[Sanitary situation of the Senegal River Basin in 2010. Part II: vector-borne diseases and zoonoses]. / Le bassin versant du fleuve Sénégal, situation sanitaire en 2010. Partie 2. les maladies à transmission vectorielle et les zoonoses.

In recent decades, the Senegal River Basin has witnessed an increase in the prevalence of water-borne human and animal diseases. The "Organization for the Development of the Senegal River" (French acronym, OMVS) decided to establish a "Water Resource Development and Management Framework Project" (French acronym, SDAGE) for the Senegal River Basin. The purpose of SDAGE is to avoid overuse of natural resources while allowing development of human activities in the Senegal River Basin. This project document is intended to provide guidance for mobilizing resources and understanding impact on the environment and local population through to 2025. Within the framework of the first phase of the SDAGE, a survey to assess water-borne diseases in the Senegal River Basin was carried out in 2009. This assessment of the medical situation was based on documents obtained by bibliographic research. The purpose of this report is to summarize the main findings with regard firstly to vector-borne diseases along with corresponding national or regional control programs in the area and, secondly to zoonoses. Findings with regard to diseases directly related to water have been described in another report.

[Drainage basin of the the Senegal River, sanitary conditions in 2010. Part I: Illnesses directly linked to the water]. / Le bassin versant du fleuve Sénégal, situation sanitaire en 2010 Partie 1. les maladies directement liées à l'eau.

Recent decades have seen an increase in the number of cases of waterborne illnesses involving humans and animals living in the Senegal River Basin. The "Senegal River Basin Development Authority" (French acronym, OMVS) decided to draft a "Water Development and Management Master Plan" (French acronym, SDAGE) for the Senegal drainage basin. The aim of ther plan is to avoid overuse of natural resources while allowing development of human activities in the area of the Senegal River. The SDAGE was designed to serve as a timetable and program for mobilizing resources and monitoring impact on the environment and local population until 2025. As part of the initial phase of the SDAGE, a study was carried out in 2009 to evaluate the status of waterborne illness in the Senegal River Basin. This study of the sanitary conditions was based on review of documents compiled from a bibliographic search. The purpose of this report is describe the main findings regarding diseases directly linked to water and national or regional programs for control of those disease in the study area.

[FAV-Africa: a polyvalent antivenom serum used in Africa and Europe]. / FAV-Afrique: un sérum antivenimeux polyvalent employé en Afrique et en Europe.

FAV-Afrique is a polyvalent snake antivenom, elaborated by immunisation of horses with venom from 10 different snake species among the most dangerous in Africa and belonging to Elapidae and Viperidea families. Only F(ab')2 fragments are kept and purified. This serum is able to decrease the quantity of circulating venom and therefore its toxicity. Its use is indicated as soon as the first signs of poisoning are observed (local oedema). Twenty millimetres are administrated via intra-venous route whatever the weight of the patient. Re-administration may be performed if improvement is not sufficient. Treatment should be initiated as soon as possible but can be realized as long as the symptoms are present. Side effects (allergy) should be considered but balanced with the seriousness of poisoning. There is no absolute contraindication or drug interaction reported with FAV-Africa. It is authorized and distributed in several African countries and has a temporary regulatory approval in France. The major limits to its use are high cost and storage conditions (maximum 36 months between +2 degrees C and +8 degrees C). In the future, the new serum Antivipmyn Africa, available as a freeze-dried product, which can be preserved at room temperature, should improve storage conditions and availability of treatment, especially in rural Africa.

[Toxoplasmosis: a survey on meat products in Côte d'Ivoire]. / Toxoplasmose: à propos d'une enquête sur la viande en Côte d'Ivoire.

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide parasitic zoonosis that can cause severe problems under certain circumstances. Before the advent of the last-generation anti-retroviral drugs, estimation predicted that 50% of HIV-infected patients would develop toxoplasmosis (mainly central nervous system forms). It is the first clinical manifestation of AIDS in 20% of patients. This report describes an epidemiological survey on the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies in bushmeat and pork in the Côte d'Ivoire. The purpose was to determine how the parasite circulates among wild and domestic animals and to evaluate the risk of transmission to humans after ingestion of these meats. Fifteen samples of bushmeat were purchased on markets in 6 different cities. A total of 91 single samples of fresh pork raised at three different modern breeding facilities were collected from a slaughterhouse in Abidjan. Serological testing was performed on muscle fluid using an ELISA test (Pourquier Toxoplasma kit). No bushmeat sample was positive. Global seroprevalence in pork samples was 8.8% [range, 8.2-9.37]. The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis measured in pork samples produced at modern livestock breeding facilities was lower than values reported in samples produced by traditional breeding in Africa. This finding suggests that the use of modern techniques excluding rodents (good hygiene) can reduce animal contamination. Curing (heat and smoking) may account for the absence of Toxoplasma antibodies in bushmeat. Public information campaigns concerning the risk of consuming meat containing cysts as well as raw vegetables contaminated with oocysts are needed to prevent transmission of toxoplasmosis.