Value from faecal sludge and municipal organic waste: fertilizer cum soil conditioner in Ghana

Ghana is confronted with waste management challenges, with 20-40% uncollected solid waste in most cities. Also, large volumes of faecal sludge are discharged untreated into the environment. Although these wastes pose serious environmental concerns, they also contain nutrients and organic matter essential for improving soil agricultural productivity. The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), since 2001, has researched into nutrient and organic matter recovery from faecal sludge and organic solid waste in Ghana and some Asian countries such as India, Sri Lanka or Bangladesh. This has led to the production of various formulations of faecal sludge based compost (with “Fortifer” as a generic ‘brand’), both in the form of pellets and powders, and specifically an ongoing project aiming at producing and commercializing the Fortifer in Ghana through a Public Private Partnership. This paper presents a summary of Fortifer technology, project objectives as well as lessons learnt during its implementation

Circuit et expérience de la gestion pharmaceutique des produits locaux utilisés dans un essai clinique contrôlé par un placebo

La spiruline, une algue douée de propriétés thérapeutiques et immunostimulantes, est fréquemment utilisée par les personnes infectées par le VIH (PvVIH). Un essai clinique contrôlé par un placebo, a été menée chez les personnes infectées par le VIH de type 1 (PvVIH-1) avec la spiruline enrichi en zinc et en sélénium, et appelée «spiruline plus». L’objectif de l’étude était de définir un circuit d’approvisionnement et de gestion de la « spiruline plus » et du placebo. L’étude qui a eu l’approbation du Comité d’Ethique National des Sciences et de la Santé a duré 12 mois. Les patients inclus dans l’étude ont été randomisés dans six séries. Les quatre-vingt-dix-sept patients de l’étude étaient composés de 52,6% des sujets sous placebo contre 47,4% sous « la spiruline plus ». Les 63.7% des patients étaient sous traitement antirétroviraux contre 36.3% sans traitement. Neuf cent cinq traitements ont été dispensés aux quatre-cent-quatre-vingt-neuf patients sous placebo et quatre cent seize patients sous « spiruline plus ». Le circuit défini a permis la dispensation de la « spiruline plus » et du placebo aux patients de l’étude pendant 12 mois.Mots clés: Circuit, gestion, «spiruline plus», PvVIH-

Optimisation de la production de biométhane à partir des déchets organiques municipaux

La gestion des déchets municipaux est devenue une préoccupation majeure dans les pays en développement, due au manque de politique et de stratégie adaptées. L’étude réalisée a porté sur la valorisation biotechnologique de la fraction biodégradable des déchets au Burkina Faso. Une analyse physico-chimique des déchets échantillonnés dans trois (3) centres de précollecte de déchets municipaux de Ouagadougou a été réalisée. L’influence du type d’inoculum (eaux usées, bouse bovine, flux de broyat de termites et une mixture de ces 3 inocula) et de la charge en substrat (déchets organiques) a été évaluée au cours d’essais de fermentation méthanique. Les résultats obtenus ont montré que les déchets organiques municipaux constituent un substrat de prédilection pour la méthanisation avec un ratio C/N de 31,65. Les essais de fermentation ont permis de noter que la bouse bovine comme inoculum avec une charge en déchets municipaux de 2% donnait la meilleure production de biométhane (297,65 l CH4 / Kg MSV). Il ressort de cette étude que les déchets municipaux peuvent être traités par la voie de la biométhanisation car présentant un potentiel de bioconversion intéressant.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Mots clés: Déchets organiques, digestion anaérobie, biométhane, environnement, Burkina FasoEnglish Title: Optimization of biomethane production from municipal solid organic wastesEnglish AbstractMunicipal solid organic wastes management became a major preoccupation. The achieved study focuses the biotechnological valorization of the biodegradable fraction of solid organic wastes in Burkina Faso.  Physicochemical characterization analysis of solid wastes sampled in 03 Ouagadougou’s centers of municipal wastes deposits was achieved. The influence of inoculum source (wastewater, bovine dung, termites’ homogenate and mixture) and substrate concentration (municipal solid waste) were evaluated during biomethane production tests. Results showed that organic fraction of solid wastes represent a source of predilection for methanization with 31.65 C/N cow. Fermentation tests showed that bovine dung used as inoculum in 2% of municipal solid waste gave the highest rate of biomethane production (297.65 l CH4 / Kg vs). The results demonstrate that municipal wastes can be valorized by biomethanization way because presenting interesting bioconversion potential.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Organic wastes, anaerobic digestion, biomethane, environment, Burkina Fas

Contribution à la biométhanisation de la biomasse végétale: cas des résidus de légumes au Burkina Faso

La matière organique constitue une source de bioénergie par la voie de la digestion anaérobie. Le but de cette étude est de déterminer les paramètres physico-chimiques et les effets de l’inoculation ainsi que de la température sur la biométhanisation des résidus de légumes. Des échantillons de résidus de légumes collectés dans des localités différentes (restaurants universitaires et marchés de légumes) à Ouagadougou ont servi de substrat. L’étude des paramètres physico-chimiques a été réalisé à l’aide des méthodes standard (AOAC, APHA) et le biogaz produit a été analysé par chromatographie en phase gazeuse. Le pH, la matière sèche, la matière sèche volatile, les cendres, le carbone organique, les protéines, les lipides et les carbohydrates totaux ont été respectivement de 5,87; 11,78%; 80,46%; 1,3%; 46,68%; 10,02%; 9,95%; 60,67%. La composition en minéraux exprimée en mg/g de matière sèche était de 12,69 (Ca2+) ; 19,44 (Ka+) ; 11,05 (Na+) ; 1,608 (N) ; 3,92 (p) ; 0,97 (SO4 2-). L’effet de l’inoculum a été mis en évidence par une production nulle de CH4 à partir d’un temoin non inoculé. La température optimale de production de biométhane a été de 44 °C avec un rendement de 238 ml CH4/g de MS.© 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Mots clés: Déchets, légume, valorisation, biogaz, Burkina FasoEnglish Title: Contribution to the biometanation of plant biomass: case of vegetable residues in Burkina FasoEnglish AbstractOrganic material is a source of bioenergy through anaerobic digestion. The purpose of this study is to determine the physico-chemical parameters and the effects of inoculation as well as temperature on biomethanation of vegetable wastes. Samples of vegetable residues collected in different localities (canteens  and vegetable markets) in Ouagadougou were used as substrate. The study of physico-chemical parameters was performed using standard methods (AOAC, APHA) and biogas produced was analyzed by gas chromatography. pH, solids , volatile solids , ash, organic carbon , proteins , lipids and total carbohydrates were respectively 5.87 ; 11.78% ; 80.46 % ; 1.3% ; 46.68 % ; 10.02% ; 9.95% ; 60.67 %. The mineral composition expressed as mg/g dry matter was 12.69 (Ca2+); 19.44 (K+) ; 11.05 (Na+); 1.608 (N); 3.92 (p); 0.97 (SO42-). Inoculum effect was evidenced by no production of CH4 using an uninoculated control. The optimum temperature for biogas production was 44 °C in a yield of 238 ml CH4/g DM.© 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Waste, vegetables, valorization, Biogas, Burkina Fas

Pest damage on Jatropha curcas (Euphorbiaceae): the effect of seedling irrigation in Sahelian Niger

Herbivory by insects and mites on physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) seedlings was investigated and compared with irrigation in the semi-arid Sahelian Niger, utilizing a randomized complete block design experiment. Three water treatment protocols were applied and the types of damage were recorded. Less than 5% of the seedlings died during the 10-month trial period with sap suckers causing the most damage on the surviving plants. Plants with high production of biomass and leaf cover (foliage) were most strongly positively correlated with irrigation and were also the plants that endured the highest degree of herbivory. The low dieback may indicate that defence mechanisms counteract seedling herbivory and that drought-stressed plants invest more in their defence mechanism system than vital plants

Biological status and dietary intakes ofiIron, zinc and vitamin A among women and preschool children in rural Burkina Faso

Background Food-based approaches such as biofortification are meant to sustainably address micronutrient deficiencies in poor settings. Knowing more about micronutrient intakes and deficiencies is a prerequisite to designing and evaluating interventions. Objective The objectives of the study were to assess biological status and dietary intakes of iron, zinc and vitamin A among women and children aged 36-59 months in rural Burkina Faso and to study relationships between intake and status to better inform future food-based interventions. Design A cross-sectional survey was carried out in two rural provinces of Burkina Faso on a random cluster sample of 480 mother-child pairs. Dietary data was obtained by 24-hour recalls repeated on a random sub-selection of 37.5% of subjects to allow calculation of nutrient's probability of adequacy (PA). Biomarkers were measured on a sub-sample of 180 mother-child pairs. Blood samples were analyzed for hemoglobin, serum ferritin, soluble transferrin receptors (sTfR), C-reactive protein, alpha-1-glycoprotein, serum zinc concentration (SZnC) and retinol. For each micronutrient the relationship between biomarker and dietary intake was investigated by multiple linear regression models accounting for inflammatory biomarkers. Results Mean PA for iron, zinc and vitamin A was 0.49, 0.87 and 0.21 among women and 0.61, 0.95 and 0.33 among children, respectively. Prevalence of anemia, corrected low serum ferritin and high sTfR was 37.6%, 4.0% and 77.5% among women and 72.1%, 1.5% and 87.6% among children, respectively. Prevalence of low SZnC and corrected low serum retinol was 39.4% and 12.0% among women and 63.7% and 24.8% among children, respectively. There was a tendency for a positive relationship between vitamin A intakes and serum retinol among women (beta = 0.0003, P = 0.06). Otherwise, no link was found between micronutrients biomarkers and intakes. Conclusion Our study depicted different images of micronutrient deficiencies when based on dietary intakes or biomarkers results, thus highlighting the need for more suitable biomarkers and more precise measures of absorbable micronutrient intakes at the individual level. It thus points to challenges in the design and evaluation of future biofortification or other food-based interventions in rural areas of Burkina Faso

Diagnostic moléculaire d’helicobacter pylori par PCR chez les patients en consultation gastroentérologique au Centre Médical Saint Camille de Ouagadougou

Introduction: L'infection par Helicobacter pylori constitue un problème de santé publique notamment dans les pays en développement. Elle entraine une gastrite pouvant évoluer vers des formes sévères d'ulcération et de transformation maligne. La présenté étude avait pour objectif de diagnostiquer H. pylori par des techniques sérologique et moléculaire au Burkina Faso. Méthodes: L'étude prospective a été conduite de mars à juin 2012 sur 70 patients venus en consultation dans le service de gastroentérologie au Centre Médical Saint Camille. Le diagnostic de H. pylori a été réalisé par le test ELISA Immunocomb (ORGENICS Ltd, Yavne, Israël) et la PCR sur des biopsies gastriques prélevées sur les patients. Résultats: Les pathologies gastroduodénales étaient plus fréquentes chez les patients de plus de 45 ans. Les prévalences de H. pylori étaient respectivement de 88,57% et de 91,43% par sérologie Immunocomb et par PCR. La différence entre les deux techniques n'était pas significative (P = 0,573). La performance de la PCR a été comparée à celle de la technique Immunocomb. Les résultats montrent une sensibilité et une spécificité de 92,2% et 50,0% pour la technique Immunocomb. Conclusion: Le diagnostic de H. pylori par PCR est plus spécifique que le test sérologique Immunocomb et devrait être introduit dans le diagnostic de routine de cette bactérie pathogène au Burkina Faso

Social perceptions of malaria and diagnostic-driven malaria treatment in Burkina Faso

peer reviewedMalaria is a parasitic disease, endemic in many tropical and sub-tropical countries. Malaria is a well-known disease, familiar to almost all people in endemic regions, as they or their family are regularly confronted with it; everyone in these regions has probably experienced the disease, at least once in their life. To investigate the social perceptions of malaria in Burkina Faso, including its diagnosis-driven treatment, we have conducted a survey in both urban (Saint Camille Hospital, Ouagadougou HOSCO) and rural (Bouss_e Hospital) areas. Fifty-six individuals, mostly representatives of the society variability, were surveyed by questionnaires and 2 focus groups were organized with traditional healers. In general, populations seem to have grasped the causes, symptoms and means of preventing the disease. However, the majority of interviewees make a marked confusion between malaria and dengue; dengue fever is considered like a severe form of malaria. The care modalities (modern and/or traditional medicine) are plural and the choice of therapeutic practice depends on both the socio-economic conditions and education level of the patient. Whereas some patients mark preferences for one type of medicine, others simultaneously recourse to both; for these, a medicine does not outperform the other and their combination multiplies the chances of a quick recovery. Whether for modern or traditional medicine, the diagnosis is considered very important for effective disease management. Modern medicine uses diagnostic tools based on light microscopy and immunochromatography (rapid diagnostic tests; RDT); traditional medicine has its own diagnostic logic but nevertheless recognizes modern medicine diagnosis to guide its therapy. 90 % of those interviewed first use modern medicine to seek an accurate diagnosis of their disease and thus to receive adequate treatment. Presumptive treatments are still widely prescribed and accepted by most patients who trust the judgment of their caregiver, not perceiving any benefit to an objective diagnosis. In front of a negative diagnosis, patient reactions are diverse, some accepting investigations for other diseases (45 %), others opting for self-medication (15 %), others resorting to traditional medicine (20 %). All are unanimous in the importance of diagnosis and are in favor of in-development diagnostic technologies, provided these obviously meet the features of reliability, ease of use, availability and, of course, economical accessibility

New ecological options for the management of horticultural crop pests in Sudano-Sahelian agroecosystems of west Africa

The agroecological approach to agroecosystem management relies on two pillars: vegetational diversification and soil biological activity enhancement. Although crop pests and their natural enemies may be diversely affected by measures derived from these principles, those generally result in increased agroecosystem resilience visà- vis both aerial and soil pests. Earlier studies by ICRISAT and CIRAD and their partners in West Africa showed the potential of the implementation of these principles for the management of some major pests of both staple food and horticultural crops, and their limitations for others, notably in the water-saving and income-generating systems mixing cereals, legumes, and high-value crops currently promoted in the Sudano-Sahelian zones, such as the drip irrigation-based African Market Garden (AMG) and the water harvesting-based Bio-Reclamation of Degraded Lands (BDL) systems. Pigeon-pea showed potential for trap-cropping tomato fruit worm (TFW) on okra, while Andropogon grass was dismissed for such management of stem-borer on pearl millet, and mixed results were obtained with castor bean and other potential trap crops for panicle-feeding bug management on sorghum. The results presented highlight the potential for mobilizing either aerial or soil-bound biological processes for managing fruit flies (FF), the main pest of grafted jujube tree, and leaf worm, the main pest of the Moringa tree, for sustainable production of these two major crops (in BDL and AMG systems, respectively), without having to rely on synthetic pesticide sprays. Studies on the social acceptability of the proposed management options (e.g., pigeon-pea in okra-based BDL) are also underway. The potential of the Jatropha shrub grown as a live-fence around these systems, either for its top-down effects or via the use of its extracts in an assisted push-pull strategy, is discussed. These studies on targeted pathosystems serve the dual purpose of finding solutions to local problems and contribute more globally to the design of pest resilient agrosystems

New ecological options for the management of horticultural crop pests in Sudano-Sahelian agroecosystems of west Africa

The agroecological approach to agroecosystem management relies on two pillars: vegetational diversification and soil biological activity enhancement. Although crop pests and their natural enemies may be diversely affected by measures derived from these principles, those generally result in increased agroecosystem resilience visà- vis both aerial and soil pests. Earlier studies by ICRISAT and CIRAD and their partners in West Africa showed the potential of the implementation of these principles for the management of some major pests of both staple food and horticultural crops, and their limitations for others, notably in the water-saving and income-generating systems mixing cereals, legumes, and high-value crops currently promoted in the Sudano-Sahelian zones, such as the drip irrigation-based African Market Garden (AMG) and the water harvesting-based Bio-Reclamation of Degraded Lands (BDL) systems. Pigeon-pea showed potential for trap-cropping tomato fruit worm (TFW) on okra, while Andropogon grass was dismissed for such management of stem-borer on pearl millet, and mixed results were obtained with castor bean and other potential trap crops for panicle-feeding bug management on sorghum. The results presented highlight the potential for mobilizing either aerial or soil-bound biological processes for managing fruit flies (FF), the main pest of grafted jujube tree, and leaf worm, the main pest of the Moringa tree, for sustainable production of these two major crops (in BDL and AMG systems, respectively), without having to rely on synthetic pesticide sprays. Studies on the social acceptability of the proposed management options (e.g., pigeon-pea in okra-based BDL) are also underway. The potential of the Jatropha shrub grown as a live-fence around these systems, either for its top-down effects or via the use of its extracts in an assisted push-pull strategy, is discussed. These studies on targeted pathosystems serve the dual purpose of finding solutions to local problems and contribute more globally to the design of pest resilient agrosystems