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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Mosquito vectors of the 1998-1999 outbreak of Rift Valley Fever and other arboviruses (Bagaza, Sanar, Wesselsbron and West Nile) in Mauritania and Senegal.

Following an outbreak of Rift Valley fever (RVF) in south-eastern Mauritania during 1998, entomological investigations were conducted for 2 years in the affected parts of Senegal and Mauritania, spanning the Sénégal River basin. A total of 92 787 mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), belonging to 10 genera and 41 species, were captured in light traps. In Senegal, Culex poicilipes (41%) and Mansonia uniformis (39%) were the most abundant species caught, whereas Aedes vexans (77%) and Cx. poicilipes (15%) predominated in Mauritania. RVF virus was isolated from 63 pools of Cx. poicilipes: 36 from Senegal in 1998 and 27 from Mauritania in 1999. These results are the first field evidence of Cx. poicilipes naturally infected with RVFV, and the first isolations of this virus from mosquitoes in Mauritania - the main West African epidemic and epizootic area. Additional arbovirus isolates comprised 25 strains of Bagaza (BAG) from Aedes fowleri, Culex neavei and Cx. poicilipes; 67 Sanar (ArD 66707) from Cx. poicilipes; 51 Wesselsbron (WSL) from Ae. vexans and 30 strains of West Nile (WN) from Ma. uniformis, showing differential specific virus-vector associations in the circulation activity of these five arboviruses.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A fatal case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Mauritania: virological and serological evidence suggesting epidemic transmission.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), a tick-borne viral zoonosis, is focally endemic throughout parts of Eurasia, the Middle East and Africa. In sub-saharan West Africa only 2 previous cases, both non-fatal, have been reported. We documented a fatal human case of CCHF in south-western Mauritania during May 1988 by demonstrating CCHF virus-specific class M antibodies and by isolating CCHF virus. Five of 7 other patients simultaneously in hospital with haemorrhagic fever symptoms also exhibited elevated immunoglobulin (Ig) G. Healthy family members and contacts of these patients showed an IgG prevalence of 36%; similarly 29% of their sheep also had antibodies. A serosurvey of 1219 sheep from 14 widely dispersed sites throughout southern Mauritania demonstrated IgG prevalences ranging from 4.9% to 43.6%. IgM was found in many herds. These observations demonstrate that CCHF virus is enzootic in southern Mauritania, and suggest a recent period of intense transmission in parts of the region.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Combined eco-epidemiological and molecular biology approaches to assess Echinococcus granulosus transmission to humans in Mauritania: occurrence of the 'camel' strain and human cystic echinococcosis.

Mauritania lies between West-Central Africa where human cystic echinococcosis (CE) is considered extremely rare and West Maghreb where CE accounts for a real public health problem. Until 1992, Mauritania was considered as human CE-free even through CE seemed well known in livestock. In 1992, the introduction of ultrasonography led to the diagnosis of the first human CE cases. In 1997, a veterinary study revealed that dogs living around Nouakchott were commonly infected by Echinococcus granulosus. To assess E. granulosus transmission and to identify the most relevant animal reservoir responsible for human CE emerging in Mauritania, a simultaneous eco-epidemiological and molecular biology approach was performed. The fieldwork included sample collection and investigation of relationship between intermediate hosts, definitive hosts and humans. Typing of E. granulosus strains was performed using comparison of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified DNA sequences with one nuclear (BG 1/3) and 2 mitochondrial (COI, NDI) targets. Results show that the 'camel' strain is actually infectious to humans and circulates between intermediate hosts including camels and cattle. It is suggested that preventive measures at slaughtering places could reduce human contamination.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The value of ultrasound in the diagnosis of thyroid diseases in Mauritania (171 cases)].

We investigated thyroid abnormality in Mauritania by carrying out a prospective ultrasound study of 171 patients. One hundred and thirty four patients underwent thyroid hormone determination (T3, T4 and TSH) and 123 had complementary plain film X rays of the chest and neck. These ultrasound examinations accounted for 3.8% of all ultrasound examinations performed over the study period. Thyroid abnormalities were more frequent in young adults aged 20 to 40 years (67.4%) and in women (83%) in Mauritania. Thyroid diseases affected people from savanna and mountain regions in particular. Diffuse goiters were the most frequent problem (76.3%) and most were multinodular or heterogeneous forms with necrosis or hemorrhage. One case of homogeneous diffuse goiter was found to be an infiltrating vesicular adenocarcinoma with metastatic adenopathy. Nodular goiters were mostly cystic, with septation (51.9%) and could be mistaken for hydatid cysts, which are endemic to the region. Further study of these aspects of thyroid diseases in Mauritania are required.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2005

Rhizobial populations in soils from natural Acacia senegal and Acacia nilotica forests in Mauritania and the Senegal river valley.

Eighty-two strains of rhizobia were isolated from soils taken from several sites in Mauritania and Senegal. These soil samples were collected from natural stands of Acacia nilotica and Acacia senegal. The soils from Mauritania were less rich in native rhizobia than the soils from Senegal. The strains were characterized using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and by sequencing the rDNA 16S-23S intergenic spacer region (IGS). They were sorted into seven IGS groups. These groups were not associated with the geographical origin of the strains or with the host-plant species at the site where the soils were collected. Most of the strains were in three of the IGS groups (I, IV, and V). One representative strain from each IGS group was sequenced and showed that the strains were from the genus Mesorhizobium. IGS groups I, IV, and VI were close to the species M. plurifarium (AF34563), IGS groups IIand III were close to the species Mesorhizobium sp. (AF510360), IGS group V was close to the species Mesorhizobium sp. (AF510366), and IGS group VII was close to Mesorhizobium sp. (AF510346).

Acacia↗

PubMed1997

Some factors affecting the prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi in camels in Mauritania.

A study was conducted on the epidemiology of camel trypanosomosis in Mauritania using 2073 camels of various ages in five regions (Trarza, Gorgol, Adrar, Hodh E1 Chargui, Nouakchott). The prevalence was determined through blood smear and serological tests: card agglutination test for trypanosomiasis (CATT) and immuno fluorescence antibody test (IFAT). The prevalence of the disease was 1.3% using blood smear examinations, 16.2% with CATT and 25.2% with IFAT. The following variations were observed: (1) Camels in Trarza had the highest prevalence; (2) Intraregion was a significant factor; (3) Animals that migrated to the south were more commonly infected than those in the north; and (4) Animals in the 5- to 10-yr age group had the highest prevalence. The study indicated that camel trypanosomosis was widespread in Mauritania, especially in the wooded areas near waterways in the south.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1997

Detection of Theileria annulata by the PCR in ticks (Acari:Ixodidae) collected from cattle in Mauritania.

We report on the detection of Theileria annulata in infected Hyalomma ticks by the PCR using primers derived from the gene encoding the 30 kDa major merozoite surface antigen (TamsI-1). No inhibition of the PCR was observed and as little as 0.1 pg of parasite DNA, corresponding to 12 sporozoites, could be detected in non-infected tick DNA samples, spiked with T. annulata genomic DNA. Hyalomma dromedarii ticks, fed on a calf experimentally infected with T. annulata, were used to validate the PCR further. The infection rate in the adult ticks, fed as nymphs during the febrile reaction, was high (62%), dropped to zero for 1 day in tick batches that engorged after treatment with Butalex and increased to 30% 2 days later and 38% of the ticks acquired the infection after feeding as nymphs during a carrier state piroplasm parasitaemia of less than 0.1%. As an internal control, 16S tick rDNA sequences could be amplified from T. annulata-negative tick samples. Finally, 202 adult ticks from Mauritania, collected from zebu cattle carrying low levels of Theileria piroplasms, were tested by the PCR. Thirty-eight out of 52 (73%) and 17 out of 30 (57%) H. dromedarii from the Gorgol and Trarza regions, respectively and two out of 30 (7%) Hyalomma marginatum rufipes from the Gorgol region were positive. Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi and Rhipicephalus guilhoni from the Trarza region were negative. These findings confirm that H. dromedarii is the main vector of T. annulata in Mauritania and that the PCR is a useful method of determining the infection rates in ticks collected from cattle carrying low levels of T. annulata piroplasms.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Quality of phenobarbital solid-dosage forms in the urban community of Nouakchott (Mauritania).

PURPOSE: Epilepsy is a major public-health problem in Africa. The quality of available drugs is a limiting factor for an adequate management. The aim of this study was to describe the proportion of poor-quality phenobarbital (PB) solid-dosage forms and evaluate the factors associated with its quality in Nouakchott (Mauritania). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out within pharmacies, hospitals, and on the parallel market in March 2003. PB samples were bought by a native person and then assayed by a liquid chromatography method. A package was considered to be of good quality if the active-substance average content was between 85 and 115% of the stated content printed on the packet. RESULTS: Forty-five pharmaceutical stores were visited, enabling us to collect 146 samples of PB. Three brand names were available in Nouakchott. They originated from France, Morocco, Senegal, and Egypt. Results: A prevalence of 13.7%[95% confidence interval (CI), 8.8-20.0] of poor-quality PB was found. All samples from Morocco were underdosed. The generic active content was satisfactory, but saccharose, an excipient with a potential side effects, was identified. Two factors associated with the good quality of PB have been put forward: tablets manufactured in France and loose packaging as generics conditioned in such a way were of good quality. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the quality of antiepileptic drugs in Africa is still worrying. The setting up of medicine quality control in Mauritania is legitimate. Considering the good quality of generic PB and its lower cost, this type of medicine should be promoted in this region.

Anticonvulsants↗

PubMed1996

A prevalence survey of diabetes in Mauritania.

OBJECTIVE: To perform an epidemiological study of the prevalence of diabetes in Mauritania, West Africa, with little data available on diabetes in West Africa. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The study was performed with a representative sample of the Mauritanian population. A random selection of the study population (n = 744) was drawn by a cluster sampling method. Screening for diabetes was made by capillary blood glucose (CBG) measurement, using strips analyzed by reflectance meter. Criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes were those of the World Health Organization (WHO). RESULTS: The survey performed a screening of 744 subjects whose sex distribution was 307 men and 437 women. Their mean age was 34.6 +/- 15.2 years, and their mean BMI was 22.7 +/- 5.1 kg/m2, with a significant difference for BMI between men (20.0 +/- 2.9 kg/m2) and women (24.3 +/- 5.5 kg/m2). According to the study criteria, we found 14 diabetic patients (4 men, 10 women). The crude prevalence of diabetes was 1.88% (95% CI 0.90-2.86). The difference in prevalence by sex was 1.30% (95% CI 0.00-2.60) for men and 2.29% (95% CI 0.89-3.43) for women. For the truncated 30- to 64-year-old age-group, the crude prevalence was 2.84%; the age-adjusted prevalence for the same 30- to 64-year-old age-group, using the standardized age distribution of Segi (10), was 2.61%. CONCLUSIONS: With a crude prevalence of diabetes of 1.88% and an age-adjusted prevalence of 2.61%, Mauritania may be classified among the countries with a low prevalence of diabetes, a finding which is not surprising, considering the low level of development of this region of Africa.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

PVO / NGO initiatives, Africa. Society for Women and AIDS in Africa (SWAA), Mauritania.

Society for Women and AIDS in Africa (SWAA), Mauritania, uses a multi-sectoral approach to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and provide assistance when needed. SWAA believes that in order to have an impact on women and development in their country they must address issues of health, education, and society. To these ends they have created a special center to provide health care and counseling to HIV-positive women and their children; they conduct health and general education sessions geared towards women; and they have formed local chapters of SWAA throughout Mauritania to provide support and information to women within their own communities. SWAA has also taken on a mass education campaign which includes the production of flyers, educational materials, and public service announcements for radio and television. For more information, please contact Mme. Sana Mint Abass, President, SWAA/Mauritanie, BP 118, Nouakchott, Mauritanie; tel: +222 564 69 (office), +222 524 04 (home); fax: +222 599 26.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of condom use among students of the El Mina middle school in Nouakchott in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania].

UNLABELLED: This study, intended to contribute to the fight against HIV/AIDS infection, sought to identify the factors limiting condom use among the pupils of the El Mina middle school in Nouakchott, in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. METHOD: This investigation, conducted in May 2004, concerned 711 students aged approximately 12-16 years. The dependent variable was condom use, and two categories of independent study variables were examined: socio-demographic and HIV information. The data were entered, verified, and analyzed with Epi info 6.04 software. RESULTS: Overall 40% of the students reported sexual activity; in this group, 41% reported multiple partners and 38% unprotected sexual relations. Condom use was significantly more frequent among boys, married students, students with more than one partner, those who attended educational sessions, those for whom sexuality is a taboo subject, those who knew a source of supply, and those for whom condoms were geographically and financially accessible. DISCUSSION: Condom use among sexually active students is insufficient. This underuse is caused by shortcomings in the distribution system and contributes to the multiplication of sexually-transmitted diseases, including HIV, among the pupils. To provide students with the knowledge necessary for the desired behavioral changes, the following steps are necessary: promoting social marketing of condoms, involving other partners in the fight against STDs and AIDS, using peer educator strategies, and integrating units on HIV/AIDS into secondary education. CONCLUSION: Given the seriousness and the increasing extension of the HIV infection, condom use should be promoted to improve the sexual and reproductive health of students and thus of the entire population of Mauritania.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1984

A screening of serological syphilis in Mauritania.

A survey aiming at assessing the frequency and the distribution of serological syphilis has been carried out on a sample of 6049 subjects aged 6-18 years in Mauritania. 33.4% of the samples had a reciprocal titer of 150 or more as determined by means of an immunofluorescence technique. However, frequencies in the different villages ranged from 7.5 to 47.6% and were strongly associated with the percentage of Black elements in the community. A significant difference was found between the age-groups 6-13 and 14-18, with a mean increase of 56%. These results suggest that an intervention program might be necessary in Mauritania.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Unusual aspects of Burkitt's disease in Mauritania].

The authors report on four observations on Burkitt's lymphoma fro Mauritania: three nodes lymphoma and one abdomen tumor. Mauritania climatic conditions are far from climatic conditions suitable to Burkitt's lymphoma development. Classical monochemotherapy (cyclophosphamide or methotrexate) were inefficient. Therefore, the authors suggest to utilise a polychemotherapy including cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, VM 26, and prednisone.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

PubMed1995

Rift Valley fever epizootic in small ruminants in southern Mauritania (October 1993): risk of extensive outbreaks.

Following the 1987 Rift Valley fever (RVF) epizootic/epidemic in southern Mauritania, RVF antibody prevalence in small ruminants decreased significantly from 1988 to 1992. In October 1993, at the end of the rainy season, an active RVF virus transmission was detected in several locations of southern Mauritania in small ruminants, in association with an increase of abortions. RVF IgM and IgG antibodies were recorded respectively in 65/390 (16.67%) and 73/390 (18.72%) animals. RVF IgM antibody prevalence was significantly higher in the > or = 2 years old group (26.02%) than in the 0.5- < 2 year old group (7.20%) (p = 0.01). The enzootic maintenance of RVF virus is discussed, as well as the risks of extension by traditional nomadic movements of herds.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

[Comparison of the pathogenic effect in mice between stocks of Trypanosoma evansi from Mauritania and from Kenya, Niger, Chad and China].

The pathogenicity to mice of a stock of Trypanosoma evansi from Mauritania has been compared to that of stocks from Kenya, Niger, Chad and China, using doses of 5.10(5), 2.10(6) and 5.10(6) trypanosomes per mouse. The survival of mice inoculated with stocks from Kenya, Niger and China is short, on average 2.1 to 6.5 days. Mice inoculated with stocks from Mauritania and Chad survive longer, 12.5 to 22.7 days, depending on the dose.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

[Descriptive epidemiology of bovine theileriosis caused by Theileria annulata in Mauritania, Subsaharian West Africa].

Tropical bovine theileriosis due to Theileria annulata has been discovered recently in Mauritania. An epidemiological study performed in the dry season allowed to better determine the serological prevalence of T. annulata infection and its associated factors. The sex does not seem to have any influence, the role of the breed could not be clearly established, whereas, the age, the geographical origin and the management of the herd have a significant influence on the serological prevalence. These results were compared with those of the tick fauna. Hyalomma dromedarii appears to be the natural vector over the whole Mauritanian territory. However, the more diversified the tick fauna is (lower valley of Senegal River), the highest is the serological prevalence. The incidence survey in the rainy season, performed exclusively in the Senegal River valley, raises the question of the role of Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, strictly limited to this area, which could be responsible for an amplifying phenomenon of transmission. The clinical survey in the dry season as well as in the rainy season did not reveal any clinical cases. Therefore, a stable endemic situation appears to exist between the local zebu and T. annulata infection in Mauritania.

Africa, Western↗

PubMed1993

[Trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma evansi (Steel 1885), Balbiani 1888 in small ruminants in Mauritania: results of experimental inoculation and field surveys].

In order to define the eventual role of small ruminants in the epidemiology of T. evansi infection in Southern Mauritania, the following experiments were carried out: the intravenous inoculation of a ewe and a goat with a local strain of T. evansi isolated from a dairy camel; surveys of small ruminant flocks which graze with infected camels in the South of the Trarza region. The experimental inoculation allowed to show that local sheep and goats are receptive. Only the ewe showed a clinical episode with loss of weight and abortion. During 220 days after inoculation the blood of the goat remained constantly infectious for the mouse whereas in the same period the ewe's blood showed an alternation of infectious and non-infectious phases. However in the field, none of 381 blood smears of small ruminants (207 goats, 174 sheep) were positive and none of the 187 serums (109 goats, 78 sheep). Therefore, it seems that the small ruminants of the South Mauritania do not play any role in the epidemiology of T. evansi camel trypanosomosis even if they are receptive to experimental inoculation.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

[Intestinal parasitic infections and schistosomiasis in the valley of the Senegal river in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania].

An epidemiological survey was carried out in the Trarza and Brakna regions of the Senegal River valley in Mauritania prior to implementation of a program to control intestinal parasitic infection and schistosomiasis. A total of 1297 school children between the ages of 5 and 12 years from a randomized selection of villages in the region were examined to determine the prevalence and intensity of intestinal parasitic infections and schistosomiasis. Overall prevalence was 38.1% for intestinal parasitic infection, 7.1% for intestinal schistosomiasis, and 17.1% for urinary schistosomiasis. Analysis of weight and height as indicators of nutritional status indicated that 40.9% of the children examined were under the 10th percentile of the weight-for-height indicator and that there was a statistically significant correlation between malnutrition, diarrhea, and intestinal parasitic infection (p < 0.0001). Measurement of hemoglobin levels showed that 50.4% of children were anemic (hemoglobin level < 11 g/dl) and that there was a correlation between anemia and infection by Schistosoma haematobium. This is the first epidemiological survey on intestinal parasitic infections in Mauritania and the first study on Schistosoma mansoni on the Mauritanian side of the Senegal River. Findings suggest not only that implementation of a program to control intestinal parasitic infection and schistosomiasis is needed in the region but also that it should be associated with a food/iron supplementation program and growth monitoring.

Anemia↗