Traditional milk transformation schemes in Côte d'Ivoire and their impact on the prevalence of Streptococcus bovis complex bacteria in dairy products

The Streptococcus bovis/Streptococcus equinus complex (SBSEC) and possibly Streptococcus infantarius subsp. infantarius (Sii) are associated with human and animal diseases. Sii predominate in spontaneously fermented milk products with unknown public health effects. Sii/SBSEC prevalence data from West Africa in correlation with milk transformation practices are limited. Northern Côte d'Ivoire served as study area due to its importance in milk production and consumption and to link a wider Sudano-Sahelian pastoral zone of cross-border trade. We aimed to describe the cow milk value chain and determine Sii/SBSEC prevalence with a cross-sectional study. Dairy production practices were described as non-compliant with basic hygiene standards. The system is influenced by secular sociocultural practices and environmental conditions affecting product properties. Phenotypic and molecular analyses identified SBSEC in 27/43 (62.8%) fermented and 26/67 (38.8%) unfermented milk samples. Stratified by collection stage, fermented milk at producer and vendor levels featured highest SBSEC prevalence of 71.4% and 63.6%, respectively. Sii with 62.8% and 38.8% as well as Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. macedonicus with 7.0% and 7.5% were the predominant SBSEC species identified among fermented and unfermented milk samples, respectively. The population structure of Sii/SBSEC isolates seems to reflect evolving novel dairy-adapted, non-adapted and potentially pathogenic lineages. Northern Côte d'Ivoire was confirmed as area with high Sii presence in dairy products. The observed production practices and the high diversity of Sii/SBSEC supports in-depth investigations on Sii ecology niche, product safety and related technology in the dairy value chain potentially affecting large population groups across sub-Saharan Africa

Risk factors for the carriage of Streptococcus infantarius subspecies infantarius isolated from African fermented dairy products

Streptococcus infantarius subsp. infantarius (Sii) has been identified as predominant lactic acid bacteria in spontaneously fermented dairy products (FDPs) in sub-Saharan Africa including Côte d'Ivoire. However, Sii belongs to the Streptococcus bovis/Streptococcus equinus complex (SBSEC). Most SBSEC members are assumed to be involved as opportunistic pathogens in serious diseases in both humans and animals. A population-based cross-sectional survey, including 385 participants was conducted in Korhogo, northern Côte d'Ivoire, to identify risk factors for Sii fecal carriage, including consumption of local FDPs. A structured questionnaire was used to gather participant's socio-demographic and economic characteristics, their relation to livestock and dietary habits. In addition, fresh stool and milk samples were collected. The identification of Sii was done using a SBSEC-specific PCR assay targeting 16S rRNA and groEL genes. The overall prevalence of SBSEC and Sii carriage was 23.2% (confidence interval CI 95% = 18.9-27.5) and 12.0% (CI 95% = 8.4-15.5) for stool, respectively. Prevalence of Sii was significantly higher in consumers of artisanal butter compared with non-consumers (57.1% vs 10.1%, odds ratio OR: 11.9, 95% CI: 3.9-36.6), as well as in persons handling livestock (OR = 3.9; 95% CI = 1.6-9.3) and livestock primary products (OR = 5.7; 95% CI = 2.3-14.3). The closer contact with livestock was a risk factor for Sii fecal carriage. Sii strains were isolated from fresh and fermented milk products with a prevalence of 30.4% and 45.4%, respectively. Analysis of Sii population structure through the SBSEC multi locus sequence typing assay revealed a close relationship across human and dairy isolates, possibly linked to a Kenyan human isolate. All these outcomes underline the interest of in-depth investigations on the ecology, potential reservoirs and pathways of contamination by Sii at the human-animal-environment interface in comparison to yet to be collected data from Europe, Asia and the Americas to further elucidate the various roles of Sii

Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is associated with cardiorespiratory fitness among primary schoolchildren living in Côte d'Ivoire, South Africa, and Tanzania

Background:; Physical inactivity and low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are independent cardiovascular risk factors among children, but have rarely been investigated concurrently in sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of this study was to compare physical activity (PA) and CRF of primary schoolchildren living in Côte d'Ivoire (CI), South Africa (ZA), and Tanzania (TZ), to test sex- and age-related differences, and to examine whether PA and CRF are associated with each other.; Methods:; Baseline data from an ongoing cluster-randomized controlled trial were used, including 499 children from CI (Taabo, 49% girls,; M; = 8.0 ± 1.6 years), 1,074 children from ZA (Gqeberha, 49% girls,; M; = 8.3 ± 1.4 years), and 593 children from TZ (Ifakara, 51% girls,; M; = 9.4 ± 1.7 years). PA was assessed by accelerometry and CRF by a 20 m shuttle-run test. The data were analyzed using multi-/univariate analyses of variance and mixed linear models.; Results:; Most children met recommendations put forward by the World Health Organization for moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and achieved high CRF scores. In CI, 89.6% of the children met MVPA recommendations (boys: 91.7%, girls: 87.4%), whereas this rate was 76.9% in ZA (boys: 91.0%, girls: 62.4%), and 93.8% in TZ (boys: 95.5%, girls: 92.0%). Children from TZ had the highest CRF and MVPA levels, followed by children from CI and ZA. Boys had higher MVPA levels than girls, whereas girls engaged in more sedentary behavior. Sex differences were strongest in ZA. Sedentary behavior and MVPA were higher among older schoolchildren compared to their younger peers. Higher MVPA, but not sedentary behavior, was associated with better CRF.; Conclusions:; In all three settings, higher levels of MVPA were associated with higher CRF scores. Nevertheless, children living in the most urbanized setting (such as observed in ZA) were physically less active and had lower CRF than peers living in more rural areas (such as observed in CI and TZ). Particularly for girls, urbanization might increase the risk for insufficient MVPA, which may have negative effects on their CRF, thus negatively influencing health and well-being at later age

Antioxidant properties and subchronic toxicity of the standardized extract of LAMIC, a phytomedicine prototype based on aqueous extracts from trunk bark of Lannea microcarpa Engl and K. Krause

Aims: This study investigated the antioxidant activity and the 90 days subchronic toxicity of the standardized LAMIC phytomedicine prototype based on aqueous extracts from Lannea microcarpa trunk bark. Methods: Three spectrophotometric methods were used to evaluated the antioxidant activity of LAMIC which were 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical, 2,2’-azinobis(3-ethylbenzolin-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) radical scavenging assays and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. For the standardized LAMIC subchronic toxicity study, male and female Wistar rats were used by daily oral administration at doses of 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg bw consecutively for 90 days. Results: The LAMIC extract exhibit better inhibitory activity against DPPH radical than ABTS radical with respective IC50 values of 45.38±3.21 µg/mL and 66.45±18.76 µg/mL, while FRAP assay exhibit antioxidant activity of 211.34±15.92 mmol EAA/g. Subchronic oral administration of LAMIC was well-tolerated at all tested doses. No behavioral and physiological changes and mortality were observed. The LAMIC extract did not present any impact on general hematological parameters and biochemical parameters. Moreover, no significant changes were raised in organ and body weight of treated groups compared to the Control group. Conclusion: These results support that LAMIC prototype was a valuable source of natural antioxidants and no toxicity was associated to its long terms oral consumption in rats indicating a potential application as a cardiovascular protective formulation. Keywords: LAMIC–Lannea microcarpa–Standardization–Antioxidant–Subchronic toxicity. &nbsp

Assessing knowledge, beliefs and practices related to the consumption of sheep and goat meat in Senegal

A Rapid Integrated Assessment (RIA) of nutrition and health risks and benefits was carried out in 2013 in sheep and goat agri-food systems in urban and rural Senegal. This included: i) testing small ruminants (n = 384) for brucellosis, ii) focus group discussions of mothers covering knowledge, attitude and practices related to preparation and consumption of animal source food. No antibodies to Brucella melitensis, the presumed priority zoonotic pathogen, were found. Comparing the more traditional, livestock-keeping community with the urban, less livestock-dependent community, we found: urban diets were more diverse, relied more on fish versus livestock products, and used modern products such as yoghurts. Attitudes and beliefs around nutrition and health, strongly shaped the consumption of animal source foods in these contexts

Is grip strength linked to body composition and cardiovascular risk markers in primary schoolchildren? Cross-sectional data from three African countries

Muscular strength represents a specific component of health-related fitness. Hand grip strength (HGS) is used as an indicator for musculoskeletal fitness in children. HGS can also be used as a marker of cardiometabolic risk, but most available HGS data are derived from Western high-income countries. Therefore, this study examines whether HGS is associated with body composition and markers of cardiovascular risk in children from three sub-Saharan African countries.; Cross-sectional study.; Public primary schools (grade 1-4) in Taabo (Côte d'Ivoire), Gqeberha (South Africa) and Ifakara (Tanzania).; Data from 467 children from Côte d'Ivoire (210 boys, 257 girls), 864 children from South Africa (429 boys, 435 girls) and 695 children from Tanzania (334 boys, 361 girls) were analysed.; Body composition (assessed via bioelectrical impedance analysis) was the primary outcome. Cardiovascular risk markers were considered as secondary outcome. Blood pressure was measured with an oscillometric monitor, and blood markers (cholesterol, triglycerides, glycated haemoglobin) via Afinion point-of-care testing. HGS (independent variable) was assessed with a hydraulic hand dynamometer. Inferential statistics are based on mixed linear regressions and analyses of covariance.; Across all study sites, higher HGS was associated with lower body fat, higher muscle mass and higher fat-free mass (; p; <0.001, 3.9%-10.0% explained variance), both in boys and girls. No consistent association was found between HGS and cardiovascular risk markers.; HGS assessment is popular due to its simplicity, feasibility, practical utility and high reliability of measurements. This is one of the first HGS studies with children from sub-Saharan Africa. There is a great need for further studies to examine whether our findings can be replicated, to develop reference values for African children, to establish links to other health outcomes, and to explore whether HGS is associated with later development of cardiovascular risk markers.; ISRCTN29534081.Keywords: community child health; public health; sports medicine