Biological effects of Lippia alba essential oil against Anopheles gambiae and Aedes aegypti.

The management of mosquito resistance to chemical insecticides and the biting behaviour of some species are motivating the search for complementary and/or alternative control methods. The use of plants is increasingly considered as a sustainable biological solution for vector control. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological effects of the essential oil (EO) of Lippia alba harvested in Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire) against Anopheles gambiae and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

Development of prediction models to identify hotspots of schistosomiasis in endemic regions to guide mass drug administration.

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease affecting over 150 million people. Hotspots of transmission-communities where infection prevalence does not decline adequately with mass drug administration-present a key challenge in eliminating schistosomiasis. Current approaches to identify hotspots require evaluation 2-5 y after a baseline survey and subsequent mass drug administration.

Narrative review of application of metagenomic approaches to study the link between oropharyngeal microbiome and infectious diseases.

Context: Viral and bacterial infections are major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The oropharyngeal microbiome could play an important role in preventing invasion of viral and bacterial pathogens by modulating its content and the host's innate immune response. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies now enable in-depth study of the genomes of microbial communities.

Bridging the Gap from Molecular Surveillance to Programmatic Decisions for Malaria Control and Elimination.

An increasing number of molecular and genomic assays are available to study malaria parasite populations. However, so far they have played a marginal role in informing policy and programmatic decision-making. Currently, molecular data are mainly used for monitoring drug efficacy against Plasmodium falciparum; assessing molecular markers of drug and insecticide resistance; and assessing P.

Effects of Climate Variability on Malaria Transmission in Southern Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa.

Malaria continues to be a major public health concern with a substantial burden in Africa. Even though it has been widely demonstrated that malaria transmission is climate-driven, there have been very few studies assessing the relationship between climate variables and malaria transmission in Côte d'Ivoire. We used the VECTRI model to predict malaria transmission in southern Côte d'Ivoire.

Social uncertainty promotes signal complexity during approaches in wild chimpanzees () and mangabeys ().

The social complexity hypothesis for the evolution of communication posits that complex social environments require greater communication complexity for individuals to effectively manage their relationships. We examined how different socially uncertain contexts, reflecting an increased level of social complexity, relate to variation in signalling within and between two species, which display varying levels of fission-fusion dynamics (sympatric-living chimpanzees and sooty mangabeys, Taï National Park, Ivory Coast). Combined signalling may improve message efficacy, notably when involving different perception channels, thus may increase in moments of high social uncertainty.

Evolutionary Insight into the Association between New Jersey Polyomavirus and Humans.

Advances in viral discovery techniques have led to the identification of numerous novel viruses in human samples. However, the low prevalence of certain viruses in humans raises doubts about their association with our species. To ascertain the authenticity of a virus as a genuine human-infecting agent, it can be useful to investigate the diversification of its lineage within hominines, the group encompassing humans and African great apes.

Management of diseases in a ruminant livestock production system: a participatory appraisal of the performance of veterinary services delivery, and utilization in Ghana.

Introduction: Sustainable livestock production remains crucial for attainment of food security globally and for safeguarding the livelihoods of many households in low- and -middle income countries. However, the high prevalence of infectious livestock diseases, coupled with inadequate provision and adoption of effective control measures, leads to reduced livestock productivity, increased animal mortalities, and emergence of antimicrobial resistant pathogens. This study sought to assess the management strategies employed by farmers for priority diseases affecting their animals and the utilization and performance of veterinary services.

The effectiveness of interventions to reduce cardio-metabolic risk factors among regular street food consumers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: The pre-post findings from a cluster randomized trial (Registered by Pan African clinical trial registry with trial # PACTR202208642850935).

Introduction: The healthy plate model (HPM) is a practical guide to modulate the portion of staple food in main meals, subsequently affecting the risks associated with Non-communicable Diseases include type2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Objective: This study investigated the effectiveness of health information and the healthy plate model on cardio-metabolic risk factors, knowledge and attitude towards T2DM prevention measures.

Methods: A pre-post analysis, as part of a cluster randomized trial with street food vendors and their customers, was implemented in three randomly selected districts in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Implementation and Outcomes of a Pilot Collaborative Surgical Hydrocele Training in Côte d'Ivoire.

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a neglected tropical disease that can cause hydrocele and its associated stigma, loss of economic productivity, and depression. Hydrocele surgery is an essential part of LF morbidity management but can be difficult for national programs to implement. To improve access to hydrocele surgeries in Côte d'Ivoire, we provided a WHO-certified surgical training for six surgical teams from five health districts in Côte d'Ivoire.

Antioxidant activity and efficacy of (bitter kola) oil on pathogenic and alteration microorganisms of attiéké.

Attiéké, the most widely consumed cassava product in Côte d'Ivoire, has a short shelf life. This is largely due to microbial contamination. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the antioxidant activity and effectiveness of seed oil against pathogenic and spoilage strains of attiéké.

Introduction and acceptability of the Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System (SORMAS) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Côte d'Ivoire.

Background: The Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System (SORMAS) has been implemented for various infectious diseases since 2015. 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, SORMAS was adapted to SARS-CoV2.

Methods: We assessed the acceptability and usability of SORMAS and accompanied its implementation in two pilot regions of Côte d'Ivoire (Abidjan 2 and Gbêkê) from July/August 2021 to March 2022.

Impacts of storage practices on the physical, culinary and sensory quality of Kponan yam (Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata) from Côte d'Ivoire during storage.

Background: Kponan is the most popular yam (Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata) variety in Côte d'Ivoire. Unfortunately, losses due to rotting during storage do not ensure a regular supply to markets. This study aimed to identify the impacts of cultivation and storage practices in the main production areas on physical, cooking and sensory characteristics of Kponan.

Chimpanzees make tactical use of high elevation in territorial contexts.

Tactical warfare is considered a driver of the evolution of human cognition. One such tactic, considered unique to humans, is collective use of high elevation in territorial conflicts. This enables early detection of rivals and low-risk maneuvers, based on information gathered.

Associations between soil-transmitted helminth infections and physical activity, physical fitness, and cardiovascular disease risk in primary schoolchildren from Gqeberha, South Africa.

Background/aim: School-aged children in low- and middle-income countries carry the highest burden of intestinal helminth infections, such as soil-transmitted helminths (STH). STH infections have been associated with negative consequences for child physical and cognitive development and wellbeing. With the epidemiological transition and rise in cardiovascular disease (CVD), studies have shown that helminth infections may influence glucose metabolism by preventing obesity.

Accelerating the healing of hard-to-heal wounds with food supplements: nutritional analysis in the Côte d'Ivoire.

Objective: Hard-to-heal wounds are an important, yet often neglected, public health issue in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Malnutrition has been identified as a risk factor for prolonged healing times. However, nutritional supplements are not routinely provided for patients with hard-to-heal wounds, and so this study aimed to investigate their benefits.

Effect of awareness training to frontline health workers and the use of e-based technology on reporting of brucellosis cases in selected pastoral communities, Tanzania: a quasi-experimental study.

Introduction: Brucellosis is a serious community health problem and endemic disease in Tanzania in both humans and animals. Frontline health workers (FHWs) play a vital role in reporting and hence prevent and control brucellosis in rural settings. This study aims to evaluate the effect of awareness training to frontline health workers and use of electronic technology (e- technology) on reporting of brucellosis cases.

Spatial Distributions of Diarrheal Cases in Relation to Housing Conditions in Informal Settlements: A Cross-Sectional Study in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

In addition to individual practices and access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, housing conditions may also be associated with the risk of diarrhea. Our study embraced a broad approach to health determinants by looking at housing deprivation characteristics as exposures of interest and confronting the latter's spatial distribution to that of diarrheal cases. We tested the hypothesis that the risk of diarrhea in informal settlements is not only associated with WASH services, but also with inadequate dwelling characteristics, and that their spatial distributions follow similar patterns.

Farmers' valuation and willingness to pay for vaccines to protect livestock resources against priority infectious diseases in Ghana.

Introduction: Livestock vaccination coverage rates remain low in many lower and middle income countries despite effective vaccines being commonly available. Consequently, many preventable infectious livestock diseases remain highly prevalent, causing significant animal mortalities and threatening farmers' livelihood and food security. This study sought to assess farmers' maximum willingness to pay (WTP) for contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), and peste-des-petits-ruminants (PPR) vaccination of cattle, and sheep and goats, respectively.

Benefit-cost analysis of coordinated strategies for control of rabies in Africa.

Previous research suggests that dog mass vaccination campaigns can eliminate rabies locally, resulting in large human and animal life gains. Despite these demonstrated benefits, dog vaccination programs remain scarce on the African continent. We conducted a benefit-cost analysis to demonstrate that engaging into vaccination campaigns is the dominant strategy for most countries even in the absence of coordinated action between them.

Deltamethrin and transfluthrin select for distinct transcriptomic responses in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae.

Background: The widespread use of pyrethroid insecticides in Africa has led to the development of strong resistance in Anopheles mosquitoes. Introducing new active ingredients can contribute to overcome this phenomenon and ensure the effectiveness of vector control strategies. Transfluthrin is a polyfluorinated pyrethroid whose structural conformation was thought to prevent its metabolism by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases in malaria vectors, thus representing a potential alternative for managing P450-mediated resistance occurring in the field.