Publications by authors named "Dibakou Serge Ely"
This study aimed to establish a baseline hematological profile and examine the influence of age, sex, and season on hematological parameters in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) living in a humid tropical climate. Hematological parameters are a useful tool for assessing health status and diagnosing diseases in animals. We analyzed 473 blood samples collected from 84 chimpanzees (43 females and 41 males) during annual health checks, conducted under anesthesia for a routine physical examination.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe ecological importance of great apes is widely recognised, yet few studies have highlighted the role of protecting great apes' habitats in mitigating climate change, particularly through carbon sequestration. This study used GIS tools to extract data from various sources, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature database, to examine carbon quantity and great ape abundance in African great ape habitats. Subsequently, we employed a generalised linear model to assess the relationship between locally measured great ape populations abundance and carbon storage across areas with different levels of protection.
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- - A study was conducted to assess the risk of infectious disease transmission at the Primatology Centre in Franceville, focusing on non-human primate (NHP) conservation.
- - Staff completed a questionnaire about risks linked to their work, and various pathogens found in NHPs were analyzed using Kiviat and Pareto diagrams.
- - Results revealed several zoonotic pathogens present, with animal handlers being the most exposed, highlighting the need for strict biosecurity measures to prevent disease transfer between staff and animals.
Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, understanding of the immune process associated with the COVID-19 pandemic remains scarce. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between plasma neopterin concentrations and COVID-19 infection, focusing on changes over time and age-related changes in immune response.
Methods: A retrospective case study was conducted during the first wave of COVID-19 from March to August 2020.
Article Synopsis
- Malaria is a significant public health issue in Gabon, particularly in Franceville, necessitating urgent surveillance and early diagnosis for effective treatment.
- A retrospective study from 2017 to 2019 analyzed 2,518 malaria cases, revealing a prevalence of 26.1%, with young children being the most affected demographic.
- The findings indicate a need for targeted malaria control strategies in Franceville due to seasonal and gender disparities in infection rates, alongside the prominence of multiple Plasmodium species.
Article Synopsis
- * It finds that antibiotic treatment in humans and non-human primates (NHPs) correlates with a higher prevalence of MRSA compared to wild species like micromammals and bats, indicating that antibiotic pressure influences resistance acquisition.
- * The research suggests that generalist MRSA strains, those that can infect various hosts, have a higher potential for spreading antibiotic resistance than specialist strains, highlighting the importance of host diversity in the dynamics of antibiotic resistance in ecosystems.
COVID-19 is an emerging respiratory disease; it was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. This survey aimed to describe the knowledge, attitudes, perception and practices of the Gabonese public towards COVID-19. This study was performed on 1016 participants.
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- - The study aimed to determine the presence and diversity of gastrointestinal parasites in the sun-tailed monkey (Allochrocebus solatus) at a primatology center.
- - Researchers analyzed 46 fecal samples using the modified McMaster technique, finding seven different types of parasites, with strongyles being the most common at 98%.
- - The findings underscore the importance of monitoring the health of this monkey species and taking necessary steps for their management and welfare.
Article Synopsis
- Gastrointestinal parasites in wild mammals can harm their health and the health of humans due to potential zoonotic transmission.
- A study analyzed 25 fecal samples from various mammal species in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, revealing that 60% were positive for parasitic infections.
- The research identified a wide range of parasites, many of which are zoonotic, emphasizing the ecological and health implications despite the limited sample size.
Oesophagostomosis is a zoonotic disease caused by nematodes of the genus in the intestinal walls of many species, including ruminants, pigs, humans, and nonhuman primates. Although great apes appear to tolerate the parasite in the wild, they can develop a clinical form that can lead to death in captivity and the natural environment. At the Primatology Centre of the International Centre for Medical Research in Franceville (CIRMF) in Gabon, we recorded 4 deaths of chimpanzees () caused by spp.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCaptive chimpanzees living in confined environments like sanctuaries or primatology centers are frequently affected by gastrointestinal parasites. Some of these are likely to be transmitted to humans and may seriously affect public health. However little information is currently available on the gastrointestinal parasites of primates living in such environments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInvestigating how individuals adjust their investment into distinct components of the immune system under natural conditions necessitates to develop immune phenotyping tools that reflect the activation of specific immune components that can be measured directly in the field. Here, we examined individual variation of plasma neopterin, a biomarker of Th1 immunity in wild mandrills (), who are naturally exposed to a suite of parasites, including simian retroviruses and malaria agents. We analyzed a total of 201 plasma samples from 99 individuals and examined the effect of sex, age, social rank, reproductive state and disease status on neopterin levels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCoproscopical methods like sedimentation and flotation techniques are widely used in the field for studying simian gastrointestinal parasites. Four parasites of known zoonotic potential were studied in a free-ranging, non-provisioned population of mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx): 2 nematodes (Necatoramericanus/Oesophagostomum sp. complex and Strongyloides sp.
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