Réduction des coûts alimentaires des lapins (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.) par la distribution de l'herbe de lait (Euphorbia heterophylla (L.) Klotz. & Garcke) associée à l'herbe de Guinée (Panicum maximum Jacq.) Lam...

Full French Title: Réduction des coûts alimentaires des lapins (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.) par la distribution de l'herbe de lait (Euphorbia heterophylla (L.) Klotz. & Garcke) associée à l'herbe de Guinée (Panicum maximum Jacq.) Lam. en élevage semi-intensifObjectif: Le présent travail vise à comparer l'effet de deux modes de supplémentation par Euphorbia heterophylla d'un régime à base d'un aliment concentré sur les paramètres d'ingestion et de croissance des lapins et sur les charges alimentaires nécessaires à la production d'un kilogramme de carcasse.Méthodologie et Résultats: Le premier mode (MOD1) a consisté à supplémenter le régime témoin (MOD0) durant les trois mois de vie des lapins. Le second mode a consisté à distribuer le supplément seulement durant la phase d’engraissement de 30 jours (MOD2). Les poids et le rendement carcasse à 3 mois d’âge, étaient de 2117,6±282 g, 1650,6±110,4 g et de 1693,2±116,9 g puis de 57,1±0,7%, 51,8±1,6% et de 56,8±1,2% respectivement pour MOD0, MOD1 et MOD2. MOD2 a induit un meilleur rendement carcasse des lapins (P<0,05). Cependant, MOD1 a induit une réduction de 26 % des charges alimentaires par rapport au MOD0.Conclusion et Application des résultats: Les résultats de cette étude permettent de conclure que Euphorbia heterophylla peut être recommandée comme supplément alimentaire dans l'élevage des lapins lorsqu'elle est disponible.Mots clés: Lapin, fourrage, Euphorbia heterophylla, Panicum maximum, croissance, carcasseEnglish Title: Reduction of rabbit food costs (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.) by distribution of milkweed (Euphorbia heterophylla) associated to Guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) Lam. in semi-intensive livestockEnglish AbstractObjective: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of two methods of supplementation by Euphorbia heterophylla of a commercial based feed on ingestion and growth parameters of rabbits and on food expenses for the production of a carcass kilogram.Methodology and Results: The first mode (MOD1) consisted in the supplementation of the control diet (MOD0) during the three months of life of the rabbits. In the second one, it consisted in the distribution of the supplement only during the final 30 days of fattening (MOD2). Body weight and carcass yield at 3 months of age, were 2117.6±282 g, 1650.6±110.4 g and 1693.2±116.9 g then 57.1±0.7%, 51.8±1.6% and 56.8±1.2% respectively for MOD0, MOD1 and MOD2. MOD2 induced a better carcass yield of rabbits (P<0.05). However, MOD1 induced 26% of reduction of food expenses compared to MOD0.Conclusions and Application of Results: This study indicated that Euphorbia heterophylla could be recommended as a dietary supplement where it is present.Keywords: Rabbit, feed, Euphorbia heterophylla, Panicum maximum, growth, carcas

Potentialités Hypocholestérolémiantes D’euphorbia Heterophylla (L.) Klotz. & Garcke (Euphorbiaceae) Chez Les Lapins Locaux (Oryctolagus Cuniculus L.)

Two tests to feed local rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were carried out to evaluate the hypocholesterolemic potentiality of Euphorbia heterophylla. The first test was carried out during 90 days (feeding (30 days), growing (30 days), and fattening (30 days)) on 45 rabbits. As for the second test, it was carried out during 30 days in the course of the fattening period on 27 rabbits. Animals were both subjected to continuous or alterned provisions during the last test of the two experimental diets. The first test or control (Pangran) was composed of Panicum maximum and granules "IVOGRAIN" for rabbit. The second test (Paneuph) was composed of Panicum maximum and Euphorbia heterophylla supplemented with granules "IVOGRAIN" for rabbit. In the second test, the experimental diets (Pangran and Paneuph) were isocaloric. The test 1 results, respectively, showed an important cholesterol-LDL reduction of 26% and 60% after 30 and 90 days of the Euphorbia heterophylla ingestion. However, when diets are isocaloric, the ingestion of this plant causes an important reduction of cholesterol-LDL of 59.2 % and 65.4%, after, respectively, 15 and 30 days of ingestion. From the results, deep studies should be carried out with the aim of evaluating the hypocholesterolemic effect from Euphorbia heterophylla which could contribute to prevent human cardiovascular diseases

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century