No-tillage and biochar amendment are widely regarded as effective strategies to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, the combined effects of no-tillage, biochar and nitrogen (N) fertilizer application on rice yield and GHG emissions remain scarcely investigated. We conducted a two-year field experiment in central Cote d'Ivoire to assess how biochar and N-fertilizer application under no-tillage influences methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, global warming potential (GWP), GHG intensity (GHGI), and rainfed lowland rice yield. The experiment included three N-fertilizer rates (0, 60, and 120 kg N ha-1) combined with two biochar rates (3, and 6 t ha-1) under no-tillage, alongside two additional treatments; N-only fertilizer (120 kg N ha-1) under no-tillage, and under manual tillage (conventional practice). No-tillage combined with biochar and N-fertilizer increased N2O emissions (9-96 %), but reduced CH4 emissions (13-21 %) and increased rice yields (4-10 %) compared to conventional practice. This trade-off led to significant reductions in GWP (10-20 %) and GHGI (15-18) by no-tillage combined with biochar and N-fertilizer relative to conventional practice. Co-application of 6 t ha-1 biochar with 60 kg N ha-1 under no-tillage produced the highest partial N productivity. Conversely, applying N-fertilizer alone under no-tillage resulted in 43 % higher CH4 emission than conventional practice. Across treatments, CH4 emissions contributed 95 % of the total GWP, and soil moisture emerged as the main driver of CH4 fluxes. These findings suggest that applying biochar and N-fertilizer under no-tillage represents a promising pathway to enhance rainfed lowland rice yield and reduce GHG emissions.
ABSTRACT Introduction Genital chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young people aged 15–24 years old and may lead to serious complications in women, men, and newborns. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a five-day interactive hybrid educational workshop on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to genital chlamydia in Bamako, Mali. Materiel and Methods A descriptive pre-test/post-test study was conducted in 2025 among 174 young participants aged 15–24 years old. Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire assessing KAP related to genital chlamydia and STIs. Proportions before and after the intervention were compared using the chi-square (χ²) test or Fisher’s exact test, with a significance level set at α = 0.05. Results Overall knowledge of STIs showed a slight improvement after the intervention, with the “poor knowledge” category disappearing at post-test. The proportion of participants able to identify at least three modes of transmission of genital chlamydia increased from 41.7% to 50.0%. Improvements were also observed in the identification of symptoms and complications, with a statistically significant increase in knowledge of male complications (p = 0.045 for at least one complication; p = 0.003 for at least two complications). Information sharing about genital chlamydia with partners remained limited (8.3% vs. 7.4%), whereas discussion of STI status between partners increased (62.5% to 72.2%). Preventive practices improved modestly, including consistent condom use (62.5% to 66.7%), prompt health-care seeking (95.0% to 96.3%), and acceptability of on-demand STI screening (70.8% to 83.3%). Conclusion The hybrid educational workshop contributed to improved knowledge and several positive attitudes toward genital chlamydia, particularly regarding communication about STI status and acceptability of screening. However, persistent stigma and limited information sharing with sexual partners underscore the need for sustained and repeated educational interventions targeting young people for chlamydia prevention and control.
Introduction Mansonellosis is one of the most neglected tropical diseases. It is caused by filarial nematodes of the genus Mansonella, the different species of which are Mansonella perstans, M. ozzardi and M. streptocerca. M. perstans is the most abundant species in Mali. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of opportunistic molecular surveillance of Mansonella sp. using qPCR on archived malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and to document this filariasis nationwide distribution among patients tested for malaria in health facilities in Mali. Methods Between June and December 2021, a total of 1,496 archived malaria RDTs were randomly selected from 41 sites distributed across Mali's nine administrative regions. Thirty positive RDTs (excluding Menaka and Kidal, where all positive tests were included) and 150 negative RDTs (excluding Menaka, where all negative tests were included) were selected for further quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analyses in each region. DNA was extracted from the nitrocellulose strips of the RDTs. All samples were screened using real-time PCR targeting all filarial parasites. Positive samples were tested using a M. perstans-specific qPCR, and the internal transcribed spacer 1 of the rRNA gene sequence was analysed. Results M. perstans DNA was detected in 2 (1.1%) of the 180 samples from the Koulikoro region. All 1316 samples from the 8 other regions of Mali were negative. Conclusions M. perstans DNA was detected in 2 of 1,496 archived malaria RDTs (0.1%), both collected in the Koulikoro region. These findings document the presence of M. perstans among patients attending health facilities and tested for malaria using RDTs but should not be interpreted as population-based prevalence estimates.
In 2022, the World Health Organisation recommended artemether-lumefantrine as the first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria in first-trimester pregnancy. However, emerging drug resistance and WHO’s recommendation for treatment diversification necessitate research on alternative artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). We conducted a Real-Time (RT) Delphi survey to establish stakeholder views on safety endpoints and non-inferiority margins for a randomised controlled trial evaluating ACTs in first-trimester pregnancy. An international RT Delphi study was conducted between September and October 2024, including clinical researchers, regulators, policymakers, ethicists, and healthcare practitioners. Stakeholders completed an online survey, rating the importance of composite endpoints and maternal and infant safety-related outcomes on a 5-point Likert scale. Outcomes were ranked, and acceptable non-inferiority safety margin were explored. Quantitative responses were summarised descriptively, and free-text comments were analysed thematically. Of the 54 stakeholders invited, 30 responded (56
Background Genital Chlamydia trachomatis ( C. trachomatis ) infection is one of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and remains a major cause of tubal infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and neonatal ocular and respiratory complications. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), its prevalence is likely underestimated due to limited surveillance, testing, and access to reliable diagnostic tools. This systematic review analysed data on the prevalence and risk factors of genital chlamydia between 1990 and 2025. Methods The literature search was conducted in accordance with PRISMA recommendations using PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, AJOL, and Google Scholar, in English and French. Of the 754 articles identified, 47 met the inclusion criteria. Target populations included the general population, pregnant women, sex workers, people living with HIV, and infertile women. Results Reported prevalence varied widely depending on study setting and diagnostic method, ranging from 0.7% among pregnant women in Nigeria to over 60% in a hospital-based study in Cameroon. Serological tests generally overestimated prior exposure to C. trachomatis , whereas polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) more accurately reflected active infection, with prevalences often below 10%. Identified risk factors included age under 25 years, multiple sexual partners, non-use of condoms, low socioeconomic status, and HIV co-infection. Associations between C. trachomatis infection and tubal infertility were particularly documented in Nigeria, Rwanda, and Cameroon. Conclusion This review highlights a high and likely underestimated burden of C. trachomatis infection in SSA, with significant implications for sexual and reproductive health, particularly among young people. Targeted testing of vulnerable populations, integration of screening into antenatal and HIV programs, and expanded use of molecular diagnostics are essential to improve surveillance and inform health policies. Multicentre studies in under-documented regions are needed to better estimate the true burden and guide interventions.
