A nationwide survey of the tabanid fauna of Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: Tabanids are a neglected group of haematophagous dipterans despite containing 4434 species, regrouped in > 144 genera. They are mechanical vectors of important pathogens, including viruses, bacteria and protozoa of humans and domesticated and wild animals. As it is > 50 years since the publication of a preliminary nationwide record of the tabanids of Cameroon identified 84 species, updated information is needed. The aim of this study was to provide current data on the species composition, abundance and distribution of tabanids in the five main agro-ecological zones (AEZs) of Cameroon. METHODS: From 2015 to 2017, a systematic entomological study using Nzi, Vavoua, Biconical and Sevi traps (n = 106) was conducted in 604 trapping points over 11,448 trap-days in the five main AEZs of Cameroon. RESULTS: A total of 25,280 tabanids belonging to 25 species were collected, including eight species not previously documented in Cameroon, namely Tabanus latipes (1 female), Tabanus ricardae (1 female), Tabanus fasciatus (32 females and 6 males), Haematopota pluvialis (18 females), Haematopota decora (19 females and 3 males), Haematopota nigripennis (18 females), Chrysops distinctipennis (47 females and 5 males) and Ancala fasciata (34 females and 7 males). The distribution maps of the newly identified tabanids differed between AEZs, with most tabanids collected from the Guinean savanna. The highest apparent density of tabanids was recorded in the Sudan Savanna region, and the mean apparent densities of species with sites was statistically significantly different (Student t-test: 2.519, df = 24, P = 0.019). The highest species diversity was found in the rainforest. CONCLUSIONS: This study increased the list of tabanids recorded in Cameroon from 84 species in the preliminary record to 92 species, with most of the newly identified species occurring in the Guinea Savanna AEZ. The high diversity and abundance of tabanids in the livestock/wildlife interface areas of the rain forests and Sudan Savanna AEZs, respectively, suggest risk of mechanical transmission of pathogens. Investigations of the microbiota of tabanids in the different AEZs to define their role as disease vectors are proposed.

Phenotypic Insecticide Resistance in Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae): Specific Characterization of Underlying Resistance Mechanisms Still Matters.

An effective control of malaria vectors requires an extensive knowledge of mechanisms underlying the resistance-phenotypes developed by these vectors against insecticides. We investigated Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes from Benin and Togo for their intensity of insecticide resistance and we discussed the involvement of genotyped mechanisms in the resistance-phenotypes observed. Three- to five-day-old adult mosquitoes emerged from field and laboratory An. gambiae larvae were assayed using WHO tube intensity tests against various doses of deltamethrin: 1× (0.05%); 2× (0.1%); 5× (0.25%); 7.5× (0.375%) and those of pirimiphos-methyl: 0.5× (0.125%); 1× (0.25%). Members of An. gambiae complex were screened in field populations using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. The presence of kdrR(1014F/1014S) and ace-1R(119S) mutations was also investigated using TaqMan and PCR-RFLP techniques, respectively. Anopheles gambiae from field were very resistant to deltamethrin, whereas KisKdr and AcerKdrKis strains displayed 100% mortality rates at 2× the diagnostic dose. In contrast, the field mosquitoes displayed a low resistance-intensity against 1× the diagnostic dose of pirimiphos-methyl, whereas AcerKis and AcerKdrKis strains showed susceptibility at 0.5× the diagnostic dose. Anopheles gambiae s.s., Anopheles coluzzii, and Anopheles arabiensis were identified. Allelic frequencies of kdrR (1014F) and ace-1R (119S) mutations in the field populations varied from 0.65 to 1 and 0 to 0.84, respectively. The field An. gambiae displayed high-resistance levels against deltamethrin and pirimiphos-methyl when compared with those of the laboratory An. gambiae-resistant strains. These results exhibit the complexity of underlying insecticide resistance mechanisms in these field malaria vectors.

Baseline Mapping of Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis in the Northern and Eastern Health Regions of Gabon, Central Africa: Recommendations for Preventive Chemotherapy.

In order to follow the Preventive Chemotherapy (PC) for the transmission control as recommended by WHO, Gabon initiated in 2014 the mapping of Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH). Here, we report the results of the Northern and Eastern health regions, representing a third of the land area and 12% of its total population. All nine departments of the two regions were surveyed and from each, five schools were examined with 50 schoolchildren per school. The parasitological examinations were realized using the filtration method for urine and the Kato-Katz technique for stool samples. Overall 2245 schoolchildren (1116 girls and 1129 boys), mean aged 11.28 ± 0.04 years, were examined. Combined schistosomiasis and STH affected 1270 (56.6%) with variation between regions, departments, and schools. For schistosomiasis, prevalence were 1.7% across the two regions, with no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the Northern (1.5%) and the Eastern (1.9%). Schistosomiasis is mainly caused by Schistosoma haematobium with the exception of one respective case of S. mansoni and S. guineensis. STH are more common than schistosomiasis, with an overall prevalence of 56.1% significantly different between the Northern (58.1%) and Eastern (53.6%) regions (p = 0.034). Trichuris trichiura is the most abundant infection with a prevalence of 43.7% followed by Ascaris lumbricoides 35.6% and hookworms 1.4%. According to these results, an appropriate PC strategy is given. In particular, because of the low efficacy of a single recommended drug on T. trichiura and hookworms, it is important to include two drugs for the treatment of STH in Gabon, due to the high prevalence and intensities of Trichuris infections.

Oropharyngeal teratomas in newborns: management and outcome.

OBJECTIVES: Congenital teratomas of the oropharyngeal cavity are extremely rare and are associated with a high neonatal mortality rate due to severe airway obstruction. Management has been improved with progress in antenatal diagnosis. The authors describe this progress in the light of a series of 4 cases and a review of the literature. METHODS: The medical charts of four neonates treated in the department since 1995 were reviewed. The following criteria were studied: age at diagnosis, clinical and radiological features of the tumour, management at birth and outcome. RESULTS: All four cases occurred in female neonates with an antenatal diagnosis in two cases, allowing preparation for endoscopy in the delivery room in one case and an EXIT procedure in the other case. Three neonates had to be intubated in the delivery room. Imaging showed invasion of the infratemporal fossa in 3 of the 4 cases. Surgical resection via various approaches to the infratemporal fossa was complete in every case. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered in one case. CONCLUSION: Surgery for these mostly benign tumours is very challenging and requires a multidisciplinary team. Perinatal planning allows appropriate management at birth, decreasing the risk of airway obstruction. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment of teratomas.

[The dorsal nerve of the clitoris: surgical applications]. / Le nerf dorsal du clitoris : de l'anatomie à la chirurgie reconstructrice du clitoris.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the course of the dorsal nerve of the clitoris (DNC) to better define its anatomy in the human adult and to help surgeons to avoid iatrogenic injury during surgical procedures. METHOD: An extensive review of the current literature was done on Medline via PubMed by using the following keywords: "anatomie du clitoris", "anatomy of clitoris", "nerf dorsal du clitoris", "dorsal nerve of clitoris", "réparation clitoridienne", "transposition clitoridienne", "surgery of the clitoris", "clitoridoplasty". This review analyzed dissection, magnetic resonance imaging, 3-dimensional sectional anatomy reconstruction and immuno-histochemical studies. RESULTS: The DNC comes from the pudendal nerve. He travels from under the inferior pubis ramus to the posterosuperior edge of the clitoral crus. The DNC reappears under the pubic symphysis and enters the deep component of the suspensory ligament. He runs on the dorsal face of the clitoral body at 11 and 1 o'clock. Distally, he gives many nervous ramifications, runs along the tunica and enters the glans. CONCLUSION: The NDC might be surgically injured (i) under the pubic symphysis, at the union of the two crus of clitoris and (ii) on the dorsal surface of the clitoral body. The pathway of the DNC on the dorsal face of the clitoris permits to approach the ventral face of the clitoris without risk of iatrogenic injuries. The distance between the pubic symphysis and the DNC implies that the incision should be done just under the pubic symphysis. Distally, the dissection of the DNC next the glands appears as dangerous and impossible, considering that the DNC is too close to the glandular tissues.

Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea revealing an unusual ethmoido-sphenoidal foreign body.

INTRODUCTION: Foreign bodies in the transnasal ethmoido-sphenoidal sinus are uncommon. We present a case of unilateral rhinorrhoea caused by a foreign body which had been lodged in the ethmoido-sphenoidal sinus for 38 years. CASE REPORT: A 40-year-old woman presented with unilateral rhinorrhoea. Computed tomography showed a foreign body located in the right ethmoido-sphenoidal sinus, with a defect of the lamina papyracea and the ethmoid roof. The endonasal approach did not permit extraction of the foreign body. A combined approach allowed the extraction of a pen cap, and the defect of the ethmoid roof was rebuilt. CONCLUSION: Despite its limitations, the endonasal approach remains the treatment of first choice for osteo-meningeal defects, because of its minimal invasiveness and high success rate. However, in the presented case a combined approach was needed.

[Use of inomeric cement: preliminary results in revision stapes surgery]. / Utilisation d'un ciment ionomère: résultats préliminaires dans la chirurgie de révision d'otospongiose.

OBJECTIVES: Lonomeric cement can be used in revision of stapes surgery to extend the long process of the incus. Indeed, necrosis of the long process of the incus is the most common peroperative finding in this surgery. The objective in this study is to describe the technique and precautions of using SerenoCem, in the reconstruction of the long process of the incus in this indication. TYPE OF STUDY: Prospective study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients with necrosis of the long process of the incus were included from September 2009 to October 2010. We analyzed peroperative findings and evaluated functional results by hearing tests before and three months after surgery. RESULTS: Nine patients, were included. The preoperative air-bone gap was 29 dB (+/- 14) whereas postoperative air-bone gap was 16 dB (+/- 10). The rate of postoperative air-bone gap closure to within 10 dB was 55% (n = 5). No sensorineural hearing loss occured in this study. Results of revision surgery were more successful when the piston is directly attached to the incus remnant and stabilized with cement, compared to incus reconstruction followed by piston attachment. CONCLUSION: Ionomeric cement permits reconstruction of the necrosis of the long process of the incus during revision surgery. Preliminary results reveal a significant hearing improvement, without complementary morbidity.

Stridor and lingual thyroglossal duct cyst in a newborn.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the diagnosis and management of lingual thyroglossal duct cyst in newborns. CASE REPORT: A one-month-old girl presenting with inspiratory stridor and chest wall retraction was referred to our department for management of stridor. Upper airway endoscopy and neck CT scan showed a round mass at the base of the tongue causing upper airway obstruction. Computed tomography showed a well-circumscribed, low-density lesion at the base of the tongue. Endoscopic marsupialization of this lesion was performed under general anaesthesia. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lingual thyroglossal duct cyst. No recurrence was observed 18 months after endoscopic treatment. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Lingual thyroglossal duct cyst with airway obstruction is an uncommon aetiology of stridor in newborns with symptoms similar to those of laryngomalacia. The diagnosis is based on laryngoscopy. Surgical endoscopic removal is the treatment of choice. Recurrence after endoscopic treatment is rare.

The geochemistry of mercury in central Amazonian soils developed on the Alter-do-Chão formation of the lower Tapajós River Valley, Pará state, Brazil.

In an oxisol-spodosol system developed on the terrestrial surface of the lower Tapajós Valley, the determination of total mercury (Hg), organic carbon (C), iron and aluminum oxy-hydroxide (Fe(cdb) and Al(cdb)) concentrations in the surface soil horizons are used to characterise the geochemical processes controlling the accumulation of Hg in soils under natural vegetation cover and in deforested and cultivated sites. Oxisols from the plateau have homogeneous and relatively high background Hg contents and burdens constituting an important natural reservoir of Hg for the region (90-210 ng/g dry wt. and 19-33 mg/m2 for the first 20 cm). The Fe(cdb) and Al(cdb) contents associated with the fine fraction (< 63 microns) of the soil suggest that oxy-hydroxides and, particularly Al-substituted Fe oxy-hydroxides, control the Hg concentrations observed in all of the soils of the study region. Consequently, the geochemistry of these minerals along the slopes governs the accumulation or the release of the Hg according to the natural evolution of the soil cover and/or following the degradation of soils by erosion after deforestation and cultivation. These observations have important implications for the interpretation of Hg contamination patterns observed in Amazonian aquatic systems that could be linked to different drainage sources of Hg from the terrestrial surface. The sandification and podzolisation that is characteristic of the evolution of numerous pedological systems in the equatorial Amazon could be responsible for exportation of the naturally accumulated Hg, as for other metals, by acidic complexation and migration to the black waters of the Amazon. In the central Amazon region, as a result of the fragility of the soil cover, deforestation and cultivation, affecting principally the superficial soil, promote the selective erosion of fine particles enriched in oxides and Hg. The erosion of soil could be responsible for an important release of Hg, transported in particulate form by drainage waters.

The mark of sexual preference in the interpretation of texts: preface to a homosexual reading.

Since reading is an interaction or confrontation between the reader and the text--an interaction that depends upon the background and perspectives of the reader as well as on the text being read--we can assume that the dynamics of sexuality and sexual object choice will influence how readers ascribe meaning to literary texts. In fact, although other aspects of our identities come into play when we read, sexual identity is unique and central because of the role that it plays in the creation of subjectivity. Specifically, male homosexuality informs and structures the reading of texts. But what does it mean to be a homosexual reader or to effectuate a homosexual reading of a particular text?

Bronchopulmonary effects of phenylephrine and methoxamine in the guinea-pig. Interaction with bronchoconstrictor drugs.

The bronchopulmonary effects of phenylephrine (Phe) and methoxamine (Met) were investigated in vitro on isolated guinea-pig tracheas and lung strips and in vivo on pulmonary airway resistance (Raw) in conscious guinea-pigs. Phe, but not Met, relaxed the isolated trachea precontracted with acetylcholine (ACh); this effect was inhibited by propranolol and ascribed to beta-adrenergic stimulation. In the presence of propranolol, both Phe and Met contracted the isolated trachea (-log EC50 were 3.80 +/- 0.37 and 3.04 +/- 0.25 respectively (n = 5] and this effect was competitively antagonized by phentolamine. Phe and Met contracted the isolated lung strips more strongly than the trachea (-log EC50 were 5.14 +/- 0.23 and 4.30 +/- 0.14 respectively (n = 5]. In contrast with the latter, the maximum response was equivalent to that induced by ACh; this effect was also antagonized by phentolamine. In the conscious guinea-pig, Phe (100 and 300 micrograms/kg) and Met (1 and 3 mg/kg) had no effect on Raw but significantly reduced the bronchoconstriction induced by ACh (25 micrograms/kg), histamine (20 micrograms/kg) and serotonin (15 micrograms/kg); this protective effect was unmodified by propranolol (2 mg/kg), yohimbine (1 mg/kg) or piperoxan (0.3 mg/kg) but was significantly inhibited by prazosin (30 micrograms/kg) or AR- C239 (50 micrograms/kg). These results suggest that alpha-adrenergic vasoconstriction with subsequent shrinkage of the bronchial mucosa is responsible for the protective effect of Phe and Met against ACh-induced bronchoconstriction. In isolated lung strips, vasoconstriction would increase tension.

Contribution of prostaglandins and thromboxanes to the adenosine and ATP-induced contraction of guinea-pig isolated trachea.

1 In in vitro experiments adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine were found to exert different effects on the guinea-pig isolated trachea depending on whether the trachea had previously been contracted with acetylcholine (ACh) (6.6 x 10(-6) M) or was at resting tone. 2 ATP and adenosine (10(-5) and 10(-3) M) were equipotent in relaxing the precontracted guinea-pig trachea, since concentrations of 1.09 +/- 0.35 and 0.39 +/- 0.16 mM respectively reduced by 25% the ACh-induced contraction. 3 ATP and adenosine (10(-5) and 10(-4) M) caused a moderate contraction of the guinea-pi trachea under resting tone. This effect was antagonized by inhibitors of cyclo-oxygenase (indomethacin 10(-6) M, aspirin 0.3 x 10(-3) M and 3 x 10(-3) M) and of thromboxane synthetase (nictindole 10(-7) M, imidazole 5 x 10(-5) M), which suggests an indirect mechanism of action with release of arachidonic acid derivatives.

Activity of California encephalitis group viruses in Entrelacs (province of Quebec, Canada).

During the summer of 1979, indicator rabbits were placed in three sites in Entrelacs (Laurentian area, province of Quebec) and mosquitoes were collected in order to monitor arbovirus activity in the area. Eight seroconversions to California encephalitis (CE) group viruses were detected in rabbits during June, July, and August. Twenty-five strains identified as members of the CE group were isolated: 3 were obtained from viremic rabbit sera, 1 from adult Aedes communis reared in the laboratory from field-collected larvae, and 21 from mosquito pools. Twenty-two of these were typed as snowshoe hare (SSH) virus. No evidence of La Crosse (LAC) virus was detected but three strains belonging to the CE group showed antigenic properties different from reference SSH, LAC, or Jamestown Canyon (JC) viruses. One isolate identified as Flanders virus was obtained from Culex pipiens. Three mosquito species (A. communis, A. punctor, and A. excrucians) were involved in the transmission cycle of SSH virus in Entrelacs. This is the first report, in the province of Quebec, of SSH isolation from animal sera and the first demonstration of its transovarial transmission.

[The pharmacokinetics of isoniazid in children (author's transl)]. / Pharmacocinétique de l'isonizide chez l'enfant.

The purpose of this study, which involved 134 children aged between 0.5 and 17 years, was to investigate the metabolism of isoniazid (INH) in children and to provide guide-lines for dosage. The distribution of slow (55,5%) and fast (44,5%) acetylators was the same in children as in adults. However, the mean of INH inactivation index were lower (0.23 and 0.48) while distribution volumes, (1.30 +/- 0.06 and 1.57 +/- 0.17 1/kg) and total plasma clearances (5.39 +/- 0.43 and 14.7 +/- 1.5 ml/Kg/min) were higher than in adults. Plasma half-lives were similar in children and adults. These results indicate that INH is more rapidly metabolized in children owing, it is suggested to a higher liver weight : body weight ratio and to a more pronounced first pass effect. The doses of INH therefore must be higher in children and strictly adapted to each individual.