Retained sponge after abdominal surgery: experience from a third world country

Background: Retained abdominal sponge after surgery is a quite rare condition which can have heavy medico-legal consequences; its frequency is generally underestimated. Few reports of these conditions are available in African environment with specific technical and medico-legal background. We present our local experience of retained sponges after abdominal surgery and review current literature. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the medical files of 14 consecutive patients with a retained surgical sponge after abdominal and urological surgery. Results: The incidence was 1every 677 abdominal operations; no metallic foreign body described, only sponges; the female sex predominated with 10/14 patients. 85.71% of retained sponge occurred after an emergency procedure and 64.28% were gynecological or obstetrical procedures. Most cases presented as intestinal obstruction, localized persistent pain or abdominal mass and pre-operative diagnosis could be done only in 28.57% of cases. A falsely correct sponge count was reported in 71.42% of cases. 92.85% of patients were re-operated and the morbidity was low; no death was reported. None of our cases ended in a medico-legal claim despite proper counseling. Conclusion: The incidence of retained sponge might be significantly higher in an environment with reduced medico-legal threat; most cases of retained sponges are still related to human errors; the incidence will probably be reduced by a greater awareness about the condition

Artisanal fisheries catch highlights hotspot for threatened sharks and rays in the Republic of the Congo

This is the final version. Available on open access from Wiley via the DOI in this recordData availability statement: Data used for this study are ongoing and are currently forming part of a larger program to update and inform legislation and a national plan of action for sharks and rays and therefore are the property of the Congolese government.Global catch rates of sharks and rays from artisanal fisheries are underreported, leading to a lack of data on population status. This forms a major barrier to developing effective management plans, such is the case in Central and West Africa. Over 3 years, we undertook the first systematic quantitative assessment of sharks and rays landed by an artisanal fishery in the Republic of the Congo. During 507 sampling days (mean 14 surveys per month), we recorded 73,268 individuals. These comprised 42 species, of which 81% are considered at an elevated risk of extinction. Landings were dominated by immature individuals, especially for species of conservation concern. Presence of species thought to have largely disappeared from the region such as the African wedgefish (Rhynchobatus luebberti) and smoothback angelshark (Squatina oculata) suggest Congolese waters are a potential stronghold for these species—warranting increased protection. We identified seasonality of catch within years, but not across years. Both inter- and intra-annual trends varied by species, signifying annual fluctuations in catch of each species but consistent catch of all species year-on-year. Analysis showed increased catch between the short-wet and the long-wet, and the long-dry seasons (January–February and August–September). Lowest catch was shown to occur during the short-wet and the short-dry seasons (October–December), which may provide an opportunity for seasonal closures or gear restrictions.Darwin InitiativeWaterloo FoundationWaitt FoundationSave Our Seas Foundatio

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Transformation alimentaire du manioc = Cassava food processing

Face au recul de la consommation de chikwangue devant les produits modernes, Agrisud, en collaboration avec l'Orstom, a entrepris d'améliorer les méthodes traditionnelles de fabrication de la chikwangue à partir des racines de manioc en mettant au point des appareils simples qui permettent de réduire la pénibilité du travail de préparation, principaux facteurs limitants. Après que plusieurs prototypes aient été conçus localement avec des matériaux disponibles sur place, 3 appareils simples ont été retenus : un défibreur, un pétrisseur et un cuiseur-malaxeur ou "machine à chikwangue", le tout formant une ligne de production mécanisée. La description, les caractéristiques techniques et le fonctionnement des trois appareils sont présentés dans le document. Une évaluation de la ligne de fabrication installée auprès d'un groupement d'agriculteurs a permis de conclure à une bonne performance technique des machines par rapport aux objectifs de départ. L'évaluation économique montre que de petites modifications techniques sur les machines et une optimisation dans le niveau d'activité et l'organisation du travail restent à accomplir pour placer la ligne dans une rentabilité assurée et durable. Après quoi, la ligne de fabrication mécanisée de chikwangue sera un puissant outil de développement pour la consommation et la production du manioc en Afrique centrale. (Résumé d'auteur

« Effet de case » et « contamination familiale » dans la maladie du sommeil : essai d’interprétation du phénomène

Cet article présente différentes hypothèses possibles pour expliquer le phénomène connu sous le nom « d’effet de case » ou « contamination familiale ». Il s’agit : 1) de la transmission mécanique par des arthropodes hématophages contaminant des individus vivant ensemble. 2) d’une série de repas interrompus pris sur plusieurs personnes par une glossine cycliquement infectante. 3) d’un facteur biologique familial. Ces différentes hypothèses sont discutées et présentées comme une introduction à une étude de la distribution spatiale et familiale des trypanosomés dans trois foyers congolais. Celle-ci montre une répartition aléatoire des malades dans les quartiers des villages, mais leur regroupement au niveau des habitations et des familles. Ce phénomène s’expliquerait par l’activité communautaire des membres des cellules familiales (déplacements, travaux aux champs, baignades) associée à un phénomène amplificateur, le plus probable étant les repas interrompus d’une glossine cycliquement infectante. Dans certains cas d’autres possibilités, telles que la transmission mécanique par glossines ou Aedes, ou encore un facteur biologique familial, peuvent être envisagées. Ce phénomène, qui constitue l’une des caractéristiques épidémiologiques les plus remarquables la maladie du sommeil, a comme conséquence, la surveillance étroite de l’entourage des malades