Sidi Bouzid Research Articles

An epidemiological study of sheep pox in Tunisia (2008-2017).

Sheep pox is a highly contagious disease causing significant economic losses on livestock farms, especially among young animals. Epidemiological analysis of retrospective data on sheep pox surveillance over ten years revealed the endemicity of the disease in Tunisia. Temporally, the prevalence of infected farms increased during the last five years analysed (2013-2017), despite control measures for the disease, which are based essentially on vaccination. Analysis of the seasonality of infection showed that most outbreaks occurred in autumn and winter. The geographical distribution and spatial analyses classified the governorate of Sidi Bouzid as the area most affected by sheep pox duringthe period of study. It was observed that vaccination coverage decreasedbelow the recommended value (80%) in the last four years (2013-2016).

ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF SEVEN BROWN ALGAE HARVESTED FROM THE COAST OF SIDI BOUZID (EL JADIDA-MOROCCO)

Objective: This work aims at the screening of the antimicrobial activity of the seven brown marine algae of theCoast of Sidi Bouzid (El Jadida-Morocco).
 Methods: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of seven brown marine algae against three Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes). Three Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia) and two fungi (Aspergillus Niger and Candida tropicalis). Thus, 35 algal extracts were prepared with five organic solvents methanol/water, methanol, dichloromethane/methanol, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate. The antibacterial activity was evaluated through the disk diffusion method.
 Results: Data revealed that the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria was the most sensitive pathogen by showing the highest zone of inhibitions of 20 mm with the lowest Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 2 μgmL⁻¹ methanol/water extract of Cystoseira tamariscifolia. Whereas, antifungal activity, the highest zone of inhibitions of 21 mm and 22 mm with the lowest Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 5 μgmL-¹ was respectively shown in the methanol/water extract of Laminaria ochroleuca against Candida tropicalis and in the dichloromethanolic extract of Sargassum vulgare against Aspergillus niger.
 Conclusion: The results indicate that these algal extracts can further be analyzed and purified for relevant antibacterial and antifungal compounds which can be used in therapeutics and other applications.

Groundwater quality assessment for different uses using various water quality indices in semi-arid region of central Tunisia

The Hajeb Layoun-Jelma basin, located in the central Tunisia, is the principal source of water supply for Sidi Bouzid and Sfax region. The over-abstraction from this groundwater, since 1970, and the intensive agriculture activities led to the degradation of the water quantity and quality. The quality evaluation for this groundwater is very important tool for sustainable development and decision for water management. A total of 28 groundwater samples, from shallow, springs, and deep aquifers, were collected, storage and analyzed to evaluate its quality suitability for domestic and agriculture purposes using geographic information system and geochemical methods. For the both aquifers, the abundance of cations: Na > Mg > Ca > K, and of anions in the order: Cl > HCO3 > SO4. The dominant hydrochemical facies, for the shallow aquifer and springs, are Na-Cl and Ca-Mg-Cl; for the deep aquifer, the geochemical facies are Na-Cl, Ca-Mg-Cl, and Ca-Cl. The comparison of the major parameters and the chemical data with the World Health Organization standards and the national standards indicate that this groundwater is suitable for drinking, except in some samples, with high salinity concentrations. The water quality was assessed, for drinking uses, using “water quality index,” “entropy,” and “improved water quality index.” The results mentioned that the improved water quality index is the best method which indicated that the poor water quality coincide with the Na-Cl water type. The entropy method and the water quality index present the optimistic methods. The irrigation suitability assessment was made using various parameters (SAR, TH, % Na, PI, MH, KR, EC). The results revealed that the majority of samples in Hajeb Layoun-Jelma basin are not appropriate for irrigation uses.

Blending of mining wastes from the Hammam Zriba mine (Northeast Tunisia) with the primary ingredients of clinkers: an evaluation of effects on gray Portland clinker properties

The present work focuses on the effects of the blending of mining wastes from the Hammam Zriba mine (Northeast Tunisia) with the primary ingredients of Portland clinker properties. The raw mix was composed of limestone, sand, and clay sampled from the Sidi Bouzid area in Central Tunisia. The used mining wastes are composed essentially of barium, sulfur, and strontium and associated with calcium. Results show that it is possible to use these wastes to formulate an ecological clinker with high quality. The reference clinker is composed of C3S (67.8%), C2S (7.9% β-C2S and 7.15% α-C2S), and C3A (10.3%), associated with small quantities of C4AF. The incorporation of 2% of wastes does not lead to any significant change in mineral composition. The addition of 4% of wastes promotes the decomposition of alite into α-C2S (7.1 to 13.7%) and β-C2S (7.9 to 9.6%). In contrast, the clinker melt exhibits a slight drop of ferrite (5.3 to 3.1% C4AF) and a quasi-unchanged level of cubic-C3A. Greater incorporation of wastes tends to establish the mineral distribution as the reference. The amounts of free lime low when the addition of wastes is lower than 4% (< 2.28%). Higher addition (8%) shifts the free lime levels in particular for pure C3A and C3S (15.6 and 6% respectively). For the reference, free lime levels remain low (< 1%). This result bears relevant environmental and economic aspects by limiting greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing the production of low-cost gray cement, reducing the impacts of mining wastes, and opening an alternative for mining wastes management.

Growth response of Moringa oleifera (Lam) to water stress and to arid bioclimatic conditions

A major challenge in agroforestry is the selection of the plant species involved in the systems. This issue is drawing more attention lately due to the changing climate conditions and Moringa oleifera represents a promising species to meet these climatic challenges. The adaptation potential and tolerance of Moringa to water stress was tested in this study. It included a controlled (hydroponic cultivation) and a field experiment in an arid area bordering the Bouhedma National Park (Governorate of Sidi Bouzid) in Tunisia. Water stress was induced by the use of polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) to create different water potential levels (ψh) and included 0 (control), −0.5, −1 and −1.5 MPa. The growth of the stem and main root, relative growth rate (RGRh), and leaf area (LA) of Moringa seedlings subjected to 20 day of water stress was compared to the control. Additionally, Moringa seedlings were grown in the field for 16 months and their growth parameters were evaluated at the end of the experiment. Based on the results, the Moringa seedlings displayed a positive tolerance to water stress. Significant variations were found, such as growth delays in length, reaching up to 30% for the stems and 64% for the roots for ψh = −1.5 MPa. This water potential resulted in a 75% reduction of Relative Growth Rate (RGRh) per day for the water stress experiment (hydroponics), as a reaction of the plant to overcome the stress. Additionally, it had the highest negative effect on stem length and leaf area. As for the plants grown in the field, their main stem height increased by 43.13% and their number of branches by 45.34% per year. An overall (RGRh) of 0.44 per year was noted accompanied by a total phytomass of 0.46 and tree volume of 23.67 g cm−3. Based on the above it can be concluded that Moringa represent a promising species as an ecological solution for use in agroforestry systems, able to minimize the negative effects of drought and to rehabilitate and enhance the soil of arid zones.

Assessment of urban groundwater vulnerability in arid areas: Case of Sidi Bouzid aquifer (central Tunisia)

Rapid urbanization has several adverse repercussions on the hydrological cycle due to great demands of land and water for housing, transport, health, agriculture, education etc. This paper investigates the impact of the urbanization on the groundwater regime in Sidi Bouzid, an old city located in Central Tunisia under a semi-arid climate where groundwater is the sole source for water needs of the city and the surrounding farming areas. The groundwater vulnerability has been evaluated using the DRASTIC model under a GIS environment. This well-known model is based on the combination of seven parameters, Depth to water, net Recharge, Aquifer media, Soil media, Topography, Impact of vadose zone, and hydraulic Conductivity, that are considered as directly controlling the vulnerability of groundwater to potential risks. However, the original model does not consider the effect of urban land uses (urban sprawl and density) on groundwater so a modified DRASTICU model, that includes Urban land use as an eighth parameter has been applied. The net recharge assessment was also modified to include the contribution of leakages from water supply network and sewage networks to the aquifer recharge. On the other hand, soil classes of the aquifer and the vadose zone that are not included in the original listing of the model have been discussed and rated. Sensitivity analysis has been carried out to evaluate the effect of each individual parameter on the vulnerability zoning and to validate the use of each one. The validation of the DRASTICU model was done through the comparison between groundwater vulnerability index and nitrate concentrations. The vulnerability map shows that all the groundwater underlying the city is exposed to pollution risks with vulnerability index varying between extreme in the centre of the city (38%), very high in eastern parts (33.6%) and high (28.4%) elsewhere.

Application of the analytic hierarchy process to weight the criteria used to determine the Water Quality Index of groundwater in the northeastern basin of the Sidi Bouzid region, Central Tunisia

The Sidi Bouzid and El Hjal Wadi basins together comprise one of the most important agricultural regions in Central Tunisia. Exploitation of the groundwater in this region is increasing exponentially. In this work, hydrochemical characteristics and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) were used to assess the suitability of the groundwater in the aquifer for use in irrigation. Concentrations of total dissolved solids in the groundwater ranged from 1500 to 5000 mg/L. The most abundant chemical species in the water were SO42− and Cl−, with mean concentrations of 1010 mg/L and 641 mg/L, respectively. The high levels of these species can be explained by sulfate mineral dissolution and the leaching of evaporitic formations into the groundwater flow. Quality criteria weighting using the AHP was employed to generate a map of groundwater suitability for irrigation. This method categorized water samples as either excellent, good, or permissible for irrigation based on the Water Quality Index (WQI). Most of the water samples (76.5%) in the study area were found to contain water that would be good for irrigation, although the groundwater quality deteriorated towards the areas with low elevation.

SOAS Address: Rethinking Street Vending

“What is at stake here?” asks Krishnendu Ray urgently, examining the past, present, and future of marketplaces and street vendors. What lessons can be learned from cities in the Global South—from Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia, where the desperate actions and activism of a street vendor helped launch the Arab Spring, to Durban, South Africa, where women street vendors forced their way into urban planning by organizing? Ray, a member of the Gastronomica Editorial Collective, posed historical and contemporary questions about liveliness and livelihoods of global cities and what good taste and good food can mean for the very future of democracy when he delivered the 2019 Distinguished Lecture at the annual event co-sponsored by the SOAS University of London and Gastronomica. The recorded talk is available for free at www.soas.ac.uk/about/. This year, in addition to reprinting the lecture, we extend the London conversation to a global audience, inviting two leading scholars of street vending to respond to Ray's lecture. Sandra C. Mendiola García leads us to Puebla, Mexico, to a marketplace where chiles en nogada become the linchpin of an ebullient flowering of democratic potential. She agrees with Ray that marketplaces are sites not just of capital accumulation but also of critical social infrastructure. Jane Battersby, as well, notes the role of street vending and marketplaces as social infrastructure. Throughout African cities, street vendors, often women, are crucial to urban food security, yet urban planners continue to regard vendors as symptomatic, even causing urban problems. The future of marketplaces and street vending, and with it an element of life in an urban democracy, depends on vendors' abilities to demand collective voices in the planning and governance of cities. Finally, in their epilogue, Noah Allison and Jacklyn Rohel note that these conversations about what they, citing Ray, describe as the “last mile of the food chain” are ongoing. Proposing more expansive definitions of vending, they focus attention on the multiple meanings assigned, globally, to urban street vending and on the ways in which those meanings relate to how cities feed themselves.

A GIS-based statistical model for assessing groundwater susceptibility index in shallow aquifer in Central Tunisia (Sidi Bouzid basin)

A comprehensive approach for assessing the shallow aquifer Susceptibility Index (SI) to pollution was proposed by combining the Vulnerability Index (VI) and Quality Index (QI) in Sidi Bouzid basin in Central Tunisia. Hydrochemical investigation showed that nitrate concentrations and total dissolved solid (TDS) values of the Mio-Plio-Quaternary (MPQ) aquifer in the study area were ranging from 14.3 to 111 mg/l and 1218 to 6202 mg/l successively. VI was first estimated using either a generic DRASTIC model or DRASTIC-LU model by adding land use (LU) factor, with preset factor weights; these weights were later adjusted using a single parameter sensitivity analysis (SPSA) or two different statistical methods: canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP) and partial least squares (PLS). Compared to the generic models, the weight of the factor impact of vadose zone (I) is equal to 5 remained the highest for all the other models, except for DRASTIC one using a CAP weight adjustment technique where the weight of I is equal to 1. DRASTIC-LU and DRASTIC-LU-CAP models predicted the widest (VILU − min=89, VILU − max=206) and narrowest (VILU − CAP − min=59, VILU − CAP − max=125) VI range, respectively. VI obtained by different weight adjustment techniques significantly correlated with nitrate concentrations with a significant correlation coefficient, higher than 0.50. Based on a model selection criterion, correlation between vulnerability indices and nitrate concentration, DRASTIC-LU-CAP may be recommended as the best model. QI was assessed by simply adding the concentration of some major elements ( $$ {Cl}^{-},{Na}^{+},{NO}_3^{-} $$, $$ {SO}_4^{2-} $$) and electric conductivity (EC) transformed into ordinal classes (1–5). Groundwater SI maps for both drinking and irrigation water generated into a GIS-based map showed that a great part of the study area had a high SI to pollution.

Identification and frequency of consumption of wild edible plants over a year in central Tunisia: a mixed-methods approach.

To identify wild plants used as food and assess their frequency of consumption over a year in a region of Tunisia where agriculture is undergoing a major transformation from smallholder farming to an intensive high-input agricultural system. Qualitative ethnobotanical study followed by a survey of women's frequency of consumption of wild plants conducted using FFQ at quarterly intervals. Sidi Bouzid governorate of central Tunisia. Mixed-gender group of key informants (n 14) and focus group participants (n 43). Survey sample of women aged 20-49 years, representative at governorate level (n 584). Ethnobotanical study: thirty folk species of wild edible plants corresponding to thirty-five taxa were identified by key informants, while twenty folk species (twenty-five taxa) were described by focus groups as commonly eaten. Population-based survey: 98 % of women had consumed a wild plant over the year, with a median frequency of 2 d/month. Wild and semi-domesticated fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill. and Anethum graveolens) was the most frequently consumed folk species. Women in the upper tertile of wild plant consumption frequency were more likely to be in their 30s, to live in an urban area, to have non-monetary access to foods from their extended family and to belong to wealthier households. In this population, wild edible plants, predominantly leafy vegetables, are appreciated but consumed infrequently. Their favourable perception, however, offers an opportunity for promoting their consumption which could play a role in providing healthy diets and mitigating the obesity epidemic that is affecting the Tunisian population.

Groundwater suitability for drinking and agriculture purposes using irrigation water quality index and multivariate analysis: case of Sidi Bouzid aquifer, central Tunisia

The Sidi Bouzid region is one of the main centers of agricultural production in Tunisia, especially for vegetable crops (18% of national production), arboriculture (13% of almond production and 10% of olive oil), and milk production (125 million liters in 2012 around 12% of national production) [PREDD (Plan Regional d’Environnement et de Developpement Durable du gouvernorat de Sidi Bouzid), 2014]. Therefore, the groundwater quality of Sidi Bouzid aquifer was studied to evaluate the quality of the hydrochemical parameters to determine its suitability for both agricultural and drinking purposes. Thirty groundwater samples were collected and analyzed. The obtained results showed that the groundwater contains high values of dissolved ions dominated by SO4, Mg and Ca. Gypsum, anhydrite and halite dissolution, as well as direct and reverse ion exchange are the main processes of chemical evolution in the Sidi Bouzid aquifer. Multivariate statistical techniques, such as PCA and HCA, helped to focus on the hidden yet important variables and understand their roles in affecting the groundwater quality. Compared to the World Health Organization (Guidelines for drinking water quality, 3rd edn, vol 1. Recommendations. WHO, Geneva, 2008) and National Water Exploitation and Distribution Company SO.N.E.D.E (NT.09.14) guidelines for drinking water, results showed that the concentrations of major and trace elements were within the admissible concentration rate. Chemical indices such as the percentage of sodium (Na%), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), Kelly’s ratio, and permeability index (PI) showed that more than 70% of the analyzed samples can be used for irrigation. The irrigation water quality index (IWQI) classes vary from severe (SR) to moderate restriction (MR). The visualization of the IWQI distributions, using GIS software, shows that the moderate restriction class (MR) is the dominant class.

A first insight into genetic diversity of Mycobacterium bovis isolated from extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients in South Tunisia assessed by spoligotyping and MIRU VNTR.

IntroductionIn Tunisia, almost 77% of clinically and bacteriologically diagnosed cases of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) are zoonotic TB, caused by M. bovis. Although several studies have analyzed bovine TB in cattle in Tunisia, no study has evaluated the risk of transmission to humans in such an endemic country. We aimed to study the genetic diversity of M. bovis human isolates, to ascertain the causes of human EPTB infection by M. bovis and to investigate the distribution and population structure of this species in Tunisia.Materials and methodsA total of 110 M. bovis isolates taken from patients with confirmed EPTB were characterized by spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR typing methods.ResultsAmong the 15 spoligotypes detected in our study, 6 (SB0120, SB0121, SB2025, SB1200, SB1003 and SB0134) were the most prevalent (83.5%) of which SB0120, SB0121 and SB2025 were the most prevailing. MIRU-VNTR typing method showed a high genotypic and genetic diversity. The genetic differentiation based on MIRU-VNTR was significant between populations from South East (Tataouine, Medenine) and Central West (Gafsa, Sidi Bouzid, Kasserine) regions. Of note, 13/15 (86.7%) spoligotypes detected in our study were previously identified in cattle in Tunisia with different frequencies suggesting a peculiar ability of some genotypes to infect humans. Using combined spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR method, a high clustering rate of 43.9% was obtained. Our results underlined that human EPTB due to M. bovis was more commonly found in female gender and in young patients. Most of our patients, 66.4% (73/110) were raw milk or derivatives consumers, whereas 30.9% (34/110) patients would have contracted EPTB through contact with livestock. The findings suggest that the transmission of Zoonotic TB caused by M. bovis to humans mainly occurred by oral route through raw milk or derivatives.ConclusionOur study showed the urgent need of a better veterinary control with the implementation of effective and comprehensive strategies in order to reach a good protection of animals as well as human health.

Wheat drought-tolerance to enhance food security in Tunisia, birthplace of the Arab Spring

Abstract The beginning of the ‘Arab Spring’ in 2011, a regional revolution which started in the Tunisian city of Sidi Bouzid in late 2010, occurred in part as a result of drought-triggered high wheat prices, which in the past led to ‘bread riots’ across several Middle East and North Africa (MENA) nations. Here we present, for the first time, an analysis of possible amelioration of wheat yield loss and greater stability in bread supply resulting from the incorporation of putative drought-tolerant traits into wheat cultivars grown in Tunisia. To this end, we used a simulation crop modeling approach using SSM-Wheat to evaluate yield loss or gain resulting from three types of water-saving traits that have been recently identified in wheat. These consisted in partial stomatal closure at high soil water content, overall decrease in transpiration rate (TR), and partial stomatal closure under elevated vapor pressure deficit (VPD). To capture large gradients in seasonal precipitation across wheat growing areas over a small country such as Tunisia, a grid pattern of 29 × 29 km was established as a basis for the geospatial simulation. Surprisingly, the simulation reflected opposite strategies in terms of water use (water-saving vs aggressive water use). The highest yield gain (30%) resulting from water-saving modification was found to occur in the food-insecure region of Sidi Bouzid. Traits enabling aggressive water use were found to be generally favorable across Tunisia, with one trait leading to up to 80% and 40% increases in yield and its stability in the food-challenged south of the country. However, major yield penalties were found to occur if water-saving traits were to be deployed in the ‘wrong’ region. Those findings could be used as a blueprint to navigate complex trait × environment interactions and to better inform local breeding and management programs to improve wheat yield and it stability in Tunisia and the MENA region in general.

Genetic diversity of Fusarium solani f.sp. cucurbitae the causal agent of crown and root rot of watermelon in Tunisia using ISSR markers

Fusarium solani f.sp. cucurbitae (F.s.c.) Snyder and Hansen is one of the most important fungi causing serious damages to the cucurbits production areas in Tunisia. The goal of this investigation was to study the genetic characterization of F. solani f.sp. cucurbitae Tunisian population. Ten isolates of F.s.c. (F.s.c.1 to F.s.c.10) collected from infected watermelon plants in numerous regions of Tunisia; were subjected to PCR identification using ITS1-ITS4 primers pair, and Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) technique. Results obtained confirmed the presence of F. solani f.sp. cucurbitae race 1 in Tunisia. ISSR dendrogram of the ten F.s.c. isolates generated by bi- and trinucleotide primers; and conducted by the unweight pair grouping using mathematical averaging (UPGMA) method from Nei’s genetic distance, revealed the presence of similarities between the isolates that ranged from 31 to 84%. The isolates F.s.c.8 (collected from Gabes) and F.s.c.4 (collected from Sidi Bouzid), were genetically dissimilar presenting the lowest similarity coefficient. In contrast; isolates F.s.c.3 (collected from Sfax) and F.s.c.1 (collected from Beja) were similar. Cluster analysis based on UPGMA of the ISSR markers data assembled F.s.c. isolates into two major groups. These results are helpful to develop integrated management and future breeding programs for plant resistance.

Innovative approach to control Zoonotic cutaneous leishmanisis: An Early warning system to predict ZCL outbreaks in Tunisia

Purpose: Tunisia is one of the most exposed countries to climate change. The increase in temperature and degree of moisture is a favorable condition for the development of vectors of several diseases. Thus, the zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL), vector-borne disease highly sensitive to climatic conditions, has seen a dramatic resurgence in parts of the country as Sidi Bouzid, taking advantage of the warming in recent decades. The aim of this work was to build a regression model of ZCL cases to identify the relationship between ZCL occurrence and possible risk factors, and to develop a predicting model for ZCL's control and prevention purposes. Methods & Materials: We used monthly reported ZCL cases from an active surveillance system which was implemented in three rural areas. Bioclimatic variables were monthly data between July 2009 and June 2015, recorded from a private station implemented. We used a generalized additive model (GAM) and a generalized additive mixed model (GAMM) to assess the relation between ZCL incidence and climate factors (temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, wind speed and rodents’ density). Coefficients from the best fit model were used to predict monthly ZCL number for the next season and were compared to observed ones. Results: There were a total of 1019 notified ZCL cases from July 2009 to June 2015. The best-fit model showed significant associations between ZCL incidence and accumulated rainfall lagged 1 month, average temperature lagged 4 months, relative humidity with 4 months lag and rodent's density lagged 2 months. Prediction from GAMM approach gives a good prediction accuracy. The Pearson correlation coefficient value was 0.81. Conclusion: Understanding the role of the environmental and bioclimatic factors in ZCL occurrence can help to guide government policy-makers towards the creation and implementation of more effective policies to tackle the disease, and has important implications for prevention measures.

Presence ofSergentomyia(Parrotomyia)lewisi(Diptera: Psychodidae) in Tunisia

In Tunisia, 17 phlebotomine sand fly species are reported, belonging to genera Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia. However, subsequent to faunal studies and outbreaks of leishmaniasis in different regions of the country, unrecognized sand fly species could exist. Indeed, we report in this study the presence of Sergentomyia (Parrotomyia) lewisiParrot 1948. A brief collection of phlebotomine sand flies was undertaken in August 2016 in Khbina locality, in Sidi Bouzid governorate situated in Central Tunisia, which constitutes an old focus of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis. Sand flies were collected, using CDC light traps that were placed overnight, in different biotopes (inside habitations, outdoors, and within animal shelters). Specimens were collected and morphologically identified. Measurements were taken with an ocular micrometer. Two female specimens of the species Se. (Parrotomyia) lewisi were collected. One specimen is here described and measured. A comparison of its taxonomic characters to the holotype from Sudan and a specimen from Algeria is also presented. This species was until now only reported from Sudan, Ethiopia, Algeria, and Morocco. It is here described for the first time in Tunisia, which raises the Tunisian sand fly fauna to seven subgenera and 18 species.

Effect of climate change on vector-borne diseases: Emerging and increasing incidence of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Central Tunisia

Background Tunisia is one of the most exposed countries to climate change. The increase in temperature and degree of moisture is a favorable condition for the development of vectors of several diseases. Thus, the zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL), vector-borne disease highly sensitive to climatic conditions, has seen a dramatic resurgence in parts of the country as Sidi Bouzid, taking advantage of the warming in recent decades. The present work aims to assess the vulnerability of the region of Sidi Bouzid to climate change and to analyze the relationship between disease incidence and the bioclimatic variables. Methods This work refers to statistics recorded cases of ZCL in the governorate of Sidi Bouzid and daily observations of the indicators recorded in bioclimatic in the same area (ambient air temperature, rainfall, relative humidity and wind speed) during the period 1963–2016. Generalized additive model was used to investigate the effect of climate on the emergence and the incidence trend of this disease. Results Annual cumulative rainfall showed a slight downward trend in Sidi Bouzid during the period 1963–2016. This trend was more pronounced during the period 1970–2016. The maximum and minimum annual average of temperatures showed a clear tendency to increase over the period 1963–2016. The annual average minimum temperature increased of 5.8 °C between 1963 (10.8 °C) and 2016 (16.6 °C). The increase in the average of daily maximum temperature was estimated at 0.04 C/year. Monthly ZCL incidence was linked to mean temperature and relative humidity both lagged for 4 months ago and cumulative rainfall quantity for the last month. Conclusion Emerging ZCL in Tunisia since the beginning of the 1980 decade is related to the increasing of temperature, to high humidity level and rainfall. Adaptation to climate change should consider this relationship to address ZCL mainly early warning system implementation.

Workplace violence towards workers in the emergency department in secondary healthcare center in Tunisia: Aggressor and aggrieved specificities and gender consideration

Background Throughout recent years, Workplace violence in hospital emergency departments has become common problem. Thus, rate of emergency departments workers who are experiencing it is increasing significantly especially since Tunisian revolution. Closely related to reduced job satisfaction and performance. The objective of this study was to have an overview the characteristics of Workplace violence against workers in emergency departments in a secondary healthcare center in Tunisia. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in the emergency department in Sidi Bouzid Hospital. The study investigated all types of violence against Emergency department workers including physicians, nurses, admission/registration personnel and security officers. Assaults that occurred during the year of study were included. Data were collected from registers, medical certificate files and interviews with aggressor and aggrieved from October 2014 till October 2015. Socio-demographic characteristics of both of them as well as types of violence were recorded. Data were verified and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), software version 18.0. Results A total of 110 participants were enrolled: 27 (25%) physicians, 45 nurses (41%), 16 security officer (14%), 18 workmen (16%) and 4 administrative personnel (4%). The majority (56%) experienced at least one type of work place violence in the past 12 months: 29% exposed to physical violence, 41% to non-physical assaults or verbal abuses and 30% experienced both types of violence. Males were more prone to violence than females (61% vs. 31%). Same results were reported regarding type of violence (physical/verbal). In fact, in either types men were more concerned but insignificant statistically (P = 0.86). Regarding aggressors profile, our results showed that they are mostly males (77%) with a mean age of 36 years (± 12). They were dunk/intoxicated and suffering from mental disorders in 47% and 12% among all cases, respectively. Conclusion Violence against workers in emergency departments is highly common. All categories are affected. Neither men nor women are exempted even if our results concluded a male predominance. All stakeholders should collaborate in order to prevent and tackle this problem.

BIOPHYSICAL AND ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF ADOPTION OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION TECHNIQUES IN THE SEMIARID REGION OF SIDI BOUZID (CENTRAL TUNISIA)

Soil and water conservation technologies (SWCT) are important to farmers, to the research community, as well as to the policy makers, given that declining soil health, and increasing erosion and moisture stress have implications for agricultural livelihoods, national food security, and more generally for well-being within rural communities. Yet, despite Tunisia was at forefront of introducing them, the uptake of SWCT by farmers has been less broad than desired. This study aims to identify and analyze those factors that have affected the rate of adoption of SWCT within the Sidi Bouzid governorate of Central Tunisia; a region that is representative of resource-poor environments within the country, and one where land degradation is of both historical and contemporary concern. Employing a binary logistic regression model, with data obtained from a survey of 250 farmers, our results suggest that socio-economic and institutional factors play an important role in the adoption of SWCT. Membership within an agricultural cooperative was positively correlated with adoption. Surprisingly, however, participation in organized trainings for SWCT was negatively correlated with adoption, similarly to livestock holdings. We provide plausible explanations for this counterintuitive finding, together with an argument that conventional processes for knowledge transfer and dissemination are in need of reform.

Seasonal variation of lungworm infestation of ewes at Sidi Bouzid slaughterhouse (Central Tunisia)

Respiratory strongyloses are among the most important diseases affecting sheep reared in various farming systems in many countries. In Tunisia, farmers without any scientific background carry out the control of these parasites. A survey was performed in a slaughterhouse in Sidi Bouzid District (Central Tunisia) to assess the prevalence of sheep infestation by lungworms. The study lasted 12 months and involved 720 of the slaughtered ewes. Fecal samples from each ewe were collected and examined by Baermann’s technique. Sixty-eight samples were infested with pulmonary nematode larvae (9.4 ± 2.1%). The population was dominated by Protostrongylus rufescens (4.4 ± 1.5%), followed by Dictyocaulus filaria (2.6 ± 1.2%), Cystocaulus ocreatus and Neostrongylus linearis (1.3 ± 0.8%), and finally Muellerius capillaris (0.3 ± 0.4%), whereas mixed infestations concerned 0.4 ± 0.5% of samples. Lungworm infestation was observed in all age groups with no significant difference (p = 0.64). In addition there was no significant difference in infestation between fat-tailed Barbarine (10.8 ± 3.6%) and Queue fine de l’Ouest (Western Thin Tail) (8.5 ± 2.6%; p = 0.31) sheep breeds. The lowest prevalence was recorded in spring (6.7 ± 3.6%) and the highest in winter (11.7 ± 4.8%), but the difference between seasons was not significant (p = 0.32). This study concerning the activity dynamics of lungworms should be completed by a monitoring project to determine the economic importance of these infestations and provide a solid basis for the establishment of specific control programs against these parasites in Tunisia.