Impact of the Degrading Toxicity of Metallic Trace Elements on the Flora and Fauna of the Matete River in Kinshasa

This work presents the results for which the general objective pursued in this study is to assess the impact of the degrading toxicity of metallic trace elements on the flora and fauna of the Matete river in Kinshasa. This evaluation was studied through the understanding of the accumulative power of species of flora and fauna in this same ecosystem with metallic elements. In particular: Pistia stratiotes (manganese): 10.7 ± 1.1 and 236.4 × 101 ± 248.8 mg / kg, iron: from 187.5 × 101 ± 61.9 and 500.0 × 101 ± 0, 1 mg / kg, potassium: between 314.8 ± 12.1 and 119.0 × 103 ± 6981.1 mg / kg, calcium: <10 ± <0.3 and 252200 ± 1892.8 mg / kg, cobalt: <3.0 ± <0.2, nickel: <0.5 ± <0.1 and 20.6 ± 0.5 mg / kg, zinc: 1.9 ± 0.0 and 98.7 × 101 ± 0.0 mg / kg, copper: <0.5 ± <0.1 and 79.4 ± 1.2 mg / kg, aluminum: 56.3 × 101 ± 53.1 and 5229.0 × 101 ± 583, 8 mg / kg, chromium: <1.0 ± <0.1 mg / kg and 21.6 ± 4.0 mg / kg, cadmium: 2.8 ± 0.3 and 25.6 ± 0.4 mg / kg, lead: 0.5 ± 0.4 and 86.7 ± 5.5 mg / kg and for Lemna minor (manganese): 5.10 ± 0.1 and 5.80 ± 0.3 mg / kg, iron: 49.9 × 101 ± 18.8 and 6784.0 × 101 ± 709.5 mg / kg, potassium: 113.8 ± 4.4 and 2712.0 × 101 ± 98.8 mg / kg, calcium: <10 ± <0.1 and 97830 ± 2073.9 mg / kg, cobalt: <3.0 ± <0.2 mg / kg, nickel: 0.001 ± 0.00 and 0.004 ± 0.00 mg / kg, zinc : 3.12 ± 0.17 and 4.00 ± 0.82 mg / kg, copper: 0.001 ± 0.0001 and 0.006 ± 0.0004 mg / kg, aluminum: 0.02 ± 0.00 mg / kg and 0.15 ± 0.06 mg / kg, chromium: 0.001 ± 0.0001 and 0.003 ± 0.0002 mg / kg, cadmium: 0.0004 ± 0.00002 and 0.001 ± 0.00003 mg / kg, lead: 0.001 ± 0.00 and 0.004 ± 0.0002 mg / kg. On the other hand, Oreochromis niloticus (Calcium): <0.1 × 102 ± 0.3 and 25 220.0 × 101 ± 48094.1mg / kg, Iron: 10350.7 × 101 ± 5131.7 and 102158.0 × 101 ± 27182.7,Manganese: 1.815 × 101 ± 0.931mg / kg and 7.945 × 101 ± 2.131 mg / kg, Cobalt: <6.0 ± <0.0 mg / kg, Nickel: <0.501 ± <0.049 mg / kg and 61.503 ± 1.302 mg / kg, Zinc: <0.736 ± 0.015 mg / kg and 42.923 × 101 ± 3.176 mg / kg, Copper: 1.902 ± 0.007 mg / kg and 35.302 ± 0.247 mg / kg, Aluminum: 1.414 × 103 ± 70.464mg / kg and 9.493 × 103 ± 147.214 mg / kg, Chromium: <1.0001 ± <0.0408 and <1.0003 ± <0.0105, Cadmium: 0.2002 ± 0.0718 mg / kg and 19.0001 ± 0.8981mg / kg and Lead: <1, 0002 ± <0.0051 mg / kg and 3.9004 ± 0.0895 mg / kg of dry matter. One of the serious causes of their persistence is their biomagnification in the food chain. This is why the response of  Pistia stratiotes, water lettuce and Lemna minor from the nine sampling sites of the Matete river to large and / or low concentrations of metallic elements is reflected either by an inhibition of photosynthetic processes (antagonism and effect synergistic) and the instinct of certain species. However, this ecosystem offers an ecological niche low in dissolved oxygen and a nutrient-poor and toxic diet for the species that live there. In this regard, the flora of the Matete river accumulates the metallic elements in a significant way and according to the diversity of the environments and the size of the species

Impact du Policy mix sur la stabilité du niveau général des prix en République Démocratique du Congo (RDC)

La présente étude évalue l'impact de la coordination des politiques monétaire et budgétaire sur la stabilité du niveau général des prix dans le contexte de la République Démocratique du Congo de 1990 à 2019. Notre investigation empirique porte sur la RDC entre 1990 et 2019, et fait appel au modèle VAR. Les résultats ont montré l'existence de cette coordination durant quelques années. Aussi, cette coordination présente des effets positifs sur la stabilité du niveau général des prix. Ces preuves suggèrent que la Banque Centrale du Congo (BCC) doit travailler d'arrache-pied avec le gouvernement congolais pour assurer la stabilité du niveau général des prix

Molecular, antigenic, and pathogenic characterization of H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses isolated in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2017

In May 2017, high mortality of chickens and Muscovy ducks due to the H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) was reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). In this study, we assessed the molecular, antigenic, and pathogenic features in poultry of the H5N8 HPAIV from the 2017 Congolese outbreaks. Phylogenetic analysis of the eight viral gene segments revealed that all 12 DR Congo isolates clustered in clade 2.3.4.4B together with other H5N8 HPAIVs isolated in Africa and Eurasia, suggesting a possible common origin of these viruses. Antigenically, a slight difference was observed between the Congolese isolates and a representative virus from group C in the same clade. After intranasal inoculation with a representative DR Congo virus, high pathogenicity was observed in chickens and Muscovy ducks but not in Pekin ducks. Viral replication was higher in chickens than in Muscovy duck and Pekin duck organs; however, neurotropism was pronounced in Muscovy ducks. Our data confirmed the high pathogenicity of the DR Congo virus in chickens and Muscovy ducks, as observed in the field. National awareness and strengthening surveillance in the region are needed to better control HPAIVs

Microdeletion of the entire IRF6 gene in a Subsaharian African's family with Van der Woude syndrome

Microdeletion of the entire interferon regulatory factory 6 (IRF 6) gene is a rare cause of Van der Woude syndrome (VDW) with only few cases reported in medical literature. Its occurrence in multiple affected members of a family is exceptional. The aim of this presentation was to describe a Central African family with typical VDW phenotype carrying an IRF6 gene deletion. Here we reported phenotype features of members of a Central African family with VDW syndrome consisting of labioalveolar cleft, depressions of the lower lip with labial fistulae (lip pits), submucosal clefts and cleft palate. Mutation analysis by means of multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification and chromosomal microarray revealed a 374.070 kb, deletion encompassing the entire IRF6 gene in four affected family members. Microdeletion of the entire IRF6 gene causes the classical VDW syndrome phenotype.status: publishe

Microdeletion of the entire IRF6 gene in a Subsaharian African's family with Van der Woude syndrome.

Microdeletion of the entire interferon regulatory factory 6 (IRF 6) gene is a rare cause of Van der Woude syndrome (VDW) with only few cases reported in medical literature. Its occurrence in multiple affected members of a family is exceptional. The aim of this presentation was to describe a Central African family with typical VDW phenotype carrying an IRF6 gene deletion. Here we reported phenotype features of members of a Central African family with VDW syndrome consisting of labioalveolar cleft, depressions of the lower lip with labial fistulae (lip pits), submucosal clefts and cleft palate. Mutation analysis by means of multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification and chromosomal microarray revealed a 374.070 kb, deletion encompassing the entire IRF6 gene in four affected family members. Microdeletion of the entire IRF6 gene causes the classical VDW syndrome phenotype

Non-syndromic cleft lip and/or cleft palate: Epidemiology and risk factors in Lubumbashi (DR Congo), a case-control study

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence and risk factors of occurrence of non-syndromic cleft lip and/or cleft palate (NSCLP) in Lubumbashi. METHOD: A case-control study was conducted in the health district of Lubumbashi from February 2012 to December 2015. An exhaustive sampling, collecting all newborns with cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL ± P) in maternity wards was conducted. From a total of 172 cases, 162 non-syndromic cases were recruited. For each case, one clinically normal newborn control was selected. RESULTS: NSCLP had an incidence of 1/1258 live births (0.8/1000). We found significant associations with a family history of cleft lip and palate (CLP) (x2family history = 11.5, p = 0.0007), maternal alcohol intake (OR = 19.3, 95% CI: 1.9-197.1), paternal alcohol during the periconceptional period and the first trimester of pregnancy (OR = 18.7, 95% CI: 3.9-89.2), maternal educational level lower than high school (OR = 9.5, 95% CI: 2.0-44.7), clay (Pemba) consumption during pregnancy (OR = 38.3, 95% CI: 9.3-157.0), the use of insecticides in the evening (OR = 130.3, 95% CI: 13.2-1286.9), indoor cooking with charcoal (Makala) (OR = 6.5, 95% CI: 1.22-34.5), and regular consumption of Kapolowe fish, supposedly contaminated with heavy metals (OR = 29.5, 95% CI: 7.4-116.7). CONCLUSION: Several environmental risk factors highly prevalent in Central Africa for facial clefting were found.status: publishe

Congenital malformations and trace metals: a case-control study from Lubumbashi, DR Congo

status: publishe