Spatial multi-criteria decision analysis for the selection of sentinel regions in tick-borne disease surveillance.

BACKGROUND: The implementation of cost-effective surveillance systems is essential for tracking the emerging risk of tick-borne diseases. In Canada, where Lyme disease is a growing public health concern, a national sentinel surveillance network was designed to follow the epidemiological portrait of this tick-borne disease across the country. The surveillance network consists of sentinel regions, with active drag sampling carried out annually in all regions to assess the density of Ixodes spp. ticks and prevalence of various tick-borne pathogens in the tick population. The aim of the present study was to prioritize sentinel regions by integrating different spatial criteria relevant to the surveillance goals. METHODS: We used spatially-explicit multi-criteria decision analyses (MCDA) to map priority areas for surveillance across Canada, and to evaluate different scenarios using sensitivity analyses. Results were shared with stakeholders to support their decision making for the selection of priority areas to survey during active surveillance activities. RESULTS: Weights attributed to criteria by decision-makers were overall consistent. Sensitivity analyses showed that the population criterion had the most impact on rankings. Thirty-seven sentinel regions were identified across Canada using this systematic and transparent approach. CONCLUSION: This novel application of spatial MCDA to surveillance network design favors inclusivity of nationwide partners. We propose that such an approach can support the standardized planning of spatial design of sentinel surveillance not only for vector-borne disease BDs, but more broadly for infectious disease surveillance where spatial design is an important component.

N Increased risk of tick-borne diseases with climate and environmental changes.

Climate warming and other environmental changes have contributed to the expansion of the range of several tick species into higher latitudes in North America. As temperatures increase in Canada, the environment becomes more suitable for ticks and the season suitable for tick activity lengthens, so tick-borne diseases are likely to become more common in Canada. In addition to Lyme disease, four other tick-borne diseases (TBDs) have started to emerge and are likely to increase: Anaplasmosis; Babesiosis; Powassan virus; and Borrelia miyamotoi disease. Increased temperature increases the survival and activity period of ticks, increases the range of both reservoir and tick hosts (e.g. mice and deer) and increases the duration of the season when people may be exposed to ticks. Other ticks and TBDs may spread into Canada as the climate changes. The public health strategies to mitigate the impact of all TBDs include surveillance to detect current and emerging TBDs, and public health actions to prevent infections by modifying environmental and social-behavioral risk factors through increasing public awareness. Clinical care strategies include patient education, early detection, laboratory testing, and treatment.

What is the real number of Lyme disease cases in Canada?

BACKGROUND: Lyme disease is emerging in Canada due to expansion of the range of the tick vector Ixodes scapularis from the United States. National surveillance for human Lyme disease cases began in Canada in 2009. Reported numbers of cases increased from 144 cases in 2009 to 2025 in 2017. It has been claimed that few (< 10%) Lyme disease cases are reported associated with i) supposed under-diagnosis resulting from perceived inadequacies of serological testing for Lyme disease, ii) expectation that incidence in Canadian provinces and neighbouring US states should be similar, and iii) analysis of serological responses of dogs to the agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi. We argue that performance of serological testing for Lyme disease is well studied, and variations in test performance at different disease stages are accounted for in clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease, and in surveillance case definitions. Extensive surveillance for tick vectors has taken place in Canada providing a clear picture of the emergence of risk in the Canadian environment. This surveillance shows that the geographic scope of I. scapularis populations and Lyme disease risk is limited but increasing in Canada. The reported incidence of Lyme disease in Canada is consistent with this pattern of environmental risk, and the differences in Lyme disease incidence between US states and neighbouring Canadian provinces are consistent with geographic differences in environmental risk. Data on serological responses in dogs from Canada and the US are consistent with known differences in environmental risk, and in numbers of reported Lyme disease cases, between the US and Canada. CONCLUSION: The high level of consistency in data from human case and tick surveillance, and data on serological responses in dogs, suggests that a high degree of under-reporting in Canada is unlikely. We speculate that approximately one third of cases are reported in regions of emergence of Lyme disease, although prospective studies are needed to fully quantify under-reporting. In the meantime, surveillance continues to identify and track the ongoing emergence of Lyme disease, and the risk to the public, in Canada.

[Usefulness of patient education in antihypertensive treatment compliance in black Africans]. / Intérêt de l'éducation thérapeutique dans l'observance du traitement antihypertenseur chez le noir Africain.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the compliance for antihypertensive treatment and to assess the effects of patient education as tool to improve the compliance in hypertensive patients. METHODS: We include prospectively all hypertensive patients followed in consultation in the cardiology department of the national police hospital in Ivory Coast. Compliance evaluation was made with the Girerd scale. After evaluation, all the patients benefit from an individual and/or collective education sessions. All the patients were followed and reevaluated after 1 year. RESULTS: We included consecutive 1000 hypertensive patients (mean age 40±20 years, 80 % male). Among these, 50 % have been treated by a single therapy, 30 % by a fixed double therapy and 25 % by a fixed triple combined therapy. At the start of the study, a low compliance is observed in 60 % of patients, 25 % have minimal problems of observance and 15 % are compliant. In 70 %, the low compliance may be explained by misconceptions and is associated with a persistent hypertension. One year after the education program, the compliance is improved: non-compliant patients represent 5 % of the population, 10 % having slight problems on compliance and 85 % have a good compliance. CONCLUSION: In hypertension, the therapeutic compliance is poor, and associated with various factors. However, patient education improves the therapeutic compliance and this should be systematically proposed in antihypertensive management in Africa.

[Factors of compliance with the wearing of elastic compression stockings in a Sub-Saharan population]. / Facteurs de l'observance du port du bas de compression élastique dans une population noire africaine.

INTRODUCTION: Elastic venous compression is the basic treatment of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Very little data exist in sub-Saharan Africa concerning the wearing of compression stockings. AIM: To determine the factors of compliance with wearing elastic compression stockings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study involved 200 consecutive patients (93 cases of DVT, 94 cases of CVI, 13 cases of DVT and CVI). Data on compliance with wearing compression stockings and the factors influencing this compliance were collected. RESULTS: The average age was 51±15 years old (range 17 and 91 years old). The sex ratio was 1. The majority of patients (78.5%) performed their occupation in a standing position, for more than 8hours per day for 80.5%. DVT were preferentially on the left side (52.9%) and proximal (44.4%). Concerning the CVI, the predominant symptoms were class C3 (52.3%), C4 and C5 (43.9%) of the CEAP classification. Bilateral involvement was dominant (53.3%) and the large saphenous vein was the most affected (66.9%) compared with 33.1% for the small saphenous vein exclusively. The most common type of stockings prescribed was the lower mid-thighs (57%), followed by the pantyhose (30%), in classes 3 (63%) and 2 (36.5%). The majority of patients (75%) agreed to wear their stockings after prescription with a good compliance rate of 58.5% at the beginning of the prescription. At the time of the study, this rate was 11%. The optimal duration of compliance with wearing compression stockings was 6 months (64%). Over 12 months this rate fell to 7.5%. The main causes were stocking-related compression discomfort (36.7%), patient neglect (21.5%), threading difficulties (16.9%), and an unfavorable working environment (8.7%). The determining factors of compliance with wearing of stockings were living in a couple (68.4% vs 54.2, P=0.04), CVI (53% vs 38.2%, P=0.04) and C3 (39% vs 80%), C4 (37.5% vs 17%), C5 (18% vs 3%) CVI (P=0.0005). CONCLUSION: Compliance with wearing elastic compression stockings is mediocre. The main factors of non-compliance are discomfort, threading difficulties and patient neglect.

Evaluating the submission of digital images as a method of surveillance for Ixodes scapularis ticks.

Widespread access to the internet is offering new possibilities for data collection in surveillance. We explore, in this study, the possibility of using an electronic tool to monitor occurrence of the tick vector of Lyme disease, Ixodes scapularis. The study aimed to compare the capacity for ticks to be identified in web-based submissions of digital images/photographs, to the traditional specimen-based identification method used by the provincial public health laboratory in Quebec, Canada. Forty-one veterinary clinics participated in the study by submitting digital images of ticks collected from pets via a website for image-based identification by an entomologist. The tick specimens were then sent to the provincial public health laboratory to be identified by the 'gold standard' method using a microscope. Of the images submitted online, 74·3% (284/382) were considered of high-enough quality to allow identification. The laboratory identified 382 tick specimens from seven different species, with I. scapularis representing 76% of the total submissions. Of the 284 ticks suitable for image-based species identification, 276 (97·2%) were correctly identified (Kappa statistic of 0·92, Z = 15·46, P < 0·001). This study demonstrates that image-based tick identification may be an accurate and useful method of detecting ticks for surveillance when images are of suitable quality.

Surveillance for Lyme disease in Canada: 2009-2015.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize seven years of surveillance data for Lyme disease cases reported in Canada from 2009 to 2015. METHODS: We describe the incidence over time, seasonal and geographic distribution, demographic and clinical characteristics of reported Lyme disease cases. Logistic regression was used to explore differences between age groups, sex and year to better understand potential demographic risk factors for the occurrence of Lyme disease. RESULTS: The number of reported Lyme disease cases increased more than six-fold, from 144 in 2009 to 917 in 2015, mainly due to an increase in infections acquired in Canada. Most locally acquired cases were reported between May and November. An increase in incidence of Lyme disease was observed in provinces from Manitoba eastwards. This is consistent with our knowledge of range expansion of the tick vectors in this region. In the western provinces the incidence has remained low and stable. All cases reported by Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador were acquired outside of the province, either elsewhere in Canada or abroad. There was a bimodal distribution for Lyme disease by age with peaks at 5-9 and 45-74 years of age. The most common presenting symptom was a single erythema migrans rash (74.2%) and arthritis (35.7%). Variations in the frequency of reported clinical manifestations were observed among age groups and years of study. CONCLUSION: Lyme disease incidence continues to increase in Canada as does the geographic range of ticks that carry the Lyme disease bacteria. Ongoing surveillance, preventive strategies as well as early disease recognition and treatment will continue to minimize the impact of Lyme disease in Canada.

[Self-medication among black African hypertensive patients: Factors and consequences]. / Recours à l'automédication chez l'hypertendu noir africain : ses facteurs et ses conséquences.

INTRODUCTION: Self-medication practice is under-evaluated among black African hypertensive patients. AIM: To assess the level of self-medication among black African hypertensive patients and to determine the factors favoring this practice and their consequences. METHODS: Prospective study during a 3-month period including 612 hypertensive patients followed in Abidjan cardiology institute. RESULTS: Mean age was 55.1. The patients had a self-medication use in 60.1% of cases. Medicinal plants and derived products were commonly involved. Self-medication use reasons were: influence of relatives (89.8%) and the fear of antihypertensive drugs adverses effects (54.9%). Multivariate analysis shows that factors of self-medication were age (56.6 years vs. 50.3 years, P<0.001), income less than 762 euros/month (88% vs. 75.4%; OR=2.73; 95% CI: 1.62-4.6; P<0,0001), obesity (70.4% vs. 35.6%; OR=1.24; 95% CI: 0.75-1.15; P=0.037), dyslipidemia (40.8% vs. 27.9%; OR=6.72; 95% CI: 0.57-2.13; P=0.043), antihypertensive association therapy (61.7% vs. 51.4%; OR=2.27; 95% CI: 0.25-0.97; P=0.037). Poor control of high blood pressure (HBP) was a consequence of self-medication (6.5% vs. 47.1%; OR=10.27; 95% CI: 4.65-56.4; P=0.034), repercussions of HBP on major organ (75% vs. 17.2%; OR=12.9; 95% CI: 8.5-19.6; P=0.0001). CONCLUSION: Self-medication is a common practice in African hypertensive patients. It has many consequences.

[Presumption of sleep apnea in a black African hypertensive population: Importance of the Epworth sleepiness scale in the diagnostic approach]. / Présomption d'apnées du sommeil dans une population d'hypertendus Noirs africains : intérêt de l'échelle de somnolence diurne d'Epworth dans l'approche diagnostique.

INTRODUCTION: Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) is very little described in the hypertensive black African. PURPOSE: To screen sleep apnea syndrome using the rating scale of Epworth daytime sleepiness, and to investigate the determinant factors and to infer therapeutic consequences. METHOD: This is a retrospective and prospective study with descriptive and analytical purpose that focused on 200 hypertensive outpatients of the Cardiology Institute of Abidjan. The primary endpoint studied was the SAS. The diagnostic approach of SAS was performed using the rating scale of Epworth daytime sleepiness. RESULTS: The prevalence of sleep apnea was 45%. The average age of sleep apnea carriers was 56.1 years, with a male predominance (60%). The determinant factors of sleep apnea syndrome were male gender (60% versus 40%, P=0.021), obesity (77.8% versus 62.7%, P<0.0001), diabetes (26.7% versus 15.5%, P=0.5) and dyslipidemia (54.4% versus 27.3%, P=0.0009). Life in urban areas, occupation and smoking were not correlated with SAS in our series. The control of hypertension was better in non-apneic patients compared to apneic patients (63.6% versus 38.9%, P=0.04). The visceral impact of hypertension in apneic patients was highly significant (77.8% versus 41.7%, P=0.014). Therapeutically, it was noted the preferential prescription of combination therapy in apneic patients compared to non-apneic patients (82.3% versus 74.4%).

Surveillance for Lyme disease in Canada, 2009 to 2012.

OBJECTIVES: To summarize the first four years of national surveillance for Lyme disease in Canada from 2009 to 2012 and to conduct a preliminary comparison of presenting clinical manifestations in Canada and the United States. METHODS: The numbers and incidence of reported cases by province, month, year, age and sex were calculated. Logistic regression was used to examine trends over time. Acquisition locations were mapped and presenting clinical manifestations reported for jurisdictions where data was available. Variations by province, year, age and sex as well as presenting clinical symptoms were explored by logistic regression. An initial comparative analysis was made of presenting symptoms in Canada and the United States. RESULTS: The numbers of reported cases rose significantly from 144 in 2009 to 338 in 2012 (coefficient = 0.34, standard error = 0.07, P <0.05), mostly due to an increased incidence of infections acquired in Canada. More cases were classified as 'confirmed' (71.5%) than 'probable' (28.5%). Most cases occurred in locations where vector tick populations were known to be present. More men than women were affected (53.4% versus 46.6%), incidence was highest in adults aged 55 to 74 years and in children aged five to 14 years. Most cases (95%) were acquired from April to November. Of cases acquired in endemic areas, 39.7% presented with manifestations of early Lyme disease, while 60.3% had manifestations of disseminated Lyme disease. There were significant differences among age groups, sexes and provinces in the frequencies of reported clinical manifestations. The proportion of cases acquired in endemic areas presenting with early Lyme disease was lower than that reported in the US. CONCLUSION: Lyme disease incidence is increasing in Canada. Most cases are acquired where vector tick populations are spreading and this varies geographically within and among provinces. There is also variation in the frequency of age, season and presenting manifestations. The lower proportion of cases presenting with early Lyme disease in Canada compared with the US suggests lower awareness of early Lyme disease in Canada, but this requires further study.

[Assessment of treatment adherence among black Africans with heart failure]. / Évaluation de la compliance chez l'insuffisant cardiaque noir africain.

STUDY AIM: to analyze patient-related factors that may influence adherence in patients with heart failure in an African cardiology department. METHODOLOGY: This prospective observational study took place in the in-patient department of the Abidjan cardiology institute and enrolled consecutive patients hospitalized for decompensated heart failure from January to November 2014. The inclusion criteria were chronic heart failure in patients older than 18 years, developing for at least 6 months and treated by medication. The revised heart failure compliance questionnaire was used. RESULTS: The study included 121 patients. Overall adherence was poor in 88.4% of patients. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that use of traditional medicine was associated with poor adherence for the following 3 components: keeping follow-up appointments, medication intake, and sodium limitations. Overall adherence increased with the number of hospitalizations (OR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.13-2.53; p = 0.01). This increase persisted after adjustment for age, sex, educational level, marital status, medical insurance coverage and the use of alternative medicines (traditional and Chinese) (OR = 1.70; CI 1.12-2.28; p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Adherence among black Africans with heart failure remains poor, influenced too much by traditional medicine. Therapeutic education is essential to improve patients' knowledge about their disease and its treatment.

[Peripheral arterial disease of the lower limbs in African diabetic patients: ultrasonography and determining factors]. / Artériopathie des membres inférieurs du diabétique noir africain: aspects ultrasoniques et facteurs déterminants.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of the lower limbs is underdiagnosed. METHODOLOGY: This was a prospective study conducted over a six-month period from November 2012 to April 2013. A total of 308 diabetic patients were included from three diabetes centers in Abidjan (Ivory Coast). AIM: To screen for PAD of the lower limbs in a diabetic population and to identify the determining factors. RESULTS: Among the 308 patients, the ankle-brachial index (ABI) was<0.9 in 68 (22.07%) patients considered to have PAD; the ABI was>1.3 in 56 (18.2%) patients who had suspected mediacalcosis. The average age of the PAD patients was 60.2 years. Female gender predominated (55.9%). The mean duration of diabetes was 9.6 years: 97.1% type 2 diabetes. The other cardiovascular risk factors in this population were hypertension (58.8%) and dyslipidemia (40.9%). Smoking was present in 29.4% of patients and obesity in 23.9%. PAD of the lower limbs was mild in 46 patients (67.6%), moderate in 16 (23.5%) and severe in 6 (8.8%). Duplex Doppler commonly showed lesions of the tibial arteries. Determining factors of diabetic PAD of the lower limbs were hypertension (58.8% vs 36.6%; OR=2.46; 95% CI: 1.13-5.36; P=0.034) and dyslipidemia (40.9% vs 8.3%; OR=7.6; 95% CI: 2.31-25.08; P=0.0009). For mediacalcosis, male gender (71.5% vs 39.7; OR=0.26 95% CI/0.10-0.64. P=0.004) was the only factor identified. CONCLUSION: Hypertension and dyslipidemia were predictive factors for diabetic PAD of the lower limbs in our African population.

Environmental risk from Lyme disease in central and eastern Canada: a summary of recent surveillance information.

BACKGROUND: Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the temperate world. It is emerging in central and eastern Canada due to spread of the tick vector Ixodes scapularis into and within Canada to form new areas of environmental risk known as Lyme disease-endemic areas. Identifying the geographic location of Lyme disease-endemic areas is important to identify the population at risk, target interventions, and inform the clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease patients. OBJECTIVE: To provide an up-to-date picture of current and emerging areas of Lyme disease risk in eastern and central Canada by summarizing recent information on Lyme disease-endemic areas, and surveillance for I. scapularis ticks. METHODS: Data on locations where I. scapularis have been found in field surveillance studies by a range of federal and provincial organizations were collated and mapped to obtain a fuller picture of the occurrence of I. scapularis in Canada. The geographic locations of ticks submitted in passive tick surveillance were mapped for comparison. RESULTS: The number of confirmed Lyme disease-endemic areas in southern Manitoba, southern and eastern Ontario, southern Quebec, southern New Brunswick and in some locations in Nova Scotia increased from 10 in 2009 to 22 confirmed endemic areas in 2012. The collated field surveillance data indicated that I. scapularis tick populations and Lyme disease risk are more geographically widespread than known Lyme disease-endemic areas and that the pattern of emergence of tick populations varies among provinces. There was a tenfold increase in the numbers of I. scapularis reported for passive surveillance from 2 059 submissions from 1990 to 2003 to 25 738 submissions from 2004 to 2012. CONCLUSIONS: The increasing numbers of Lyme disease-endemic areas, the much wider distribution of tick populations identified by field surveillance, as well as the marked increase in numbers of ticks identified through passive surveillance suggest that the geographic scope of environmental risk of acquiring Lyme disease is expanding in central and eastern Canada, although here it still remains mostly limited to the southern parts of five provinces.

Assessment of a screening test to identify Lyme disease risk.

BACKGROUND: Lyme disease is emerging in eastern and central Canada due to the spread of the tick vector Ixodes scapularis. Currently, the test to establish Lyme disease-endemic areas requires multiple site visits and multiple sampling methods, and is consequently complex, time-consuming, and resource-expensive. OBJECTIVE: To assess the capacity of drag sampling alone as a screening technique to identify areas of Lyme disease risk. METHOD: We conducted a retrospective analysis of field surveillance data obtained at 100 site visits in 2007 and 2008 in southern Quebec. OUTCOME: Drag sampling used alone had 50% sensitivity but 86% specificity to identify early-established I. scapularis populations. Ticks were found throughout the period May to October. CONCLUSION: One site visit of drag sampling of three person-hours between May and October may be sufficient to identify a Lyme disease risk location. This information can be used by public health professionals to develop public health responses and by medical practitioners to assist in the clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease.

Distribution and conservation status of catarrhine primates in Côte d'Ivoire (West Africa).

Côte d'Ivoire holds 18 catarrhine taxa, with 3 endemic to Côte d'Ivoire and neighbouring Ghana. Nine of the taxa occurring in Côte d'Ivoire are listed as threatened at the global level. However, information on their conservation status within the country is available for only a limited number of taxa. In order to assess the current distribution of primates and their conservation status, we conducted foot surveys and interviews in protected forests in the southern part of Côte d'Ivoire. Our data suggest that 22 out of 23 surveyed forests have lost 25-100% of the primate taxa expected to occur in these areas. The only exception is the Taï National Park where all of the expected primate taxa were encountered. Based on our surveys, we propose an updated national list according to the IUCN Red List criteria for all diurnal primate species of Côte d'Ivoire.

[Pulse pressure monitoring in hypertensive black Africans]. / Intérêt du suivi de la pression pulsée chez l'hypertendu noir Africain

AIM: A pulse pressure above 60 mmHg in hypertensive subjects is an independent cardiovascular risk factor. There are few data on pulse pressure in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to describe the pulse pressure in black Africans with arterial hypertension. METHODS: A 10-year study was carried out on 640 hypertensive sub-Saharan African subjects at the outpatient department of the Abidjan Heart Institute. The primary endpoint was to determine the prevalence of a high pulse pressure, the correlation between pulse pressure and cardiovascular risk factors, the impact of pulse pressure on target organs, and the variation in pulse pressure while on treatment during follow up. Evaluations were made at the start of the study, and in the first, third, sixth and twelfth months of follow up. The mean age was 56.2 years and 56% were female. RESULTS: The prevalence of a high pulse pressure in our patients was 60% at the start of the study. The factors contributing to a high pulse pressure were age over 50 years (75.3 vs 24.7%, p < 0001), gender (60 vs 40%, p = 0.02), and diabetes (76.7 vs 23.3%, p = 0.0006). Smoking, obesity and dyslipidaemia were not related to an elevation in pulse pressure. The control of pulse pressure was poor during monitoring. Only 17.8% of patients had their pulse pressure lowered below 60 mmHg between the first and fifth consultations. A high pulse pressure was a predictor of future myocardial complications but few target organs were significantly affected. Dual therapy with a diuretic was more effective in controlling the pulse pressure, with a reduction rate of 22% during follow up (19.2 mmHg), against a rate reduction of 11% (8.4 mmHg) in patients without a dual diuretic. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of pulse pressure above 60 mmHg was higher in hypertensive black Africans. Their control was poor, but dual therapy with a diuretic was more effective. Myocardial consequences were significant.

Management of hypertension in the elderly patient at abidjan cardiology institute (ivory coast).

Background. Since the treatment of hypertension is beneficial for the elderly, we have undertaken this study that aims to evaluate the management of hypertension in elderly patient in Côte d'Ivoire. Methods. A retrospective study was conducted among 854 hypertensive elderly patients of Abidjan Cardiology Institute who were followed for a minimum of one year, between January 2000 and December 2009. Results. The patients mean age was 73.1 ± 5.3 years, and 59% were women. At the first presentation, it was mostly systolic-diastolic hypertension (51.8%) and isolated systolic hypertension (38.5%). Mean blood pressure was 169.4 ± 28.4 mmHg for systolic, 95.3 ± 15.7 mmHg for diastolic, and 74.1 ± 22.8 mmHg for pulse pressure. Pulse pressure was ≥60 mmHg in 80.4%. According to the European Guidelines stratification of the cardiovascular risk-excess attributable to high blood pressure, 82.1% of the sample had a very high added risk. The pharmacological therapy was prescribed in 93.5%. More than 66% of patients were receiving ≥2 antihypertensive drugs including fixed-dose combination drugs. The most common agents used were diuretics (63.5%) followed by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers in 61.3%. The most common agents used for monotherapy were calcium antagonists. When ≥2 drugs were used, diuretics and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers were the most common. Blood pressure control was achieved in 42.6%. Conclusion. The control of elderly hypertension can be effective in Sub-Saharan Africa. He required at least two antihypertensive drugs to meet the recommended blood pressure target.

Emergence of a new genetic lineage of Newcastle disease virus in West and Central Africa--implications for diagnosis and control.

Newcastle disease (ND) is an OIE listed disease caused by virulent avian paramyxovirus type 1 (APMV-1) strains, which affect many species of birds and may cause severe economic losses in the poultry sector. The disease has been officially and unofficially reported in many African countries and still remains the main poultry disease in commercial and rural chickens of Africa. Unfortunately, virological and epidemiological information concerning ND strains circulating in the Western and Central regions of Africa is extremely scarce. In the present study, sequence analysis, pathotyping and detailed genetic characterization of virulent ND strains detected in rural poultry in West and Central Africa revealed the circulation of a new genetic lineage, distinguishable from the lineages described in the Eastern and Southern parts of the continent. Several mismatches were observed in the segment of the matrix gene targeted by the primers and probe designed for the molecular detection of APMV-1, which were responsible for the false negative results in the diagnostic test conducted. Furthermore, deduced amino acid sequences of the two major antigens eliciting a protective immune response (F and HN glycoprotein) revealed protein similarities <90% if compared to some common vaccine strains. Distinct mutations located in the neutralizing epitopes were revealed, indicating the need for detailed assessment of the efficacy of the current vaccines and vaccination practices in Africa. The present investigation provides important information on the epidemiology, diagnosis and control of NDV in Africa and highlights the importance of supporting surveillance in developing countries for transboundary animal diseases.