ABSTRACT
Intoxication of the population of Guinea due to venomous snake bites (100-150 intoxications per 100,000 with an 18% mortality rate) is a serious public health problem in the Republic of Guinea. Guinea's fauna of venomous snakes is diverse and numbers 20 species that are dangerous to human beings. The representatives of the family Elapidae (cobras and mambas) whose venom is highly toxic (LD50 5-12 mg) are responsible for the bulk (59.6%) of their bites. There has been recently an increase in the number of deaths from venomous snake bites, as high as 60% of the patients consulting a doctor being notified in one of the prefectures. At the same time the situation associated with the availability of antisnake serum is critical in the country due to its minute amount and to the inaccessibility of its high prices. By taking into account the great demand for the serum in Guinea, as everywhere over West Africa (thousands of doses every year), its manufacture may be profitable for potential investors and partners of the Pasteur Institute of Guinea.
Subject(s)
Population Surveillance , Snake Bites/epidemiology , Snake Venoms/classification , Animals , Cause of Death , Female , Guinea/epidemiology , Health Services Accessibility , Humans , Immune Sera/immunology , Immunization, Passive , Male , Risk Factors , Snake Bites/mortality , Snake Venoms/isolation & purification , Species Specificity , Venoms/immunologyABSTRACT
Twenty-nine Simulium species were recorded in the Republic of Guinea. The geographical distribution of the blackfly species in its areas is shown in the paper. The most probable vector of Onchocerca volvulus are S. damnosum s. str and S. sirbanum which predominate in the landscapes of Sudan and Guinea savannas. S. yahense, S. soubrense, and S. sanctipauli are likely to be vectors in the forest-savannas and tropical rain forests.
Subject(s)
Simuliidae , Animals , Climate , Ecology , Fresh Water , Guinea , Larva , TreesABSTRACT
The Aedes pseudotarsalis mosquito that is new in Guinea was found in the Middle Guinea (the Fouta-Djallon mountains) in the prefectures of Pita and Kindia in October 1990. The preimaginal phases of this species were collected in the late rainy period in the small temporary water reservoirs (in the erosive hollows), in the axils of herb leaves and in the tanbarks of trees in the vicinities of populated areas.
Subject(s)
Aedes/classification , Aedes/growth & development , Animals , Breeding , Ecology , Guinea , SeasonsABSTRACT
During a three-year survey on bloodsucking mosquitos in the Kindia prefecture (physico-geographical region of Middle Guinea) 17 of Anopheles mosquito species had been established. Two of them (An. demeilloni and An. swetzi) were noted in this region for the first time. The data on mosquitos biotope distribution, their seasonal dynamics of abundance and comparative effectiveness of collection methods were received as well. It had been concluded that it was reasonable to use the diverse capture methods on faunistic study of this mosquito genus.
