As a complement of the study of the epidemiology of the arboviruses in Central Africa a survey of tick borne viruses has been done, in the Central African Republic, from December 1972 to June 1974; 15.103 ticks were collected, mainly from cattle at the slaughterhouses. They include: 10.085 Ambylomma variegatum, 4.113 Boophilus, 542 Rhipicephalus and 363 Hyalomma. From 892 monospecific pools inoculated into baby mice, 98 isolates of virus were obtained. Among the 57 isolates which have been fully identified (the identification of 41 other isolates is still in progress), 4 different serotypes of arbovirus have been found: Dugbe virus has been the most frequently found with 45 isolates from A. variegatum and I from B. decoloratus; this virus, previously isolated from human cases in Central African Republic in 1967 and 1970 has been isolated from a new human case in 1973. One isolate of CHF/Congo virus has been obtained from Hyalomma nitidum, but this virus has not yet been isolated from human beeings in C.A.R. The two other tick borne viruses isolated during this survey are Jos virus (9 isolates) and Bhanja virus (I isolate), all of them from A variegatum.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Isolation of Thogoto virus from Amblyomma and Boophilus ticks in Central Africa].

A survey has been carried out in the Cameroons and the Central African Republic about the role of the ticks in the ecology of arboviruses in Central Africa. Attempts for virus isolation were made for 12,678 Amblyomma variegatum, 3,276 Boophilus decoloratus and 1,769 Boophilus annulatus, by inoculation into suckling mice. From 968 pools which were inoculated, 20 yielded isolates which were identified to Thogoto virus. Considering previously published results concerning tick-borne virus isolations in the Central African Republic, it appears now that five arboviruses are present in the ticks in central Africa : Dugbe, Jos and Thogoto (in A. variegatum, B. decoloratus and B. annulatus), Bhanja (in A. variegatum) and Chf. Congo (in Hyalomma nitidum).

Africa, Central↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Serological and entomological study on yellow fever in Sierra Leone].

In a serological and entomological survey on yellow fever carried out in Sierra-Leone in 1972, altogether 899 sera from children 0 to 14 years were tested with 12 antigens by haemagglutination-inhibition and complement fixation tests. Mouse neutralization test with yellow fever, West-Nile and Zika viruses were also performed on selected sera. Generally speaking, the incidence of arboviruses is low but the prevalence of antibodies for some viruses was found to vary considerably between different areas. As regards yellow fever, the virus has recently been in circulation in only two areas: Bafodia and Lalehun-Labour Camp and there is no risk for a yellow fever outbreak to occur in the near future. Due to the shortness of the survey, entomological prospections were confined to a search for Ae. aegypti larvae in and around dwellings: no breeding places are found in houses and Breteau indices are usually low, especially in forest villages. On the other hand, in urban settlements in the mining areas, breeding places around houses are numerous and are bound to increase in number. All the conditions necessary for the outbreak of an epidemic would be present within few years: such a situation would appear in Labour Camp where yellow fever virus has been circulating, where most of the population has no immunity and where Breteau indice goes as high as 34.4. As regards the other arboviruses, Zika virus is active in most areas and Chikungunya virus is particularly active in the plateau and savanna zones, in the North-East.

Aedes↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Supervised bimonthly quadruple chemotherapy in 72 paucibacillary leprosy patients in French Guyana].

In French Guyana we have treated 72 paucibacillary leprosy with an association of Rifadine + Lamprene + Trecator + Disulone given twice monthly under supervision during 6 months. Results have been satisfying and side effects rare. The sequential character of treatment shows a substantial advantage on the operational side but may appear to be favorable to bacterial resistance.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[A serological survey of arboviruses in the human population of Senegal].

2,457 serum samples collected during an epidemiological survey on treponematosis in Senegal by the W. H. O. IR051 team in five areas of Senegal between 1972 and 1975 were studied for arbovirus antibodies using hemagglutination inhibition test. In addition 998 were studied using CF test and 1012 in neutralization test with yellow fever virus. The prevalence of arbovirus antibodies is important in all the country and does not vary basically between the different areas. In group A, chikungunya antibody is the most frequent and Sindbis antibody was found only in areas where migrant birds are resting. There is evidence of recent yellow fever infection in Upper Casamance and in Eastern Senegal. Most of the children are not immune and have to be immunized. Zika and Wesselsbron viruses show activity in all the areas and West-Nile, as Sindbis, is related to areas where birds are numerous. Bunyamwera virus activity is low.

Adult↗