Expansion of Aedes africanus (Diptera: Culicidae), a sylvatic vector of arboviruses, into an urban environment of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

In 2008, an outbreak of yellow fever occurred in Abidjan. The entomological investigations confirm that Abidjan is at risk of yellow fever with a suspicion of the National Park of Banco (NPB) forest as a likely area of re-emergence. This study aims to assess the dispersion of sylvatic vectors of arboviruses from the NPB forest to the surrounding areas (Andokoi and Sagbé). The sampling was done in the rainy season using the WHO layer-traps technique. Among the six species of Aedes sampled, Aedes aegypti and Aedes africanus were the potential vectors of arboviruses. Both species were collected in Sagbé but only Ae. aegypti in Andokoi. Only Ae. aegypti were present 400 and 800 m from NPB forest, but at 200 m, it showed respective proportions of 75.5% and 87.5% in Sagbé and Andokoi. In the NPB forest, however, Ae. africanus has been the predominant species. The study showed the presence of Ae. aegypti in Andokoi and Sagbé. However, Ae. africanus was found in the NPB forest and in the 200 m radius in Sagbé. The establishment of an entomological surveillance program in all areas would therefore be essential for the prevention of arboviruses outbreaks in Abidjan.

[Assessment of the spatial memory in patients suffering from generalized epilepsy]. / Evaluation de la mémoire spatiale chez des patients souffrant d'épilepsie généralisée.

This study aimed to assess eventual disturbances of spatial memory in patients suffering from generalized epilepsy in order to better grasp these patients' attitudes so as to keep track their neuropsychological accompaniments. 70 patients presenting generalized epilepsy have taken part in spatial memory test. The test consists in studying the arrangement, the designation and the evocation of images in the course of spatial disposition learning test. Over the 70 patients, 51% of the cases passed the test with performances similar to witnesses, 29% passed the test with late learning. Eventually 20% of patients failed to the test.

Multiresidue method for the analysis of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables by accelerated solvent extraction and capillary gas chromatography.

An analytical procedure using accelerated solvent extraction and capillary gas chromatography with electron capture and flame photometric detections was developed to simultaneously determine residues of different pesticides in fruits and vegetables. Single laboratory validation of the method was carried out for 28 compounds selected from eight pesticide classes, in blank and fortified samples of fresh pear, cantaloupe, white potato, and cabbage. The method had to meet specific established validation criteria for regulatory purposes applicable to our laboratory. At each of the two fortification levels studied, 24 of the 28 pesticides gave recoveries of more than 70% with a coefficient of variation of less than 10%. With respect to existing procedures, the method showed acceptable limits of detection (from 0.0019 to 0.14 microg/g depending on the pesticide and matrix) while minimizing environmental concerns, time, and labor.