COVID-19 pandemic response and Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programs in ECOWAS.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been persistent with a huge demand for human health resources which is a vital component of its preparedness and response. Globally, the public health workforce through field epidemiology and laboratory training programme (FELTP) has been instrumental to global health security. We determined the status of FELTP in the region and its contributions to the COVID-19 pandemic response in the ECOWAS region.

Molecular detection of avian pathogens in poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) in Algerian layer farms as a potential predictive tool.

The poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae is a hematophagous ectoparasite of layer hens. Infestations with poultry red mites pose an increasing threat to the egg production industry, causing serious problems to animal health and welfare, directly or indirectly as a vector of several infectious agents. In this study, we aimed to investigate common avian pathogens in mites.

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Unlabelled: Introduction-Aim: The third cycle of medical studies (TCMS) lasts 3 years for the specialty of family medicine (FM) in Tunisia. The members of the FM committee of the Faculty of Medicine of Monastir (FMM) aimed to detail the learning objectives (LO) of residents in FM.

Method: We used the Delphi method in 2 rounds including a group of experts called FM Learning Objectives Writing Group (FMLOWG) at the FMM.

Towards a multi-lateral framework for cross-border surveillance and information sharing between Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

Nigeria sits at the crossroads of West and Central Africa; two increasingly critical regions for global health security. To strengthen cross-border collaboration for health security between its neighbors from West and Central Africa, the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria through the public health authority at the Points of Entry-Port Health Services, led the design of a multi-lateral framework for cross-border collaboration between Nigeria, the Republic of Benin, the Republic of Chad, the Republic of Cameroon and the Republic of Niger. This framework provides a platform for agreeing on bilateral national and district-level infectious disease surveillance information sharing as well as laying the groundwork for expanded collaboration in incident reporting, joint investigation and response across borders.

New value chain nuts and butter from West Africa to international markets: Biological activities, health benefits, and physicochemical properties.

The tallow or butter tree ( Sabine) is a ligneous forest species of multipurpose use largely distributed in Sub-Sahara Africa. Owing to the biological properties of different parts of the tree and physicochemical properties, as well as the numerous benefits of its fruits, research on products, especially kernels and butter, has now gained more interest. Thus, the scientific literature revealed that butter is a more promising product with good physical and technological characteristics.

Nanoencapsulation of Cyanidin 3--Glucoside: Purpose, Technique, Bioavailability, and Stability.

The current growing attractiveness of natural dyes around the world is a consequence of the increasing rejection of synthetic dyes whose use is increasingly criticized. The great interest in natural pigments from herbal origin such as cyanidin 3--glucoside (C3G) is due to their biological properties and their health benefits. However, the chemical instability of C3G during processing and storage and its low bioavailability limits its food application.

New Insights Into the Genetic Variability of (Trematoda) in Algeria and Relationships with Other Geographic Regions Revealed By Mitochondrial DNA.

This study aims to investigate the level of genetic variability of flukes isolated from cattle in Algeria and to determine the phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships with sequences isolated worldwide. Mitochondrial (Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I gene - COI) and nuclear markers (Internal Transcribed Spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA - ITS) for 24 flukes isolated from 12 cattle in North Algeria were characterised. Only two haplotypes were obtained for the COI gene, resulting in a low level of genetic variation.

Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant, Benin, May-July 2021.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Delta variant epidemiology in Africa is unknown. We found Delta variant was introduced in Benin during April-May 2021 and became predominant within 2 months, after which a steep increase in reported coronavirus disease incidence occurred. Benin might require increased nonpharmaceutical interventions and vaccination coverage.

Mutations Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern, Benin, Early 2021.

Intense transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Africa might promote emergence of variants. We describe 10 SARS-CoV-2 lineages in Benin during early 2021 that harbored mutations associated with variants of concern. Benin-derived SARS-CoV-2 strains were more efficiently neutralized by antibodies derived from vaccinees than patients, warranting accelerated vaccination in Africa.

Extensive longitudinal myelitis due to cytomegalovirus infection.

Neurological cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections especially extensive longitudinal myelitis are extremely rare in immunocompetent adults. However, we hereby report a case of cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral myelitis caused by CMV infection in a healthy adult patient. The patient was treated properly and had a good outcome.

First molecular characterization of Blastocystis subtypes from animals and animal-keepers stool in Algeria.

Blastocystis sp. is one of the most common enteric parasites found in humans and many non-human hosts. It is an anaerobic protozoan that belongs to the group of Stramenopiles.

An Observational Laboratory-Based Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Molecular Diagnostics in Benin, Western Africa.

Information on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spread in Africa is limited by insufficient diagnostic capacity. Here, we assessed the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-related diagnostic workload during the onset of the pandemic in the central laboratory of Benin, Western Africa; characterized 12 SARS-CoV-2 genomes from returning travelers; and validated the Da An RT-PCR-based diagnostic kit that is widely used across Africa. We found a 15-fold increase in the monthly laboratory workload due to COVID-19, dealt with at the cost of routine activities.

Limited Specificity of Serologic Tests for SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Detection, Benin.

We used commercially available ELISAs to test 68 samples from coronavirus disease cases and prepandemic controls from Benin. We noted <25% false-positive results among controls, likely due to unspecific immune responses elicited by acute malaria. Serologic tests must be carefully evaluated to assess coronavirus disease spread and immunity in tropical regions.

External validations of the ABCD2 score in prediction of stroke risk after transient ischemic attack. A Tunisian hospital-based cohort study.

Background And Purpose: Identification of patients with high risk of stroke after transient ischemic attack (TIA) could be helpful to optimize stroke prevention. We aimed to externally validate the ABCD2 score for the prediction of stroke after TIA in a Tunisian population.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study of consecutive patients admitted for TIA in four university hospitals in Tunisia.

Genetically 'pure' Fasciola gigantica discovered in Algeria: DNA multimarker characterization, trans-Saharan introduction from a Sahel origin and spreading risk into north-western Maghreb countries.

Fascioliasis is a freshwater snail-borne zoonotic helminth disease caused by two species of trematodes: Fasciola hepatica of almost worldwide distribution and the more pathogenic F. gigantica restricted to parts of Asia and most of Africa. Of high pathological impact in ruminants, it underlies large livestock husbandry losses.

Cystic Echinococcosis in Algeria: the Role of Cattle as Reservoirs in the Dynamics of Transmission of Echinococcus granulosus to Humans via Dogs.

In North Africa, the parasite Echinococcus granulosus is transmitted in a synanthropic cycle evolving mainly between dogs (DH) and sheep (IH), but other animals like cattle are most often found to be more infested with hydatid cysts but their potential role in human contamination via dogs is unknown. The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence and fertility rates of hydatid cysts in ruminants (cattle and sheep) in two slaughterhouses in central and eastern Algeria. Determining the frequency and fertility of cysts in cattle will assess the degree of involvement of this species, alongside sheep, in the epidemiological cycle of E.

Inhibition of histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and HDAC2 enhances CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing.

Despite the rapid development of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing technology, the gene editing potential of CRISPR/Cas9 is hampered by low efficiency, especially for clinical applications. One of the major challenges is that chromatin compaction inevitably limits the Cas9 protein access to the target DNA. However, chromatin compaction is precisely regulated by histone acetylation and deacetylation.

Development of analytical methods GC-MS vs LC-UV for the serum monitoring of an inflammatory glycotoxin (methylglyoxal): A new biomarker of bovine hepatobiliary distomatosis.

Two analytical methods; high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography were used to determine the content of 2-methylquinoxaline, a methylglyoxal-derived agent in sera from cattle with fascioliasis. Methylglyoxal is a highly mutagenic and cytotoxic reactive dicarbonyl compound formed by non-enzymatic fragmentation of triose phosphate GAP and DHAP during glycolysis which regularly contributes to repositioning the energetic balance between physiological and pathological situations. The aim of this study was to propose the MGO as a new biomarker in the bovine fasciolosis.

First isolation of among cattle in some Northern Algerian slaughterhouses.

Background And Aim: or small liver fluke often causes unnoticed clinical manifestations in cattle. For a live animal, its diagnosis is mainly based on the detection of eggs by coproscopic examination. The objective of this study was to determine the presence or absence of spp.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of infection in rabbit of local Algerian population.

Aim: The objective of this investigation was to determine the seroprevalence and identify the risk factors of infection in the rabbit of the local Algerian population from five districts of Northern Algeria.

Materials And Methods: Blood samples of 350 rabbits were collected and analyzed for the presence of anti- immunoglobulin G antibodies using the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Additional data concerning the farms and management practices were obtained through a questionnaire used in surveys and interviews.

A post-mortem study of bovine fasciolosis in the Mitidja (north center of Algeria): prevalence, risk factors, and comparison of diagnostic methods.

The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of fasciolosis and investigate the associated risk factors (sex, age, and season) in slaughtered cattle of the Mitidja area. This survey also aimed to compare three diagnostic methods: liver inspection, microscopic bile examination, and ELISA test. Liver and bile of 1400 cattle were examined for the presence of adult and eggs of Fasciola hepatica, respectively.

Involvement of Anopheles nili in Plasmodium falciparum transmission in North Benin.

Background: Several studies carried out in Benin have shown the involvement of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.), the Anopheles funestus group in malaria transmission, but none of them reported the contribution of the Anopheles nili group to the transmission of this disease.

[The role of the retrograde nailing in distal femur fractures: about 7 cases].

We report a series of seven cases of fractures of the distal end of the femur treated by retrograde centro-medullary nailing in the Orthopedic-Trauma Department at the Hospital Ibn Sina over the period 30/05/2010 - 30/04/2015. The average age of patients was 54 years, with a slight male predominance (57,1%). Road traffic accidents were the main cause of these fractures (71.