Genetic profiles of Schistosoma haematobium parasites from Malian transmission hotspot areas

BACKGROUND

Although schistosomiasis is a public health issue in Mali, little is known about the parasite genetic profile. The purpose of this study was to analyze the genetic profile of the schistosomes of Schistosoma haematobium group in school-aged children in various sites in Mali.

METHODS

Urine samples were collected from 7 to 21 November 2021 and subjected to a filtration method for the presence S. haematobium eggs. The study took place in two schistosomiasis endemic villages (Fangouné Bamanan and Diakalèl), qualified as hotspots according to the World Health Organization (WHO) definition. Molecular genotyping on both Cox1 and ITS2/18S was used for eggs' taxonomic assignation.

RESULTS

A total of 970 miracidia were individually collected from 63 school-aged children and stored on Whatman FTA cards for molecular analysis. After genotyping 42.0% (353/840) and 58.0% (487/840) of miracidia revealed Schistosoma bovis and S. haematobium Cox1 profiles, respectively; 95.7 (885/925) and 4.3% (40/925) revealed S. haematobium and S. haematobium/S. curassoni profiles for ITS/18S genes, respectively. There was a significant difference in the Cox1 and ITS2/18S profile distribution according to the village (P < 0.0001). Overall, 45.6% (360/789) were hybrids, of which 72.0% (322/447) were from Diakalèl. Three hybrids' profiles (Sb/Sc_ShxSc with 2.3%; Sb/Sc_ShxSh with 40.5%; Sh_ShxSc with 2.8%) and one pure profile (Sh_ShxSh with 54.4%) were identified.

CONCLUSION

Our findings show, for the first time to our knowledge, high prevalence of hybrid schistosomes in Mali. More studies are needed on population genetics of schistosomes at the human and animal interface to evaluate the parasite's gene flow and its consequences on epidemiology of the disease as well as the transmission to humans.

Ultrasound aspects and risk factors associated with urogenital schistosomiasis among primary school children in Mali

BACKGROUND

Urogenital schistosomiasis is endemic in Mali and is a major cause of serious morbidity in large parts of the world. This disease is responsible for many socio-economic and public health issues. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the disease on morbidity and to describe demographic and socioeconomic factors in relation to the status of children with urogenital schistosomiasis in Mali.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study in November 2021 of 971 children aged 6 to 14 years selected at random from six schools in three districts in the Kayes Region of Mali. Demographic and socioeconomic data were collected on survey forms. Clinical data were collected following a medical consultation. Hematuria was systematically searched for through the use of strips. The search for Schistosoma haematobium eggs in urine was done via the filtration method. The urinary tract was examined by ultrasound. Associations between each of these variables and disease infection were tested using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis detected was 50.2%. The average intensity of infection was 36 eggs/10 ml of urine. The associated risk factors for urogenital schistosomiasis showed that children who bathed, used the river/pond as a domestic water source, and who habitually urinated in the river/pond were more affected (P < 0.05). Children with farming parents were most affected (P = 0.032). The collection of clinical signs revealed that boys had more pollakiuria (58.6%) and dysuria (46.4%) than girls. Ultrasound data showed that focal lesion rates were recorded in all villages with the lowest rate in Diakalel (56.1%). Ultrasound and parasitological findings showed that irregularity and thickening were strongly associated with urinary schistosomiasis (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Schistosoma haematobium infection was still endemic in the study site despite more than a decade of mass treatment with praziquantel. However, the high percentage of symptoms associated with high intensity reinforces the idea that further studies in terms of schistosomiasis-related morbidity are still needed.

[Health care-associated infections in teaching hospital Gabriel TOURE]

OBJECTIVES

To study health care-associated infections (HCAI) in teaching hospital Gabriel TOURE.

METHODOLOGY

This was a prospective study of 6 months (from April to September 2016) which included patients admitted to the General Surgery Department, operated or not, except those who had undergone a necrosectomy. The criteria used for the diagnosis of the infection were those of the CDC of Atlanta.

RESULTS

A total of 200 patients were included in the study. Twenty one patients developed IAS that is a frequency of 10.5%. There were 11 men and 10 women with a mean age of 37.7 years with a standard deviation of 17.6 years. Surgical site infection was the most common HCAI (77.3%) followed by urinary tract infection (13.6%) and burn infection (9.1%). The influencing factors were those related to the patients (nutritional status p = 0.004, anemia RR = 3.1 IC p = 0.003 and diabetes), those related to the surgical intervention (the duration of the intervention ≥ 2H, p = 0,0001, the Altemeier class 3 and 4, RR = 4.24, IC p = 0.005, the number of interveners in the blocks ≥7, p = 0.000, the NNISS score 1 and 2 p = 0.0009), invasive procedures (bladder catheter ≥ 4 days p = 0.0000). Escherichia coli was the most isolated microorganism (31.2%) followed by Klebsiella pneumonia and A baumannii (18.7%). The treatment was local (twice-daily dressing with antiseptics), surgical (necrosectomy 16% and re-intervention 10%) and general (adapted to the antibiogram). The consequences of HCAI were an extension of total hospital stay (greater than 7 days) with p = 0.0000, morbidity 3% and mortality 5%.

CONCLUSION

HCAI remains a concern in our country and globally. They prolong the hospital stay. The implementation of a prevention, control and surveillance program will improve the quality of care by significantly reducing HCAI.

On-farm development and testing of IPM packages for control of sorghum head-bugs in Mali

Improved caudatum sorghum cultivars have spread since their introduction in the late nineteen-eighties in the Kolokani area, Mali, being cultivated at the turn of the millennium by many farmers over hundred villages, under the name "Gadiabani". Being compact-panicled, these varieties are prone to damage by the panicle-feeding bug Eurystylus oldi. On-farm trials were conducted in 1998 and 1999 in respectively five and 16 villages of this area, to establish the status of castor bean (Ricinus communis) as a source of sorghum infestation by E. oldi, and evaluate the management of this alternate host plant, in combination with sowing date manipulation and use of host plant resistance, as potential control options for this pest. Experimental designs were split-plots with three factors. Both years, eight sorghum cultivars were planted in two dates (DOS). The third factor studied was vicinity with castor in 1998, and castor management in 1999. There were five replicates in 1998, and three in 1999. Head-bug numbers were recorded on maturing grains, and head-bug damage was visually rated at grain maturity. In 1998, infestation and damage by head-bugs on sorghum panicles in trials located close to castor plants were significantly higher than on those with no castor in their vicinity. In 1999, castor management either by insecticidal treatment or physical removal of flowering castor spikes on plants neighboring test plots, immediately before sorghum flowering, significantly reduced E. oldi populations on sorghum panicles. In both years, the effect of sowing date was not significant on head-bug population, while in 1998, head-bug damage scores were significantly higher on DOS1 than on DOS2. In 1998, the genotypic effect was significant for both parameters, the hybrid ICSH 89002 being the most infested and damaged genotype, while Malisor 84-7 and 94-EPRS-GII-1122 were respectively the less infested and the less damaged. In 1999, the genotypic effect was also significant, local guinea and head-bug resistant controls Bibalawili and Malisor 84-7 being the less infested cultivars, compared to ICSH 89002, ICSV 1063, Gadiabani and ICSV 1079, which suffered severe infestation, while 87W810 and 94-EPRS-GII-1122 had an intermediate ranking. These results definitely demonstrate the role played by castor as a significant source of sorghum infestation by head-bugs, and the prospect for reducing both infestation and damage, by management of this alternate host, in conjunction with use of host plant resistance and to a lesser extent planting date manipulation, in IPM programs.