Exploring the heterogeneity of human exposure to malaria vectors in an urban setting, Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire, using an immuno-epidemiological biomarker.

BACKGROUND: In some African cities, urban malaria is a threat to the health and welfare of city dwellers. To improve the control of the disease, it is critical to identify neighbourhoods where the risk of malaria transmission is the highest. This study aims to evaluate the heterogeneity of malaria transmission risk in one city (Bouaké) in a West African country (Côte d'Ivoire) that presents several levels of urbanization. METHODS: Two cross-sectional studies were conducted in three neighbourhoods (Dar-es-Salam, Kennedy and N'gattakro) in Bouaké during both the rainy and dry seasons. Data on insecticide-treated net (ITN) use and blood samples were collected from children aged between 6 months and 15 years to determine the parasite density and the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum and the level of IgG against the Anopheles gSG6-P1 salivary peptide, used as the biomarker of Anopheles bite exposure. RESULTS: The specific IgG levels to the gSG6-P1 salivary peptide in the rainy season were significantly higher compared to the dry season in all neighbourhoods studied (all p < 0.001). Interestingly, these specific IgG levels did not differ between neighbourhoods during the rainy season, whereas significant differences in IgG level were observed in the dry season (p = 0.034). ITN use could be a major factor of variation in the specific IgG level. Nevertheless, no difference in specific IgG levels to the gSG6-P1 salivary peptide was observed between children who declared "always" versus "never" sleeping under an ITN in each neighbourhood. In addition, the prevalence of P. falciparum in the whole population and immune responders was significantly different between neighbourhoods in each season (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: This study highlights the high risk of malaria exposure in African urban settings and the high heterogeneity of child exposure to the Anopheles vector between neighbourhoods in the same city. The Anopheles gSG6-P1 salivary peptide could be a suitable biomarker to accurately and quantitatively assess the risk of malaria transmission in urban areas.

Nitrogen and phosphorus spatio-temporal distribution and fluxes intensifying eutrophication in three tropical rivers of Côte d'Ivoire (West Africa).

Nutrient contamination assessments in the three West African tropical Comoé, Bandama, and Bia Rivers (Côte d'Ivoire) were performed from March 2016 to March 2018. Five stations per river were sampled. Nutrients spatio-temporal distributions were mapped and showed nitrogen concentrations (nitrite 0.001 to 0.025 mg/L NO2--N, and nitrate 0.26 to 3.60 mg/L NO3--N) increased significantly with rainfall contrary to phosphorus (0.01 to 0.12 mg/L P). The Chl-a and TSItsr data revealed the hypereutrophic status of rivers. Moreover, N:P mass ratio suggests nitrogen as the main limiting factor of primary production during the low (March) and high flow periods (October-November), while phosphorus is the limiting factor in June, at the high flow beginning. The land uses around watersheds were the main sources of phosphorus and nitrogen enhancing the rivers' eutrophication. Phosphorus and nitrogen fluxes were related to leaching river catchments and were significant sources of nutrients to the Atlantic Ocean.

Geographical Distribution of Cacao swollen shoot virus Molecular Variability in Côte d'Ivoire.

The discovery of new outbreaks caused by Cacao swollen shoot virus (CSSV) in Côte d'Ivoire in 2003, when this disease seemed to have been eradicated since the end of the 1950s in that country, casts doubt on the sustainability of Ivorian cocoa production. The aims of this study were, first, to carry out a molecular characterization of CSSV isolates from the main outbreaks in Côte d'Ivoire; second, determine their phylogenetic position in relation to isolates already discovered in Togo and Ghana; and, finally, study their geographical distribution to understand the dispersal of the virus. Additionally, this study was intended to enable the implementation and validation of a polyvalent molecular diagnosis assay for CSSV. Sequences analyses, corresponding to a fragment located at the 5' end of open reading frame (ORF)3 of the CSSV genome, revealed three new CSSV groups (D, E, and F) distinct from the A, B, and C groups already identified in Togo. Only group B was detected in all the outbreaks, whereas groups A and C were not identified in Côte d'Ivoire. In addition, a polymerase chain reaction diagnostic using the ORF3A F/R primer pair was polyvalent, because it enabled the detection of CSSV in 90% of the plots in all the cocoa regions analyzed by this study.

Seasonal accumulations of some heavy metal in water, sediment and tissues of black-chinned tilapia Sarotherodon melanotheron from Biétri Bay in Ebrié Lagoon, Ivory Coast.

The seasonal accumulation of cadmium, copper, lead, mercury and zinc was determined in sediments, water, and black-chinned tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron; muscle, brain, kidney and liver tissues) collected monthly from Biétri Bay. The mean water concentration of metals (in mg L(-1)) ranged from 0.01 to 0.30 (mercury), 0.02-0.26 (cadmium), 2.40-4.80 (lead), 9.05-9.68 (copper), and 12.05-19.87 (zinc). The seasonal variations showed a significant difference in the levels of mercury, cadmium and lead among season. The highest mercury (0.30 ± 0.02 µg L(-1)), cadmium (0.26 ± 0.02 mg L(-1)) and lead (4.80 ± 1.03 mg L(-1)) levels were observed during dry season, while the lowest levels (0.21 ± 0.01, 0.02 ± 0.01 and 2.40 ± 0.02 mg L(-1), respectively mercury, cadmium and lead) were measured during rainy season. The average cadmium (0.58 ± 0.36 mg L(-1)), copper (42.15 ± 19.40 mg L(-1)), lead (58.47 ± 38.10 mg kg(-1)), mercury (0.79 ± 0.47 µg kg(-1)) and zinc (187.58 ± 76.99 mg kg(-1)) concentrations determined in Biétri Bay sediments showed a similar trend as in water. The seasonal variations of mercury, cadmium and lead in tissues revealed that these metals were higher concentrated during dry and swelling seasons. The levels of zinc and copper followed by lead were higher in the tissues. The order of tissues metals concentrations was: kidney > liver > brain > muscle.

Trace metal(loid)s contamination in paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.) from wetlands near two gold mines in Côte d'Ivoire and health risk assessment.

This study examined the concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) in rice grains grown in wetlands associated with gold mining in central-southern of Côte d'Ivoire to evaluate potential health risks exposure via rice consumption. In total, 30 rice grains were sampled around Agbaou and Bonikro gold mines. Arsenic and cadmium concentrations were determined using an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES), while atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) was used for mercury. Results showed that As and Hg average concentrations in rice were above the permissible limits, while Cd average concentrations were below the permissible limit established by FAO/WHO in both sites. Except for Hg at Agbaou, no significant (p < 0.05) difference was found between trace metal concentrations in the two sites. The average daily intake (ADI) of As via rice consumption exceeded the USEPA reference dose (RfD) of 0.0003 µg g-1 day-1, indicating that rice ingestion is a pathway of As exposure for adults and children in the area. The average values of non-carcinogen (HQ) for As and carcinogen (CR) for As and Cd risks index suggest that potential health risks exist for both adults and children due to rice consumption at Agbaou and Bonikro. The maximum safe weekly consumption (MSWC) of rice relative to As, Cd, and Hg was estimated for the study area. Overall, this study provides strong evidence that As could threaten local population health in Côte d'Ivoire regions where gold mine extraction is occurring through rice ingestion.

Impact of municipal solid waste dumpsites on trace metal contamination levels in the surrounding area: a case study in West Africa, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.

The impact of uncontrolled municipal dumping sites on metal contamination in the surrounding waters, sediments, and soils are of great concern in many developing countries. Total concentrations of trace metals Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Co were measured in 33 sediments collected in the vicinity of the Akouedo dumpsite (Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire) and in a baseline station. The Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb concentrations in surface sediments around the dumpsite were at least three times higher than those at the reference station, suggesting that the Akouedo dumping site is a significant contamination source of these metals to the surrounding sediments. The extent of contamination affects sediment as deep as 100 cm. Sediment pH and total organic carbon content control the distribution of Cu, Zn, and Cd in subsurface sediments. Significant Cd, Zn, and Cu enrichments were measured at the dumpsite and its surrounding environment. Zn concentrations in the sediments might cause high ecological risks at 46% of the samples based on the sediment quality guidelines (SQGs). Single and sequential extraction results showed a low mobility rate of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Ni from sediments around the dumpsite. However, the results suggest that the high total metal concentrations in the dumpsite sediments have resulted in a significant metal load in the surrounding environment.

Pharyngeal Carriage of Beta-Haemolytic Streptococcus Species and Seroprevalence of Anti-Streptococcal Antibodies in Children in Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire.

The pharynx of the child may serve as a reservoir of pathogenic bacteria, including beta-haemolytic group A streptococci (GAS), which can give rise to upper airway infections and post-streptococcal diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of beta-haemolytic Streptococcus spp. in pharyngeal samples stemming from children aged 3-14 years in Bouaké, central Côte d'Ivoire. Oropharyngeal throat swabs for microbiological culture and venous blood samples to determine the seroprevalence of antistreptolysin O antibodies (ASO) were obtained from 400 children in March 2017. Identification was carried out using conventional bacteriological methods. Serogrouping was performed with a latex agglutination test, while an immunological agglutination assay was employed for ASO titres. The mean age of participating children was 9 years (standard deviation 2.5 years). In total, we detected 190 bacteria in culture, with 109 beta-haemolytic Streptococcus isolates, resulting in an oropharyngeal carriage rate of 27.2%. Group C streptococci accounted for 82.6% of all isolates, whereas GAS were rarely found (4.6%). The ASO seroprevalence was 17.3%. There was no correlation between serology and prevalence of streptococci (p = 0.722). In conclusion, there is a high pharyngeal carriage rate of non-GAS strains in children from Bouaké, warranting further investigation.

[Description of three new monogenean gill parasites from Mormyrus rume (Valenciennes, 1846) (Teleostei: Mormyridae) in Ivory Coast]. / Description de trois Monogènes nouveaux, parasites branchiaux de Mormyrus rume (Teleostei : Mormyridae) en Côte d'Ivoire.

The study of the gill parasites from elephant fish Mormyrus rume Valenciennes, 1846 (Teleostei: Mormyridae) from the Ayamé man-made Lake (Ivory Coast) revealed the presence of three new monogenean species of the genus Bouixella Euzet & Dossou, 1976, which can be mainly distinguished from all other species of the genus by the morphology and the size of the sclerotised parts of the haptor (dorsal and ventral anchor, dorsal and ventral bar) and by the size and the structure of the male copulatory organ. In this paper, descriptions of Bouixella gorei n. sp., Bouixella yaoi n. sp. and Bouvixella koutouani n. sp. are given.

Preliminary data on arsenic and trace metals concentrations in wetlands around artisanal and industrial mining areas (Cote d'Ivoire, West Africa).

This data article is issued from the research article ''Distribution trends and ecological risks of arsenic and trace metals in wetland sediments around gold mining activities in central-southern and southeastern Côte d'Ivoire'' [1]. It presents arsenic and trace metal Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Cr, Co, Fe, Al, Mn, and Ni loadings in surface sediments collected from industrial mining, artisanal and small scale mining, and non-mining areas (West Africa). Are also provided, hierarchical dendrograms and factor loadings derived from the Hierarchical Clustering Analysis (HCA) and the principal component analysis (PCA), respectively. Data ranged from

Evaluation of Malaria Urban Risk Using an Immuno-Epidemiological Biomarker of Human Exposure to Anopheles Bites.

Urban malaria is an underestimated serious health concern in African countries. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of malaria transmission in an urban area by evaluating the level of human exposure to Anopheles bites using an Anopheles salivary biomarker (gambiae Salivary Gland Protein-6 peptide 1 [gSG6-P1] peptide). Two multidisciplinary cross-sectional studies were undertaken in five sites of Bouaké city (three urban districts and two surrounding villages, used as control; Côte d'Ivoire) during the rainy season and the dry season. Blood samples were obtained from children 6 months to 14 years of age for immunological tests. The level of anti-gSG6-P1 immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies was significantly higher in the rainy season than the dry season in both urban and rural sites (P < 0.0001). Interestingly, children with the highest anti-gSG6-P1 IgG responses in the rainy season were infected by Plasmodium falciparum. Surprisingly, no difference of anti-gSG6-P1 IgG level was observed between urban and rural areas, for either season. The current data suggest that children in the urban city of Bouaké could be as highly exposed to Anopheles bites as children living in surrounding villages. The immunological biomarker of human exposure to Anopheles bites may be used to accurately assess the potential risk of malaria transmission in African urban settings.

[Blood Transfusions and Ethical Responsibilities : Ivorian and Quebec Experiences]. / Chapitre 2. Transfusions sanguines et responsabilités éthiques : expériences ivoirienne et québécoise.

Improving transfusion chain requires moral support for blood policy and ethics training of different actors. To optimize this support and ethics training, it is important to evaluate and strengthen the ethicality of the mandates of the structures involved in the transfusion chain. To help strengthen audit, this study will examine the use of anticipatory and forward slope of the principle of ethical responsibility in the blood policy in Quebec and Côte d'Ivoire. By elucidating the conditionalities of efficient use of accountability within these transfusion chain, this paper deepens the fundamentals of acting rational, sensible, prudential and therefore responsible to his blood systems and supports, at the same time the ideas of biomonitoring and preventive medicine.

Measurements in N2-CH4(C2H2) discharges of reaction rates and thermochemical constants for Titan atmosphere study.

The kinetic reactions in N2-xCH4(C2H2) gas discharges with x less than 1% have been studied by emission spectroscopy in the afterglow of D.C. discharges and by mass spectroscopy from radiolysis ionization using alpha particles. The pressure range is from several Torr to 100 Torr. At the end of N2 D.C. discharges at room temperature, for a residence time of about 10(-2) s, the dominant active species are the N atoms with density of 10(14)-10(15) cm-3 for N2 density of about 10(17) cm-3 (3 Torr), the N2(X,V) vibrational molecules with for example [N2(X,V = 10)] approximately 10(14) cm-3 and the electronic metastable molecules N2(A 3 sigma u +) with a density of 10(12) cm-3. In such conditions, the following kinetic reactions have been studied: N2(A) + N2(A) --> N2(C,B,V') + N2(X), N2(A) + N2(X,V>5) --> N2(X) + N2(B,V') in pure N2 post-discharges and N2(A) + CH4 --> products, C + N + M2 --> CN(B,V') + M2, N2(X,V>4) + CN --> N2(X) + CN(B,A,V'), in N2-1% CH4 post-discharges. The clustering reactions of N2-(1-5%)CH4(C2H2) gas mixtures after radiolysis ionization have been studied for the H2CN+ nN2 ions and the equilibrium constants have been determined in the temperature range T = 140-300 K.

Aspects épidémiologiques et étiologiques des dyspnées laryngo-trachéales au centre hospitalier universitaire de Bouaké

OBJECTIF : Déterminer le profil épidémiologique et étiologique des patients hospitalisés pour une dyspnée laryngo-trachéale. MATÉRIEL ET MÉTHODES :Etude rétrospective descriptive, réalisée sur une période de trois ans (1er janvier 2014 ­ 31 décembre 2016). Elle a concerné 30 patients hospitalisés pour une dyspnée laryngo-trachéale. la prévalencel'âge, le sexe, les antécédents, et les étiologies étaient les paramètres étudiés.RÉSULTATS : la prévalence des dyspnées laryngo-trachéales était de 8,8%. Les patients étaient âgés de 09 mois à 63 ans avec un âge moyen de 23,2 ans. Les enfants de 0 à 15 ans ont représenté 50% des admissions, dont 36,7% était âgé de moins de 5 ans. Le genre masculin représentait 60% avec un sex-ratio de 1,5. Les antécédents d'intoxication alcoolo-tabagique étaient retrouvés dans 10%. Les étiologies retrouvées étaient les tumeurs (36,3%) avec 23,3% de papillomatose laryngée, les traumatismes laryngés (30%) et les laryngites infectieuses (30%).CONCLUSION : les dyspnées laryngo-trachéales sont relativement fréquentes en hospitalisation ORL surtout chez les enfants. La papillomatose laryngée, les corps étrangers et les laryngites infectieuses sont les principales étiologies

[Perforating ocular injuries in children: a retrospective study of 57 cases]. / Traumatismes oculaires perforants de l'enfant: étude rétrospective de 57 cas.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the current causes and outcomes of open eye injuries in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed the hospital records of 57 patients under 14 years of age who were treated for open globe injuries at Edouard Herriot Hospital, Lyon, France, between January 1999 and December 2003. RESULTS: This review includes 57 patients: 41 males and 16 females. The mean age at admission was 6.8 +/- 3.5 years. The injury involved the right eye in 27 cases and the left eye in 30 cases. Sharp or pointed objects accounted for the majority of injuries. The most common location for a perforating ocular injury to occur was at home. Wounds involved the cornea in 41 cases. There was iris hernia in 21 cases, hyphema in 15 cases, vitreous prolapse in 14 cases, lens damage in 12 cases, and shallow anterior chamber in 11 cases. The most frequent complication was traumatic cataract. Secondary lens removal was performed in 15 cases. Visual acuity was 0.5 or better in 27 of the 57 eyes, with a mean follow-up period of 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Perforating ocular injuries are a frequent cause of unilateral visual loss. The highest proportion of injuries occurred at home and sharp objects were the most frequent causative agents. More adequate adult supervision and educational measures are necessary in order to reduce the prevalence of these accidents.

Expression of rice yellow mottle virus coat protein enhances virus infection in transgenic plants.

The disease caused by rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) is a major, economically important constraint to rice production in Africa. RYMV is mechanically transmitted by a variety of agents, including insect vectors. The production of resistant rice varieties would be an important advance in the control of the disease and increase rice production in Africa. We produced transgenic plants of the Oryza sativa japonica variety, TP309, to express a RYMV coat protein gene (CP) and mutants of the CP under the control of a ubiquitin promoter. Transgenic plants expressing genes that encode wild-type CP (wt.CP), deleted CP (DeltaNLS.CP), mRNA of the CP, or antisense CP sequences of the CP gene were characterised. Eighty per cent (80%) of independent transgenic lines analysed contained CP gene sequences. Transgenic plants were challenged with RYMV and produced two types of reactions. Most of the plants expressing antisense sequences of the CP and untranslatable CP mRNA exhibited a delay in virus accumulation of up to a week, and the level of virus accumulation was reduced compared with non-transgenic TP309 plants. Transgenic plants expressing RYMV wild-type CP (wt.CP) and deleted CP (DeltaNLS.CP) accumulated the highest levels of virus particles. These results suggest that antisense CP and untranslatable CP mRNA induced moderate resistance, whereas transgenic CP enhanced virus infection.

Apport de l'échographie dans la prédiction de la malignité du nodule froid thyroidien

Objectifs: Analyser les éléments prédictifs échographiques permettant d'évoquer le caractère cytologique bénin ou malin des nodules thyroïdiens froids. Patients et Méthodes: Nous avons étudié 100 nodules froids chez des patients tout venants à la scintigraphie réalisée au technétium 99 m (99mTC) dans le service de biophysique et médecine nucléaire d'Abidjan. Les résultats de l'examen échographique de ces nodules froids ont été soumis au verdict diagnostique de la cytoponction thyroïdienne à l'aiguille fine.Résultats : La prédominance féminine a été de 90%. L'âge moyen était de 44±3 ans avec des extrêmes de 09 et 75 ans. La cytologie a donné 90% de lésions bénignes et 10% de lésions malignes avec la prédominances du carcinome papillaires. Les lésions bénignes étaient composés de:63 % de goitres colloïdes, 23% d'adénomes vésiculaires, 2% de thyroïdites, 2% de kystes thyroïdiens. Concernant la topographie, la taille, le nombre, les dimensions nodulaires et certains éléments propres à l'échographie telle l'échostructure, calcifications parenchymateuses, le seul élément discriminant est l'aspect des contours nodulaires. Autrement dit, lorsqu'un nodule froid thyroïdien présentait des contours irréguliers à l'échographie, il présageait à une malignité cytologique et le contraire à une cytologie bénigne.Conlusion : Le nodule froid comme les autres lésions thyroïdiennes est prédominant chez la femme. L'irrégularité des contours nodulaires semble liée à la malignité nodulaire thyroïdienne

Scintigraphie systematique et modelisation de l'image dans le diagnostic de l'osteonecrose drepanocytaire

Introduction. Le but de ce travail etait d'identifier des images scintigraphiques modeles dans la mise en place d'une nouvelle strategie diagnostique des osteonecroses drepanocytaires (OND). Methodes. La scintigraphie osseuse a ete realisee apres injection par voie intraveineuse de 296 a 740 MBq deMDP-Tc99m; selon le poids chez 126 patients. L'interpretation collegiale etait effectuee apres acquisition et traitement des images obtenues au moyen d'une gamma camera. Resultats. Nous avons distingue 4 stades evolutifs de l'OND. Le stade 1 correspondait a une normofixation dans 51% des cas; le 2 a une hypofixation homogene dans 54% de cas; le 3 a une hypofixation cernee d'hyperfixation dans 13% de cas; et le 4 d'evolution tardive;a une hyperfixation homogene dans 31% de cas. Les lesions etaient dans 87 % des tetes femorales; 6 % condylien;3 % des tetes humerales et 2% rachidien. 100 % des necroses retrouvees sur les tetes femorales sieges d'une boiterie; avaient une hyperfixation. Conclusion. La scintigraphie s'avere incontournable pour les drepanocytaires surtout en periode de crise. En effet elle impose une autre attitude dans la prise en charge et l'amelioration du pronostic de l'OND; veritable probleme en sante publique