[Epidemiology of Rift Valley fever in west Africa. 1. Serological investigation of small ruminants in Niger]. / Epidémiologie de la fièvre de la Vallée du Rift en Afrique de l'ouest. 2. Enquête sérologique chez les petits ruminants au Niger.

A serosurvey of Rift Valley Fever virus infection conducted among 557 sheep and 643 goats from Niger in 1986 points out that 2.8% of the 1,200 animals tested had RVF virus reacting antibodies. The circulation of the virus is demonstrated, as well for another phlebovirus related to RVF virus, the strain Arumowot.

[Ambrosia maritima L.: study of molluscicidal properties of several generations originating in Egypt and cultivated in Senegal]. / Ambrosia maritima L.: étude des propriétés molluscicides de plusieurs générations d'origine égyptienne et cultivées au Sénégal.

The authors experiment molluscicidal properties of Ambrosia maritima L. from Egypt and cultivated in Senegal. Four generations are tested. Six plants, on eight tested, had same molluscicidal activity as the strain in Egypt.

[Socio-ethnology and role of the dog in the Pikine district (suburban zone of Dakar - Senegal)]. / Socio-ethnologie et rôle du chien dans le département de Pikine (zone suburbaine de Dakar-Sénégal).

During a mass campaign in 1987, the authors vaccinated about 500 dogs in the Pikine district. The dogs were kept for security reasons. Religion was not a limiting factor to dog ownership, but ethnic influences meant that those from Casamance (Manjaks, Diolas,. . . )--although a minority meant that among the population--bred more dogs than the Wolof majority. Most of the dog population is of local and young (average age 29 months). Males are preferred over females. The dogs belong to youths or adolescents who are without means and can neither feed the dogs correctly nor look after them when they fall sick. This individual poverty explains why the dogs are not vaccinated and why they scavenge for survival, thus contacting permanent strays, walking real reservoirs of rabies virus! The affection felt by young people for dogs makes them choice targets for transmission of the virus to man.

[Serologic response in dogs after a mass primary antirabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine) at Pikine Dakar (Senegal)]. / Réponse sérologique des chiens après une primo-vaccination antirabique de masse (vaccin inactivé adjuvé) à Pikine Dakar (Sénégal).

Mass antirabic vaccination campaign, allowed in 1987, the immunization of 514 pet dogs against rabies at Pikine, a suburban area of Dakar. Dogs received one subcutaneous dose of inactivated tissue culture rabies vaccine (RABISIN, Rhône Mérieux France). Mean antibodies titles in ELISA on days 30, 180 and 360 after vaccination, are respectively 4.78; 1.55 and 0.25 IU/ml. In the same time the proportions of protected animals are 74%, 81% and 7%. This results is compared with those obtained in other countries. The rapid decrease of antibodies suggest the role of poor general health of animals such as malnutrition, infections, external and internal parasitemia.

[Ovine coccidiosis and its treatment under conditions of a livestock market in Senegal]. / La coccidiose ovine et son traitement dans les conditions d'un marché à bétail au Sénégal.

Three lots of 1 to 2 years old sheep are considered: the first is treated by ivermectin subcutaneous (IVOMEC ND), the second by chloroquin per os (NIVAQUINE) and the third is a control one. In the lot treated by chloroquin, 76.92% of sheep show a significant decrease of the EPG, seven days after the treatment. In the lot treated by ivermectin no significant decrease of the EPG is observed after the treatment. However in 50% of these sheep, the number of oocysts in the faeces decreases and their health is improved.

[First- time isolation of the peste des petits ruminants (PPR) virus in Chad and experimental induction of the disease]. / Premier isolement au Tchad du virus de la PPR et reproduction expérimentale de la maladie.

In Chad, in 1993-1994, investigation into "peste des petits ruminants" (PPR) outbreaks were carried out in flocks of Sahelian goats. Although in the early 1993 outbreaks the virus had not been isolated yet, a serological prevalence (34%) was observed using ELISA test in 475 sera collected in the infested area. The virus was then isolated for the first time in Chad and typical PPR cases were observed in Sahelian goats, known to be little sensitive to the virus. To experimentally induce the disease, goats were inoculated with suspensions of lymph nodes or lungs, collected from sick animals. Lung suspensions induced the most serious symptoms. Suspensions of lungs and mesenteric lymph nodes were positive by agar-gel immunodiffusion test against PPR anti-serum, while prescapular lymph nodes remained negative. Characterization of the isolated virus, in particular with regard to its genomic identity, should be investigated.

[Epidemiology of Rift Valley fever in western Africa. I. Serologic survey in domestic ruminants of Burkina Faso]. / Epidémiologie de la fièvre de la Vallée du Rift en Afrique de l'ouest. I. Enquête sérologique chez les ruminants domestiques au Burkina Faso.

A serosurvey of Rift valley fever virus infection has been conducted among 2,410 domestic ruminants (sheep, goats and cattle) from Burkina Faso in 1985, 1986 and 1987. An active circulation of virus was demonstrated and 26.7% of the total animal tested had Rift valley fever virus reacting antibodies. An epizootic was demonstrated retrospectively for 1987 and appears to correspond to the RVF outbreak observed in the same type of sahelian environment during the same year in Mauritania. Analogous ecoclimatic and environmental risk factors are discussed. Others phleboviruses such as Arumowot, Gordil, Saint-Floris, Gabek Forest and Odrenisrou seem to be active in some areas but no evidence of pathogenesis for domestic ruminants was demonstrated.