Search

Abstract Introduction Neurological disorders (ND) have a high incidence in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In this region, systemic challenges of conventional medicine (CM) and cultural beliefs have contributed to a large utilization of traditional medicine (TM). Yet, data on TM and those who use it in the treatment of ND in SSA are scarce. Here, we systematically analyze its role as a therapy modality for ND in Mali, the socio-demographic characteristics of its users, and propose next steps to optimize the dual usages of TM and CM for patients with ND. Methods We conducted a questionnaire study in two phases. In phase one, patients with ND answered questions on their usage of and attitudes towards TM. In phase two, the TM therapists who provided care to the patients in phase one answered questions regarding their own practices for treating ND. Patients were recruited from the country's two university neurology departments. Results 3,534 of the 4,532 patients seen in the Departments of Neurology in 2019 met the inclusion criteria. Among these 3,534 patients, 2,430 (68.8%) had previously consulted TM for their present ND. Patients over 60 years of age most often used TM (83.1%). By education, illiterate patients utilized TM the most (85.5%) while those with more than a secondary education used TM the least (48.6%). An income greater than the minimum guaranteed salary was associated with decreased use of traditional medicine (OR 0.29, CI 0.25–0.35, p

Abstract Vaccines to the Plasmodium falciparum reticulocyte binding-like protein homologue 5 (PfRH5) target the blood-stage of the parasite life cycle. PfRH5 has the potential to trigger the production of strain-transcendent antibodies and has proven its efficacy both in pre-clinical and early clinical studies. Vaccine-induced monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to PfRH5 showed promising outcomes against cultured P. falciparum laboratory strains from distinct geographic areas. Here, we assessed the functional impact of vaccine-induced anti-PfRH5 mAbs on more genetically diverse P. falciparum clinical isolates. We used mAbs previously isolated from single B cells of UK adult PfRH5 vaccinees and used ex-vivo growth inhibition activity (GIA) assays to assess their efficacy against P. falciparum clinical isolates. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to assess the breadth of genetic diversity in P. falciparum clinical isolates and to infer the genotype/phenotype relationship involved in antibody susceptibility. We showed a dose-dependent inhibition of clinical isolates with three main GIA groups: high, medium and low. Except for one isolate, our data show no significant differences in the mAb GIA profile between P. falciparum clinical isolates and the 3D7 reference strain, which harbors the vaccine allele. We also observed an additive relationship for mAb combinations, whereby the combination of GIA-low and GIA-medium antibodies resulted in increased GIA, having important implications for the contribution of specific clones within polyclonal IgG responses. While our NGS analysis showed the occurrence of novel mutations in the pfrh5 gene, these mutations were predicted to have little or no functional impact on the antigen structure or recognition by known mAbs. Our present findings complement earlier reports on the strain transcendent potential of anti-PfRH5 mAbs and constitute, to our knowledge, the first report on the susceptibility of P. falciparum clinical isolates from natural infections to vaccine-induced human mAbs to PfRH5.

Abstract Persistence of malaria parasites in asymptomatic hosts is crucial in areas of seasonally-interrupted transmission, where P. falciparum bridges wet seasons months apart. During the dry season, infected erythrocytes exhibit extended circulation with reduced cytoadherence, increasing the risk of splenic clearance of infected cells and hindering parasitaemia increase. However, what determines parasite persistence for long periods of time remains unknown. Here, we investigated whether seasonality affects plasma composition so that P. falciparum can detect and adjust to changing serological cues; or if alternatively, parasite infection length dictates clinical presentation and persistency. Data from Malian children exposed to alternating ~6-month wet and dry seasons show that plasma composition is unrelated to time of year in non-infected children, and that carrying P. falciparum only minimally affects plasma constitution in asymptomatic hosts. Parasites persisting in the blood of asymptomatic children from the dry into the ensuing wet season rarely if ever appeared to cause malaria in their hosts as seasons changed. In vitro culture in the presence of plasma collected in the dry or the wet seasons did not affect parasite development, replication or host-cell remodelling. The absence of a parasite-encoded sensing mechanism was further supported by the observation of similar features in P. falciparum persisting asymptomatically in the dry season and parasites in age- and sex-matched asymptomatic children in the wet season. Conversely, we show that P. falciparum clones transmitted early in the wet season had lower chance of surviving until the end of the following dry season, contrasting with a higher likelihood of survival of clones transmitted towards the end of the wet season, allowing for the re-initiation of transmission. We propose that the decreased virulence observed in persisting parasites during the dry season is not due to the parasites sensing ability, nor is it linked to a decreased capacity for parasite replication but rather a consequence decreased cytoadhesion associated with infection length.

In this paper we describe a low cost polarimetric optical fiber sensor based on a BSO magneto-optic crystal and plastic fibers spectrally interrogated with a smartphone. We analyze the spectral and the intensity distortions introduced by the smartphone. The transmission spectra of the RGB filters were measured. Power law dependent distortions of the RGB pixels intensity responses was established. To overcome the jitter and the rescaling problems of the camera a simple scheme for wavelength calibration is proposed and successfully tested. The advantages and issues related to smartphone interrogation vs. spectrometer interrogation are discussed.

Introduction Malnutrition contributes to 45% of all childhood deaths globally, but these modelled estimates lack direct measurements in countries with high malnutrition and under-5 mortality rates. We investigated malnutrition’s role in infant and child deaths in the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) network.Methods We analysed CHAMPS data from seven sites (Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and South Africa) collected between 2016 and 2023. An expert panel assessed each death to determine whether malnutrition was an underlying, antecedent or immediate cause or other significant condition. Malnutrition was further classified based on postmortem anthropometry using WHO growth standards for underweight (z-scores for weight-for-age

Abstract In Senegal, there are disparities in access to drinking water at several levels. There are major differences between urban and rural areas. In rural areas, poverty, the abundance or scarcity of water infrastructure, and the distance between the place of residence and the place of supply are, to some extent, factors in the disparity in rates of access to drinking water from one village to another and, within the same village, from one household to another. Determining the sources of variance between villages and households regarding access to drinking water is based on the identification of several explanatory variables, both at the aggregate level (village level) and at the individual level (household level). Multilevel analysis has shown that differences in household access to drinking water are due to several factors that can be grouped into two categories: contextual variables that vary from one village to another, and individual characteristics that differ from one household to another. The aim of this article is to analyze the factors that explain the disparity in access to drinking water in rural communes in the south of the Kaffrine region. The usefulness of multilevel analysis lies in its ability to solidify causal inference in the associations between the infrastructural levels of villages, in terms of water facilities, and their impact on the level of access to drinking water of rural households as reported (Bringe and Golaz in Manuel pratique d’analyse multiniveau, Ined Éditions, Aubervilliers, 2017), as reported (Diane et al., in Analyse multiniveau pour expliquer la prévalence d’impacts sanitaires néfastes autorapportés et l’adaptation lorsqu’il fait très chaud et humide en été dans les secteurs les plus défavorisés des neuf villes les plus populeuses du Québec en 2011, 2015).

Abstract Background Drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum is a major threat to malaria control efforts. Pathogen genomic surveillance could be invaluable for monitoring current and emerging parasite drug resistance. Methods Data from two decades (2000–2020) of continuous molecular surveillance of P. falciparum parasites from Senegal were retrospectively examined to assess historical changes in malaria drug resistance mutations. Several known drug resistance markers and their surrounding haplotypes were profiled using a combination of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) molecular surveillance and whole genome sequence based population genomics. Results This dataset was used to track temporal changes in drug resistance markers whose timing correspond to historically significant events such as the withdrawal of chloroquine (CQ) and the introduction of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) in 2003. Changes in the mutation frequency at Pfcrt K76T and Pfdhps A437G coinciding with the 2014 introduction of seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) in Senegal were observed. In 2014, the frequency of Pfcrt K76T increased while the frequency of Pfdhps A437G declined. Haplotype-based analyses of Pfcrt K76T showed that this rapid increase was due to a recent selective sweep that started after 2014. Discussion (Conclusion) The rapid increase in Pfcrt K76T is troubling and could be a sign of emerging amodiaquine (AQ) resistance in Senegal. Emerging AQ resistance may threaten the future clinical efficacy of artesunate-amodiaquine (ASAQ) and AQ-dependent SMC chemoprevention. These results highlight the potential of molecular surveillance for detecting rapid changes in parasite populations and stress the need to monitor the effectiveness of AQ as a partner drug for artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) and for chemoprevention.

Abstract Background Our recent studies have shown headache disorders to be very common in the central and western sub-Saharan countries of Benin and Cameroon. Here we report headache in nearby Mali, a strife-torn country that differs topographically, culturally, politically and economically. The purposes were to estimate headache-attributed burden and need for headache care. Methods We used cluster-random sampling in seven of Mali’s eleven regions to obtain a nationally representative sample. During unannounced household visits by trained interviewers, one randomly selected adult member (18–65 years) from each household was interviewed using the structured HARDSHIP questionnaire, with enquiries into headache in the last year and, additionally, headache yesterday (HY). Headache on ≥ 15 days/month (H15+) was diagnosed as probable medication-overuse headache (pMOH) when associated with acute medication use on ≥ 15 days/month, and as “other H15+” when not. Episodic headache (on

Abstract Background Following WHO guidelines, microscopy is the gold standard for malaria diagnosis in endemic countries. The Parasitology-Mycology laboratory (LPM) is the National Reference Laboratory and is currently undergoing ISO 15189 accreditation. In this context, we assessed the performance of the laboratory by confirming the reliability and the accuracy of results obtained in accordance with the requirements of the ISO 15189 standards. This study aimed to verify the method of microscopic diagnosis of malaria at the LPM, in the Aristide Le Dantec hospital (HALD) in Dakar, Senegal. Methods This is a validation/verification study conducted from June to August 2020. Twenty (20) microscopic slides of thick/thin blood smear with known parasite densities (PD) selected from the Cheick Anta Diop University malaria slide bank in Dakar were used for this assessment. Six (6) were used to assess microscopists’ ability to determine PD and fourteen (14) slides were used for detection (positive vs negative) and identification of parasites. Four (4) LPM-HALD microscopists read and recorded their results on prepared sheets. Data analysis was done with Microsoft Excel 2010 software. Results A minimum threshold of 50% concordance was used for comparison. Of the twenty (20) slides read, 100% concordance was obtained on eight (8) detection (positive vs negative) slides. Four (4) out of the six (6) parasite density evaluation slides obtained a concordance of less than 50%. Thirteen (13) out of the fourteen (14) identification slides obtained a concordance greater than 50%. Only one (1) identification slide obtained zero agreement from the microscopists. For species identification a concordance greater than 80% was noted and the microscopists obtained scores between 0.20 and 0.4 on a scale of 0 to 1 for parasite density reading. The microscopists obtained 100% precision, sensitivity, specificity and both negative and positive predictive values. Conclusion This work demonstrated that the microscopic method of malaria diagnosis used in the LPM/HALD is in accordance with the requirements of WHO and ISO 15189. Further training of microscopists may be needed to maintain competency.

Objetivos: Avaliar o perfil dos pacientes e os resultados de Painéis NGS Mieloide coletados em um laboratório privado de MG, Brasil. Material e métodos: Extração de DNA de sangue total ou medula óssea, amplificação das regiões de interesse, preparo de biblioteca e Sequenciamento de Nova Geração (NGS). Os resultados foram analisados com software da Sophia DDM (Sophia Genetics) ou Genexus™ Software. Para pesquisa de mutações pontuais/indels, foi avaliada a região codificante de 17 genes: ASXL1, BCOR, CALR, CEBPA, ETV6, EZH2, IKZF1, NF1, PHF6, PRPF8, RB1, RUNX1, SH2B3, STAG2, TET2, TP53 e ZRSR2; além de hotspots de 23 genes: ABL1, BRAF, CBL, CSF3R, DNMT3A, FLT3, GATA2, HRAS, IDH1, IDH2, JAK2, KIT, KRAS, MPL, MYD88, NPM1, NRAS, PTPN11, SETBP1, SF3B1, SRSF2, U2AF1 e WT1. A fração alélica mínima foi de 5%. Resultados: Foram realizados 98 testes de Painel NGS Mieloide entre fevereiro de 2022 e maio de 2024. Dentre 94 pacientes que fizeram o teste uma única vez, a mediana de idade foi de 60 anos. Quarenta e nove pacientes eram do sexo feminino e 45 do sexo masculino. Sessenta e cinco análises foram feitas em medula óssea (69,2%) e vinte e nove em sangue periférico (30,8%). As hipóteses diagnósticas mais comuns foram: LMA de novo ou SMD (67,0%), LMA/SMD secundária (9,6%), LMA Recidiva (9,6%). Outros achados menos comuns foram: Plaquetopenia, Anemia, Leucemia Mielomonocítica Crônica, Neoplasia Mieloproliferativa BCR::ABL negativa, Mieloma múltiplo, Citopenia clonal de significado incerto. De acordo com a suspeita clínica marcada no questionário, observou-se que para LMA de novo (n = 32), as mutações nos genes que têm impacto na classificação e/ou uso de drogas alvo tiveram as seguintes frequências: CEBPa (12,5%), NPM1 (6,3%), TP53 (6,3%), ASXL1 (25,0%), BCOR (3,1%), EZH2 (18,8%), RUNX1 (21,9%), SF3B1 (0,0%), SRSF2 (9,4%), STAG2 (3,1%), U2AF1 (6,3%), ZRSR2 (6,3%), FLT3 (31,3%), IDH1 (9,4%), IDH2 (15,6%) e KIT (3,1%). Para SMD (n = 27), as frequências foram: TP53 (11,1%), ASXL1 (11,1%), BCOR (0,0%), EZH2 (7,14%), RUNX1 (7,4%), SF3B1 (22,2%), SRSF2 (11,1%), STAG2 (0,0%), U2AF1 (3,7%), ZRSR2 (3,7%). Foi observado que alguns genes estavam mutados somente nas suspeitas de LMA (CEBPa, FLT3, IDH2, WT1) e o gene SF3B1 somente na hipótese de SMD. Mutações DTA (DNMT3, TET2 e ASXL1) estavam presentes em 31,3% das LMA (sendo ASXL1 o mais mutado) e em 37% das SMD (sendo o DNMT3A o mais mutado). Mutações em TP53 foram encontradas em 12 pacientes dentre o total (12,8%), com hipóteses clínicas variadas. Discussão: O perfil mutacional foi diferente entre os pacientes com suspeita de LMA e os de SMD. Na LMA, observou-se maior frequência de CEBPa, NPM1, ASXL, EZH2, RUNX1, FLT3 ITD e/ou TKD, IDH2 e WT1 mutados, enquanto na SMD houve maior frequência de TP53 (embora não bialélica) e SF3B1 (sendo este último exclusivo da SMD). Em relação à literatura, as altas frequências de mutações FLT3 e ASXL1 para LMA foram de acordo com o esperado, no entanto observamos baixa frequência de TET2 e NPM1. Para SMD, também ocorreu baixa frequência de mutações TET2. Conclusão: Nossos achados corroboram com a necessidade de realização de Painel NGS Mieloide para definição de conduta terapêutica dos pacientes com neoplasias mieloides. Em uma série de casos, o perfil genético funcionou como diferencial no diagnóstico.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of Xpert Mycobacterium Tuberculosis/rifampicin (MTB/RIF) Ultra (Ultra) for diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis (TB) within public health systems. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, children aged

Senegalese cities have experienced rapid urbanisation, leading to profound landscape changes. Dakar, one of Senegalese’s fastest-growing cities, is experiencing rapid urban expansion, significantly reducing green spaces. These green spaces, essential for urban sustainability and resilience, have become increasingly scarce, affecting the city’s environment and the quality of life for its residents. This study aims to assess the spatiotemporal changes in Dakar’s green spaces from 1990 to 2022. Using satellite imagery, this study produces land use maps to quantify green space coverage over the years. The results show a gradual decline in green spaces in Dakar between 1990 and 2022. In 1990, green spaces covered an estimated 13.36% of Dakar’s area, which decreased significantly to 9.54% by 2022. In contrast, other land uses, such as built-up areas, increased significantly over this period, rising from 19.23% in 1990 to 39.34% in 2022. Moreover, built-up areas are not the sole contributor to the reduction of green spaces in Dakar. The study revealed that, between 1990 and 2022, 5.49% of green spaces were converted into bare soil due to excessive tree cutting. This pattern highlights the growing challenge of green space availability as built-up areas expand rapidly, particularly when growth is unplanned. This study underscores the importance of sustainable urban planning that integrates the protection and conservation of Dakar’s vegetation to preserve vital ecosystem services.

Pearl millet is a key food security grain crop in the world's drylands due to its tolerance to abiotic stresses. However, its yield remains low and is negatively impacted by climate change. Root phenes are potential targets to improve crop productivity and resilience to environmental stress. However, the sheer number of combinations resulting from interactions of multiple phenes is a challenge for empirical research. In silico approaches are a plausible alternative to assess the utility of different phene combinations in varying states over diverse environmental contexts. Here, we developed an implementation of the functional-structural plant/soil model – OpenSimRoot, for pearl millet in typical sub-Sahelian soil and environmental conditions. Root architectural, anatomical, and physiological parameters were measured using a popular pearl millet variety (Souna 3) and implemented in the model. The above-ground biomass and root length density predicted by the model were similar to data from field trials. The utility of different root phenes was then evaluated for improved phosphorus uptake and plant growth in P deficient soils. Doubled root hair length and density, shallower root angle (−15°) and doubled long lateral root density were found to improve plant growth by 76 ​%, 33 ​% and 33 ​% respectively under low P conditions. Moreover, these phenes showed synergism when combined in silico and led to optimal biomass production in low P supply conditions that resulted in a 75 ​% loss of biomass in the reference variety. Our study suggests that these phenotypes could be targeted to improve biomass production in pearl millet and consequently its yield in low-P availability conditions.

Le 12 juin 2024, dans le cadre de la réalisation de ce numéro de Territoires en Mouvement, consacré aux Agricultures urbaines au Nord et au Sud, et également dans la perspective de la tenue des Journées Internationales Francophones de l'Agriculture Urbaine (JIFAU), en 2025 à Dakar au Sénégal, les autrices (Giulia Giacchè, Joëlle Salomon Cavin et Christine Aubry) ont souhaité réaliser un entretien avec Awa Ba, une chercheuse sénégalaise spécialiste de l’agriculture urbaine. Elle mène actuellement une recherche dressant le bilan de 20 ans de recherches sur l’agriculture urbaine en Afrique de l’Ouest francophone et à Madagascar. Cet entretien revient sur son parcours, les origines et les principaux enseignements qu’elle tire de cette recherche.

Introduction Determining aetiology of severe illness can be difficult, especially in settings with limited diagnostic resources, yet critical for providing life-saving care. Our objective was to describe the accuracy of antemortem clinical diagnoses in young children in high-mortality settings, compared with results of specific postmortem diagnoses obtained from Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS).Methods We analysed data collected during 2016–2022 from seven sites in Africa and South Asia. We compared antemortem clinical diagnoses from clinical records to a reference standard of postmortem diagnoses determined by expert panels at each site who reviewed the results of histopathological and microbiological testing of tissue, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid. We calculated test characteristics and 95% CIs of antemortem clinical diagnostic accuracy for the 10 most common causes of death. We classified diagnostic discrepancies as major and minor, per Goldman criteria later modified by Battle.Results CHAMPS enrolled 1454 deceased young children aged 1–59 months during the study period; 881 had available clinical records and were analysed. The median age at death was 11 months (IQR 4–21 months) and 47.3% (n=417) were female. We identified a clinicopathological discrepancy in 39.5% (n=348) of deaths; 82.3% of diagnostic errors were major. The sensitivity of clinician antemortem diagnosis ranged from 26% (95% CI 14.6% to 40.3%) for non-infectious respiratory diseases (eg, aspiration pneumonia, interstitial lung disease, etc) to 82.2% (95% CI 72.7% to 89.5%) for diarrhoeal diseases. Antemortem clinical diagnostic specificity ranged from 75.2% (95% CI 72.1% to 78.2%) for diarrhoeal diseases to 99.0% (95% CI 98.1% to 99.6%) for HIV.Conclusions Antemortem clinical diagnostic errors were common for young children who died in areas with high childhood mortality rates. To further reduce childhood mortality in resource-limited settings, there is an urgent need to improve antemortem diagnostic capability through advances in the availability of diagnostic testing and clinical skills.

Résumé : cet article présente le fonctionnement du point du vue morphologique et syntaxique, des déterminants du noms, notamment les articles, les possessif et les démonstratifs en cʋ́ràmã̀, une langue de type gur qui est parlée au Burkina Faso. L’analyse a porté sur des données collectées sur le terrain auprès des locuteurs natifs. Du point de vue théorique, ce travail s’inspire du modèle d’analyse de Keita (2012). À l’issu de l’analyse, les résultats montrent premièrement que dans cette langue, ce sont les affixes de classe qui fonctionnent comme des articles et leurs structures syllabiques sont V et CV. Ils sont suffixés à la base nominale et leur présence/absence permet d’exprimer le défini/l’indéfini. Deuxièmement, les morphèmes qui servent de possessifs sont en réalité des pronoms personnels. Les possessifs sont de structures syllabiques V, C ou CV et sont antéposés au nom comme en français. La troisième catégorie de déterminants analysés sont les démonstratifs qui eux, sont postposés au nom qu’ils déterminent. Ces derniers, c’est-à-dire les déterminants démonstratifs ne sont représentés par autre morphèmes que les affixes de classe des noms qu’ils déterminent. Mots clés : cʋ́ràmã̀-déterminant- article- possessif-démonstratifs

Abstract The worldwide decline in malaria incidence is revealing the extensive burden of non-malarial febrile illness (NMFI), which remains poorly understood and difficult to diagnose. To characterize NMFI in Senegal, we collected venous blood and clinical metadata in a cross-sectional study of febrile patients and healthy controls in a low malaria burden area. Using 16S and untargeted sequencing, we detected viral, bacterial, or eukaryotic pathogens in 23% (38/163) of NMFI cases. Bacteria were the most common, with relapsing fever Borrelia and spotted fever Rickettsia found in 15.5% and 3.8% of cases, respectively. Four viral pathogens were found in a total of 7 febrile cases (3.5%). Sequencing also detected undiagnosed Plasmodium, including one putative P. ovale infection. We developed a logistic regression model that can distinguish Borrelia from NMFIs with similar presentation based on symptoms and vital signs (F1 score: 0.823). These results highlight the challenge and importance of improved diagnostics, especially for Borrelia, to support diagnosis and surveillance.

The extraction of knowledge about prevalent issues discussed on social media in Africa using Artificial Intelligence techniques is vital for informing public governance. The objectives of our study are twofold: (a) to develop machine learning-based models to identify common topics of social concern related to Africa on social media, and (b) to design a classifier capable of inferring the most relevant topic associated with a given social media post. We designed a three-step framework to achieve the first goal of topic identification. The first step applies text-based representation learning methods to generate text embeddings for feature representation. The second step utilizes state-of-the-art Natural Language Processing models, commonly referred to as topic modeling, to group the representations into categories. The third step generates topics from each group, leveraging large language models to create meaningful short-sentence labels from the associated bag-of-tokens. Additionally, we used Llama2 to refine the token words into concise single-word themes that describe each topic in relation to social concerns about development. To address the second goal of classification, we trained classifiers using ensemble voting and stacking methods to determine which of the identified topics best characterizes a given social media post. For our experimental study, we collected a corpus called Social Media for Africa (SMA), consisting of 22,036 records extracted from comments on Twitter (X) and YouTube. The clustering-based model BERTopic produced 304 topics with a topic coherence score of 0.81 (C-v). After merging the topics into broader classes, the BERTopic+ model yielded 11 common topic classes with a coherence score of 0.76 (C-v). For theme extraction, we further refined the leading token words using Llama2, resulting in 98 unique themes labeled by BERTopic_theme, with a coherence score of 0.75 and an IRBO score of 0.50. We used the identified topics, based on the groupings, as labels for training a topic classifier. These labels were generated using Llama2 on our SMA corpus. Our comparative study of topic classifiers employing stacking and voting schemes demonstrated that the BERTopic model achieved an accuracy of 0.83 and an F1 score of 0.82 with ensemble voting for training on topics. Furthermore, when training on topic classes, BERTopic+ with ensemble voting achieved the highest accuracy (0.95) and F1 score (0.95) compared to other methods. Additionally, BERTopic_theme achieved superior performance with an ensemble voting classifier, attaining an F1 score of 0.93 and an accuracy of 0.93. The overall performance of classifiers using ensemble stacking was slightly better than that of voting methods for short-sentence topic labeling. For Africa, policymakers should focus on the most pressing social issues: the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on public health and economic recovery, promoting entrepreneurial innovation in energy and environmental sustainability to combat climate change, and responding strategically to China’s rise in global politics to maintain geopolitical stability and foster international cooperation.

Abstract We here analyze data from the first year of an ongoing nationwide program of genetic surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum parasites in Senegal. The analysis is based on 1097 samples collected at health facilities during passive malaria case detection in 2019; it provides a baseline for analyzing parasite genetic metrics as they vary over time and geographic space. The study’s goal was to identify genetic metrics that were informative about transmission intensity and other aspects of transmission dynamics, focusing on measures of genetic relatedness between parasites. We found the best genetic proxy for local malaria incidence to be the proportion of polygenomic infections (those with multiple genetically distinct parasites), although this relationship broke down at low incidence. The proportion of related parasites was less correlated with incidence while local genetic diversity was uninformative. The type of relatedness could discriminate local transmission patterns: two nearby areas had similarly high fractions of relatives, but one was dominated by clones and the other by outcrossed relatives. Throughout Senegal, 58% of related parasites belonged to a single network of relatives, within which parasites were enriched for shared haplotypes at known and suspected drug resistance loci and at one novel locus, reflective of ongoing selection pressure.

Abstract Background The overlap in the epidemiology of malaria and helminths has been identified as a potential area to exploit for the development of an integrated control strategy that may help to achieve elimination of malaria and helminths. A randomized, controlled, observer-blind trial was conducted to assess the feasibility and safety of combining mass drug administration (MDA) for schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminths (STH) with seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) among children living in Senegal. Methods Female and male children aged 1–14 years were randomized 1:1:1, to receive Vitamin A and Zinc on Day 0, followed by SMC drugs (sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and amodiaquine) on Days 1–3 (control group); or praziquantel and Vitamin A on Day 0, followed by SMC drugs on Days 1–3 (treatment group 1); or albendazole and praziquantel on Day 0, followed by SMC drugs on Days 1–3 (treatment group 2). Safety assessment was performed by collecting adverse events from all children for six subsequent days following administration of the study drugs. Pre- and post-intervention, blood samples were collected for determination of haemoglobin concentration, malaria microscopy, and PCR assays. Stool samples were analyzed using Kato-Katz, Merthiolate-iodine-formalin and PCR methods. Urine filtration, PCR and circulating cathodic antigen tests were also performed. Results From 9 to 22 June 2022, 627 children aged 1–14 years were randomized into the three groups described above. Mild, transient vomiting was observed in 12.6% (26/206) of children in treatment group 2, in 10.6% (22/207) in group 1, and in 4.2% (9/214) in the control group (p = 0.005). Pre-intervention, the geometric mean value of Plasmodium falciparum parasite density was highest among children who received albendazole, praziquantel with SMC drugs. Post-intervention, the parasite density was highest among children who received SMC drugs only. Children who received praziquantel and SMC drugs had a lower risk of developing severe anaemia than their counterparts who received SMC drugs alone (OR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.13–5.00, p = 0.63). Conclusions Integration of MDA for helminths with SMC drugs was safe and feasible among Senegalese children. These findings support further evaluation of the integrated control model. Trial registration: The study is registered at Clinical Trial.gov NCT05354258.

Abstract Introduction Plasmode simulations are a type of simulations that use real data to determine the synthetic data-generating equations. Such simulations thus allow evaluating statistical methods under realistic conditions. As far as we know, no plasmode algorithm has been proposed for simulating longitudinal data. In this paper, we propose a longitudinal plasmode framework to generate realistic data with both a time-varying exposure and time-varying covariates. This work was motivated by the objective of comparing different methods for estimating the causal effect of a cumulative exposure to psychosocial stressors at work over time. Methods We developed two longitudinal plasmode algorithms: a parametric and a nonparametric algorithms. Data from the PROspective Québec (PROQ) Study on Work and Health were used as an input to generate data with the proposed plasmode algorithms. We evaluated the performance of multiple estimators of the parameters of marginal structural models (MSMs): inverse probability of treatment weighting, g-computation and targeted maximum likelihood estimation. These estimators were also compared to standard regression approaches with either adjustment for baseline covariates only or with adjustment for both baseline and time-varying covariates. Results Standard regression methods were susceptible to yield biased estimates with confidence intervals having coverage probability lower than their nominal level. The bias was much lower and coverage of confidence intervals was much closer to the nominal level when considering MSMs. Among MSM estimators, g-computation overall produced the best results relative to bias, root mean squared error and coverage of confidence intervals. No method produced unbiased estimates with adequate coverage for all parameters in the more realistic nonparametric plasmode simulation. Conclusion The proposed longitudinal plasmode algorithms can be important methodological tools for evaluating and comparing analytical methods in realistic simulation scenarios. To facilitate the use of these algorithms, we provide R functions on GitHub. We also recommend using MSMs when estimating the effect of cumulative exposure to psychosocial stressors at work.

While access to clean drinking water is deemed a fundamental human right, it remains a challenge for the most marginalized communities, who are compelled to navigate through a myriad of socio-economic and environmental pressures. These challenges include trade-offs in resource allocation, disparities in infrastructure, commercialization of water services, degradation of aquatic ecosystems, and the adverse effects of global climate change.Drawing from empirical research conducted in Senegal, this article delves into the intricate interplay between spatial justice and environmental disparities, shedding light on how social factors intertwine with the quality of living conditions and access to water services. The allocation of water resources, both spatially and temporally, is intricately linked to governance mechanisms and the differential treatment of various regions and demographics. The case of the Saint-Louis region in Senegal serves as a poignant example, highlighting historical injustices such as water shortages and pollution that disproportionately affected indigenous communities during the colonial era and continue to impact rural populations today. Despite efforts to address these challenges through reforms in management practices transitioning from community-based initiatives to recent delegation to private entities significant barriers persist. Access to water resources remains constrained by inadequate supply, prohibitive costs associated with centralized water systems, and persistent organizational inefficiencies.

Summary: Background: While maternal pertussis vaccination is a strategy to reduce infant morbidity, safety and immunogenicity data are limited in sub-Saharan Africa. We aimed to evaluate the safety of a single dose of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) vaccine compared to tetanus and diphtheria vaccine (Td) vaccine in pregnant women in Bamako, Mali and to assess the pertussis toxin (PT) antibody response at birth. Methods: In this phase 2, single-centre, randomised, double-blind, active-controlled study, from 23 January 2019 to 10 July 2019, healthy 18–39 year old women in the second trimester of a singleton pregnancy were randomised 2:1 to receive Tdap or Td. Blood was tested for serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) against PT and other vaccine antigens using a qualified Meso Scale Discovery multiplex immunoassay. The co-primary objectives evaluated safety and birth anti-PT levels. Infant immune responses to whole-cell pertussis vaccine (DTwP) were assessed. Statistical analysis was descriptive. This trial is registered with clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03589768. Findings: 133 women received Tdap and 67 received Td, with 126 and 66 livebirths, respectively. In the Tdap group, 22 serious adverse events (SAEs) including one maternal death occurred in 20 participants (15·0%), with 10 SAEs in 10 participants (14·9%) in the Td group. Among infants, 18 events occurred among 13 participants (10.3%) and 8 SAEs in 6 participants (9.1%), including three and two infant deaths, occurred in Tdap and Td groups, respectively. None were related to study vaccines. Anti-PT geometric mean concentration (GMC) at birth in the Tdap group was higher than in the Td group (55.4 [46.2–66.6] IU/ml vs 7.9 [5.4–11.5] IU/ml). One month after the third dose of DTwP, the GMC in infants born to mothers in the Tdap group were lower compared to the Td group (20.2 [13.7–29.9] IU/ml vs 77.2 [32.2–184.8] IU/ml). By 6 months of age, the anti- PT GMCs were 17.3 [12.8–23.4] IU/ml and 67.1 [35.5–126.7] IU/ml in Tdap and Td groups, respectively. At birth, anti-tetanus toxin (TT) GMCs were higher in infants in the Td vs Tdap group (5.9 [5.0–7.0] IU/ml vs 4.1 [3.5–4.8] IU/ml). Anti-diphtheria toxin GMCs were similar in both groups. Interpretation: Tdap administered to pregnant women in Mali is safe and well-tolerated. Infants of mothers who received Tdap were born with high PT and protective anti-TT antibody levels. By six months of age, after primary vaccination, the PT levels were lower in the Tdap group compared to the Td group. The blunted immune responses to primary DTwP vaccination in the Tdap infant group warrant further study. Funding: This project was funded by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), under contract numbers 75N93021C00012 (The Emmes Company), and HHSN27220130000221 (University of Maryland, Baltimore). Dr. Susana Portillo was supported by NIH award no. T32AI007524. NIAID, NIH provided Tdap vaccine (BOOSTRIX).

Drug-resistant (DR) tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health concern globally, complicating TB control and management efforts. West Africa has historically faced difficulty in combating DR-TB due to limited diagnostic skills, insufficient access to excellent healthcare, and ineffective healthcare systems. This has aided in the emergence and dissemination of DR Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) strains in the region. In the past, DR-TB patients faced insufficient resources, fragmented efforts, and suboptimal treatment outcomes. However, current efforts to combat DR-TB in the region are promising. These efforts include strengthening diagnostic capacities, improving access to quality healthcare services, and implementing evidence-based treatment regimens for DR-TB. Additionally, many West African National TB control programs are collaborating with international partners to scale up laboratory infrastructure, enhance surveillance systems, and promote infection control measures. Moreso, novel TB drugs and regimens, such as bedaquiline and delamanid, are being introduced to improve treatment outcomes for DR-TB cases. Despite these obstacles, there is optimism for the future of DR-TB control in West Africa. Investments are being made to improve healthcare systems, expand laboratory capacity, and support TB research and innovation. West African institutions are now supporting knowledge sharing, capacity building, and resource mobilization through collaborative initiatives such as the West African Network for TB, AIDS, and Malaria (WANETAM), the West African Health Organization (WAHO), and other regional or global partners. These efforts hold promise for improved diagnostics, optimized treatment regimens, and provide better patient outcomes in the future where drug-resistant TB in WA can be effectively controlled, reducing the burden of the disease, and improving the health outcomes of affected individuals.

Key clinical message In a rare occurrence, primary varicella infection led to rhabdomyolysis in a 24‐year‐old with no medical history. Presenting with rash, fever, and weakness, he developed diffuse myalgia at 72 h. Elevated muscle enzymes confirmed rhabdomyolysis secondary to varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection. Treatment with acyclovir and hydration resulted in significant improvement within a month. Abstract Primary varicella infection is rarely complicated by rhabdomyolysis. In this study, we describe a case of rhabdomyolysis complicating a VZV infection in a black subject. The patient was a 24‐year‐old black African with no particular medical history and was immunocompetent. He presented with an acute onset of generalized rash, fever, and generalized weakness. Physical examination revealed vesicular lesions typical of chickenpox. Antipyretic treatment combined with acyclovir was instituted in hospital. At the 72nd hour, diffuse myalgia developed. Muscle enzyme tests revealed CPK elevated to 40 times the upper limit of normal, LDH elevated to 2 times the upper limit of normal, ASAT and ALAT elevated to 7 times the upper limit of normal, and 2.5 times the upper limit of normal, respectively. We accepted the diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis secondary to VZV infection. The patient was given saline hydration and showed clinical and biological improvement 1 month later. A patient presenting with muscular symptoms during a VZV infection should be considered for rhabdomyolysis.

Summary: Background: Although immunomodulators have established benefit against the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in general, it is uncertain whether such agents improve outcomes without increasing the risk of secondary infections in the specific subgroup of previously immunocompromised patients. We assessed the effect of immunomodulators on outcomes of immunocompromised patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Methods: The protocol was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022335397). MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and references of relevant articles were searched up to 01-06-2022. Authors of potentially eligible randomized controlled trials were contacted to provide data on immunocompromised patients randomized to immunomodulators vs control (i.e., placebo or standard-of-care). Findings: Eleven randomized controlled trials involving 397 immunocompromised patients hospitalized for COVID-19 were included. Ten trials had low risk of bias. There was no difference between immunocompromised patients randomized to immunomodulators vs control regarding mortality [30/182 (16.5%) vs 41/215 (19.1%); RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.61–1.41; p = 0.74], secondary infections (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.64–1.58; p = 0.99) and change in World Health Organization ordinal scale from baseline to day 15 (weighed mean difference 0.27, 95% CI -0.09–0.63; p = 0.15). In subgroup analyses including only patients with hematologic malignancy, only trials with low risk of bias, only trials administering IL-6 inhibitors, or only trials administering immunosuppressants, there was no difference between comparators regarding mortality. Interpretation: Immunomodulators, compared to control, were not associated with harmful or beneficial outcomes, including mortality, secondary infections, and change in ordinal scale, when administered to immunocompromised patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Funding: Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation.

Objectives: As there is no ranking designed for schools of Public Health, the aim of this project was to create one.Methods: To design the Public Health Academic Ranking (PHAR), we used the InCites Benchmarking and Analytics™ software and the Web Of Science™ Core Collection database. We collected bibliometric data on 26 schools of Public Health from each continent, between August and September 2022. We included 11 research indicators/scores, covering four criteria (productivity, quality, accessibility for readers, international collaboration), for the period 2017–2021. For the Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), a network gathering faculties across different universities, a specific methodology was used, with member-specific research queries.Results: The five top schools of the PHAR were: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Public Health Foundation of India, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, SSPH+, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.Conclusion: The PHAR allows worldwide bibliometric ordering of schools of Public Health. As this is a pilot project, the results must be taken with caution. This article aims to critically discuss its methodology and future improvements.

Abstract Background Immunisation remains the most cost-effective public health intervention in preventing morbidity and mortality due to Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPDs). The study aims to compare the differences in immunisation coverage amongst children aged 0 to 23 months living in slums of Kampala city and Iganga as rural districts in Uganda. Methods This study utilises data from a cross-sectional survey done in 2019 in the slums of Kampala City and the rural district of Iganga within the Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (HDSS). It included 1016 children aged 0–23 months and their parents. A logistic regression model was used to analyse the relationship between multiple independent variables and the binary dependent variables (fully immunised) using Stata statistical software. The measures of association were odds ratios reported with a corresponding 95% confidence interval. Results Out of the 1016 participants, 544 participants live in the rural area and 472 participants in the slums. Slums had 48.9% (n = 231) of fully immunised children whilst rural areas had 43.20% (n = 235). The multivariate analysis showed that children living in slums are more likely to be fully immunised as compared to their counterparts in rural areas (Odds ratio:1.456; p = 0.033; CI:1.030–2.058). Immunisation coverage for BCG (98.9%), Polio 0 (88.2%), Penta1 (92.7%), and Pneumo1 (89.8%) were high in both settlements. However, the dropout rate for subsequent vaccines was high 17%, 20% and 41% for Penta, pneumococcal and rota vaccines respectively. There was poor uptake of the new vaccines with slums having 73.4% and 47.9% coverage for pneumococcal and rota vaccines respectively and rural areas had 72.1% and 7.5% for pneumococcal and rota vaccines respectively. Conclusion The low full immunisation status in this study was attributed to the child’s residence and the occupation of the parents. Lack of education and poor access to messages on immunisation (inadequate access to mass media) are other contributing factors. Educational messages on the importance of immunisation targeting these underserved populations will improve full immunisation coverage.

In the realm of global health policy, the intricacies of power dynamics and intersectionality have become increasingly evident. Structurally embedded power hierarchies constitute a significant concern in achieving health for all and demand transformational change. Adopting intersectional feminist approaches potentially mitigates health inequities through more inclusive and responsive health policies. While feminist approaches to foreign and development policies are receiving increasing attention, they are not accorded the importance they deserve in global health policy. This article presents a framework for a Feminist Global Health Policy (FGHP), outlines the objectives and underlying principles and identifies the actors responsible for its meaningful implementation. Recognising that power hierarchies and societal contexts inherently shape research, the proposed framework was developed via a participatory research approach that aligns with feminist principles. Three independent online focus groups were conducted between August and September 2022 with 11 participants affiliated to the global-academic or local-activist level and covering all WHO regions. The qualitative content analysis revealed that a FGHP must be centred on considerations of intersectionality, power and knowledge paradigms to present meaningful alternatives to the current structures. By balancing guiding principles with sensitivity for context-specific adaptations, the framework is designed to be applicable locally and globally, whilst its adoption is intended to advance health equity and reproductive justice, with communities and policymakers identified as the main actors. This study underscores the importance of dismantling power structures by fostering intersectional and participatory approaches for a more equitable global health landscape. The FGHP framework is intended to initiate debate among global health practitioners, policymakers, researchers and communities. Whilst an undeniably intricate and time-consuming process, continuous and collaborative work towards health equity is imperative to translate this vision into practice.

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19 are the two leading causes of infectious disease mortality worldwide, and their overlap is likely frequent and inevitable. Previous research has shown increased mortality in TB/COVID-coinfected individuals, and emerging evidence suggests that COVID-19 may increase susceptibility to TB. However, the immunological mechanisms underlying these interactions remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the impact of prior or concurrent COVID-19 infection on immune profiles of TB patients and those with other respiratory diseases (ORD).MethodsSerum and nasopharyngeal samples were collected from 161 Gambian adolescents and adults with either TB or an ORD. Concurrent COVID-19 infection was determined by PCR, while prior COVID-19 was defined by antibody seropositivity. Multiplex cytokine immunoassays were used to quantify 27 cytokines and chemokines in patient serum samples at baseline, and throughout treatment in TB patients.ResultsStrikingly, TB and ORD patients with prior COVID-19 infection were found to have significantly reduced expression of several cytokines, including IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-7, compared to those without (p0.035).ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate that COVID-19 infection alters the subsequent response to TB and ORDs, potentially contributing to pathogenesis. Further work is necessary to determine whether COVID-19 infection accelerates TB disease progression, though our results experimentally support this hypothesis.

Introduction : En milieu traditionnel, les feuilles d’Elaeis guineensis sont utilisées pour la prise en charge des plaies. L’objectif de cette étude était de mettre en évidence l'activité cicatrisante des feuilles de cette plante, sur un modèle de brûlure expérimentale de second degré profond, chez le rat de souche Wistar. Matériel et méthodes : Le matériel végétal était constitué d’une poudre de feuilles d’E. guineensis récoltées en Casamance, dans la région Sud du Sénégal. Des rats de souche Wistar provenant de l’animalerie du Laboratoire de Pharmacologie de la Faculté de Médecine, de Pharmacie et d’Odonto-Stomatologie de l’Université Cheikh Anta DIOP de Dakar ont été utilisés pour l’étude pharmacologique. La vaseline officinale pure a servi d’excipient, le benzoate de sodium est ajouté comme conservateur. La Sulfadiazine a été utilisée comme cicatrisant de référence. La poudre de feuilles d’E. guineensis a été extraite avec des solvants de polarité différente (Hexane/Acétate d’éthyle/Méthanol). Une caractérisation de groupes phytochimiques majeurs de la fraction méthanolique a été réalisée sur tube. A partir de la poudre de la fraction méthanolique des feuilles d’E. guineensis, deux pommades à 3 et 10 % dans la vaseline ont été préparées (Qsp 50 g). Le benzoate de sodium a été utilisé à raison de 1,5 g pour 1000 g de pommade. Le benzoate de sodium et la poudre de la fraction méthanolique ont été triturés dans un mortier à l’aide d’un pilon. La vaseline officinale pure a été ajoutée progressivement en triturant légèrement jusqu’à homogénéisation du mélange. L’étude pharmacologique a été menée sur un modèle in-vivo de brûlure expérimentale du second degré profond chez le rat de souche Wistar. Les brûlures expérimentales ont été induites à l'aide d’un cylindre métallique de 3 cm de diamètre et chauffé pendant 3 min. Le cylindre a été appliqué pendant 10 secondes en appuyant un peu sur la surface de la peau rasée des rats, sous anesthésie, afin de provoquer une brûlure de second degré profond. Les pommades ont été appliquées quotidiennement pendant 28 jours. L’activité cicatrisante a été évaluée selon la méthode de KAMOSHIDA avec des scores allant de 1 à 5 selon l’importance de la brûlure et confirmée par des coupes histologiques. Résultats : La caractérisation phytochimique a mis en évidence la présence de composés phénoliques tels que les flavonoïdes et les tanins dans la fraction méthanolique. L’application quotidienne de la vaseline seule ne s’associe pas à une réparation tissulaire. Celle de la pommade à 3 % correspond à un score de 2 à J14 c’est-à-dire, une reconstruction tissulaire des lésions. La cicatrisation est effective au 25ème jour de traitement avec un score de 0,5. La réparation tissulaire est complète au bout de 20 jours d’application et la ré-épithélialisation est complète est observée après 18 jours de traitement. Conclusion : Les feuilles d’E. guineensis sont cicatrisante sur des modèles in-vivo. Ces effets pourraient être dus aux flavonoïdes et tanins présents dans cette fraction.

Abstract Background Malaria control is highly dependent on the effectiveness of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), the current frontline malaria curative treatment. Unfortunately, the emergence and spread of parasites resistant to artemisinin (ART) derivatives in Southeast Asia and South America, and more recently in Rwanda and Uganda (East Africa), compromise their long-term use in sub-Saharan Africa, where most malaria deaths occur. Methods Here, ex vivo susceptibility to dihydroartemisinin (DHA) was evaluated from 38 Plasmodium falciparum isolates collected in 2017 in Thiès (Senegal) expressed in the Ring-stage Survival Assay (RSA). Both major and minor variants were explored in the three conserved-encoding domains of the pfkelch13 gene, the main determinant of ART resistance using a targeted-amplicon deep sequencing (TADS) approach. Results All samples tested in the ex vivo RSA were found to be susceptible to DHA (parasite survival rate

Abstract Blood transfusion support predisposes transfused children to the risk of erythrocyte alloimmunization in Sub‐Saharan Africa. A cohort of 100 children receiving one to five blood transfusions were recruited for screening and identification of irregular antibodies using gel filtration technique. The mean age was 8 years and the sex‐ratio at 1.2. The retrieved pathologies were: major sickle cell anaemia (46%), severe malaria (20%), haemolytic anaemia (4%), severe acute malnutrition (6%), acute gastroenteritis (5%), chronic infectious syndrome (12%) and congenital heart disease (7%). The children presented with haemoglobin levels ≤6 g/dl, and 16% of them presented positive irregular antibodies directed against the Rhesus (30.76%) and Kell (69.24%) blood group systems. A literature review shows that irregular antibody screenings vary from 17% to 30% of transfused paediatric patients in Sub‐Saharan Africa. These alloantibodies are in particular directed against the Rhesus, Kell, Duffy, Kidd and MNS blood group and generally found in sickle cell disease and malaria. This study highlights the urgent need of extended red blood cell phenotyping including typing for C/c, E/e, K/k, and Fya/Fyb, and if possible Jka/Jkb, M/N, and S/s for children before transfusion in Sub‐Saharan Africa.

Information on the type of OPT that attacks plantation commodities in Buton Regency is incomplete, even though the data can be the basis for mitigating attacks and controls if the plants have been attacked. For this reason, research was conducted to identify the type and distribution of pests in plantation crops, especially in cocoa, cloves, cashew, pepper, and coconut commodities. They analyzed the damage caused by OPT in plantation crops, especially in cocoa, cloves, cashews, pepper, and coconut commodities, and determined alternative solutions for control and prevention. Observations were made in several villages in several sub-districts in Buton Regency. Direct observations were made on the specified land, and interviews with farmers and various related parties were conducted. To get OPT-type data and damage levels. OPT that attacks cashew consists of two types of pests and one disease. The level of damage OPT in the categorized category of guava plants. The level of damage to the pest on the categorized cashew was low. In coconut commodities, found OPT from three types of pest groups, namely Orycter Rhynocheros, Aspidiotus Destructors, and Pestalotia sp. The level of attack of the three pests was categorized as low. Cocoa was the commodity mainly attacked by OPT, consisting of 4 types of pests and four types of diseases. Fruit rot (Phytophthora palmivora) and stem cancer (Phytophthora palmivora) had a heavy attack rate in all cocoa-producing districts in Buton Regency.

Abstract Background An issue of particular concern is the impact of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019 nCOV) on the people coinfected with the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) and/or tuberculosis (TB). Unfortunately, this interaction has not been well explored in African despite the large proportion of these risk populations living with HIV and/or patients and/or tuberculosis (TB) in the African region. This study aims to design a research protocol for assessment of the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on these risk populations in response to COVID-19 strategic plans in Burkina Faso by generating serological, epidemiological, virological, clinical and socio-anthropological evidence-based data. Methods A multidisciplinary research will be conducted in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso using mixed methods. Data will be collected from a cohort of people living with HIV and/or TB patients in the city (i) to determine the proportion of people with specific antibodies against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) using retrospective data ; (ii) to determine the proportion of people infected with Covid-19 and the dynamics of viral loads and antibodies in these people based on prospective data; (iii) to identify circulating SARS-COV-2 variants and novel biomarkers using prospective data ; (iv) to analyze perceptions, community experiences and response strategies during the public health emergencies imposed by COVID-19 through a qualitative study. Discussion This study will generate factual and comprehensive data that will contribute in improving response strategies to COVID-19 and the other possible emerging diseases with keen interest on the risk populations living with HIV and/or TB infected patients.

Abstract Background One out of ten deaths of children under five are attributable to indoor air pollution. And Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI) is among the direct causes. Objective This study showed the possibilities of characterizing indoor air pollution in West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) area and it also made it possible to estimate its impact on the occurrence of ARI in children under five. Methods It has been a secondary analysis based on Demographic and Health Surveys (DHSs) from WAEMU countries’ data.. “Household level of air pollution” is the created composite variable, from questions on the degradation factors of indoor air quality (domestic combustion processes) which served to characterize indoor air pollution and to measure its impact by a logistic regression. Results Burkina Faso stands out with a greater number of households with a high level of pollution (63.7%) followed by Benin (43.7%) then Togo (43.0%). The main exposure factor "Household level of air pollution" was associated with ARI symptoms (Togo: prevalence = 51.3%; chi-squared test’s p-value

Abstract Sero-surveillance can monitor and project disease burden and risk. However, SARS-CoV-2 antibody test results can produce false positive results, limiting their efficacy as a sero-surveillance tool. False positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody results are associated with malaria exposure, and understanding this association is essential to interpret sero-surveillance results from malaria-endemic countries. Here, pre-pandemic samples from eight malaria endemic and non-endemic countries and four continents were tested by ELISA to measure SARS-CoV-2 Spike S1 subunit reactivity. Individuals with acute malaria infection generated substantial SARS-CoV-2 reactivity. Cross-reactivity was not associated with reactivity to other human coronaviruses or other SARS-CoV-2 proteins, as measured by peptide and protein arrays. ELISAs with deglycosylated and desialated Spike S1 subunits revealed that cross-reactive antibodies target sialic acid on N-linked glycans of the Spike protein. The functional activity of cross-reactive antibodies measured by neutralization assays showed that cross-reactive antibodies did not neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Since routine use of glycosylated or sialated assays could result in false positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody results in malaria endemic regions, which could overestimate exposure and population-level immunity, we explored methods to increase specificity by reducing cross-reactivity. Overestimating population-level exposure to SARS-CoV-2 could lead to underestimates of risk of continued COVID-19 transmission in sub-Saharan Africa.

Globally, agriculture remains an important source of food and economic development. Due to various plant diseases, farmers continue to suffer huge yield losses in both quality and quantity. In this study, we explored the potential of using Artificial Neural Networks, K-Nearest Neighbors, Random Forest, and Support Vector Machine to classify tomato fungal leaf diseases: Alternaria, Curvularia, Helminthosporium, and Lasiodiplodi based on Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix texture features. Small differences between symptoms of these diseases make it difficult to use the naked eye to obtain better results in detecting and distinguishing these diseases. The Artificial Neural Network outperformed other classifiers with an overall accuracy of 94% and average scores of 93.6% for Precision, 93.8% for Recall, and 93.8% for F1-score. Generally, the models confused samples originally belonging to Helminthosporium with Curvularia. The extracted texture features show great potential to classify the different tomato leaf fungal diseases. The results of this study show that texture characteristics of the Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix play a critical role in the establishment of tomato leaf disease classification systems and can facilitate the implementation of preventive measures by farmers, resulting in enhanced yield quality and quantity.