Influence of Temperature and Storage Systems on Post-Harvest Losses of Maize Varieties Cultivated at Alibori in Northern Benin

Majority of post-harvest losses of several maize varieties observed in various storage systems in northern Benin are mainly caused by storage insects due to changes in climatic parameters. The objective of this study is to evaluate the levels of insect pest infestation of three maize varieties stored in storage systems at different temperature. In 18 villages at Alibori, maize farmers were surveyed through a participatory research approach and their storage structures were also visited. The temperature of all storage structures were noted. Weight loss of samples, numbers of Prostephanus truncates, Sitophilus zeamais and perforated grains were evaluated. In total, three maize varieties and three different groups of storage systems were identified during field observations. All the three maize varieties stored in the first storage systems group built with plants were less infested and had acceptable nutritional quality than the maize grains stored in the second group built in banco and third group built with tarpaulin. In these storage systems, the yellow maize variety was the most attacked, followed by the white maize variety and finally the mixed color of yellow and white maize variety the less attacked. Effective post-harvest management of stored products requires clear monitoring criteria of climatic parameters and effective implementation of abiotic and biotic factors

Operational research within the national tuberculosis control programme in Benin.

OBJECTIVE: To document whether the placement of operational research (OR) fellows within disease control programmes in low and middle income countries leads to the implementation of operational research and improvements in policy and practice. RESULT: In 2012, an OR fellow was placed within the National TB Programme, Benin, to strengthen the implementation of operational research. From 2012 to 2015, eight OR projects were implemented, of which three contributed to changes in programme practice and five provided information which was not previously available from quarterly/annual reports. Two of these projects-one on the burden and treatment outcomes of childhood TB and one on tracing patients who had discontinued treatment-are discussed in more detail. OR should be strongly encouraged within national TB programme settings and an OR fellow facilitates this process

The epidemiology of gonorrhoea, chlamydial infection and syphilis in four African cities.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the epidemiology of gonorrhoea, chlamydial infection and syphilis in four cities in sub-Saharan Africa; two with a high prevalence of HIV infection (Kisumu, Kenya and Ndola, Zambia), and two with a relatively low HIV prevalence (Cotonou, Benin and Yaoundé, Cameroon). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study, using standardized methods, including a standardized questionnaire and standardized laboratory tests, in four cities in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: In each city, a random sample of about 2000 adults aged 15-49 years was taken. Consenting men and women were interviewed about their socio-demographic characteristics and their sexual behaviour, and were tested for HIV, syphilis, herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), gonorrhoea, chlamydial infection, and (women only) Trichomonas vaginalis infection. Risk factor analyses were carried out for chlamydial infection and syphilis seroreactivity. RESULTS: The prevalence of gonorrhoea ranged between 0% in men in Kisumu and 2.7% in women in Yaoundé. Men and women in Yaoundé had the highest prevalence of chlamydial infection (5.9 and 9.4%, respectively). In the other cities, the prevalence of chlamydial infection ranged between 1.3% in women in Cotonou and 4.5% in women in Kisumu. In Ndola, the prevalence of syphilis seroreactivity was over 10% in both men and women; it was around 6% in Yaoundé, 3-4% in Kisumu, and 1-2% in Cotonou. Chlamydial infection was associated with rate of partner change for both men and women, and with young age for women. At the population level, the prevalence of chlamydial infection correlated well with reported rates of partner change. Positive syphilis serology was associated with rate of partner change and with HSV-2 infection. The latter association could be due to biological interaction between syphilis and HSV-2 or to residual confounding by sexual behaviour. At the population level, there was no correlation between prevalence of syphilis seroreactivity and reported rates of partner change. CONCLUSION: Differences in prevalence of chlamydial infection could be explained by differences in reported sexual behaviour, but the variations in prevalence of syphilis seroreactivity remained unexplained. More research is needed to better understand the epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections in Africa

Etude De L’efficacité Du Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) De Anacardium Occidentale L. Extrait À Froid Sur Le Contrôle De Anopheles Gambiae S.L Résistant Aux Pyréthrinoïdes

In order to combat the vectors of malaria, it is necessary to know their behavior with regard to the insecticide products envisaged. The present study is aimed at the CNSL efficiency test extracted from the seed hull of Anacardium occidentale L. for the control of pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles gambiae s.l. Sensitivity tests were carried out on the larvae of stages 2, 3 and 4 of An. gambiae of the wild and Kis-kdr strains carrying the Kdr gene. The "Kisumu" strain devoid of resistance gene served as a control. The mortalities were read after 24 hours of exposure. LD50 and DL90 were determined using the log-probit method of dose determination corresponding to a proportion. The high LD50 determined is 0.0042 mg / ml and corresponds to the LD50 of the larvae of stage 2 of the wild strain. The low LD50 is determined on stage 2 larvae "Kisumu". The high DL90 is determined on stage 4 larvae of the wild strain. The low LD90 determined corresponds to stage 2 larvae "Kisumu". The comparison of the LD between the different strains shows a low sensitivity to CNSL of the larvae of resistant strains compared to the control strain, indicating the influence of the resistance factor kdr on the CNSL efficiency. However, the low-dose CNSL larvicidal activity on the larvae of the kdr-carrying strains provides an alternative advantage in the management of vector resistance to pyrethroid

Tuberculosis Case Finding in Benin, 2000-2014 and Beyond: A Retrospective Cohort and Time Series Study.

Objective. To determine any changes in tuberculosis epidemiology in the last 15 years in Benin, seasonal variations, and forecasted numbers of tuberculosis cases in the next five years. Materials and Methods. Retrospective cohort and time series study of all tuberculosis cases notified between 2000 and 2014. The "R" software version 3.2.1 (Institute for Statistics and Mathematics Vienna Austria) and the Box-Jenkins 1976 modeling approach were used for time series analysis. Results. Of 246943 presumptive cases, 54303 (22%) were diagnosed with tuberculosis. Annual notified case numbers increased, with the highest reported in 2011. New pulmonary bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis (NPBCT) represented 78%  ± SD 2%. Retreatment cases decreased from 10% to 6% and new pulmonary clinically diagnosed cases increased from 2% to 8%. NPBCT notification rates decreased in males from 2012, in young people aged 15-34 years and in Borgou-Alibori region. There was a seasonal pattern in tuberculosis cases. Over 90% of NPBCT were HIV-tested with a stable HIV prevalence of 13%. The ARIMA best fit model predicted a decrease in tuberculosis cases finding in the next five years. Conclusion. Tuberculosis case notifications are predicted to decrease in the next five years if current passive case finding is used. Additional strategies are needed in the country

National profile and treatment outcomes of patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis in Bénin.

BACKGROUND: In sub-Saharan Africa, there is a dearth of published literature on extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). OBJECTIVE: To describe demographic, diagnostic and HIV-status characteristics of patients with EPTB in Bénin, their treatment outcomes, and among those who completed their treatment in the Centre National Hospitalier de Pneumo-Phtisiologie (CNHP-P), the proportion whose bodyweight increased during treatment. MATERIAL AND FINDINGS: This was a retrospective cohort study with comparisons made between EPTB and new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (NPTB) patients diagnosed in the country from January to December 2011. There were 383 EPTB patients (9% of all TB cases) with a mean age of 35 years, male/female ratio of 1.3 and important regional variation. There were significantly more females (p = 0.001), children <15 years (p<0.001) and HIV-positive patients (p = 0.005) with EPTB compared with NPTB. Pleural effusion, spinal and lymph node tuberculosis accounted for 66% of all EPTB. Children <15 years represented 16% of cases, with lymph node disease being most common among them (p<0.001). Of 130 EPTB patients registered in CNHP-P, 7% had a confirmed bacteriological/histological diagnosis. There were 331 (86%) patients who successfully completed treatment. More patients with EPTB were lost-to-follow-up compared with NPTB (p<0.001) with all these patients from one region. The best treatment completion rates were in children <15 years (OR:3.5, 95%CI:1.0-14.8) while patients with pleural effusion and ascites had the worst outcomes. Of 72 HIV-coinfected patients, 88% were on antiretroviral therapy (ART). HIV-positive status was associated with poor outcomes while those on ART fared better. In the CNHP-P, more than 80% who completed their treatment showed an increase in bodyweight and this was more evident in HIV-positive compared with HIV-negative patients (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Patients with EPTB generally do well in Bénin, although the TB Programme would benefit through more attention to accurate diagnosis and earlier start of ART in HIV-infected patients

Tuberculosis treatment raises total cholesterol level and restores high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

The aim of this study was to determine whether tuberculosis (TB) treatment normalizes the lipid profile strongly affected by pulmonary TB. Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) were determined in 83 patients with pulmonary TB before and after treatment, and compared to results obtained from 100 control subjects without TB. Before treatment, levels of TC (p&lt;0.005), HDL-C (p&lt;0.005) and LDL-C (p&lt;0.005) were significantly lower in pulmonary TB patients than normal subjects. Unlike TC and LDL-C, HDL-C decrease was correlated (r = 0.96, p&lt;0.05) with smear positivity extent (SPE). At the end of TB treatment, which lasted six months, TC (p&lt;0.01) and HDL-C (p&lt;0.005) levels were significantly increased than before treatment while LDL-C stayed relatively unchanged. The treatment significantly reduced the atherogenic indices TC/HDL-C (p&lt;0.001), LDL-C/HDL-C (p&lt;0.001) and log (TG/HDL-C) (p&lt;0.001) levels. Our results show that tuberculosis treatment increases TC levels and normalizes HDL while reducing atherogenic indices to below levels of controls.Keywords: Pulmonary tuberculosis, lipid profile, treatment, atherogenic indexAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(41), pp. 6019-602

Toxins and adhesion factors associated with Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from diarrhoeal patients in Benin

Staphylococcus aureus is a causative agent of acute and infectious diarrhoea. In Africa, there is no sufficient information on the virulence and the degree of factors produced by its diarrhoea-isolated strains. Clinical features and virulence factors produced by S. aureus isolated from diarrhoeal-patients admitted at the Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga (HKM) in Cotonou was investigated. The virulence factors were screened by radial immunoprecipitation and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Fifteen antibiotics were tested. Among independent 115 patients examined for diarrhoea, 32 had faeces positive for S. aureus isolated as pure culture. Most of these patients were hospitalized (21/32) and developed aqueous, bloody and painful diarrhoea, after antimicrobial therapy. About 62% were resistant to oxacillin. Genes encoding for clumping factor B and for laminin binding protein were detected in 62% of S. aureus isolates. About 94% of LukE-LukD producing strains have been isolated from patientsdeveloping post-antibiotic associated diarrhoea (PAAD). The Panton-Valentine Leucocidin (PVL) was produced by 19% of isolates, all from PAAD. This study points out new data concerning virulencefactors and adhesion factor produced by S. aureus strains isolated from diarrhoea in Benin. The culture of the faeces will not always allow the diagnosis. It is important to update a technique, which enablesresearchers to carry out the virulence factors produced by these bacteria

Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes of Retreatment Tuberculosis Patients in Benin.

Objective. To determine among retreatment tuberculosis patients in Benin baseline characteristics, culture, and drug sensitivity testing (DST) results and treatment outcomes. Materials and Methods. A retrospective national cohort study of all retreatment tuberculosis patients in Benin in 2013 using registers and treatment cards. Results. Of 3957 patients with tuberculosis, 241 (6%) were retreatment cases. Compared to new pulmonary bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis (NPBCT) patients, there were significantly higher numbers of males (P = 0.04), patients from "Atlantique-Littoral" (P = 0.006), patients aged 45-64 years (P = 0.007), and HIV-positive patients (P = 0.04) among those retreated. Overall, 171 (71%) patients submitted sputum for DST, of whom (163) 95% were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis on Xpert MTB/RIF and/or culture and 17 (10%) were rifampicin resistant (9 with MDR-TB and 8 monoresistant to rifampicin). For those without MDR-TB (n = 224), treatment success was 93%. Worse outcomes occurred in those with unknown HIV status (RR: 0.27; 0.05-1.45; P < 0.01) while better outcomes occurred in those who relapsed (RR: 1.06, 95 CI: 1.02-1.10, P = 0.04). Conclusion. In 2013, a high proportion of retreatment patients received DST. Treatment success was good although more needs to be done to systematically increase the final follow-up smear examination. Reasons of high losses to follow-up from "Oueme-Plateau" should be investigated

Ingestions Alimentaires Et Performances De Production Et De Reproduction Des Lapines (Oryctolagus Cuniculus) Gestantes Nourries Avec Des Aliments Contenant Des Feuilles De Neem (Azadirachta Indica)

This study was conducted as part of a series of experiments on the use of dried leaves for the production of complete rabbit feed. For this purpose, 120 female rabbits, distributed in 4 batches (N0, N5, N10 and N15) with the same number (30) and homogeneous average weights (2595 g to 2708.7 g) were followed before and during pregnancy. Each of the 4 lot were composed, in the same proportion, of nulliparous and multiparous females. Those animals were subjected to four Azadirachta indica leaves based foods in different proportions: N0: 0%; N5: 5%; N10: 10% and N15: 15%. Our data shows that the gestation rates were as follows for the four lots: N0 (90%), N5 (80%) and N10 (90%) and N15 (76.67%). Except a single female from lot N10, all females were pregnant and gave birth. No significant difference (P&gt; 0.05) was found between the mean of total daily consumptions among the pregnant rabbits of the four batches that ranged from 169.40 to 198.31 g / d. The average litters of the batches N0 (5.33 rabbits / mother), N5 (6.5 rabbits / mother) and N10 (5.61 rabbits / mother) were similar (P&gt; 0.05) but higher (P 0.05). On the other hand, no difference (P&gt; 0.05) was observed between the average weights of the rabbits of the control batch N0 (59.06 g) and those of N5 and N15