New thinking for filth fly control: residual, non-chemical wall spray from volcanic glass.

Filth flies are of medical and veterinary importance because of the transfer of disease organisms to animals and humans. The traditional control methods include the use of chemical insecticides. A novel mechanical insecticide made from volcanic glass and originally developed to control mosquitoes (Imergard™ WP; ImG) was investigated for control of adult grey flesh flies, Sarcophaga bullata (Parker), secondary screwworms, Cochliomyia macellaria (F.), and house flies, Musca domestica L. In a modified WHO cone test device, the time to 50% mortality (LT50 ) when applied at 5 g/m2 (tested at 30 °C and 50% relative humidity (rH)) was 7.1, 4.3 and 3.2 h, respectively. When knockdown was included, the LT50 s were 5.5, 1.5 and 2.8 h, respectively. Application rates of 1.25 and greater g/m2 had the shortest LT50 s. The time to the LT50 increased for M. domestica as rH increased, but ImG was still active at the highest rH tested of 70%. Scanning electron micrographs showed ImG was present on all body parts, unlike that for mosquitoes where it was found mostly on the lower legs. These first studies on the use of Imergard WP against flies suggest this could be an alternative method for filth fly control.

Oecophylla longinoda (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Lead to Increased Cashew Kernel Size and Kernel Quality.

Weaver ants, Oecophylla spp., are known to positively affect cashew, Anacardium occidentale L., raw nut yield, but their effects on the kernels have not been reported. We compared nut size and the proportion of marketable kernels between raw nuts collected from trees with and without ants. Raw nuts collected from trees with weaver ants were 2.9% larger than nuts from control trees (i.e., without weaver ants), leading to 14% higher proportion of marketable kernels. On trees with ants, the kernel: raw nut ratio from nuts damaged by formic acid was 4.8% lower compared with nondamaged nuts from the same trees. Weaver ants provided three benefits to cashew production by increasing yields, yielding larger nuts, and by producing greater proportions of marketable kernel mass.

[Intraocular pressure in the Benin: screening for primary open-angle glaucoma]. / Le tonus oculaire chez les Béninois: dépistage du glaucome primitif à angle ouvert.

PURPOSE: To describe the main characteristics of intraocular pressure (IOP) in Benin, the frequency of ocular hypertension (OHT) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in a private ophthalmological clinic in Cotonou, Benin, between January 1 and June 30, 2001. It involved 4159 patients aged 20 years and over in whom IOP was systematically measured within a glaucoma screening program. The parameters studied were age, sex, and IOP. RESULTS: The patients recruited were between 20 and 85 years old. The age group from 41 to 50 years was the largest (30.1%); 56.4% of the sample were women. IOP values ranged from 8 to 60 mmHg: 52.3% were lower or equal to 13 mmHg. For both sexes, IOP followed a Gaussian distribution, with a peak between 11 and 13 mmHg. OHT frequency was 3.8%, with a male predominance and a regular increase with age. Among the OHT cases, 41.6% were isolated OHT and 58.4% of the POAGs turned out. Of the glaucoma patients, 16% were less than 40 years old, 25% were under 30 years old. CONCLUSION: In this study, it was found that the IOP peak was low and glaucoma appeared prematurely in the Beninese population. Glaucoma screening must therefore be set up from the age of 20 years and even earlier.

[Apert's syndrome: a case report]. / Le syndrome d'Apert: à propos d'une observation.

Apert's syndrome is a type of acrocephalosyndactylia that is from part of the great group of craniofacial synostoses. It is characterized by craniofacial dysmorphia and syndactylia on hands and feet, which differentiates it from Crouzon's disease. It is a rare affection that is often transmitted through an autosome dominant mode, but sporadic cases exist. We report the case of a 15-year-old girl who presented characteristic clinical signs of Apert's syndrome with normal karyotype without parental consanguinity. The Ser 252 Trp mutation of the FGFR2 gene was found, confirming the molecular diagnosis. This study illustrates the severity of ocular and neurological problems of untreated Apert's syndrome. The presence of hemoglobinopathy (Hb AS) is also a mark of its originality.

[Traumatic cataract at the Cotonou, hospital (Benin): epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic considerations]. / La cataracte traumatique au CNHU-HKM de Cotonou (Bénin): aspects épidémiologiques, cliniques et thérapeutiques.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of traumatic cataracts, to describe their epidemiological and clinical aspects, and to analyze the postoperative functional results. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We conducted a retrospective survey that covered the period from January 2000 to December 2003, during which 54 patients of all ages were treated for traumatic cataract. The epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutic parameters and the functional results were analyzed using the Epi info software, version 6. RESULTS: Traumatic cataracts accounted for 6.9% of all cataracts. The patients were aged from 3 to 59 years, with a mean age of 26.9+/-15.7 years; males were predominant (70.4%) with a ratio of 2.4. Schoolchildren were the most frequent (37%), followed by manual laborers (33.3%). The cataracts resulted from recreational accidents (37%), physical abuse (18.5%), fights (14.8%), and home accidents (13%). Total cataracts accounted for the majority of the cases (58.2%). Forty-three patients (78.2%) had unilateral blindness at the first consultation. Only 30 eyes out of 55 were operated (54.6%): 13 with simple extracapsular extraction and 15 with extracapsular extraction with implantation in the posterior chamber and two with extracapsular extraction with implantation in the anterior chamber. Ten eyes out of 30 (33.3%) presented intraoperative vitreous leakage. Only 11 eyes out of 15 recovered visual acuity corrected to 3/10 or better. DISCUSSION: Epidemiologically, the frequency of traumatic cataract doubled in 5 years, involving school-age boys most particularly. Unilateral cataracts are the rule. Anatomical and functional prognosis is worse for open injury. For different reasons, close to the half of the patients did not have surgery (44%). Among those that were treated surgically, few recovered corrected visual acuity better than 7/10. CONCLUSION: Traumatic cataract is an increasingly frequent condition, although in most cases unilateral. It poses the problem of childhood aphakia treatment.

[Not Available].

Refraction abnomalities are especially frequent with schoolchildren and constitute a frequent motive of medical advice. Authors trys to identify the most frequent refraction abnormalities and their epidemiological characteristics in daily practice at CNHUU-HKM. A retrospective study has been made on a period of 3 years at the ophthalmological clinic at CNHU-HKM (university and hospital national center-HKM) of Cotonou. This study was made on schoolchildren aged from six to fifteen years old who have experienced the automatic refractomety. From 1er January 2000 to 31 December 2002, 93 children, that is 9,2%, went to the surgery for refraction disorders. Patients from 31 to 15 years old were the most represented (63,44%) male sex is prevailing with a sex-ratio of 1,06. on the whole, myopia is the most frequent refractive abnormality with 72,04% distributed in simple myopia (32,26%) and astigmatism myopia (39,78%). Fermale sex people are the most concerned with myopia ; symptomatology from myopia (1 patient out of 3). Finally, myopia gets worse when people get older and is probably due to work intensity. Appears from this study that refraction abnormalities are curable discases; information, education and communication meetings are necessary to heightin public awareness.

[Not Available].

Treatment of detachment retinal is essentially surgical and making by external (scleral buckling) or internal (endocular chirurgy chirurgy) methid. Authors relate functional and anatomical result of retinal detachment in elderly's population. Retrospective study realized in ophthalmological clinic of University and Hospital Center of Tpirs; is concerning fifty-three patients mean aged of 76 years and treating to Irst January 1998 at 31 December 1999 by sclerall buckling in first intention. The authors have noticed one year after surgical treatment, an anatomical recuperation of 71,15 % (n=37) with 59,45 % of functional success superior to 4/10 degrees Seleral buckling can be also to considere as a valid treatment in case of retinal detachment trentment of clderly population.