Les Organisations de la Société Civile et la Lutte Contre la Pauvreté en Afrique Subsaharienne

The paper presents the role played by civil society organisations to bring down the poverty

Multiple insecticide resistance in an infected population of the malaria vector Anopheles funestus in Benin.

BACKGROUND Knowledge on the spread and distribution of insecticide resistance in major malaria vectors such as Anopheles funestus is key to implement successful resistance management strategies across Africa. Here, by assessing the susceptibility status of an inland population of An. funestus Giles (Kpome) and investigating molecular basis of resistance, we show that multiple resistance and consistent plasmodium infection rate are present in Anopheles funestus populations from Kpome. METHODS The insecticide susceptibility level of collected Anopheles funestus was assessed. Synergist (PBO) was used to screen resistance mechanisms. The TaqMan technique was used for genotyping of insecticide resistant alleles and detecting plasmodium infection levels. The nested PCR was used to further assess the plasmodium infection rate. RESULTS The TaqMan analysis of plasmodial infections revealed an infection rate (18.2 %) of An. funestus in this locality. The WHO bioassays revealed a multiple phenotypic resistance profile for An. funestus in Kpome. This population is highly resistant to pyrethroids (permethrin and deltamethrin), organochlorines (DDT), and carbamates (bendiocarb). A reduced susceptibility was observed with dieldrin. Mortalities did not vary after pre-exposure to PBO for DDT indicating that cytochrome P450s play little role in DDT resistance in Kpome. In contrast, we noticed, a significant increase in mortalities when PBO was combined to permethrin suggesting the direct involvement of P450s in pyrethroid resistance. A high frequency of the L119F-GSTe2 DDT resistance marker was observed in the wild DDT resistant population (9 %RS and 91 %RR) whereas the A296S mutation was detected at a low frequency (1 %RS and 99 %SS). CONCLUSION The presence of multiple resistance in An. funestus populations in the inland locality of Kpome is established in this study as recently documented in the costal locality of Pahou. Data from both localities suggest that resistance could be widespread in Benin and this highlights the need for further studies to assess the geographical distribution of insecticide resistance across Benin and neighboring countries as well as a more comprehensive analysis of the resistance mechanisms involved

Etat nutritionnel des enfants de moins de 5 ans reçus à l’Unité de Vaccination du Centre de Santé de Hounsouko à Porto-Novo (Sud du Bénin)

La malnutrition constitue un problème de santé publique dans les pays en développement. La fréquentation des enfants dans les services de vaccination est une opportunité pour apprécier leur état nutritionnel. Il était question dans cette étude, d’évaluer l’état nutritionnel des enfants de moins de 5 ans reçus à l’Unité de Vaccination du Centre de Santé de Hounsouko à Porto-Novo. Il s’agit d’une étude transversale à visée descriptive et analytique portée sur 350 enfants de 0 à 59 mois reçus dans ledit centre. Les données anthropométriques ont été collectées. A partir de ces données, ont été calculés les indices Poids-pour-Taille, Taille-pour-Age, Poids-pour-Age. Ces données ont été traitées et analysées par les logiciels WHO Anthro®. Il ressort des résultats que 7,4% des enfants étaient émaciés, 30,3% présentaient un retard de croissance et 12,3% avaient une insuffisance pondérale. Par contre, 45,9% des enfants présentaient une surcharge pondérale dont 11,7% d’obèses. Par ailleurs, la surcharge pondérale touchait 65% des enfants de moins 5 mois. Les courbes de distribution des enfants comparativement aux courbes de référence sont décalées vers la gauche pour P/A et T/A, et vers la droite pour P/T évoquant respectivement une tendance à un état de sous-nutrition et de surnutrition.© 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Mots clés: Bénin, état nutritionnel, émaciation, retard de croissance, insuffisance pondérale, double fardeau "malnutrition"English Title: Nutritional status of children under 5 years received Immunization Unit of the Health Center of Hounsouko in Porto-Novo (Benin Southern)English AbstractMalnutrition is a public health problem in developing countries. The attendance of children in immunization services is an opportunity to appreciate their nutritional status. At issue in this study to assess the nutritional status of children under 5 years received Immunization Unit of the Health Center of Hounsouko in Porto-Novo. This is a cross-sectional study descriptive and analytical scope covered 350 children aged 0 to 59 months received in said center. Anthropometric data were collected. From these data were calculated indices Weight for Height, Height-for-age, weight-for-age. These data were processed and analyzed by the WHO Anthro® software. The results show that 7.4% of children were emaciated, 30.3% were stunted and 12.3% were underweight. By cons, 45.9% of children were overweight with 11.7% obese. Furthermore, overweight touched 65% of children aged 5 months less. Distribution of children compared to reference curves are shifted to the left to P/A and T/A, and right for P/T respectively evoking a tendency to a state of under nutrition and over-nutrition.© 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Benin, nutritional status, wasting, stunting, underweight, double burden "malnutrition

Strong seedling recruitment does not limit mangrove vulnerability to harvest

Ecological studies on the impacts of timber harvesting contributed to inform sustainable management strategies of tropical forests. However, these studies rely strongly on two major assumptions: (i) strong seedlings recruitment predispose for positive population dynamics, and (ii) more adult trees is a guarantee for a strong reproductive capability of the population. These assumptions are applied without accounting for the life history of the harvested species. Here, we revisit these assumptions in light of the life history theory, which predicts different responses of short- and long-lived species to perturbation. We predict that harvesting adults, rather than reducing seedling recruitment of long-lived species, would have greater impact on population dynamics. We tested our prediction on three mangrove species in South Africa. First, we reconstructed the projection matrices for three mangrove species in the Mngazana Estuary of Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Next, we simulated a range of harvest intensities for different life stages and explored how harvesting influences population dynamics. Finally, we examined the age-specific mortality trajectories for all three species. We found that populations of all three species were closer to their stable stage distribution. Contrary to popular belief, we found that changes in seedling recruitment will have minimal effects on mangrove long-term population dynamics, a finding consistent with the life history theory. However, contrary to expectation, simulating harvest of adults had minimal effect on population dynamics. This is due to low reproductive values for these late stages. Our analysis of age-specific mortality trajectories further provided evidence for positive senescence particularly for Avicennia which was the least resilient to harvest. Our findings cast doubt on the traditional forest management strategies that rely strongly on seedling density as a metric of sustainability and forbid unquestionably harvesting large individuals. We call for caution while generalizing forest management strategies irrespective of the life history of the species at hand

A Model of Insulin Resistance in Mice, Born to Diabetic Pregnancy, Is Associated with Alterations of Transcription-Related Genes in Pancreas and Epididymal Adipose Tissue

Objective. This study is conducted on a model of insulin-resistant (IR) mice born to dams which were rendered diabetic by the administration of streptozotocin. Methods. Adult IR and control offspring were selected and we determined the mRNA expression of transcription factors known to modulate pancreatic and adipose tissue activities and inflammation. Results. We observed that serum insulin increased, and the mRNA of insulin gene transcription factors, Pdx-1, Nkx6.1 and Maf-A, were upregulated in IR mice pancreas. Besides, their pancreatic functional capacity seemed to be exhausted as evidenced by low expression of pancreatic Glut2 and glucokinase mRNA. Though IR offspring exhibited reduced epididymal adipose tissue, their adipocytes seemed to be differentiated into macrophage-like cells, as they exhibited upregulated CD14 and CD68 antigens, generally expressed by macrophages. However, there was no peripheral macrophages infiltration into epididymal adipose tissue, as the expression of F4/80, a true macrophage marker, was undetectable. Furthermore, the expression of IL-6, TNF-α and TLR-2, key players of insulin resistance, was upregulated in the adipose tissue of IR offspring. Conclusion. Insulin resistant state in mice, born to diabetic pregnancy, alters the expression of function-related genes in pancreas and epididymal adipose tissue and these offspring are prone to develop metabolic syndrome

An overview of anti-diabetic plants used in Gabon: Pharmacology and Toxicology

© 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Ethnopharmacological relevance: The management of diabetes mellitus management in African communities, especially in Gabon, is not well established as more than 60% of population rely on traditional treatments as primary healthcare. The aim of this review was to collect and present the scientific evidence for the use of medicinal plants that are in currect by Gabonese traditional healers to manage diabetes or hyperglycaemia based here on the pharmacological and toxicological profiles of plants with anti-diabetic activity. There are presented in order to promote their therapeutic value, ensure a safer use by population and provide some bases for further study on high potential plants reviewed. Materials and methods: Ethnobotanical studies were sourced using databases such as Online Wiley library, Pubmed, Google Scholar, PROTA, books and unpublished data including Ph.D. and Master thesis, African and Asian journals. Keywords including ‘Diabetes’ ‘Gabon’ ‘Toxicity’ ‘Constituents’ ‘hyperglycaemia’ were used. Results: A total of 69 plants currently used in Gabon with potential anti-diabetic activity have been identified in the literature, all of which have been used in in vivo or in vitro studies. Most of the plants have been studied in human or animal models for their ability to reduce blood glucose, stimulate insulin secretion or inhibit carbohydrates enzymes. Active substances have been identified in 12 out of 69 plants outlined in this review, these include Allium cepa and Tabernanthe iboga. Only eight plants have their active substances tested for anti-diabetic activity and are suitables for further investigation. Toxicological data is scarce and is dose-related to the functional parameters of major organs such as kidney and liver. Conclusion: An in-depth understanding on the pharmacology and toxicology of Gabonese anti-diabetic plants is lacking yet there is a great scope for new treatments. With further research, the use of Gabonese anti-diabetic plants is important to ensure the safety of the diabetic patients in Gabon.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Explaining the variation in impacts of non-native plants on local-scale species richness: the role of phylogenetic relatedness

Aim: To assess how the magnitude of impacts of non-native plants on species richness of resident plants and animals varies in relation to the traits and phylogenetic position of the non-native as well as characteristics of the invaded site.Location: Global.Methods: Meta-analysis and phylogenetic regressions based on 216 studies were used to examine the effects of 96 non-native plant species on species richness of resident plants and animals while considering differences in non-native species traits (life-form, clonality or vegetative reproduction, and nitrogen-fixing ability) and characteristics of the invaded site (ecosystem type, insularity and climatic region).Results: Plots with non-native plants had lower resident plant (–20.5%) and animal species richness (–26.4%) than paired uninvaded control plots. Nitrogen-fixing ability, followed by phylogeny and clonality were the best predictors of the magnitude of impacts of non-native plants on native plant species richness. Non-nitrogen-fixing and clonal non-native plants reduced species richness more than nitrogen-fixing and non-clonal invaders. However, life-form and characteristics of the invaded sites did not appear to be important. In the case of resident animal species richness, only the phylogenetic position of the non-native and whether invaded sites were islands or not influenced impacts, with a more pronounced decrease found on islands than mainlands.Main conclusions: The presence of a phylogenetic signal on the magnitude of the impacts of non-native plants on resident plant and animal richness indicates that closely related non-native plants tend to have similar impacts. This suggests that the magnitude of the impact might depend on shared plant traits not explored in our study. Our results therefore support the need to include the phylogenetic similarity of non-native plants to known invaders in risk assessment analysis