Evaluation Of Soil Fertility Under Industrial, Irrigated And Continuous Sugar Cane Cultivation In The Integrated Agricultural Unit Of SUCRIVOIRE-Zuénoula (Centre West Of Côte d'Ivoire)

This study was carried out to evaluate the soil fertility in continuous and irrigated cultivation of sugar cane. To do this, soil samples were taken from the top 20 centimeters of the soil, in the three different sectors of the sugar cane plantations and on another plot left fallow for nearly 20 years, at the integrated agricultural unit of Zuenoula. These samples underwent physical and chemical analyzes in the laboratory following standard procedures. The results obtained show that the soil texture is of the sandy loam type for the fallow and the pivot P17B, silt and fine silt respectively for the pivots P27B and P20A. For the chemical parameters, apart from the pH, which has acceptable values for sugar cane, on all the plots studied, the other parameters, in particular, organic carbon, organic matter, nitrogen, assimilable phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and cation exchange capacity, show mixed values. Thus, the soil fertility potential under pivots P17B and P20A can be described as low, while it is medium under fallow and relatively high under pivot P27B. This variability of these physical and chemical characteristics from one plot to another requires specific manure recommendations. However, a strong correlation was found between the rate of fine soil elements (clay + fine silt) and most soil chemical parameters. From the content of fine elements in the soil of the fallow land, the modeling equation for this relationship made it possible to show that the fallow land improves the chemical characteristics of the soil, of the order of 10% for the pH, 22% for assimilable phosphorus, 74% for potassium and more than 100% for organic carbon, nitrogen, cation exchange capacity, calcium, as well as the Ca/Mg ratio. This clearly demonstrates that fallowing allows a restoration of the fertility of soils that would be degraded by the continuous cultivation of sugar cane. Keywords—continuous cultivation of sugarcane; degraded soils; fallow; restoration of soil fertility

Validation of HPLC-UV Patulin Determination Method in Traditional Juices From Côte d’Ivoire

Object: The need to reduce dietary mycotoxins exposure, requires development of efficient analytical methods to assess mycotoxins level in food. The purpose of this study was to validate HPLC-UV method for patulin determination in traditional juices made of dry Guinea sorrel flowers or ginger rhizomes. Material and Methods: Patulin was extracted with ethyl acetate and purified with sodium bicarbonate solution (14 g/L). Elution of patulin was realised in isocratic mode with mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-water (10/90 : v/v). Patulin was detected at 276 nm (UV). An amount of patulin was added to neutral portions of juices and the recovery rates were estimated after extraction. Results: The retention time was 5.03 min and the coefficient of determination of the calibration range (100 - 1500 μg/L) was 0.9994. Detection and quantification limits were respectively 1.4 μg/L and 4.6 μg/L for the two matrices. The recovery rates were 75.09 ± 0.27% and 75.27 ± 0.64% respectively for ginger and Guinea sorrel juices. Patulin was detected in 55% of ginger juice and 70% of Guinea sorrel juice. Patulin contents of 15% of ginger juice and 40% of Guinea sorrel juice were above the maximum level of patulin (50 μg/L) allowed in juices. Conclusion: This method may be used for patulin detection in these traditional juices because its recovery rates were acceptable and limit of quantification (4.6 μg/L) was largely bellow the maximum level of patulin (50 μg/L) allowed in juices. &nbsp

Lead concentrations in sediments and mollusc gastropod from Vridi Canal, Côte d’Ivoire

Lead (Pb) is one of the most frequent and toxic contaminant in the environment. It can be bioaccumulated by marine organisms through contaminated sediments as well as their food chains. The current study aimed at investigating Pb occurrence in the sediments and gastropod P. haemastostoma from Vridi Canal. Sediment samples were taken using a Van Veen steel grab of 0.02 m2 area, sealed in plastic bags and transported to the laboratory at 4 °C. Gastropod P. haemastostoma species were collected manually using gloves, and then placed in polyethylene plastic bags. The different concentrations were determined using atomic absorption spectrometer Varian AA 20. The results showed seasonal variability of Pb concentrations in sediments and P. haemastostoma. In the both matrices, Pb exhibited the same trend in the distribution between the seasons. This study also mentioned that sediments were highly  contaminated by Pb (54.27-134.71 mg/kg). Vridi Canal was found to be one of the most contaminated seaport area. Pb levels  (49.55-104.19 mg/kg) in P. haemastostoma exceeding the maximum permitted levels according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This research demonstrated that sediments having lower ecological risk may be resulting in lower tissue Pb of P. haemastostoma. Keywords: Metal Pb, sediment, P. haemastostoma, seasonal variatio

Adsorption du benzo(a)pyrène sur du charbon activé à base de coques de coco provenant de Côte d’Ivoire

L’accumulation des Hydrocarbures Aromatiques Polycycliques (HAP) dans l’environnement est une préoccupation mondiale du fait de leur persistance et de leur toxicité. l’Union Européenne a ainsi jugé seize HAP comme « préoccupants », parmi lesquels le benzo(a)pyrène est l’un des plus toxiques. La dépollution du benzo(a)pyrène contenu dans les eaux a ainsi été étudiée par adsorption sur charbon activé préparé à partir de coques de noix de coco. La concentration résiduelle en benzo(a)pyrène et l’influence de la masse de charbon activé étudiées par Chromatographie Liquide à Haute Performance (CLHP) ont montré que la quantité de benzo(a)pyrène adsorbée dans l’eau croissait avec la masse de charbon activé introduite. L'adsorption du benzo(a)pyrène a suivi les modèles de Freundlich et de Langmuir et a obéit à la cinétique d’ordre 2; avec une constante thermodynamique (Kad2) de 0,0706 g.μg-1.min-1. Aussi, le paramètre d'équilibre k inférieur à 1 et le facteur d'hétérogénéité n compris entre 0,5 et 1 ont indiqué que l'adsorption du benzo(a)pyrène dans l'eau était favorable, cependant le charbon étudié a présenté un pouvoir adsorbant faible pour l’adsorption du benzo(a)pyrène. Ainsi, Le charbon activé à base de coques de coco est donc un moyen limité de dépollution du benzo(a)pyrène.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Mots clés: Adsorption, charbon activé, benzo(a)pyrène, isotherme, cinétiqueEnglish Title: Benzo(a)pyrene adsorption on activated coal based on coconut shells from Côte d'IvoireEnglish AbstractPolycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) accumulation in environment is a world preoccupation, due to their persistence, toxicity and carcinogenic character for the food chain. The European union judged sixteen thus among them " preoccupying ", among which the benzo(a)pyrene is one of the most toxic. Thus, removal of benzo(a)pyrene from waters has been studied by adsorption on activated carbon prepared from raw coconut cockles. The vestigial concentration in benzo(a)pyrène and the influence of activated carbon mass studied by a High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), showed that the quantity of benzo(a)pyrene adsorbed in  water grows with carbon mass introduced. Benzo(a)pyrene adsorption follows the Freundlich and Langmuir models and it obeys the kinetics of order 2; with a thermodynamic constant (Kad2) of 0,0706 g.μg-1.min-1. Also, the balance parameter k lower to 1 and the heterogeneity factor n comprise between 0,5 and 1 indicate that benzo(a)pyrene adsorption in water is favorable, however the studied carbon presents a weak adsorption power for benzo(a)pyrène. So, activated carbon prepared from coconut cockles is therefore a limited method of benzo(a)pyrene removal from waters.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Adsorption, activated carbon, benzo(a)pyrene, isotherm, kinetic

Effet des téguments de fèves de cacao sur la fertilité chimique d’un ferralsol et quelques paramètres de croissance du manioc, à Ahoué, Sud-Est Côte d’Ivoire

Objectif : utiliser les engrais organiques à base de téguments des fèves de cacao pour une gestion durable des ferralsols.Méthodologie et résultats : Dans un dispositif expérimental en bloc de Fisher, trois traitements des téguments de fèves de cacao T1 (10 t.ha-1), T2 (15 t.ha-1), T3 (20 t.ha-1) et un témoin T0 (0 t.ha-1) ont été mis en place avec quatre répétitions à Ahoué,  dans le Sud-Est de la Côte  d’Ivoire. L’analyse des téguments de la fève de cacao indique de fortes teneurs en phosphore total (7600 mg.kg-1), en potassium (797,95 Cmol.kg-1), en calcium (19,21 Cmol.kg-1), en magnésium (234,47 Cmol.kg-1) en carbone total (320 g.kg-1) et en azote total (18 g.kg-1) avec un rapport C/N égal à 17,78. Les principaux résultats montrent quel’apport des téguments a eu des effets positifs sur l’ensemble des  caractéristiques chimiques du sol et des paramètres de croissance du manioc. Les valeurs obtenues du pH de la parcelle Témoin T0 et des parcelles traitées avec T1, T2, T3 indiquent, respectivement, 4 ; 5,4 ; 5,5 et 5,8. Les rapports C/N de la parcelle Témoin T0 et des parcelles traitées avec T1, T2, T3  donnent, respectivement, 24,33 ; 12,83 ; 12,36 et 12,16. S’agissant des teneurs de la CEC, les valeurs obtenues indiquent : 2,32 ; 7,2 ; 11,44 et 12,5 cmol.kg-1, respectivement, pour les traitements T0, T1, T2 et T3. Le plus petit indice et les petites tailles des plants de manioc ont été observés sur les parcelles témoin, respectivement, après 71 et 78 jours de plantation et par contre, le plus grand indice de vigueur et les plus grandes tailles ont été observés sur les parcelles fertilisées avec le traitement T3.Conclusion et application : L’étude précise que l’incorporation de doses croissantes de téguments au sol influence l’ensemble des caractéristiques chimiques du sol et des paramètres de croissance du manioc. Les meilleurs résultats ont été obtenus à la dose de 20 t.ha-1 des téguments de fèves de cacao. Ce travail de recherche agronomique montre l’importance des téguments de fèves de cacao sur la fertilité chimique des ferralsols en vue d’accroître durablement les productions et préserver  l’environnement. La détermination de la dose optimale et de l’effet combiné de ces téguments avec les engrais minéraux sur les sols pourrait être envisagée pour une gestion durable des différents types de sols en Côte d’Ivoire.Mots clés : Téguments de fève de cacao, fertilité chimique, Ferralsol, Manioc, Ahoué, Côte d’Ivoir

Socializing One Health: an innovative strategy to investigate social and behavioral risks of emerging viral threats

In an effort to strengthen global capacity to prevent, detect, and control infectious diseases in animals and people, the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Emerging Pandemic Threats (EPT) PREDICT project funded development of regional, national, and local One Health capacities for early disease detection, rapid response, disease control, and risk reduction. From the outset, the EPT approach was inclusive of social science research methods designed to understand the contexts and behaviors of communities living and working at human-animal-environment interfaces considered high-risk for virus emergence. Using qualitative and quantitative approaches, PREDICT behavioral research aimed to identify and assess a range of socio-cultural behaviors that could be influential in zoonotic disease emergence, amplification, and transmission. This broad approach to behavioral risk characterization enabled us to identify and characterize human activities that could be linked to the transmission dynamics of new and emerging viruses. This paper provides a discussion of implementation of a social science approach within a zoonotic surveillance framework. We conducted in-depth ethnographic interviews and focus groups to better understand the individual- and community-level knowledge, attitudes, and practices that potentially put participants at risk for zoonotic disease transmission from the animals they live and work with, across 6 interface domains. When we asked highly-exposed individuals (ie. bushmeat hunters, wildlife or guano farmers) about the risk they perceived in their occupational activities, most did not perceive it to be risky, whether because it was normalized by years (or generations) of doing such an activity, or due to lack of information about potential risks. Integrating the social sciences allows investigations of the specific human activities that are hypothesized to drive disease emergence, amplification, and transmission, in order to better substantiate behavioral disease drivers, along with the social dimensions of infection and transmission dynamics. Understanding these dynamics is critical to achieving health security--the protection from threats to health-- which requires investments in both collective and individual health security. Involving behavioral sciences into zoonotic disease surveillance allowed us to push toward fuller community integration and engagement and toward dialogue and implementation of recommendations for disease prevention and improved health security

La vulnérabilité des citadins à Abidjan en relation avec le paludisme

Introduction Le paludisme constitue un problème majeur de santé publique. Chaque année, à l’échelle mondiale, environ 300 à 500 millions de nouveaux cas sont enregistrés, 1 à 3 millions de personnes meurent (WHO, 2005). La région la plus touchée est l’Afrique subsaharienne. En Côte d’Ivoire, 57% des consultations générales dans les formations sanitaires sont attribuées au paludisme (PNLP, 2005). La charge résultante n’est pas uniquement considérable en milieu rural, mais aussi en ville (Kaise..