CAVE-DWELLING ARTHROPOD VECTORS AND PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS IN AFRICA

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Judicael Obame

Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, Gabon

: Int J Ment Health Psychiatry

Abstract

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Man's ecological mark on natural forest environments of Central Africa has been increasing in recent decades, and only few natural areas remain non-exploited yet. Thus, even supposedly hostile environments such as caves meet the primary needs (hunting, fishing, shamanic practices) or economical needs (mining and ecotourism) of surrounding populations. This anthropization is likely to increase the exposure of human populations to multiple infectious agents carried by cave fauna. The presence of wild or domestic animals in the surroundings of caves also increases that risk. Among these infectious agents, some can be transmitted by direct contact with animal reservoirs, whereas others may require the involvement of blood-sucking insects. Anthropization of caves guided by those primary and economical needs makes people inevitably exposed to these biting insects which can act as vectors of potential emerging pathogens. The role of these insects in the epidemiology of many pathogens is wellknown in Africa, particularly in epigamic environments, but remains largely under-investigated in caves. Then we proposed to address this issue. First, we explored the diversity of blood-sucking Dipteral in six caves in Gabon, Central Africa and we studied the temporal dynamics of the assemblage of species. Secondly, we undertook a molecular screening of haemosporidia, bacteria and viruses using nested PCR and high-throughput sequencing. The work carried out enabled us to create a taxonomic inventory of the Dipteral fauna of the investigated caves. Our study revealed a significant diversity of the blood-sucking Dipteral fauna, accounting for more than 60 percent of blood-sucking Dipteral species currently known in Gabon, in all types of areas. Our data showed that the composition of Dipteral communities was different from one cave to another, and that Dipteral assemblages varied over time according to micro-climate fluctuations within caves. The screening of infectious agents in the collected Dipteral helped 1) to explore the parasitic, viral and bacterial diversity they host, and 2) to assess their involvement in transmission. Finally, this study contributed to have insights of potential risk associated to cave anthropization and human needs.

Biography

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