Tick-borne relapsing fever Borreliosis, a major public health problem overlooked in Senegal.

Background: Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is the most common vector-borne bacterial disease in humans in West Africa. It is frequently clinically confused with malaria. Our study aims to determine, on a micro-geographic scale, the conditions for the maintenance and spread of TBRF in the Niakhar district of Senegal.

Histopathological effects of Aspergillus clavatus (Ascomycota: Trichocomaceae) on larvae of the southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae).

Aspergillus clavatus (Ascomycota: Trichocomaceae) was previously found to be an opportunistic pathogen of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae). In the present study, the mechanism leading to its insecticidal activity was investigated regarding histological damages on Culex quinquefasciatus larvae exposed to A. clavatus spores.

Borrelia infection in small mammals in West Africa and its relationship with tick occurrence inside burrows.

Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is a zoonotic disease caused by several Borrelia species transmitted to humans by Ornithodoros tick vectors. In West Africa, Borrelia crocidurae is a common cause of disease in many rural populations. Small mammals act as reservoirs of infection.

Aedes species in treeholes and fruit husks between dry and wet seasons in southeastern Senegal.

During the dry season in February, 2010 and the wet season in September, 2011 we sampled mosquito larvae and eggs from treeholes of seven native hardwood species and the husks of Saba senegalensis in 18 sites in the PK-10 forest in southeastern Senegal. Larvae were reared to adults for species identification. In the dry season, we recovered 408 Aedes mosquitoes belonging to seven species.

Survey of Anaplasmataceae bacteria in sheep from Senegal.

Purpose: The authors studied the role of bacteria belonging to Anaplasmataceae family as the causes of acute illnesses of sheep in West Africa.

Methods: We examined and sampled 120 febrile sheep in two regions of Senegal for this study. The DNA extracted from these blood samples was tested by PCR using two pairs of primers (groEL-based and 16S rRNA gene-based).

Pathogenicity of the Fungus, Aspergillus clavatus, isolated from the locust, Oedaleus senegalensis, against larvae of the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti, Anopheles gambiae and Culex quinquefasciatus.

The use of insect pathogenic fungi is a promising alternative to chemical control against mosquitoes. Among the Hyphomycetes isolated from insects for mosquito control, the genus Aspergillus remains the least studied. In September 2005, four fungi were isolated from the Senegalese locust, Oedaleus senegalensis Kraus (Orthoptera: Acrididae), collected in Dakar, Senegal.

Gene flow, subspecies composition, and dengue virus-2 susceptibility among Aedes aegypti collections in Senegal.

Background: Aedes aegypti, the "yellow fever mosquito", is the primary vector to humans of the four serotypes of dengue viruses (DENV1-4) and yellow fever virus (YFV) and is a known vector of Chikungunya virus. There are two recognized subspecies of Ae. aegypti sensu latu (s.

One-step RT-PCR for detection of Zika virus.

Background: Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging mosquito-borne flavivirus circulating in Asia and Africa. Human infection induces an influenza-like syndrome that is associated with retro-orbital pain, oedema, lymphadenopathy, or diarrhea. Diagnosis of Zika fever requires virus isolation and serology, which are time consuming or cross-reactive.