PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L Konate

Publications and source records attributed to L Konate.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

[Impact of the use of permethrin pre-impregnated mosquito nets on malaria transmission in a hyperendemic village of Senegal].

The efficacy of permethrin-treated bednets was evaluated in Wassadou, a hyperendemic village located in the Sudanese grasslands of southeast Senegal. Pretreatment data were collected between 1992 and 1993. Bednets were distributed to the whole population in June 1995 and impact of their use on vector populations and malaria transmission was evaluated until November 1995. This period corresponds to the rainy season during which malaria transmission is highest. Data were compared with a control village in which bednets were not distributed. Findings showed that use of bednets led to a sharp decrease in the density of the vector population and malaria transmission. The number of bites by Anopheles gambiae s.1. decreased 69%. The density of blood-laden and pregnant females inside dwellings decreased 91% and 96% respectively. The sporozoite index of females captured on the skin decreased 76% and the daily rate of entomological inoculation decreased 88%. This impact was not great enough to eliminate the risk of infection. Prolonged study over a period of 4 to 5 years is needed to evaluate the impact of long-term use of insecticide-treated bednets on vector population and malaria transmission.

Animals↗

[Malaria in the southern sanitary district of Dakar (Senegal). 1. Parasitemia and malarial attacks].

A survey of endemic malaria in Dakar was carried out in the southern sanitary district covering the city centre and neighbouring areas. The survey was scheduled from June 1994 to May 1995 in 12 sites distant from each other by 1000 to 1500 meters. Clinical and parasitological data were collected during weekly medical follow-ups at the patients' home with the systematic research of Plasmodium once a month. The study included 2,337 persons aged between 1 month and 88 years and belonging to 284 volunteer resident families. Through monthly parasitological examinations, a parasite rate (P.R.) of 0.3% and a gametocyte rate (G.R.) of 0.005% were recorded. Only Plasmodium falciparum was observed. The P.R. varied according to age: from 0.1% in the children under 2 years to 0.7% in the young adults (15-20 years) who appeared significantly more affected than the other age groups, including that of children from 2 to 9 years, of whom only 0.3% were infected by the parasite. The P.R. varied also according to the site surveyed: from 0% in the city centre to 1.3% at the periphery of the sanitary district and according to the time of year, reaching its height of 0.8%, between October and December, that is just after the rainy season. At the end of the year of survey, 929 among those surveyed were considered to have been satisfactorily followed. Their annual incidence rate was 2.4% for the parasitemia and of 1.5% for the malaria attacks. None of the participants aged under 2 years had the parasite. Among the others, the annual incidence rate varied according to the age--although not significantly--passing from 1.1% to 5.3% for parasitemia and from 0.4% to 3.0% for malaria attacks. Theses rates did not differ significantly according to site; the cases registered varied between 1% and 8% for parasitemia and 1% and 5.8% for malaria attacks. Only 10.6% of febrile subjects suffered from malaria attacks, but this rate seemed to go up between October to December, rising to 26.6% which corresponds to 1 case of malaria attacks for 4 cases of hyperthermia in that period. Weak density of Anopheline population and satisfactory medical surveillance explain the recorded results.

Adolescent↗

[Malaria in the southern sanitary district of Dakar (Senegal). 2. Entomologic data].

To complete a parasitological survey, entomological prospections were carried out in the southern sanitary District of Dakar, the most urbanized of the city and which includes the city centre and the oldest administrative districts. The prospections took place between June 1994 and May 1995 in sites 1.5 km apart, and distributed in such a manner that they covered the entire area. On a monthly basis, female Culicidae were collected in each site at night on human volunteers, followed the next day by the collection of early morning residual fauna in 10 bedrooms located in district concessions. For a total of 308 collections at night on human volunteers and from 1,510 rooms for the residual fauna, 22,901 female Culicidae were caught of which 167 anopheles, corresponding to 0.7%, the remaining 98.5% being Culex quinquefasciatus. This was the species that thus explained the mosquito-nuisance of which the inhabitants of the southern District complained during the period of survey. The female anopheles collected belonged to 2 species, An. arabiensis for 97.6% of those caught and An. pharoensis for 2.4%. An. arabiensis were very slightly represented in the southern District with a density of aggressive females of 0.26 bite/man/night (B/M/N) and a density per room of 0.05 female. The aggressive populations appeared to be relatively important only at the end of the rainy season (September-October) with an average of 0.65 B/M/N in sites located at the periphery of the district with a maximum of 1.33 B/M/N. The highest density of endophilic females registered at the end of the rainy season was 0.1 and its highest value in a given site was 0.36 female/room. The parturity rate of aggressive females was 43.5% and those collected in houses of 84% with an anthropophilic index of 0.98. None of the dissected An. arabiensis females (77.3% of those collected) was a carrier of Plasmodium sporozoites and the circum-sporozoite antigen was not found. A very weak density of An. arabiensis and absence of plasmodial infection among dissected females favoured the absence of malarial transmission in the southern District for the period considered. However malaria transmission could not be absolutely ruled out given the presence of hematozoa carriers, as was revealed by the longitudinal follow-up of a cohort carried out concurrently with the entomological prospections of whom some were residents having declared permanent residence in the city for over two years. This entomological data explain the results of the afore mentioned parasitological survey which, with a registered plasmodic index of 0.3%, means that the southern District can be considered as non endemic. The area is however exposed to the risk of epidemic malaria following an important proliferation of anopheles, which is always possible after heavy rains and flooding and/or an important immigration of persons coming from regions of high malarial endemicity.

Animals↗

Indoor resting by outdoor biting females of Anopheles gambiae complex (Diptera:Culicidae) in the Sahel of northern Senegal.

Three villages in the Senegal River basin were selected to study the biting and resting behavior of Anopheles gambiae s.l. in relation to human habits, rainfalls, and rice culture irrigation. All inhabitants sleep outside throughout the year, mainly under poor quality bednets. Mosquitoes were collected host-seeking during the night on human bait outside and resting during the day inside and outside in pit shelters. An. gambiae s.s. and An. arabiensis fed mainly outside, the only place where hosts are available; fed and gravid females resting indoors fed outside. The proportions of An. gambiae s.s. and An. arabiensis in outdoor biting catches and in indoor spray catches were not significantly different, but they differed from year to year with the latter sampling method, An. gambiae s.s. predominated in 1990, a more wet and humid year, whereas An. arabiensis was more common in 1991, which was an arid year. Both species are highly endophilic in this arid area where outdoor-resting places are limited.

Animals↗

High annual and seasonal variations in malaria transmission by anophelines and vector species composition in Dielmo, a holoendemic area in Senegal.

We conducted a three-year entomologic study in Dielmo, a village of 250 inhabitants in a holoendemic area for malaria in Senegal. Anophelines were captured on human bait and by pyrethrum spray collections. The mosquitoes belonging to the Anopheles gambiae complex were identified using the polymerase chain reaction. Malaria vectors captured were An. funestus, An. arabiensis, and An. gambiae. Anopheles funestus was the most abundant mosquito captured the first year, An. arabiensis in the following years. The annual entomologic inoculation rates calculated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were 238, 89, and 150 for the first, second, and third years, respectively. Each year there was a peak of transmission at the end of the rainy season, but transmission occurred year round. The heterogeneity of transmission was found at four different levels: 1) the relative vector proportion according to the place and method of capture, 2) the human biting rate and relative proportion of vectors by month and year, 3) the infection rate of each vector by year, and 4) the number of infected bites for all vectors, and for each species, for the year. Our data show that even in areas of intense and perennial transmission, there exist large longitudinal variations and strong heterogeneity in entomologic parameters of malaria transmission. It is important to take these into account for the study of the variations in clinical and biological parameters of human malaria, and to evaluate this relationship, a very thorough investigation of transmission is necessary.

Animals↗

Different genetic characteristics of Plasmodium falciparum isolates collected during successive clinical malaria episodes in Senegalese children.

A narrow epidemiologic survey was conducted during a four-month period of intense malaria transmission in Dielmo, a holoendemic Senegalese village. Longitudinal clinical and parasitologic follow-up indicate that clinical malaria episodes always occurred after an abrupt increase in parasite densities. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of Plasmodium falciparum parasites was carried out in blood samples collected longitudinally from 10 children who had experienced several clinical episodes during this period. Our data show that the genetic diversity of the parasites circulating in this village is very large. The successive clinical episodes experienced by each child were caused by genetically distinct parasite populations that were recently inoculated and multiplied in an apparently unrestricted manner. Importantly, the genetic characteristics of the parasite populations detected during phases of asymptomatic carriage differed from those causing a clinical episode, suggesting that the various factors that control of parasite growth in these children are strain-specific.

Animals↗

[The utilization of molecular biological tools in the study of malaria transmission: example of programs conducted in Senegal].

Some informations about malaria transmission, which has until nox difficult to get, can be obtained thanks to the use of molecular biology tools, PCR mainly. In Senegal, we use that technique to solve two kinds of problems: -Identification of species of the Anopheles gambiae complex: PCR technique is useful compared to other diagnostic methods (chromosome pattern, DNA probes, etc.) because it enables quickly and simply identification of captured anopheles from the DNA contained in their legs. The rest of the mosquito is tested by circumsporozoite protein antigen ELISA and blood meal ELISA. The data obtained are used to determine distribution, cycles, trophic preferences and comparative vectorial capacities of Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles melas. -Identification in a mosquito blood meal of the individual bitten: we propose to evaluate factors (weight, age, sex, location of bedroom, etc.) which could explain why individuals are more, or less, bitten by a Plasmodium vector. Genetic typing is used on inhabitants'leukocytes DNA and on the leukocyte DNA extracted from the blood meal of resting anopheles. Through the high degree of polymorphism of three (AAAG)n microsatellites markers, we hope, using PCR, to attribute each blood meal to one individual. Statistical analysis will be used to identify attractivity factors and to determine more precisely the inoculation rates for each group rather than the classical rate calculated with male adults volunteers.

Adult↗

[Malaria and rice growing in the Senegal River delta (Senegal)].

An epidemiological survey of malaria was carried out from September 1992 to November 1994 in three villages located in the Senegal river delta, two villages growing rice in irrigated fields and one practicing traditional rain water agriculture. Entomological observations showed that Anopheles pharoensis is the main anopheline species caught in the area with a high population density in the rice growing villages. The population density of species of the An. gambiae complex, represented by An. gambiae s.s., An. arabiensis and An. melas is low. Agressivity rates and anthropophlic indexes of An. pharoensis females are high but their parity rates are low. The malaria transmission is weak and was not perceptible in the area as shown by the negative results obtained with the ELISA tests and the examination of salivary glands. Parasitological indexes, malaria morbidity and incidence rates are low and are in agreement with the entomological data. In the Senegal river delta, irrigation has, on the whole, increased the An. pharoensis density but both malaria transmission and incidence rates did not rise.

Agriculture↗

[Comparison of the transmission of malaria in 2 epidemiological patterns in Senegal: the Sahel border and the Sudan-type savanna].

From September 1992 to October 1993 a longitudinal entomological study was carried out in two villages located in different ecological conditions of Senegal, a sahelian area and a sudan-type savanna. Mosquitoes were sampled by night-bites catches and by daytime pyrethrum spray collections. In both villages Anopheles gambiae s.l. is the main vector with An. gambiae in the savanna area of Wassadou and An. arabiensis in the sahelian area of Thiaye. Malaria transmission is mainly seasonal with a man biting rate (ma) and an entomological inoculation rate (h) higher in Wassadou than in Thiaye. In this last one (sahelian area), a high variation of An. gambiae s.l. density was observed, females disappear in the dry season. In the rainy season the main biting rate increases but no infected bite was recorded. In Wassadou (sudan-type savanna), a great difference in An. gambiae s.l. specific composition was observed with An. gambiae predominant in the rainy season and An. arabiensis generally more abundant in the dry season. The biting and inoculation rates were minimum during the dry season (ma = 4 bites/man/night; h = 0.07 infected bites/man/night-, they increase during the rainy season (ma: 52 bites/man/night; h = 1.6 infected bites/man/night). An inhabitant of this village gets annually some 63, bites and 220 infected bites of An. gambiae s.l., mainly during the six months of the rainy season and the early dry season.

Animals↗

[Biology of the vectors and transmission of Plasmodium falciparum, P. malariae and P. ovale in a village in the savanna of west Africa (Dielmo, Senegal)].

From April 1990 to March 1992 a longitudinal entomological study was carried out in Dielmo village, Senegal, an area of Sudan-type savanna. Mosquitoes were sampled by night-bite collections and pyretnrum spray collections. Seven anopheles species were identified: An. gambiae s.s. An. arabiensis, An. funestus, An. pharoensis, An. rufipes, An. squamosus and An. ziemanni. Present throughout the year, An. gambiae s.l. and An. funestus represented more than 98% of anopheles captured on man. A yearly wave of An. gambiae s.l. was observed in the rainy season and An. funestus was generally more abundant in the dry season. The sporozoite rate was 1.5% and 1.3%, respectively, for these two species. Sporozoite typing by monoclonal antibodies indicated that the proportion of infected salivary glands was 92.7% P. falciparum, 18.2% P malariae and 8.2% P. ovale. The inoculation rate was calculated to be respectively 111, 21 and 8 infective bites per human for P. falciparum, P. malariae and P. ovale during the first year. Transmission was highest in the second year, with respectively 272, 54 and 25 infective bites per human.

Adolescent↗

The Dielmo project: a longitudinal study of natural malaria infection and the mechanisms of protective immunity in a community living in a holoendemic area of Senegal.

The Dielmo project, initiated in 1990, consisted of long-term investigations on host-parasite relationships and the mechanisms of protective immunity in the 247 residents of a Senegalese village in which malaria is holoendemic. Anopheles gambiae s.l. and An. funestus constituted more than 98% of 11,685 anophelines collected and were present all year round. Inoculation rates of Plasmodium falciparum, P. malariae, and P. ovale averaged respectively 0.51, 0.10, and 0.04 infective bites per person per night. During a four-month period of intensive parasitologic and clinical monitoring, Plasmodium falciparum, P. malariae, and P. ovale were observed in 72.0%, 21.1% and 6.0%, respectively, of the 8,539 thick smears examined. Individual longitudinal data revealed that 98.6% of the villagers harbored trophozoites of P. falciparum at least once during the period of the study. Infections by P. malariae and P. ovale were both observed in individuals of all age groups and their cumulative prevalences reached 50.5% and 40.3%, respectively. Malaria was responsible for 162 (60.9%) of 266 febrile episodes; 159 of these attacks were due to P. falciparum, three to P. ovale, and none to P. malariae. The incidence of malaria attacks was 40 times higher in children 0-4 years of age than in adults more than 40 years old. Our findings suggest that sterile immunity and clinical protection are never fully achieved in humans continuously exposed since birth to intense transmission.

Adolescent↗

[Anopheles of Senegal. An annotated and illustrated list].

Twenty species of Anopheles are presently known from Senegal. An. gambiae, An. arabiensis, An. pharoensis, An. rufipes and An. ziemanni have an extensive distribution. Probably because of climatic change, An. funestus is no more found in some areas and An. paludis tend to disappear. An. melas is located in coastal areas. The other species, namely An. coustani, An. brohieri, An. brunnipes, An. domicola, An. flavicosta, An. freetownensis, An. hancocki, An. maculipalpis, An. nili, An. pretoriensis, An. squamosus and An. wellcomei, are mainly found in southern Senegal. Only An. gambiae, An. arabiensis and An. funestus are of epidemiological significance as vectors of malaria and bancroftian filariasis. Twelve arboviruses have been isolated from eight Anopheles species. Each Anopheles species is illustrated and an identification key is given.

Animals↗

[Comparison of PCR and cytogenetic methods for the identification of mosquito species of the Anopheles gambiae complex in Senegal].

The classical cytological technique and a new PCR technique were compared for the identification of mosquito species of the Anopheles gambiae complex. Fifty seven specimens, caught in three different bioclimatic senegalese regions, were tested. Thirty two An. gambiae and 25 An. arabiensis were determined by both methods. All the results were similar. The advantages of each method are discussed.

Animals↗

[Trial of halofantrine in the treatment of malaria attacks by Plasmodium falciparum in Dakar (Senegal)].

Halofantrine has been given to 14 children and 15 adults suffering from an acute attack of P. falciparum malaria and living in Dakar (Senegal) to a total dose of 24 mg/kg/body weight for the first group and 1,500 mg for the second in 3 times at 6-hourly intervals. This treatment has allowed the fever to clear in all cases within 36.3 +/- 19.9 hours and headache to disappear at D3 in 93.1% of cases. A reduction by 93.6% of the average parasite density which amounted before treatment to 27,710 trophozoites/mm3 of blood has been recorded from the day following the beginning of treatment and the parasite clearance obtained in all the patients of whom had chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum strains in mean time of 58.0 +/- 14.7 hours. In 3 cases (10.7%) a recrudescence of parasitemia has been noticed in D14. Only 1 of them was treated again with halofantrine which proved efficient from D2. The only adverse reactions have been nausea, vomiting, a slight diarrhoea and dizziness which affected only 13.8% of the patients. No abnormality has been noticed at a biological level. These results confirm the efficacy and good tolerance of halofantrine and allow to list it among the resource drugs used for the treatment of chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum malaria in our area.

Acute Disease↗

Malaria: even more chronic in nature than previously thought; evidence for subpatent parasitaemia detectable by the polymerase chain reaction.

In high endemicity areas, malaria is a chronic disease: examination of blood films reveals that up to half of the population, particularly children, harbour parasites at any one given time. The parasitological status of the remainder was addressed using the polymerase chain reaction, a technique 100 to 1000 times more sensitive than microscopy, on a series of samples from Dielmo, a holoendemic area of Senegal. Two-thirds of the microscopically negative individuals were found to harbour subpatent levels of Plasmodium falciparum, suggesting that more than 90% of the exposed population at any one time, i.e. in a cross-sectional survey, are chronically infected. This also means that the range of parasite loads harboured by humans with various degrees of exposure is remarkably large, probably reflecting a large range of effectiveness of the defence mechanisms against malaria parasites, none of which is fully efficient.

Adolescent↗

[Drought and malaria decrease in the Niayes area of Senegal].

The Niayes is geographically characterized by an alternating succession of sand dunes and wet depressions, 20 km wide, which are behind the offshore bars from Saint-Louis to Dakar. Since 1970, the area has been affected by drought. The rainfall which was around 700 mm per year before 1960 has fallen below 500 mm during the last 30 years. In 1991 it was only 350 mm and in 1992, 260 mm. The vegetation has become impoverished in the depressions which are now more and more cultivated for vegetables. Entomological, parasitological and clinical studies on malaria were carried out in 1991 and 1992 in three villages and the results were compared with data gathered from 1967 to 1968 with comparable methods. The main points concerning the evolution of malaria are listed as follows. An. funestus, which was previously the predominant malaria vector, has almost disappeared. An. gambiae has regressed ahead of its sibling species An. arabiensis, a less competent vector. These changes in vector populations have led to lower malaria transmission and consequently a decrease of the endemicity. The children parasitic index, which was between 40 to 80% according to the localities in 1967, fell to 10% or less in 1991 and 1992. Finally, the incidence of clinical cases, calculated on a cohort of 100 children was only 4% in 1992, which is very low for an African endemic country. We conclude that drought and human activities have modified the environment such that malaria endemicity has seriously decreased. However, the risk of epidemic remains with the eventual occurrence of heavy rains. Therefore a surveillance of the area is needed to prevent a future epidemic.

Animals↗