Adiponectin, in contrast to leptin, is not associated with body mass index, waist circumference and HOMA-IR in subjects of a west-African population

Factors associated with plasma levels of adiponectin and leptin were studied in adult subjects without diabetes from Cotonou in Benin (West‐Africa). Seventy (70) men and 45 women were included in the study. Anthropometric variables were measured and a venous blood sample was drawn from each subject, after an overnight fasting period, for measurement of plasma glucose, insulin, leptin, and adiponectin levels. HOMA‐IR was determined to assess insulin resistance. Adiponectin and leptin levels were higher in women than in men (with adiponectin 18.48 ± 12.77 vs.7.8 ± 10.39 μg/mL, P < 0.0001, and leptin 30.77 ± 19.16 vs. 8.66 ± 8.24 ng/mL, P < 0.0001). Fasting insulin level and HOMA‐IR were also higher in the females. Hyperleptinemia was observed in 66,96% of subjects and hypoadiponectinemia was present in 44.35% of subjects. In both men and women, leptin correlated with age (r = 0.2; P = 0.02), BMI (r = 0.572; P < 0.0001), waist circumference (r = 0.534; P < 0.0001), fasting insulin (r = 0.461; P < 0.001), and HOMA‐IR (r = 0.430; P < 0.0001). No significant correlation was observed for adiponectin levels with these variables. Only in women, adiponectin was inversely correlated with fasting glucose (r = −0.423; P < 0.004). These data confirm previous descriptions of leptin but suggest that variations in factors determining serum adiponectin levels observed between ethnicities could also been seen between populations from the same ethnicity

New foci of Rhipicephalus microplus in West Africa

The invasive character of Rhipicephalus microplus was observed in Benin, the second West-African country from which this ticks species has been collected after the initial confirmed record in Ivory Coast in 2007. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Mono to examine the presence of the tick R. microplus. The survey covered 9 herds (villages) in an agro-ecological zone inhabited by agro-pastoralists, including the State Farm of Kpinnou that imported Girolando cattle from Brazil. Almost 800 ticks were sampled from 36 cattle, on average four cattle per village. The morphological identification revealed ticks of two different genera: Rhipicephalus and Amblyomma. Rhipicephalus microplus was the only representative of the species previously known as Boophilus or blue ticks. Its taxonomic identity was confirmed molecularly by PCR–RFLP. A comparison was made with the situation of R. microplus in Brazil.The Belgian Development Cooperation (BDC) for the financial support of this research project as part of a Masters programme offered by the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium.http://www.springerlink.com/content/100158/ab201

Valeur Nutritive Des Especes Herbacees Appetees Par Les Ruminants Sur Les Parcours Naturels Du Nord-Est Du Benin

Au Nord - Est du Bénin, les systèmes d’élevage sont encore principalement traditionnels et les informations disponibles actuellement sur la valeur nutritive des fourrages sont souvent fragmentaires, voire disparates. L’objectif de l’étude était de contribuer à une meilleure connaissance des valeurs nutritives des espèces herbacées appétées afin de les faire entrer dans les systèmes d’alimentation de ces ruminants. Pour ce faire, le suivi des animaux au pâturage et la récolte des fourrages appétés par les bovins avaient permis d’identifier 26 espèces herbacées appétées par les ruminants. 500g de chaque herbacée appétée a été prélevé dans des sachets et laissé à l’air libre avant d’être convoyé au laboratoire. Une fois au laboratoire, ils ont séjourné dans une étuve jusqu’à obtention de poids constant. Les échantillons ont été ensuite moulu et 20gr de chaque herbacées a été identifié et mi en sachet pour les analyses. Les échantillons des herbacées appétées ont été analysés par spectrométrie dans le proche infrarouge (SPIR). Le résultat du regroupement des différentes espèces herbacées présenté sous la forme de dendrogramme permettait d’identifié 5 groupes. En fin de saison pluvieuse, les espèces fourragères du groupe 1 2 et 5 ont des taux moyens élévés en matières azotées digestibles (MAD = 117,81 ± 14,25 g/kg MS) et en énergies nettes (UFL = 0,82±0,04 et UFV = 0,73±0,03/ kg de MS). La lignocellulose (ADF) et les valeurs énergétiques nettes (UFL, UFV) étaient négativement corrélées (r =- 0,74 ; p ˂ 0,01). Par contre, le couple (UFL, UFV) était positivement corrélé (r = 0,55 ; p ˂ 0,01) aux valeurs MAD. En ce qui concerne ces espèces fourragères, l’effet dépressif de la teneur en cellulose brute (CB) sur la valeur MAD (r = -0,63) apparaissait très hautement significatif (p ˂ 0,001). Les herbacées telles que Andropogon tectorum, Boerhavia erecta Brachiaria falcifera Pennisetum polystachion Crotalaria macrocalyx et Spermacoce stachydea, Commelina benghalensis et Eleusine indica sont de bonnes qualités nutritives. In the north-east of Benin, livestock systems are still mainly traditional and the information currently available on the nutritional value of fodder is often fragmentary or even disparate. The objective of the study was to contribute to a better knowledge of the nutritional values of the herbaceous species being fed in order to include them in the feeding systems of these ruminants. To this end, the monitoring of animals on pasture and the harvesting of forages appeared by cattle had made it possible to identify 26 herbaceous species appeared by ruminants. 500g of each appeared grass was collected in bags and left outdoors before being transported to the laboratory. Once at the laboratory, they were kept in an oven until constant weight was obtained. The samples were then ground and 20gr of each herb was identified and half in bags for analysis. Samples of the palatable herbs were analyzed by near infrared spectrometry (NIRS). The result of the grouping of the different herbaceous species presented in the form of a dendrogram allowed the identification of 5 groups. At the end of the rainy season, the forage species of group 1 2 and 5 have high average rates of digestible nitrogenous matter (MAD = 117.81 ± 14.25 g/kg DM) and net energy (UFL = 0.82±0.04 and UFV = 0.73±0.03/kg DM). Lignocellulose (ADF) and net energy values (UFL, UFV) were negatively correlated (r =- 0.74; p ˂ 0.01). In contrast, torque (UFL, UFV) was positively correlated (r = 0.55; p ˂ 0.01) with DSM values. For these forage species, the depressing effect of crude fibre (CB) content on the MAD value (r = -0.63) appeared very highly significant (p ˂ 0.001). Grasses such as Andropogon tectorum, Boerhavia erecta Brachiaria falcifera Pennisetum polystachion Crotalaria macrocalyx and Spermacoce stachydea, Commelina benghalensis and Eleusine indica have good nutritional qualities

Adiponectin, in contrast to leptin, is not associated with body mass index, waist circumference and HOMA-IR in subjects of a west-African population

Factors associated with plasma levels of adiponectin and leptin were studied in adult subjects without diabetes from Cotonou in Benin (West‐Africa). Seventy (70) men and 45 women were included in the study. Anthropometric variables were measured and a venous blood sample was drawn from each subject, after an overnight fasting period, for measurement of plasma glucose, insulin, leptin, and adiponectin levels. HOMA‐IR was determined to assess insulin resistance. Adiponectin and leptin levels were higher in women than in men (with adiponectin 18.48 ± 12.77 vs.7.8 ± 10.39 μg/mL, P < 0.0001, and leptin 30.77 ± 19.16 vs. 8.66 ± 8.24 ng/mL, P < 0.0001). Fasting insulin level and HOMA‐IR were also higher in the females. Hyperleptinemia was observed in 66,96% of subjects and hypoadiponectinemia was present in 44.35% of subjects. In both men and women, leptin correlated with age (r = 0.2; P = 0.02), BMI (r = 0.572; P < 0.0001), waist circumference (r = 0.534; P < 0.0001), fasting insulin (r = 0.461; P < 0.001), and HOMA‐IR (r = 0.430; P < 0.0001). No significant correlation was observed for adiponectin levels with these variables. Only in women, adiponectin was inversely correlated with fasting glucose (r = −0.423; P < 0.004). These data confirm previous descriptions of leptin but suggest that variations in factors determining serum adiponectin levels observed between ethnicities could also been seen between populations from the same ethnicity

Pathogenicity of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri in calves previously infected with Trypanosoma congolense

Pathogenicity of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri (Mmc) for calves with and without Trypanosoma congolense (Tc) infection was undertaken. Four calves were inoculated with Tc and two of them were challenged with Mmc, while one calf was inoculated with Mmc only; another calf was inoculated with sterile broth as control. No overt disease was found in the Mmc-infected calf. The two calves with dual Tc/Mmc infections died 53.0 ± 1.4 days post-inoculation, showing marbling and consolidation of the lungs. Histopathologically there was widening of interstitial spaces by fibrin and inflammatory cells. The spleen and lymph nodes showed lymphoid depletion, haemosiderosis and erythrophagocytosis. However, the two Tc-infected calves recovered following trypanocidal treatment. The mean PCV value (mPCV), of each of the four Tc-infected calves (22.5 ± 2.9%, 23.0 ± 2.6%, 25.0 ± 2.1%, 25.4 ± 2.5%, respectively) was significantly (P<0.05) lower than that of the control (30.1 ± 1.0%) and Mmc-infected calf (30.2 ± 1.0%), respectively. Similarly, the mean rectal temperature (mRT) of each of the two calves (41.6 ± 0.8 °C, 40.5 ± 0.8 °C) with dual Tc/Mmc infections was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of Tc-infected calves (38.1 ± 0.5 °C and 38.0 ± 0.3oC), control calf (37.8 ± 0.3 °C) and Mmc-infected calf (37.7 ± 0.3 °C), respectively. These findings confirm the pervasiveness of Mycoplasma mycoides cluster It is suggested that calves in trypanosome endemic areas should be given regular prophylactic trypanocides treatment to rid them of trypanosomes which can cause immunosuppression, thereby predisposing calves to caprine strains of Mycoplasma

Tick-borne pathogens and body condition of cattle in smallholder rural livestock production systems in East and West Africa

AVAILABILITY OF DATA AND MATERIALS : The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to Contract Research Organization agreements (data will be stored in the archives of Clinglobal, Mauritius), but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.ADDITIONAL FILE 1: TABLE S0. Synthetic positive controls. TABLE S1. Vector-competent ticks for the four tick-borne pathogens covered in the ecological analysis. Table S2. Distribution of (co-)infections in cattle individuals. FIG. S1. Heatmap of TBHPs species-to-species associations (co-infections) based on the HMSC models.ADDITIONAL FILE 2 : Protocol.BACKGROUND : The majority of the African population lives in rural areas where they heavily depend on crop and livestock production for their livelihoods. Given their socio-economic importance, we initiated a standardized multi-country (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia Tanzania and Uganda) surveillance study to assess the current status of important tick-borne haemoparasites (TBHPs) of cattle. METHODS : We assessed pathogen prevalences (Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma centrale, Babesia bigemina, Babesia bovis, Ehrlichia ruminantium, and Theileria parva) in the blood of 6447 animals spread over fourteen districts (two districts per country). In addition, we screened for intrinsic (sex, weight, body condition) and extrinsic (husbandry, tick exposure) risk factors as predictors of infections with TBHPs. RESULTS : There was a large macro-geographic variation observed in A. marginale, B. bigemina, B. bovis and E. ruminantium prevalences. Most correlated with the co-occurrence of their specific sets of vector-competent ticks. Highest numbers of infected cattle were found in Ghana and Benin, and lowest in Burkina Faso. While T. parva was seldomly found (Uganda only: 3.0%), A. marginale was found in each country with a prevalence of at least 40%. Babesia bovis infected individuals had lower body condition scores. Age (as estimated via body weight) was higher in A. marginale infected cattle, but was negatively correlated with B. bigemina and E. ruminantium prevalences. Ehrlichia ruminantium infection was more often found in males, and A. marginale more often in transhumance farming. High levels of co-infection, especially the combination A. marginale × B. bigemina, were observed in all countries, except for Uganda and Burkina Faso. Babesia bigemina was more or less often observed than expected by chance, when cattle were also co-infected with E. ruminantium or A. marginale, respectively. CONCLUSIONS : Tick-borne pathogens of cattle are ubiquitous in African’s smallholder cattle production systems. Our standardized study will help a wide range of stakeholders to provide recommendations for TBHP surveillance and prevention in cattle, especially for B. bovis which heavily impacts production and continues its spread over the African continent via the invasive Rhipicephalus microplus tick.The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.comhj2024Veterinary Tropical DiseasesSDG-02:Zero Hunge

Brucellosis in West and Central Africa: A review of the current situation in a changing landscape of dairy cattle systems

Brucellosis is a neglected endemic zoonosis in West and Central Africa. In this narrative review, evidence of livestock and human infection is presented along with details of past and current control strategies in 14 selected countries. Data from available literature is combined with expert opinion elicited during a regional workshop on brucellosis diagnostics. Demographic changes that affect both the epidemiology of brucellosis and the success of control or surveillance are also considered. The evidence suggests that brucellosis prevalence in emerging peri-urban dairy cattle systems may be higher than that found in traditional transhumant extensive systems. Accurate microbiological and epidemiological evidence across the region is lacking but it appears there is inherent interest in controlling the disease. There are many data gaps which require collaborative future research to evaluate fully the social and economic impact of the disease in an evolving livestock sector heavily influenced by high rates of urbanisation and regional population growth

Tick communities of cattle in smallholder rural livestock production systems in sub-Saharan Africa

AVAILABILITY OF DATA AND MATERIALS : The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to Contract Research Organization agreements (data will be stored in the archives of Clinglobal, Mauritius), but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.CHANGE HISTORY : 12 November 2023. This article has been corrected since original publication. 16 November 2023. A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-06034-2 09 August 2023. A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05895-xADDITIONAL FILE 1: TABLE S1. Spatio-temporal variation in tick prevalence in cattle of seven sub-Saharan countries. TABLE S2. Spatio-temporal variation in tick loads in cattle of seven sub-Saharan countries. TABLE S3. and TABLE S4. Distribution of (co-) infestations in cattle individuals.ADDITIONAL FILE 2 : Protocol.BACKGROUND : The majority of the African population lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture for their livelihoods. To increase the productivity and sustainability of their farms, they need access to affordable yield-enhancing inputs of which parasite control is of paramount importance. We therefore determined the status of current tick species with the highest economic impact on cattle by sampling representative numbers of animals in each of seven sub-Saharan countries. METHODS : Data included tick species’ half-body counts from approximately 120 cattle at each of two districts per country, collected four times in approximately 1 year (to include seasonality). Study sites were chosen in each country to include high cattle density and tick burden. RESULTS : East Africa (Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania) showed overall a higher diversity and prevalence in tick infestations compared to West African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Nigeria). In East Africa, Amblyomma variegatum (vector of Ehrlichia ruminantium), Rhipicephalus microplus (Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, Anaplasma marginale), R. evertsi evertsi (A. marginale) and R. appendiculatus (Theileria parva) were the most prevalent tick species of economic importance. While the latter species was absent in West Africa, here both A. variegatum and R. microplus occurred in high numbers. Rhipicephalus microplus had spread to Uganda, infesting half of the cattle sampled. Rhipicephalus microplus is known for its invasive behaviour and displacement of other blue tick species, as observed in other East and West African countries. Individual cattle with higher body weights, as well as males, were more likely to be infested. For six tick species, we found reduced infestation levels when hosts were treated with anti-parasiticides. CONCLUSIONS : These baseline data allow the determination of possible changes in presence and prevalence of ticks in each of the countries targeted, which is of importance in the light of human-caused climate and habitat alterations or anthropogenic activities. As many of the ticks in this study are vectors of important pathogens, but also, as cattle may act as end hosts for ticks of importance to human health, our study will help a wide range of stakeholders to provide recommendations for tick infestation surveillance and prevention.The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.comhj2024Veterinary Tropical DiseasesSDG-02:Zero Hunge

West African Cattle Farmers’ Perception of Tick-Borne Diseases

Worldwide, cattle production is struggling to face the negative impacts caused by ticks and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is one of the most harmful ticks for livestock. Most of the people in West Africa depend on cattle farming and subsistence agriculture. The presence of ticks on cattle is a major problem faced by smallholder farmers who fight for their livelihood. National and regional tick control programs could assist these rural communities in protecting their livelihoods against ticks and tick-borne diseases, but only if they take into account the targeted herders and their perception on cattle management and tick control. This paper aims to provide a better insight in the socio-economic characteristics of Beninese cattle farmers, and their perception on tick burden, as well as to document common tick control strategies. Different tick species and their seasonality are well understood by cattle herders. For tick control, many still use manual tick removal, especially in the north of the country. The high cost of acaricides, the lack of financial means of African farmers, and of the local stockbreeders in particular, limits the use of acaricides in livestock breeding in Benin. While aiming to increase the meat or milk production of their animals, stockbreeders who can afford it sometimes turn to an abusive use of acaricides, which might in time lead to an increase in tick resistance. This study remains one of the rare studies to report extensively on the perceptions of West African cattle herders