African Journal of Parasitology Research

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2343-6549 Vol. 7 (2), pp. 001-007, February, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Feeding habits of culicine mosquitoes in the Cameroon lowland forests based on stable isotopes and blood meal analyses

Kevin Yana Njabo¹*, Thomas B Smith^1,2 and Elizabeth Yohannes³

¹Center for Tropical Research UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, Los Angeles CA USA.

²Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.

³University of Constance, Limnological Institute, Stable Isotope Laboratory,Mainaustr 252, D-78464, Germany.

Accepted 10 November, 2019

Abstract

Mosquito blood feeding behavior is a very significant component of pathogen transmission and determinant of disease epidemiology. Yet, knowledge of foraging ecology of mosquitoes often depends on the presence of undigested blood in the mosquito mid gut. Approximately 36 h after feeding, the blood meal is sufficiently digested to make identification by molecular techniques difficult, leaving a very narrow window in which these methods can be utilized. Here, we investigated the feeding habits of wild caught culicine mosquitoes from four genera, Aedes, Anopheles, Coquillettidia and Mansonia of the lowland rainforests of Cameroon based on the isotopic ratios of nitrogen (δ¹⁵N), carbon (δ¹³C) and sulfur (δ³⁴S). Results showed that unfed mosquitoes had a lower δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N and middle δ³⁴S values than mosquitoes fed with δ¹³C appearing to be the best element to differentiate between mosquito species that fed on different host species. Isotopic analyses show that the different mosquito genera may be separated based on their diets, suggesting that linking stable isotope-based assays and DNA analysis may be a powerful new tool to investigate mosquito feeding ecology and the dynamics of vector-borne pathogens.

Key words: Carbon (δ¹³C), nitrogen (δ¹⁵N), sulfur (δ³⁴S), isotope, feeding habits, mosquitoes, polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2343-6549 Vol. 7 (2), pp. 001-005, February, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Key words: Malaria, prevalence, pregnancy, women.

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2343-6549 Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-009, January, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Relationship between the presence of kdr and Ace-1 mutations and the infection with Plasmodium falciparum in Anopheles gambiae s.s. in Benin

Razaki Ossè^1,2*, Virgile Gnanguenon¹, Michel Sèzonlin ², Rock Aïkpon^1,2, Gil Padonou^1,2, Anges Yadouléton¹ and Martin C. Akogbéto^1,2

¹Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou (CREC), Cotonou, Benin.

²Faculte des Sciences et Techniques de l’Université d’Abomey Calavi, Benin.

Accepted 14 November, 2019

Abstract

Several published reports have been devoted to insecticide resistance in Anopheles gambiae in Africa. However, there are still not enough published reports about the impact of insecticide resistance on malaria transmission. In this study, we proposed to investigate the presence of the circum-sporozoite antigen of Plasmodium falciparum in A. gambiae carrying kdr and Ace-1 genes. A. gambiae (3,112) were analyzed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), circum-sporozoite protein (CSP) test. The DNA from these samples was extracted and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using kdr and Ace-1 markers. We used Chi-square statistical test to determine the relationship between the resistance genotypes and the rates of infections with P. falciparum. The results showed that the kdr allele was found at a very high frequency (0.80 on average) in the 14 populations of A. gambiae s.s. sampled inspite of their molecular forms (M or S). The Ace-1 gene was also observed in some localities, but at a low frequency (0.3 on average). The ELISA-CSP tests performed on parous females carrying the kdr gene showed that there was no significant difference between the allele frequencies of infected and non-infected females. kdr and Ace-1 resistance genes did not affect the A. gambiae s.s. infection with P. falciparum.

Key words: Resistance, mutation, P. falciparum, circum-sporozoite protein (CSP).

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2343-6549 Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-007, January, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Seroprevalence and risk factors of neosporosis in women attending antenatal care and in domestic carnivores in Dakar city, Senegal

COULIBALY Fatoumata¹, NDIAYE Jean Louis^2*, NDOUR Andree Prisca³, Aka N’da A; David⁴  KONE S. Philippe³, ADJE Koffi Jean François³,  ALLANONTO Victor³, TOMO Effoua Natacha³, KAMGA-WALADJO Alain³, GBATI Oubri Bassa³, BAKOU Serge N.⁵, BONFOH Bassirou⁶

¹University Peleforo Gon Coulibaly – Ivory Coast; ²University of Thies Senegal; ³EISMV: Inter-State School of Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Dakar-Senegal; ⁴University Felix-Houphouët-Boigny-Ivory Coast; ⁵University Nagui Abrogua Ivory Coast; ⁶AfriqueOne / CSRS - Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Accepted 19 December, 2019

Abstract 

The objective of the study was to estimate the seroprevalence of neosporosis due to Neospora caninum as well as the associated risk factors in women attending antenatal consultations and in domestic carnivore in the Dakar region, Senegal. For this purpose, 100 blood samples among women in Ante Natal Clinics (ANC), 141 in the dog’s group, and 113 among the  cats were collected and were examined by using ELISA. Regarding risk factors acquisition, a questionnaire was associated with each sample, and obtained data were compiled. The R Commander software was used for statistical analysis. In women attending ANC, overall seroprevalence rate was 17 ± 7.3%. Forty-three percent (43%) had reported an abortion and 14% of them were positive of neosporosis. In multivariate analysis, only the consumption of grilled meat predisposed to neosporosis (OR = 3.38 and p = 0.021). Among the animals’ group, the serological test showed a prevalence rate of 42.55 ± 8% in dogs and 60.1 ± 9% in cat’s groups. More research on Neospora caninum need to be explored and its relationships with pregnant women particularly those with repetitive miscarriages.

Keywords: Neosporosis, seroprevalence, risk factors, pregnant women, domestic carnivores, Senegal.

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2343-6549 Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-006, January, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni and effectiveness of Praziquantel in school children in Finchaa valley, Ethiopia

Samuel Haile¹* Lemu Golassa² and Zeleke Mekonnen²

¹College of Natural and Computational Science, Haramaya University, P. O. Box, 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.

²Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and Pathology, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, P. O. Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia.

Accepted 06 November, 2019

Abstract

Schistosomiasis remains one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases in the world. Approximately 80% of the estimated 200 million people infected annually world-wide live in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia where Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium are widespread. Recently, Praziquantel has been reported to show low cure rates in different parts of the word. Since it is the only drug for treatment of schistosomiasis in Ethiopia, there is a need to periodically evaluate its efficacy in different geographic settings. To determine prevalence and evaluate the effectiveness of Praziquantel against S. mansoni, a cross-sectional parasitological survey was conducted in Finchaa Sholoko Elementary School, followed by a non-randomized trial. Students who tested positive for intestinal schistosomiasis and fulfilling the criteria set were invited to take part in the efficacy study. Positive students were treated with 40 mg/kg of Praziquantel. Cure and egg reduction rate were evaluated four weeks after treatment through fecal egg count by two Kato-Katz assays on two consecutive days. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Prevalence of S. mansoni was 67.6%. From the children who completed the study (n=204), parasitological cure rate and egg reduction rate were 80.9 and 99.51%, respectively. There was a significant association between cure rate and pre-treatment infection intensity (P < 0.05), but there was no significant association observed between cure rate and age groups (P > 0.05). Praziquantel in a single dose of 40 mg/kg body weight remains efficacious despite prolonged use of the drug. However, further studies in other endemic settings including other community groups are needed.

Key words: Schistosomiasis, Schistosoma mansoni, Praziquantel, cure rate, infection intensity, Kato-Katz, effectiveness.

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2343-6549 Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Epidemiology of haemonchosis in sheep and goats in Benin

Sabbas ATTINDEHOU¹*, Sahidou SALIFOU², Cyprien Félix BIAOU², Oubri Bassa GBATI³, Mama ADAMOU-N’DIAYE¹ and Louis Joseph PANGUI³

¹Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi. 01 P. O. Box 526 Cotonou, Benin.

²Laboratory of Research in Applied Biology (LARBA), UAC. 01 P. O. Box 2009 Cotonou, Benin.

³Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology of E.I.S.M.V Dakar. P. O. Box 5077 Dakar-Fann, Senegal.

Accepted 12 October, 2019

Abstract

A helminthological study was carried out from December 2010 to November 2011 in order to establish the epidemiology of Haemonchus contortus infections in small ruminants of Benin. A total of 756 abomasums, collected from randomly selected goats and sheep from all regions of Benin has been examined. An examination of the conjunctiva’s colour has been associated with parasitic diagnosis to assess the degree of anaemia in animals. The study disclosed an endemic evolution of haemonchosis. The overall prevalence was of 55.56% (SD= 0.50) with a mean burden of 175 worms per infested animal. No significant influence could be attributed to host’s species or age. The season has been a significant variation factor (p< 0.001). The prevalence of haemonchosis was higher in wet seasons (79.41% ± 0.40) than in dry (36.06 ± 0.48 %). The worm’s burden was also higher in rainy seasons than dry. Elsewhere, a strong correlation (p<0.001) was found between the conjunctiva colour and the worm burden but with a reverse influence of the season. In rainy seasons, degrees of anaemia have been low even though worm burdens were high. Inversely, moderate worm burdens induced detectable anaemia during dry seasons.

Key words: Haemonchus contortus, epidemiology, goats, sheep, Benin.