[The prevalence of anti-hepatitis C antibodies in pregnant women and blood donors in Bénin]. / Prévalence des anticorps anti-virus de l'Hépatite C chez les femmes enceintes et les donneurs de sang au Bénin.

In order to precise if the hepatitis C virus (HCV) represents a potentially important infection for public health in Benin, the authors have studied the seroprevalence rate of this virus in august 1991, among two groups of population in Cotonou: 349 donors of blood (including 321 males); mean of ages: 28.7 y.-o., 149 pregnant women (mean of ages: 24.5 y.-o.). They have used an ELISA test (Innotest HCV Innogenetis NV, Antwerpen, Belgium) and retested the positive serums by LIA (Line Immuno Assay, Inno LIA HCV). A serum reacting with at least one peptide has been considered as positive. In the donors of blood and the pregnant women, a prevalence rate of respectively 2.3% (+/- 1.2) and 0.7% (+/- 0.9) has been established. These rates are worthy to be compared to those reported in Niger among the same types of population and with the same serologic tests. They are much inferior to those noted in East Gabon or South Cameroon: respectively 6.5% and 9.8%. This preliminary study has to be enlarged by investigations, which may precise the consequences of HCV presence in Benin for public health in this country.

Séroprévalence de l'antigène HBs du virus de l'hépatite chez les femmes enceintes et leurs enfants

Une etude prospective a determine la seroprevalence de l'antigene HBs (AgHBs) du virus de l'hepatite B (VHB) chez les femmes enceintes et les enfants nes de meres seropositives. La technique utilisee etait l'Elisa; suivie de la confirmation par la methode de neutralisation. Sur 1;017 gestantes testees; 84 (8;26 pour cent) etaient porteuses de l'AgHBs. Parmi celles-ci; 40 avaient ete suivies et etaient restees seropositives apres l'accouchement. Sur les 40 enfants nes de ces dernieres; l'AgHbs etait detecte dans le sang chez 8 d'entre eux (20 pour cent) dans un delai de 1 jour a 11 mois apres la naissance

[The transplacental transport of Plasmodium falciparum in non-febrile parturient women in a holoendemic region]. / Note sur le passage transplacentaire de Plasmodium falciparum chez des parturientes non fébriles en région holoendémique.

Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia measure, placenta print on microscope slide, immunofluorescence titration of Plasmodium antibodies and electrophoresis of haemoglobin were performed in 53 mothers and their child who did not shown any clinical signs of malaria. 51% from the mothers presented a patent parasitaemia associated with a high density of schizonts on uterine villi surface. Parasite density in children's blood was low and there was no correlation between mother's parasitaemia or placental schizogonia and newborn children's parasitaemia. We observed a higher prevalence of malaria attack, although the difference was not significant, in sickle cell women than in women whose haemoglobin was normal. In sickle cell women schizogonia occurred in placenta as in women whose haemoglobin was normal.

[Urethral mucosal prolapse in children at the National Hospital and University Center of Cotonou. Apropos of 13 cases]. / Le prolapsus muqueux uréthral de l'enfant au CNHU de Cotonou. A propos de 13 observations.

The authors report 13 cases of prolapse of the urethral mucosa. This is a benign lesion of the terminal portion of the urethra, seen above in black girls aged from 6 to 10 years. The usual presentation is vulval bleeding. The lesion is recognised by inspection and urethral catheterisation. Resection of the prolapse with muco-mucosal suture, not followed by the insertion of an indwelling catheter, is adequate and may be performed in a day hospital.