scholarly journals Mycotoxin Occurrence, Exposure and Health Implications in Infants and Young Children in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review

Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1585
Author(s):  
Cynthia Adaku Chilaka ◽  
Angela Mally
Keyword(s):  
Breast Milk ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Population Group ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Health Implications ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Regulatory Limits ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Governmental Institutions ◽  
Infants And Young Children

Infants and young children (IYC) remain the most vulnerable population group to environmental hazards worldwide, especially in economically developing regions such as sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). As a result, several governmental and non-governmental institutions including health, environmental and food safety networks and researchers have been proactive toward protecting this group. Mycotoxins, toxic secondary fungal metabolites, contribute largely to the health risks of this young population. In SSA, the scenario is worsened by socioeconomic status, poor agricultural and storage practices, and low level of awareness, as well as the non-establishment and lack of enforcement of regulatory limits in the region. Studies have revealed mycotoxin occurrence in breast milk and other weaning foods. Of concern is the early exposure of infants to mycotoxins through transplacental transfer and breast milk as a consequence of maternal exposure, which may result in adverse health effects. The current paper presents an overview of mycotoxin occurrence in foods intended for IYC in SSA. It discusses the imperative evidence of mycotoxin exposure of this population group in SSA, taking into account consumption data and the occurrence of mycotoxins in food, as well as biomonitoring approaches. Additionally, it discusses the health implications associated with IYC exposure to mycotoxins in SSA.

scholarly journals Acquired Immunity to Malaria

2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise L. Doolan ◽  
Carlota Dobaño ◽  
J. Kevin Baird
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Immune Status ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Acquired Immunity ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
High Risk Infants ◽  
Induced Immunity ◽  
Infants And Young Children

SUMMARY Naturally acquired immunity to falciparum malaria protects millions of people routinely exposed to Plasmodium falciparum infection from severe disease and death. There is no clear concept about how this protection works. There is no general agreement about the rate of onset of acquired immunity or what constitutes the key determinants of protection; much less is there a consensus regarding the mechanism(s) of protection. This review summarizes what is understood about naturally acquired and experimentally induced immunity against malaria with the help of evolving insights provided by biotechnology and places these insights in the context of historical, clinical, and epidemiological observations. We advocate that naturally acquired immunity should be appreciated as being virtually 100% effective against severe disease and death among heavily exposed adults. Even the immunity that occurs in exposed infants may exceed 90% effectiveness. The induction of an adult-like immune status among high-risk infants in sub-Saharan Africa would greatly diminish disease and death caused by P. falciparum. The mechanism of naturally acquired immunity that occurs among adults living in areas of hyper- to holoendemicity should be understood with a view toward duplicating such protection in infants and young children in areas of endemicity.

scholarly journals Microbial exposure drives polyclonal expansion of innate γδ T cells immediately after birth

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (31) ◽  
pp. 18649-18660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarina Ravens ◽  
Alina S. Fichtner ◽  
Maike Willers ◽  
Dennis Torkornoo ◽  
Sabine Pirr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Γδ T Cells ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
T Cell Subsets ◽  
Γδ T Cell ◽  
Microbial Exposure ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Next Generation Sequencing Ngs ◽  
Infants And Young Children

Starting at birth, the immune system of newborns and children encounters and is influenced by environmental challenges. It is still not completely understood how γδ T cells emerge and adapt during early life. Studying the composition of T cell receptors (TCRs) using next-generation sequencing (NGS) in neonates, infants, and children can provide valuable insights into the adaptation of T cell subsets. To investigate how neonatal γδ T cell repertoires are shaped by microbial exposure after birth, we monitored the γ-chain (TRG) and δ-chain (TRD) repertoires of peripheral blood T cells in newborns, infants, and young children from Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. We identified a set ofTRGandTRDsequences that were shared by all children from Europe and Africa. These were primarily public clones, characterized by simple rearrangements of Vγ9 and Vδ2 chains with low junctional diversity and usage of non-TRDJ1gene segments, reminiscent of early ontogenetic subsets of γδ T cells. Further profiling revealed that these innate, public Vγ9Vδ2+T cells underwent an immediate TCR-driven polyclonal proliferation within the first 4 wk of life. In contrast, γδ T cells using Vδ1+and Vδ3+TRDrearrangements did not significantly expand after birth. However, different environmental cues may lead to the observed increase of Vδ1+and Vδ3+TRDsequences in the majority of African children. In summary, we show how dynamic γδ TCR repertoires develop directly after birth and present important differences among γδ T cell subsets.

scholarly journals ‘Grandmother, aren’t you going to sing for us?’ Current childcare practices and caregivers’ perceptions of and receptivity to early childhood development activities in rural Burkina Faso

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. e001233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Hollowell ◽  
Mari Dumbaugh ◽  
Mireille Belem ◽  
Sylvain Kousse ◽  
Tessa Swigart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Media Intervention ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Children's Development ◽  
Children’S Development

IntroductionEffective stimulation and responsive caregiving during the first 2 years is crucial for children’s development. By age 3–4 years, over 40% of children in sub-Saharan Africa fail to meet basic cognitive or socioemotional milestones, but there are limited data on parenting and childcare practices. This study, conducted to inform the design of a mass media intervention, explored practices, perceptions, motivators and obstacles to childhood development-related practices among parents and caregivers of children aged 0–2 years in rural Burkina Faso.MethodsWe performed two rounds of six focus groups with 41 informants in two villages, using an adapted version of the Trials of Improved Practices methodology. These first explored beliefs and practices, then introduced participants to the principles and benefits of early childhood development (ECD) and provided illustrative examples of three practices (interactive ways of talking, playing and praising) to try with their children. One week later, further discussions explored participants’ experiences and reactions. Data were analysed inductively using thematic content analysis.ResultsExisting activities with young children were predominantly instructive with limited responsive interaction and stimulation. Participants were receptive to the practices introduced, noted positive changes in their children when they adopted these practices and found engagement with children personally rewarding.ConclusionInteractive, stimulating activities with young children did not appear to be widespread in the study area, but caregivers were receptive to information about the importance of early stimulation for children’s development. ECD messages should be tailored to the local sociocultural context and consider time limitations.

scholarly journals Determinants of Stunting and Overweight among Young Children and Adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Keino ◽  
Guy Plasqui ◽  
Grace Ettyang ◽  
Bart van den Borne
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan

scholarly journals Maternal and child nutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa: challenges and interventions

2008 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Lartey
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
African Women ◽  
Zn Deficiency ◽  
Maternal Malnutrition ◽  
Maternal Nutritional Status ◽  
Infants And Young Children

Women of child-bearing age (especially pregnant and lactating women), infants and young children are in the most nutritionally-vulnerable stages of the life cycle. Maternal malnutrition is a major predisposing factor for morbidity and mortality among African women. The causes include inadequate food intake, poor nutritional quality of diets, frequent infections and short inter-pregnancy intervals. Evidence for maternal malnutrition is provided by the fact that between 5 and 20% of African women have a low BMI as a result of chronic hunger. Across the continent the prevalence of anaemia ranges from 21 to 80%, with similarly high values for both vitamin A and Zn deficiency levels. Another challenge is the high rates of HIV infection, which compromise maternal nutritional status. The consequences of poor maternal nutritional status are reflected in low pregnancy weight gain and high infant and maternal morbidity and mortality. Suboptimal infant feeding practices, poor quality of complementary foods, frequent infections and micronutrient deficiencies have largely contributed to the high mortality among infants and young children in the region. Feeding children whose mothers are infected with HIV continues to remain an issue requiring urgent attention. There are successful interventions to improve the nutrition of mothers, infants and young children, which will be addressed. Interventions to improve the nutrition of infants and young children, particularly in relation to the improvement of micronutrient intakes of young children, will be discussed. The recent release by WHO of new international growth standards for assessing the growth and nutritional status of children provides the tool for early detection of growth faltering and for appropriate intervention.

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