Publications (6)
Santé Humaine
Épidémiologie et surveillance
Schistosomiasis remains a great public health problem in several tropical and subtropical countries. Recently in Côte
d’Ivoire, we have investigated hybrids between S. haematobium and S. bovis in human urine samples. Moreover, S.
haematobium x S. mansoni hybrid has recently been identified in a French hospital in a migrant boy originated from
Duekoué, western part of the country. The aim of this project was to molecularly characterize Schistosoma mansoni
among schoolchildren in Côte d’Ivoire. A cross-sectional study was conducted in two localities of Côte d'Ivoire
(Agboville and Duekoué). Stool samples were collected from schoolchildren and examined by Kato-Katz method to
identify Schistosoma eggs. Miracidia were individually isolated and stored on Whatman ® FTA card. We analyzed
miracidia from stool samples using a Cox1 gene multiplex PCR. Nuclear ITS gene has not been analyzed. A total of
661 schoolchildren was included in this study. More boys than girls (61.9% vs. 38.1%) were included and the highest
proportion of children was included in Agboville. The overall prevalence of S. mansoni infection was 9.8% (95% CI:
4.8-13.5%). Of the 239 miracidia molecularly analyzed, 166 yielded positive PCR signal (82.5% in Agboville and 17.5%
in Duekoué). Only one case of S. haematobium Cox1 has been identified in Agboville. This case should be hybrid S.
haematobium x S. mansoni. Our study reports that intestinal schistosomiasis remains prevalent even if the infection
rate was low. Only one case of S. haematobium Cox1 was identified, suggesting the presence of S. haematobium x S.
mansoni hybrids at very low prevalence.
📅 2025
📰 African Journal of Parasitology Research
Santé Environnementale
Résistance aux antimicrobiens en environnement
Background: Reusable surgical equipment can be a source of healthcare-associated infections. In Côte d'Ivoire,
West Africa, data on fungal contamination of small surgical instruments are limited.
Objective: To assess fungal carriage in small surgical instruments at a university hospital in Angré, Côte d'Ivoire.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using small surgical instruments in six departments of a tertiary
university hospital in Angré from February to July 2024. Samples were collected by swabbing instruments before
sterilization and after opening random sterile sets. Direct examination and culture on Sabouraud dextrose agar
medium containing chloramphenicol were performed. Fungal spores and hyphae were identified macroscopically
and microscopically, whereas yeasts were identified using chromogenic medium and VITEK 2.
Results: Of 313 samples, 70 yielded positive culture (22.4%). Fungi on surgical instruments were identified most
frequently at the ear, nose and throat service (34.8%), followed by the dental service (30.4%) and intensive care
unit (28.6%). The most frequently isolated mold species was Aspergillus niger (47.2%), followed by Aspergillus
flavus (30.6%), Mucor spp. (21.3%), and Aspergillus fumigatus (0.9%). Among the yeasts, the most frequently
identified was Candida albicans (50%), followed by Candida krusei (25%) and Candida parapsilosis (25%).
Fungi identification was more frequent before sterilization (64.3%) than after opening sterile sets (35.7%).
Conclusion: This study revealed the presence of fungi on small surgical instruments before sterilization and after
opening random sterile sets. Implementing advanced environmental control, improving sterilization steps, and
monitoring may help reduce nosocomial fungal infections from surgical instruments.
📅 2025
📰 Journal of Mycology and Infection
DOI
Santé Environnementale
Résistance aux antimicrobiens en environnement
Introduction: In hospital’s environment, hygiene of premises and ambient air quality are essential for healthcare. Airborne
fungal agents constitute a health concern for patients in these premises.
Objective: To identify the fungal agents of the environment in the clinical services of University Hospital of Angre.
Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in the clinical services of the University
Hospital of Angre from February to May 2024. Samples were taken by swabbing and exposing sterile Petri dishes to the air;
then they were plated on Sabouraud-Chloramphenicol medium and incubated in oven at 37° C. Identification of yeast strains
was performed using chromogenic medium and the VITEK 2 Ò Compact. Molds identification was based on the macroscopic
characteristics and microscopic examination of colonies.
Results: Among 429 samples, 206 positive cultures (48%) with a higher positivity rate in the surgical emergency service (93.1%). The most isolated fungal agents were molds (84%) with Aspergillus niger at 41.4%. Candida parapsilosis and Candida krusei species were the most prevalent yeasts isolated respectively at 42.3% and 23.1%. The frequency rate of fungal species was correlated to clinical services and sampling sites (p<0.001). The implementation of rigorous hygiene measures and regular decontamination of fungal niches should be systematically to avoid possible nosocomial infections.
📅 2025
📰 Open Access Journal of Mycology & Mycological Sciences
DOI
Santé Humaine
Maladies infectieuses et tropicales
Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS), a serious clinical form of urinary schistosomiasis, is widespread
in sub-Saharan Africa but little-known in Côte d'Ivoire. The objective of this study was to assess
practitioners' knowledge and experience of FGS in Abidjan. Data were collected using a questionnaire
from March to October 2024 in healthcare centers in Abidjan among 281 healthcare workers in
gynecology and obstetrics services. Only 57% of respondents identified Schistosoma haematobium as
the causative agent, and the mode of transcutaneous contamination was known by very few (0.46%).
Infertility and the risk of HIV infection were recognized as consequences of the disease by 20.1% and
9.6% of respondents, respectively. The pelvic examination to confirm FGS was known by only 11% of
practitioners. For treatment, 66.7% of practitioners were aware of praziquantel. However, mass drug
administration with praziquantel as a prevention method was not well-known (4.55%). Regarding
experience with FGS, only 5% of respondents had ever suspected or experienced cases in their facility,
and in 50% of these cases, the specific treatment used was praziquantel. This study highlights that FGS
is not well-known by practitioners, and health professionals' lack of information about the disease can
lead to poor treatment. Implementing training and awareness-raising programs for healthcare personnel
will help prevent consequences for women in areas at risk of urinary schistosomiasis.
📅 2025
📰 Journal of Parasitology and Vector Biology
DOI
Santé Humaine
Maladies infectieuses et tropicales
For better management of malaria, WHO recommends early biological diagnosis for rapid treatment. In Côte d'Ivoire, due
to difficulties associated with the use of microscopy in primary health care facilities, the biological diagnosis of malaria
relies mainly on RDTs. Private pharmacies play an important role in the outpatient healthcare using RDTs to diagnose
malaria. The aim of this study was to determine knowledge of patients and frequency of malaria cases using RDTs among
patients in private pharmacies of Côte d’Ivoire. This cross-sectional survey was carried out from June to November 2020
among patients in three private pharmacies. Questionnaire was administered to individuals after informed consent to
assess knowledge and collect sociodemographic data. Blood samples were taken from patients and the "ABON™ Plus
Malaria P.f /Pan" RDT was performed on each sample. Of 450 subjects sampled, 33.3% (150/450) were RDTs positive.
Plasmodium falciparum was the only species identified. The majority of the population (93.4%) revealed that the mode of transmission of malaria is mosquito bites. The main symptom of patients was fever (85.6%). The main ways of malaria prevention mentioned by patients were the use of insecticides (80%) and mosquito nets (73.5%). The majority of patients (74.6%) justified biological confirmation by detecting parasite in blood. This study shows the importance of confirming suspected cases of malaria in all contexts, in order to avoid misuse of anti-malarial drugs in pharmacies.
📅 2025
📰 African Journal of Parasitology Research
Santé Humaine
Maladies infectieuses et tropicales
While population genetics of Schistosoma haematobium have been investigated in West Africa, only scant
data are available from Côte d ’ Ivoire. The purpose of this study was to analyze both genetic variability and genetic
structure among S. haematobium populations and to quantify the frequency of S. haematobium S. bovis hybrids
in school-aged children in different parts of Côte d ’ Ivoire. Urine samples were subjected to a fi ltration method and
examined microscopically for Schistosoma eggs in four sites in the western and southern parts of Côte d ’ Ivoire. A total
of 2692 miracidia were collected individually and stored on Whatman
FTA cards. Of these, 2561 miracidia were suc-
cessfully genotyped for species and hybrid identi fi cation using rapid diagnostic multiplex mitochondrial cox1 PCR and
PCR Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of the nuclear ITS2 region. From 2164 mira-
cidia, 1966 (90.9%) were successfully genotyped using at least 10 nuclear microsatellite loci to investigate genetic
diversity and population structure. Signi fi cant differences were found between sites in all genetic diversity indices
and genotypic differentiation was observed between the site in the West and the three sites in the East. Analysis at
the infrapopulation level revealed clustering of parasite genotypes within individual children, particularly in Duekoue
(West) and Sikensi (East). Of the six possible cox1-ITS2 genetic pro fi les obtained from miracidia, S. bovis
cox1 S. haematobium ITS2 (42.0%) was the most commonly observed in the populations. We identi fi ed only
15 miracidia (0.7%) with an S. bovis cox1 S. bovis ITS2 genotype. Our study provides new insights into the
population genetics of S. haematobium and S. haematobium S. bovis hybrids in humans in Côte d ’ Ivoire and we
advocate for researching hybrid schistosomes in animals such as rodents and cattle in Côte d ’ Ivoire.