Molecular epidemiology of Mansonella perstans on Bioko Island: identification of risk factors, co-infection with malaria and Loa loa and impact in pregnant women

Implementation of an effective and targeted mass drug administration program against filarial worms needs an accurate identification and mapping of the distribution of these parasites. Molecular diagnostic methods like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based techniques have shown high sensitivity to detect and distinguish parasites at low infection levels and even in people that are amicrofilaremic by microscopy. However, larger scale implementation over time remains a challenge for low-income countries because of logistical complexity and costs, including collection, transportation and preservation of biological samples and running of the analytical tests. In this study, we aimed to develop and implement a novel molecular based diagnostic approach for monitoring highly neglected filariasis causing parasites in Equatorial Guinea, West Africa. The ENAR protocol is an approach based on the use of nucleic acids (NA) extracted from dried blood retained on used malaria rapid diagnostic test (mRDT). Malaria RDTs used in this work were stored at room temperature for around 18 months before used for molecular analysis and served as reliable source for NA based detection of blood-dwellings pathogens beyond malaria. Our approach of repurposing used mRDTs for filarial parasites detection provides a versatile and cost-effective approach to monitor prevalence, genotype, infection intensity and co-infections of filarial nematodes and other blood borne infectious diseases

Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Control of Mitochondrial Biogenesis

Mitochondrial biogenesis is a complex process. It necessitates the contribution of both the nuclear and the mitochondrial genomes and therefore crosstalk between the nucleus and mitochondria. It is now well established that cellular mitochondrial content can vary according to a number of stimuli and physiological states in eukaryotes. The knowledge of the actors and signals regulating the mitochondrial biogenesis is thus of high importance. The cellular redox state has been considered for a long time as a key element in the regulation of various processes. In this paper, we report the involvement of the oxidative stress in the regulation of some actors of mitochondrial biogenesis

Stability of Dissipative Optical Solitons in the 2D Complex Swift-Hohenberg Equation

International audienceThis article deals with stationary localized solutions of the (2D) two-dimensional complex Swift-Hohenberg equation (CSHE). Our approach is based on the semi-analytical method of collective coordinate approach. According to the parameters of the equation and a suitable choice of ansatz, the stationary dissipative solitons of the 2D CSHE equation are mapped. This approach allows to describe the influence of the parameters of the equation on the various physical parameters of the pulse and their dynamics. Finally, the major impact of spectral filtering terms on the dynamic of the solitons is demonstrated

LA VARIABILITE PLUVIOMETRIQUE ET SES IMPACTS SUR L’ALIMENTATION EN EAU DES MILIEUX RURAUX DU DEPARTEMENT DE DIMBOKRO (CENTRE-EST DE LA COTE D’IVOIRE)

Rainfall variability in the tropics is a real living reality. In Côte d'Ivoire in general and the Department Dimbokro in particular takes this variability increasingly growing. It is increasingly felt on the forest-savanna contact zone climate and weather conditions are already difficult. This study's main objective is to analyze the rainfall and temperature data over a long period to determine the various trends, breaks in series, then to bring out the consequences for the supply of various rural communities in water department. Clearly it is to characterize the climate event from the analysis of air temperature, relative humidity, changes in rainfall index, the frequency of rainy days and seasons of life rainfall over the period 1955-2000 in order to identify the behavior of seasonal rainfall patterns in the context of climate variability. The analysis of these different climate components including rainfall data, thermal have identified two broad periods separated by a hinge year 1968. Climate variability is manifested by a spatiotemporal dynamics regressive annual rainfall, recession frequency of rainy days in general and especially those of rainfall amounts in excess of 20 mm. Such climatic situation has huge consequences for the availability of hydrology department. The reservoirs in the geological layers will be insufficiently fed, and thereby show their inability to supply boreholes and wells. Once this water recession creates a situation of water stress in the entire department. And 20.57% of the holes drilled in the department have proven nonoperational. It therefore concludes that rainfall variability that knows the department has real impacts on the water supply to rural communities in Dimbokro department

Minéralogie de la fraction argileuse des sols brunifiés de Kahankro et Anikro (Toumodi) dans le Centre Sud de la Côte d’Ivoire

Dans la perspective d’élucider les occurrences minéralogiques des sols brunifiés de Kahankro et de Anikro (Toumodi), dans la région centre de la Côte d’Ivoire, nous nous sommes intéressés à la fraction argileuse des sols. Cette étude, dans sa phase technique, a consisté à extraire la fraction argileuse des échantillons de sol prélevés sur le terrain en s’appuyant sur la méthode de Hotzapfel. Ces échantillons, de même que ceux du sol total, ont été ensuite soumis à une analyse aux rayons X sur lame orientée séchée à l’air puis, à des analyses thermodifférentielles et thermopondérales à une température allant jusqu’à 1200 °C. Les résultats obtenus au bout de cette étude indiquent que les sols brunifiés de Kahankro et de Anikro contiennent différents types de minéraux existant en des proportions aussi variées. Il s’agit des oxydes (quartz, hématite,ilménite et boéhmite) avec une proportion généralement supérieure à 39%, des minéraux primaires (feldspaths, olivine, dolomite et calcite) ayant une proportion supérieure à 30% et des minéraux argileux (kaolinite, illite et chlorite) qui existent en une proportion généralement inférieure à 25%. Le phénomène d’argilation qui prévaut dans ces sols est la monosiallitisation, vu la prédominance de minéraux argileux de type 1/1 (kaolinite) sur les autres minéraux argileux. A cette monosiallitisation s’adjoint une bisiallitisation gouvernée par la richesse des sols en minéraux primaires. Ces sols sont aussi affectés par un phénomène de ferrallitisation et les paragenèses minérales de type kaolinite-hématite permettent de les définir comme étant caractéristiques d’une couvertured’altération mixte.Mots clés : Occurrences minéralogiques, phénomène d’argilation, ferrallitisation

EVALUATION DES METAUX TRACES, PESTICIDES ET PLASTIFIANTS DANS LES PRODUITS MARAICHERS (GOMBO, CORETE POTAGERE, EPINARD ET AUBERGINE) DANS LAVALLEE DU NIEKI, SUD-EST DE LA COTE D’IVOIRE

A grade assessment study of metal trace metals (Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb), pesticides and plasticizers in market garden crops (Abelmoschus sp, Corchoruus tridens, Basela alba, Solanum aethiopicum) was performed in Niéki Valley in South-East of Côte d'Ivoire. This study found that trace metals found in the leaves and fruits grown on the different sampling sites are copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb). The Cu was accumulated in the leaves and the fruits. The Cu was accumulated in both the leaves and the fruits. The Cu concentrations in different plants far exceeded thelevels recommendedby the FAO (1 mg.kg-1). The Pb concentrations in different plants were between 106 and 109mg.kg- 1on all sites, far exceeding the thresholds set by the FAO (0.1 mg.kg-1of fresh material). Analyses of various plants showed that most elements are found pesticide family Pyrethroids (Bifenthrin, Deltamethrin and cyhalothrin) and a plasticizerof the phthalate family (1,2Benzenedicarboxylicacid, bis (2- ethylhexyl) ester). Doses of Bifenthrin determined in plants exceeded the acceptable daily intake (ADI) or (0.015 mg.kg-1), except in the case of Abelmoschus sp where these levels remain below the acceptable daily intake

Étude de la durabilité économique et environnementale de la production de manioc sur ferralsols

Objective: To evaluate the components of the sustainability of cassava cropping systems that rely on alley cropping. Methodology and results: The study consisted to cultivate improved cassava ( Yavo ) / green soybeans ( Mung Bean) / Gliricidia sepium with a basal dressing ( NPK [ 20: 36 : 36] or chicken manure [10 t / ha] ) compared to the traditional system consisting of a local variety of cassava and peanut intercropping on ferralsols. The sum of the new factors of production allowed a significant increase in the food output. In addition to bean production, organic manure and, potentially, fuel wood from G. sepium, the yield of cassava of the introduced variety Yavo was 40 t/ha compared to 13 t/ha in the traditional. The plant architecture of the new systems allowed a good soil cover, thus reducing the frequency of weeding, done traditionally by women. Conversely, workload for men increased. The new system was also economically viable. Conclusion and application of findings: As a whole, the suggested system appears to have a potential to contribute to agronomic, environmental, economic and social sustainability. The new systems could be recommended for the intensification of the cassava crop.Keywords: cassava, Gliricidia sepium, green soya, ferralsol, sustainability

Dry deposition of nitrogen compounds (NO 2 , HNO 3 , NH 3 ), sulfur dioxide and ozone in west and central African ecosystems using the inferential method

Abstract. This work is part of the IDAF program (IGAC-DEBITS-AFRICA) and is based on the long-term monitoring of gas concentrations (1998–2007) established at seven remote sites representative of major African ecosystems. Dry deposition fluxes were estimated by the inferential method using on the one hand surface measurements of gas concentrations (NO2, HNO3, NH3, SO2 and O3) and on the other hand modeled exchange rates. Dry deposition velocities (Vd) were calculated using the big-leaf model of Zhang et al. (2003b). The bidirectional approach is used for NH3 surface–atmosphere exchange (Zhang et al., 2010). Surface and meteorological conditions specific to IDAF sites have been used in the models of deposition. The seasonal and annual mean variations of gaseous dry deposition fluxes (NO2, HNO3, NH3, O3 and SO2) are analyzed. Along the latitudinal transect of ecosystems, the annual mean dry deposition fluxes of nitrogen compounds range from −0.4 to −0.8 kg N ha−1 yr−1 for NO2, from −0.7 to −1.0 kg N ha−1 yr−1 for HNO3 and from −0.7 to −8.3 kg N ha−1 yr−1 for NH3 over the study period (1998–2007). The total nitrogen dry deposition flux (NO2+HNO3+NH3) is more important in forests (−10 kg N ha−1 yr−1) than in wet and dry savannas (−1.6 to −3.9 kg N ha−1 yr−1). The annual mean dry deposition fluxes of ozone range between −11 and −19 kg ha−1 yr−1 in dry and wet savannas, and −11 and −13 kg ha−1 yr−1 in forests. Lowest O3 dry deposition fluxes in forests are correlated to low measured O3 concentrations, lower by a factor of 2–3, compared to other ecosystems. Along the ecosystem transect, the annual mean of SO2 dry deposition fluxes presents low values and a small variability (−0.5 to −1 kg S ha−1 yr−1). No specific trend in the interannual variability of these gaseous dry deposition fluxes is observed over the study period