Human interactions with bats and bat coronaviruses in rural Côte d'Ivoire.

Bats are presumed reservoirs of diverse α- and ß- coronaviruses (CoVs) and understanding the diversity of bat-CoVs and the role bats play in CoV transmission is highly relevant in the context of the current COVID pandemic. We sampled bats in Côte d'Ivoire (2016-2018) living at ecotones between anthropogenic and wild habitats in the Marahoué National Park, a recently encroached protected area, to detect and characterize the CoVs circulating in bats and humans. A total of 314 bats were captured, mostly during the rainy season (78%), and CoV RNA was detected in three of the bats (0.96%). A CoV RNA sequence similar to Chaerephon bat coronavirus/Kenya/KY22/2006 (BtKY22) was found in a Chaerephon cf. pumilus and a Mops sp. fecal swab, while a CoV RNA sequence similar to the two almost identical Kenya bat coronaviruses BtKY55 and BtKY56 (BtKY55/56) was detected in an Epomops buettikoferi oral swab. Phylogenetic analyses indicated differences in the degree of evolutionary host-virus co-speciation for BtKY22 and BtKY55/56. To assess potential for human exposure to these viruses, we conducted human syndromic and community-based surveillance in clinics and high-risk communities. We collected data on participant characteristics, livelihoods, animal contact, and high-risk behaviors that may be associated with exposure to zoonotic diseases. We then collected biological samples for viral testing from 401 people. PCR testing of these biological samples revealed no evidence of CoV infection among the enrolled individuals. We identified higher levels of exposure to bats in people working in crop production and in hunting, trapping and fishing. Finally, we used the 'Spillover' risk-ranking tool to assess the potential for viral spillover and concluded that, while there is no evidence to suggest imminent risk of spillover for these CoVs, their host range and other traits suggest caution and vigilance are warranted in people with high exposure risk.

Fatal Case of Lassa Fever, Bangolo District, Côte d'Ivoire, 2015.

Lassa fever has not been reported in Côte d'Ivoire. We performed a retrospective analysis of human serum samples collected in Côte d'Ivoire in the dry seasons (January-April) during 2015-2018. We identified a fatal human case of Lassa fever in the Bangolo District of western Côte d'Ivoire during 2015.

Taenia solium cysticercosis in West Africa: status update.

Cysticercosis is caused by the larvae of the cestode Taenia solium. Few data are available on the prevalence of this disease in pigs and humans in West African countries. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of existing data concerning the spread of this parasitosis in the countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the basis of the literature published over the last five decades. Systematic searches for publications were carried out on PubMed and Google Scholar, as well as in certain regional and local journals. From a total of 501 articles initially retrieved concerning T. solium cysticercosis in West African countries, only 120 articles were relevant for this review and therefore finally retained. For pigs, only eight out of sixteen countries of the region have reported porcine cysticercosis. Post-mortem examination of carcasses at slaughterhouses, meat inspection at butcheries or tongue inspection in herds have been the main source of data, but may not entirely reflect actual parasite distribution. For humans, only five out of sixteen countries reported epidemiological data on neurocysticercosis. Most data referred to neurocysticercosis prevalence among epileptic patients or isolated clinical cases. Furthermore, existing data are often old. Overall, T. solium cysticercosis remains largely neglected in West Africa, and its prevalence appears not to be affected by any religion in particular. There is an urgent need to promote and implement health partnerships and programs on this disease in order to collect more data and identify sensitive populations in the countries of the ECOWAS area.

TITLE: La cysticercose à Taenia solium en Afrique de l'Ouest : état des lieux. ABSTRACT: La cysticercose est causée par les larves du cestode Taenia solium. Peu de données sont disponibles sur la prévalence de cette maladie chez les porcs et les humains dans les pays d'Afrique de l'Ouest. Le but de cette étude est de fournir un aperçu des données existantes concernant la propagation de cette parasitose dans les pays de la Communauté économique des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (CEDEAO) sur la base de la littérature publiée au cours des cinq dernières décennies. Des recherches systématiques de publications ont été effectuées sur PubMed, Google Scholar, ainsi que sur certaines revues régionales et locales. Sur un total de 501 articles initialement récupérés et concernant la cysticercose à T. solium dans les pays d'Afrique de l'Ouest, seuls 120 articles étaient pertinents pour cet examen et ont donc finalement été retenus. Pour les porcs, seulement huit des seize pays de la région ont signalé une cysticercose porcine. L'examen post mortem des carcasses dans les abattoirs, l'inspection de la viande dans les boucheries ou l'inspection de la langue dans le troupeau ont été la principale source de données, mais peuvent ne pas refléter entièrement la répartition réelle des parasites. Pour l'homme, seuls cinq pays sur seize ont rapporté des données épidémiologiques sur la neurocysticercose. La plupart des données se référaient à la prévalence de la neurocysticercose chez les épileptiques ou les cas cliniques isolés. De plus, les données existantes sont souvent anciennes. Dans l'ensemble, la cysticercose à T. solium reste largement négligée en Afrique de l'Ouest et sa prévalence ne semble être affectée par aucune religion en particulier. Il est urgent de promouvoir et de mettre en œuvre des partenariats et des programmes de santé sur cette maladie afin de collecter davantage de données et d'identifier les populations sensibles dans les pays de la zone CEDEAO.

Comparative study of the impact of the administration of Amoxicillin and Algo-Bio® alternative substance to antibiotics, on the level of selection of resistant Enterobacteriaceae in the digestive flora of piglets.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of study was to evaluate by comparative study the level of selection of antibiotic-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in the digestive microbiota of piglets when using amoxicillin and Algo-Bio®. METHODS: Amoxicillin and Algo-Bio® administration was carried out over a period of 5 days (D0-D4) at a dose of 1mL/10kg body weight. A phenotypic study was carried out with enumeration of resistant Enterobacteriaceae on MacConkey agar plates in the presence and absence of amoxicillin. Escherichia coli isolates were identified and were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing. RESULTS: The percentages of amoxicillin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae before treatment ranged from 10-15% for the four groups of piglets. Following treatment initiation, on the second day (D1) to the fifth day (D4) of treatment, the percentages increased to 54-87% for the groups treated with amoxicillin. In the group treated with Algo-Bio® and the controls, the percentages were <50%. The percentage of amoxicillin-resistant E. coli strains to the associated antibiotics increased during days of amoxicillin treatment, whereas in the control and Algo-Bio® groups the percentages of E. coli resistant to antibiotics did not increase. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that Algo-Bio® constitutes a good alternative prophylactic to antibiotics to reduce bacterial growth in the digestive tract of animals.

Yersinia enterocolitica, a Neglected Cause of Human Enteric Infections in Côte d'Ivoire.

BACKGROUND: Enteropathogenic Yersinia circulate in the pig reservoir and are the third bacterial cause of human gastrointestinal infections in Europe. In West Africa, reports of human yersiniosis are rare. This study was conducted to determine whether pathogenic Yersinia are circulating in pig farms and are responsible for human infections in the Abidjan District. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: From June 2012 to December 2013, pig feces were collected monthly in 41 swine farms of the Abidjan district. Of the 781 samples collected, 19 Yersinia strains were isolated in 3 farms: 7 non-pathogenic Yersinia intermedia and 12 pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica bioserotype 4/O:3. Farm animals other than pigs and wild animals were not found infected. Furthermore, 2 Y. enterocolitica 4/O:3 strains were isolated from 426 fecal samples of patients with digestive disorders. All 14 Y. enterocolitica strains shared the same PFGE and MLVA profile, indicating their close genetic relationship. However, while 6 of them displayed the usual phage type VIII, the other 8 had the highly infrequent phage type XI. Whole genome sequencing and SNP analysis of individual colonies revealed that phage type XI strains had unusually high rates of mutations. These strains displayed a hypermutator phenotype that was attributable to a large deletion in the mutS gene involved in DNA mismatch repair. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This study demonstrates that pathogenic Y. enterocolitica circulate in the pig reservoir in Côte d'Ivoire and cause human infections with a prevalence comparable to that of many developed countries. The paucity of reports of yersiniosis in West Africa is most likely attributable to a lack of active detection rather than to an absence of the microorganism. The identification of hypermutator strains in pigs and humans is of concern as these strains can rapidly acquire selective advantages that may increase their fitness, pathogenicity or resistance to commonly used treatments.