Repartition Des Glossines Dans La Province De L’ogooue Ivindo Ancien Foyer De Trypanosomose Humaine Africaine

In Gabon, the situation of Human African Trypanosomosis (HAT) remains unclear. In addition, several historical foci existing in many provinces have not been explored for over 15 years. Yet many studies have shown that this country has to offer favorable ecosystems for the development of tsetse major vectors of HAT. To verify a risk of transmission of sleeping sickness, a tsetse inventory was conducted in the province of Ogooué Ivindo historic home of HAT. Vavoua and Nzi traps were placed in four characteristic habitats of the province: National Park Ivindo, Zadié Village, Forest of Zadié and baï (clearing) of Momba. A total of 2383 flies were captured: 1680 flies in the clearing of Momba, 437 flies in the primary forest Zadié, 139 in the National Park Ivindo and 12 in Zadié village. Moreover, these flies were divided into 7 species Glossina frezili, Glossina fusca congolensis, Glossina nashi, Glossina palpalis palpalis, Glossina tabaniformis, Glossina fuscipes fuscipes and Glossina tachinoides. Glossina palpalis palpalis (46%) was the most abundant species followed by Glossina fusca congolensis (21%) and Glossina nashi (16%). Glossina fuscipes fuscipes (6%), Glossina frezili (4%), Glossina tabaniformis (4%) and Glossina tachinoides (3%) were the least caught species. These results have shown that the province of Ogooué Ivindo still remains infested by tsetse flies. Also, further study monitoring these insects is essential to clarify the epidemiological importance of these vectors on human health in this province

Évaluation de la composition spécifique des glossines, vectrices de la Trypanosomose Humaine Africaine, dans la région de Ndendé au sud du Gabon

Objectifs: Afin d’évaluer la composition spécifique des glossines dans les biotopes savanicoles et forestiers, une étude entomologique a été réalisée sur ces insectes dans la région de Ndendé (province de la Ngounié), ancien foyer de la Trypanosomose Humaine Africaine (THA) pour identifier les sites potentiels de transmission de cette parasitose.Méthodologie et résultats: Un total de 14 pièges vavoua a été utilisé dont 7 pièges placés le long des cours d’eau présents dans la galerie forestière et 7 autres en savane proche des villages, du 23 octobre au 7 novembre 2015. Au total, 697 glossines ont été capturées (DAP=3,32 glossines/piège/jour). La plus forte abondance des glossines a été obtenue en forêt avec 678 spécimens. Cependant, ces glossines ont été faiblement capturées en savane (19 spécimens). Ces glossines se répartissent en quatre espèces dont Glossina fuscipes fuscipes, Glossina frezili, Glossina nashi et Glossina palpalis palpalis. G. fuscipes fuscipes (95%) a été l’espèce la plus abondante alors que G. frezili (1%), G. nashi (2%) et G. palpalis palpalis (2%) ont été très faiblement capturées.Conclusion et application: Cette étude a permis d’identifier dans la région de Ndendé, quatre espèces de glossines qui vivent en sympatrie. Par ailleurs, la forte abondance de G. fuscipes fuscipes et la présence de G. palpalis palpalis, vecteurs de la THA dans les différents biotopes prospectés, avec une forte prédominance enforêt, suggèrent une existence probable d’un risque de transmission des trypanosomes dans la région de Ndendé. Par conséquent, le biotope forestier serait une zone prioritaire pour une lutte antivectorielle afin de limiter les risques de transmission de cette parasitose. Aussi, ces résultats invitent à la réalisation des travaux plus détaillés visant à identifier la dynamique spatio-temporelle des glossines et leur rôle dans la transmission éventuelle de la THA dans la région de Ndendé au sud du Gabon.Mots-clés: Trypanosomose humaine africaine, glossine, composition spécifique, savane, forêt, GabonEnglish AbstractObjectives: In order to assess the species composition of tsetse flies among savannah and forested biotopes, an entomological survey was conducted on these insects in the Ndende region (province of Ngounié), ancient focus of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) for identifying the potential sites of the HAT transmission.Methodology and results: A total of 14 Vavoua traps was used with 7 traps installed along the rivers present in the forest gallery and 7 others in the savannah near the villages. The study was done from 23rd October to 7th November 2015. In total, 697 tsetse flies were captured (ADT=3.32 tsetse flies/trap/day). The highest abundance of tsetse flies was found in the forest with 678 specimens, while the lowest abundance was observed in the savannah with 19 specimens. The identified tsetse flies are G. fuscipes fuscipes, G. nashi, G. frezili and G. palpalis palpalis. G. fuscipes fuscipes (95%) was the most abundant species. Conversely, G. frezili (1%), G. nashi (2%) and G. palpalis palpalis (2%) were less in number.Conclusion and application: The results of this study showed the presence of four tsetse flies species, biological vectors of HAT, in the Ndendé region. The high abundance of G. fuscipes fuscipes and the presence of G. palpalis palpalis, vectors of HAT, in different savannah and forested biotopes, with strong predominance inforest, suggest a probable risk of transmission of trypanosomes in the Ndende region. Thus, the forested biotope would be the priority areas for implementing a vector control in order to limit the risks of HAT transmission. Therefore, these results require studies aiming at identifying spatial and temporal dynamics of tsetse flies and their role in the eventual transmission of HAT in the Ndendé region, southern of Gabon.Keywords: Human African trypanosomiasis, tsetse fly, species composition, savannah, forest, Gabo

Evaluation of the role of Guenons and Mangabeys in seed dispersal in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, Gabon

In order to gain knowledge on the quantity of seed dispersed and the contribution of small diurnal primates in the ecosystem, a preliminary study  on four species of monkeys was carried out in the northeastern part of the Moukalaba-Doudou National Park in Gabon. The aim was to identify the  species of fruits which are dispersed and the animal biomass in two large groups of monkeys namely mangabeys (Cercocebus torquatus and  Lophocebus albigena) and guenons (Cercopithecus cephus and Cercopithecus nictitans). Using the reconnaissance walking method, we followed old  tracks and dung piles were collected after direct observation of the little monkeys and in the sleeping site. The dung piles were washed, and the  seeds collected were identified. A total of 104 fecal samples from the four species of monkeys were collected. Seeds from 19 species of plants  were found in the dung piles. The majority of the seeds found in droppings were seeds of Cissus dinklagei and Musanga cecropioides.  Cercopithecus nictitans dispersed seeds of more plant species than the others. All the results obtained show that the monkeys disperse an average  of 1,114 seeds per day. In this study guenons disperses more fruit than the mangabeys who have a more varied diet. These results suggest that  monkeys of Moukalaba-Doudou disperse fewer seeds compared to monkeys in other sites in Africa.   Afin d’avoir une connaissance sur la quantité de graine dispersée et la contribution des petits primates diurnes dans l’écosystème, une étude  préliminaire sur quatre espèces de singes a été réalisée dans la partie nord-est du Parc National de Moukalaba-Doudou au Gabon. L’objectif était de  connaître les espèces de fruits dispersées et la biomasse animale chez deux grands groupes de singes à savoir les mangabeys (Cercocebus  torquatus et Lophocebus albigena) et les guenons (Cercopithecus cephus et Cercopithecus nictitans). En utilisant la méthode de la marche de  reconnaissance, nous avons suivi d’anciennes pistes et les tas de fumier ont été ramassés après observation directe des petits singes et dans les  dortoirs. Les crottes ont été lavées et les graines récoltées ont été identifiées. Un total de 104 échantillons fécaux des quatre espèces de singes a été  collectés. Les graines de 19 espèces de plantes ont été trouvées dans les excréments. Cercopithecus nictitans a dispersé plus d’espèces de  graines que les autres. La majorité des graines trouvées dans les déjections étaient des graines de Cissus dinklagei et Musanga cecropioides.  L’ensemble des résultats obtenus montre que les singes dispersent en moyenne 1114 graines par jour. Dans cette étude les guenons dispersent plus  de fruits que les mangabeys qui ont une alimentation plus variée. Ces résultats suggèrent que les singes de Moukalaba-Doudou dispersent  peu de graines en comparaison aux singes d’autres sites en Afrique.&nbsp

Ecological Aspects of Tabanids (Diptera: Tabanidae) in a Gabonese Cattle Ranch

To embark on an anti-vectorial fight against mechanical vectors of animal trypanosomosis, investigations were undertaken in order to determine the abundance, species diversity and daily activity of tabanids in a cattle ranch in Gabon. The nzi and vavoua traps were used to catch tabanids in three divisions of this ranch. In this study, 616 tabanids were captured: 349 (56.66%) in Division 1, 226 (36.69%) in Division 2 and 41 (6.66%) in Division 3. In the first Division, T. taeniola was the most abundant species with an Apparent Density (ADT) of 2.2, followed by H. pluvialis (ADT = 1.05). In the second Division, H. pluvialis was most abundant with ADT of 1.6, followed by T. taeniola (ADT = 0.38). In the last Division, the most abundant species was H. pluvialis (ADT = 0.15). Comparing the relative abundance of catches with sites (Divisions), we realized that there was no statistically significant difference in catches with trapping sites. It was noticed that Division 3 recorded the highest diversity index values. We realized that the nzi trap recorded higher tabanid catches than the vavoua trap. The diurnal activity rhythm of the most frequent species encountered slightly differed with prospection sites

Gastrointestinal Polyparasitism in Bushmeat in Zadie Department in Northeast Gabon

Wildlife is an important source of infectious pathogens, including parasites. Intestinal parasites are among the parasites associated with outbreaks of foodborne disease. This article analyses gastrointestinal parasites in fecal and intestine samples from wild animals used as bushmeat in the Zadie Department, Gabon. Identified parasites belonged to Fifteen taxa of gastrointestinal parasites, some of which are pathogenic for the human being. Gastrointestinal parasite detected in fecal samples from wildlife poses risks to humans, animal, and agricultural production due to the possibility of direct contact with feces. Much care should be given when manipulating games, particularly offal. In conclusion, monitoring wildlife parasites should be conducted in the One Health approach, which recognizes the close link between human, animal, plant, and ecosystem health. Wild animals harbor pathogens that can be infectious agents for humans, including parasites. This study aimed to identify gastrointestinal parasites and assess their prevalence and the potential risk for humans associated with consuming these animals. The research was conducted from August to December 2019. Parasitological analyses were carried out on the feces and intestines of 113 wild animals, including antelopes (24), duikers (58), porcupines (18), small monkeys (Cercopithecus) (8), nandinia (2), pangolin (1), genet (1), and a crocodile (1), from the Zadié Department in the province of Ogooué-Ivindo in the northeast of Gabon. The results revealed 15 taxa of gastrointestinal parasites, including nine nematodes: Strongylids (61/113), Strongyloides spp. (21/113), Ascaris spp. (21/113), Trichuris spp. (39/113), Capillaria spp. (9/113), Protostrongylus spp. (5/113), Enterobius spp. (8/113), Toxocara spp. (7/113) and Mammomonogamus spp. (5/113); three species of protozoa, namely Balantidium spp. (12/113), Eimeria spp. (17/113), and Entamoeba spp. (9/113); two species of trematodes, namely Fasciola spp. (18/113) and Paramphistomum spp. (21/113); and cestode species, Taenia spp. (1/113). The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitism in these animals was 85.84% (97/113). In addition, among these parasitic taxa, some are potential pathogens for humans, such as Ascaris spp., Balantidium spp., Entamoeba spp., and Taenia spp. The consumption of games, particularly offal, infested by these parasites, could threaten human health

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice during the COVID-19 Pandemic in South-East Gabon

COVID-19 is an emerging respiratory disease; it was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. This survey aimed to describe the knowledge, attitudes, perception and practices of the Gabonese public towards COVID-19. This study was performed on 1016 participants. All participants filled in the questionnaire voluntarily, reporting demographic characteristics and answering questions assessing their level of knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and practice towards COVID-19. Among participants, there were 535 men and 476 women. The mean age of the participants was 33.2 ± 16.7 years old. Almost all participants (98.1%) said that they had heard about COVID-19 but only 2.8% knew the pathogenic agent responsible for COVID-19. More than 80% knew that the disease could be transmitted by greeting infected people (87.3%), kissing an infected person (90.0%), touching an infected doorknob (83.5%) and attending meetings (83.9%). The mean knowledge score was higher among younger than older participants, higher among participants living in urban areas than those living in rural areas and higher among participants with higher levels of education than those with lower levels of education. In general, respondents had good knowledge of COVID-19 and a positive attitude towards using protective measures; however, there were differences according to gender, age group, place of residence, professional group and level of education

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of mothers regarding childhood malaria in southeastern Gabon

Abstract Background In Gabon, children under 5 years of age and pregnant women are the populations who are most at risk of malaria. Despite the presence of accessible health facilities, the community-based management of childhood fever remains a very common practice in Gabon, which may have serious consequences on child health. As such, the objective of this descriptive cross-sectional survey is to assess the mothers’ perception and knowledge of malaria and its severity. Methods Different households were selected using the simple random sampling method. Results A total of 146 mothers from different households were interviewed in the city of Franceville, in southern Gabon. Among the households interviewed, 75.3% had a low monthly income (below the minimum monthly income of $272.73). Among the respondents, 98.6% of mothers had heard of malaria and 55.5% had heard of severe malaria. Regarding preventive measures, 83.6% of mothers used an insecticide-treated net as a means of protection. Self-medication was practiced by 68.5% of women (100/146). Discussion The use of health facilities was motivated by better care, the decision of the head of the family, but above all by the severity of the disease. Women identified fever as the main symptom of malaria, which could be beneficial for a quicker and more efficient management of the disease in children. Malaria educational campaigns should also increase awareness of severe forms of malaria and its manifestations. This study shows that Gabonese mothers react quickly when their children have fever. However, several external factors lead them to practice self-medication as a first resort. In this survey population, the practice of self-medication did not depend on social status, marital status, level of education, on the young age or inexperience of mothers (p > 0.05). Conclusions The data revealed that mothers may underestimate severe malaria and delay medical care by self-medicating, which can have detrimental effects for children and hinder the regression of the disease

Systematic Review on Diversity and Distribution of Anopheles Species in Gabon: A Fresh Look at the Potential Malaria Vectors and Perspectives

Gabon is located in the malaria hyper-endemic zone, where data concerning malaria vector distribution remains fragmentary, making it difficult to implement an effective vector control strategy. Thus, it becomes crucial and urgent to undertake entomological surveys that will allow a better mapping of the Anopheles species present in Gabon. In this review, we examined different articles dealing with Anopheles in Gabon from ProQuest, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google scholar databases. After applying the eligibility criteria to 7543 articles collected from four databases, 42 studies were included that covered a 91-year period of study. The review revealed a wide diversity of Anopheles species in Gabon with a heterogeneous distribution. Indeed, our review revealed the presence of 41 Anopheles species, of which the most abundant were members of the Gambiae and Nili complexes and those of the Funestus and Moucheti groups. However, our review also revealed that the major and minor vectors of malaria in Gabon are present in both sylvatic, rural, and urban environments. The observation of human malaria vectors in sylvatic environments raises the question of the role that the sylvatic environment may play in maintaining malaria transmission in rural and urban areas. Ultimately, it appears that knowledge of biodiversity and spatial distribution of Anopheles mosquitoes is fragmentary in Gabon, suggesting that additional studies are necessary to complete and update these entomological data, which are useful for the implementation of vector control strategies