[Monitoring and assessment indicators in 2001 of "Roll Back Malaria" initiative in Benin]. / Indicateurs de suivi et d'evaluation en 2001 de l'initiative <> au Benin.

Within the context of WHO/CDS/RBM/2000, a survey was conducted in 2001 by the National Malaria Control Program of Benin. Following a well-thought-out choice, the survey took place simultaneously in health areas corresponding to epidemiological regions. Morbidity due to malaria is very high among children under five years admitted in external clinic (44.3% of cases) and (46.5%) for hospitalization. The crude rate of mortality is 129%. The use of non-impregnated bednet is usually met in three health areas, where 47.4% of the household have at least one non-impregnated bednet versus 5.4% of household with impregnated bednets. Percentage of pregnant women sleeping under an impregnated bednet and following chemoprophylaxis is respectively 43.3% and 3.8%. Results obtained at the end of this database survey in 2001 have facilitated the definition of indicators of the process, results and impact which remain very useful for the implementation of the monitoring and assessment system of "Roll Back Malaria" in Benin.

Lymphatic filariasis in a hyperendemic region: a ten-year, follow-up panel survey.

The present study is a long-term panel survey of a population living in a previously identified Wuchereria bancrofti-endemic area of Benin. Unexpectedly, a marked decrease in the prevalence of microfilaremia (from 9.4% to 0.48%; P < 0.001) occurred over a 10-year period in the absence of chemotherapy or vector control measures. The percentage of patients with chronic pathology remained stable during the study period. The decrease in the prevalence of parasitemia could not be explained by environmental or sociologic changes in the region, or by differences between the two study populations. These data suggest that the epidemiology of lymphatic filariasis in an endemic region may change independently of recognized modulating factors.

Albendazole in human loiasis: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

To assess the filaricidal activity and clinical safety of albendazole in human loiasis, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in an endemic area in Benin, Africa. Twenty-three men with microfilaremia (100-30,000/mL) were randomly assigned to receive albendazole (200 mg; n = 11) or placebo (n = 12) twice daily for 21 days; 1 patient from each group withdrew from the study. There were no clinical adverse effects and no observed hepatotoxicity, renal toxicity, or hematologic abnormalities attributable to the drug. In the albendazole group, microfilarial levels began to decrease at day 14 after treatment and by 6 months had fallen to a geometric mean of 20% of pretreatment levels (vs. 84.8% in the placebo group). Blood eosinophil levels and anti-filarial IgG and IgG4 also fell significantly in response to albendazole. Taken together, these data suggest that albendazole has a primary (possibly embryotoxic) effect on the adult parasite, resulting in a slow decrease in microfilaremia.

[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.