Search

Bacteriocin-producing Bacillus species have an attractive interest as less studied spore-forming probiotics for food production. In this study, 20 strains of Bacillus were isolated from soumbala, a local fermented food condiment from Burkina Faso. They were characterized based on phenotype, antibacterial activity against Listeria monocytogenes NTCT983 and genotypic analysis by PCR, using specific primers for Bacillus sp., B. subtilis group, B. cereus group, bacteriocin genes, subtilin gene (spaS) and subtilosin gene (sboA). All the isolates were presumptively identified as Bacillus spp. with predominance of B. subtilis species (30%). Out of 20 strains, 11 showed anti-Listeria activity, with inhibition zones ranging from 11.12±0.53 mm (strain B21) to 25.25±0.35 mm (strain F25). PCR profiles revealed that 18 strains belonged to the B. subtilis group while O28 and O46 belonged to the B. cereus species. In addition, 13 strains carried bacteriocin genes, 10 possessed gene sboA and only strain O48 carried gene spaS. This finding highlights the predominance of bacteriocin-producing B. subtilis group species in Soumbala production population. These could be further characterized as probiotic starter cultures carrier for controlled production of high-quality soumbala.

The trade of local beverages and ice has become popular in many developing countries including Burkina Faso. This study was performed to determine the local beverages safety knowledge of producers and sellers in Ouagadougou. Face-to-face interviews of 233 producers and sellers were conducted. The approach used concerned the process of good hygiene and production. The data were collected following observation checklists and an adapted set of questions: knowledge of risk perception, training, personal hygiene, cleanliness of the selling site, water supply, refreshment condition, packaging materials, food handling practices and foodborne pathogens. Data were analysed by using means, frequencies, standard deviation, 95% confidence interval and t-test. The results of survey showed that women represent 94% of 233 total sellers. Eighty five percent 85.4% did not receive appropriate training about food hygiene and 72.5% of them did not know the reasons of local beverages and ice contamination. Only 35.6% of the sellers used freeze system to store beverages. Poor quality of water and hands implicated to local beverage manufacturing were respectively assigned 8.6% and 7.3%. Statistical analyses revealed significant difference (P < 0.05) between hygiene training and stationary sellers (P = 0.004), hygiene training and source of water (P = 0.02), hygiene training and cold chain (P = 0.013). In view of the socio economic importance of local beverages and their role in the unexpected arrival of food-borne diseases, local beverages sellers should be regularly trained, retrained in order to prevent outbreaks of food-borne illnesses.

Objective To investigate the toxicity of aqueous extract of Guibourtia tessmannii (Harms) J. Leonard ( G. tessmannii ) and evaluate its safety. Methods NMRI mice were used to determine the acute toxicity of G. tessmannii . Increasing concentrations of the plant extracts were administered intraperitoneally or by force-feeding. General behavior and death were monitored and recorded daily for 7 days. In order to determine the sub-acute toxicity of the extract, several doses were administered by oral gavage daily for 28 days in adult Wistar rats. Different parameters were assessed including body weight, food and water intake, biochemical parameters and several vital organ weights. Results LD 50 of 328.78 mg/kg was obtained by i.p. route and more than 5 000 mg/kg was obtained in acute toxicity by oral route. In sub-acute toxicity, no significant alteration was observed in body weight or vital organs, food and water intake, and biochemical parameters. Conclusions The results showed that the aqueous extract of G. tessmannii has low toxicity intraperitoneally and no sub-acute toxicity via oral intake.

In this study, 67 strains were isolated from two fermented condiments from Burkina Faso: Soumbala and Bikalga. Phenotypical methods, biochemical tests and molecular approaches were used to determinate their genus or species. Twenty-two of them belong to the Bacillus genus. Six strains were selected for their antibacterial or antifungal properties. Their ability to produce lipopeptides synthesized by Non Ribosomal Peptide Synthetases was investigated using two different approaches: PCR with specific degenerated primers and Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-ToF MS) performed on whole cells cultivated on a solid medium. PCR revealed that the six strains contain genes involved in the biosynthesis of surfactins whereas surfactins C14 and C15 were only detected by MALDI-ToF MS in two of the six strains. For the first time, the presence of surfactins C14 and C15 was also identified by MALDI-ToF MS analyses directly performed on Soumbala methanolic crude extracts. The structure of these compounds was confirmed by + MS2 and + MS3 of sample and reference surfactins.

Objective: There is limited information available regarding the etiology of gastrointestinal infections in Burkina Faso. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and epidemiology of enteric pathogens causing gastroenteritis in young children, with a focus on rotavirus, and to investigate the levels of malnutrition and other clinical factors in association with the severity of diarrhea. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanMethods: A prospective study was undertaken from May 2009 to March 2010, covering the rainy and dry seasons, at the Saint Camille Medical Center in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. A total of 309 children less than 5 years of age with diarrhea were enrolled and examined for rotavirus, bacterial, and parasitic infections, as well as clinico-epidemiological aspects. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanResults: At least one enteropathogen was detected in 57.9% (n = 179) of the children. Of these, 32.4% had rotavirus infections, 16.8% bacterial infections (enteropathogenic Escherichia coli 9.7%, Shigella spp 5.8%, and Salmonella spp 2.3%), and 18.8% parasitic infections (Giardia lamblia 11.3%, Trichomonas intestinalis 6.8%, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar 1.3%). During the cold dry period from December 2009 to February 2010, we observed a large increase in diarrhea cases, which was mainly attributed to rotavirus infections, as 63.8% of these diarrhea cases were positive for rotavirus. In contrast, no rotavirus infection was observed during the rainy season (June-September 2009), when the frequency of parasitic infections was high. Rotavirus and parasitic infections were age-related, with rotavirus being more prevalent in young children (andlt;12 months) and parasites more common in older children (andgt;12 months), while bacteria were equally prevalent among all age groups. Rotavirus infections exhibited more severe symptoms compared to bacteria and parasites, and were associated with fever, vomiting, and severe dehydration. Malnutrition, especially acute malnutrition (wasting), was significantly associated with more severe symptoms in rotavirus-induced diarrhea. The undernourished children also exhibited a prolonged duration of diarrheal episodes. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanConclusion: This study demonstrates rotavirus as the main etiological agent in pediatric diarrhea in Burkina Faso, and further shows the great severity of rotavirus-induced diarrhea in undernourished children in Burkina Faso.

Three different processes combining cooking (C), addition of malt (M) and/or backslop inoculation (I) were investigated to increase the energy density (ED) of ben-saalga , a millet-based fermented gruel and their effects on fermentation kinetics and microbiological characteristics were assessed. In the process combining cooking and inoculation (CI) and in the control (traditional processing methods), glucose and fructose were the main sugars and their concentrations decreased during the settling step (fermentation). In the process combinations that included the addition of malt (CM and CMI), maltose was the main sugar that accumulated during settling. In the CM process combination, the start of fermentation was considerably delayed due to the marked reduction in natural microflora during cooking. In contrast, in the CI and CMI process combinations, inoculation by back slopping accelerated acidification, resulting in a pH value of below 4.0 after 7 h of fermentation. Although malt was added at a very low rate (0.125%), gruels made using CM and CMI process combinations, and prepared at a suitable consistency, had an ED close to or above 84 kcal/100 g of sweetened gruel, the minimum value required for complementary food.

Bacillus spp. are the predominant microorganisms in fermented African locust bean called Soumbala in Burkina Faso. Ten strains selected as potential starter cultures were characterised by PCR amplification of the16S-23S rDNA intergenic transcribed spacer (ITS-PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism of the ITS-PCR (ITS-PCR RFLP), pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and sequencing of the 968–1401 region of the 16S rDNA. In previous studies, the isolates were identified by phenotyping as Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus pumilus. The phenotyping was repeated as a reference in the present study. The ITS-PCR and ITS-PCR RLFP allowed a typing at species level. The PFGE was more discriminative and allowed a typing at strain level. Full agreement with the phenotyping was observed in all cases. The sequencing of the 16S rDNA allowed the identification at species level with an identity from 97% to 100% comparing the sequences to those from the GenBank databases. The desired cultures of B. subtilis and B. pumilus from African locust bean fermentation were distinguished by ITS-PCR and ITS-PCR RLFP from Bacillus cereus and Bacillus sphaericus which sometimes occur in the beginning of the fermentation.

Among strategies to combat malaria, the search for new antimalarial drugs appears to be a priority. Sheering for new antimalarial activities, four plants of the traditional medicine of Burkina Faso: Combretum micranthum, Khaya senegalensis, Pterocarpus erinaceus and Sida acuta, were tested in vitro on fresh clinical isolates of Plasmodium falciparum. The screening showed that Sida acuta has a significant activity (IC50 < 5 microg/ml), and Pterocarpus erinaceus has a moderate activity (5 microg/ml < IC50 < 50 microg/ml). Further chemical screening showed that the activity of the most active plant, Sida acuta, was related to its alkaloid contents.

In Burkina Faso, most people in particular, in rural areas, use traditional medicine and medicinal plants to treat usual diseases. In the course of new antimalarial compounds, an ethnobotanical survey has been conducted in different regions. Seven plants, often cited by traditional practitioners and not chemically investigated, have been selected for an antiplasmodial screening: Pavetta crassipes (K. Schum), Acanthospermum hispidum (DC), Terminalia macroptera (Guill. et Perr), Cassia siamea (Lam), Ficus sycomorus (L), Fadogia agrestis (Schweinf. Ex Hiern) and Crossopteryx febrifuga (AFZ. Ex G. Don) Benth. Basic, chloroform, methanol, water-methanol and aqueous crude extracts have been prepared and tested on Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine-resistant W2 strain. A significant activity has been observed with alkaloid extract of P. crassipes (IC(50)

Calotropis procera is a bush latex plant, 1–3 m high; its leaves are 10–13 cm wide by 17–19 cm long. This plant is very drought-resistant and grows throughout the Sahelian countries, notably in Burkina Faso. Batch fermentation experiments show that it is a good substrate for biogas production. The highest productivities obtained varied from 2·9 to 3·6 litres biogas day −1 litre −1 when the digester loading was a 4% (w/v) suspension of dry leaves at initial pH 7·5. The acidogenic step of the fermentation was very fast, about 66% of dry material loaded being degraded during the first 2 days of incubation at 30°C. The resulting biogas contained 56–59% (v/v) methane.

Resume Nous rapportons trois cas de septicemie a Shigella flexneri observes au Centre Hospitalier National Yalgado Ouedraogo (CHN-YO) de Ouagadougou au Burkina Faso en Afrique de l'Ouest, chez des adultes âges de 29, 36 et 44 ans presentant des affections associees dont deux cas d'hypertension arterielle et un cas d'infection par le VIH. Les trois cas ont connu une evolution fatale.