Population genetic structure and historical demography of the population of forest elephants in Côte d'Ivoire.

The population of forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) has continuously declined in Côte d'Ivoire and, the remaining population largely consists of subpopulations that are fragmented and isolated. No data actually exist on the level of genetic diversity and population genetic structure of current forest elephant populations in Côte d'Ivoire. In this sense, determining genetic diversity and the underlying mechanisms of population differentiation is crucial for the initiation of effective conservation management.

Optimization of the Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) DNA extraction protocol using forest elephant dung samples.

Among non-invasive biological samples, feces offer an important source of DNA and can easily be collected. However, working with fecal DNA from highly vegetarians species such as elephant is more challenging because plant secondary compounds have an inhibitory effect on PCR reactions. Working with forest elephant dung samples, we tested and adapted a protocol of DNA extraction developed on plants based on the Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) protocol.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices on childhood TB among healthcare workers.

Increasing childhood TB case detection requires the deployment of diagnostic services at peripheral healthcare level. Capacity and readiness of healthcare workers (HCWs) are key to the delivery of innovative approaches. In 2019, HCWs from five district hospitals (DHs) and 20 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in Cambodia, Cameroon, Cote d´Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Uganda completed a self-administered knowledge-attitudes-practices (KAP) questionnaire on childhood TB.

Ivory Coast without ivory: Massive extinction of African forest elephants in Côte d'Ivoire.

In pre-colonial and colonial times Côte d'Ivoire probably hosted one of the largest elephant populations in West Africa, resulting in the country's name Côte d'Ivoire (in English Ivory Coast) by French settlers. Numbers declined and by the early 90s it was estimated that the total number of both savannah and forest elephants had reached 63 to 360 elephants in the entire country. Here we present updated information on the distribution and conservation status of forest elephant in Côte d'Ivoire based on multiple sources-dung counts on line transects, records of human-elephant conflict, media reports, sign and interview surveys-obtained during the period 2011-2017.

[Evaluation of the operational capacity of first-line health facilities in the management of malaria in Ivory Coast].

Introduction: Do health facilities (HF) have basic resources needed to manage malaria? The purpose of our study was to analyze the operational capacity (OC) of first-line health facilities in Ivory Coast in the management of malaria.

Methods: SARA methodology was used to conduct a descriptive cross-sectional study from 10 to 30 July 2016. The operational capacity in the management showed an average availability of 9 identification tracers divided in 3 areas: (i) staff and guidelines; (ii) capacity of diagnosis; (iii) drugs and products.

Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Côte d'Ivoire from 1995 to 2016: Results of National Surveys.

Setting: Tuberculosis (TB) drug resistance survey was conducted in 2016-2017 to estimate the burden of drug-resistant TB in Côte d'Ivoire.

Design: A cross-sectional cluster-based survey was conducted. All eligible smear positive patients were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to collect clinical and sociodemographic information and tested by the Xpert /rifampicin (MTB/RIF) assay.

Rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in sputum Samples using PURE TB-LAMP assay.

Objective/background: Lack of rapid and accurate diagnostic testing is a critical obstacle to global tuberculosis (TB) control. Sensitivity of sputum smear microscopy (SSM) is not optimal; however, it remains the most prevalent tool for TB confirmation in poor countries. As a part of passive case finding of TB detection, this study was conducted to determine the clinical performance of PURE TB-LAMP assay using liquid culture medium as the gold standard.

Wide Variations in Compliance with Tuberculosis Screening Guidelines and Tuberculosis Incidence between Antiretroviral Therapy Facilities - Côte d'Ivoire.

Background: In Côte d'Ivoire, tuberculosis (TB) is a common cause of death among HIV-infected antiretroviral therapy (ART) enrollees. Ivorian guidelines recommend screening for TB and initiation of TB treatment before ART initiation. Compliance with these guidelines can help reduce TB-related mortality during ART and possibly nosocomial TB transmission.

[Multidrug resistant tuberculosis among health personnel in Côte d'Ivoire].

Unlabelled: Multidrug resistance tuberculosis (MDR-TB) of health workers raises the question of hospital-borne transmission of infection.

Observations: We report 4 cases of MDR-TB confirmed at the health workers over a period of 8 years (January, 2005 to December 2012), in the 2 services of pulmonology from Abidjan to Côte d'Ivoire). It was about young grown-up patients (aged between 28 and 39 years), all HIV negatives, in a no-win situation of antituberculosis treatment (3 patients/4).

Lower Levels of Antiretroviral Therapy Enrollment Among Men with HIV Compared with Women - 12 Countries, 2002-2013.

Equitable access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for men and women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a principle endorsed by most countries and funding bodies, including the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) Relief (PEPFAR) (1).

Retention and risk factors for loss to follow-up of female and male sex workers on antiretroviral treatment in Ivory Coast: a retrospective cohort analysis.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV-infected sex workers is an important HIV prevention strategy. However, sex workers may have additional challenges for retention in ART care. The objectives of this study were to assess retention of sex workers on ART in a routine setting in Ivory Coast and identify risk factors for loss to follow-up (LTFU).

Erratum.

[This corrects the article on p. 166 in vol. 4, PMID: 25215193.

Antiretroviral therapy enrollment characteristics and outcomes among HIV-infected adolescents and young adults compared with older adults--seven African countries, 2004-2013.

Although scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) since 2005 has contributed to declines of about 30% in the global annual number of human immunodeficiency (HIV)-related deaths and declines in global HIV incidence, estimated annual HIV-related deaths among adolescents have increased by about 50% and estimated adolescent HIV incidence has been relatively stable. In 2012, an estimated 2,500 (40%) of all 6,300 daily new HIV infections occurred among persons aged 15-24 years. Difficulty enrolling adolescents and young adults in ART and high rates of loss to follow-up (LTFU) after ART initiation might be contributing to mortality and HIV incidence in this age group, but data are limited.

Assessment of the genotype MTBDRplus assay for rifampin and isoniazid resistance detection on sputum samples in Cote d'Ivoire.

We conducted an evaluation study on the GenoType MTBDRplus assay's ability to detect mutations conferring resistance to rifampin and isoniazid directly from sputum taken from 120 smear positive pulmonary patients from tuberculosis (TB) centers in Cote d'Ivoire. The sputum was decontaminated by N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NALC) and comparatively analyzed with the MTBDRplus assay version 2.0 and the mycobacterial growth indicator tube (MGIT) 960 automated drug susceptibility testing (MGIT-DST).

Temporal trends in mortality and loss to follow-up among children enrolled in Côte d'Ivoire's national antiretroviral therapy program.

Background: During 2004-2008, >2000 children (<15 years old) initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Côte d'Ivoire. Nationally representative outcomes, temporal trends in outcomes during 2004-2008 and site-level outcome determinants have not been investigated.

Methods: Incidence rates of death, loss to follow-up (LTFU) and attrition (death or LTFU) were evaluated in a nationally representative, retrospective cohort study among 2,110 children, who initiated ART at 29 facilities in Côte d'Ivoire during 2004-2008.

Temporal trends in treatment outcomes for HIV-1 and HIV-2-infected adults enrolled in Côte d'Ivoire's national antiretroviral therapy program.

Background: In Côte d'Ivoire during 2004-2007, numbers of ART enrollees increased from <5,000 to 36,943. Trends in nationally representative ART program outcomes have not yet been reported.

Methodology/principal Findings: We conducted a retrospective chart review to assess trends in patient characteristics and attrition [death or loss to follow-up (LTFU)] over time, among a nationally representative sample of 3,682 adults (≥15 years) initiating ART during 2004-2007 at 34 health facilities.

Tuberculosis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children starting antiretroviral therapy in Côte d'Ivoire.

Setting: In Côte d'Ivoire, more than 2000 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected children aged <15 years were started on antiretroviral therapy (ART) during 2004-2008.

Objectives: To estimate tuberculosis (TB) incidence and determinants among ART enrollees.

Design: A nationally representative retrospective cohort study among 2110 children starting ART during 2004-2008 at 29 facilities.

Use of rapid molecular test for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis detection among relapse cases in Cote d'Ivoire.

Unlabelled: Tuberculosis is explicitly recognized as a major global public health problem. In Côte d'Ivoire, relapse cases represent 66.5% of patients eligible for retreatment according to the National Tuberculosis Control Program.

Emergence in Western African countries of MDR-TB, focus on Côte d'Ivoire.

Tuberculosis (TB) is responsible for a high mortality rate (2.5%) worldwide, mainly in developing countries with a high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The emergence of multiresistant strains of TB poses an extreme risk for TB outbreaks and highlights the need for global TB control strategies.

[Effects of war on control of tuberculosis in Côte d'Ivoire from 2002 to 2007].

Objectives: To specify consequences of armed conflict in Côte d'Ivoire from 2002 to 2007 on treatment outcomes of new cases of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB+) and retreatment cases.

Methodology: Retrospective analysis of treatment outcomes and reprocessing notified to the National Program against Tuberculosis from 2001 to 2008.

Results: Totally, 7,4232 cases of TPM+ and 5094 cases of reprocessing had been declared during the war period in Côte d'Ivoire.

High prevalence of shared international type 53 among Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains in retreated patients from Côte d'Ivoire.

Background: Genotyping methods are useful tools to provide information on tuberculosis epidemic. They can allow a better response from health authorities and the implementation of measures for tuberculosis control. This study aimed to identify the main lineages and clades of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains circulating in Côte d'Ivoire.

Scaling up pediatric HIV care and treatment in Africa: clinical site characteristics associated with favorable service utilization.

Background: To improve pediatric enrollment and retention in HIV treatment programs in Africa, we examined factors associated with service utilization within the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation program in Côte d'Ivoire, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed characteristics of clinical sites providing HIV treatment services within our program. For each site, favorable pediatric program outcomes were defined as a cumulative number or percentage of pediatric enrollment in care or antiretroviral therapy (ART) more than the pooled median value or an attrition rate less than 10%.

Effect of sildenafil on erectile dysfunction in spinal cord injured patients.

Background: Erectile dysfunction is a preoccupying issue, just like motor and bladder disability, in spinal cord injured (SCI) patients. This is particularly so because of the increasing prevalence of paraplegic and tetraplegic subjects and the fact that these patients are younger, and sexually active.

Objective: To determine the effects of Sildenafil (Viagra((R))) on erectile dysfunction in SCI patients.