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The bryophyte flora of the Sahelian region of sub-Saharan Africa is characterized by a low species richness, but is also extremely poorly documented. We present here the results of a floristic surv...

Forests are an immense reservoir of biological resources and provide the local population with subsistence needs, especially for edible fruits. This study contributes to a better knowledge of the use modes of non-cultivate edible plant species in the area of Kasa, traditional name for the department of Oussouye. Ethnobotanical surveys, based on an interview guide, oral discussions and direct observations were conducted among 178 people from the department of Oussouye, stronghold of the Diola ethnic group. A factorial correspondence analysis highlighted the relationship between species and categories of use. The frequency of citation, informant consensus factor and use value showed the socio-cultural importance of the species. The data collected identified 62 edible species divided into 31 families and 54 genera. The fruit species inventoried are used for different purposes. They are a food source with 62% of citations, energetic 19%, technological 14%, medicinal 13%, cultural 6% and agronomic 2% for the populations. Two species stand out for their high use value factor (UVt). These were Elaeis guineensis (12.24) and Borassus aethiopum (7.56). In addition to their use value, species such as Mangifera indica, Neocarya macrophylla, Parkia biglobosa, Anacardium occidentale, Ceiba pentandra, Parinari excelsa, stood out for their categories and organs used. These results inform us about the level of use of fruit species for different needs and open up avenues for research in sustainable management of this resource with the aim of reducing poverty.

Wild fruit species provide local people with subsistence products and cash income. In addition to their food value, different used organs can, eventually, compromise the availability of these resources. This study aims to identify edible woody species in Kasa Zone and to analyze their socioeconomic importance. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted with 82 informants. Data collected were analyzed using Epi Info software and uses of species were classified into six categories. A Factorial Correspondence Analysis (FCA) highlighted species-organ relationships. Frequency of citations, fidelity index, selling price were used to show the socio-economic importance of the species. Results identified 62 edible species belonging to 31 families and 54 genera. These species were dominated by Annonaceae, Apocynaceae and generic diversity was more pronounced among Anacardiaceae. Identified species were mainly used for food (53%), energy (16%), technology (12%) and medicinal purposes (12%). The FCA showed three organ-use groups with a strong correlation between fruit and root on the one hand and leaf, bark and wood on the other. The study also identified 16 commercialized species. The fruit was the main organ consumed and marketed. The highest number of organs commercialized were recorded for Elaeis guineensis (4 organs) and Borassus aethiopium (3). These products, often collected and sold by women and children, came from villages and transited to markets through the "bana bana". Their prices depended on the locality isolation and the production period. These results open up perspectives for better management of the supply and commercialization of these forest resources.

Le Laboratoire de Botanique et Biodiversite du Departement de Biologie Vegetale de l’Universite Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar s’est lance dans une programme de connaissance des unites taxonomiques a diversite elevee ou peu connue de la flore du Senegal. Le genre Indigofera L. Fabaceae Lindl. (Leguminosae Juss.) est le genre le plus diversifie de la classe des Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledonae) des plantes a fleur de la flore du Senegal avec 44 especes. Cette etude est une contribution a la systematique des especes du genre Indigofera au Senegal. Des missions de prospection ont permis la collecte d’une espece qui se revele differente des autres especes repertoriees jusqu’ici au Senegal. La comparaison des caracteres macro et micromorphologiques de cette espece avec ceux des echantillons deposes dans les collections des herbiers DAKAR et IFAN de l’Universite Cheikh Anta Diop n’ont pas permis de l’identifier avec precision. Des echantillons doubles de cette espece envoyes a l’herbier de Kew Botanic Gardens semblent le rapprocher de Indigofera brevifilamenta Gillet. La presence de poils simples glanduleux et de poils naviculaires indique que cette nouvelle espece du genre Indigofera appartient a la section des Viscosae. Une etude comparative de caracteres descriptifs de Indigofera brevifilamenta Gillet par rapport aux deux especes de la section des Viscosae de la flore du Senegal que sont Indigofera colutea (Burm.) Merril et I. secundiflora Poir. montre que Indigofera brevifilamenta se distingue principalement des autres par sa taille relativement plus petite, ses folioles a poils naviculaires sans poils glanduleux et son inflorescence lâche. Mots cles : Indigofera L., Fabaceae Lindley Faboideae , cle de determination, flore du Senegal English Title : A new species of genus Indigofera (Fabaceae Faboideae) from Senega l The Laboratory of Botany and Biodiversity of the Department of Plant Biology of the Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar launched out in a program for better understanding of the taxonomic groups with higher diversity or not well studied. In Senegal; the genus Indigofera L. Fabaceae Lindl. (Leguminosae Juss.) is the most diversified genus of dicotyledons class with almost 44 species. This study is a contribution to the systematic of the genus Indigofera. Therefore, prospection missions allowed the collection of a species which appears different from the other species recorded in Senegalese flora until now. The comparison of this species with allied species deposited in the collections of DAKAR herbarium and IFAN herbarium of Cheikh Anta Diop University did not allow to identify the species with certainty. Therefore, some samples of this species sent to the herbarium of Kew Botanical Gardens who have identified the species as the Indigofera brevifilamenta Gillet. The presence of glandular hairs and biramous hairs indicates that this new species of the genus Indigofera belongs to the section of Viscosae. Description and illustrations of this new species are provided with notes on its differentiation from allied species of the section Viscosae which are Indigofera colutea (Burm.) Merril and Indigofera secundiflora Poir. This study shows that Indigofera brevifilamenta is distinguished mainly from the others by its relatively smaller size, its leaflets with biramous hairs, a lack of glandular hairs and a loose inflorescence. Keywords : Indigofera L. Fabaceae Lindley (Leguminosae Juss.) Faboideae, key of determination, flora of Senegal.

Le genre Ficus L. ( Moraceae ) constitue le groupe ligneux le plus diversifie de la Flore du Senegal ; il compte plus de 30 especes. Les etudes anterieures ont ameliore la caracterisation de nombreuses especes mais elles n’ont pas permis de resoudre toutes les difficultes taxonomiques rencontrees chez le genre Ficus . Cette etude porte sur les caracteres morphologiques des especes du genre, des feuilles et des figues en particulier, afin d’identifier les caracteres pertinents qui permettent d’ameliorer leur determination, pour in fine proposer une cle d’identification. Elle porte sur 24 taxa de la Flore du Senegal. Des methodes d’etudes qualitatives et quantitatives ont ete appliquees aux ports, aux modes de developpement, aux racines adventives, aux feuilles et figues. Les resultats de cette etude ont permis de preciser l’importance taxonomique des caracteres tels que : la presence ou l’absence des racines aeriennes, des eperons, des calyptres et la disposition des figues et de ses organes reproducteurs. En outre, cette etude a permis la discrimination de deux varietes de F. glumosa et des deux especes F. iteophylla et F. thonningii souvent considerees comme des synonymes. Enfin, une nouvelle cle, commode et precise pour determination des 24 taxa etudies, a ete proposee. © 2018 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. Mots cles: Moraceae, Ficus , morphologie, figue, taxonomie English Title: Taxonomy of the genus Ficus in Senegal: contribution of morphological characters English Abstract The genus Ficus is the most diversified ligneous group of the Senegalese flora, with more than 30 species. Previous studies have improved the characterization of many species but could not resolve all the taxonomical issues raised by the genus Ficus . This study relates to the morphological characteristics of the genus species of the sheets and figs in particular and aims at identifying the discriminants allowing to improve their determination so as to provide identification keys. It relates to 24 taxa of the Flora in Senegal. Methods of qualitative and quantitative studies have been applied to the port, to modes of development, to adventitious roots, to sheets and figs. The results of this study allowed to specify the taxonomical importance of characters such as: the presence or absence of aerial roots, spurs and calyptrates, and the set up of figs on the plant and of its reproductive organs. Moreover, it allowed to specify the discriminating characteristics of the varieties of F. glumosa , and to differentiate the species F. iteophylla and F. thonningii , commonly considered as synonymous. Lastly, this study enables to offer a new key which is more precise and convenient to determine the 24 studied taxa. © 2018 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. Keywords: Moraceae, Ficus , fig, morphology, taxonomy

Invasive species are considered as one of the most environmental challenges of the 21st century. They constitute the second cause of biodiversity loss and lead to high economic disruption and public health. Despite significant, financial and human investments made by countries and world conservation of biodiversity agencies, there are not strategies that lead to appropriate measures for sustainable management and control. The objective of this study is to assess the state of knowledge on invasive plants in West Africa and to promote knowledge and exchange information. It contributes also to establish in Western African region, a coordinated early warning system through a network of intervention. The paper discusses concepts and bio-ecology of invasive plants, gives precise indications on their diversity and distribution. To achieve the objectives, a literature review was carried out to collect data on invasive species from Western African countries. Therefore, different information sources included floras, database and collection were consulted. The results how that in West Africa, the information collected on invasive plants indicate that 113 invasive species are reported, distributed in 94 genera and 43 families. The most represented families are Poaceae (17 species) and Leguminosae (16 species). They are followed by Cyperaceae (9 species) and Asteraceae (6 species). Euphorbiaceae, Solanaceae and Nympheaceae have 4 species each one. The most common invasive species in West African countries are present in, at least, eight countries. They are: Chromolaena odorata, Eichhornia crassipes, Salvinia molesta, Typha domingensis and Pistia stratiotes. Depending on data availability, the presence and importance of invasive plants vary from one country to another. It must be noticed that there are few data related to Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau and Nigeria. Recommendations were formulated to improve knowledge and sustainable management of invasive plants in West Africa. The expected results of this work should improve the understanding of issues related to invasive species at national and regional levels

Resume Le genre Ficus L. (Moraceae) est un des plus importants de la flore tropicale par le nombre d'especes. Chez les ligneux, il constitue le genre le plus diversifie de la flore du Senegal ou il compte plus de 30 especes. Les etudes anterieures ont montre l'importance des caracteres des feuilles et des figues dans la caracterisation des differentes especes. Toutefois ces etudes n'ont pas permis de lever les confusions dans l'identification de certaines especes. Cette etude a ete entreprise pour rechercher dans l'etude des caracteres micro-morphologiques, des caracteres discriminants nouveaux permettant d'ameliorer l'identification des differentes especes. Elle porte sur 23 taxons dont un nouveau pour la Flore du Senegal: F. conraui Warburg. L'etude micro-morphologique a permis d'observer de nouveaux caracteres discriminants tels que: —le niveau des stomates par rapport aux cellules epidermiques et leurs dispositions sur la surface du limbe; —les types et la structure des poils epidermiques; —la densite...

Background: Zika is a mosquito-borne viral disease that produces an illness clinically similar to dengue fever and many other tropical infectious diseases. Currently, there is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for Zika virus infection. This study aimed to review the epidemiology of Zika virus infection and to describe the recent epidemics. Methods: We did a review of articles published up to December 2015 on Zika virus diseases epidemics. Results and discussion: Outbreaks of Zika have occurred not only in Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands but also in South and Central America. Several travel-related Zika virus infections have been reported in countries in Europe and North America. With the increased reporting of Zika virus transmission in the Americas, countries should create and maintain the capacity to identify and confirm cases of Zika virus infection and effective strategies to reduce the mosquitoes that transmit the disease should be established. In a globalized world, infectious diseases can move faster and easier when vectors such as Aedes Egypti mosquito has become naturalized in several parts of the world. Although the natural transmission cycle of zika virus involves mosquitoes, especially Aedes spp, perinatal transmission, potential risk for transfusion-transmitted and sexually transmitted zika virus infections has also been demonstrated. Conclusion: Zika virus infection has probably been underdiagnosed and underreported in disease-endemic settings. Laboratory capacity to confirm suspected zika virus infections should be strengthened to differentiate it from other arboviral dengue-like infections. There is also a need for a vaccine and antiviral therapy to fight this disease.

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne disease caused by an alphavirus from the Togaviridae family. The Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is transmitted by the Aedes mosquitoes. The usual clinical signs of chikungunya are non-specific flu-like symptoms, a distinctive rash and severe joint pains. The disease shares some clinical signs with dengue and can be misdiagnosed in areas where dengue is endemic. There is no vaccine nor a specific antiviral treatment for CHIKV. CHIKV was initially seen in the early 1950s at the boundary of Tanzania and Mozambique. For the past 5 decades, CHIKV was limited to sub-Saharan Africa in addition to Southeast Asia. The situation worsened when CHIKV re-emerged in Kenya in 2004 and reached several other countries in and around the Indian Ocean. The epidemic swiftly reached regions like India and Southeast Asia and transmission of CHIKV was reported for the first time in Europe in 2007 in Italy. The purpose of this review is to summarize CHIKV outbreaks that have been reported in the 15-year period from 2000 to 2015 to show that periodic outbreaks have occurred not only in Asia and Africa, but in Europe and the Americas. It is evident that CHIKV is not restricted to a single region but has become a global public health challenge. As many citizens from non-endemic countries visit areas endemic for CHIKV fever, medical professionals must learn to recognize such cases among travelers returning from such areas with non-specific symptoms such as fever, arthralgia and skin eruptions. In endemic areas for mosquito-borne diseases, clinicians must be educated about the recognition, diagnosis and timely reporting of chikungunya virus disease cases.