[Evaluation of malaria rapid diagnostic test Optimal-IT® pLDH along the Plasmodium falciparum distribution limit in Mauritania]. / Evaluation du test de diagnostic rapide du paludisme OptiMal-IT® pLDH à la limite de la distribution de Plasmodium falciparum en Mauritanie.

Performance of the malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) OptiMal-IT® was evaluated in Mauritania where malaria is low and dependent on a short transmission season. Slide microscopy was considered as the reference method of diagnosis. Febrile patients with suspected malaria were recruited from six health facilities, 3 urban and 3 rural, during two periods (December 2011 to February 2012, and August 2012 to March 2013). Overall, 780 patients were sampled, with RDT and thick blood film microscopy results being obtained for 759 of them. Out of 774 slides examined, of which 200 were positive, P. falciparum and P. vivax mono-infections were detected in 63.5% (127) and 29.5% (59), while P. falciparum/P. vivax coinfections were detected in 7% (14). Both species were observed in all study sites, although in significantly different proportions. The proportions of thick blood film and OptiMal-IT® RDT positive individuals was 26.3% and 30.3% respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of OptiMal-IT® RDT were 89% [95% CI, 84.7-93.3] and 91.1% [88.6-93.4]. Positives and negative predictive values were 78.1% [72.2-83.7] and 95.9% [94.1-97.5]. These diagnostic values are similar to those generally reported elsewhere, and support the use of RDTs as the main diagnostic tool for malaria in Mauritanian health facilities. In the future, choice of RDTs to be used must take account of thermostability in a hot, dry environment and their ability to detect P. falciparum and P. vivax.

[Serological and Behavioral Survey on HIV/AIDS among prisoners in Nouakchott (Mauritania)]. / Enquête comportementale et sérologique sur le VIH/sida chez les détenus à Nouakchott (Mauritanie).

In Mauritania, epidemiological data estimate national HIV prevalence to less than 1%. Our study is the first joint survey on HIV/AIDS conducted among prisoners in Mauritania. It is a cross-sectional survey with anonymity and informed consent. The study covered a sample of 296 prisoners enrolled in a population of 706 prisoners held in Nouakchott. The sex ratio was 14.6. The refusal rate of blood sample was 4.7%. HIV prevalence in the sample was 3.9%. 53.37% of prisoners knew the concept of seropositivity but only 7.4% had a perfect knowledge of the ways of HIV transmission untainted by false beliefs. The results showed that 99% of prisoners knew that the condom is a means of protection against HIV infection, but they also showed many false beliefs about protection against HIV in the majority of prisoners. Indeed, 98.49% of respondents said they protected themselves by avoiding sex with strangers and 94.97% of them thought that sex with young girls or virgins are protection against HIV. Nearly one quarter of the prisoners did not have a good perception of risk of contracting HIV in prison although homosexual relations between prisoners have been reported. This study showed that prisoners in Mauritania are a vulnerable group to HIV because the prevalence of HIV in this group was higher than the national prevalence and this sub-population was unfamiliar with the disease and adopt risk behaviors.

[HIV seroprevalence among STD patients in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou (Mauritania)]. / Séroprévalence VIH chez les consultants IST à Nouakchott et à Nouadhibou (Mauritanie).

This work presents the results of the behavioural and serologic survey on HIV/AIDS conducted from December 2007 to December 2008 among the group of STD (sexually transmitted disease) patients, supposed to be at HIV infection risk. In Mauritania, the last survey of HIV seroprevalence among the STD patients goes up to the year 1995 (the prevalence was estimated then to be 0.9%). The goal was to determine the seroprevalence of HIV and syphilis and to gather information on the knowledge, the sexual behaviours on a risk concerning the HIV/AIDS, and the sexually transmitted disease among these patients. The census has been made on over 224 STD patients during the period of the study, without predominance of sex and with a majority of young adults. The prevalence for HIV is 9% and for the syphilis it is 10%. Actually, the condom is widely underused by this group, even in occasional intercourse. The STD patients are a group of risk towards HIV, because of their risk behaviours and low level of knowledge.

HbHope/HbS and HbS/beta-thal double compound heterozygosity in a Mauritanian family: clinical and biochemical studies.

The hemoglobin Hope was discovered in a Mauritanian family that comes from Gorgol in the southwest of the country. The family belongs to the Soninké ethnic group, which is one of the black population groups in Mauritania. Along with this abnormal hemoglobin, HbS and beta-thalassemia were also found. This family, which we refer to as D, was encountered during a survey we conducted to study hemoglobinopathies in Mauritania. First the father was identified to carry an association of HbS and HbHope, then the study was extended to the entire family members: the wife who was found to have a beta-thalassemia trait and their three children who were found to carry HbS/beta-thalassemia mutations each. All together this family carries three different mutations that resulted in a double compound heterozygosity HbHope/HbS and HbS/beta-thal.

Hemoglobin A2' (HbA2delta') in the Mauritanian population: first results of a preliminary survey.

The Mauritanian population consists of two main groups: one Arab and Berber population and one of Black African origin. The latter includes five ethnic groups: Pular, Soninke, Black Maurs, Wolof, and Bambara. Abnormal HbA2 was found in the Mauritanian population and was characterized by cellulose acetate electrophoresis at pH 8.4 followed by DNA analysis. Among 785 subjects examined, 17 were carriers of HbA2' corresponding to 2.16 percent. The highest frequency was observed among the Pular (3.09 percent), the Black Maurs (2.72 percent), the Wolof (2.27 percent), and the Soninke (2.04 percent).

Epidemiological profile of hemoglobinopathies in the Mauritanian population.

We performed a study of hemoglobin in 700 blood donors attending the Centre Hospitalier National de Nouakchott in Mauritania. We detected 116 cases of anomalies corresponding to a global prevalence of 16.6%. The analysis of the samples studied showed that 72.3 % of the donors were Blacks and 28.7 % were White Maurs ( Maures blancs). In the Black population the prevalence of hemoglobinopathies is 21.44% whereas among the White Maurs it is 4.47%. In this study, the six ethnic groups that constitute the Mauritanian population were also represented in the sample, but with different numbers. We noted some differences in the repartition of anomalies among these groups. The hemoglobin anomalies that were found are sickle cell anemia, beta-thalassemia, and delta-variant, all in heterozygous form. Geographical repartition revealed that the hemoglobin abnormalities are mostly encountered in the Southeast and the Southwestern parts of the country, which could be considered areas of high risk for hemoglobinopathies.

[Prevalence of serum markers of hepatitis B and C virus in blood donors of Nouakchott, Mauritania]. / Prévalence des marqueurs sériques des virus des hépatites B et C chez les donneurs de sang à Nouakchott, Mauritanie.

This preliminary survey was intended to collect transversal data to ensure a better understanding of the hepatitis B and C epidemiology in Mauritania. The authors have studied the seroprevalence rate of HBs antigen and HCV antibodies among 349 blood donors. Data of this study showed that anti-HCV antibody was detected in 1.1% and HBs antigen in 20.3% blood donors.

[The microbial etiology of genital discharges in Nouakchott, Mauritania]. / Etiologie microbienne des écoulements génitaux à Nouakchott, Mauritanie.

The survey carried on 579 patients of both sexes, consulting for genital discharges (spontaneous or referred), showed that in 61.1% men cases, STD agents were isolated (Neisseria gonorrhoeae 51.5%) and 64.4% in women cases (Gardnerella vaginalis 24%, Candida albicans 20%. Trichomonas vaginalis 14%). 17% of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains were penicillinase-producing (PPNG).

Epidémiologie des teignes en milieu scolaire de Nouakchott: fréquence et étiologie

La presente etude a porte sur la frequence et l'etiologie des teignes en milieu scolaire de Nouakchott. Sur les 1.233 eleves examines; 179 ont presente des lesions cliniques caracteristiques; soit 14;5 pour cent; parmi lesquels 147 sont positifs sur le plan biologique (culture et/ou examen direct) soit une correlation de 93;8 pour cent. Il n'y a pas de difference significative entre les deux sexes; cependant; il y a une difference entre les groupes d'age ou le groupe de 7 a 10 ans est le plus touche; et la prevalence diminue avec l'augmentation de l'age. Il y a egalement une difference significative entre les differents quartiers; avec plus de 22 pour cent dans les quartiers de bidonvilles. La repartition etiologique montre une predominance du trichophyton violaceum (67;34 pour cent) suivi de trichophyton soudanensis (27;86 pour cent). La teigne est tres frequente et traduit des conditions socio-economiques precaires