Comparison of Different Sampling Methods to Catch Lymphatic Filariasis Vectors in a Sudan Savannah Area of Mali

There is a need for better tools to monitor the transmission of lymphatic filariasis and malaria in areas undergoing interventions to interrupt transmission. Therefore, mosquito collection methods other than human landing catch (HLC) are needed. This study aimed to compare the Ifakara tent trap type C (ITTC) and the Biogents sentinel trap (BGST) to the HLC in areas with different vector densities. Mosquitoes were collected in two villages in Mali from July to December in 2011 and 2012. The three methods were implemented at each site with one ITTC, one BGST, and one HLC unit that consisted of one room with two collectors—one indoor and the other outdoor. The Anopheles collected in 2011 were individually dissected, whereas those from 2012 were screened in pools using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to determine the maximum infection prevalence likelihood (MIPL) for Wuchereria bancrofti and Plasmodium falciparum. The dissection of the females also allowed to assess the parity rates, as well its results. Over the 2 years, the HLC method collected 1,019 Anopheles, yields that were 34- and 1.5-fold higher than those with the BGST and ITTC, respectively. None of the dissected Anopheles were infected. The RT-PCR results showed comparable MIPL between HLC and ITTC for W. bancrofti with one infected pool from each trap’s yield (respectively 0.03% [0.0009–0.2%] and 0.04% [0.001–0.2%]). For P. falciparum, no infected pool was recovered from BGST. The ITTC is a good alternative to HLC for xenomonitoring of program activities

Accuracy Assessment of the ESA CCI 20M Land Cover Map: Kenya, Gabon, Ivory Coast and South Africa

This working paper presents the overall and spatial accuracy assessment of the European Space Agency (ESA) 20 m prototype land cover map for Africa for four countries: Kenya, Gabon, Ivory Coast and South Africa. This accuracy assessment was undertaken as part of the ESA-funded CrowdVal project. The results varied from 44% (for South Africa) to 91% (for Gabon). In the case of Kenya (56% overall accuracy) and South Africa, these values are largely caused by the confusion between grassland and shrubland. However, if a weighted confusion matrix is used, which diminishes the importance of the confusion between grassland and shrubs, the overall accuracy for Kenya increases to 79% and for South Africa, 75%. The overall accuracy for Ivory Coast (47%) is a result of a highly fragmented land cover, which makes it a difficult country to map with remote sensing. The exception was Gabon with a high overall accuracy of 91%, but this can be explained by the high amount of tree cover across the country, which is a relatively easy class to map

O Tamasheq na convergência com o Francês no território africano: caso do Mali

Esta investigação centra-se no Tamasheq na convergência com o Francês no território africano: caso do Mali. A escolha do tema justifica-se porque a área de substrato Tamasheq / Francês fundamentado na Pedagogia Convergente permanece pouco explorada. O objetivo geral é o de registrar e analisar dados sobre o funcionamento do bilinguismo na aprendizagem de alunos cuja língua nacional é o Tamasheq no contexto escolar de aulas ministradas em Francês. O procedimento metodológico é de modalidade qualitativa, segundo Bogdan e Biklen (1982), por ser mais apropriada à proposta de analisar a aprendizagem de alunos cuja língua nacional é o Tamasheq no contexto escolar de aulas ministradas em francês. Os sujeitos da pesquisa são 5 alunos do primeiro semestre do 4º ano da Faculdade de Letras, Arte, Línguas e Ciências Humanas da Universidade de Bamako, no Mali, cuja língua materna é o Tamasheq e o Francês a língua estrangeira de sua escolarização. A investigação constituiu–se de: busca de literatura referente à Pedagogia Convergente e Competência em Educação; da coleta de dados por meio de questionário composto de questões abertas e fechadas. A análise de dados das perguntas fechadas focalizou concordâncias e discordâncias das respostas, organizadas em Quadro, acompanhada de comentários a respeito. A análise das perguntas abertas elencou o enfatizado individualmente pelos sujeitos, organizadas em Quadro, acompanhada de comentários a respeito. A reflexão sobre os dados analisados, à luz da fundamentação teórica reiterou: 1) a contribuição da Pedagogia Convergente para a qualidade da aprendizagem escolar de estudantes tamasheq; 2) a relevância do ambiente de estudo marcado pelo ensino bilíngue Tamasheque e Francês.This research focuses on the Tamasheq in convergence with the French African territory: the Mali case. The choice of subject is justified because the substrate area Tamasheq / French based on the Convergent Pedagogy remains little explored. The overall goal is to record and analyze data on the operation of bilingualism in the learning of students whose national language is Tamasheq in the school context classes taught in French. The methodological approach is qualitative mode, according to Bogdan and Biklen (1982), it is more appropriate to analyze the proposed learning students whose national language is Tamasheq in the school context classes taught in French. The subjects are five students in the first semester of the 4th year of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Languages and Human Sciences at the University of Bamako, Mali, whose native language is Tamasheq and French foreign language of their schooling. The investigation constituted - is: literature search related to Convergent Pedagogy and Competence in Education; data collection through a questionnaire consisting of open and closed questions. The analysis of data from the closed questions focused agreement and disagreement responses, organized in frame, accompanied by comments about it. The analysis of open questions has listed the emphasized by individual subjects, organized in frame, accompanied by comments about it. Reflection on the data analyzed in the light of theoretical foundation reiterated: 1) the contribution of the Convergent Pedagogy for the quality of school learning tamasheq students; 2) the relevance of the study environment marked by bilingual education Tamasheque and French.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superio

Résumé La diversité floristique du Jardin botanique Roland Portères de l'IRAG au Centre Régional de Recherche Agronomique de Sérédou en Guinée Forestière

International audienceL’Institut de Recherche Agronomique de Guinée (IRAG), par son Centre Régional de Recherche Agronomique de la Guinée Forestière (CRRA-GF), a hérité avec la station agronomique expérimentale de Sérédou d’un jardin botanique créé par Roland Portères, agronome et pionnier de l’ethnobotanique. Ce jardin botanique était à l’origine un fragment de forêt dense humide naturelle,que Portères a enrichi entre 1939 et 1945 en y installant différentes espèces à usages multiples rapportées de ses nombreuses missions. Conscient de la valeur patrimoniale de ce lieu, le CRRA-GF a entrepris il y a une quinzaine d’années d’importants travaux de réhabilitation (subdivision en blocs, relevés floristiques, étiquetage des blocs et de certaines espèces végétales...) ainsi que des travaux d’introduction d’espèces menacées, rares et utiles (alimentaire, médicinale, artisanal et autres), mais ces travaux n’ont pu être poursuivis, faute de moyens financiers et matériels. Le programme SEP-2D finance le projet JaBoReVa (Réhabilitation et Valorisation du Jardin Botanique Portères) et nous permet de reprendre et compléter ces travaux. Les activités du projet ont porté sur: (i) la réhabilitation du jardin (ii) son enrichissement et (iii) sa valorisation en vue d’une ouverture au public. Réhabilitation:1 chemin bordure de 2865 met des allées délimitant les 113 blocs du jardinouverts, 1432 piquets de haies vives délimitant le jardinposés, 1 pancarte de signalisation, 10 pancartes d’orientationet400 étiquettes d’identification installés.Enrichissement:1 pépinière forestière permanente de 3500 m²créée, 650 plantes forestières introduites.Valorisation:2 cartes du jardin tracées, 1 sentier botaniquede 3 km de long et 1,5 m de large créé, 2 toilettes publiques et4 bancs installés. LeJardin Botanique est réhabilité, plus de 400 espèces végétales utiles et de conservation prioritaire de l’Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature (l’UICN) et une ombrière de plus de 50 espèces d’orchidées y sont préservées. Enfin c’est un lieu ressource pour l’apprentissage et la reconnaissance des plantes utiles de la Guinée

O TAMASHEQ NA CONVERGÊNCIA COM O FRANCÊS NO TERRITÓRIO AFRICANO: CASO DO POVO TUAREGUE NO DESERTO DO SAARA, NORTE DO MALI

Esta investigação centra-se no Tamasheq na convergência com o Francês no território africano (Mali). A escolha do tema justifica-se porque a área de substrato Tamasheq / Francês fundamentado na Pedagogia Convergente permanece pouco explorada. O objetivo geral é o de registrar e analisar dados sobre o funcionamento do bilinguismo na aprendizagem de alunos cuja língua nacional é o Tamasheq no contexto escolar de aulas ministradas em Francês. A investigação constituiu–se de: busca de literatura referente à Pedagogia Convergente. A reflexão, à luz da fundamentação teórica reiterou a contribuição da Pedagogia Convergente para a qualidade da aprendizagem escolar de estudantes tamasheq e a relevância do ambiente de estudo marcado pelo ensino bilíngue Tamasheque e Francês.

Facteurs Associés à l’Adhésion des Femmes en Age de Procréer au Dépistage du Cancer du Col de l’Utérus dans le District de Bamako-Mali, 2017

Introduction: En 2015, au Mali, le cancer du col de l’utérus (CCU) représentait la moitié des cancers chez la femme et le taux de dépistage était de 11% au plan national et de 17% à Bamako. L’étude vise à identifier les facteurs associés à l’adhésion des femmes en âge de procréer au dépistage CCU à Bamako. Méthodes: L’étude Cas-Témoins du 1er Février au 31 Mars 2017 portait sur les femmes en âge de procréer résidant à Bamako. Cas : toute femme en âge de procréer avec un CCU résident depuis au moins 3 mois. Témoin : femme jamais dépistée, vivant dans le voisinage des Cas. L’analyse uni et multivariée a été faite avec Excel® et Epi-info® version 7. Résultats: Au total 768 femmes dont 256 Cas et 512 Témoins ont participé à l’étude. L’âge moyen était de 33,7 ± 8,1 ans chez les Cas vs 27,9 ± 8,7 ans chez les Témoins. Les facteurs indépendants associés étaient : source d’information (Agent de santé) [OR : 3,75 ; IC95% (2,3-6,2)], âge des femmes (30-49 ans) [OR : 3,3(2,3-4,7)], connaissance du CCU [OR : 2,3 ; (1,4-3,9)], connaissance du dépistage [OR : 2 ; (1,3-3,1)]. Les principales raisons de non adhésion étaient : manque d’information 163 (32%), aucune raison 148 (29%), pas de temps 54 (11%), peur d’être dépister positive 35 (7%), pas de maladie 31 (6%). Conclusion: Les femmes âgées de 30-49 ans et celles ayant une connaissance sur le cancer du col et sa prévention adhèrent plus au dépistage. Mots-clés : Facteurs Associés, Dépistage, Cancer Col Utérus, Bamako, Mali.   English Title: Factors Associated with Adhesion of Women of Childbearing Age to Cervical Cancer Screening in the District of Bamako-Mali, 2017Introduction :Cervical cancer contributed to half of cancers in women in Mali in 2015 and the screening rate was 11% at national level and 17 % in the district of Bamako. The study investigate factors associated with adherence of women in reproductive age to cervical cancer screening in Bamako. Methods: We conducted a case-control study from 1st february to 31 march 2017 among women of reprouctive age living in Bamako. Case was woman in reproductive age with cervical cancer living since three months in the study area. Control was woman never screened and living in the neighborhood of cases. A univariate and multivariate analysses were performed using Epi-Info® version 7 and Excel®. Results : Globally, 768 women with 256 cases and 512 controls were included in the study.  Mea nage was 33,7 ± 8,1 in cases versus 27,9 ±8,7 years in control group. Factors independently associated with adhesison to cervical cancer screening were information source (health employee) (odds ratio (95% confident interval, 3,75 [2,3-6,2]), women age of 30 to 49 years (3,3 [2,3-4,7]), knowledge of screening (2,0 [1,3-3,1]). Major reasons of non adhésion to screening were : lack of information 163 (32%), none reason (lack of time 54 (11%), worry of a positive screening 35(7%) and no illness 31(6%). Conclusion :Women of 30 to 49 age old and those with knowoledge on cervical cancer and its prevention more adhere to screening. Keywords: Associated factor, screening, cervical cancer, Bamako, Mali&nbsp

Genetic diversity of ectomycorrhizal Basidiomycetes from African and Indian tropical rain forests

International audienceEctomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi have a worldwide distribution. However, the ecology of tropical ECM fungi is poorly documented, limiting our understanding of the symbiotic associations between tropical plants and fungi. ECM Basidiomycete diversity was investigated for the first time in two tropical rain forests in Africa (Western Upper Guinea) and in Asia (Western Ghats, India), using a fragment of the mitochondrial large subunit rRNA gene to type 140 sporocarps and 54 ectomycorrhizas. To evaluate taxonomic diversity, phylogenetic analyses were performed, and 40 sequences included from identified European specimens were used as taxonomic benchmarks. Five clades were recovered corresponding to six taxonomic groups: boletoids, sclerodermatoids, russuloids, thelephoroids, and a clade grouping the Amanitaceae and Tricholomataceae families. Our results revealed that the Russulaceae species display a great diversity with several putative new species, especially in Guinea. Other taxonomic issues at family/section levels are also briefly discussed. This study provides preliminary insights into taxonomic diversity, ECM status, and biogeographic patterns of ECM fungi in tropical two rain forest ecosystems, which appear to be as diverse as in temperate and boreal forests

Squamous Cell Carcinoma in African Children with Xeroderma Pigmentosum: Three Case Reports

Introduction: Xeroderma pigmentosum is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disease. This disease predisposes patients to early-onset skin cancers, particularly squamous cell carcinoma. Here, we report 3 pediatric cases, including 2 deaths. Observation: The subjects included 2 boys and 1 girl with skin type VI. All subjects were from consanguineous marriages, and the average age was 7.6 years. The patients all had ulcerative budding tumor lesions in the cephalic region, and the mean disease duration was 18 months. In all 3 cases, the diagnosis of xeroderma pigmentosum was made before the poikilodermal appearance of sun-exposed areas and photophobia. Neurological-type mental retardation was noted in 1 case. Histology confirmed squamous cell carcinoma in all 3 cases. The evolutions were marked by the death of 2 children (cases 1 and 3). In one case, the outcome was favorable following cancer excision and subsequent chemotherapy with adjuvant radiotherapy. Conclusion: Squamous cell carcinoma is a serious complication related to xeroderma pigmentosum in Sub-Saharan Africa. Prevention is based on the early diagnosis of xeroderma pigmentosum, black skin photoprotection, screening and early treatment of lesions, and genetic counseling