Cysticercosis is caused by the larvae of the cestode Taenia solium. Few data are available on the prevalence of this disease in pigs and humans in West African countries. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of existing data concerning the spread of this parasitosis in the countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the basis of the literature published over the last five decades. Systematic searches for publications were carried out on PubMed and Google Scholar, as well as in certain regional and local journals. From a total of 501 articles initially retrieved concerning T. solium cysticercosis in West African countries, only 120 articles were relevant for this review and therefore finally retained. For pigs, only eight out of sixteen countries of the region have reported porcine cysticercosis. Post-mortem examination of carcasses at slaughterhouses, meat inspection at butcheries or tongue inspection in herds have been the main source of data, but may not entirely reflect actual parasite distribution. For humans, only five out of sixteen countries reported epidemiological data on neurocysticercosis. Most data referred to neurocysticercosis prevalence among epileptic patients or isolated clinical cases. Furthermore, existing data are often old. Overall, T. solium cysticercosis remains largely neglected in West Africa, and its prevalence appears not to be affected by any religion in particular. There is an urgent need to promote and implement health partnerships and programs on this disease in order to collect more data and identify sensitive populations in the countries of the ECOWAS area.

Rabies is endemic in Côte d'Ivoire and was identified in January 2017 as a priority zoonosis by all stakeholders in public health. A well-designed integrated national rabies control is essential to attain the objective of zero human deaths from dog rabies by 2030. The current study describes the complementary elements of dog bite risk factors and the dog population estimate that are relevant for planning sustainable interventions.We conducted a transverse survey in 8′004 households in the departments of San Pedro (4′002) and Bouaké (4′002), covering both rural and urban areas. The doghousehold ratio was estimated at one dog for three households (0.33) or one dog for 20 people (0.05).The owned canine population on a national level was estimated at 1′400'654 dogs (range 1′276'331 to 1′535'681). The main dog bite risk factors were dog ownership, being male, and living in urban San Pedro Department.The results lay a foundation for public engagement and further steps for mass vaccination of the household dog population to reach vaccination coverage of at least 80%. Stakeholders further recommend raising awareness of dog owners, reinforcing knowledge in school children and young boys, and behavior changes towards domestic animals.

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Cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus has become a common problem for cattle herders in Côte d’Ivoire after its discovery there in the early 2000s, despite the availability of a large range of acaricide products. The objective of this study was to assess the resistance of the cattle tick R. microplus to alphacypermethrin, deltamethrin and amitraz, and to provide information to advice farmers of acaricide products choice in Côte d’Ivoire. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in September 2016 on nine farms where resistance to acaricides was suspected. Engorged R. microplus females were sampled and transported to the International Centre for Research and Development on Subhumid Livestock Production (CIRDES) in Burkina Faso. The FAO larval packet test method (adapted by CIRDES) was applied to assess the resistance-susceptibility level of the R. microplus tick populations to three common acaricidal molecules (alphacypermethrin, deltamethrin and amitraz) in Côte d’Ivoire. The results showed resistance ratios (RR) at 50% (RR50 95% CI) ranging from 0.26 (0.20-0.33) to 1910.3 (0.0-9063.3). High resistance to amitraz and deltamethrin was found on all farms, whereas resistance of tick populations to alphacypermethrin varied by farm from very susceptible to highly resistant. These results indicate that alphacypermetrin should remain a recommended acaricide on some farms in the country and underline the importance of raising awareness on the appropriate use of acaricides and monitoring acaricide resistance in tick populations in Côte d’Ivoire. Such actions will support farmers in the control and prevention of R. microplus infestation in cattle herds in Côte d’Ivoire.

Ce travail avait pour objectif d’améliorer la lutte contre la tique Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus en Côte d’Ivoire en apportant une assistance aux éleveurs dans le choix des acaricides qui leur sont proposés. Pour ce faire, il a été question de répertorier les spécialités d’acaricides distribuées en Côte d’Ivoire pour le détiquage des bovins et par la suite, évaluer le niveau de résistance-sensibilité des tiques R. (B.) microplus à ces acaricides dans les élevages péri-urbains de bovins au sud de la Côte d’Ivoire, précisément dans la zone d’Azaguié où la tique exotique R. (B.) microplus a été découverte pour la première fois en Afrique de l’Ouest. Il ressort de l’étude que six (6) molécules acaricides sont officiellement distribuées en Côte d’Ivoire (Alphacyperméthrine, Cyperméthrine, Amitraz, Fluméthrine, Deltaméthrine et Fipronil) sous diverses appellations commerciales. Face aux échecs thérapeutiques recurents et aux plaintes des éleveurs, une nouvelle gamme d’acaricides est actuellement proposée aux éleveurs. Elle est essentiellement constituée de produits à base de fluméthrine, de fipronil, de deltaméthrine ou de cyperméthrine associée au chlorpyriphos, au butoxide de pipéronyl et à la citronnelle. La méthode de référence LPT (Larval Packet Test) standardisée par la FAO a été utilisée pour évaluer le niveau de résistance de cette tique invasive R. (B.) microplus à trois (3) molécules acaricides de cette gamme à savoir la deltaméthrine, la fluméthrine et la nouvelle spécialité de molécules associées (cyperméthrine-chlorpyriphos-citronnelle-butoxide de pipéronyl). Une variation du niveau de résistance a été signalée d’un acaricide à l’autre vis-à-vis des populations de tiques R. (B.) microplus testées. L’étude a montré une résistance des populations de tiques R. (B.) microplus à la deltaméthrine et à la fluméthrine. Quant à la nouvelle spécialité de molécules associées, elle a présenté un niveau de sensibilité acceptable exprimé par les populations de tiques R. (B.) microplus.