Physical and Biochemical Characterization of Sweet Corn Ears of Four Varieties Grown in Senegal

Sweet corn is an underutilized crop for human consumption in Senegal. In this study, physical and biochemical characterization were performed on four sweet corn ear varieties grown at three different fertilization rate of 15N-15-P-15K. Treatment F1 was 40 tons/Ha horse-dung + 200 kg/Ha of 15N-15P-15K, treatment F2 was 30 tons/Ha horse-dung + 150 kg/Ha of 15N-15P-15K) and treatment F3 was 50 tons/Ha horse-dung + 250 kg/Ha of 15N-15P-15K. Results showed that Yosemite cultivar gave the highest number of kernels/ear (672.3), followed respectively by Legacy (642), Excellis Garrison (585.6) and Infinity (573). Furthermore, treatments using fertilizer 3 (F3: 50 tons/Ha horse-dung + 250 kg/Ha of 15N-15P-15K) led to the highest number of kernels/ear in all cultivars used. Interestingly, Legacy cultivar gave more reducing sugars (5.1 ± 0.8 g.100g -1 ) with treatment F1; treatment F3 provided less reducing sugars (2.1 ± 0.6 g.100g -1 ) and more starch (14.4 ± 0.5 g.100g -1 ). Overall, physical and biochemical characteristics were influenced to at least some extent by fertilization treatments related to the cultivar used. Yosemite and Legacy cultivars would be more suitable for canned sweet corn production in the conditions studied. Sangalkam seems to be more suitable for sweet corn production

Détermination De La Dose Optimale D'engrais Minéral 15-15-15 Sur Cinq (05) Variétés De Maïs Doux (Zea Mays L. ssp. saccharata) Au Sénégal

The objective of this study is to assess the response of five varieties of sweet maize namely, Prime plus (V1), Shy 1036 (V2), Colombus (V3), GSS (V4), and JKMH-45 (V5) to three different doses of NPK (15-15-15) fertilizer: F1 (normal dose), F2 (75% of the normal dose) and F3 (125% of the normal dose). An experimental design in Fisher blocs with 15 treatments was established at the ISRA/CRA experimental station in Saint Louis (Senegal). The results have shown that 30 days after sowing (DAS), the varieties Colombus, GSS and JKMH-45 have had the highest heights with 32.75 cm, 31.85 cm and 31.46 cm, respectively with the F2 dose. The variety JKMH-45 has a greater height of the upper ear (89.39 cm) at 60 DAS and valorizes better the F2 dose (75% of the normal dose). The F3 dose increases less the plant’s height. A non-significant difference was observed among the 5 varieties used regarding the precocity. The variety V2 or Shy 1036 developed ears at first, but is not precocious compared to the variety V1 that not only shows earlier anthesis but also an appearance of darker hairs. The variety JKMH-45, although presenting darker hairs after the variety Prime plus, is the latest variety, earing at 57 DAS and with male and female anthesis appearing at 59 DAS and 63 DAS. This study can constitute a basic criterion in differentiating the sweet maize varieties in Senegal. It would also allow more financial saving on inputs and contribute to the maximization ofproduction if the choice of the variety is well done

The Tostan program: Evaluation of a community based education program in Senegal

This operations research project evaluated the effect and impact of a basic education program, developed by TOSTAN, a nongovernmental organization based at Thiès, Senegal. The basic education program consisted of four modules: hygiene, problem-solving, women’s health, and human rights. Through these four themes, emphasis was placed on enabling the participants, who were mostly women, to analyze their own situation more effectively and thus find the best solutions for themselves. The GTZ Supra Regional Project for the Elimination of Female Genital Cutting funded implementation of the program in 90 villages in Kolda Region, and the Population Council’s Frontiers in Reproductive Health Program, with funding from USAID, used this opportunity to evaluate the program in 20 villages. The program was able to bring about a social change within the community and to mobilize the villagers for better environmental hygiene, and respect for human rights and improvement of health, as well as specifically reducing support for and practice of FGC

Surveillance of Viral Encephalitis in the Context of COVID-19: A One-Year Observational Study among Hospitalized Patients in Dakar, Senegal

The burden of encephalitis and its associated viral etiology is poorly described in Africa. Moreover, neurological manifestations of COVID-19 are increasingly reported in many countries, but less so in Africa. Our prospective study aimed to characterize the main viral etiologies of patients hospitalized for encephalitis in two hospitals in Dakar. From January to December 2021, all adult patients that met the inclusion criteria for clinical infectious encephalitis were enrolled. Cerebrospinal fluids, blood, and nasopharyngeal swabs were taken and tested for 27 viruses. During the study period, 122 patients were enrolled. Viral etiology was confirmed or probable in 27 patients (22.1%), with SARS-CoV-2 (n = 8), HSV-1 (n = 7), HHV-7 (n = 5), and EBV (n = 4) being the most detected viruses. Age groups 40–49 was more likely to be positive for at least one virus with an odds ratio of 7.7. The mortality was high among infected patients, with 11 (41%) deaths notified during hospitalization. Interestingly, SARS-CoV-2 was the most prevalent virus in hospitalized patients presenting with encephalitis. Our results reveal the crucial need to establish a country-wide surveillance of encephalitis in Senegal to estimate the burden of this disease in our population and implement strategies to improve care and reduce mortality