Côte d'Ivoire Dual Burden of Disease (CoDuBu): Study Protocol to Investigate the Co-occurrence of Chronic Infections and Noncommunicable Diseases in Rural Settings of Epidemiological Transition

BACKGROUND

Individual-level concomitance of infectious diseases and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is poorly studied, despite the reality of this dual disease burden for many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

OBJECTIVE

This study protocol describes the implementation of a cohort and biobank aiming for a better understanding of interrelation of helminth and Plasmodium infections with NCD phenotypes like metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and diabetes.

METHODS

A baseline cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted over one year, in the Taabo health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) in south-central Côte d'Ivoire. We randomly identified 1020 consenting participants aged ≥18 years in three communities (Taabo-Cité, Amani-Ménou, and Tokohiri) reflecting varying stages of epidemiological transition. Participants underwent health examinations consisting of NCD phenotyping (anthropometry, blood pressure, renal function, glycemia, and lipids) and infectious disease testing (infections with soil-transmitted helminths, schistosomes, and Plasmodium). Individuals identified to have elevated blood pressure, glucose, lipids, or with infections were referred to the central/national health center for diagnostic confirmation and treatment. Aliquots of urine, stool, and venous blood were stored in a biobank for future exposome/phenome research. In-person interviews on sociodemographic attributes, risk factors for infectious diseases and NCDs, medication, vaccinations, and health care were also conducted. Appropriate statistical techniques will be applied in exploring the concomitance of infectious diseases and NCDs and their determinants. Participants' consent for follow-up contact was obtained.

RESULTS

Key results from this baseline study, which will be published in peer-reviewed literature, will provide information on the prevalence and co-occurrence of infectious diseases, NCDs, and their risk factors. The Taabo HDSS consists of rural and somewhat more urbanized areas, allowing for comparative studies at different levels of epidemiological transition. An HDSS setting is ideal as a basis for longitudinal studies since their sustainable field work teams hold close contact with the local population.

CONCLUSIONS

The collaboration between research institutions, public health organizations, health care providers, and staff from the Taabo HDSS in this study assures that the synthesized evidence will feed into health policy towards integrated infectious disease-NCD management. The preparation of health systems for the dual burden of disease is pressing in low- and middle-income countries. The established biobank will strengthen the local research capacity and offer opportunities for biomarker studies to deepen the understanding of the cross-talk between infectious diseases and NCDs.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

International Standard Randomized Controlled Trials Number (ISRCTN): 87099939; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN87099939 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6uLEs1EsX).

Proximal composition and fatty acid profile of Hemigrapsus crenulatus (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) as one of the main foods of "patagonian blenny"Eleginops maclovinus (Cuvier, 1830)

The Patagonian blenny (Eleginops maclovinus) is species endemic to South America with physiological characteristics that would facilitate its incorporation into Chilean aquaculture. However, there is currently no specific artificial food that can be used to raise E. maclovinus. In light of this problem, this study describes the proximal composition and fatty acid profile of the crab Hemigrapsus crenulatus, one of the main foods of E. maclovinus. The purpose of the study is to serve as basic information for the development of a specific artificial diet for juveniles of this fish species. The proximal analysis of the complete body of H. crenulatus indicates that it is mainly composed of ash (35.9%), proteins (32.2%), glucides (19.8%) and minor lipids (3.6%). The fatty acid profile is 40.7% PUFAs, 29.7% MUFAs and 29.5% SAFAs, and the most abundant acids are Eicosapentaenoic (18.8%), Oleic (6.8%) and Palmitic (16.6%), respectively. H. crenulatus has highest level of proteins, lipids and PUFAs among the species of the Brachyura infraorder.

Benthic community ecology for Algerian river Seybouse

Abstract The Seybouse is the second largest river basin in Algeria, hosting an important biodiversity and providing various ecosystem services. This watershed is highly influenced by agricultural and industrial activities, which threaten its biodiversity and ecosystem integrity. The use of benthic macroinvertebrates as biological indicators has a long tradition in developed countries and integrated into all assessments of the ecological quality of river systems. However, the macroinvertebrates of many North African regions are still not well studied, including those of the Seybouse river. The aim of this study is to assess the inventory and ecological role of benthic macroinvertebrates in inland waters of the Seybouse River and determine the impact of pollution on their spatial distributions. We sampled the benthic macrofauna of Wadi Seybouse and its affluents using regular surveys in three sites, of which one was in the upper Seybouse Bouhamdane in Medjez Amar and two in the middle Seybouse. Between December 2019 and May 2020, 10 physico-chemical parameters (pH, EC, OD, water speed, NO3, Salinity, NO2, MES, turbidity, depth) were measured in order to establish a health state diagnosis of these aquatic ecosystems. The complementary biological approach by the analysis of populations of macroinvertebrates identified 7482 individuals and 40 taxa divided into five classes: Crustaceans which were the most dominant, insects with the main orders (Ephemeroptera, Diptera, Trichoptera, Heteroptera and Odonata), Molluscs, Nematodes and Annelids. The physico-chemical analyzes and the application of the organic pollution indices indicated a strong to excessive pollution for all sites, especially in Seybouse upstream

Spatial distribution of Echinolitorina peruviana (Lamarck, 1882) for intertidal rocky shore in Antofagasta (23° S, Chile)

The intertidal rocky shores in continental Chile have high species diversity mainly in northern Chile (18-27° S), and one of the most widespread species is the gastropod Echinolittorina peruviana (Lamarck, 1822). The aim of the present study is do a first characterization of spatial distribution of E. peruviana in along rocky shore in Antofagasta town in northern Chile. Individuals were counted in nine different sites that also were determined their spectral properties using remote sensing techniques (LANDSAT ETM+). The results revealed that sites without marked human intervention have more abundant in comparison to sites located in the town, also in all studied sites was found an aggregated pattern, and in six of these sites were found a negative binomial distribution. The low density related to sites with human intervention is supported when spectral properties for sites were included. These results would agree with other similar results for rocky shore in northern and southern Chile.

Ecological structure of aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in the Hauts Plateaux of Northeast Algeria

Aquatic macroinvertebrates are integral parts of functioning wetlands, inhabiting a diversity of aquatic ecosystems where communities are spatially structured. Macroinvertebrates of some Mediterranean regions such as North Africa are still not well studied. Here, we study the community structure of benthic macroinvertebrates in four different types of lotic and lentic wetlands in the semiarid Haut Plateaux of Northeast Algeria. Macroinvertebrates and 06 physicochemical parameters were sampled in 12 sites belonging to four types of habitats (lotic river, lentic river, dams, and sebkha [saline lentic water body]) during January-December 2021. Eventually, the character lentic-lotic was the most important variable affecting the affecting invertebrate communities in the Mediterranean region. The results revealed that sebkha and dams had a lower Shannon index than lentic and lotic rivers. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis showed a strong overlap between the community composition in lotic and lentic sites . Howeverin the three types of aquatic groups lentic river, dam and lotic habitats showed a strong overlap between the community whereas sebkha was markedly separated. Redundancy analysis showed that water velocity and pH, were the main drivers of community structure of macroinvertebrates, revealed a strong effect with pH (F1,8=4.15, P = 0.001) and water velocity (F1,8= 3.22, P = 0.002) , separating lotic communities from those that inhabited dams, lentic rivers, and sebkhas. As conclusion, this study contributes to the better understanding of the community structure of macroinvertebrates in semiarid North Africa where wetlands have been experiencing high anthropogenic disturbance.