Search Results (539)

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is expanding across West Africa, driving deforestation, water contamination, and land degradation that require scalable monitoring approaches. Deep learning (DL) models applied to Sentinel imagery have shown acceptable performance for ASM mapping within individual countries, but their ability to transfer across national boundaries remains poorly understood. This study evaluates four DL segmentation models for ASM mapping in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, two major gold-producing countries with contrasting mining landscapes. The models were trained under three geographic scenarios of Ghana only, Côte d’Ivoire only, and both countries combined, using the SmallMinesDS benchmark dataset for Ghana and a newly compiled dataset for Côte d’Ivoire, both combining Sentinel-1 SAR and Sentinel-2 optical imagery. Models performed best when trained and tested on the same country, with U-Net++ (EfficientNet-B3) reaching IoU = 0.748 (F1 = 0.856) on Ghana. On the harder Côte d’Ivoire domain, models trained on Ghana alone transferred poorly (IoU = 0.488, F1 = 0.656), but training on both countries together gave the best result (IoU = 0.568, F1 = 0.724). Overall, the geography of the training data, rather than the model architecture or the use of SAR data, was the main factor driving performance, though some differences may also reflect the datasets being collected at different times. Full article

Here we report the draft genome sequences of three Enterococcus faecalis strains, LAB1, LAB10, and LAB11, isolated from the pond water of a tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) aquaculture farm at the University Nangui Abrogoua, Abidjan, Ivory Coast. These strains were previously characterised for their probiotic, plant growth-promoting (PGP), and nitrifying properties. All three strains were assigned to sequence type ST19 by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). The draft genomes of LAB1, LAB10, and LAB11 consist of 34, 35, and 34 contigs, totalling 2.94 Mb each (GC content 37.40%). Prokka annotation predicted 2872, 2873, and 2875 protein-coding sequences (CDS) for LAB1, LAB10, and LAB11, respectively. Genomic screening revealed no vancomycin resistance genes; however, tet(M) and lsa(A) resistance determinants were identified in all three strains, located on a repUS43-type plasmid replicon. Fourteen virulence factor homologs conserved in the E. faecalis reference strain V583 were detected, including Ebp pili, gelatinase (gelE), Fsr quorum-sensing system, and capsule biosynthesis genes, but no cytolysin operon was identified. Genes associated with stress tolerance (katA, sodA), bile salt hydrolysis (cbh), siderophore transport (fepC, fhuD), and ethanolamine nitrogen metabolism (eutB/eutC) were identified in all three genomes. Pan-genome analysis with the E. faecalis reference strain revealed 551 core gene clusters and 279 gene clusters exclusive to the three aquaculture isolates. Despite their high genomic similarity, we report the three genomes as distinct isolates due to observed differences in their expressed phenotypic properties. These sequences provide a genomic resource supporting the development of multifunctional probiotic consortia for integrated aquaponic systems. Full article

This study was conducted to understand the reinfection pattern of cocoa swollen shoot disease (CSSD) in rehabilitated plots in the cocoa landscape of the Nawa region (Soubré) in Côte d’Ivoire. CSSD was monitored over time on a sample of 200 farms randomly selected from 1200 rehabilitated cocoa farms. Disease epidemiological parameters were assessed through field observations and molecular diagnostic analysis at farm and landscape levels. The results of this study showed that reinfection occurred earlier than expected, with a high disease incidence estimated at 6.95% from 2020 to 2022. Grafting with clones on mature cocoa trees was more susceptible to reinfection than grafting on seedlings and hybrids. The use of PCR as a molecular diagnostic tool indicated missed infections in the current removal strategy when considering the buffer zone recommended in the cutting out process currently in place. Recommendations for the efficient protection of rehabilitated farms after cutting out campaigns are highlighted. Full article

Leishmaniasis is an endemic zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania and transmitted by infected female phlebotomine sandflies. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies it among the 20 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), ranking eighth globally. The disease predominantly affects resource-limited populations in tropical regions. Kenya bears a significant global burden of leishmaniasis, with Baringo County identified as a major endemic area. A cross-sectional survey on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) was conducted from July 2025 to January 2026 among 135 residents of Baringo South Sub-County using a structured questionnaire. The study evaluated sociodemographic characteristics, disease awareness, perceptions, preventive practices, and treatment-seeking behaviors. Additionally, 12 healthcare professionals were interviewed regarding their diagnostic and treatment capacities. Associations between variables were analyzed using Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression. Overall awareness of leishmaniasis was high (94.8%), with KAP scores of 86.7%, 76%, and 77.7%, respectively. Despite this, critical knowledge gaps persisted regarding transmission dynamics, the role of dogs as reservoir hosts, and preventive measures. Significant associations were found for awareness of local cases, recognition of clinical signs, knowledge of vector activity, community control measures, and attitudes toward treatment preferences. Age and education level predicted KAP outcomes. Healthcare practitioners demonstrated technical capacity to diagnose and treat human Leishmania infections, whereas veterinarians lacked awareness of Leishmania infection in dogs, including its diagnosis and treatment. Integration of human, animal, and vector surveillance within a One Health framework is recommended to enhance disease monitoring and control in Baringo County. Full article

Understanding how irrigation water management shapes crop performance is critical for improving productivity and resource-use efficiency in peri-urban agriculture. This study investigated the socio-technical factors driving sprinkler system abandonment and assessed how irrigation water variability influences vegetable yield variability at two market gardening sites (Bogdin and 14 Yaar) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Survey data from 50 farmers and field measurements of soil properties, irrigation water application, and lettuce yield were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations, and principal component analysis. More than 80% of farmers had ceased using the sprinkler system within two years of installation, 76% reported major equipment failures, and 70% expressed willingness to re-adopt an improved system. Irrigation dose and yield showed considerable variability across sites (CV = 20.9–42.3% and 36.4–44.0%, respectively). At 14 Yaar, irrigation dose was strongly associated with yield (r = 0.862, p = 0.006), indicating that uneven water application was a major constraint on productivity. At Bogdin, where irrigation was more uniform, no single soil or water variable dominated yield variability. Although soil fertility variables contributed to multivariate patterns, nutrient–yield correlations were not statistically significant under the available sample size, and their potential influence on yield requires confirmation with larger datasets. Overall, operational constraints, equipment failures, and inadequate support services contributed to sprinkler system abandonment, while variability in manual water application was associated with variability in crop productivity. These findings highlight the need for irrigation strategies that are both technically robust and adapted to farmers’ realities. Full article

Endemic human coronaviruses (HCoVs) are important contributors to respiratory infections, yet genomic data from sub-Saharan Africa remain limited. We analyzed 13,530 nasopharyngeal samples collected through the national influenza sentinel surveillance network in Côte d’Ivoire between 2022 and 2024 to characterize the circulation and genomic diversity of endemic HCoVs. A subset of 52 RT-qPCR-positive samples with Ct values ≤ 28 was selected for targeted hybrid-capture sequencing using the Twist Bioscience Respiratory Virus Research Panel. Genome recovery metrics were available for 28 samples, including HCoV-NL63 (n = 9), HCoV-229E (n = 8), HCoV-OC43 (n = 9), and HCoV-HKU1 (n = 2). Endemic HCoVs circulated throughout the study period, with temporal variation across species and increased detections during several rainy-season months. No co-presence of multiple endemic HCoV species was identified in the final analytical dataset. Genome recovery differed by species, with broader and more consistent coverage for HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-NL63 than for HCoV-229E and HCoV-HKU1. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all recovered HCoV-229E genomes clustered within genotype L6 and all recovered HCoV-HKU1 genomes within genotype A, whereas HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-NL63 were distributed across multiple genotypes among recovered genomes. To our knowledge, these findings provide the first genomic data on endemic HCoVs from Côte d’Ivoire and support the feasibility and further targeted integration of targeted hybrid-capture sequencing into routine genomic surveillance of respiratory viruses. Full article

Large-scale production of Bacillus thuringiensis, one of the most widely used biopesticides, is often limited by the high cost of conventional culture media. In this study, fermented cassava paste water (EFM), ripe mango pulp juice (CM), and cashew apple juice (JPC) were evaluated as alternative substrates for the liquid fermentation of B. thuringiensis var. kurstaki HD-1. Physicochemical analyses revealed acidic pH values and classified the substrates into two clusters: CM with high C/N ratios, organic matter, total sugars, and proteins, and EFM and JPC with lower C/N ratios and nutrient levels. Fermentation results indicated that JPC supported the highest biomass production (8.29 × 10¹³ CFU mL⁻¹), exceeding that in the standard Tryptone Soy Broth (TSB) medium. However, CM promoted the highest sporulation rate (1.46 × 10¹³ CFU mL⁻¹) and the greatest bioactive lipopeptides—iturins (102.2 mg L⁻¹) and surfactins (554.7 mg L⁻¹)—surpassing TSB. The antifungal activity of crude fermented CM, EFM, and TSB was evaluated against Sclerotium rolfsii. All samples significantly inhibited mycelial growth of the pathogen with no significant differences among substrates or concentrations tested. This study highlights the potential of B. thuringiensis-fermented agrowaste as a cost-effective, environmentally friendly biocontrol tool for Sclerotium rolfsii. Full article

Canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2) is a highly contagious virus transmitted among dogs through direct or indirect contact with infected feces. The disease poses a significant risk to unvaccinated animals, particularly young dogs, where mortality rates can be high. Globally, three CPV genotypes (e.g., 2a, 2b, and 2c) are known to circulate, with all three detected in several African countries. However, no cases of CPV-2 have been reported in Côte d’Ivoire until now. In this study, 12 fecal swabs collected from young dogs were positive for CPV-2 by conventional PCR. Subsequent sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of positive amplicons revealed that three samples belonged to the CPV-2c genotype, while the remaining nine showed high similarity to a CPV-2c variant recently reported in Asia, and more specifically, Vietnam. Phylogeographic analysis indicates multiple introduction pathways of the virus into Côte d’Ivoire. This study represents the first documented report of CPV-2 in Côte d’Ivoire and will be of interest to those working in the field of canine health. Full article

Background: The 2025 EPI Managers’ Meeting for West African countries in Guinea was a critical platform for EPI managers to make an in-depth analysis of immunization programmes. We present a structured analysis of immunization status in West Africa using a WHO Health System model to move beyond descriptive reporting toward systemic analysis for actionable solutions. Methods: The meeting convened EPI managers from 14 of the 17 West African countries and partners supporting the immunization program. Country and regional presentations, immunization and surveillance data and meeting discussions were analysed through a framework identifying (1) core problems, (2) systemic barriers using WHO health systems building blocks and (3) actionable recommendations or call for action. Results: Analysis revealed stagnating immunization coverage. Recovery from COVID-19 pandemic disruptions remained limited, with persistent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD). Among the five Immunization Agenda 2030 objectives assessed, only Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus (MNT) elimination was on track. Four critical challenges emerged: (1) Routine immunization stagnation with DTP3 median coverage of 76%. This was associated with challenges related to poor data quality, weak implementation of innovative vaccination strategies and donor dependency, as 88.2% of countries financed less than 50% of routine vaccine costs domestically. (2) Sub-optimal progress in Big Catch-Up (BCU) implementation in some countries, revealing poor health system resilience. (3) Inability to sustain high coverage for new vaccine introductions despite significant progress, highlighting demand and service delivery gaps. (4) Persistent VPD outbreaks with geographical expansion and the resurgence of diphtheria epidemics since 2023. Conclusions: Persistent immunization challenges in West Africa appear to reflect interconnected systemic challenges, suggesting the need for a fundamental shift toward subnational strategies, integration of immunization services within primary health care (PHC) and improved data quality. Sustainable financing of the national EPI and acceleration of local vaccine manufacturing is essential to achieve immunization sovereignty in West Africa. Country Call for Action provides strategic guidance to reverse the trend toward the Immunization Agenda 2030 targets. Full article

Remote sensing of crop diseases has traditionally focused on detecting visible symptoms, often limiting intervention to advanced stages of epidemic development. This study investigates whether high-resolution unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)-based red–green–blue (RGB) imagery can reveal earlier physiological destabilization preceding visible symptoms of wheat stripe rust and wheat leaf rust. UAV imagery was acquired at four winter wheat-growing sites in Luxembourg during the 2018/2019 season. Temporal dynamics of green–red spectral slopes were analyzed and compared with ground-based disease severity observations to identify potential pre-symptomatic spectral signals. A consistent flattening of the green–red spectral slope was detected prior to a rapid increase in visually assessed severity for both diseases. However, the length of this pre-symptomatic window varied between the two diseases: it lasted 7 to 14 days for wheat stripe rust and 5 to 10 days for wheat leaf rust. Likewise, the reduction in spectral slope magnitude was slightly greater for wheat stripe rust (65–80%) than for wheat leaf rust (60–75%), indicating that the temporal lead time and intensity of the spectral response were disease-dependent. During the pre-symptomatic phase, the spectral dynamics reflected latent physiological changes rather than visible disease severity. Strong correlations emerged only after the epidemic transition. These findings demonstrate that UAV-based RGB imagery could capture a distinct pre-symptomatic phase of stripe rust and leaf rust epidemics in winter wheat. Interpreting RGB spectral dynamics as early-warning indicators rather than merely as static severity proxies can guide proactive disease monitoring and precision agriculture. Full article

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) production in Côte d’Ivoire depends on insect-mediated pollination by Elaeidobius weevils. From October 2011 to November 2013, we monitored 432 female inflorescences in three major production zones (La Mé, Grand Béréby, and Iboké). Each month, visits by E. kamerunicus, E. plagiatus, E. singularis, and E. subvittatus were recorded on the day of full anthesis during three discrete time periods (09:00–10:00, 11:00–12:00, and 16:00–17:00). Temperature and relative humidity were measured concurrently. Visitation peaked at 11:00 across sites, with abundance ~4-fold higher than at 09:00 and ~20-fold higher than at 16:00; mixed-model results indicated that this temporal pattern was consistent among sites (non-significant Site × Time interaction). E. subvittatus dominated visits to female inflorescences (71–74% of individuals), whereas E. kamerunicus showed lower visitation rates. Pollinator abundance was positively correlated with temperature (ρ = 0.18) and negatively correlated with relative humidity (ρ = −0.13), although these relationships were weak. These results identify late morning as a key activity period within the observation windows and suggest that adjusting field practices (e.g., insecticide timing) may reduce non-target impacts on pollinators. Full article

Sugarcane streak mosaic disease (SCSMD) can reduce sugarcane yields by up to 70%. Since the first confirmation of SCSMD in 2018 in Sucrerie d’Afrique de Côte d’Ivoire (SUCAF-CI) plantations in Ferkessédougou, the epidemiology of the disease has never been studied. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate various SCSMD parameters within the SUCAF-CI sugarcane germplasm, which comprises sugarcane varieties from diverse geographic origins. To that end, an epidemiological and molecular assessment was conducted on 548 varieties of SUCAF-CI sugarcane germplasm, preserved at two sites (Ferké 1 and Ferké 2) to evaluate SCSMD incidence and severity, determine the diversity of SCSMV strains infecting sugarcane at SUCAF-CI, identify sugarcane varieties that are potentially resistant to sugarcane streak mosaic virus (SCSMV), and investigate the presence of alternative hosts in SUCAF-CI plantations. The results reveal a very high incidence of the disease three months after planting (91.27 ± 23.28% in Ferké 1; 90.73 ± 22.80% in Ferké 2), followed by a significant increase at eight months (97.32 ± 11.79% and 96.45 ± 15.55%, respectively). The mean severity of the disease was low at both sites, with an average of 1.31 ± 0.02 at Ferké 1 and 1.05 ± 0.02 at Ferké 2. The varieties M292/70 and M700/86, which proved to be potentially resistant in the germplasm, showed symptoms in the industrial plots. Molecular analyses confirmed the presence of SCSMV in the germplasm studied, with a high overall prevalence of 71.32%. The infection rate was lower at Ferké 1 (55.8%) than at Ferké 2 (85.8%). Phylogenetic analysis of the SCSMV sequences obtained in this study showed that they are closely related to sequences from Côte d’Ivoire, India, Iran and Pakistan. No alternative hosts for SCSMV were identified. These findings highlight the critical importance of rigorously monitoring the importation of plant material and establishing a global management strategy that prioritizes the production of certified pathogen-free sugarcane plants. Full article

Background/Objectives: Transitions to new vaccines or antigen schedules represent complex system changes requiring coordinated governance, reliable data systems, domestic financing, and multisectoral collaboration. In 2025, African countries were moving toward a switch from separate pentavalent and inactivated poliovirus vaccines to the combined hexavalent vaccine. This project report describes the Hexavalent Vaccine Switch Early Adopters Workshop in Dakar, Senegal, which included ten African countries, and its implications for future vaccine introductions. Methods: We conducted a practice analysis drawing on structured documentation of plenary presentations, country case studies, interactive problem-solving sessions, and national roadmap exercises. A thematic framework aligned to ten process points for the hexa switch guided synthesis. Results: Countries reported shared system vulnerabilities, including coexistence risks of legacy and new vaccine stocks, inconsistent data completeness, under-resourced vaccine safety surveillance, and financing uncertainties. Early adopter countries demonstrated operational feasibility, logistical efficiencies, and opportunities for reducing injection burden. Outputs included a Health System Adaptation Checklist, a Switch Risk Mitigation Catalog, and 12-month national roadmaps. Conclusions: Regional peer-learning mechanisms can accelerate decision-making, improve operational quality, and strengthen accountability for vaccine introductions. Structured cross-country collaborations can transform a product switch into a scalable system-strengthening opportunity. Full article

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted immunization services in Togo, resulting in 69,672 “zero-dose” and 24,846 “under-vaccinated” children by the end of 2023. This study assessed the effectiveness, acceptability, and feasibility of a social marketing approach deployed during the 2025 Big Catch-Up initiative in Togo. Methods: A convergent mixed-methods study was conducted in 17 priority health districts. The quantitative component compared vaccination coverage before and after the intervention using administrative data. Chi-squared test for linear trend compared district-level coverages, and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 for all tests. The qualitative component used in-depth interviews with key informants to collect data, followed by thematic content analysis. The intervention was grounded on the social marketing framework with 4 pillars (4Ps): Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. Results: Coverage increased dramatically: Penta1 from 1% to 64%, Penta3 from 1% to 45%, MR1 from 4% to 50%, and MR2 from 6% to 49% (all p < 0.001). Togo ranked 3rd out of 24 African countries for Penta1 progress. The approach demonstrated high community acceptability, with Vaccination Monitoring Committees praised as being culturally appropriate. Key concerns included sustainability and resource constraints. Conclusions: Social marketing was associated with increased community adherence and immunization coverage improvement. However, long-term sustainability requires the institutionalization of community structures with domestic funding and continued health system strengthening. Full article

The present study attempts to understand factors that influence bystanders’ decisions to intervene in risky sexual situations in the Ivory Coast. The study aimed to examine the influence of personality traits, history of sexual violence victimization, sense of community, and rape myths on bystander intervention among college students. Two hundred college students from one of the major cities in the Ivory Coast were invited to participate in the study using a convenience sampling approach. Using an OLS framework, our analysis revealed that extroversion is associated with a willingness to intervene, whereas prior sexual assault experience undermines the desire to intervene. Moreover, we found that students’ demographic characteristics influence their willingness to intervene. Policy implications of the findings are discussed. Full article