Wheat Blast: A Disease Spreading by Intercontinental Jumps and Its Management Strategies.

Wheat blast (WB) caused by Magnaporthe oryzae pathotype Triticum (MoT) is an important fungal disease in tropical and subtropical wheat production regions. The disease was initially identified in Brazil in 1985, and it subsequently spread to some major wheat-producing areas of the country as well as several South American countries such as Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina. In recent years, WB has been introduced to Bangladesh and Zambia via international wheat trade, threatening wheat production in South Asia and Southern Africa with the possible further spreading in these two continents. Resistance source is mostly limited to 2NS carriers, which are being eroded by newly emerged MoT isolates, demonstrating an urgent need for identification and utilization of non-2NS resistance sources. Fungicides are also being heavily relied on to manage WB that resulted in increasing fungal resistance, which should be addressed by utilization of new fungicides or rotating different fungicides. Additionally, quarantine measures, cultural practices, non-fungicidal chemical treatment, disease forecasting, biocontrol etc., are also effective components of integrated WB management, which could be used in combination with varietal resistance and fungicides to obtain reasonable management of this disease.

Contribution of Xpert® MTB/RIF to tuberculosis case finding among pregnant women in Botswana.

SETTING: Seven health facilities with antenatal care (ANC) clinics in two districts near Gaborone, Botswana. OBJECTIVES: To determine 1) the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV-TB co-infection in pregnancy, and 2) the sensitivities of symptomatic TB screening and Xpert testing against gold standard culture. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. Pregnant women were randomly enrolled and screened using TB symptoms. HIV status was determined from ANC clinics' client records. Two sputum specimens were collected from all clients and each was tested using Xpert® and culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. RESULTS: Of 407 cases, eight had one or more TB symptoms, and all tested negative with Xpert® and culture. Another two (0.5%, 95%CI 0.08-1.96) asymptomatic clients tested positive with both tests. The adjusted TB prevalence was higher than that of the general population (0.6% vs. 0.24%; P < 0.001). The prevalence of TB among HIV-positive and HIV-negative clients was 1/69 (1.45%, 95%CI 0.29-2.61) and 1/336 (0.3%, 95%CI 0.23-0.83), respectively (Fisher's exact test P = 0.312). Xpert® demonstrated a 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity, while symptom screening had 0.0% sensitivity and 98% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: TB prevalence among pregnant women was high and TB symptom screening had limited ability to detect TB. An alternative TB screening algorithm for pregnant women is urgently needed irrespective of TB symptoms.

OBJECTIFS: Déterminer 1) la prévalence de la tuberculose (TB) et de la co-infection VIH-TB pendant la grossesse, et 2) la sensibilité du dépistage de la TB basé sur les symptômes et de l'Xpert® MTB/RIF par rapport à l'étalon or de la culture. SCHÉMA: Ceci est une étude transversale. Des femmes enceintes venant de sept centres de santé ont été enrôlées de façon aléatoire et dépistées en fonction des symptômes de TB. Deux échantillons de crachats ont été recueillis chez toutes les femmes et chacune a eu un test Xpert® et une culture. Le statut VIH a été déterminé grâce aux dossiers de consultation prénatale. RÉSULTATS: Sur 407 femmes enrôlées et analysées, huit (2,0% IC95% 0,62­3,32) avaient un ou plusieurs symptômes de TB et toutes ont été négatives pour l'Xpert® et la culture. Deux autres femmes (0,5% ; IC95% 0,08­1,96) asymptomatiques ont été positives pour les deux tests. La prévalence ajustée de TB est plus élevée que dans la population générale (0,6% contre 0,24% ; P < 0,001). La prévalence de TB parmi les femmes positives au VIH et non infectées a été respectivement de 1/69 (1,45% ; IC95% 0,29­2,61) et 1/336 (0,3% ; IC95% 0,23­0,83) (test exact de Fisher, P = 0,312). L'Xpert® a démontré une sensibilité de 100% et une spécificité de 100,0% alors que le dépistage sur les symptômes a eu une sensibilité de 0,0% mais une spécificité de 98%. CONCLUSION: La prévalence de la TB chez les femmes enceintes est élevée et le dépistage sur les symptômes a une capacité limitée de détection de la TB. Il y a un besoin urgent d'un algorithme alternatif de dépistage de la TB pour les femmes enceintes quels que soient leurs symptômes de TB.

A study of factors contributing to low utilization of child-spacing services in the northern region of Malawi with emphasis on male participation

The report concludes that the child spacing programme in Malawi is still not very well supported. Male resistance appears to be a real and genuine problem due to lack of proper information