Epidemiological Survey of Urinary Schistosomiasisin some Primary Schools in a new focus behind Mount Cameroon, South West Region, Cameroon

Objective: To Provide baseline epidemiological data (Prevalence, Intensity of Infection and Knowledge) on Urinary Schistosomiasis in a New Focus behind Mount Cameroon.Design: Longitudinal Study.Setting: Eight (8) Primary Schools in Munyenge Health District, Fako Division, South West Cameroon.Subjects: Six hundred and thirty six (636) randomly selected primary school children aged between five and sixteen years old of both sexes.Results: The overall prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis was 78% with no significant difference (P.0.05) between the different sexes. Visible  haematuria had a prevalence of 35.1% with the highest prevalence observed in the 9 . 12-year-age group (87.5%). Response to  questionnaires was very poor with only 20.8% of the inhabitants having the knowledge of urinary schistosomiasis. Health . seeking behaviour showed that only 10.4% of infected children had sought treatment of any kind. Prevalence rate and intensity of infection varied significantly with age at P.0.05. Also mean egg counts varied significantly with schools (P.0.001).Conclusion: Munyenge village was identified as a very active focus for Urinary Schistosomiasis with heavy infection rates recorded in the schools closest to the springs. The construction of spring waters has provided suitable habitats for the survival of snails thereby enhancing the effective sustenance of transmission cycle which is capable of leading to further increase and severity of infection. Strengthening of school health programmes related to schistosomiasis in particular is, therefore, advocated

Essential oil composition of different fractions of Piper guineense Schumach. et Thonn from Cameroon using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and their insecticidal effect on Sitophilus oryzae (L.)

Essential oil fractions from dried seed powder of Piper guineense were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and evaluated for their insecticidal effects on Sitophilus oryzae L. The GC-MS analysis showed quantitative and qualitative differences between the oil fractions. Chromatographic results revealed chemical constituents like eugenol, piperanol, pinene, carene, copaene with insecticidal properties. New chemotypes were seen in the different fractions. Instead of β- caryophyllene reported in literature, α-caryophyllene was found in all the different fractions. Caryophyllene oxide, an oxygen-containing  sesquiterpene was present in all fractions except n-hexane. In addition to α-phellandrene present in all,  β-phellandrene, a monoterpene hydrocarbon was found in the n-Hexane fraction. Contact toxicity on wheat grains showed that all fractions caused significant (P < 0.001) mortality of the weevils. The oil fractions also showed variable contact toxicity on impregnated filter paper. All doses of the n-hexane fraction were very toxic to the test insect than the control, causing 100% mortality after five days of exposure. All the fractions produced a strong repellent activity against the test insect. These results suggest that P. guineense has potentials for development as an organic insecticide against S. oryzae and other pests of stored grains.Key words: Piper guineense Schum. et Thonn., essential oil fractions, chemotypes, toxicity, repellency, Sitophilus oryzae (L.)

Effect of planting dates on the population dynamics of Cylas puncticollis and sweet potato storage roots damage in South Western Cameroon

The sweetpotato Ipomoea batatas L. (Convolvulaceae) is one of the most important food crops in Africa and the world. The weevil, Cylas puncticollis (Fabricius), is the most destructive field and storage insect pest of sweet potato in Africa. Because of the cryptic feeding nature of the very destructive larval stages, chemical control is often not effective. A field study was therefore designed to determine the effects of different planting dates on infestation and damage of various sweet potato cultivars by the weevils in South Western Cameroon. Ten sweet potato cultivars were planted in different months i.e April and July for the wet season and October and January for the dry season in 2012 and 2013. The vines and storage roots were observed for C. puncticollis damage. Results showed a significance difference on the percentage infestation and yield (P< 0.05) amongst the various planting periods with the least infestation registered for the July (0.3%) while the highest infestation was realized in the January planting (9.22%). The highest yield was obtained from the April planting (7.22 tons/Ha) and the lowest was recorded for the October planting (4.92 tons/Ha). Differences in vine damage amongst the planting periods were not significant at (P > 0.05). Delayed harvesting during the rainy season led to only slight (9.1%) increase in C. puncticollis infestation at 135 DAP while the infestation was high during the dry season at harvest and further increased as harvesting was delayed more than 90 DAP. Sex ratio of weevils throughout the wet and dry seasons showed a higher ratio of females.Key words: Sweetpotato Cylas puncticollis, Planting dates, Percentage infestation

Efficacy and Tolerability of Malartin and Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine Combination against Uncomplicated Falciparum Malaria in Dibanda, Southwest Cameroon

Artemisinin derivatives are now the most potent and rapidly acting antimalarials. The aim of this study was to assess the in vivo efficacy and tolerability of a combination of Malartin (an artesunate) and sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) in the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Dibanda, Cameroon. A total of 197 subjects were recruited into the study and administered Malartin for 3 days and SP as a single dose on day 0. Only 174 of the subjects were successfully followed up on days 3, 7, and 14. The overall success rate of the drug combination was 92.53%. Parasite density decreased during the follow-up period in different age groups, sexes, and social classes. The prevalence of anaemia decreased from 22.99% at enrolment to 9.77% on day 14, and the difference was significant (P < 0.05) on all days of followup. The drug combination did not give rise to any serious side effects

Studies on aspects of the bionomics and pest status of Piezotrachelus varius Wagner (Coleoptera: curculionidae) on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) walp in the western derived savanna zone of Cameroon

Studies were conducted on the population fluctuations of the cowpea pod weevil, Piezotrachelus varius on cowpea at Melong, NY(lkon and Babessi, and the susceptibility of seeds of selected cowpea cultivars to its damage in the western derived savanna zone of Cameroon, during the 1999 and 2000 cowpea cropping seasons. Results showed that 1-2 P. varius adults/plant were found on cowpea plants during the pret10wering stage but increased at flowering and pod filling stages to a peak of 11 adults/plant at pod maturity. In the laboratory, adults continued to emerge daily within two weeks of storage of harvested pods. There were no significant differences in the duration of P. varius development on the different cowpea varieties tested. The developmental period from egg to pupation and mean pupal duration ranged from 10.4-11.1 days and 6.3-6.7 days, respectively. The total developmental period (egg - adult) on all tested cowpea varieties ranged from 16.6-17.7 days. Field evaluations of the damage to cowpea seeds by P. varius, showed that all cultivars screened were susceptible; the degree of seed damage varied with cowpea cultivars. The overall seed damage by P. varius at Melong was =50%, on Melong local, Foumbot local, IT90k-59, TVu13740 and IT87D-1676 cowpea cultivar while that on TVu3236, MTA 22 and Babessi local was 12% damage. The number of P. varius that emerged from infested pods of the different cowpea cultivars in storage, was positively co-related with the percentage of damaged seeds

Environmental factors affecting malaria parasite prevalence in rural Bolifamba, South- West Cameroon

The impact of some environmental factors on malaria parasite prevalence was investigated in rural Bolifamba, Cameroon. The study population comprised 1454 subjects aged 0 – 65 years. Malaria parasite prevalence was higher in the rainy (50.1%) than in the dry season (44.2%) with a significant difference (P=0.001) in mean parasite density between seasons. Individuals 15 years (37.4%). Malaria parasite prevalence (P=0.001) and parasite density (P=0.03) were higher in the individuals of wooden plank houses than those of cement brick houses. Inhabitants of houses surrounded by bushes or garbage heaps and swamps or stagnant water showed higher malaria parasite prevalence and densities compared with those from cleaner surroundings. Anopheles gambiae (63.8%) and A. funestus (32.8%) were associated with perennial transmission of malaria. Our data indicates that poor environmental sanitation and housing conditions may be significant risk factors for malaria parasite burden in Bolifamba. African Journal of Health Sciences Vol. 13 (1-2) 2008: pp. 20-2

Environmental Factors Affecting Malaria Parasite Prevalence in Rural Bolifamba, South- West Cameroon

The impact of some environmental factors on malaria parasite prevalence was investigated in rural Bolifamba, Cameroon. The study population comprised 1454 subjects aged 0 \u2013 65 years. Malaria parasite prevalence was higher in the rainy (50.1%) than in the dry season (44.2%) with a significant difference (P=0.001) in mean parasite density between seasons. Individuals &lt;15 years old, had significantly higher malaria parasite prevalence (55.5%) than those &gt;15 years (37.4%). Malaria parasite prevalence (P=0.001) and parasite density (P=0.03) were higher in the individuals of wooden plank houses than those of cement brick houses. Inhabitants of houses surrounded by bushes or garbage heaps and swamps or stagnant water showed higher malaria parasite prevalence and densities compared with those from cleaner surroundings. Anopheles gambiae (63.8%) and A. funestus (32.8%) were associated with perennial transmission of malaria. Our data indicates that poor environmental sanitation and housing conditions may be significant risk factors for malaria parasite burden in Bolifamba