[African trypanosomiasis in the Republic of Guinea].

The information on the Gambian form of African human trypanosomiasis (AHT), collected in Guinea, is analyzed. The fauna of tsetse flies currently numbers at least 8 species. Two species are the vectors of AHT. These include G.(N.) palpalis and G.(N.) tachinoides, the latter of which is the vector of animal trypanosomiasis ("nagana" cattle disease) as well. In the period of 1991 to 1997, the country's incidence of AHT was 9.6:100,000. The highest morbidity was established in the natural region of Lower Guinea (23.4:100,000, with mortality rates of 1.1 to 18.5%). A clinical study of the population of a few villages in this region revealed 6 patients with AHT. Its clinical diagnosis was parasitologically verified. Preliminary studies suggest the circulation of the pathogen of AHT in Guinea, the most active foci of which are in Lower Guinea. The epidemiological features of AHT and its epidemic significance for Guinea are yet to be studied.

[Impact of snakebites in rural environment: community survey in the rural development community (DRC) of Frilguiagbe, Republic of Guinea]. / Incidence des morsures de serpent: enquête communautaire dans la collectivité rurale de développement (CRD) de Frilguiagbe (République de Guinée).

An exhaustive study has been carried out in the rural development community (DRC) of Frilguiagbe, located at 115 km from Conakry in the Conakry-Kindia highway. It concerns a population of 23,442 inhabitants divided into 3,047 households. The survey was carried out at three levels:--community level;--health centres;--traditional healers. In the household survey made between 2002 and 2003, 175 snakebites cases were recorded. In health centres, only two (2) cases were recorded from 1993 to 2003. On the other hand, 80% (=140) of the cases registered in the households have consulted a traditional healer. On the whole, there were 9 deaths (5%). Such a result shows that the collect of information from the consultation registers is not appropriate to appraise the importance of envenomations in our country.

[Envenomations of the Kindia prefecture treated in the Institut Pasteur of Guinea for one year (2003-2004)]. / Les envenimations de la préfecture de Kindia traitées à l'Institut Pasteur de Guinée durant un an (2003-2004).

After a broadcast information on the availability of antivenom serum in Guinea Pasteur Institute (GPI), 76 snakebites victims have been admitted to the health centre of GPI within 11 months (October 2003-September 2004), 48 of whom were in a serious condition. In addition, 13 deaths occurred during the transport of the victims, i.e. a total incidence of 89 cases. Among these cases, 84% of the bites occurred during farming works (clearing, weeding, harvesting). Among the 76 victims who came alive at GPI, 9 of them did not present any envenomation. The 67 other victims have systematically received antivenom serum with a 100% recovery rate.

[Contribution to the study of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of Guinea: Fauna and distribution]. / Contribution à l'étude des moustiques (Diptera: Culicidae) de la Guinée. Faune et distribution.

The authors report the results of ten years of entomological research conducted in Guinea. During this period, 84,000 larvae and 66,000 adult mosquitoes belonging to 8 different genera were captured and identified according to species or species groups. Mosquito fauna in Guinea includes almost all the known vectors of malaria and filaria in West Africa (see tables I-IV) as well as many of the known vectors of arboviruses. Four methods were used for capturing the insects, the most efficient being the use of a net in vegetation which succeeded in trapping 83% of the species described.

[Malaria prevalence survey in 24 Guinean villages in the Kindia area]. / Etude de la prévalence du paludisme dans 24 villages de la Guinée.

The authors report the results of a survey of malaria prevalence carried out from October to December 1998 in 24 villages located upstream of the Garafiri dam, in the Kindia area. The parametre used for the assessment of prevalence was the Plasmodium index. The gametocyte and spleen indexes were also recorded. The prevalence observed (34,7%) confirms the presence in this area of stable malaria mostly transmitted by Anopheles gambiae in tropical Africa. This prevalence rate is compatible with the epidemiological data of the Ministry of Health.