Exploratory study for implementing a Global Burden of Animal Diseases case study in Senegal. / Etude exploratoire pour la mise en oeuvre d'une étude de cas du programme " Impact mondial des maladies animales " au Sénégal.

Senegal is a West African country with both extensive animal production systems, representative of the environmental, economic and animal health constraints specific to the Sahel region, and thriving commercial poultry and dairy production. An exploratory study was conducted in Senegal between 2021 and 2022 as a prelude to a case study of the Global Burden of Animal Diseases (GBADs) programme. An overview of existing animal production systems as well as the main priorities and issues in animal health on a national level was developed. A national workshop gathering representatives from the livestock production and academic sectors took place in Dakar in June 2022 with the objective of jointly developing a case study. The participants prioritised pastoralist production systems for cattle and agropastoral systems for small ruminants for the application of the GBADs programme. Through a series of activities, the participants highlighted the health, environmental, economic and socio-political challenges surrounding these systems, all of which limit their contribution to the well-being of pastoralist households, consumers and other stakeholders. While Senegal has in the past hosted a large number of research and cooperative projects on these two livestock systems, participants noted difficulties in obtaining, centralising and harmonising the existing data. This exploratory study led to the funding of a focused case study of the agropastoral small-ruminant sector that was carried out in 2023 in partnership with national and international organisations.

Le Sénégal est un pays d'Afrique de l'Ouest comprenant à la fois des systèmes de production animale extensifs représentatifs des contraintes environnementales, économiques et sanitaires propres à la zone sahélienne, et un élevage commercial avicole et laitier en plein essor. Une étude exploratoire en prélude à une étude de cas du programme " Impact mondial des maladies animales " (GBADs) a été menée au Sénégal sur la période 2021-2022. Un état des lieux des systèmes de production animale existants, ainsi que des principales priorités et questions en termes de santé animale au niveau national, a été dressé. Un atelier national rassemblant des représentants de l'administration des productions animales et du secteur académique a eu lieu à Dakar en juin 2022 avec pour objectif de construire l'étude de cas de manière concertée. Les participants ont donné la priorité aux systèmes d'élevage bovins pastoral et petits ruminants agropastoral pour l'application du programme GBADs. Par une série d'activités, les participants ont mis en évidence les enjeux sanitaires, environnementaux, économiques et socio-politiques autour de ces systèmes qui limitent leur contribution au bien-être des ménages d'éleveurs, de consommateurs et autres acteurs de la société. Si le Sénégal a accueilli par le passé un grand nombre de projets de recherche et de coopération portant sur les deux systèmes d'élevage, les participants ont fait remonter les difficultés à obtenir, centraliser et harmoniser les données existantes. Cette étude exploratoire a débouché sur le financement d'une étude de cas focalisée sur le secteur agropastoral des petits ruminants, réalisée en 2023 en partenariat avec des organisations nationales et internationales.

Senegal es un país de África occidental con sistemas de producción animal extensivos, representativos de las limitaciones ambientales, económicas y zoosanitarias propias de la región del Sahel, y una próspera producción comercial avícola y lechera. Entre 2021 y 2022, se llevó a cabo en Senegal un estudio exploratorio como paso previo a la realización de un estudio de caso en el marco del programa sobre el impacto global de las enfermedades animales (GBADs). Se elaboró una reseña de los sistemas de producción animal existentes, así como de las principales prioridades y cuestiones en materia de sanidad animal a escala nacional. En junio de 2022, se celebró en Dakar un taller nacional que reunió a representantes del sector de la producción ganadera y el sector académico con el objetivo de elaborar conjuntamente un estudio de caso. Los participantes priorizaron los sistemas de producción pastoral de ganado vacuno y los sistemas agropastorales de pequeños rumiantes para la aplicación del programa GBADs. A través de una serie de actividades, los participantes pusieron de relieve los retos sanitarios, ambientales, económicos y sociopolíticos en torno a dichos sistemas, que limitan su contribución al bienestar de los hogares pastorales, los consumidores y otras partes interesadas. Aunque Senegal ha acogido en el pasado un gran número de proyectos de investigación y cooperación sobre estos dos sistemas ganaderos, los participantes señalaron las dificultades para obtener, centralizar y armonizar los datos existentes. Este estudio exploratorio condujo a la financiación de un estudio de caso centrado en el sector agropastoril de pequeños rumiantes que se llevó a cabo en 2023 en colaboración con organizaciones nacionales e internacionales.

Genetic control of rhizosheath formation in pearl millet.

The rhizosheath, the layer of soil that adheres strongly to roots, influences water and nutrients acquisition. Pearl millet is a cereal crop that plays a major role for food security in arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa and India. We previously showed that root-adhering soil mass is a heritable trait in pearl millet and that it correlates with changes in rhizosphere microbiota structure and functions. Here, we studied the correlation between root-adhering soil mass and root hair development, root architecture, and symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and we analysed the genetic control of this trait using genome wide association (GWAS) combined with bulk segregant analysis and gene expression studies. Root-adhering soil mass was weakly correlated only to root hairs traits in pearl millet. Twelve QTLs for rhizosheath formation were identified by GWAS. Bulk segregant analysis on a biparental population validated five of these QTLs. Combining genetics with a comparison of global gene expression in the root tip of contrasted inbred lines revealed candidate genes that might control rhizosheath formation in pearl millet. Our study indicates that rhizosheath formation is under complex genetic control in pearl millet and suggests that it is mainly regulated by root exudation.

[Mycetomas diagnosed in Senegal from 2008 to 2010]. / Mycétomes diagnostiqués au Sénégal de 2008 à 2010.

INTRODUCTION: Mycetomas are inflammatory pseudotumours of subcutaneous and possibly osseous soft fabrics, generally polyfistulas with chronic mode of evolution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was carried out at the laboratory of parasitology and mycology of Le Dantec hospital in Dakar, Senegal, including 113 patients, from june 2008 to july 2010. RESULTS: Patients were from different regions in Senegal and in neighborhood countries, referred to the laboratory for mycetoma diagnosis. Among the 250 patients referred, 113 were positives after direct observation and culture corresponding to 45.2% index of infestation. The age range varies between 13 to 73years with an average age of 33.9years. The age bracket ranging between 20-39years is more infected (27.34%), followed by 40-59years (25.2%), 60years and more (4.5%), 30-39years (16.64%), 13-19years (7.2%). The infection sex rate were, male: 79.6% and female: 20.4%. Infection prevalence profession dependant was found mainly in farmers and breeders with respectively: 48.7%, and 42.5%. The foot infestation is most represented with 72.5%, then leg (12.3%), knee (7.1%), scalp (2.7%), hand (1.8%). The other localizations are found with less than 1%: back, thigh, chest and ganglion inguinal. According to mycetoma agents, fungy are represented than mycetomas actinomycosic with respectively 70% and 30%. The species found were: Madurella mycetomatis (53.1%), Actinomadura pelletieri (23%), Leptosphaeria senegalensis (9.7%), Streptomyces somaliensis (2.6%), Actinomadura madurae (2,6%), Pseudallescheria boydii (1.8%), Nocardia spp. (1.8%), Scedosporium apiospermum (0.9%), Fusarium solani (0.9%). We found agents of dermatophytes: Microsporum langeronii (1.8%), and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (0.9%). CONCLUSION: This study confirms that mycetomas are endemic affections in Senegal, where it still remain a real cause of disability among population leaving in rural area.