Establishing African genomics and bioinformatics programs through annual regional workshops.

The African BioGenome Project (AfricaBP) Open Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics aims to overcome barriers to capacity building through its distributed African regional workshops and prioritizes the exchange of grassroots knowledge and innovation in biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics. In 2023, we implemented 28 workshops on biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics, covering 11 African countries across the 5 African geographical regions. These regional workshops trained 408 African scientists in hands-on molecular biology, genomics and bioinformatics techniques as well as the ethical, legal and social issues associated with acquiring genetic resources.

Using artificial odors to optimize attractiveness of host decoy traps to malaria vectors.

Malaria vector surveillance tools often incorporate features of hosts that are attractive to blood-seeking females. The recently developed host decoy trap (HDT) combines visual, thermal, and olfactory stimuli associated with human hosts and has shown great efficacy in terms of collecting malaria vectors. Synthetic odors and yeast-produced carbon dioxide (CO2) could prove useful by mimicking the human odors currently used in HDTs and provide standardized and easy-to-use olfactory attractants.

Vectorial competence, insecticide resistance in Anopheles funestus and operational implications for malaria vector control strategies in Benin Republic.

The primary reason for the failure of malaria vector control across endemic regions is the widespread insecticide resistance observed in Anopheles vectors. The most dominant African vectors of malaria parasites are Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funestus mosquitoes. These species often exhibit divergent behaviours and adaptive changes underscoring the importance of deploying active and effective measures in their control.

Diversity and behavioral activity of Anopheles mosquitoes on the slopes of Mount Cameroon.

Background: Malaria remains endemic in Cameroon, with heterogeneous transmission related to eco-climatic variations, vector diversity and spatial distribution. The intensification of malaria prevention and control through the free distribution of insecticide-treated nets in recent years may have altered the composition, geographic distribution and natural infection rate of Anopheles species, with implications for malaria transmission dynamics. The present study seeks to assess the vectorial diversity, dynamics and infectivity across different seasons and altitudes in relationship to parasite prevalence around the slopes of Mount Cameroon, southwestern region.

Distribution of acetylcholinesterase (Ace-1) target-site G119S mutation and resistance to carbamates and organophosphates in Anopheles gambiae sensu lato populations from Cameroon.

Background: Cameroon is considering the implementation of indoor residual spraying (IRS) as a complementary measure to control malaria in the context of high pyrethroid resistance in major malaria vectors. Non-pyrethroid insecticide classes such as organophosphates and carbamates may be utilized in IRS due to widespread pyrethroid resistance. However, the success of this strategy depends on good knowledge of the resistance status of malaria vectors to carbamates and organophosphates.

Community-based geographical distribution of Mycobacterium ulcerans VNTR-genotypes from the environment and humans in the Nyong valley, Cameroon.

Background: Genotyping is a powerful tool for investigating outbreaks of infectious diseases and it can provide useful information such as identifying the source and route of transmission, and circulating strains involved in the outbreak. Genotyping techniques based on variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) are instrumental in detecting heterogeneity in Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU) and also for discriminating MU from other mycobacteria species. Here, we describe and map the distribution of MU genotypes in Buruli ulcer (BU) endemic communities of the Nyong valley in Cameroon.

Multiple Resistance Mechanisms to Pyrethroids Insecticides in Anopheles gambiae sensu lato Population From Mali, West Africa.

Background: Insecticide-based vector control is responsible for reducing malaria mortality and morbidity. Its success depends on a better knowledge of the vector, its distribution, and resistance status to the insecticides used. In this paper, we assessed Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (A gambiae s.

Acetylcholinesterase (ace-1) target site mutation G119S and resistance to carbamates in Anopheles gambiae (sensu lato) populations from Mali.

Background: The long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying of insecticide (IRS) are major malaria vector control strategies in Mali. The success of control strategies depends on a better understanding of the status of malaria vectors with respect to the insecticides used. In this study we evaluate the level of resistance of Anopheles gambiae (sensu lato) to bendiocarb and the molecular mechanism that underlies it.

Susceptibility Profiles of (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to Deltamethrin Reveal a Contrast between the Northern and the Southern Benin.

is an indigenous species in Africa and has been reported in the destruction of several crops in Benin. Management of pest is mainly focused on the use of synthetic pyrethroids, which may contribute to resistance selection. This study aimed to screen the susceptibility pattern of field populations of to deltamethrin in Benin.

Case Definitions of Clinical Malaria in Children from Three Health Districts in the North Region of Cameroon.

Malaria endemicity in Cameroon greatly varies according to ecological environment. In such conditions, parasitaemia, which is associated with fever, may not always suffice to define an episode of clinical malaria. The evaluation of malaria control intervention strategies mostly consists of identifying cases of clinical malaria and is crucial to promote better diagnosis for accurate measurement of the impact of the intervention.

Experimental huts trial of the efficacy of pyrethroids/piperonyl butoxide (PBO) net treatments for controlling multi-resistant populations of in Kpomè, Southern Benin.

Insecticides resistance in mosquitoes limits Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN) used for malaria control in Africa, especially Benin. This study aimed to evaluate the bio-efficacy of current LLINs in an area where and have developed multi-resistance to insecticides, and to assess in experimental huts the performance of a mixed combination of pyrethroids and piperonyl butoxide (PBO) treated nets on these resistant mosquitoes. The study was conducted at Kpomè, Southern Benin.

The Rapid Degradation of Lambda-Cyhalothrin Makes Treated Vegetables Relatively Safe for Consumption.

Lambda-cyhalothrin (λ-cyhalothrin) is the most commonly used pyrethroid insecticide for vegetable farming in Benin. This insecticide is misused and overused by farmers, and hence may pose health hazards to consumers. We monitored λ-cyhalothrin residues in lettuce and cabbage from farms at the market gates in Cotonou and Parakou using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis techniques.

Domestic animals infected with Mycobacterium ulcerans-Implications for transmission to humans.

Background: The environmental pathogen, Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU) can infect both humans and animals and cause Buruli ulcer (BU) disease. However, its mode(s) of transmission from the colonized environment to human/animal hosts remain unclear. In Australia, MU can infect both wildlife and domestic mammals.

First report of the presence of L1014S Knockdown-resistance mutation in and from Togo, West Africa.

To optimize the success of insecticide-based malaria control intervention, knowledge of the distribution of species and insecticide resistance mechanisms is necessary. This paper reported an updated data on pyrethroids/DDT resistance in the population from Togo.  From December 2013 to April 2015, females of indoor-resting were captured in three locations belonging to three different ecological zones.

Water source most suitable for rearing a sensitive malaria vector, in the laboratory.

  The insecticide susceptibility status of one of the main malaria vectors in the Afrotropical regions, remains under-studied due to the difficulty of working with this mosquito species. Collecting their larvae in natural breeding sites, rearing and maintaining them in normal laboratory conditions have been a difficult task. Forced-egg laying technique has been a very good tool to generate eggs from adult mosquitoes collected from the wild but rearing these eggs to obtain satisfying portion as adults has always been the problem.

Evidences of the Low Implication of Mosquitoes in the Transmission of , the Causative Agent of Buruli Ulcer.

Background: Buruli ulcer (BU) continues to be a serious public health threat in wet tropical regions and the mode of transmission of its etiological agent, (), remains poorly understood. In this study, mosquito species collected in endemic villages in Benin were screened for the presence of . In addition, the ability of mosquitoes larvae to pick up from their environment and remain colonized through the larval developmental stages to the adult stage was investigated.

Do open garbage dumps play a role in canine rabies transmission in Biyem-Assi health district in Cameroon?

Background: Rabies is a neglected enzootic disease which represents a serious public health problem. In Cameroon, efforts to prevent human deaths caused by rabies are often thwarted by the lack of community awareness. The community knowledge, as well as attitudes and perception on rabies, is therefore important for both prevention of human deaths and control in animals.

Co-infections of malaria and geohelminthiasis in two rural communities of Nkassomo and Vian in the Mfou health district, Cameroon.

Background: Human co-infection with malaria and helmimths is ubiquitous throughout Africa. Nevertheless, its public health significance on malaria severity remains poorly understood.

Methodology/principal Findings: To contribute to a better understanding of epidemiology and control of this co-infection in Cameroon, a cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the prevalence of concomitant intestinal geohelminthiasis and malaria, and to evaluate its association with malaria and anaemia in Nkassomo and Vian.

Factors associated to bed net use in Cameroon: a retrospective study in Mfou health district in the Centre Region.

Introduction: Insecticide treated net remains a tool of choice for malaria prevention in Cameroon. However, data suggests that its use by the population, especially vulnerable groups remains low. Moreover, there is a paucity of information about factors influencing its use.