Teneurs en tanins de 15 ligneux fourragers du Burkina Faso

Face au recul progressif du fourrage herbacé, le bétail des villages de Diarabakoko et de Dionona est contraint en saison sèche de s’alimenter plus de fourrage des ligneux. Mais les teneurs en facteurs antinutritionnels particulièrement en tanins condensés de certaines espèces ligneuses peuvent limiter la consommation de leurs fourrages. L’objectif de l’étude est de caractériser et quantifier les tanins contenus dans les feuilles et/ou fruits de 15 ligneux fourragers couramment appétés. Les tanins ont été quantifiés par spectrométrie d’absorption UV-Vis à la longueur d’onde de 760 nm. Les tanins condensés ont été identifiés dans 53,33% des espèces étudiées avec des teneurs significativement différentes (P ˂ 0,05). Les teneurs des feuilles et des fruits ont varié respectivement de 0,810 ± 0,041 à 7,102 ± 0,117 g EAT/100 g MS et de 3,016 ± 0,056 à 8,074 ± 0,042 g EAT/100 g MS. Les teneurs en tanins galliques des feuilles ont oscillé entre 0,214 ± 0,006 et 3,627 ± 0,072 g EAT/100 g MS et celles des fruits entre 2,153 ± 0,006 et 2,380 ± 0,039 g EAT/100 g MS. Le fourrage des espèces étudiées sauf les feuilles de Acacia sieberiana et les fruits de Cassia sieberiana peuvent contribuer à la supplémentation des ruminants. Les teneurs en tanins peuvent servir de critère de choix supplémentaire des ligneux fourragers en aménagement pastoral et en agroforesterie.Mots-clés: Burkina Faso, ligneux fourragers, métabolites secondaires, tanins, teneurs, facteurs antinutritionnels. Tannins content of 15 woody forages from Burkina FasoFacing the progressive decline of herbaceous forage, ruminant animals from the villages of Diarabakoko and Dionona are forced in the dry season to feed more browse forages. But the levels of anti-nutritional factors particularly condensed tannins of some browses species may limit their consumption. The objective of the study was to characterize and quantify the tannins in the leaves and/or fruits of 15 common woody forage palatable. Tannins have been quantified by spectrophotometry UV-Vis absorption at wavelength of 760 nm. Condensed tannins were identified in 53.33% of the species studied with significantly different levels (P ˂ 0.05). The contents of leaves and fruits ranged respectively 0.810 ± 0.041 to 7.102 ± 0.117 g TAE/100 g DM and 3,016 ± 0.056 to 8.074 ± 0.042 g TAE/100 g DM. The contents of gallic tannins in leaves varied between 0.214 ± 0.006 and 3.627 ± 0.072 g TAE/100 g DM and those in fruits were between 2.153 ± 0.006 and 2.380 ± 0.039 g TAE/100 g DM. Forage species studied except the leaves of Acacia sieberiana and fruits of Cassia sieberiana can contribute to the supplementation of ruminants. Tannins content can be used as a supplementary criterion for selection of tree fodder in pasture management and in agroforestry.Keywords: Burkina Faso, browses, secondary metabolites, tannins, content, anti-nutritional factors

Early assessment of genotypic variation in growth and nitrogen fixation in Faidherbia albida/rhizobium symbiosis

To enhance the benefits from N2-fixing symbiosis in low nitrogen fixers such as Faidherbia albida, knowledge is needed on how genotypes of both the host and its bacterial partner interact to influence N fixation-related traits of the host legume. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to investigate the variability of several traits with respect to provenance, rhizobial strain and their interactions. Four West African provenances of F. albida were inoculated with five proven effective strains and grown for two months. Provenance x strain interactions were significant only for shoot N concentration (%N) and total shoot N uptake but their contributions to total phenotypic variances were rather low (6-10%). Because of large differencesamong provenances in growth performance the host genotype showed the greatest contribution (70.7%) to the variability in total shoot N uptake. Variability in %N in turn was mostly related to strain effectiveness (71.2%).These results suggest that under conditions of N deficiency, growth performance and shoot N concentration provide reliable selection criteria when screening for improved N2-fixation in F. albida.Keywords: rhizobia, Faidherbia, provenance, variability, interaction, N2-fixatio

La mycothérapie au Burkina Faso : État des lieux et perspectives

Objectif : Les vertus médicinales des champignons supérieurs sont connues depuis des millénaires, notamment à travers la médecine asiatique. En Afrique de l’ouest, les recherches menées dans ce domaine sont rares. Cette étude est une contribution à la connaissance des champignons supérieurs utilisés dans la médecine traditionnelle au Burkina Faso. Méthodologie et résultats : L’étude a été réalisée dans la ville de Ouagadougou à partir d’enquêtes ethnomycologiques auprès de 60 tradipraticiens. Les résultats obtenus à l’issue de ces enquêtes ont permis d’identifier huit (8) espèces de champignons supérieurs utilisées en tradithérapie. Il s’agit de : Daldinia eschscholzii, Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma resinaceum, Phellinus pachyphloeus, Podaxis pistillaris, Lentinus squarrosulus, Lycoperdon sp et Scleroderma sp. L’analyse des données montre que le genre et l’âge des personnes interrogées n’ont pas d’influence sur la connaissance des espèces thérapeutiques. En revanche, les femmes connaissent plus d’espèces de champignons thérapeutiques que les hommes et la différence est significative entre les deux groupes. Conclusion et application des résultats : Ce premier inventaire non exhaustif des champignons thérapeutiques nous révèle une richesse insoupçonnée pour une région aride et considérée comme ayant une flore mycologique pauvre.L’étude a permis d’identifier huit espèces de champignons supérieurs médicinaux dans la ville de Ouagadougou au Burkina Faso. Ce sont : Daldinia eschscholzii, Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma resinaceum, Phellinus pachyphloeus, Podaxis pistillaris, Lentinus squarrosulus, Lycoperdon sp et Scleroderma sp. Il s’agit pour la plus part d’espèces lignicoles. Ces champignons supérieurs sont des agents bioactifs potentiels procurant des sources de médicaments aux populations burkinabés. Ces espèces pourraient être valorisées sur le plan thérapeutique. Leur identification constitue un préalable dans la gestion des ressources locales. Il serait aussi intéressant de mener des études plus approfondies afin de pouvoir mettre en évidence les substances bioactives en vue de leur vulgarisation.Mots clés : Mycothérapie, champignons, enquête ethnomycologique, Burkina FasoObjectives: The medicinal properties of mushrooms have been known for thousands of years, particularly through the Asian medicine. In West Africa and Burkina Faso specifically, research in this area is rare. The main objective of this study is to collect information on the use of mushrooms in traditional medicine in Burkina Faso. Methodology and results: This study was done in Ouagadougou. A quantitative questionnaire was used among 60 traditional healers (30 women and 30 men) in the central part of Burkina Faso to assess the knowledge of medicinal mushroom and how they are used. Eight mushroom species were identified in traditional medicine: Daldinia eschscholzii, Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma resinaceum, Phellinus pachyphloeus, Podaxis pistillaris, Lentinus squarrosulus, Lycoperdon sp and Scleroderma sp. The data analysis showed that the gender and the age of the informants have no influence on the knowledge of therapeutic species. Conclusion and application of results : This first nonexhaustive inventory of therapeutic mushrooms reveals us an unsuspected richness for an area arid and regarded as having a poor mycological flora This study have help to identify eight medicinal mushroom species in the town of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). This is: Daldinia eschscholzii, Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma resinaceum, Phellinus pachyphloeus, Podaxis pistillaris, Lentinus squarrosulus, Lycoperdon sp and Scleroderma sp. Most of them are lignicolous species.These higher mushrooms are potential bioactive agents getting sources of drugs to the burkinabé people. These species could be developed on the therapeutic level. Their identification constitutes a precondition in the local stock management.It would be also interesting to undertake studies in order to be able to highlight the bioactive substances for their popularization.Keywords: Mycotherapy, mushrooms, survey, Burkina Fas

Capacités de discrimination des femelles de quatre souches de Callosobruchus maculatus Fab. (Coléoptera : Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae) pour la localisation de l’hôte et la ponte aux dépens d’hôtes secondaires

L’objectif de cette étude est de savoir comment les femelles de quatre souches de Callosobruchus maculatus F., localisent leur hôte, distribuent les oeufs sur des graines de taille différente dans des conditions de libre choix, de semi choix et de non choix. Ainsi, des couples de C. maculatus ont été transférés du niébé, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. (Fabaceae), et maintenus sur les graines de deux variétés de voandzou, Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc. (Fabaceae), et du pois d’angole, Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp (Fabaceae), trois ans durant. La capacité des femelles à reconnaître les odeurs de ces quatre types de graines a été testée à l’aide d’un olfactomètre et dans un dispositif tridimensionnel. Elles ont été ensuite mises en contact avec les différentes graines pour la ponte. Dans l’olfatomètre, lorsqu’elles ont le choix entre l’air pur et l’air provenant de leurs hôtes d’origine, elles sont significativement attirées par l’air odorant. Quand les femelles issues des souches du voandzou ou du pois d’angole ont le choix entre le niébé et leur plante d’origine, elles préfèrent le niébé. Dans le dispositif tridimensionnel, quand les femelles issues du voandzou ou du pois d’angole ont un libre choix entre les quatre types de graines, elles (> 30%) préfèrent leurs plantes hôtes d’origine. Les odeurs dégagées par les graines semblent contribuer à l’orientation des femelles vers ces graines. C. maculatus utilisent des signaux chimiques dans la localisation de leurs hôtes. Ceci entraînerait ou stimulerait l’utilisation des répulsifs et attractants dans la gestion intégrée des insectes de stocks.Mots clés: Capacités de discrimination, localisation, ponte, C. maculatus, plantes hôtes secondaire

Step-wedge cluster-randomised community-based trials: An application to the study of the impact of community health insurance

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.BACKGROUND: We describe a step-wedge cluster-randomised community-based trial which has been conducted since 2003 to accompany the implementation of a community health insurance (CHI) scheme in West Africa. The trial aims at overcoming the paucity of evidence-based information on the impact of CHI. Impact is defined in terms of changes in health service utilisation and household protection against the cost of illness. Our exclusive focus on the description and discussion of the methods is justified by the fact that the study relies on a methodology previously applied in the field of disease control, but never in the field of health financing. METHODS: First, we clarify how clusters were defined both in respect of statistical considerations and of local geographical and socio-cultural concerns. Second, we illustrate how households within clusters were sampled. Third, we expound the data collection process and the survey instruments. Finally, we outline the statistical tools to be applied to estimate the impact of CHI. CONCLUSION: We discuss all design choices both in relation to methodological considerations and to specific ethical and organisational concerns faced in the field. On the basis of the appraisal of our experience, we postulate that conducting relatively sophisticated trials (such as our step-wedge cluster-randomised community-based trial) aimed at generating sound public health evidence, is both feasible and valuable also in low income settings. Our work shows that if accurately designed in conjunction with local health authorities, such trials have the potential to generate sound scientific evidence and do not hinder, but at times even facilitate, the implementation of complex health interventions such as CHI

Best Practices: Lessons Learned by a South Florida Non-Profit Community Based Organization while Designing and Implementing a Career Exploration Evidence Informed Framework in Urban Communities

All A’s was designed to support of the agency’s family strengthening initiatives in South Florida. All A’s uses evidence informed strategies poised to be an inclusive curriculum that teaches self-determination and adaptive behavior skills. The framework incorporates problem based learning and adult learning theory and follows the Universal Design for Learning. Since 2012, the agency has served over 8500 youth and 4,000 adults using the framework. The framework addresses educational underachievement and career readiness in at risk populations. It is used to enhance participants AWARENESS of setting SMART goals to achieve future goals and career aspirations. Participants are provided with ACCESS to resources and opportunities for creating and implementing an ACTION plan as they pursue and ACHIEVE their goals. All A’s promotes protective factors and expose youth to career pathways in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) related fields. Youth participate in college tours, job site visits, job shadowing, high school visits, online college and career preparation assistance, service learning projects, STEM projects, and the Winning Futures© mentoring program. Adults are assisted with résumé development; learn job search strategies, interview techniques, job shadowing experiences, computer and financial literacy programs. Adults and youth are also given the opportunity to complete industry-recognized certifications in high demand industries (food service, general labor, and construction), and test preparation for the General Educational Development Test

Seasonal performance of a malaria rapid diagnosis test at community health clinics in a malaria-hyperendemic region of Burkina Faso

BACKGOUND: Treatment of confirmed malaria patients with Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) at remote areas is the goal of many anti-malaria programs. Introduction of effective and affordable malaria Rapid Diagnosis Test (RDT) in remote areas could be an alternative tool for malaria case management. This study aimed to assess performance of the OptiMAL dipstick for rapid malaria diagnosis in children under five. METHODS: Malaria symptomatic and asymptomatic children were recruited in a passive manner in two community clinics (CCs). Malaria diagnosis by microscopy and RDT were performed. Performance of the tests was determined. RESULTS: RDT showed similar ability (61.2%) to accurately diagnose malaria as microscopy (61.1%). OptiMAL showed a high level of sensitivity and specificity, compared with microscopy, during both transmission seasons (high & low), with a sensitivity of 92.9% vs. 74.9% and a specificity of 77.2% vs. 87.5%. CONCLUSION: By improving the performance of the test through accurate and continuous quality control of the device in the field, OptiMAL could be suitable for use at CCs for the management and control of malaria

Evaluation of different options: host plant resistance, weed management, fertilization for the development of an integrated pest management strategy for the sweet potato weevil in Burkina Faso

The sweet potato weevil (SPW) (Cylas puncticollis) is a destructive pest feeding on the sweet potato in Burkina Faso. This weevil causes severe damage to the tuber, and the infested tuber is unsuitable for human consumption or animal feed. This problem calls for effective control management, especially for non-chemical approaches. A field experiment was carried out from 2012 to 2015 with the aim to develop management methods. Different control methods, including host-plant resistance, weeds management and crop fertilization, were tested. The results showed that two varieties, Zappalo-1 and Resisto were free of any SPW damage (0%). Similarly, when plots were not weeded tubers of the BF11 variety were free of any SPW damage (0%). Finally, the combination of manure and mineral fertilizer significantly reduced the damage due to the SPW to score as low as 1 compare to 3.5 in the absence of manure. From the current study, it can be concluded that an integrated approach combining resistant varieties, good weeding practices and fertilizer application could be implemented to control the SPW in Burkina Faso