scholarly journals Using Ecosystem Approach to Address Infection with Leishmania Major in Central Tunisia

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Leishmania Major ◽  
Ecosystem Approach ◽  
Central Tunisia

scholarly journals Risk Assessment of the Role of the Ecotones in the Transmission of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Central Tunisia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 9274
Author(s):  
Walid Barhoumi ◽  
Ifhem Chelbi ◽  
Wasfi Fares ◽  
Sami Zhioua ◽  
Mohamed Abbas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽  
Leishmania Major ◽  
Etiologic Agent ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Sand Fly ◽  
Main Peak ◽  
Sand Flies ◽  
Central Tunisia ◽  
Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽  
Significant Difference

Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL), endemic in Central and Southern Tunisia, is caused by Leishmania major (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae), which is transmitted by the sand fly Phlebotomus papatasi. In Tunisia, the fat sand rat Psammomys obesus and the desert jird Meriones shawi are the principal reservoir hosts of L. major. The presence of the P. papatasi vector of the L. major etiologic agent of ZCL was assessed in the vicinity of villages in endemic areas of Central Tunisia. The study was performed from September through October 2019, a period corresponding to the main peak of activity of P. papatasi. Sand flies were collected from rodent burrows located at the ecotone level, which is the transition zone between the natural environment and human settlement. Sand flies were identified to species level and tested for the presence of L. major by PCR. Our entomological survey showed that P. papatasi is the most abundant sand fly species associated with rodent burrows, and this abundance is even higher in ecotones primarily occupied by P. obesus in comparison to ecotones occupied by M. shawi. Infections with Leishmania major were detected only in P. papatasi, with an overall minimum infection rate (MIR) of 2.64%. No significant difference was observed between the MIRs in ecotones of P. obesus and of M. shawi. Incidence of ZCL in the studied areas ranged from 200 to 700 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, with a mean incidence of 385.41 per 100,000. Higher ZCL incidence was identified in ecotones of M. shawi compared to ecotones of P. obesus. ZCL cases are positively correlated with the MIRs. Considering the short flight range of P. papatasi, increases in its densities associated with burrows of P. obesus or M. shawi at the ecotone level expand the overlap of infected vectors with communities and subsequently increase ZCL incidence. Therefore, control measures should target P. papatasi populations at the ecotones.

scholarly journals The Impact of Illegal Waste Sites on the Transmission of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Central Tunisia

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 66
Author(s):  
Ifhem Chelbi ◽  
Olfa Mathlouthi ◽  
Sami Zhioua ◽  
Wasfi Fares ◽  
Anis Boujaama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽  
Natural Environment ◽  
Leishmania Major ◽  
Etiologic Agent ◽  
Household Waste ◽  
Phlebotomus Papatasi ◽  
Central Tunisia ◽  
Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽  
Illegal Waste ◽  
The Impact

Illegal waste disposal represents a risk health factor for vector-borne diseases by providing shelter for rodents and their ectoparasites. The presence of the Phlebotomus papatasi vector of Leishmania major, an etiologic agent of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL), was assessed at illegal waste sites located at the vicinity of villages in endemic areas of Central Tunisia. The study was performed over a two-year period over three nights from July to September 2017, and over three nights in September 2018. Household waste is deposited illegally forming dumpsites at the vicinity of each village and contains several rodent burrows of Psammomys obesus, the main reservoir host of L. major. Sandflies were collected from rodent burrows in the natural environment and in dumpsites using sticky traps and were identified at species level. Female sandflies were tested for the presence of L. major by PCR. Our entomological survey showed that Phlebotomus papatasi is the most abundant sandfly species associated with rodent burrows in these waste sites. The densities of P. papatasi in dumpsites are significantly higher compared to the natural environment. The minimum infection rate of P. papatasi with L. major in these illegal waste sites is not significantly different compared to the natural environment. Considering the short flight range of P. papatasi, increases in its densities, associated with burrows of P. obesus in illegal waste sites located at the edge of villages, expands the overlap of infected ZCL vectors with communities. Thus, illegal waste sites pose a high risk of spreading ZCL to neighboring home ranges. Waste management is an environmentally friendly method of controlling sandfly populations and should be included in an integrated management program for controlling ZCL in endemic countries.

Chemical Composition and Anti-Leishmania Major Activity of Essential Oils from Artemesia spp. Grown in Central Tunisia

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 1186-1198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Mathlouthi ◽  
Mouna Belkessam ◽  
Mouna Sdiri ◽  
Mohamed Fethi Diouani ◽  
Abdelaziz Souli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Essential Oils ◽  
Leishmania Major ◽  
Major Activity ◽  
Central Tunisia

Ionic homeostasis and subcellular element compartmentation

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-151
Author(s):  
Ann LeFurgey ◽  
Peter Ingram ◽  
J.J. Blum ◽  
M.C. Carney ◽  
L.A. Hawkey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leishmania Major ◽  
Ionic Homeostasis ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Functional Studies ◽  
Cell Compartments ◽  
X Ray Imaging ◽  
Resolution Electron ◽  
Multiple Cell ◽  
Role Of Zn

Subcellular compartments commonly identified and analyzed by high resolution electron probe x-ray microanalysis (EPXMA) include mitochondria, cytoplasm and endoplasmic or sarcoplasmic reticulum. These organelles and cell regions are of primary importance in regulation of cell ionic homeostasis. Correlative structural-functional studies, based on the static probe method of EPXMA combined with biochemical and electrophysiological techniques, have focused on the role of these organelles, for example, in maintaining cell calcium homeostasis or in control of excitation-contraction coupling. New methods of real time quantitative x-ray imaging permit simultaneous examination of multiple cell compartments, especially those areas for which both membrane transport properties and element content are less well defined, e.g. nuclei including euchromatin and heterochromatin, lysosomes, mucous granules, storage vacuoles, microvilli. Investigations currently in progress have examined the role of Zn-containing polyphosphate vacuoles in the metabolism of Leishmania major, the distribution of Na, K, S and other elements during anoxia in kidney cell nuclel and lysosomes; the content and distribution of S and Ca in mucous granules of cystic fibrosis (CF) nasal epithelia; the uptake of cationic probes by mltochondria in cultured heart ceils; and the junctional sarcoplasmic retlculum (JSR) in frog skeletal muscle.

SIGNIFICANCE OF ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS OF SPECIAL GREENING TERRITORIES

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.N. Krupina ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Environmental Protection ◽  
Ecosystem Approach ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Situational Analysis ◽  
Ecological Situation ◽  
Barrier Potential ◽  
Industrial Cities ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Industrial Zones

Based on the analysis of the tense ecological situation in the industrial zones of industrial cities, the role and place of special landscaping areas in the implementation of national projects is substantiated. From the perspective of the ecosystem approach, a set of requirements and a list of priority optimization decisions regarding the planning organization of environmental protection landscaping are proposed. The matrix of situational analysis of the state and the composition of indicators for assessing the barrier potential of a territory with a special land use regime are presented.

Leishmanicidal Activity of Plant Extracts from Sefrou, a Moroccan Focus of Leishmaniasis, against Various Leishmania Parasites in the Promastigote Stage

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Zeouk ◽  
A. Et-Touys ◽  
M. Balouiri ◽  
H. Fellah ◽  
A. El Ouali Lalami ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽  
Plant Extracts ◽  
Leishmania Infantum ◽  
Leishmania Major ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
World Health ◽  
Total Phenolic ◽  
Leishmania Tropica ◽  
Cistus Salviifolius

According to the World Health Organization, leishmaniasis remains a major worldwide public health problem. The province of Sefrou located in the center of Morocco is a focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis. The present study aims at evaluating the antileishmanial potential of Berberis sp.,Crataegus oxyacantha, Cistus salviifolius, Ephedra altissima and Lavandula dentatafrequently used by the local population. Methanolic extracts were tested against the promastigote form ofLeishmania tropica, Leishmania majorandLeishmania infantumusing tetrazolium-based colorimetric (MTT) assay. The total phenol and flavonoids content of all extracts were determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent, aluminum chloride, and potassium acetate solutions respectively. The plant extracts exhibited antileishmanial activity with variability depending on the tested strain and the plant species compared to Glucantime® used as control (IC50 (the half maximal inhibitory concentration) > 1,000 μg/mL). The best inhibition was observed with Berberis sp., againstLeishmania major(IC50 = 394.40 ± 3.02 μg/ml), andEphedra altissima(reported for the first time) againstLeishmania infantum(IC50 = 490.84 ± 3.15 μg/mL).Leishmania tropicahas shown the same sensitivity behavior toward the five extracts (in average IC50 = 540 ± 11.20 μg/mL). The total phenolic content was higher forCrataegus oxyacanthaandCistus salviifolius(140.67 ± 3.17 μg eq Gallic Acid (GA)/ mg of Extract (E) and 133.83 ± 9.03 μg eq GA/mg of E respectively), while flavonoid was higher forCistus salviifoliusandLavandula dentata(57.92 ± 2.46 μg eq Quercetin (Que)/ mg of Extract (E) and 41.53 ± 1.74 μg eq Que/mg of E). All the tested extracts present some promising aspects that may cure cutaneous leishmaniasis in the center of Morocco; further bioguided assays are needed to isolate the fractions and the bioactive molecule.

The Olive Grove of Rome

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 111-135
Author(s):  
Jessica Biddlestone
Keyword(s):  
Roman Empire ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Olive Grove ◽  
Material Development ◽  
Central Tunisia

In 1892, the French resident general in Tunisia launched the first state-sponsored colonization effort in the Tunisian protectorate. Based on Paul Bourde’s study of ancient Roman agriculture, the colonization plan explicitly sought to remake Roman prosperity in central Tunisia by fostering the cultivation of olives. Examining Bourde’s study of the ancient past and his work as director of agriculture in Tunisia, this article explores the connections between the study of the Roman Empire and the development of colonialism in North Africa. In tracing this history, this article highlights how the study and use of Roman ruins in French Tunisia inspired an appreciation for the role that technology and material development played in supporting the spread of Roman civilization and culture.

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