[Evaluation of immunological and entomotological indices of yellow fever in Pointe-Noire, People's Republic of Congo]. / Evaluation des indices immunologiques et entomologiques de la fièvre jaune à Pointe-Noire, en République populaire du Congo.

The authors report the results of a serological sample survey managed to evaluate the prevalence of two types of yellow fever antibodies, connected with an entomological survey, in the town of Pointe-Noire in the People's Republic of Congo. According to the high rate of non protected people, the high level of entomological indices and the characteristics of local environment, this densely populated town may be considered as an area exposed to a potential hazard of a yellow fever outbreak. A vaccinal strategy ought to be planned according to this situation.

[Chemotherapy trial in the battle against Schistosoma haematobium in an irrigated sahelian zone in Niger]. / Essai de lutte par chimiothérapie contre Schistosoma haematobium en zone irriguée Sahélienne au Niger.

This study of S. haematobium infection in communities associated with irrigated schemes shows that prevalence rates are unusually high in adults, especially in men; and distribution disease is probably associated with at least the following three factors: (i) distance of the place of residence from the main transmission sites (ii) the dynamics of transmission in the waterbody and (iii) the human/water contact and contamination patterns. During this chemotherapy trial, at the first survey, only a little more than half (57.47%) of the people recorded in the census was present. Five visits of the survey team were necessary to obtain a compliance rate of 80.51% of the entire population. The indifference of the local people to seek diagnosis and treatment increased with succeeding surveys. It is only, during a subsequent treatment survey, carried out during the season of low agricultural activity and following an official written convocation, that a compliance rate similar to that of the first survey was recorded. If treatment is not given immediately after diagnosis as many as a fifth of positive cases do not appear for treatment. Oltipraz and praziquantel were administered. Their effectiveness could not be truly compared as there was a time lag of six months separating the administration of the treatments. However, based on the results of this trial both drugs gave good results especially in egg output intensity. But, a decrease of this parameter was also observed in non treated people. Seasonal variations of egg output or decrease of transmission could be involved.

[Course of urinary schistosomiasis over 3 consecutive years after treatment with metrifonate in a dry savanna village in Upper Volta]. / Evolution sur trois années consécutives de la schistosomose urinaire après traitement au metrifonate dans un village de savane seche de Haute-Volta.

In a dry savanna village in Upper-Volta, after mass treatment with metrifonate (four doses of 7,5 mg/kg at three weeks intervals) checking of the population was carried out for the three following years. In children and adolescents, results show a progressive decline in the cure rate (69.0% one year after treatment, 38.1% three years after treatment) and in egg-output reduction (69.9% one year after treatment, 75.4% three years after treatment). In adults, these two parameters still remain high three years after treatment (90.0% for cure rate and 87.3% for egg-output reduction). The authors point out that in a dry savanna village with a sedentary population and a transmission limited to a small collection of water, chemotherapy even employed alone is an appreciable control method to relieve populations.

[Comparative efficacy of oltipraz (1 dose, 30 mg/kg) and the combination of niridazole (25 mg/kg) and metrifonate (10 mg/kg) against S. haematobium]. / Efficacité comparée de l'oltipraz (1 dose, 30 mg/kg) et de l'association niridazole (25 mg/kg) - métrifonate (10 mg/kg) contre S. haematobium.

PUGH (1978) and TEEDSALE et al. (1980) showed that an associated single dose of metrifonate (12.5 mg/kg) plus niridazole (25 mg/kg) gave good results on Schistosoma haematobium: the egg-reduction percentage ranged between 84.7 and 91.2. In Niger, we compared the effects of this medication to oltipraz in a single dose (30 mg/kg). We selected a dosage of 10 mg/kg of metrifonate and 25 mg/kg of niridazole. This trial was carried out during the minimal transmission period. --109 adults (greater than 15 years) received oltipraz and 159 this combined treatment. They were examined twice: 11/2 month and 6 months after treatment. At the first control, the cure rate was 26.7% for oltipraz and 23.3% for the combined treatment, the egg-reduction was respectively 77.1% and 41.3%. Six months after treatment, the cure rate was 43.5% for oltipraz and 27.7% for the combined treatment and the egg-reduction was 66.5% and 2.0% respectively. Following these results, the authors recommend against the combined treatment in Niger. They note that if, in some particular conditions, this medication can give good results (PUGH, 1978, TEESDALE et al., 1980) it is however necessary to include its test in future control projects. Also, they note the weak result obtained with oltipraz; but, in this case, the heavy endemic level and high egg-loads might explain it, as well as the fact that the 30 mg/kg dosage was probably insufficient.

[Trial control by metrifonate chemotherapy of Schistosoma haematobium in a dry savannah zone in Upper Volta]. / Essai de lutte par chimiothérapie au métrifonate contre "Schistosoma haematobium" en zone de savane sèche de Haute-Volta.

Metrifonate (Bilharcil) was administered in a dose of 7,5 mg/kg, four times at 3 weeks interval to all villagers, regardless of the result of parasite examination, in order to test this treatment of urinary schistosomiasis in a hyperendemic village. On the year following the treatment, three parasite surveys were carried out. They showed a decline in the prevalence and a decrease in number of eggs excreted in the urine. The decrease rate was 91% to 94% in the 10-14 years group, the group with the highest infectivity.

[Urinary schistosomiasis. 1st trial of mass treatment in the field (Niger)]. / Schistosomose urinaire. Premier essai de traitement de masse sur le terrain (Niger).

In a village of 841 inhabitants, we were able to examine 553 subjects, 357 of whom had urinary egg excretion. The patients were treated with a single dose of 35 mg/kg oltipraz which was given under surveillance together with either whole milk or herrings in oil. The tolerance of the product was very good as only 3% of the patients reported vomiting and 3% paresthesias of the fingers. 66% of the patients examined on day 30 and/or on day 90 were egg-negative and egg excretion was reduced by at least 90% in 22 other subjects, bringing the percentage of good results to 74%. On day 90, the mean egg excretion was reduced by 82.5% in the overall population and by 80.9% in the 5 to 14 year-olds.

[Value of macroscopic urine examination and reagent strips for the detection of hematuria and proteinuria in the mass diagnosis of urinary schistosomiasis, before and after treatment]. / Valeur de l'examen macroscopique des urines et des bandelettes réactives pour la détection de l'hématurie et de la protéinurie dans le diagnostic de masse de la schistosomiase urinaire, avant et après traitement.

In this study, dip-stick examination for the detection of hematuria and proteinuria, and macroscopic examination of the urine as diagnostic methods for mass screening for urinary schistosomiasis, were compared with the technique of urinary filtration for Schistosoma haematobium eggs. Dip-sticks and macroscopic examination were proved to be simple and rapid. Before treatment, the revealing of hematuria by dip-stick was shown to be a sensitive method by comparison with filtration, but it is not specific. The tests for proteinuria, and macroscopic examination are more specific, but less sensitive. Nevertheless, all these methods give similar prevalences as distributed by age groups. Dip-sticks and macroscopic exams could therefore be duly considered for the detection of new high endemic regions. After treatment, these methods result in less valid prevalences than those obtained by filtration, but their specificity increases; they become good indicators of clinical improvement.

[Results obtained on S. haematobium by Oltipraz in Niger (author's transl)]. / Résultats obtenus sur S. haematobium par l'Oltipraz au Niger.

Sixty-three outpatients shedding eggs of S. haematobium were treated with 35 mg/kg oltipraz given in two divided doses on a single day (Niamey). 75% of the patients were egg-negative at one month and 88.9% at three months. Urinary egg excretion was markedly reduced (98%) and the mean egg count per 10 ml urine decreased from 33 before dosing to 0.6 at two months. Oltipraz thus appears to be a most interesting drug for urinary schistosomiasis

[Schistosoma mansoni experimental schistosomiasis in Erythrocebus patas monkeys (author's transl)]. / La schistosomiase expérimentale à Schistosoma mansoni chez le singe Erythrocebus patas.

A number of Erythrocebus patas monkeys have been experimentally infected only once, with Schistosoma mansoni local strain. The various parasitological, biological and immunological observations show that E. patas is a very adequate host to Schistosoma mansoni and that it develops an intestinal schistosomiasis parasitologically very close to human schistosomiasis. It is noted that in this case of single infection E. patas reactions are the same as the other species generally used in the experiments on S. mansoni.

[Study of the distribution of schistosomiasis mollusks intermediate hosts in west africa. First results (author's transl)]. / Etude de la répartition des mollusques, hôtes intermédiaires des schistosomes en Afrique de l'quest. Premiers résultats.

During 18 surveys carried out in 29 regions of 6 West african countries (Benin, Ivory Coast, Upper Volta, Mali, Niger and Togo), one species of Biomphalaria (Biomphalaria pfeifferi) and six species of Bulinus (Bulinus truncatus rohlfsi, B. globosus, B. jousseaumei, B. umbilicatus, B. senegalensis and B. forskalii) were collected. First indications of the distribution of these species demonstrated: the presence of 3 principal species (B. pfeifferi, B. globosus and B. truncatus rohlfsi); the absence of B. pfeifferi, above latitude 14 degrees north; the presence of a zone of B. truncatus rohlfsi in the north, a zone of B. globosus in the south and an intermediate zone where these two species are sympatrie; the possible presence of two strains of Schistosoma haematobium, each being transmitted by only one of the two preceding intermediate hosts. The authors point out that the parasitic diseases and their intermediate hosts are extending, as a result of the various hydraulic works and insist that the authorities should be duly made aware of the health problems generated by any development project.