Diagnostic accuracy of swine echinococcosis cytopathological tests and challenges for a differential diagnosis: slaughterhouse data.

Echinococcosis disease shows clinical signs similar to many diseases. Hence we report cases that need to be confirmed using appropriate tests. A confirmatory study has been conducted to assess the accuracy of two cytopathological tests, with the histopathology test as the reference standard. The first cytopathological test evaluates the Ziehl Neelsen staining with an epifluorescence microscope (cytopath 1). The second cytopathological test uses the same staining followed by a transmitted light microscope examination (cytopath 2). Of a total of 2524 inspected pigs, 101 suspected cases of echinococcosis were detected, of which 67 were found positive with the two cytopathological tests and the histopathological one. The specificity of cytopath 1 (100 % [95 % CI 100 - 100]) and cytopath 2 (100 % [95 % CI 100;100]) were similar, as well as their respective positive predictive values: 100 % [95 % CI 100 - 100] vs. 100 % [95 % CI 100 - 100]. The sensitivity of cytopath 1 is 79.66 % [95 % CI 69.39 - 89.93], while cytopath 2 equals 66.10 % [95 % CI 54.02 - 78.18]. The difference in sensitivity of both tests was not significant. Negative predictive values found for cytopath 1, and cytopath 2 were 40 [95 % CI 18.53 - 61.47] and 28.57 [95 % CI 11.84 - 45.3], leading to the Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) Model estimate for an odds ratio of 1.4 [95 % CI 0.41 - 5.2], p = 0.06. Cytopath 1 and cytopath 2 are equivalent in terms of specificity (100 % [95 % CI 100 - 100] vs. 100 % [95 % CI 100;100]) and positive predictive value (100 % [95 % CI 100 - 100]. Cytopath 1 is more sensitive than cytopath 2 but not significant (79.66 % [ 95 % CI 69.39 - 89.93] vs. 66.10 % [95 % CI 54.02 - 78.18]). However, the negative predictive value of cytopath 1 is better than that of cytopath 2: 40 % [95 % CI 18.53 - 61.47] vs. 28.57 % [95 % CI 11.84 - 45.3].

[Abundance and species diversity of tabanids (Diptera) in the biosphere reserve Ipassa-Makokou (Gabon) during the rainy season]. / Chorologie des Tabanidae (Diptera) dans la réserve de biosphère Ipassa-Makokou (Gabon) en saison des pluies.

The abundance and species diversity of tabanids were evaluated by trapping of insects using Vavoua traps, during the rainy season, from October 4 to November 30, 2009, in three different habitats: primary forest, secondary forest and village, in the biosphere reserve Ipassa-IRET Makokou in Gabon. Eight species belonging to three genera of tabanids have been identified for a total of 402 specimens caught. The tabanid species numerically the most abundant were: Tabanus secedens Walker, 1854 (55.2%), Tabanus obscurehirtus Ricardo, 1908 (13.9%), Chrysops dimidiatus Wulp, 1885 (11.2%) and Chrysops silaceus Austen, 1907 (10.7%). The less abundant species were Tabanus par Walker, 1854 (3.2%), Tabanus besti arbucklei Austen, 1912 (3%), Tabanus marmorosus congoicola Bequaert, 1930 (1%) and Ancala fasciata fasciata (Fabricius, 1775) (0.5%). Specimens of the genera Tabanus and Chrysops could not be identified, these insects represented respectively 0.7% and 0.5% of the insects trapped. The highest proportion of tabanids was trapped in secondary forest (75.1%) and the lower in primary forest (4.5%).

[Eco-distribution and Trypanosoma infection of Glossina palpalis palpalis in the Banco forest of and its relics, Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire)]. / Chorologie et infection par les trypanosomes de Glossina palpalis palpalis dans la forêt du Banco et ses reliques, Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire).

In order to implement an anti-vector programme in the suburb of Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire), investigations were conducted to assess the tsetse fly densities as well as infection with trypanosomes. Catches were carried out during the rainy season and dry season with Vavoua traps laid during four consecutive days in different sites (Banco forest, Abidjan zoological park, area of the University of Abobo-Adjamé). One species of tsetse fly (Glossina polpalis palpalis) and two species of trypanosomes (Trypanosoma congolense, T. vivax) have been revealed. The apparent density per trap per day (DAP) is very high in the zoological park, 54.8 tsetse fly/trap/day during the dry season and 28.1 during the rainy season. At the University of Abobo-Adjamé, the DAP is respectively 13.5 and 8.1 tsetse fly/trap/day during the rainy season, and in the dry season it is only 0.9 and 0.8 in the Banco Forest. The physiological age on all sites is as follows: 57.5 % of old parous, 39% of young parous and 3.6 % of nulliparous in the rainy season. These proportions vary to 51.9% of young porous, 47.1% of old parous and 1% of nulliparous in the dry season. The overall infection rate is estimated at 20.7% in the rainy season and 20% in the dry season. Statistical analysis have showed a significant difference in the distribution of infection rates.