Usefulness of Dried Blood Spots (DBS) to perform hepatitis C virus genotyping in drug users in Senegal.

The aim of this pilot study was to analyze the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) genotypes circulating in Senegal among Drug User (DUs), using Dried Blood Spots (DBS) as RNA source for molecular assays. Heroin and/or cocaine users (n = 506) were recruited in Dakar from April to July 2011, using a Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS) method. DBS preparation consisted of five drops of whole blood from finger applied to a Whatman paper card. HCV infection was screened by the detection of anti-HCV antibodies, using a rapid immune-chromatographic test. HCV RNA was quantified on anti-HCV positive DBS, using the Abbott RealTime HCV® Genotyping was performed on DBS with detectable viral load with Versant® HCV Genotype 2.0 Assay (LiPA) and Abbott RealTime HCV Genotype II assay®. Among the 506 participants, 120 were tested as positive for anti-HCV antibodies and their samples were analyzed for HCV RNA viral load and genotype. Out of the 120 DBS tested, HCV RNA was detected on 25 (20.8%). The median viral load was 15,058 IU/ml (ranging from 710 to 766,740 IU/ml). All positive DBS were suitable for the genotyping assay, that showed a predominance of genotype 1 (21/25) including 16 genotypes 1a and 5 genotypes 1b. HCV genotype 1 prevails in a DU population in Dakar. DBS could be useful for HCV RNA genotyping, but optimal storage conditions should required avoiding RNA impairment. Acknowledging this limitation, DBS could be a great interest for detecting and genotyping HCV viremic patients. J. Med. Virol. 89:484-488, 2017. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Re-emergence of Rift Valley fever virus in Barkedji (Senegal, West Africa) in 2002-2003: identification of new vectors and epidemiological implications.

The Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a threat that must not be neglected, as the consequences of RVFV are dramatic, both for human and animal health. This virus is a zoonotic virus that already has demonstrated a real capacity for re-emerging after long periods of silence, as observed in Barkedji (Senegal, West Africa) in 2002. In this article we present the 2nd emergence in Barkedji after the 1st manifestation in 1993, and for the 1st time the circulation of RVFV during 2 consecutive years among mosquito populations in Senegal. As part of the entomological surveillance program undertaken since 1990 to detect circulation of the RVFV in Barkedji, 108,336 mosquitoes belonging to 34 species and 5 genera were collected in 2002-2003. Aedes vexans and Culex poicilipes, previously known to be vectors of RVFV in Senegal, comprised 88.7% of the total collection. In 2002, Ae. vexans was the most abundant mosquito, followed by Cx. poicilipes; the opposite situation was observed in 2003. In 2002, 29 and 10 RVFV isolates were obtained from Cx. poicilipes (minimum infection rate [MIR] = 0.13%) and Ae. vexans (MIR = 0.02%) pools, respectively and the MIR for the 2 species were significantly different (chi2 = 34.65; df = 1, P < 0.001). In 2003, 7 RVFV strains were isolated from Cx. poicilipes (3, MIR = 0.03), Mansonia africana (2, MIR = 0.08), Ae. fowleri (1), and Ma. uniformis (1, MIR = 0.05). The 3 latter species were found to be associated with RVFV for the 1st time in Senegal. A significant decrease in MIR was observed from 2002 to 2003 (chi2 6.28; df = 1, P = 0.01) for Cx. poicilipes, the only species involved in the transmission during the 2 sampling years.

Environmental risk factors of West Nile virus infection of horses in the Senegal River basin.

In 2005, a serological study was carried out on horses in five ecologically contrasted zones of the Senegal River basin (Senegal) to assess West Nile virus (WNV) transmission and investigate underlying environmental risk factors. In each study zone, horses were randomly selected and blood samples taken. A land-cover map of the five study areas was built using two satellite ETM+ images. Blood samples were screened by ELISA for anti-WNV IgM and IgG and positive samples were confirmed by seroneutralization. Environmental data were analysed using a principal components analysis. The overall IgG seroprevalence rate was 85% (n=367; 95% CI 0.81-0.89). The proximity to sea water, flooded banks and salted mudflats were identified as protective factors. These environmental components are unfavourable to the presence of Culex mosquitoes suggesting that in Senegal, the distribution of the vector species is more limiting for WNV transmission than for the hosts' distribution.

Evaluation of the efficiency of bird-baited traps for sampling potential West Nile fever mosquito vectors (Diptera: Culicidae) in Senegal.

The efficiency of bird-baited traps and collection heights for sampling potential West Nile mosquito vectors was studied during the 2006 rainy season (between September 27 and November 26) in Barkedji area situated in the sahelian area of Senegal (West Africa). Each night, two traps were set on the ground-level and two on the canopylevel (approximately 3 m) each containing either a chicken or a pigeon, the traps being rotated the following nights. A total of 1,030 mosquitoes were collected using 66 traps-nights. Culex species were predominant and represented 92.2% of the fauna of which 63% belonged to Cx. neavei group Theobald whereas 23.8% were Cx poicilipes (Theobald). The species of the Cx. neavei group were mainly collected by the pigeon-baited trap at canopy while Cx. poicilipes was captured similarly by pigeons and chickens placed at the canopy and ground. The implication of these results in West Nile vectors surveillance is discussed.

Laryngeal Papillomatosis in Adults: Assessment for Ten Years at the ENT Department of the National University Hospital of Fann (Dakar, Senegal).

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects of adult laryngeal papillomatosis in Senegal. Patients and Methods. This is a retrospective descriptive study of patients aged above 18 years with laryngeal papillomatosis and followed at the ENT department of the NUH of Fann between 01 January 2009 and 31 December 2018. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 37.74 years and a sex ratio of 0.93. The 20-29 age group was the most represented (45.2%). The average consultation delay was 8.34 years. All patients had dysphonia at the moment of the diagnostic and in 35.5% of cases, and it was associated with laryngeal dyspnea. Glottis localization was present in all our patients, i.e., 100% of the cases. A tracheotomy was performed in 9.67% of cases. All of our patients have had their papilloma peeled per endoscopic with tweezers. No cases of malignant degeneration were found in our study. CONCLUSION: Laryngeal papillomatosis is the most common benign tumor of the larynx in both children and adults. Despite the progress of endoscopy and antiviral treatments, its treatment poses many problems in our undermedicalized countries.

[Two cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in two tourists in Senegal in 2004]. / Deux cas de fièvre hémorragique de Crimée-Congo (FHCC) contractée au Sénégal, en 2004, par des résidentes temporaires.

Two cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) occurred in two French tourists during their visit in Senegal in November 2004. Febrile and hemorrhagic syndrome with ulorrhagia, petechiae, haematemesis, haematomas associated with biological signs of disseminated intramuscular coagulation were observed. For the first case who had a medical evacuation to France before diagnosis, Crimean-Congo virus infection was revealed by laboratory tests performed by the National Reference Center for Hemorrhagic Fevers (NRCHF, Institut Pasteur, Lyon) and secondly by the Centre de Référence OMS sur la Recherche des Arbovirus et des virus des Fièvres Hémorragiques (CRORA) in the Dakar Pasteur Institute (DPI). The second case diagnosed by the CRORA died after clinical deterioration with liver failure and severe haemorrhages. Healthcare workers and family members who had contact with tissue or blood from patients were followed up after the putative exposure either in France or in Senegal.

Evidence of West Nile virus circulation among humans in central northern Algeria.

West Nile Virus (WNV) is the most widely distributed flavivirus worldwide. It is a mosquito-borne virus, and birds constitute its natural reservoir. Humans and equines are considered accidental hosts. Human WNV infections are usually asymptomatic or express as a mild febrile syndrome; however, in around 1% of cases they are responsible for more serious neurological diseases with a potentially lethal outcome. In the Mediterranean basin the virus circulation is regarded as endemic. Outbreaks of WNV meningoencephalitis are regularly notified, especially during summer and autumn seasons. In Algeria, although some surveys have reported WNV activity in the Sahara, to date few data are available about virus circulation in the northern part of the country. We conducted this study to detect possible WNV activity in this part of Algeria. For this purpose, in 2010 a total of 164 human sera were collected from native patients of the Algiers district and surrounding areas, then tested retrospectively for IgG anti-WNV by ELISA. Plaque reduction neutralization technique (PRNT) was used for result confirmation. In this cohort, 9.8% of the 164 collected sera returned positive for anti-WNV IgG; after confirmation by PRNT; 6.7% had specific neutralizing antibodies. No statistically significant difference was observed according to the sex or transfusion status of the patients. In conclusion, these data show for the first time serological evidence of WNV circulation in Algiers and its surrounding areas. They also highlight the need for implementing an integrated surveillance programme covering all aspects of WNV disease in order to better understand the circulation dynamics of WNV in this region. Other flaviviruses antigenically related to WNV should be investigated, given the evidence of serological cross-reaction, as specific IgG antibodies decrease after PRNT confirmation.

GloPID-R report on chikungunya, o'nyong-nyong and Mayaro virus, part 2: Epidemiological distribution of o'nyong-nyong virus.

The GloPID-R (Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness) chikungunya (CHIKV), o'nyong-nyong (ONNV) and Mayaro virus (MAYV) Working Group has been established to identify gaps of knowledge about the natural history, epidemiology and medical management of infection by these viruses, and to provide adapted recommendations for future investigations. Here, we present a report dedicated to ONNV epidemiological distribution. Two large-scale ONNV outbreaks have been identified in Africa in the last 60 years, interspersed with sporadic serosurveys and case reports of returning travelers. The assessment of the real scale of ONNV circulation in Africa remains a difficult task and surveillance studies are necessary to fill this gap. The identification of ONNV etiology is made complicated by the absence of multiplex tools in co-circulation areas and that of reference standards, as well as the high cross-reactivity with related pathogens observed in serological tests, in particular with CHIKV. This is a specific obstacle for seroprevalence studies, that necessitate an improvement of serological tools to provide robust results. The scarcity of existent genetic data currently limits molecular epidemiology studies. ONNV epidemiology would also benefit from reinforced entomological and environmental surveillance. Finally, the natural history of the disease deserves to be further investigated, with a specific attention paid to long-term complications. Considering our incomplete knowledge on ONNV distribution, GloPID-R CHIKV, ONNV and MAYV experts recommend that a major effort should be done to fill existing gaps.

[Integrated approach to yellow fever surveillance: pilot study in Senegal in 2003-2004]. / Approche intégrée de la surveillance de la fièvre jaune: étude pilote au Sénégal en 2003-2004.

The aim was to undertake a pilot study of integrated surveillance of yellow fever (YF) in Senegal, based on i) a human surveillance involving healthcare centers in the 11 administrative regions of the country ii) an entomological surveillance including domestic and sylvatic environment and iii) screening mosquitoes for YF virus using RT-PCR method. The integrated approach of human and entomological surveillance was conducted for 2 years (2003-2004). Surveillance in human population was based on screening samples of YF suspected cases (i.e. patients with acute (< or = 15 days) febrile illness with jaundice) for YF specific IgM antibodies. The entomological surveillance was carried out by collecting mosquitoes using human landing catch method and attempt to detect YF virus on them by RT-PCR. Forty five percent of the healthcare centres notified at least one suspected YF case during 2003-2004 periods. Among the 342 sera collected over 2 years, 2 revealed anti-YF IgM antibodies leading to investigations which allowed identification of the source and place of infection and implementation of a reactive focused YF immunization campaign. In addition, YFV was detected by RT-PCR from 49 out of 1762 mosquitoes tested and distributed as follows: in the sylvatic environment, 29 from Aedes furcifer and 1 from Aedes aegypti while in the domestic area, 15 Aedes aegypti and 4 Aedes furcifer. RT-PCR was found more sensitive and rapid than viral isolation for YF virus detection in mosquitoes. The pilot study in Senegal for YF surveillance integrating human and entomological parameters in domestic and sylvatic areas showed that this approach is very efficient in detecting yellow fever virus circulation due to the complementarity of the two systems. Therefore, in the light of the encouraging results presented herein, similar studies in different context and areas are needed to further validate and allow the extension of its application to other endemic regions of Africa.

[Blackwater fever in children during cerebral malaria: 3 case reports in Bamako]. / La fièvre bilieuse hémoglobinurique chez l'enfant: à propos de 3 observations à Bamako.

BACKGROUND: Blackwater fever is a rare but serious form of malaria in children. Diagnosis relies on clinical symptoms and on the color of the urines. OBJECTIVES: To describe blackwater fever in children, a disease whose prevalence seems to be increasing. METHOD: We report 3 cases of blackwater fever observed in our institution. RESULTS: In 2 cases, acute renal insufficiency with oligoanuria was observed. In all the 3 cases, treatment with quinine was stopped and replaced by injectable artemether. Evolution was dependent on renal function, and included in 1 patient neurological sequels consisting in aphasia. CONCLUSION: Blackwater fever is a severe affection whose diagnosis should be evoked using the color of urine. Evolution is usually favorable in the pediatric population, when adequate care can be provided.

Evaluation of transfusion practices in sickle cell disease in Senegal: cohort study of 1078 patients with sickle cell disease.

Blood transfusion is an essential therapeutic tool in the treatment of sickle cell disease. Its indications and modalities vary from one country to another as a function of the clinical severity of the disease and the availability of blood products. This study seeks to evaluate the frequency and modalities of blood transfusions as well as their indications in patients with sickle cell syndrome at the Dakar hematology department from 1995 through 2015. This retrospective study reviewed the records of a cohort of 1078 patients with SS, SC, Sß0 and Sß + thalassemia sickle cell syndromes and collected data about the type of blood products, indications, modalities, and acute transfusion complications. The frequency of transfusion was adjusted for age, sex, and sickle cell profile. The patients' mean age was 23 years (2-44 years) and the sex ratio 0.9. SS disease was predominant (87.4 %); 28.5% had transfusions during the study period. Patients older than 20 years received more transfusions (P = 0.047). The frequency of transfusions did not differ significantly by gender (P = 0.12), but did by profile: a higher percentage of patients with SS disease required transfusion (P = 0.043). Acute anemia was the most common indication for transfusion (50.03 %). Acute transfusion complications were rare (5.8 %). This study shows that less than one third of sickle cell anemia patients in Senegal have transfusions, a finding that confirms that our patients have fewer transfusions than patients in other countries in Africa or in the West. This limited use of transfusion therapy may be related to a less severe level of disease among patients in Senegal, but also to the availability of blood products.

[Profil course of SC sickle-cell patients in Dakar: a case-control study with SS sickle cell form]. / Profil evolutif de la drepanocytose SC A Dakar: étude cas-témoin avec la forme SS.

AIMS: The study aim to describe the epidemiological, clinico-biological and evolutionary aspects of SC sickle cell patients compared to SS sickle cell disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We realized a case-control study of 12 months duration including 98 major sickle cell patients (49 SC and 49 SS sickle cell patients). SS sickle cell patients were randomly selected according to age and sex. Socio-demographic, clinico-biological and evolutionary data were noted for each patient. RESULTS: Mean age was 24.7 years (5 - 53). Sex ratio was 0.8. Mean number of transfusions was 0.06 of SC patients and 0.34 for SS patients (p=0.0008). Mean number of vaso-occlusive crisis per year was 2.24 of SC patients and 2.37 of SS patients (p=0.3). Mean basic hemoglobin level was 10.8 of SC patients and 7.8 of SS patients (p=0.0000). Priapism was found in 2.04% of SC patients and 4.04% of SS patients (p=0.3) and acute anemia in 2.04% of SC and 24.48% of SS patients (p=0.003); 26.53% of SC patients had a chronic complication compared to 18.36% of SS patients (p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: This study shows that SC sickle cell patients are less symptomatology compared to SS patients, however they would develop more chronic complications from where the utility for regular follow-up.

BUTS: Le but de notre étude était de décrire les aspects épidémiologiques, clinico-biologiques et évolutifs des patients SC comparés aux patients SS. PATIENTS ET MÉTHODES: Il s'agissait d'une étude cas témoins d'une durée de 12 mois portant sur 98 patients (49 SC et 49 SS8). Les témoins SS étaient choisis de façon aléatoire après appariement selon l'âge et le sexe. Pour chaque patient nous avons noté les aspects sociodémographiques, clinicobiologiques et évolutifs. RÉSULTATS: L'âge moyen était de 24,7 ans (5 - 53). Le sex ratio était de 0,8. Le nombre moyen de transfusions était de 0,06 chez les SC et 0,34 chez les SS (p=0,0008). Le nombre moyen de CVO/an était de 2,24 chez les SC et 2,37 chez les SS (p=0,3). Le taux moyen d'hémoglobine de base était de 10,8 chez les SC et 7,8 chez les SS (p=0,0000). Le priapisme était trouvé chez 2,04% des SC et 4,04% des SS (p=0,3) et l'anémie aigue chez 2,04% des SC et 24,48% des SS (p=0,003); 26,53% des SC souffraient d'une complication chronique contre 18,36% des SS (p=0,0001). CONCLUSION: Cette étude montre que les drépanocytaires SC ont une symptomatologie moindre par rapport aux patients SS, cependant ils développeraient plus de complications chroniques d'où l'utilité d'un suivi régulier.

Efficacy and Safety of Manual Partial Red Cell Exchange in the Management of Severe Complications of Sickle Cell Disease in a Developing Country.

INTRODUCTION: The realization of red cell exchange (RCE) in Africa faces the lack of blood, transfusion safety, and equipment. We evaluated its efficacy and safety in severe complications of sickle cell disease. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Manual partial RCE was performed among sickle cell patients who had severe complications. Efficacy was evaluated by clinical evolution, blood count, and electrophoresis of hemoglobin. Safety was evaluated on adverse effects, infections, and alloimmunization. RESULTS: We performed 166 partial RCE among 44 patients including 41 homozygous (SS) and 2 heterozygous composites SC and 1 S/ß0-thalassemia. The mean age was 27.9 years. The sex ratio was 1.58. The regression of symptoms was complete in 100% of persistent vasoocclusive crisis and acute chest syndrome, 56.7% of intermittent priapism, and 30% of stroke. It was partial in 100% of leg ulcers and null in acute priapism. The mean variations of hemoglobin and hematocrit rate after one procedure were, respectively, +1.4 g/dL and +4.4%. That of hemoglobin S after 2 consecutive RCE was -60%. Neither alloimmunization nor viral seroconversion was observed. CONCLUSION: This work shows the feasibility of manual partial RCE in a low-resource setting and its efficacy and safety during complications of SCD outside of acute priapism.

[Evaluation of the efficacy of medical screening of blood donors on preventing blood transfusion-transmitted infectious agents]. / Évaluation de l'efficacité de la sélection médicale des donneurs de sang dans la prévention des agents infectieux.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of medical screening to retain blood donors in window period by comparing the seroprevalence of infectious agents (HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis) in deferred versus accepted blood donors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective and transversal study was performed during 4 months in the National Blood Transfusion Center in Dakar (Senegal). We conducted a convenience sampling comparing the seroprevalence of infectious agents (HIV, HBsAg, HCV and syphilis) in deferred versus accepted blood donors after medical selection. RESULTS: In total, 8219 blood donors were included. Medical selection had authorized 8048 donors (97.92%) and deferred donors were 171 (2.08%). The prevalence of HIV was higher in the deferred than in accepted blood donors (1.75% vs. 0.05%) (P=0.0003; OR=35.91), as well as for HBsAg (12.87% vs. 7.35%) (P=0.006; OR=1.86). HCV antibodies were present in 0.71% of accepted blood donors and 0.58% in deferred blood donors (P=0.65; OR=0.82). Only accepted donors had brought the infection of syphilis (0.34%) (P=0.56; OR=0). CONCLUSION: Medical selection is efficient to exclude blood donors at high risk of HIV transmission and to a lesser extent of HBV. However, current medical screening procedures do not allow us to exclude donors asymptomatic carriers of HCV and syphilis.

Observational study on immune response to yellow fever and measles vaccines in 9 to 15-month old children. Is it necessary to wait 4 weeks between two live attenuated vaccines?

BACKGROUND: The use of 2 live attenuated vaccines (LAV) is recommended to be simultaneous or after an interval of at least four weeks between injections. The primary objective of this study was to compare the humoral response to yellow fever (YF) and measles vaccines among children vaccinated against these two diseases, either simultaneously or separated by an interval of 7-28 days. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A prospective, multicenter observational study was conducted among children aged 9-15 months. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of positive yellow fever antibodies after YF vaccine by estimating the titers of neutralizing antibodies from venous blood samples. Children vaccinated against YF 7-28 days after receiving the vaccine against measles (test group) were compared with children vaccinated the same day against these two diseases (referent group). RESULTS: Analysis was performed on 284 children. Of them, fifty-four belonged to the test group. Measles serology was positive in 91.7% of children. Neutralizing antibodies against YF were detected in 90.7% of the test group and 92.9 of the referent group (p=0.6). In addition, quantitative analysis of the immune response did not show a lower response to YF vaccination when it took place 1-28 days after measles vaccination. DISCUSSION: In 1965, Petralli showed a lower response to the smallpox vaccine when injected 4-20 days after measles vaccination. Since then, recommendations are to observe an interval of four weeks between LAV not injected on the same day. Other published studies failed to show a significant difference in the immune response to a LAV injected 1-28 days after another LAV. These results suggest that the usual recommendations for immunization with two LAV may not be correct. CONCLUSION: In low income countries, the current policy should be re-evaluated. This re-evaluation should also be applied to travelers to yellow fever endemic countries.

Complete sequence of two tick-borne flaviviruses isolated from Siberia and the UK: analysis and significance of the 5' and 3'-UTRs.

The complete nucleotide sequence of two tick-transmitted flaviviruses, Vasilchenko (Vs) from Siberia and louping ill (LI) from the UK, have been determined. The genomes were respectively, 10928 and 10871 nucleotides (nt) in length. The coding strategy and functional protein sequence motifs of tick-borne flaviviruses are presented in both Vs and LI viruses. The phylogenies based on maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and distance analysis of the polyproteins, identified Vs virus as a member of the tick-borne encephalitis virus subgroup within the tick-borne serocomplex, genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae. Comparative alignment of the 3'-untranslated regions revealed deletions of different lengths essentially at the same position downstream of the stop codon for all tick-borne viruses. Two direct 27 nucleotide repeats at the 3'-end were found only for Vs and LI virus. Immediately following the deletions a region of 332-334 nt with relatively conserved primary structure (67-94% identity) was observed at the 3'-non-coding end of the virus genome. Pairwise comparisons of the nucleotide sequence data revealed similar levels of variation between the coding region, and the 5' and 3'-termini of the genome, implying an equivalent strong selective control for translated and untranslated regions. Indeed the predicted folding of the 5' and 3'-untranslated regions revealed patterns of stem and loop structures conserved for all tick-borne flaviviruses suggesting a purifying selection for preservation of essential RNA secondary structures which could be involved in translational control and replication. The possible implications of these findings are discussed.

First isolation of the Rift Valley fever virus from Culex poicilipes (Diptera: Culicidae) in nature.

Following the reemergence of Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus in southeastern Mauritania in 1998, an entomological survey was undertaken in the boundary area in Senegal to assess the extent of the virus circulation. During this study, RVF virus (36 strains) was isolated for the first time from Culex poicilipes in nature. The possible role of Cx. poicilipes as an RVF vector is discussed regarding its biology and ecology.

Single-tube and nested reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction for detection of Rift Valley fever virus in human and animal sera.

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an anthropozoonosis caused by a Phlebovirus (Bunyaviridae family) that has re-emerged recently in East and West Africa in 1997-1998. This emphasizes the need for early and rapid detection of the virus and an efficient surveillance system. To this goal, a single tube or a nested reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method focusing on the NSs coding region of the S segment was developed and used to detect the RVF virus (RVFV) genome, resulting respectively in the synthesis of 810 and 662 bp DNA amplimers. The assay was specific for RVFV and did not amplify any other phleboviruses known to circulate in sub-Saharan Africa. When serial dilutions of RVFV were artificially mixed with human normal serum, the minimal detection limits were 50 and 0.5 plaque forming units respectively using the simple and the nested RT-PCR. The RT-PCR method was efficient for the detection of RVFV RNA in the blood from experimentally RVFV-infected mice and lamb and the nested RT-PCR was found more sensitive than the virus isolation method. Additionally, this detection method was applied successfully for the diagnosis of human cases during the 1998 Mauritanian outbreak.

[Impact of Chlamydia trachomatis on pregnant women in Gabon]. / Impacts de Chlamydia trachomatis sur les femmes enceintes au Gabon.

During two years 3,312 pregnant women has been screened for C. trachomatis. In spite of an improvement of the way of life and program of information on STD the rate of C. trachomatis have increased and reach a percentage of 22%. C. trachomatis is mostly found in women younger than 21 years and give no clinical sign in more than 55%. The consequence of this high degree of infection on the new born is difficult to assess but one cause, stress that 30% of the conjunctivitis are linked to C. trachomatis. Prevention has to be done to protect the newborn and to prevent the tubal infertility in young women.