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

Familial aggregation and heritability of Wuchereria bancrofti infection

Background. The familial recurrence risk of lymphatic filariasis (LF) is unknown. This case study aimed to evaluate the familial susceptibility to infection with Wuchereria bancrofti and to microfilaremia in a village of the Republic of Congo. Methods. The heritability and intrafamilial correlation coefficients were assessed for both W bancrofti infection and microfilaremia by controlling for individual risk factors, environmental influence, and household effects. Results. Pedigree charts were constructed for 829 individuals, including 143 individuals with a diagnosis of W bancrofti circulating filarial antigens (CFAs) and 44 who also had microfilariae (MF). There was no intrafamilial correlation regarding CFA levels. However, the presence of MF (rho = 0.45) and microfilarial density (rho = 0.44) were significantly correlated among parent-offspring pairs. Heritability estimates for CFA positivity and intensity were 0.23 and 0.18, respectively. Heritability estimates were high for microfilarial positivity (h(2) = 0.74) and microfilarial density traits (h(2) = 0.81). Conclusions. Our study suggests that the acquisition of LF is mainly driven by environmental factors and habits and that genetic factors are moderately involved in the regulation of infection. By contrast, genetic factors play a major role in both the presence and intensity of microfilaremia

Early diagnosis by PCR of HIV1 in children before 18 months born to HIV-positive mothers in Brazzaville

Objective: To contribute for improving the care of children before 18 months, born to HIV mothers by early diagnosis of HIV-1 by RT/PCR.Methods: analytical cross-sectional study carried out at the Ambulatory Treatment Center (ATC) for people living with HIV and at the National Public Health Laboratory of Brazzaville, from January 1, 2010 to 30 June 2018. The study population was made up of pregnant women included in the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) program and who gave birth to one or more children during that period, their children having the results of the PCR1 available. The tests were statistically significant when the p-value was less than 0.05.Results: Eighty-six children whose mothers were followed by PMTCT program were screened, of which 5 had a positive PCR and 81 negatives, either 5.8% of the residual transmission rate of HIV-1. The most common age group was between 38 and 47 years (70.9%). They were 58.8% unemployed with a 1st level secondary school level (53.2) and 57.8% single. The rate of CD4 was superior to 350 copies in 65.1%, and the viral load was undetectable in 66.3%. Deliveries were performed vaginally in 79.1% and newborn had received 57% of artificial breastfeeding. Among children, boys represented 59.3% with 40.7% girls, either 1,4 of ratio sex. The bivariate analysis between the results of the PCR and the child’s weight had not shown any significant difference (p >0.05). The newborns were eutrophic so 97.5% of cases including the 5 positive cases of PCR. Among newborns, 69.5% had their PCR results within 60 days of delivery

Atmospheric Sea Spray Modeling in the North-East Atlantic Ocean using Tunnel-Derived Generation Functions and the SUMOS Cruise Dataset

This study contributes to the communal effort to improve understanding of sea spray generation and transport. For the first time, laboratory-derived sea spray generation functions (SSGFs) are parameterized in the Meso-NH mesoscale atmospheric model and are field tested. Formulated from the MATE19 laboratory experiments (Bruch et al., 2021) two SSGFs are driven by the upwind component of the wave-slope variance S2x (herein B21A), or both S2x and the wind friction velocity cubed u3* (herein B21B). As part of our first attempt to incorporate the SSGFs in Meso-NH, the simulations are run without a wave model, and the wave-wind SSGFs are assumed wind-dependent. Model evaluation is achieved with sea spray and meteorological measurements acquired over the 0.1-22.75 µm radius range and 1-20 m s-1 U10 wind speeds, 15 meters above the sea surface onboard R/V Atalante during the 25 day SUMOS field campaign in the Bay of Biscay. The B21B SSGF offers particularly good sensitivity to a wide range of environmental conditions over the size range, with an average overestimation by a factor 1.5 compared with measurements, well below the deviations reported elsewhere. B21A also performs well for larger droplets at wind speeds above 15 m s-1. Associated with airflow separation and wave breaking, the wave-slope variance proves to be a key parameter for the scaling of sea spray generation. Using model outputs obtained with B21B, sea spray can be found far beyond the marine atmospheric boundary layer, with large plumes reaching 100 km inland and altitudes of 2.5 km. Plain Language Summary The effects of sea spray on weather and climate remain poorly understood as a result of sparse measurements and large uncertainties in the generation flux. With the aim of improving sea spray transport in atmospheric models, two sea spray generation functions derived from the MATE19 laboratory campaign are parameterized in the Meso-NH mesoscale atmospheric model. The simulations are run over the Bay of Biscay in February-March 2021, and are compared with sea spray concentrations measured during the SUMOS field campaign. Results show that the laboratory-derived generation functions allow accurate predictions of sea spray concentrations. Furthermore, simulations show that sea spray droplets can be transported far over land, and high into the atmosphere

A case study of risk factors for lymphatic filariasis in the Republic of Congo

Background: Little is known regarding risk factors for lymphatic filariasis (LF) in Central Africa. We studied the epidemiology of LF in an endemic village in the Republic of Congo. Methods: Dependent variables were Wuchereria bancrofti antigenemia (ICT card test) and microfilaremia (night blood smears). The following factors were investigated: sex, age, bed net, latrines, source of water, uptake of anthelmintic drugs, hunting/fishing activities, and occasionally sleeping in the bush. Mixed multivariate logistic regression models were used. Results: 134 of 774 subjects aged >= 5 years (17.3%) had W. bancrofti antigenemia and 41 (5.3%) had microfilaremia (mf). Infection rates increased with age up to roughly 20 years and remained stable thereafter. Multivariate analysis of antigenemia demonstrated an increased risk for males (OR = 2.0 [1.3-3.0]) and for people who hunt or fish (OR = 1.5 [1.0-2.4]) and a protective effect of latrines (OR = 0.5 [0.4-0.8]). Among males, those hunting or fishing at night had an increased risk for antigenemia (OR = 1.9 [1.1-3.5]), and use of latrines was protective (OR = 0.5 [0.3-0.9]). For females, bed nets were protective (OR = 0.4 [0.1-0.9]), and there was a strong household effect (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]: 0.24). When mf was used as the dependent variable, males had a higher risk for infection (OR = 5.4 [2.1-13.4]), latrines had a protective effect (OR = 0.4 [0.1-0.9]) and there was a marked household effect (ICC = 0.49). Conclusions: Age, sex, and occupation-dependent exposure to mosquitoes were important risk factors for infection with W. bancrofti in this study. It is likely that men often acquire infection in high transmission areas outside of the village, while children and women are infected in areas with lower transmission inside or near the village. Additional studies are needed to determine whether these findings apply to other areas in Central Africa