(nd) stage HAT were complicated to use, expensive (eflornithine monotherapy), or toxic, and insufficiently effective in certain areas (melarsoprol). Recently, nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapy (NECT) demonstrated good safety and efficacy in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) and was added to the World Health Organisation (WHO) essential medicines list (EML). Documentation of its safety profile in field conditions will support its wider use

Accurate gravity anomaly interpolation: a case-study in cameroon, central africa

Many treatments in geodesy and geophysics require regularly gridded gravity anomalies. The gridding of gravity data needs interpolation. For the predicted data to be accurate, the smoothest type ofgravity anomaly should be used along with the most indicated prediction method. This paper presents the comparison of various prediction methods applied on different types of gravity anomalies andconsidering the relative geological complexity of the study area. Many algorithms are tested and the suitability of each type of anomaly and each prediction method discussed in a case-study in Cameroon (Central Africa), using a set of 43,000 gravity data points to determine the must accurate prediction technique

Prevalence of Human African Trypanosomiasis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a major public health problem in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Active and passive surveillance for HAT is conducted but may underestimate the true prevalence of the disease. We used ELISA to screen 7,769 leftover dried blood spots from a nationally representative population-based survey, the 2007 Demographic and Health Survey. 26 samples were positive by ELISA. Three of these were also positive by trypanolysis and/or PCR. From these data, we estimate that there were 18,592 people with HAT (95% confidence interval, 4,883–32,302) in the DRC in 2007, slightly more than twice as many as were reported

Safety and efficacy of oral fexinidazole in children with gambiense human African trypanosomiasis: a multicentre, single-arm, open-label, phase 2-3 trial

BACKGROUND: Fexinidazole has been reported as an effective oral monotherapy against non-severe gambiense human African trypanosomiasis in a recent trial in adults. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of fexinidazole in children across all disease stages of gambiense human African trypanosomiasis. METHODS: We did a multicentre, single-arm, open-label, phase 2-3 trial at eight district hospitals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We recruited children with a Karnofsky score of more than 50, those aged 6 years to younger than 15 years, weighing 20 kg or more, and with confirmed gambiense human African trypanosomiasis (any stage). Children weighing 20 kg or more and less than 35 kg received oral fexinidazole of 1200 mg (two x 600 mg tablets) once per day for 4 days (days 1-4) followed by 600 mg (one x 600 mg tablet) once per day for 6 days (days 5-10). Children weighing 35 kg or more received oral fexinidazole of 1800 mg (three x 600 mg tablets) once per day for 4 days (days 1-4), followed by 1200 mg (two x 600 mg tablets) once per day for 6 days (days 5-10). The primary endpoint was fexinidazole treatment success rate 12 months after end of treatment. A rate greater than 80% was deemed acceptable and a target value of 92% was aimed for. Safety was assessed through routine monitoring. This study is completed and registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02184689. FINDINGS: Between May 3, 2014, and Nov 22, 2016, we screened a total of 130 paediatric patients, of whom 125 (96%) received at least one dose of fexinidazole. All 125 patients (69 [55%] patients with stage 1, 19 [15%] with early stage 2, and 37 [30%] with late stage 2 gambiense human African trypanosomiasis) completed the 10-day treatment. Treatment success rate at 12 months was 97.6% (95% CI 93.1-99.5; 122 of 125 patients). The primary endpoint was met and the targeted value of 92% was exceeded. Treatment success at 12 months was elevated across all disease stages: 98.6% (95% CI 92.2-99.9; 68 of 69 patients) in stage 1, 94.7% (74.0-99.9; 18 of 19 patients) in early stage 2, and 97.3% (85.8-99.9; 36 of 37 patients) in late stage 2 gambiense human African trypanosomiasis. No new safety issues were observed beyond those found in adult trials. Overall, 116 (93%) of 125 patients reported 586 treatment-emergent adverse events, mainly mild or moderate. The most frequently reported treatment-emergent adverse events of interest during hospital admission were vomiting (86 [69%] of 125) and headache (41 [33%]). Seven (6%) of 125 patients had severe malaria, which was often accompanied by anaemia that was unrelated to fexinidazole. One patient died following dyspnoea and injury due to traumatic aggression 172 days after end of treatment, which was considered unrelated to fexinidazole or gambiense human African trypanosomiasis. INTERPRETATION: Oral fexinidazole is a safe and effective first-line treatment option across all gambiense human African trypanosomiasis disease stages in paediatric patients. FUNDING: Through the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative: the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (USA), the Republic and Canton of Geneva (Switzerland), the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Netherlands), the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norway), the Federal Ministry of Education and Research through KfW (Germany), the Brian Mercer Charitable Trust (UK), and other private foundations and individuals from the human African trypanosomiasis campaign. TRANSLATION: For the French translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section