Methods of preparation and nutritional evaluation of dishes consumed in a malaria endemic zone in Cameroon (Ngali II)

This study deals with the description of the methods of preparation and determination of the nutritional potential of dishes consumed by Cameroonians living in a rural area, which is a malaria endemic zone, called Ngali II. The dishes consumed are prepared from leguminous seeds, seeds of the Cucurbitaceae family (egusi seeds), green leafy vegetables, tubers, cereals unripe bananas and plantains. The contents in moisture, ash, proteins, lipids, crude fibres and carbohydrates were determined by standard AOAC methods. The results obtained are expressed in percentage f.w for moisture and percentage d.w for ash, proteins, lipids, crude fibres and carbohydrates. The moisture content ranges from 57.77- 6.17; ash, 0.66-14.74; proteins, 1.49-37.25; lipids, 0.26-54.98; crude fibres, 1.43-17.82 and carbohydrates, 3.51-95.76. This study revealed that a higher consumption of dishes made from leguminous seeds, egusi seeds, green leafy vegetables, and low consumption of tubers, unripe bananas and plantains will lead to a good nutritional balance.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (3), pp. 273-278, 200

Regional Action Plan for the Conservation of the Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli)

From Executive Summary: This document represents the consensus of experts who met at a workshop in April 2006 in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria, to formulate a set of priority actions that would increase the survival prospects for the Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli). The Cross River gorilla is recognized by IUCN as Critically Endangered, and is the most threatened taxon of ape in Africa. It is the most westerly and northerly form of gorilla, and occurs only in a limited area around the mountainous headwaters of the Cross River, straddling the border between Cameroon and Nigeria. Participants at the 2006 workshop, which built upon the outcomes of previous meetings in Calabar in 2001 and Limbe, Cameroon, in 2003, included representatives of forestry and wildlife conservation agencies from the two range countries, of local and international nongovernmental conservation and development organizations, and of university-based researchers

Chimpanzee population structure in Cameroon and Nigeria is associated with habitat variation that may be lost under climate change

Background: The Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti) is found in the Gulf of Guinea biodiversity hotspot located in western equatorial Africa. This subspecies is threatened by habitat fragmentation due to logging and agricultural development, hunting for the bushmeat trade, and possibly climate change. Although P. t. ellioti appears to be geographically separated from the neighboring central chimpanzee (P. t. troglodytes) by the Sanaga River, recent population genetics studies of chimpanzees from across this region suggest that additional factors may also be important in their separation. The main aims of this study were: 1) to model the distribution of suitable habitat for P. t. ellioti across Cameroon and Nigeria, and P. t. troglodytes in southern Cameroon, 2) to determine which environmental factors best predict their optimal habitats, and 3) to compare modeled niches and test for their levels of divergence from one another. A final aim of this study was to examine the ways that climate change might impact suitable chimpanzee habitat across the region under various scenarios. Results: Ecological niche models (ENMs) were created using the software package Maxent for the three populations of chimpanzees that have been inferred to exist in Cameroon and eastern Nigeria: (i) P. t. troglodytes in southern Cameroon, (ii) P. t. ellioti in northwestern Cameroon, and (iii) P. t. ellioti in central Cameroon. ENMs for each population were compared using the niche comparison test in ENMtools, which revealed complete niche divergence with very little geographic overlap of suitable habitat between populations. Conclusions: These findings suggest that a positive relationship may exist between environmental variation and the partitioning of genetic variation found in chimpanzees across this region. ENMs for each population were also projected under three different climate change scenarios for years 2020, 2050, and 2080. Suitable habitat of P. t. ellioti in northwest Cameroon / eastern Nigeria is expected to remain largely unchanged through 2080 in all considered scenarios. In contrast, P. t. ellioti in central Cameroon, which represents half of the population of this subspecies, is expected to experience drastic reductions in its ecotone habitat over the coming century

IMPLICATION OF FIVE AIDS RELATED GENES IN MOTHER-TO-CHILD TRANSMISSION AND ACQUISITION OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS 1 IN CAMEROON

Background: Genetic variants in the mother and/or infant have been described with evidence to be associated with mother-to-child transmission of HIV, but somehow with contradictory results depending on ethnic or geographic populations. We aimed at looking at the association between the allelic frequency of some genes with vertical transmission or acquisition of HIV in Cameroon. Methodology: A total of 262 mothers (212 HIV-infected and 50 HIV non-infected) with their babies (270 in total, 42 HIV exposed-infected, 178 HIV exposed non-infected and 50 HIV non-exposed) were recruited in Yaounde- Cameroon. Their genotypes for CCR5-Delta32, CCR5 promoter59029A/G, CCR2-64I, SDF1-3’A andTRIM5α-136Q were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphisms. Results: Allelic frequencies were 14.7%, 41.9%, 9.5% and 14.7% for CCR2-64I, CCR5-59029-A/G, TRIM5α-136Q, SDF1-3’A respectively in the mothers and 18.8%, 35.9%, 11.3% and 20.5% in the babies. No delta 32 mutation in the CCR5 gene was found. The mutant genotype was most significantly frequent in the non-transmitter than in the transmitter (p= 0.005) for the SDF-1 3'A. SDF1-3’A [Odd ratio = 1.69; 95% confidence interval: 0.1158 to 0.7277); was associated to MTCT, P = 0.008.The homozygote mutants for the CCR5-59029-G were significantly higher in the infected than in the exposed uninfected babies (p=0.04). The mutations in the other genes were neither implicated in the acquisition nor in the transmission. Conclusion: SDF1-3’A was associated to the reduction of MTCT. The CCR5-59029-A/G favored acquisition of HIV by babies. Our study showed that polymorphisms in chemokine ligand may be involved in MTCT

Revised Regional Action Plan for the Conservation of the Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) 2014–2019

This plan outlines measures that should ensure that Cross River gorilla numbers are able to increase at key core sites, allowing them to extend into areas where they have been absent for many years

Modeling the potential distribution of the threatened Grey-necked Picathartes Picathartes oreas across its entire range

Understanding the distribution and extent of suitable habitats is critical for the conservation of endangered and endemic taxa. Such knowledge is limited for many Central African species, including the rare and globally threatened Grey-necked Picathartes Picathartes oreas, one of only two species in the family Picathartidae endemic to the forests of Central Africa. Despite growing concerns about land-use change resulting in fragmentation and loss of forest cover in the region, neither the extent of suitable habitat nor the potential species’ distribution is well known. We combine 339 (new and historical) occurrence records of Grey-necked Picathartes with environmental variables to model the potential global distribution. We used a Maximum Entropy modelling approach that accounted for sampling bias. Our model suggests that Grey-necked Picathartes distribution is strongly associated with steeper slopes and high levels of forest cover, while bioclimatic, vegetation health, and habitat condition variables were all excluded from the final model. We predicted 17,327 km2 of suitable habitat for the species, of which only 2,490 km2 (14.4%) are within protected areas where conservation designations are strictly enforced. These findings show a smaller global distribution of predicted suitable habitat forthe Grey-necked Picathartes than previously thought. This work provides evidence to inform a revision of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status, and may warrant upgrading the status of the species from “Near Threatened” to “Vulnerable”

Tracing the origins of rescued chimpanzees reveals widespread chimpanzee hunting in Cameroon

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>While wild chimpanzees are experiencing drastic population declines, their numbers at African rescue and rehabilitation projects are growing rapidly. Chimpanzees follow complex routes to these refuges; and their geographic origins are often unclear. Identifying areas where hunting occurs can help law enforcement authorities focus scarce resources for wildlife protection planning. Efficiently focusing these resources is particularly important in Cameroon because this country is a key transportation waypoint for international wildlife crime syndicates. Furthermore, Cameroon is home to two chimpanzee subspecies, which makes ascertaining the origins of these chimpanzees important for reintroduction planning and for scientific investigations involving these chimpanzees.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We estimated geographic origins of 46 chimpanzees from the Limbe Wildlife Centre (LWC) in Cameroon. Using Bayesian approximation methods, we determined their origins using mtDNA sequences and microsatellite (STRP) genotypes compared to a spatial map of georeferenced chimpanzee samples from 10 locations spanning Cameroon and Nigeria. The LWC chimpanzees come from multiple regions of Cameroon or forested areas straddling the Cameroon-Nigeria border. The LWC chimpanzees were partitioned further as originating from one of three biogeographically important zones occurring in Cameroon, but we were unable to refine these origin estimates to more specific areas within these three zones.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings suggest that chimpanzee hunting is widespread across Cameroon. Live animal smuggling appears to occur locally within Cameroon, despite the existence of local wildlife cartels that operate internationally. This pattern varies from the illegal wildlife trade patterns observed in other commercially valuable species, such as elephants, where specific populations are targeted for exploitation. A broader sample of rescued chimpanzees compared against a more comprehensive grid of georeferenced samples may reveal 'hotspots' of chimpanzee hunting and live animal transport routes in Cameroon. These results illustrate also that clarifying the origins of refuge chimpanzees is an important tool for designing reintroduction programs. Finally, chimpanzees at refuges are frequently used in scientific investigations, such as studies investigating the history of zoonotic diseases. Our results provide important new information for interpreting these studies within a precise geographical framework.</p

Évolution du couvert végétal du Parc National Mbam et Djerem et sa périphérie entre 2000-2018

International audienceLe Parc National du Mbam et Djerem est situé entre 5°30’ et 6°13’ de latitude Nord, et 12°13’ et 13°10’ de longitude Est dans la zone de transition forêt–savane du Cameroun avec une superficie de 416512 hectares. Il possède un potentiel floristique et faunique très particulier.L’analyse de la dynamique du couvert végétal indique un taux de progression global d’environ 4,90 % et un taux de régression d’environ 0,25 % des formations végétales à l’intérieur du parc entre 2000 et 2018. De façon plus spécifique, en 18 ans, la forêt dense semble avoir pris le pas sur la forêt claire et la savane avec une augmentation de 91230 ha, soit un taux d’évolution de 54,95 % tant dis que les espaces de forêt claire et de savane ont diminué respectivement de l’ordre de -69643,5 ha et -21494 ha, soit des taux de l’ordre de -57,75 % et -15,19 %. Par contre à la périphérie du parc, on constate l’effet inverse avec une diminution de la forêt dense de -86141 ha soit un taux de régression de 15 %, et de la savane avec -27219 ha soit un taux de régression de -4,69 %.Les principaux moteurs de ce dynamisme observé sont l’élevage transhumant, l’extension des agro- industries et des exploitations agricoles familiales, l’exploitation illégale du bois d’œuvre et la collecte des Produits Forestiers Non-Ligneux

Coûts du handicap de l'enfant pour les ménages au Cameroun

L’objectif de cette thèse est d’évaluer les coûts du handicap de l’enfant pour les membres des ménages au Cameroun. De façon spécifique, il s’agit premièrement d’évaluer l’effet du handicap de l’enfant sur les dépenses de santé de celui-ci et des membres de sa fratrie. Deuxièmement, il est question de déterminer l’effet du handicap de l’enfant sur la participation au marché du travail de ses deux parents. Enfin, il s’agit d’interroger l’effet du handicap de l’enfant sur l’accumulation du capital humain de l’enfant. Afin d’atteindre ces objectifs, une démarche en deux étapes est à chaque fois adoptée. La première étape, qui consiste en l’analyse des théories, hypothèses et résultats de travaux réalisés en économie de la santé, du travail, de la famille et de l’éducation, sert de préalable à l’évaluation empirique. La seconde étape, quant à elle, mobilise les données secondaires, riches et fiables de l’Enquête Démographique et de Santé et à Indicateurs Multiples 2011 réalisée par l’INS avec concours de l’UNFPA, l’Unicef, la Banque Mondiale et l’USAID pour des traitements statistiques et économétriques. A cet effet, le modèle-en-deux-parties, les modèles logistiques et à effets-fixes famille sont utilisés et débouchent sur les principaux résultats suivants : (i) Dans l’ensemble, il apparaît que le handicap accroît significativement les dépenses de santé des enfants qui en sont porteurs, comparativement aux enfants qui n’ont pas de handicap ; en revanche, le handicap n’affecte pas les dépenses de santé des autres enfants vivant dans un ménage où vit un enfant handicapé comparativement aux enfants vivant dans un ménage sans enfant handicapé. (ii) Chez les enfants confiés, le fait d’être handicapé accroît les dépenses de santé mensuelles de 683 Fcfa tandis que le handicap des enfants biologiques du chef de ménage est source de dépenses de santé de 138 Fcfa inférieures. (iii) Quel que soit le handicap, il n’a aucun effet sur la participation au marché du travail des pères. (iv) Le handicap intensif en dépense de santé d’un enfant va accroître de 10% la probabilité qu’une mère travaille et de 3% que celle-ci travaille à plein temps. (v) Les handicaps non-sévères et sévères réduisent la fréquentation scolaire des enfants de 10% et de 60% respectivement. (vi) Le fait d’être handicapé sévère entrave la réussite scolaire de l’enfant en ce sens qu’il accroît de 20% la probabilité d’accuser un retard scolaire comparativement à un enfant non-handicapé