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This cross-sectional study was conducted at the slaughterhouses/slabs of Oudalan and Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, between August and September 2013. It aimed at determining the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) suggestive lesions in slaughtered cattle carcasses and to identify and characterize the mycobacteria isolated from these lesions. A thorough postmortem examination was conducted on carcasses of a total of 2165 randomly selected cattle. The overall prevalence of bTB suggestive lesions was 2.7% (58/2165; 95% CI 2.1–3.5%). Due to the low number of positive samples, data were descriptively presented. The lesions were either observed localized in one or a few organs or generalized (i.e., miliary bTB) in 96.6% (n = 57) and 3.4% (n = 2), respectively. The identified mycobacteria were M. bovis (44.4%, n = 20), M. fortuitum (8.9%, n = 4), M. elephantis (6.7%, n = 3), M. brumae (4.4%, n = 2), M. avium (2.2%, n = 1), M. asiaticum (2.2%, n = 1), M. terrae (2.2%, n = 1), and unknown non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) (11.1%, n = 5). Moreover, eight mixed cultures with more than one Mycobacterium species growing were also observed, of which three were M. bovis and M. fortuitum and three were M. bovis and M. elephantis. In conclusion, M. bovis is the predominant causative agent of mycobacterial infections in the study area. Our study has identified a base to broaden the epidemiological knowledge on zoonotic transmission of mycobacteria in Burkina Faso by future studies investigating further samples from humans and animals, including wild animals employing molecular techniques.

In December 2014, a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus responsible for deaths among poultry was detected in southwestern Nigeria, specifically in a live bird market in [...]

Objective(s): The aim of this study was to evaluate the antidiabetic potential of Pseudocedrela kotschyi leaf decoction by making a comparison between extracts harvested over three months. Design: This study is done through a few experiences. After the quantification of total polyphenols by folin-Ciocalteu reagent method, the antioxidant activities were tested with ABTS, DPPH and FRAP essays. Then, the glucose oxidase kit was used to determine the glucose adsorption capacity of the extracts. At last, dinitrosalicylic acid method served to evaluate the α-amylase inhibitory activity of the extracts. Results: As results the leaves extracts of Pseudocedrela kotschyi showed a polyphenol content of 39,97 ± 3,63 mg EAG/g DE for October, 74,2 ± 11,64 for November and 59,45 ± 7,024 for December. For total flavonoids, the content was 4,86 ± 0,29 mg QE/g DE (October) 5,68 ± 0,39 mg QE/g DE (November) and 5,548 ± 0,19 mg QE/g DE (December). In addition, the antioxidant activity was correlated with the phenolic content (r = -0.65 for DPPH IC50, r = -0.84 for ABTS IC50 and r = 0.97 for FRAP). Besides, the extracts exhibited a strong α-amylase inhibitory activity (IC50 = 0,272 mg DE/mL for October, 0,097 mg DE/mL for November and 0,101 mg DE/mL for December) and had a high capacity to adsorb glucose (over 219,98 ±2,54mmol/g DE for a 30mM glucose solution for November). Conclusion: Pseudocedrela kotschyi leaf decoction has the ability to inhibit α-amylase activity and adsorb glucose in glucose concentrated solution. So it possess a high antidiabetic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To synthesize hybrid benzimidazolyl-chalcone derivatives, evaluate their anthelmintic activity, and establish some structural elements which could lead to induction and enhancement of this activity. Methods: A series of 1-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-3-aryl-2-propen-1-one compounds (6a-z) was synthesized by condensation reaction of 2-acetylbenzimidazole with aryl and heteroaryl aldehyde derivatives. The physicochemical characterization of these benzimidazolyl-chalcones was carried out by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H and 13C NMR) and mass spectroscopy (MS). All compounds were screened in vitro for their nematicidal activity against Haemonchus contortus in larval development assay. The anthelmintic activities obtained were compared with those of anthelmintic reference drugs (fenbendazole and ivermectin); 1,3-diphenyl-2-propen-1-one also used as reference for chalcone. Results: Compounds 6a, 6g, 6w and 6y showed good nematicidal activity (LC100) at 0.002 and 0.0092 µg/ml. The activity of these four benzimidazolyl-chalcones is nearly equal to that of fenbendazole. It is also interesting to know that these compounds have anti-haemonchus activity which is equal or more efficient than ivermectin. Four other compounds (6d, 6h, 6o and 6t) possess interesting anthelmintic activities at 0.68 and 0.16 µg/ml. Conclusion: Preliminary structure-activity relationship studies revealed that arylpropenone group in position 2 of the benzimidazole ring can be considered as new pharmacophore for nematicidal activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]