Synthesis of diversely substituted pyridin-2(1)-ones and evaluation of their anti-allodynic effect on cutaneous inflammatory mechanical allodynia.

A series of 3,5-disubtituted pyridin-2(1)-ones was synthesized. As part of a structure-activity relationship study performed in this series, structural modifications were based on 3-(indol-4-yl)-5-(pyridin-4-ylamino)pyridin-2(1)-one B, which exhibited a potent anti-allodynic effect in a rat model of inflammatory pain. In this study, new compounds were assessed for their ability to inhibit cutaneous mechanical allodynia in rats by using the capsaicin pain model.

Application of biomolecular techniques on tsetse fly puparia for species identification at larvipostion sites.

Puparia are commonly found in tsetse fly larviposition sites during studies on larval ecology. This chitinous shell is representative of past or ongoing exploitation of these sites by tsetse flies. The morphological characteristics of the puparium are not sufficiently distinctive to allow identification of the species.

Performance of diagnostic tests for Trypanosoma brucei brucei in experimentally infected pigs.

Animal African trypanosomosis is an important vector-borne disease of livestock in sub-Saharan Africa. Pigs seem relatively tolerant to trypanosome infection and could act as a reservoir of trypanosomes affecting animals and humans. Our ability to reliably detect trypanosome infection in pigs depends on the performance of diagnostic tools, which is not well known.

The COMBAT project: controlling and progressively minimizing the burden of vector-borne animal trypanosomosis in Africa.

Vector-borne diseases affecting livestock have serious impacts in Africa. Trypanosomosis is caused by parasites transmitted by tsetse flies and other blood-sucking . The animal form of the disease is a scourge for African livestock keepers, is already present in Latin America and Asia, and has the potential to spread further.