Quality and Safety of Beef Produced in Central African Sub-Region

Aim of this research is to provide a general situation of cattle slaughtered in Cameroon, as a representative example for the Central African Sub-region. The quality and safety of beef from the abattoir of Yaoundé, the largest in Cameroon, were considered. From January 2009 to March 2012, the pre-slaughter conditions and characteristics of 1953 cattle carcasses were recorded, as well as the pH of m. longissimus thoracis 24 h after slaughter. From these carcasses, 60 were selected to represent the bulls slaughtered. The quality parameters and composition of m. longissimus thoracis were carried out. The origin of most of the cattle was the Guinea High Savannah (74.6%), and transhumance was the common production system (75.5%). Gudali (45.6%), White Fulani (33.3%) and Red Mbororo (20.3%) breeds were predominant. Carcass weight was affected by rearing system and cattle category, and it markedly varied during year. Considering meat quality, the fat content was low (1.2%) and similar between breeds, moreover Gudali showed the toughest meat. Of the cows slaughtered, 27% were pregnant and the most common abnormal conditions encountered were ectoparasites, fatigue, lameness, fungal-like skin lesions, enlarged lymph nodes, respiratory distress, nodular lesions. More than 20% of the carcasses had some organs condemned, mainly for liver flukes (5.17%), and 1.0% of them were completely condemned due to tuberculosis, that also affected 3.28% of lungs. These data could aid authorities draw up programmes with the aim to strengthen cattle production, improve beef supply, control and prevent the observed diseases, and promote the regional trade

A scoping review establishes need for consensus guidance on reporting health equity in observational studies.

To evaluate the support from the available guidance on reporting of health equity in research for our candidate items and to identify additional items for the Strengthening Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology-Equity extension. We conducted a scoping review by searching Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Methodology Register, LILACS, and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information up to January 2022. We also searched reference lists and gray literature for additional resources. We included guidance and assessments (hereafter termed "resources") related to conduct and/or reporting for any type of health research with or about people experiencing health inequity. We included 34 resources, which supported one or more candidate items or contributed to new items about health equity reporting in observational research. Each candidate item was supported by a median of six (range: 1-15) resources. In addition, 12 resources suggested 13 new items, such as "report the background of investigators". Existing resources for reporting health equity in observational studies aligned with our interim checklist of candidate items. We also identified additional items that will be considered in the development of a consensus-based and evidence-based guideline for reporting health equity in observational studies

Adaptations to Submarine Hydrothermal Environments Exemplified by the Genome of Nautilia profundicola

Submarine hydrothermal vents are model systems for the Archaean Earth environment, and some sites maintain conditions that may have favored the formation and evolution of cellular life. Vents are typified by rapid fluctuations in temperature and redox potential that impose a strong selective pressure on resident microbial communities. Nautilia profundicola strain Am-H is a moderately thermophilic, deeply-branching Epsilonproteobacterium found free-living at hydrothermal vents and is a member of the microbial mass on the dorsal surface of vent polychaete, Alvinella pompejana. Analysis of the 1.7-Mbp genome of N. profundicola uncovered adaptations to the vent environment—some unique and some shared with other Epsilonproteobacterial genomes. The major findings included: (1) a diverse suite of hydrogenases coupled to a relatively simple electron transport chain, (2) numerous stress response systems, (3) a novel predicted nitrate assimilation pathway with hydroxylamine as a key intermediate, and (4) a gene (rgy) encoding the hallmark protein for hyperthermophilic growth, reverse gyrase. Additional experiments indicated that expression of rgy in strain Am-H was induced over 100-fold with a 20°C increase above the optimal growth temperature of this bacterium and that closely related rgy genes are present and expressed in bacterial communities residing in geographically distinct thermophilic environments. N. profundicola, therefore, is a model Epsilonproteobacterium that contains all the genes necessary for life in the extreme conditions widely believed to reflect those in the Archaean biosphere—anaerobic, sulfur, H2- and CO2-rich, with fluctuating redox potentials and temperatures. In addition, reverse gyrase appears to be an important and common adaptation for mesophiles and moderate thermophiles that inhabit ecological niches characterized by rapid and frequent temperature fluctuations and, as such, can no longer be considered a unique feature of hyperthermophiles

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic across Africa : current status of vaccinations and implications for the future

The introduction of effective vaccines in December 2020 marked a significant step forward in the global response to COVID-19. Given concerns with access, acceptability, and hesitancy across Africa, there is a need to describe the current status of vaccine uptake in the continent. An exploratory study was undertaken to investigate these aspects, current challenges, and lessons learnt across Africa to provide future direction. Senior personnel across 14 African countries completed a self-administered questionnaire, with a descriptive analysis of the data. Vaccine roll-out commenced in March 2021 in most countries. COVID-19 vaccination coverage varied from low in Cameroon and Tanzania and up to 39.85% full coverage in Botswana at the end of 2021; that is, all doses advocated by initial protocols versus the total population, with rates increasing to 58.4% in Botswana by the end of June 2022. The greatest increase in people being fully vaccinated was observed in Uganda (20.4% increase), Botswana (18.5% increase), and Zambia (17.9% increase). Most vaccines were obtained through WHO-COVAX agreements. Initially, vaccination was prioritised for healthcare workers (HCWs), the elderly, adults with co-morbidities, and other at-risk groups, with countries now commencing vaccination among children and administering booster doses. Challenges included irregular supply and considerable hesitancy arising from misinformation fuelled by social media activities. Overall, there was fair to reasonable access to vaccination across countries, enhanced by government initiatives. Vaccine hesitancy must be addressed with context-specific interventions, including proactive programmes among HCWs, medical journalists, and the public

Performances de reproduction des cobayes (Cavia porcellus L.) supplémentés aux astéracées ou à l’aliment composé enrichi en protéines

Un essai a été mené de mai à octobre 2013 à la Ferme d’Application et de Recherche de l’Université de Dschang pour évaluer l’effet d’une supplémentation aux astéracées ou à un aliment composé enrichi en protéines sur les performances de reproduction des cobayes. A l’issu d’une phase d’acceptabilité de deux semaines deux de trois astéracées (Galinsoga, sp, Bidens pilosa, Ageratum conysoïdens) ont été choisis pour être utilisées dans l’essai. 48 femelles adultes ont été distribuées au hasard dans un dispositif factoriel 3x2x3 (ration, origine, répétions). Les rations expérimentales étaient constituées de Penissetum clandestinum + Aliment composé de base (T0), Penissetum clandestinum + Galinsoga sp+ Bidens pilosa (T1), et Penissetum clandestinum + aliment composé enrichi en protéines (T2). Les principaux résultats indiquent que Galinsoga sp a été significativement (P<0,05) plus appétée, suivie de Bidens pilosa. Les taux de fertilité, de prolificité, de sevrage et la taille de la portée n’ont pas été significativement (P>0,05) affectés par la supplémentation. Le taux d’avortement, comparable (P>0,05) entre T1 (50,00±35,35% pour Nord Ouest et 37,50±17,46 pour Ouest) et T2 (12,50±17,67% pour Nord Ouest et 12,50±17,67 % Ouest), a été significativement (P<0,05) plus élevé par rapport à T0 où l’avortement n’a pas été observé. Les nouveaux nés des reproductrices du lot T1 ont enregistré des poids à la naissance de 67,16 ± 3,21 g pour le Nord –Ouest et 78,66 ± 5,80 g pour Ouest. Ces valeurs sont significativement (P<0,05) inferieures à celles obtenues dans les traitements T0 et T2.Il en est de même que pour le sevrage. Néanmoins le gain de poids de la naissance au sevrage a été comparable (P>0,05) entre les traitements. Au terme de cette étude, il a été conclu que les astéracées et les aliments composés riches en protéines devraient être utilisés avec modération en alimentation des cobayes pour la reproduction

Influence de la gestation sur les parametres sanguins chez la truie

L\'influence de l'état de gestation sur le nombre de globules rouges (N.G.R.), de globules blancs (N.G.B.), l'hématocrite (H.T.), la vitesse de sédimentation du sang (V.S.), le taux d'hémoglobine (T.Hb.) et la formule leucocytaire a été étudiée chez 182 truies dont 102 vides et 80 gravides. Les numérations globulaires, l'H.T, le T.Hb et la V.S ont été déterminés à partir des méthodes proposées par l'OMS (1982) et la formule leucocytaire a été estimée par la méthode décrite par Schalm (1971). Chez les truies gestantes, par rapport aux vides, le N.G.R a significativement diminué (

Effect of castration and protein level of diet on the growth performance of piglets

A study designed to investigate the effect of dietary protein level and castration on growth performance of weaner pigs was conducted using crossbred piglets (Large white x landrace) of forty days of age and 7,50 kg average live weight. A total of 24 piglets (12 castrated and 12 non castrated) were divided into 3 experimental treatments with four piglets per treatment. The treatments corresponded to three dietary crude protein (CP) levels of 14,26, 16,49 and 20,4 % CP. The main findings of the study showed that there was a linear increase in feed consumption with increasing levels of protein in the diet. Irrespective of treatment, uncastrated piglets consumed more feed than castrated piglets. Increase in the dietary crude protein level and castration were observed to significantly (