Populations In West Africa Research Articles

The Process and Current Situation of Islam Localization in Senegal

Islam originated in the Arabian Peninsula and spread to the Maghreb region inhabited by Berbers in the late 7th century and early 8th century, and then spread further to West Africa south of the Sahara from north to south. Around 850 AD, the first group of black Africans converted to Islam. They belonged to the Dya’ogo dynasty of the Tekur Kingdom, which is located in the Senegal River Valley in present-day Senegal. Currently, Senegal is one of the countries with the highest proportion of Muslim population in West Africa, with 94% of its people believing in Islam. Not only that, Senegal has also developed a unique Islamic system dominated by the Brotherhood. This article attempts to sort out the process of Islam localization in Senegal and explain the impact of the Brotherhood on contemporary Senegalese politics and economy.

Recent Advances in Therapeutic Approaches Against Ebola Virus Infection.

Ebola virus (EBOV) is a genus of negative-strand RNA viruses belonging to the family Filoviradae that was first described in 1976 in the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo. It has intermittently affected substantial human populations in West Africa and presents itself as a global health menace due to the high mortality rate of patients, high transmission rate, difficult patient management, and the emergence of complicated autoimmune disease-like conditions post-infection. EBOV or other EBOV-like species as a biochemical weapon pose a significant risk; hence, the need to develop both prophylactic and therapeutic medications to combat the virus is unquestionable. In this review work, we have compiled the literature pertaining to transmission, pathogenesis, immune response, and diagnosis of EBOV infection. We included detailed structural details of EBOV along with all the available therapeutics against EBOV disease. We have also highlighted current developments and recent advances in therapeutic approaches against Ebola virus disease (EVD). The development of preventive vaccines against the virus is proving to be a successful effort as of now; however, problems concerning logistics, product stability, multi- dosing, and patient tracking are prominent in West Africa. Monoclonal antibodies that target EBOV proteins have also been developed and approved in the clinic; however, no small drug molecules that target these viral proteins have cleared clinical trials. An understanding of clinically approved vaccines and their shortcomings also serves an important purpose for researchers in vaccine design in choosing the right vector, antigen, and particular physicochemical properties that are critical for the vaccine's success against the virus across the world. Our work brings together a comprehensive review of all available prophylactic and therapeutic medications developed and under development against the EBOV, which will serve as a guide for researchers in pursuing the most promising drug discovery strategies against the EBOV and also explore novel mechanisms of fighting against EBOV infection.

Evaluation of Soumbara (Parkia biglobosa) Quality During Storage Using Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy and Physicochemical Methods

The fermented seed of néré (Parkia biglobosa), known as Soumbara, is a condiment widely consumed by the population in West Africa and Guinea in particular. The present study aims to use physicochemical, colorimetric methods and mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy to evaluate the evolution of the quality of Soumbara during storage (30 days). Thus, 5 kg of Soumbara were taken, subdivided into 7 batches of samples, and analysed every 5 days for 30 days. Physicochemical analyses (water activity, moisture, proteins, and total ash) would show that the storage duration induced a variation during storage; for example, the total ash contents on days 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 are respectively 3.96 ± 0.25, 3.89 ± 0.43, 3.97 ± 0, 23, 3.99 ± 0.12, 4.54 ± 0.14, 4.57 ± 0.2 and 4.8 ± 0.21%. During the first 15 days of storage, no significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed between samples. The colorimetric measurements showed that the storage duration did not significantly affect the values of a* and b*, except the L* value which decreased significantly (p<0.05) (42.16 ± 0.015 on day 1 to 40.02 ± 0.015 on day 30). Applying statistical methods to mid-infrared spectroscopy allowed a clear distinction between the Soumbara samples during storage for 30 days. The partial least squares regression (PLSR) applied to MIR spectra made it possible to predict water, moisture and protein activity levels, since R2 greater than 0.99 were obtained. The results demonstrated that mid-infrared spectroscopy coupled with chemometric tools could be used as a rapid screening tool to assess and monitor the quality of Soumbara during storage.

Hooded Vultures Necrosyrtes monachus are at risk of extinction in Benin: A result of poaching for belief-based use and decreasing food availability.

In recent years, Hooded Vulture populations in West Africa have decreased substantially. However, in some areas within this region, the species is still relatively abundant. To find out more about the situation in West Africa, we assessed the status of Hooded Vultures in Benin, one of the countries where their status is not well known. We conducted road counts on paved and unpaved roads and along small trails over a total of 1451 km. We also conducted interviews with local abattoir watchmen, veterinarians, butchers and foresters to examine potential threats to this species. A total of 52 Hooded Vultures were counted mostly in the departments of Atacora (32) but also in Alibori (10) and Borgou (10). The relative abundance was four Hooded Vultures per 100 km, highlighting the near extirpation of this bird from Benin. A total of 49 interviews revealed that poaching for belief-based use (through shooting and traps) and decreasing food availability remain the most important threats for Hooded Vultures in northern Benin. If these threats are not mitigated, we predict the extirpation of the Hooded Vulture outside protected areas in Benin within the next two decades, possibly even sooner. Conservation measures, including awareness campaigns, and the improvement and enforcement of environmental legislation, must be urgently implemented to improve the protection of this Critically Endangered vulture species.

Hooded Vultures Necrosyrtes monachus are still declining in West Africa: a nearly 50-year assessment study (1969–2019)

Large-scale declines in vulture populations have been recorded in West Africa. One concern is that the current trend in Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus populations in West Africa is poorly known. To help fill this knowledge gap, we conducted nationwide road counts in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, using (where possible) the same routes and methods as counts conducted in 1969–1973 and 2003–2004 (46–50 years later). Use of exactly the same routes was unfortunately possible only in Burkina Faso as a result of the security situation in sub-Saharan West Africa at the time of this study. Our results reveal that Burkina Faso remains a stronghold for Hooded Vultures with a mean abundance of 62 individuals per 100 km, reaching a peak of 217 per 100 km in the highest abundance areas. A comparison between early and recent studies shows that populations of Hooded Vulture are still declining in the West African sub-region. In Burkina Faso, the number of Hooded Vultures per 100 km decreased from 122 to 75 (a decline of 38%) over the last five decades. In the West African sub-region, under both ‘best-case’ and ‘worst-case’ scenarios, Hooded Vultures seem to have declined by 58% to 65% between the 1970s and 2019. The main causes of this population decline in West Africa are unintentional poisoning, decreasing food availability, and the trade in vulture body parts for Traditional Medicine. Conservation actions for Hooded Vultures in West Africa could include the implementation of supplementary feeding sites (also known as ‘vulture restaurants’) and decreasing the demand for vulture body parts (for use in Traditional Medicine and mystical practices) by offering relevant alternatives such as plants and their derivatives.

Saving the Last West African Giraffe Population: A Review of Its Conservation Status and Management.

The West African giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis peralta) was historically spread across much of the Sudano-Sahelian zone but is now restricted to Niger. Several factors resulted in their dramatic decline during the late 20th century. In 1996, only 49 individuals remained, concentrated in the 'Giraffe Zone'. Conservation activities implemented by the Government of Niger, supported by local communities and NGOs, facilitated their population numbers to increase. This review summarizes past and present conservation activities and evaluates their impact to advise and prioritize future conservation actions for the West African giraffe. The long-term conservation of the West African giraffe is highly dependent on the local communities who live alongside them, as well as supplementary support from local and international partners. Recent conservation initiatives range from community-based monitoring to the fitting of GPS satellite tags to better understand their habitat use, spatial movements to expansion areas, and environmental education to the establishment of the first satellite population of West African giraffe in Gadabedji Biosphere Reserve, the latter serving as a flagship for the future restoration of large mammal populations in West Africa. The integration of modern technologies and methods will hopefully provide better-quality data, improved spatial analyses, and greater understanding of giraffe ecology to inform the long-term management of West African giraffe.

Cattle tick-borne pathogens sharing the same vectors in Benin and Burkina Faso: variations in prevalence and coinfection patterns

Understanding interactions between pathogens at the level of the individual host and the population in West Africa, may have noteworthy implications for predictions of diseases emergence and disease control programmes. Hence, the current study was aimed at investigating the interactions between Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bigemina and B. bovis in West African cattle. Twelve sentinel steers in each of the eight selected herds were randomly chosen to perform a one-year-long survey designed to monthly collect blood sample and to diagnose possible infections of the steers. This allowed identifying A. marginale as the most prevalent pathogen across the three surveyed regions (range: 0.60-1), followed by B. bigemina (0.24-0.85) and B. bovis (0.10-0.64); the same ranking order of the tick-borne pathogens was observed when considering the apparent duration of cattle infection. Regarding interaction patterns, mainly avoidance was revealed between A. marginale and B. bigemina and between B. bigemina and B. bovis. Such negative interaction seemed to be beneficial to the West African cattle surveyed, helping them to escape from babesiosis caused by B. bovis. Altogether, studied Boophilus tick-borne pathogens negatively interact within cattle in Benin and Burkina Faso. This pattern raises new questions regarding the underlying mechanisms and potential consequences.

Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Factors in Ghana: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

The increasing cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden threatens the global population as the major cause of disability and premature death. Data are scarce on the magnitude of CVD among the population in West Africa, particularly in Ghana. This study examined the available scientific evidence to determine the pooled prevalence (PP) of CVD and risk factors in Ghana. We searched electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Library, Science Direct and Africa Journal Online databases to identify literature published from the start of the indexing of the database to 10th February 2023. All articles published in the English language that assessed the prevalence of CVD or reported on CVD in Ghana were included. Two authors independently performed the study selection, assessed the risk of bias, extracted the data and checked by the third author. The effect sizes and pooled odds ratio (POR) were determined using the random-effects DerSimonian-Laird (DL) model. Sixteen studies with 58912 participants from 1954 to 2022 were included in the meta-analysis. Six studies out of 16 reported more than one prevalence of CVD, giving a total of 59 estimates for PP. The PP of CVD in the general population in Ghana was 10.34% (95% Cl: [8.48, 12.20]; l2 99.54%, p < 0.001). Based on the subgroup analysis, the prevalence of CVD was higher in hospital-based settings at 10.74% (95%, confidence interval [Cl]: 8.69, 12.79) than in community-based settings at 5.04% (95% Cl: 2.54, 7.53). The risk factors were male gender (pooled odds ratio [POR]: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.02, 2.70), old age (POR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.21, 1.45), unemployment (POR: 2.62; 95% CI: 1.33, 5.16), diabetes (POR: 2.79; 95% CI: 1.62, 4.81) and hypertension (POR: 3.41; 95% CI: 1.75, 6.66). The prevalence of CVD was high in Ghana. Urgent interventions are needed for the prevention and management of the high burden of CVD and its risk factors.

Integrated Care and Social Protection for Senior Citizens In West Africa: A Scoping Review

Background: West Africa's population is aging at a rapid rate, and the prevalence of older adults with multiple chronic conditions is rising. However, there is little information available about healthcare policies for this age group in this region ten years after the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA). To manage the physical and psychosocial needs of senior citizens, a greater integration of healthcare services is required.&#x0D; Methods: A scoping review was conducted adhering to the Joana Briggs Institute’s systematic scoping review protocol guidelines. A simple search strategy was developed to collate relevant articles from PubMed, Google Scholar, and AJOL, as well as policy databases, between 2002 and 2022. Articles were included if published in English and related to primary care, social care, and multi-morbidity among older persons in West Africa.&#x0D; Results: The findings yielded three thematic issues. First, most West African countries have policies on healthy aging; however, only a few have coherent policies on access to healthcare for older people and the availability of social safety nets, highlighting the need for policymakers to provide coherence and avenues for integration. Secondly, while integration of non-communicable disease services focuses on individual-level services rather than multi-sectoral integration, there is also a poor focus on mental health and sexual and reproductive health integration. Finally the inherent capacity development needs and technical up-skilling requirements require a whole-system approach with contextual nuances.&#x0D; Conclusion: The literature is increasingly recognizing an aging population and the prevalence of multi-morbidity in West Africa. Countries in West Africa, in response to the MIPAA, have formulated policies with regards to older persons' healthcare needs; however, improvements in clinical care at the individual setting level may not be sufficient. A deliberate whole-system approach that fosters multi-sectoral collaboration for integrated healthcare might go a long way toward better outcomes for senior citizens and a step forward toward universal health coverage.

Normal reference values of cardiac chamber sizes and functional parameters in a beninese community population: the TAHES study.

Reported ranges of normal values for echocardiographic measurements are mostly issued from studies performed in Caucasians. This study is a part of TAHES, a population-based prospective cohort study in Benin and aims to establish normal reference values for echocardiographic cardiac chambers dimensions and Doppler parameters in a Sub-Saharan African population. We included 486 healthy (non-diabetic, non-obese and normotensive) individuals (202 men and 284 women, age 37[30-47] years, BSA 1.58 (1.47-1.67) m2). End-diastolic interventricular septal wall thickness, left ventricular (LV) internal diameter, posterior wall thicknesses, and systolic LV internal diameter were respectively at 10[9-12], 45[43-49], 9[8-11], 29[26-34] mm for male and 9[7-10], 43[41-46], 8[7-], 29[27-32] mm for females. LV mass was significantly greater in males even after normalization for the body surface area (98[85-117] vs. 82[71-96] g/m2). Upper limits of BSA-indexed LV mass were 145g/m2 for males and 124g/m2 for females. The allometric exponent that described the LV mass-Height relationship were 2.5 in both sexes but 1.2 for males and 1.8 for females separately. E-wave velocity was 0.79 [0.65-0.90] cm/sec in males and 0.88 [0.78-0.99]cm/sec in females (p < 0.0001) but without significant gender differences in E/A ratio (limits: 0.75 and 2.1). The e'-wave velocity (lower limit = 8cm/sec) decreased and E/e' ratio (Upper limit = 9) increased with aging. Upper limit of BSA-indexed left atrium volume was 38 mL/m2 for both sexes. In conclusion, normal values from a general population in West Africa differ from those established in Caucasian populations with greater LV mass and wall thicknesses.

Epidemiology and etiology of brain cancer in Africa: A systematic review.

Cancer is a significant threat to public health and a leading cause of morbidity across the globe. Of all cancers, brain cancer can be particularly catastrophic as treatment often fails to achieve the desired degree of effectiveness and diagnosis remains associated with a high mortality rate. Africa, as a continent with resource-limited countries, needs to allocate the necessary proper healthcare infrastructure to significantly reduce cancer rates and improve patient survival. In addition, the relative paucity of data within this field in Africa makes effective management a challenge. This review is aimed at elucidating the currently available evidence base with regard to the epidemiology and etiology of brain cancer within resource-limited African countries. This review hopes to bring to the attention of the wider clinical community the growing burden of brain cancer within Africa and to encourage future research into this field of research. The available literature for this Systematic Review was searched on two bibliographic databases, PubMed and Scopus, using an individually verified, prespecified approach. In addition, the Global Cancer Observatory and Global Burden of Disease databases were also utilized. Studies reporting on the epidemiology, etiology, and impact of brain cancer in Africa were suitable for inclusion. The level of evidence of the included studies was considered as per the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine recommendations. Out of the four databases searched, 3848 articles were initially screened rigorously, filtered into 54 articles, and finally assessed qualitatively and quantitatively. We have demonstrated a poor survival rate and lack of proper funds/resources necessary to report, identify, and treat cases, as well as the dearth of comprehensive research on the subject of brain cancer that has become a challenging healthcareconcern in many African developing nations. Also, because of the gradual improvement in healthcare facilities and the increasing population within many countries in Africa, the number of patients with central nervous system and intracranial tumors is rising specifically in the elder population. In addition, the population in West Africa is at a higher risk of HIV-related malignancies due to the high prevalence of HIV in West Africa. The burden of brain cancer in Africa is increasing in comparison with the developed parts of the world in which it is decreasing. Moreover, the mismanagement of cancers in Africa leads to higher morbidity and mortality and decreased quality of life. This study addresses the burden of brain cancer as a major public health crisis in Africa. Improved treatment modalities and access to screening are required to better address the burden of this disease. Therefore, there is a clear need for more substantial and comprehensive research on etiology, epidemiology, and treatment of brain cancer within Africa to understand its epidemiological distribution and provide a means for managing and reducing the associated morbidity and mortality.

PREVALENCE, COMORBIDITIES AND CONTROL OF HYPERTENSION IN A WEST AFRICAN PERI-URBAN POPULATION

Objective: In sub-Saharan Africa, hypertension has become a major public health problem that contributes to the increase in premature deaths in this region. The objective of this survey was to investigate comorbidities and determine the level of hypertension control in hypertensive patients in a West African population Design and method: This cross-sectional survey concerned adults aged 18 and over and was conducted in a peri-urban population in West Africa (Côte d’Ivoire). Sociodemographic data (age, sex, marital status, education level, occupation) were collected. A history of diabetes and hypertension was sought. Lifestyle data (tobacco and alcohol consumption) and some cardiovascular risk factors were collected. Blood pressure was measured with an OMRON M6 electronic blood pressure monitor in the sitting position after 5 minutes of rest. Capillary blood glucose was measured with a glucometer in fasting participants. Weight was measured by a scale and catch on the identity document. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg and/or antihypertensive treatment during Results: Three hundred and eighty (380) people were surveyed, 39.8% were men and 60.2% women. The average age was 40.4 ± 13.8 years. The 35-44 age group represented more than a quarter of the population. The mean systolic blood pressure was 128.6 ± 25.3 mmHg. The mean diastolic blood pressure was 80.6 ± 13.7 mmHg. The prevalence of hypertension was 39.2%, more than half of the population were women. Hypertension affected 41.6% of men and 58.4% of women; women were more hypertensive than men (p = 0.03). Among those with known hypertension, 31.6% had controlled blood pressure. The prevalence of diabetes was approximately 10%. Nine percent (9%) of individuals had both hypertension and obesity and less than two percent had the comorbidity hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Conclusions: In this African population, less than half of the hypertensive individuals had their blood pressure controlled. The focus should be on awareness to avoid complications

PREVALENCE OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS, LIFESTYLE AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS DURING SCREENING IN A PERIURBAN POPULATION

Objective: Analyze the relationship between some cardiovascular risk factors, which are hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and social and lifestyle determinants in a West African adult population during a screening. Design and method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a peri-urban population in West Africa (Côte d’Ivoire) and included adults aged 18 and over. Sociodemographic data (age, sex, marital status, education, occupation) were collected. A history of diabetes and hypertension was sought. Lifestyle data (tobacco and alcohol consumption) and some cardiovascular risk factors were collected. Blood pressure was measured with an OMRON M6 electronic blood pressure monitor in the sitting position after 5 minutes of rest. Capillary blood glucose was measured with a glucometer in fasting participants. Weight was measured by a scale and the catch on the ID document. Results: The survey involved 380 persons, 39.8% were men and 60.2% women. The average age was 40.4 ± 13.8 years. Almost half of the population had no education. More than a quarter (25.20%) of the respondents drank alcohol and 46% of the individuals had a liberal profession. The prevalence of hypertension was 39.2%. Hypertension affected 41.6% of men and 58.4% of women; Women were more hypertensive than men (p = 0.03). Hypertension was present in about half of the individuals with no education (49%) and slightly more than a quarter of individuals living with a partner. Diabetes was present in about 10% of individuals. The prevalence of obesity was 17.1%. This obesity concerned 60.2% of women. Women were more likely to have hypertension than men. Individuals with no education were more likely to have hypertension than individuals with education. Conclusions: In this peri-urban population, the prevalence of hypertension is high, approaching two fifths of the population. Women, people with no education and those living in couples were more hypertensive.

Morphological variation of African snakehead (Parachanna obscura) populations along climate and habitat gradients in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa

Intraspecific morphological variation may reflect phenotypic plasticity or adaptive divergence. While adaptive shape divergence may occur more likely among isolated populations with reduced gene flow, phenotypic plasticity may reflect morphological responses to heterogeneous environments, even in spatially connected populations. We evaluated both processes while examining morphological variations among seven wild populations of snakehead fish (Parachanna obscura) along climate and habitat gradients in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa. Morphological variations were studied by multivariate canonical variate analysis (CVA) as based on geometric morphometrics of 15 fish body landmarks. Correlations between shape variations among populations and climate and habitat characteristics and between morphological and geographic distances were calculated. We found significant morphological variations among the seven populations. The variations in fish shape were concentrated on landmarks related to swimming and feeding, suggesting a contribution of environmental variation to morphological differentiation. However, we did not detect significant effects of climate and habitat variables on fish shape. The trend between geographical and morphological distances was likewise not significant. Therefore, a mechanistic understanding of the factors causing shape variation among P. obscura populations in West Africa could not yet be achieved.

New Insights on the Palaeo-archaeological Potential of the Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal

The study of the Palaeolithic in Senegal has made considerable progress in the last decade and has provided a renewed vision of the behavioral evolution of prehistoric populations in West Africa. The cultural trajectories within the region seem to be highly variable and bear witness to strong behavioral dynamics, the mechanisms of which still need to be better understood. However, the number of reliable, dated, and stratified sites, as well as the palaeoenvironmental data providing a context for populations in their palaeolandscapes, is still scarce. In order to provide new and solid data, we conducted new archaeological survey in the Niokolo-Koba National Park in south-central Senegal, aiming at a preliminary identification of Pleistocene and early Holocene sedimentary deposits. Here, we report an overview of the newly discovered industries found in different contexts. Most of the 27 identified sites show surface and out-of-context assemblages, but other sites are stratified and have all the criteria to justify the development of a long-term archaeological, geochronological, geomorphological, and palaeobotanical project. The Niokolo-Koba National Park, through which the Gambia River flows, is characterized by an abundance of sources of knappable material and by well-preserved sedimentary sequences. Therefore, archaeological research in the Niokolo-Koba National Park has the potential to provide major milestones in our understanding of the evolutionary dynamics at work in West Africa during the early periods of occupation of the region.

Securitising infectious disease outbreaks: The WHO and the visualisation of molecular life

AbstractFollowing its exceptional response to the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) gained new powers to securitise infectious disease outbreaks via the revised 2005 International Health Regulations (IHRs) and the ability to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This article investigates the declaration of a PHEIC in relation to the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic, the 2014–16 Ebola outbreak, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It argues that the securitisation of these outbreaks was dependent upon global surveillance networks that utilised genetic technologies to visualise the molecular characteristics and spread of the pathogen in question. Genetic evidence in these cases facilitated the creation of a securitised object by revealing the unique and ‘untypable’ nature of the H1N1 and SARS-CoV-2 viruses and made visible the widespread prevalence of Ebola across the population of West Africa. The power of this evidence draws from a societal perception of science as producing objective ‘facts’ about the world that objectivise their objects of concern and empower political actors in the implementation of their security agendas. As a result, scientific evidence provided by genetic technologies now plays a necessary and indispensable role in the securitisation of infectious disease outbreaks.

Phenotypic Characterization of Local Chickens in West Africa: Systematic Review

This review analyzes the processes of phenotypic and morpho-biometric characterization of West African local chicken. Data were collected on a set of 44 articles, and other reference documents were used to analyze and discuss the data collected. Existing studies on the phenotypic and molecular characterization of local chicken populations in West Africa indicate the presence of a wide variety of plumage colors and conformations, and intra-population genetic diversity. However, none of these studies have been able to identify the existence of a differentiated subpopulation that can be assimilated into a distinct race. The conclusions of this studies are not sufficient to ensure the non-existence of “race” in West Africa because many of these studies focus only on the phenotypic aspect, while molecular characterization makes it possible to identify differentiated populations with certainty. Additionally, the populations studied are often small in size, though remaining within the FAO recommendation standards. The spatial distribution used to compare the subpopulations was based on agroecological zones with strong interconnections to and shared with West African human populations, to the detriment of socio-cultural realities. In order to be more effective and conclusive, characterization work could consider the spatial distance of subpopulations in a comparison and the levels of exchange between the human communities from which these chicken subpopulations originate.

Socio-cultural and economic factors affecting the choice of food diet in West Africa: a two‑stage Heckman approach

West African countries have made impressive progress in fighting against malnutrition and hunger and ensuring food quality and varying food choices. This paper aimed for the first time to evaluate the determinants of diet choice by the populations of West Africa, especially those of Benin, Togo, and Nigeria. The data collected from 473 people relate mainly to their socioeconomic and cultural characteristics and the factors determining the choice of the diet for which they have opted. These data were analyzed using the Tobit model based on the Heckman method. The statistical analysis of the results obtained allowed us to deduce that the populations studied generally opt for a flexitarian, vegetarian or vegan diet. The age, level of education, religious and ancestral beliefs, social framework, monthly income, perception of the costs generated by each diet, perception of the consumption of products of animal origin such as meat and fish have a significant influence on the choice of diet. The intensity of the chosen diet was determined by variables such as sex, level of education, social framework, perception of consumption of animal products, and meat and fish. Diet being a determining parameter of our state of health, it is imperative to make people aware of the different diets so that they can identify and adopt the one that suits them best.

Annual dynamics of fall armyworm populations in West Africa and biology in different host plants

Since its recent introduction in West Africa, the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) has severely damaged maize and other crops. Control efforts face many challenges as the knowledge on this invasive pest is still limited. In this study, we assessed the annual population dynamics by monitoring this species using pheromone traps and visual observations, so as to contribute to the development of an integrated management strategy. In addition, we also evaluated some life history traits of S. frugiperda on different local host plants to identify the most suitable hosts in Burkina Faso.Adult captures were recorded throughout the year, as a result of a favorable mean annual temperature (29°C). Two population peaks occured: one peak (15.5±3.1 adults per trap and per month) was recorded in December and January (dry season) while the second peak (17.5±2.5) occured in July and August (rainy season). These peaks were synchronized with the major maize production periods of the region, usually 1 to 2 months after planting, when the plants had 6 to 12 leaves. In addition, the proportion of infested maize fields and infested plants per field was higher in the dry season (94.0% and 44.9%) than in the rainy season (80.0% and 26.2%). Based on the larva to adult survival rate (65-80%), mean fecundity (700-1000 eggs per female) and short life span of 36-38 days, pearl millet, maize and groundnut were found the most suitable hosts for the insect development.To better manage this insect pest, we suggest monitoring efforts in all crops associated with maize, the use of short-cycle varieties and early planting. In addition, curative treatments are more effective when applied on young maize plants, as the early instars are the most susceptible.

Ecological and genomic vulnerability to climate change across native populations of Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora).

The assessment of population vulnerability under climate change is crucial for planning conservation as well as for ensuring food security. Coffea canephora is, in its native habitat, an understorey tree that is mainly distributed in the lowland rainforests of tropical Africa. Also known as Robusta, its commercial value constitutes a significant revenue for many human populations in tropical countries. Comparing ecological and genomic vulnerabilities within the species' native range can provide valuable insights about habitat loss and the species' adaptive potential, allowing to identify genotypes that may act as a resource for varietal improvement. By applying species distribution models, we assessed ecological vulnerability as the decrease in climatic suitability under future climatic conditions from 492 occurrences. We then quantified genomic vulnerability (or risk of maladaptation) as the allelic composition change required to keep pace with predicted climate change. Genomic vulnerability was estimated from genomic environmental correlations throughout the native range. Suitable habitat was predicted to diminish to half its size by 2050, with populations near coastlines and around the Congo River being the most vulnerable. Whole-genome sequencing revealed 165 candidate SNPs associated with climatic adaptation in C. canephora, which were located in genes involved in plant response to biotic and abiotic stressors. Genomic vulnerability was higher for populations in West Africa and in the region at the border between DRC and Uganda. Despite an overall low correlation between genomic and ecological vulnerability at broad scale, these two components of vulnerability overlap spatially in ways that may become damaging. Genomic vulnerability was estimated to be 23% higher in populations where habitat will be lost in 2050 compared to regions where habitat will remain suitable. These results highlight how ecological and genomic vulnerabilities are relevant when planning on how to cope with climate change regarding an economically important species.