[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.

Dépistage des lésions précancéreuses du col utérin et micro-organismes associés dans trois communes de Nouakchott

Introduction : Le cancer du col de l'utérus emporte plus de 266.000 femmes chaque année dans le monde et 70% des victimes de cette affection vivent dans des pays à revenu faible ou intermédiaire. Cette maladie peut être prévenue grâce à un test de frottis cervico-vaginal. Les objectifs de cette étude était de déterminer la prévalence des lésions précancéreuses du col utérin et des micro-organismes associés dans la population étudiée et d'aider à une meilleure prise en charge de la maladie aussi bien dans la prévention que dans le traitement à l'échelle nationale. Patientes et méthodes : Cet article porte sur un échantillon de 500 femmes venant de 3 communes de Nouakchott (Arafat, Riad et Sebkha). Il ressort de notre étude que les infections spécifiques étaient prédominées par celles au Gardnerella vaginalis (58,44%). Elles étaient suivies respectivement par celles au Candida albicans (16,25%), Trichomonas vaginalis (14,29%) et HPV (12,98%). Les lésions pré-cancéreuses représentaient 14,29% des lésions spécifiques avec une forte association du HPV (95,4%).Conclusion : Il importe de vulgariser le test de FCV, en passant par la formation de cyto-techniciens capables de réaliser des FCV et multiplier les sites de dépistage à l'intérieur du pays

[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.