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Human association with taeniid infected dogs could pose risk of infection. Few studies exist on prevalence of taeniid infections in dogs in Nigeria, however, none have attempted to determine extrinsic factors associated with the prevalence among owned dogs. This study, therefore, aimed at determining taeniid infection and its associated intrinsic and extrinsic factors among owned dogs in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. A cross sectional study involving the screening of 185 dog faecal samples using the floatation method was done. Questionnaire was used to obtain data on intrinsic factors such as age, gender, breed; and extrinsic factors such as management and hygienic practices and environmental factors from participating dog owners. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact test at α0.05. The mean age of the respondents was 35.7 ± 11.3 years, while the median age of the dogs was 20 months (Interquartile range 10.5 – 40). The prevalence of taeniid infection was 4.87%. Extrinsic factors such as the water source – tap water (Odds Ratio (OR): 5.5; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.01, 36.8) and the feed types – dry foods (OR: 11.4; 95% CI: 1.1, 159.3) were significantly associated with taeniid infection. None of the intrinsic factors was significantly associated with taeniid infection. Taeniid infection is low among owned dogs in the study area. Source of water and the food type to dogs could be possible source of taeniid infection to dogs. Proper dog deworming and provision of clean water source could help reduce taeniid infection in dogs.

International audience; Like most African countries, Senegal is experiencing a nutritional transition. Global drivers of sedentary behavior and high-calorie dietary intake, together with local anthropological drivers of large body size as a socially valued characteristic could be exposing the population to obesity. This study therefore set out to assess the impact of this sociocultural factor on the nutritional status of Senegalese adults. We set up 14 focus groups (n=84 participants) and a cross-sectional quantitative survey (n=313 women; n=284 men) of adults in three different socio-ecological areas in Senegal (rural: n=204; suburban: n=206; urban: n=187). We also assessed perceptions of body weight (Body Size Scale) and weight status (anthropometric measures). Middle-aged and older Senegalese people value excess weight more than younger Senegalese in all the areas studied. Being female, older, living in urban/suburban areas and valuing excess weight/obesity were independently associated with being overweight/ obese. A higher socioeconomic status was also associated with being overweight/obese. A nutritional transition is under way in Senegal in urban/suburban areas, particularly affecting older urban women, with specific cultural factors contributing to this phenomenon. This suggests a need for local measures targeting women and is accounted for by specific anthropological characteristics in the Senegalese population.

Locusts and grasshoppers are the most important economical threat in the sahelian agricultural system. Principal control strategies of these pests are synthetic chemicals which are, however, harmful to the environment and human health. Metarhizium anisopliae based biopesticide Green Muscle IMI330189 has been recently developed for the control of locusts and grasshoppers. In this paper, we assessed the pathogenicity of three local strains of M. anisopliae var. acridum on Locusta migratoria migratorioides and Zonocerus variegatus, in comparison to the commercial product, IMI330189. There was various level of pathogenicity within the strains on the two pests. On L. migratoria, DPV5 caused the highest mortality after three weeks (91.2%). There was a significant difference between DPV5 and IMI330189. However, there were no significant differences between IMI330189 and the other strains. On Z. variegatus there were no significant differences between IMI330189 DPV5 and DPV10. DPV15 had the lowest pathogenic activity. Moreover, the comparison of susceptibility of both insect pests to Metarhizium strains showed that L. migratoria is more susceptible than Z. variegatus. DPV5 had the shortest LT50 on L. migratoria 7.1 days whereas on Z. variegatus, the LT50 value of DPV5 was comparable to IMI330189. Our study suggests that, DPV5 which was isolated from Kraussaria angulifera in Senegal is a promising candidate for future development for locusts and grasshoppers control in the country.Keywords: Green Muscle, African migratory locust, grasshoppers, local strains, biopesticides