Policies for improving the competitiveness of smallholder livestock producers in the central corridor of West Africa: implications for trade and regional integration

Cet ouvrage rassemble les comptes-rendus d'un atelier d'Abidjan sur le theme "Quelles politiques pour ameliorer la competitivite des petits eleveurs dans la corridor central de l'Afrique de l'ouest: implications pour le commerce et l'integration regionale". L'objectif de I'atelier s'inscrivait dans le cadre de la lutte contre la pauvrete engagee par les Etats et les gouvernements de la sous-region, en collaboration avec les instituts de recherche et les bailleurs de fonds. Il visait de facon specifique a identifier les contraintes qui pesent sur les petits eleveurs de la sous-region et qui les empechent d'acceder au marche des produits animaux marche en pleine expansion, en raison notamment d'une pression de la demande, due a I'accroissement demographique et au phenomene d'urbanisation. Une des originalites de 1'atelier etait la participation effective des eleveurs et des marchands de betail, venus aussi bien des pays saheliens producteurs que des pays cotiers importateurs. A cette presence d'operateurs economiques s'ajoutait celle de scientifiques et de chercheurs, ainsi que la presence de decideurs et de bailleurs de fonds. Cet interface a permis une fois de plus d'identifier les entraves au marche regional du betail et de la viande surtout pour les petits producteurs, mais egalement de repertorier les defis et opportunites du secteur, dans le contexte de la mondialisation des echanges. Les contributions des participants ont essentiellement porte sur la situation des differentes filieres animales dans les pays : production, sante animale, commercialisation, ainsi que sur 1'environnement institutionnel et macroeconomique. La complementarite naturelle des pays en matiere de produits animaux a ete mise en evidence, de meme que lee entraves a une valorisation systematique du betail comme facteur privilegie d'integration economique. Les presentations ont ete suivies de discussions en commissions de travail sur les aspects production et commercialisation. Les principales conclusions et recommandations de 1'atelier ont porte sur la necessite de reorganiser lee operateurs a tous les niveaux, de mettre en place des structures de financement adaptees, de regionaliser et d'harmoniser les programmes de sante animale et lee politiques sectorielles. Enfin les participants ont vivement souhaite que 1'atelier debouche sur un programme regional de developpement des productions animales qui valorise les avantages comparatifs des pays, tout en assurant aux petits producteurs un meilleur acces au marche

Qualite de vie du Personnel Hospitalier Lombalgique A Lome (Togo)

Objectif: Décrire les conséquences de la lombalgie commune sur la qualité de vie du personnel hospitalier du CHR Lomé Commune (CHR LC). Patients et Méthode: Il s’est agi d’une étude transversale réalisée du 15 décembre 2018 au 15 mars 2019 par autoquestionnaire auprès de 126 membres du personnel soignant hospitalier du CHR LC. La qualité de vie a été évaluée par le Questionnaire d’Owestry. Résultats: Soixante-dix neuf travailleurs sur 126 (62, 7 %) ont rapporté une lombalgie au cours des 12 mois précédant l’enquête. Le score d’Owestry a mis en évidence une incapacité minimale chez 74,2% des soignants, modérée chez 17,9%, sévère chez 3,2% et extrême chez 1,6% d’entre-eux. Les domaines les plus fréquemment affectés ont été : le port d’objets lourds (69%), les positions debout (65%) ou assise (51,3%) prolongées, la marche (50,7%), et l’intensité de la douleur (48,8%). Conclusion: L’impact de la lombalgie sur la qualité de vie des soignants est réel au CHR LC. Les positions debout et assise, le port d’objets lourds, et la vie sociale sont les domaines où l’incapacité est la plus sévère. La mise en oeuvre de programmes de prévention de la lombalgie est necessaire pour réduire cet impact. Objective: To describe the relationship between low back pain and quality of life among health professionals in CHR Lomé Commune (CHR LC). Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was performed from December 2018 to March 2019 and included 126 staff members who filled-in the French version of the Oswestry Disability Index. Results: One hundred and twenty-six health professionals (70.8%) responded to the survey. Seventynine (62.7%) of the hospital staff reported low back pain during the preceding year. Professional activity was restricted in six workers (7,5%). The Owestry Index reflected minimal disability in 74,2% of care providres, and moderate disability to severe disability in 25.8% of them. Lifting (69%), standing (65%), sitting (51,3%), travelling (50,7%), and pain intensity (48,8%) were the most commonly reported. Conclusion: Impact of low back pain on the health professionals’ quality of life is serious in CHR LC. Standing, sitting, lifting, and sex are the most seriously affected. Strategies should be implemented to prevent occupational back pain

Prevalence et Facteurs de Risque de Lombalgie Chez Le Personnel Soignant A Lome (Togo)

Objectif: Décrire la fréquence et les facteurs de risque associés à la lombalgie commune chez le personnel soignant du CHR Lomé Commune (CHR LC). Patients et Méthode: Il s’est agi d’une étude transversale réalisée du 15 décembre 2018 au 15 mars 2019 par autoquestionnaire auprès de 126 membres du personnel soignant hospitalier du CHR LC. Résultats: 79 travailleurs sur 126 ont rapporté une lombalgie au cours des 12 mois précédant l’enquête soit une prévalence de 62, 7 %. Ils se répartissaient en 51 femmes et 28 hommes. Il s’agissait majoritairement d’infirmiers (37 cas, 29,4%) et de gardes malades (24cas, 19%). L’âge moyen des lombalgiques était de 42 ± 8,1 ans. Les facteurs de risque identifiés étaient l’âge (p=0,002), le sexe féminin (p=0,026), et la non connaissance des règles d’hygiène de la colonne vertébrale (p=0,034). La prise en charge de la lombalgie a été essentiellement symptomatique et a reposé sur les antalgiques (88,9%), les AINS (80,5%), et la kinésithérapie (53,2%). Seuls 28 soignants (26,6%) connaissaient les règles d’hygiène de la colonne. Trente-quatre soignants (43%) avaient bénéficié d’un arrêt de travail d’une durée moyenne de 09 jours ± 7,5. Le nombre total de journées de travail perdues était 281. Deux soignants (2,5%) avaient bénéficié d’un changement de poste, et quatre soignants (5,1%) d’un aménagement de poste (sortie du tour de garde). Conclusion: L’impact de la lombalgie sur la vie professionnelle des soignants justifie une senbilisation de ceux-ci aux facteurs de risque et aux mesures préventives. Objective: To describe the prevalence and the factors associated with low back pain among the health professionals in CHR Lomé Commune (CHR LC) in Togo. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was performed from December 2018 to March 2019 and included 126 staff members who filled-in a self-reported questionnaire. Results: 79 health workers (62.7%) among the 126 hospital staff reported low back pain during the preceding twelve months. They were 51 women and 28 men. The mean age of LBP patients was 42±8.1 years. The majority were nurses (37 cases, 29.4%) and nurse aides (24 cases, 19%). Their mean age was 42 ± 8,1 years. Factors associated with Low back pain included age (p=0.002), female gender (p=0.026), and lack of knowledge of back care techniques (p=0.034). Analgesics (88.9%), NSAID (80.5%), and physiotherapy (53.2%) were the most used tratements. Only 21 staff members (26,6%) knew back care techniques. Days off duty (absenteeism) has been observed in 34 (43%) of the hospitalstaff (mean : 09 days ± 7,5, total number of 281 days during the period of the survey). Professional activities were restricted in 6 cases (7,5%). Conclusion The professionnal impact of low back pain on health professionals is considerable. Risk factors and preventive measures should be taught

Profil de la polyarthrite rhumatoïde en consultation rhumatologique à Lomé (Togo)

Objective: To determine epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic aspects and outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in rheumatologic consultation at lome (Togo). Patients and method: This was retrospective study carried out from 1 stJanuary 1990 to 31 stDecember 2015 in the rheumatology department. The study included all patients suffered from RA in rheumatologic consultations and who fulfilled the 2010 ACR and EULAR’s criteria. Results: Ninety two (77 women and 15 men) out of 25.992 patients (0.3%) examined in 25 years had suffered from RA. The mean age at admission was 42 years (range: 17-82 years). The median duration of the diseases was four years (range: 14days – 20 days). The diseases onset was polyarticular with 86% of the patients and oligoarticular with the thirteen others (14%). The proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints are involved in 81,5 % of cases; and the wrists in 77,2% of cases. The rheumatoid hip was observed in four patients. Forty-two of the patients (45,6%) presented RA deformities. Bilateral MCP and IPP joint early erosion was observed in 36 patients (39,1%) and bilateral carpal diffuse osteoporosis in 44 patients (47,8%). The ankylosis of the carpal bones was observed in 26 patients (28,2 %). Rheumatoid factor was positive in 44% of patients. Methotrexate was the most commonly disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs used in 44,4% of the patients. The disease was improved in 89% of patients. Conclusion: Rheumatoid arthritis seems relatively rare in Togo. It’s diagnosis is often made at the established phase and methotrexate remains the cornerstone of the treatment

Trypanosoma brucei gambiense group 1 is distinguished by a unique amino acid substitution in the HpHb receptor implicated in human serum resistance

Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (Tbr) and T. b. gambiense (Tbg), causative agents of Human African Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) in Africa, have evolved alternative mechanisms of resisting the activity of trypanosome lytic factors (TLFs), components of innate immunity in human serum that protect against infection by other African trypanosomes. In Tbr, lytic activity is suppressed by the Tbr-specific serum-resistance associated (SRA) protein. The mechanism in Tbg is less well understood but has been hypothesized to involve altered activity and expression of haptoglobin haemoglobin receptor (HpHbR). HpHbR has been shown to facilitate internalization of TLF-1 in T.b. brucei (Tbb), a member of the T. brucei species complex that is susceptible to human serum. By evaluating the genetic variability of HpHbR in a comprehensive geographical and taxonomic context, we show that a single substitution that replaces leucine with serine at position 210 is conserved in the most widespread form of Tbg (Tbg group 1) and not found in related taxa, which are either human serum susceptible (Tbb) or known to resist lysis via an alternative mechanism (Tbr and Tbg group 2). We hypothesize that this single substitution contributes to reduced uptake of TLF and thus may play a key role in conferring serum resistance to Tbg group 1. In contrast, similarity in HpHbR sequence among isolates of Tbg group 2 and Tbb/Tbr provides further evidence that human serum resistance in Tbg group 2 is likely independent of HpHbR functio

Population genetics of trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense: clonality and diversity within and between foci

African trypanosomes are unusual among pathogenic protozoa in that they can undergo their complete morphological life cycle in the tsetse fly vector with mating as a non-obligatory part of this development. Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, which infects humans and livestock in East and Southern Africa, has classically been described as a host-range variant of the non-human infective Trypanosoma brucei that occurs as stable clonal lineages. We have examined T. b. rhodesiense populations from East (Uganda) and Southern (Malawi) Africa using a panel of microsatellite markers, incorporating both spatial and temporal analyses. Our data demonstrate that Ugandan T. b. rhodesiense existed as clonal populations, with a small number of highly related genotypes and substantial linkage disequilibrium between pairs of loci. However, these populations were not stable as the dominant genotypes changed and the genetic diversity also reduced over time. Thus these populations do not conform to one of the criteria for strict clonality, namely stability of predominant genotypes over time, and our results show that, in a period in the mid 1990s, the previously predominant genotypes were not detected but were replaced by a novel clonal population with limited genetic relationship to the original population present between 1970 and 1990. In contrast, the Malawi T. b. rhodesiense population demonstrated significantly greater diversity and evidence for frequent genetic exchange. Therefore, the population genetics of T. b. rhodesiense is more complex than previously described. This has important implications for the spread of the single copy T. b. rhodesiense gene that allows human infectivity, and therefore the epidemiology of the human disease, as well as suggesting that these parasites represent an important organism to study the influence of optional recombination upon population genetic dynamics

Le Syndrome Du Canal Carpien À Lomé (Togo)

Objectif: Décrire les caractéristiques sociodémographiques, cliniques et thérapeutiques des patients souffrant d’un syndrome du canal carpien à Lomé, au Togo. Patients et Méthode: Il s’est agi d’une étude transversale menée sur dossiers du 1er janvier 2011 au 31 décembre 2018 dans les trois Services Hospitaliers de Rhumatologie de Lomé (Togo). Résultats: Cent quatre-vingt-douze patients (166 femmes, 126 hommes) ont présenté un syndrome du canal carpien pendant la période d’étude. Leur âge moyen était de 54, 2 ±13 ans (extrêmes: 26 et 83 ans). L’indice de masse corporelle moyen était de 28, 8 ± 6, 1 kg/m2 (extrêmes: 18 et 55, 4). Le sexe féminin, l’obésité (p=0,001), et le travail prolongé à l’ordinateur (p=0,005) ont été identifiés comme des facteurs de risque de SCC. Les manifestations cliniques ont été dominées par les paresthésies à type de fourmillements (77,1% des patients) et la douleur (57,8% des patients). L’atteinte était bilatérale chez 120 patients (62,5%). Cent neuf patients (56,8%) ont présenté un signe de Tinel, et 39 patients (20,3%) ont présenté un signe de Phalen associé au signe de Tinel. La presence du signe de Tinel était corrélée à l’obésité (p=0,001). Le traitement était représenté par les infiltrations locales de cortioïdes (147 patients, 76,6%), les antalgiques et les antiinflammatoires non stéroïdiens(104 patients, 54,2%). Conclusion: Le SCC à Lomé est habituellement idiopathique. Le sexe féminin, l’obésité, et le travail prolongé à l’ordinateur sont des facteurs de risque. Les infiltrations locales de corticoïdes sont efficaces. Objective: To describe the socio-demographic, clinical and therapeutic characteristics of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in Lomé (Togo). Patients and methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Data were collected from 1 st of January 2011 to 31st of December 2018 in three Rheumatologic Hospital Wards in Lomé. Results: One hundred and ninetytwo patients were diagnosed with CTS (166 women and 26 men). Their average age was between 54.2 ±13 years (range from 26 to 83 years). The average body mass index of male and female patients was 28, 8 ± 6, 1 kg/m2 (range 18 and 55.4). Female gender, obesity (p=0,001), and prolonged computer use (p=0,005) were identified as key risk factors. The main symptoms were: tingling paresthesia (77.1%) and pain (57.8%). The symptoms were bilateral in 120 patients (62.5%). The Tinel sign was positive in 109 patients (56.8%), and 39 patients (20,3%) had both the Tinel sign and the Phalen sign. The Tinel sign was related to obesity (p= 0,001). Management of CTS was performed by local steroid injections (147 patients, 76,6%), pain killers and NSAID (104 patients, 54,2%). Conclusion: CTS is usually idiopathic in Lomé. Female gender, obesity and prolonged computer use are risk factors. Local infiltration of steroids is an effective treatment

Low-cost adaptation options to support green growth in agriculture, water resources, and coastal zones

The regional climate as it is now and in the future will put pressure on investments in sub-Saharan Africa in water resource management, fisheries, and other crop and livestock production systems. Changes in oceanic characteristics across the Atlantic Ocean will result in remarkable vulnerability of coastal ecology, littorals, and mangroves in the middle of the twenty-first century and beyond. In line with the countries' objectives of creating a green economy that allows reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved resource efficiency, and prevention of biodiversity loss, we identify the most pressing needs for adaptation and the best adaptation choices that are also clean and affordable. According to empirical data from the field and customized model simulation designs, the cost of these adaptation measures will likely decrease and benefit sustainable green growth in agriculture, water resource management, and coastal ecosystems, as hydroclimatic hazards such as pluviometric and thermal extremes become more common in West Africa. Most of these adaptation options are local and need to be scaled up and operationalized for sustainable development. Governmental sovereign wealth funds, investments from the private sector, and funding from global climate funds can be used to operationalize these adaptation measures. Effective legislation, knowledge transfer, and pertinent collaborations are necessary for their success

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

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