Résistance de la Tique Invasive Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) Microplus à la Nouvelle Gamme d’Acaricides Distribués en Côte d’Ivoire

Ce travail avait pour objectif d’améliorer la lutte contre la tique Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus en Côte d’Ivoire en apportant une assistance aux éleveurs dans le choix des acaricides qui leur sont proposés. Pour ce faire, il a été question de répertorier les spécialités d’acaricides distribuées en Côte d’Ivoire pour le détiquage des bovins et par la suite, évaluer le niveau de résistance-sensibilité des tiques R. (B.) microplus à ces acaricides dans les élevages péri-urbains de bovins au sud de la Côte d’Ivoire, précisément dans la zone d’Azaguié où la tique exotique R. (B.) microplus a été découverte pour la première fois en Afrique de l’Ouest. Il ressort de l’étude que six (6) molécules acaricides sont officiellement distribuées en Côte d’Ivoire (Alphacyperméthrine, Cyperméthrine, Amitraz, Fluméthrine, Deltaméthrine et Fipronil) sous diverses appellations commerciales. Face aux échecs thérapeutiques recurents et aux plaintes des éleveurs, une nouvelle gamme d’acaricides est actuellement proposée aux éleveurs. Elle est essentiellement constituée de produits à base de fluméthrine, de fipronil, de deltaméthrine ou de cyperméthrine associée au chlorpyriphos, au butoxide de pipéronyl et à la citronnelle. La méthode de référence LPT (Larval Packet Test) standardisée par la FAO a été utilisée pour évaluer le niveau de résistance de cette tique invasive R. (B.) microplus à trois (3) molécules acaricides de cette gamme à savoir la deltaméthrine, la fluméthrine et la nouvelle spécialité de molécules associées (cyperméthrine-chlorpyriphos-citronnelle-butoxide de pipéronyl). Une variation du niveau de résistance a été signalée d’un acaricide à l’autre vis-à-vis des populations de tiques R. (B.) microplus testées. L’étude a montré une résistance des populations de tiques R. (B.) microplus à la deltaméthrine et à la fluméthrine. Quant à la nouvelle spécialité de molécules associées, elle a présenté un niveau de sensibilité acceptable exprimé par les populations de tiques R. (B.) microplus.   This work aimed to improve the fight against the tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in Côte d'Ivoire by providing assistance to breeders in the choice of acaricides marketed. To do this, the acaricides distributed in Côte d'Ivoire for cattle treatment was inventoried and then, the level of resistance- susceptibility of R. (B.) microplus to these acaricides was estimated in peri-urban cattle farms in southern Côte d'Ivoire, precisely in the area of Azaguié where the exotic tick R. (B.) microplus was discovered for the first time in West Africa. It appears from the study that six (6) acaricidal molecules are officially distributed in Côte d'Ivoire (Alphacypermethrin, Cypermethrin, Amitraz, Flumethrin, Deltamethrin and Fipronil) under various trade names. Faced with recurrent treatment failures and complaints from breeders, a new range of acaricides is currently being offered to breeders. It essentially consists of products based on flumethrin, fipronil, deltamethrin or cypermethrin associated with chlorpyrifos, piperonyl butoxid and citronella. The reference method LPT (Larval Packet Test) standardized by the FAO was used to estimate the level of resistance of the invasive tick R. (B.) microplus to three (3) acaricides, namely deltamethrin, flumethrin and the new product of associated acaricides (cypermethrin-chlorpyrifos-piperonyl butoxid- citronella). A variation of the resistance of R. (B.) microplus has been reported from one acaricide to another. The study showed a resistance of R. (B.) microplus tick populations to deltamethrin and flumethrin. However, an acceptable level of susceptibility expressed by the population ticks of R. (B.) microplus to the association of acaricides (cypermethrin-chlorpyrifos-piperonyl butoxid-citronella) was reported

Résistance de la Tique Invasive Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) Microplus à la Nouvelle Gamme d’Acaricides Distribués en Côte d’Ivoire

Ce travail avait pour objectif d’améliorer la lutte contre la tique Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus en Côte d’Ivoire en apportant une assistance aux éleveurs dans le choix des acaricides qui leur sont proposés. Pour ce faire, il a été question de répertorier les spécialités d’acaricides distribuées en Côte d’Ivoire pour le détiquage des bovins et par la suite, évaluer le niveau de résistance-sensibilité des tiques R. (B.) microplus à ces acaricides dans les élevages péri-urbains de bovins au sud de la Côte d’Ivoire, précisément dans la zone d’Azaguié où la tique exotique R. (B.) microplus a été découverte pour la première fois en Afrique de l’Ouest. Il ressort de l’étude que six (6) molécules acaricides sont officiellement distribuées en Côte d’Ivoire (Alphacyperméthrine, Cyperméthrine, Amitraz, Fluméthrine, Deltaméthrine et Fipronil) sous diverses appellations commerciales. Face aux échecs thérapeutiques recurents et aux plaintes des éleveurs, une nouvelle gamme d’acaricides est actuellement proposée aux éleveurs. Elle est essentiellement constituée de produits à base de fluméthrine, de fipronil, de deltaméthrine ou de cyperméthrine associée au chlorpyriphos, au butoxide de pipéronyl et à la citronnelle. La méthode de référence LPT (Larval Packet Test) standardisée par la FAO a été utilisée pour évaluer le niveau de résistance de cette tique invasive R. (B.) microplus à trois (3) molécules acaricides de cette gamme à savoir la deltaméthrine, la fluméthrine et la nouvelle spécialité de molécules associées (cyperméthrine-chlorpyriphos-citronnelle-butoxide de pipéronyl). Une variation du niveau de résistance a été signalée d’un acaricide à l’autre vis-à-vis des populations de tiques R. (B.) microplus testées. L’étude a montré une résistance des populations de tiques R. (B.) microplus à la deltaméthrine et à la fluméthrine. Quant à la nouvelle spécialité de molécules associées, elle a présenté un niveau de sensibilité acceptable exprimé par les populations de tiques R. (B.) microplus.   This work aimed to improve the fight against the tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in Côte d'Ivoire by providing assistance to breeders in the choice of acaricides marketed. To do this, the acaricides distributed in Côte d'Ivoire for cattle treatment was inventoried and then, the level of resistance- susceptibility of R. (B.) microplus to these acaricides was estimated in peri-urban cattle farms in southern Côte d'Ivoire, precisely in the area of Azaguié where the exotic tick R. (B.) microplus was discovered for the first time in West Africa. It appears from the study that six (6) acaricidal molecules are officially distributed in Côte d'Ivoire (Alphacypermethrin, Cypermethrin, Amitraz, Flumethrin, Deltamethrin and Fipronil) under various trade names. Faced with recurrent treatment failures and complaints from breeders, a new range of acaricides is currently being offered to breeders. It essentially consists of products based on flumethrin, fipronil, deltamethrin or cypermethrin associated with chlorpyrifos, piperonyl butoxid and citronella. The reference method LPT (Larval Packet Test) standardized by the FAO was used to estimate the level of resistance of the invasive tick R. (B.) microplus to three (3) acaricides, namely deltamethrin, flumethrin and the new product of associated acaricides (cypermethrin-chlorpyrifos-piperonyl butoxid- citronella). A variation of the resistance of R. (B.) microplus has been reported from one acaricide to another. The study showed a resistance of R. (B.) microplus tick populations to deltamethrin and flumethrin. However, an acceptable level of susceptibility expressed by the population ticks of R. (B.) microplus to the association of acaricides (cypermethrin-chlorpyrifos-piperonyl butoxid-citronella) was reported

Integration agriculture elevage dans les exploitations agropastorales au Nord de la Cote d’Ivoire

Dans la région de Korhogo au nord de la Côte d’Ivoire, les systèmes agropastoraux et l’intégration agriculture-élevage sont de plus en plus privilégiés par les paysans afin de faire face à la croissance démographique, à la cherté des intrants chimiques, aux problèmes fonciers, etc.). Cette étude vise à analyser la diversité des exploitations agropastorales (EAP) selon les zones agro-écologiques, avec un focus sur l‘intégration agriculture-élevage au sein de l’unité de production. La méthodologie s’appuie sur la méthode active de recherche participative (MARP), des interviews et des enquêtes approfondies sur un échantillon de 82 EAP dans deux villages. Le zonage agro-écologique a été actualisé à dire d’acteurs du fait de la croissance démographique, et la diversification des activités. Cinq types (structurels et fonctionnels) d’EAP ont été définis. Les grandes et très grandes EAP (1/4 des EAP) intensifient sur coton et maïs (quantité élevée de fumure organique (FO) sur le coton et quantité élevée de NPK sur le maïs) ; elles sont plus représentées en zone moins dense (Tiébila). Les moyennes EAP mixtes agriculture-élevage (20 % des EAP) et les petites et moyennes EAP d’agriculteurs (55 % des EAP), plus représentées en zone dense (Moroviné), combinent des fertilisants organiques et minéraux sur coton et céréales. Cette étude conclue sur la nécessité de prendre en compte la saturation croissante de l’espace, les changements de pratiques agropastorales et la diversité des EAP pour mieux cibler et rendre plus pertinentes et efficaces les actions d’accompagnement des EAP. Un accent particulier doit être mis sur la gestion de la fertilité des sols et l’amélioration de la productivité des EAP dans une optique de conservation des ressources naturelles.Mots clés: Analyse, diversité, système agropastoral, Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire, Intégration AgricultureélevageEnglish Title: Crop-livestock integration in the north of Ivory CostEnglish AbstractIn the area of Korhogo in the north of Ivory Coast, the agropastoral systems and the integration of crop and livestock are more and more privileged by the farmers to face population growth, high input cost, land problem, etc. This study aims at analyzing the diversity of agropastoral exploitations (EAP) according to agro-ecological zones, with an emphasis on the relations between crop and livestock. Methodology is based on the active participative research method (MARP), interviews and comprehensive investigations on a sample of 82 EAP in two villages. Agro-ecological zoning has been updated with the sayings of agropastoral actors according to population growth, and diversification of  activities. Five types (structural and functional) of EAP have been defined. Large and very large EAP (1/4 of the EAP) specialize on cotton and maize (more organic manure on the cotton and more mineral one on the maize); they are more represented in less dense zone (Tiébila). Average mixed crop and livestock EAP (20 % of the EAP) and the small and average of farmers (55 % of the EAP), more represented in dense zone (Moroviné), use on the same basis organic and mineral fertilizers on cotton and cereals. This study concluded on the need for taking into account the growing saturation of area and the diversity of EAP for better targeting the interventions of development, and making them more relevant and more effective, to reinforce the management of the fertility of the grounds and to ensure a greater productivity of the EAP, to accompany the EAP by taking into account their diversity for the conservation by the natural resources.Keywords: Analyze, diversity, agropastoral system, Korhogo, Ivory Coast, Crop-livestock Integratio

Impact of Germplasm Research Spillovers: The Case of Sorghum Variety S 35 in Cameroon and Chad

An important objective of international agricultural research inst i tut ions is to determine the extent to which research under taken in one location may impact on other regions of interest. Thi s is because research activities are most often planned to target mandate crops and agroecological areas found in many parts of the world. ICRI S A T has, as a pol icy, disributed a wide range of parental materials to breeding programs in the NARS and private seed industries throughout the semi-arid tropics. This has cont r ibuted to faster and cost-effective development of useful final products by the receiving parties. Thi s study evaluates the impacts and research spillover effects of adopt ion of sorghum variety S 35, a pure line developed f rom the ICRI S A T breeding program in India. It was later advanced in Niger ia and promoted and released in Cameroon in 1986 and Chad in 1989. Today, S 35 occupies about 33% of the total rainfed sorghum area in Cameroon and 2 7 % in Chad. Compared to farmers' best t radi t ional varieties across all study sites in Cameroon and Chad, S 35 yields 2 7 % more output (grain) and reduces uni t product ion cost by 20%.These farm-level impacts are larger in Chad where yield gain is 5 1 % higher and cost reduct ion is 3 3% higher. Th e net present value of benefits f rom S 35 research spillover in the Af r ican region was estimated to be US$15 mi l l ion in Chad and US$ 4.6 mi l l ion in Cameroon, representing internal rates of return of 9 5% in Chad and 7 5% in Cameroon. These impacts were evaluated f rom the perspective of nat ional research systems. A conscious decision, therefore, was made to include only those costs associated wi t h nat ional research and extension inst i tut ions. Al l other S 35-related research and development expenditures incur red in India and Niger ia were treated as 'sunk costs', that is, costs which woul d have occur red anyway wi thout spillover. Ha d each count ry had to develop S 35 and associated management practices on its own, the t ime lag between research and release of the technology woul d have been longer and consequently impacts, if any, woul d have been smaller. For greater effectiveness in sorghum technology development and transfer in the region, future research and pol icy actions should take greater advantage of research spillovers through more col laborat ion, communicat ion, and networking between nat ional , regional , and internat ional research inst i tut ions

Analysis of the Economic Impact of Sorghum and Millet Research in Mali

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) and pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum] are very impor tant to the economy and people of Mali. But, their productivity is low given the reliance on traditional, low-input production practices. The Institut d'Economie Rurale (IER) was started soon after the country's independence to find ways of improving the productivity of food crops in collaboration with regional and international agricultural research institutes (e.g., IRAT, ICRISAT, CIRAD-CA) . A numbe r of improved seed-based sorghum and millet technologies have since been developed and diffused. They were developed from two approaches: (1) selection within local germplasm, which consisted of collecting, testing, purifying, and supplying farmers with readily available materials. These are identified as Generation 1 materials; and (2) plant breeding, which consisted of crossing with exotic germplasm, and pedigree selection. Outputs of this second approach are identified as Generation 2 materials. This study evaluates the returns to sorghum and pearl millet research investments in Mali by combining farm-level survey information from 1990 to 1995 with that from research and extension in an economic surplus framework. The results indicate that by 1995, 30% of the sorghum and 3 7% of the millet areas were sown to improved varieties. Th e estimated benefits from research and extension efforts range from US$16 million (for sorghum) to US$ 25 million (for pearl millet). These represent internal rates of returns of 69% and 50%, respectively. A disaggregated analysis indicates higher yield gains and higher returns to Generation 2 materials than to Generation 1 materials for bot h sorghum and pearl millet. Unit costs were also much lower for Generation 2 materials. The major constraints cited by farmers as limiting their ability to adopt improved materials include lack of information, lack of improved seeds, and low soil fertility. The study concludes that the breeding philosophy should be diversified to respond to the need of the changing socioeconomic environment with the recent devaluation of the CFA. It also recommends that efforts be made to improve the economic farming environment to enable farmers to adopt mor e productive agricultural technologies which are necessary for rural poverty alleviation and improvement in national food security

Polymorphism of the testis-specific serine/threonine kinase 2 gene and risk of asthenozoospermia in Côte d'Ivoire

Background: The testis-specific serine/threonine protein kinase (TSSK2) is an indispensable protein responsible for the mobility of spermatozoa expressed specifically in the germ cells during spermatogenesis and present in the mature spermatozoa. Its gene mutation could constitute a risk of infertility. The aim of this study is to investigate the polymorphism of this TSSK2 gene in men with asthenozoospermia.Methods: The ejaculates were obtained from patients attending the reproductive biology unit of Institut Pasteur of Côte d’Ivoire for their spermiological evaluations. The semen analyses are performed with the automatic sperm analyzer SQA-Vision. 30 sperms, including 20 asthenozoosperms and 10 normosperms, were selected from their spermiological results and the spermatozoa DNA was extracted by the phenol/chloroform method. Direct Sequencing of the spermatozoa DNA fragments was done using the Sanger method. The frequencies of mutation were analysis with the Fisher and Mann-Whitney tests.   Results: It was revealed 17 mutations in 22 ejaculates. The frequent mutations are c.839C>T (T280M), c.816G>C (L372L), c.1026G>A (R342R), c.785A>C (H262P) and c.80A>G (K27R) with respectively frequencies of 50.0%, 26.67%, 16.67%, 13.33% and 10.0%. The analysis of these mutations indicated a significant difference in the frequency of occurrence of mutations between normosperms and asthenozoosperms (p-value = 0.01).Conclusions: This study shows that mutations in the TSSK2 gene are more common in asthenozoosperm ejaculates than normosperm ejaculates. This fact suggests the probable association of mutations in the TSSK2 gene with asthenozoospermia

Does an innovative paper-based health information system (PHISICC) improve data quality and use in primary healthcare? Protocol of a multicountry, cluster randomised controlled trial in sub-Saharan African rural settings

INTRODUCTION: Front-line health workers in remote health facilities are the first contact of the formal health sector and are confronted with life-saving decisions. Health information systems (HIS) support the collection and use of health related data. However, HIS focus on reporting and are unfit to support decisions. Since data tools are paper-based in most primary healthcare settings, we have produced an innovative Paper-based Health Information System in Comprehensive Care (PHISICC) using a human-centred design approach. We are carrying out a cluster randomised controlled trial in three African countries to assess the effects of PHISICC compared with the current systems. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Study areas are in rural zones of Côte d'Ivoire, Mozambique and Nigeria. Seventy health facilities in each country have been randomly allocated to using PHISICC tools or to continuing to use the regular HIS tools. We have randomly selected households in the catchment areas of each health facility to collect outcomes' data (household surveys have been carried out in two of the three countries and the end-line data collection is planned for mid-2021). Primary outcomes include data quality and use, coverage of health services and health workers satisfaction; secondary outcomes are additional data quality and use parameters, childhood mortality and additional health workers and clients experience with the system. Just prior to the implementation of the trial, we had to relocate the study site in Mozambique due to unforeseen logistical issues. The effects of the intervention will be estimated using regression models and accounting for clustering using random effects. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics committees in Côte d'Ivoire, Mozambique and Nigeria approved the trials. We plan to disseminate our findings, data and research materials among researchers and policy-makers. We aim at having our findings included in systematic reviews on health systems interventions and future guidance development on HIS. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: PACTR201904664660639; Pre-results

Researching, co-creating and testing innovations in paper-based health information systems (PHISICC) to support health workers' decision-making: protocol of a multi-country, transdisciplinary, mixed-methods research programme in three sub-Saharan countries

Background Health information systems are crucial to provide data for decision-making and demand for data is constantly growing. However, the link between data and decisions is not always rational or linear and the management of data ends up overloading frontline health workers, which may compromise quality of healthcare delivery. Despite limited evidence, there is an increasing push for the digitalization of health information systems, which poses enormous challenges, particularly in remote, rural settings in low- and middle-income countries. Paper-based tools will continue to be used in combination with digital solutions and this calls for efforts to make them more responsive to local needs. Paper-based Health Information Systems in Comprehensive Care (PHISICC) is a transdisciplinary, multi-country research initiative to create and test innovative paper-based health information systems in three sub-Saharan African countries. Methods/Design The PHISICC initiative is being carried out in remote, rural settings in Côte d'Ivoire, Mozambique and Nigeria through partnership with ministries of health and research institutions. We began with research syntheses to acquire the most up-to-date knowledge on health information systems. These were coupled with fieldwork in the three countries to understand the current design, patterns and contexts of use, and healthcare worker perspectives. Frontline health workers, with designers and researchers, used co-creation methods to produce the new PHISICC tools. This suite of tools is being tested in the three countries in three cluster-randomized controlled trials. Throughout the project, we have engaged with a wide range of stakeholders and have maintained the highest scientific standards to ensure that results are relevant to the realities in the three countries. Discussion We have deployed a comprehensive research approach to ensure the robustness and future policy uptake of findings. Besides the innovative PHISICC paper-based tools, our process is in itself innovative. Rather than emphasizing the technical dimensions of data management, we focused instead on frontline health workers' data use and decision-making. By tackling the whole scope of primary healthcare areas rather than a subset of them, we have developed an entirely new design and visual language for a suite of tools across healthcare areas. The initiative is being tested in remote, rural areas where the most vulnerable live

On the influence of the exciton-blocking layer on the organic multilayer cells properties

The performances of organic photovoltaic cells based on the layer couple electron donor/electron acceptor (ED/EA) are significantly improved when an exciton blocking layer (EBL) is inserted between the organic acceptor and the cathode. A new material, the (Z)-5-(4-chlorobenzylidene)-3-(2-ethoxyphenyl)-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one, that we called (CBBTZ), has been synthesized, characterized and probed as EBL. The energy levels corresponding to the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the CBBTZ have been determined from the first oxidation and reduction potential respectively, using cyclic voltametric (CV) measurements. From CV curves, CBBTZ in dichloromethane showed a one electron reversible reduction and oxidation waves. The values of its HOMO and LUMO have been estimated to be 6.42 eV and 3.42 eV respectively. Such values show that CBBTZ could be probed as EBL in organic solar cells based on the ED/EA couple copper phthalocyanine(CuPc)/fullerene (C60). The photovoltaic solar cells have been obtained by sequential deposition under vacuum of the different films. The different thin film thicknesses were measured in situ by a quartz monitor. Multilayer solar cells ITO/Au/CuPc/C60/EBL/Al have been probed, where EBL is the aluminium tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) (Alq3), the CBBTZ, the 2-(4-byphenylyl)-5-(4-tert-buthylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (butyl PBD) or the bathocuproine (BCP). The optimum film thickness is 8–9 nm whatever the EBL used. When obtained in the same run, the averaged efficiency of the cells using the CBBTZ is of the same order of magnitude than that obtained with BCP and higher than that achieved with Alq3 or butyl PBD. It is shown by XPS study that some aluminium of the cathode is present in the buffer layer. This aluminium could justify the ability of the electrons to cross the insulating exciton blocking layer thick of 9 nm