Evaluation de l’efficacité d’un bio-fongicide à base de Lecanicillium lecanii (Zimmerm) sur les cercosporioses de l’arachide (Arachis hypogaea L.) en milieu réel

La lutte biologique est une méthode alternative à la lutte chimique ayant des effets néfastes sur la santé des producteurs, des consommateurs et de l’environnement. Les maladies foliaires, en l’occurrence les cercosporioses causées par Cercospora arachidicola et Phaeoisariopsis personata handicapent la production arachidière dans le monde en général, et particulièrement au Burkina Faso. Cette étude a consisté à utiliser une souche A de Lecanicillium lecanii, à des traitements différents contre le développement des cercosporioses. Pour ce faire, quatre traitements, T1, T2, T3 et T4, ont été appliqués sur deux variétés, la TS32-1 et la PC79-79 respectivement chaque deux jour, chaque semaine, chaque dix jour et chaque deux semaine. Le dispositif expérimental est un bloc de Fisher complètement randomisé à trois répétitions, constituée chacune de 5 blocs dont 4 blocs correspondant chacun à un traitement et un bloc constituant le témoin. L’étude, conduite à Gampèla, au Burkina Faso a permis de mesurer les paramètres tels que la levée au 21ème JAS, la densité de peuplement au 32ème JAS, l’incidence des cercosporioses et l’envahissement foliaire, le taux de survie, le pourcentage de défoliation et les composantes de rendement. L’étude a permis de montrer que les traitements ont eu un effet réductif sur le développement des cercosporioses au niveau des deux variétés, surtout sur la variété sensible TS32-1. Le traitement effectué chaque deux jour a donné le meilleur contrôle des cercosporioses avec une note moyenne de 3,5 sur TS32- 1 et de 2,75 sur PC79-79. Sur les composantes du rendement, les traitements ont également permis d’obtenir de bons résultats comparés aux résultats du témoin pour les deux variétés. En effet, le témoin a enregistré de 318,7 et 402,3 kg/ha respectivement pour les variétés TS32-1 et PC79-79 et les autres traitements ont obtenu des rendements compris entre 507,7 et 1656,7 kg/ha. Biological control is an alternative method to chemical control, which has adverse effects on the health of producers, consumers and the environment. Foliar diseases, in this case cercosporioses caused by Cercospora arachidicola and Phaeoisariopsis personata, handicap peanut production in the world in general, and particularly in Burkina Faso. This study consisted in using a Lecanicillium lecanii strain A, with different treatments against the development of cercosporioses. To do this, four treatments, T1, T2, T3 and T4, were applied to two varieties, TS32-1 and PC79-79 respectively every two days, every week, every ten days and every two weeks. The experimental set-up was a completely randomised Fisher block with three replicates, each consisting of five blocks, four of which corresponded to a treatment and one to a control. The study, conducted in Gampèla, Burkina Faso, measured parameters such as emergence at 21 days after planting, stand density at 32 days after planting, incidence of cercosporiosis and leaf invasion, survival rate, defoliation percentage and yield components. The study showed that the treatments had a reducing effect on cercosporium development in both varieties, especially in the susceptible variety TS32-1. The treatment applied every second day gave the best cercospora control with an average score of 3.5 on TS32-1 and 2.75 on PC79- 79. On the output components, the treatments also performed well compared to the control for both varieties. Indeed, the control recorded 318.7 and 402.3 kg/ha for TS32-1 and PC79-79 respectively and the other treatments obtained yields between 507.7 and 1656.7 kg/ha

Impact of Jatropha plantation on soil chemical and biological properties in the South Sudanian region in Burkina Faso

In Burkina Faso, about 100,000 ha of Jatropha were planted during the past 10 years. Despite this enthusiasm, few results exist on the impact of the plant on soil properties. This study contributes to better knowledge of Jatropha farming and was carried out in 2013 with Jatropha farmers in Torokoro and Tin villages in the south Sudanian zone of Burkina Faso (rainfall 900-1200 mm). Data collection plots of 400 m2 repeated 3 times were installed in 3 farmers’ fields in each village. Soil samples were collected at 3 distances (D0= under the crown, D1= 1m and D2= 2m) from the Jatropha trees lines and in a fallow as a control sample for each field. The results showed significant differences between distances for soil pH. Soil nutrients increase with distance from the crown (from 9.33% to 12.20%) for available phosphorus in Torokoro-6 years and decrease from 22.45% to 23.71% in Torokoro-2 years). Soil respiration and microbial biomass decreases also with distance. The density of spores of mycorrhizal fungi is higher for the control soils (14.64%) and it decreases from crown to 2m (from 2.22% to 9.53% in Tin-2 years). The study showed the contribution of Jatropha trees on soil fertility improvement.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Jatropha, soil biology, microbial biomass, carbon, nitrogen, Burkina Fas

Safety of the methylene blue plus chloroquine combination in the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in young children of Burkina Faso [ISRCTN27290841]

BACKGROUND: Safe, effective and affordable drug combinations against falciparum malaria are urgently needed for the poor populations in malaria endemic countries. Methylene blue (MB) combined with chloroquine (CQ) has been considered as one promising new regimen. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of CQ-MB in African children with uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Secondary objectives were to assess the efficacy and the acceptance of CQ-MB in a rural population of West Africa. METHODS: In this hospital-based randomized controlled trial, 226 children (6–59 months) with uncomplicated falciparum malaria were treated in Burkina Faso. The children were 4:1 randomized to CQ-MB (n = 181; 25 mg/kg CQ and 12 mg/kg MB over three days) or CQ (n = 45; 25 mg/kg over three days) respectively. The primary outcome was the incidence of severe haemolysis or other serious adverse events (SAEs). Efficacy outcomes were defined according to the WHO 2003 classification system. Patients were hospitalized for four days and followed up until day 14. RESULTS: No differences in the incidence of SAEs and other adverse events were observed between children treated with CQ-MB (including 24 cases of G6PD deficiency) compared to children treated with CQ. There was no case of severe haemolysis and also no significant difference in mean haemoglobin between study groups. Treatment failure rates were 53.7% (95% CI [37.4%; 69.3%]) in the CQ group compared to 44.0% (95% CI [36.3%; 51.9%]) in the CQ-MB group. CONCLUSION: MB is safe for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria, even in G6PD deficient African children. However, the efficacy of the CQ-MB combination has not been sufficient at the MB dose used in this study. Future studies need to assess the efficacy of MB at higher doses and in combination with appropriate partner drugs

A qualitative investigation into knowledge, beliefs, and practices surrounding mastitis in sub-Saharan Africa: what implications for vertical transmission of HIV?

BACKGROUND: Mastitis constitutes an important risk factor in HIV vertical transmission. Very little, however, is known on how women in sub-Saharan Africa conceptualise health problems related to breastfeeding, such as mastitis, and how they act when sick. We aimed at filling this gap in knowledge, by documenting the indigenous nosography of mastitis, health seeking behaviour, and remedies for prophylaxis and treatment in rural sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: The study was conducted in the Nouna Health District, rural Burkina Faso. We employed a combination of in-depth individual interviews and focus group discussions reaching both women and guérisseuers. All material was transcribed, translated, and analysed inductively, applying data and analyst triangulation. RESULTS: Respondents perceived breast problems related to lactation to be highly prevalent and described a sequence of symptoms which resembles the biomedical understanding of pathologies related to breastfeeding, ranging from breast engorgement (stasis) to inflammation (mastitis) and infection (breast abscess). The aetiology of disease, however, differed from biomedical notions as both women and guerisseurs distinguished between "natural" and "unnatural" causes of health problems related to breastfeeding. To prevent and treat such pathologies, women used a combination of traditional and biomedical therapies, depending on the perceived cause of illness. In general, however, a marked preference for traditional systems of care was observed. CONCLUSION: Health problems related to breastfeeding are perceived to be very common in rural Burkina Faso. Further epidemiological research to assess the actual prevalence of such pathologies is urgently needed to inform the design of adequate control measures, especially given the impact of mastitis on HIV vertical transmission. Our investigation into local illness concepts and health care seeking behaviour is useful to ensure that such measures be culturally sensitive. Further research into the efficacy of local customs and traditional healing methods and their effect on viral load in breast milk is also urgently needed

Biological control of the millet head miner Heliocheilus albipunctella in the Sahelian region by augmentative releases of the parasitoid wasp Habrobracon hebetor: effectiveness and farmers’ perceptions

On-farm augmentative releases of the parasitoid Habrobracon hebetor (Say) for controlling the millet head miner (MHM) Heliocheilus albipunctella (de Joannis) were tested in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from 2007 to 2009. In addition, a survey of farmers’ perceptions of insect pests, with particular focus on MHM, and the biological control program (BCP) was carried out. There was a significant increase of MHM parasitization rate after the releases, with up to 97% mortality. The survey on farmers’ perceptions revealed a fair knowledge of the MHM and the ability of farmers to describe the pest and the damage it caused. Farmers claimed that the biocontrol agent H. hebetor is effective and perceived a significant gain in grain yield due to this control strategy. Implications of these findings for a large extension of the MHM biocontrol program are discussed

Assessment of indirect cost-of-illness in a subsistence farming society by using different valuation methods

Indirect costs or productive labour time lost are the largest share of household economic burden of illness. However, the estimate of household indirect cost can vary depending on the valuation methods used. We therefore estimated household indirect cost in a subsistence farming society in Burkina Faso based on daily production value. These results were validated by using willingness-to-pay method and current wage rate. Among the three methods, the value of a day lost for adults assessed by willingness-to-pay method was considerably higher than other methods. There were no significant differences in indirect costs estimated by daily production value and wage rate. There were significantly higher indirect costs for households which were of higher economic status when daily production value was used. It might raise a question of equity. The willingness-to-pay method can capture the various aspects of indirect cost such as differences among age groups and gender, important individual characteristics and seasons. Thus, it is an appropriate approach for rural subsistence fanner communities. Estimation of indirect cost by wage rate can also be used as a rapid estimation of indirect cost in a rural area in developing countries as an alternative for daily production value. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

"To enrol or not to enrol?": A qualitative investigation of demand for health insurance in rural West Africa

In spite of the fact that feeble levels of participation have long been identified as a major constraint to the successful long-term implementation of community-based health insurance (CBI) in low-income countries, evidence on determinants of enrolment in CBI is still lacking. The application of econometric modelling has provided a partial answer to the question, but on its own it has proved to be insufficient to guide policy making. This paper aims to fill this gap in knowledge using qualitative research methods. In-depth interviews with 32 household heads were conducted in the Nouna Health District, Burkina Faso, West Africa to assess determinants of enrolment in a newly established CBI scheme. The findings highlight that factors previously neglected in the literature, such as institutional rigidities and socio-cultural practices, play an important role in shaping the decision to enrol. The discussion of the findings focuses on the policy implications, offering concrete recommendations to maximise enrolment, within and beyond Burkina Faso.Health insurance Africa Demand Community-based health insurance Burkina Faso