[Development of primary resistance of tuberculosis bacilli in Mali between 1980 and 1990]. / Evolution des résistances primaires des bacilles de la tuberculose au Mali entre 1980 et 1990.

The survey of the primary resistances of tuberculosis bacilli to drugs is not only important epidemiologically speaking, but also for its use as a guideline to defining programs, to assessing the quality and the practical development of chemotherapy in a country, to measuring the propensity of the resisting tuberculosis bacilli to infect a given population within some time and to taking the necessary remedial measures. The object of this study has been to compare the rate of initial drugs' resistances of tuberculosis bacilli in Mali between 1980-1982 and 1989-1990. The results, which show a fall in the primary resistances due to drugs and to the combination of antibiotics as well, are being discussed while taking account various factors related to the organization.

Evolution des resistances des bacilles tuberculeux aux drogues antibacillaires en Mauritanie

Les resistances des bacilles tuberculeux aux drogues antibacillaires posent d'une maniere generale des problemes dans l'application de la chimiotherapie de la tuberculose et expliquent en partie les echecs therapeutiques. Les taux de resistances enregistres dans les pays en voie de developpement sont particulierement eleves; d'ou l'importance de la surveillance periodique de leur evolution en vue de corriger les schemas. Les auteurs comparent les resultats enregistres en Mauritanie en 1978; et 1988-89 pour evaluer l'evolution de la situation et tirer quelques conclusions

Endemic treponematoses in Togo and other west African states.

In 1970 an alarming increase in the number of cases of treponematoses in general and yaws in particular began to be apparent in sub-Saharan Africa, yet official reports usually underestimate the extent of these diseases. Thus, a clinical and serologic investigation of the prevalence of yaws was conducted in May 1981 in Togo. The proportion of examined persons found to have clinical yaws lesions varied from 1% to 3.9%; all of the four cantons with a prevalence of greater than or equal to 3% are located near Ghana, where the disease is endemic. Children one to 14 years old (and especially those five to 14) were most frequently affected by yaws. The results confirm that yaws is underreported and that it persists and is even resurgent in many areas of Togo and in other French-speaking countries in West Africa. Because of the prevalence of migration and nomadism, a regional (as opposed to national) effort to combat the treponematoses is essential.

A simple kit system for rapid diagnosis of cerebrospinal meningitis in rural areas of developing countries.

A simple, easily operated, portable diagnostic kit, employing coagglutination reagents, has been developed for the rapid, bedside diagnosis of cerebrospinal meningitis. Field trials using this kit were conducted in a rural area of sub-Saharan Africa for identifying the etiological agents of meningitis outbreaks. West African village medical attendants were taught to use this kit and succeeded in making rapid specific diagnoses of meningitis cases. Other acute infections such as cholera and typhoid fever can also be rapidly diagnosed in a similar manner. This rapid diagnostic system offers appropriate technology in support of primary health care delivery in the rural areas of developing countries.

[The action of selected herbicides on bacteriophages and Escherichia coli (author's transl)]. / Der Einfluss ausgewählter Herbizide auf Bakteriophagen und Escherichia coli.

The effect of eight herbicides on the multiplication of bacteria and bacteriophages was tested with Escherichia coli, strains W1665F+ and C600, and with the RNA-phage M12 and the DNA-phage lambda in turbidimetric investigations and one-step growth experiments. E. coli is inhibited by seven of the herbicides investigated in concentrations of 10(-3)M, partly of 10(-4)M, too, and is promoted by some compounds in weaker concentrations. Naphthylacetic acid, (NES) largely independent of its concentration, causes increased density of bacteria in fluid culture. The multiplication of the M12 phage is inhibited in sometimes wide ranges of concentration by 2,4-D, MCPA, 2,4-DP, and CMPP but it is stimulated by NES and amitrole. The lambda-phage multiplication is inhibited only by CMPP, MCPA, MCPB, and phenylacetic acid interfere with the lysogenization of the bacteria and increase the lytic activity of the lambda-phages as 2,4-DP and NES do. 2,4-D strongly inhibits the plaque-forming ability of M12 phages already prior to their contact with the host cells, whereas MCPA and CMPP are inhibitory in the first phases and 2,4-DP in all phases of the phage replication. In the lambda-phage replication, too, CMPP is effective only in the first phases. Aspects of the mode of action of the herbicides in the procaryoute virus system are discussed.

[Effect of several plant growth regulators on various prokaryotes and their viruses]. / Wirkung von einigen Pflanzenwachstumsregulatoren auf verschiedene Prokaryonten und deren Viren

26 plant growth regulators including herbicides were investigated in their effect on the multiplication of Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and the blue-green alga Plectonema boryanum as well as the RNA phages M 12 and Qbeta and the DNA phages lambda, phi 105, and LPP-1 employing the agar diffusion method. Nearly all of the compounds inhibited and/or stimulated one or some of the prokaryotes tested. The most frequent and strongest effects occurred in Pl. boryanum, the least effects in E. coli. The multiplication of phages was also influenced by plant growth regulators leading to increase, decrease or non-appearance of plaques. The investigations with the temperate phages lambda and phi 105 suggested part of the compounds to be able to interfere with the process of lysogenization. The results are discussed comparatively involving correspondent findings referred to in literature.