Microbiological quality of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) consumed on the streets of Maroua (Cameroon: Effect of disinfecting agents used by some vendors

This study was carried out to determine and compare the microbiological quality of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) from market (unwashed) and those ready to eat in Maroua. The results revealed that 92.3% of lettuce vendors in Maroua, used Chlorine and 7.7% used potassium permanganate as cleaning method. The microbial concentration of lettuce varied from one vendor to another. Total flora ranged from 2.3 to 4.9 Log CFU/g for unwashed samples and from 2 to 4.51 Log CFU/g for washed samples; fungi counts were comprised between 0.76 to 2.65 Log CFU/g for unwashed samples and 0.26 to 2.17 Log CFU/g for washed samples; total coliforms ranged from 2.84 to 3.60 Log CFU/g for unwashed, and 0.26 to 3.00 Log CFU/g for washed lettuce; fecal coliforms ranged from 1.29 to 3.60 Log CFU/g for unwashed samples and 1.70 to 3Log CFU/g for washed samples. These results show also that Vibrio spp. was found amongst the 69% of unwashed samples, but was absent in all the washed samples. Salmonella spp. was present in 85% samples of unwashed lettuce, but absent in washed samples. The results revealed also that; there was a significant difference between the bacterial concentration of unwashed and washed lettuce samples (P<0.05). Most of the analysed samples (92%) composed of washed and unwashed samples were not satisfactory for consumption. (Résumé d'auteur

Identification of yeasts present in artisanal yoghurt and traditionally fermented milks consumed in the northern part of Cameroon

Bacteria generally ferment milk but, sometimes, yeasts are found in fermented milks. The presence of these yeasts in the microbial community of some fermented milks could be intentional or accidental. The Diversity of yeasts in the products was investigated using a molecular technique employing variable regions of 26S rDNA profiles generated by PCR-DGGE (Polymerase Chain Reaction-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis). Two types of samples: artisanal or handcraft yoghurt and traditionally fermented milks were collected in three towns of the three regions of the northern part of Cameroon. Firstly, a comparison was made between the 16 traditionally fermented milks collected in Maroua, Garoua and Ngaoundre each of the 3 regions. Secondly, it was between 26 artisanal fermented milks of each region and finally, between the two types of products. The different PCR-DGGE 26S rDNA profiles obtained were analyzed and DNA sequencing was used to compare yeasts from each method of production. Twelve (12) species of Yeasts were identified as: Malassezia globosa, Hanseniaspora uvarum, Galactomyces candidum, Candida tropicalis, Aureobasidium pullulans, Torulaspora globosa, Saccharomyces cerevisiae/paradoxus, Pichia kluyveri, Candida parapsilosis, Torulaspora delbrueckii, Kluyveromyces marxianus, Candida orthopsilosis and Pseudozyma sp. Yeast diversity was higher for artisanal fermented milks (yoghurt) with at least 10 species, while for traditionally non packed fermented milks only 5 species were identified with a predominance strain of Galactomyces candidum, Candida parapsilosis, Torulaspora delbrueckii, Saccharomyces cerevisiae/paradoxus and Kluyveromyces marxianus. The different species of yeast might be introduced accidentally in artisanal yoghurt; however, for traditionally fermented milks their presence might be associated to the starter

Molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis in Cameroon

We describe the largest molecular epidemiological study of Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) in a sub-Saharan African country with higher spatial resolution providing new insights into bTB. Four hundred and ninety-nine samples were collected for culture from 201 and 179 cattle with and without bTB-like lesions respectively out of 2,346 cattle slaughtered at Bamenda, Ngaoundere, Garoua and Maroua abattoirs between 2012-2013. Two hundred and fifty-five M. bovis were isolated, identified and genotyped using deletion analysis, Hain® Genotype MTBC, spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR. African 1 was the dominant M. bovis clonal complex, with 97 unique genotypes including 19 novel spoligotypes representing the highest M. bovis genetic diversity observed in Africa to date. SB0944 and SB0953 dominated (63%) the observed spoligotypes. A third of animals with multiple lesions had multiple strain infections. Higher diversity but little evidence of recent transmission of M. bovis was more common in Adamawa compared to the North-West Region. The Adamawa was characterised by a high frequency of singletons possibly due to constant additions from an active livestock movement network compared to the North-West Region where a local expansion was more evident. The latter combined with population-based inferences suggest an unstable and stable bTB-endemic status in the North-West and Adamawa Regions respectively

OntoSOC: Sociocultural Knowledge Ontology

This paper presents a sociocultural knowledge ontology (OntoSOC) modeling approach. OntoSOC modeling approach is based on Engestrom Human Activity Theory (HAT). That Theory allowed us to identify fundamental concepts and relationships between them. The top-down precess has been used to define differents sub-concepts. The modeled vocabulary permits us to organise data, to facilitate information retrieval by introducing a semantic layer in social web platform architecture, we project to implement. This platform can be considered as a collective memory and Participative and Distributed Information System (PDIS) which will allow Cameroonian communities to share an co-construct knowledge on permanent organized activities.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, 2 table

Assessing the Impact of Cowpea and Sorghum Research and Extension in Northern Cameroon

Throughout Africa, per capita food production has been declining since the early 1960s. Cameroon has sought to counter this trend by increasing agricultural productivity through research and extension. In order to establish future investment priorities, policy makers need to know if past agricultural research investments have earned sufficient returns to justify continued funding. Further, national experiences need to be compared to see if returns varied across programs, and in cases where they did, explanations need to be sought to discover why these variations exist. To address these issues, data were collected in Cameroon and analyzed in order to estimate the benefits and costs of investments in sorghum and cowpea research and extension in northern Cameroon. Specific data that were needed to construct benefit and cost streams included the following: yields of traditional and introduced technologies, area harvested, adoption rates of technological innovations, prices of both inputs and outputs, climatic factors influencing both the research agenda and the returns to this research, and the costs of research and extension efforts. Focusing on the period 1979-87, the analysis addressed three questions: What were the returns to past investments? What factors explained the estimated returns and any variability in returns between the sorghum and cowpea programs? And how did institutions influence these returns and the distribution of their benefits?food security, food policy, cowpea, sorghum, Crop Production/Industries, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Downloads July 2008 - June 2009: 17, Q16,

A long-lasting measles epidemic in Maroua, Cameroon 2008-2009: mass vaccination as response to the epidemic.

A measles outbreak occurred in Maroua, Cameroon, from January 2008 to April 2009. In accordance with recent World Health Organization guidelines, an outbreak-response immunization (ORI) was conducted in January 2009. The aim of this study was to investigate the causes of the epidemic in order to guide vaccination strategies

Hurdles and requirements of an African experience of e-learning

Today, in a tense context of globalisation of economics and finance, education and training must obey global requirements. Computer science and new learning environments have become crucial in developing countries. Information and Communication technologies (ICT) are present in telecommunications, the banking sector, health and education itself. This article underlines the role of e- and distance learning in education, research and societies. Frontiers are shown and ways for best practices are presented. Furthermore, it underlines the challenge of teaching computer science in a poor industrial environment. Technological background is discussed as well as financial and pedagogical aspects. (DIPF/Orig.