Long-term effect of forest and landscape restoration practices on soil organic carbon stock in semi-arid Burkina Faso

In semi-arid areas, forest and landscape restoration (FLR) practices are being implemented to reverse the land degradation process. The objective of this study was to investigate the long-term effect of FLR practices on soil organic carbon stock (SOCs) under different land uses in the semi-arid region of Burkina Faso. The study was conducted on degraded land under rehabilitation practices for 45, 27, 18 and 11 years, which were compared to similar land without specific rehabilitation measures. The soil was collected in 2018 in 35 sampling plots of 30 m x 30 m. Soil analysis concerned bulk density, soil particle size, soil pH, soil organic carbon content, and respiratory activity of microorganisms. SOCs increased by 150%, 98% and 29% over 0-10 cm depth in 45-, 27- and 11-year of FLR practices, and decreased by 6% in 18-year of FLR practices compared to their respective control. SOCs were not linearly increased with the duration of the implementation of FLR practices because the variation of SOCs depends on several other parameters such as soil texture, and types of combination of FLR practices. The highest SOCs were recorded for 27 years (9.5 t.ha-1) and 45 years (8.5 t.ha-1) of FLR practices. This study revealed the importance of including Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) as one of the combined FLR practices, for improvement of SOCs

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Insécurité alimentaire, vulnérabilité et pauvreté en milieu rural au Burkina : une approche en termes de consommation d'énergie

In Burkina, vulnerability and poverty analysis have been dominated by the monetary approach. Using the generalized formula of poverty index developed by Foster and al. (1984), we try to define new concepts of poverty in relation with dietary needs and energy intakes. Our results show that monetary approach tends to underestimate the incidence of poverty insofar as it does not take sufficiently into account social capital and the role of institutions in poverty alleviation.Energy, Poverty, Risk, Vulnerability, Food security

Complementarities and synergies with intermittent renewable energy, related issues - Burkina Faso cases studies

Pumped Storage Plants (PSP) offer opportunities for better water mobilization and to unlock the development of hydropower in Burkina Faso. The revolution in photovoltaic energy, which has greatly improved reliability and production costs, has opened up major prospects for the energy development of Sahelian countries with a very large solar energy deposit that has remained fallow for the time being. The lower production cost of solar energy makes it more attractive to mobilize water in offshore (outside rivers) basins and reservoirs in areas where there are few underground water resources and where flat land limits the construction of dams. This paper will develop these perspectives for a country like Burkina and the Sahel in general where access to electricity is one of the lowest in the world which, paradoxically, have a very large solar deposit and insufficient water resource mobilization

Localisation des zones d'accès à l'eau en saison sèche par analyse multicritère dans le bassin versant du Goudébo (région de Yakouta, Burkina Faso)

The study aims to identify areas where agro-pastoralists access to water during the dry season in the drainage basin of the river Goudébo. The approach is the spatial reference analysis AMC-RS based on Geographic Information System and Multi-Criteria Analysis. Water points used for different needs (boulis, drillings, ponds, tanks, sumps, wells and dams) were identified with the people. Cartographic documents and field surveys have constitute, through the GIS, a map database of these elements. Taking into account the travel times allowed a spatial representation of the accessibility to water points. The AMC-RS were made from the results of GIS, on the basis of criteria proposed by the people during the interviewing sessions. The results of the analysis gave 7.4 % of areas with a high level of aggregate access to different types of water point. These relatively small areas are circumscribed around 40 % of the villages. The importance taken by dams, and particularly that of Yakouta, puts the problem of the management of their feed area in the future.geographic information system, multi-criteria analysis, access to water, Burkina Fas

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

Plaidoyer pour un renforcement du système de pharmacovigilance au Burkina Faso

Large-scale deployment of new medicines has been observed over the last two decades in many Sub-Saharan Africa countries faced with major public health issues such as malaria and HIV/AIDS. However, some of these medicines may be responsible for varying degrees of toxicity, with adverse drug reactions leading to decreased compliance or even discontinuation of treatment. Pharmacovigilance systems therefore had to be set up in these countries, such as in Burkina Faso, West Africa, which initiated the organization of pharmacovigilance activities in 2008. Despite this progress, the systems in place have not yet achieved a sufficient level of performance to deal with drug-related health issues, highlighting the need for further actions. Pharmacovigilance in Burkina Faso can be strengthened at multiple levels: pre-service and in-service training of health workers; the establishment of active surveillance based on sentinel sites; informing the public and raising awareness; and strengthening national coordination.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

A cost-benefit analysis of ecosystem services from restoring degraded soils to forest ecosystems in the Sahel

International audienceTechniques of degraded ecosystems restoration in the Sahel have largely contributed to slowing down desertification process. However, they are often very costly, requiring important manpower and financial resources. The economic benefits of such cases of land restoration are under-documented, especially in scientific literature. The aim of this study is to estimate the ecosystem benefits (market and non-market, direct and indirect) associated with changes in biodiversity induced by forest and landscape restoration (FLR) interventions in the Sahel, and to compare them with the costs of these interventions. Data has been compiled using individual and group surveys, floristic inventory, and existing literature. Ecosystem services framework has been used to structure the analysis. Financial and economic cost-benefit analysis have been compiled, based on the historical case of the managed Gourga forest (Ouahigouya, North Burkina Faso), to estimate whether FLR brings benefits greater than it costs. The results show that restoration of the site is profitable over the first ten years thanks to farming activities, becoming unprofitable in years 11–45 after farming is completely stopped. This study opens up new prospects for improved design of FLR in the Sahel

Analysis of the Genetic Variation of the Fruitless Gene within the Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae) Complex Populations in Africa

Targeting genes involved in sexual determinism, for vector or pest control purposes, requires a better understanding of their polymorphism in natural populations in order to ensure a rapid spread of the construct. By using genomic data from An. gambiae s.l., we analyzed the genetic variation and the conservation score of the fru gene in 18 natural populations across Africa. A total of 34,339 SNPs were identified, including 3.11% non-synonymous segregating sites. Overall, the nucleotide diversity was low, and the Tajima’s D neutrality test was negative, indicating an excess of low frequency SNPs in the fru gene. The allelic frequencies of the non-synonymous SNPs were low (freq < 0.26), except for two SNPs identified at high frequencies (freq > 0.8) in the zinc-finger A and B protein domains. The conservation score was variable throughout the fru gene, with maximum values in the exonic regions compared to the intronic regions. These results showed a low genetic variation overall in the exonic regions, especially the male sex-specific exon and the BTB-exon 1 of the fru gene. These findings will facilitate the development of an effective gene drive construct targeting the fru gene that can rapidly spread without encountering resistance in wild populations

Insecticide resistance mechanisms in Anopheles gambiae complex populations from Burkina Faso, West Africa

International audienc