Evaluation In Vitro De L’activité Antimicrobienne Des Extraits De Cassia Alata Linn. (Fabaceae)

Cassia alata (Linn) is a Togolese flora plant traditionally used in the treatment of skin diseases and diarrhea. The objective of this work was to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity and to highlight certain phytochemical total and fractionated extracts of this plant harvested in southern Togo. These extracts were obtained from polar solvents such as water, ethanol and ethanol / water mixture in equal volume. Microbial strains used consisted of bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella oxytoca and yeasts, Candida albicans and Candida krusei. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the liquid medium dilution method coupled to spread on solid medium. Highlighting chemical groups was made by a brief qualitative phytochemical analysis from staining tests. The results show that the ethanol leaves crude extract (EBE) was the most active of all the tested microbial strains. This extract completely inhibited the growth of S. aureus (MIC = 1.25mg/ ml.); very strongly C. albicans (PI = 94.34 % ) and C. krusei (PI = 90.67% ) and strongly E. coli ( PI = 80%) and K. oxytoca (PI=79.14 %). The other extracts were active in some organisms with percentage inhibition (PI) of between 68 and 97 %. The phytochemical screening of some extracts revealed the presence of flavonoïdes, tannins and saponins. C. alata seems to contain compounds that interact to inhibit the growth of yeasts and bacteria. These results in part to justify the use of this plant in the Togolese traditional medicines

Représentativité et réactivité du système de surveillance de la Fièvre Jaune au Togo, 2004-2014: Representativeness and responsiveness of the Yellow Fever surveillance system in Togo, 2004-2014

Introduction: Peu d’informations sont disponibles sur le système de surveillance de la fièvre jaune au Togo. L’objectif est d’évaluer la simplicité, la représentativité et la réactivité de ce système. Méthodes: Une étude transversale descriptive a été menée de 2015 à 2016 à l’Institut Na-tional d’Hygiène (INH) qui est le Laboratoire National de Référence (LNR) pour les maladies à po-tentiel épidémique du Togo. La base de données de 2004-2014 de la fièvre jaune- rougeole -rubéole du LNR et le guide de surveillance intégrée des maladies et riposte, le guide d’évaluation des systèmes de surveillance de Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ont été utilisés. Les médianes, intervalles interquartiles et les proportions ont été calculés avec Epi Info 7 et Excel 2003. Résultats: Un cas suspect de fièvre jaune nécessite une confirmation biologique qui se fait à plusieurs niveaux. Le système est représentatif de tous les districts, toutes les années et de toutes les populations du Togo. Un total de 3054 de cas suspects a été notifié dont 32 cas probables et 12 cas confirmés, par-mi lesquels, 8 étaient des hommes. Environs 93,01 % (2833) des cas suspects ont été prélevés dans les 14 jours suivants le début des symp-tômes, 28,39% (866) des échantillons ont été acheminés dans les 72 heures et 77,95% des résultats rendus dans les 7 jours rendant le système peu réactif. Conclusion: Le système de surveillance de la fièvre jaune au Togo est représentatif, complexe et peu réactif. Il s’avère nécessaire de mettre en place un système de convoyage rapide des échantillons. Introduction: Little information is available on yellow fever surveillance system in Togo. The simplicity, representativeness and responsiveness of this system were assessed. Material and Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from October 2015 to February 2016 at the Institut National d’Hygiène, the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for epidemic prone diseases of Togo. We used the yellow fever-measles-rubella database, the integrated dis-ease surveillance and response guideline and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for surveillance system evaluation. Medians, interquartile intervals and proportions were calculated and presented in tables and figures with Excel 2003 and Epi Info 7. Results: A yellow fever case must be confirmed at several reference levels making yellow fever surveillance complex. This surveillance system is representative of all districts, all years and all populations of Togo. A total of 3054 suspected cases were reported, including 32 probable cases and 12 confirmed cases. Of the confirmed cases, 08 were men. About 93.01% (2833) of the suspected cases samples were taken within 14 days after the symptoms onset, 28,39% (866) of samples were transported within 72 hours and 77, 95% of the results were available within 7 days, making the system unresponsive. Conclusion: The yellow fever surveillance system in Togo is representative, complex, and unresponsive due to the long delay in transporting samples to the NRL. A rapid sample conveying system is recommende

Augmentation de la résistance aux antibiotiques des Entérobactéries isolées à l’Institut National d’Hygiène de Lomé de 2010 à 2017: Increase in antibiotic resistance of Enterobacteriaceae isolated at the National Institute of Hygiene of Lomé from 2010 to 2017

Introduction: La résistance des Entérobactéries aux antibiotiques est un problème d’importance croissante en pratique médicale. L’objectif de cette étude était de déterminer le profil de résistance aux antibiotiques des Entérobactéries isolées à l’institut national d’hygiène (INH) de Lomé et d’analyser son évolution dans le temps. Méthodes: Il s’agissait d’une analyse rétrospective, sur une période de huit ans (2010-2017), portant sur l’ensemble des souches d’Entérobactéries isolées des prélèvements pathologiques analysés au laboratoire de bactériologie de l’INH. Résultats: Au total, 5910 Entérobactéries ont été isolées majoritairement des urines (59,59%), avec une prédominance d’Escherichia coli (63,93%) suivie de Klebsiella spp (22,86%). Entre 2010 et 2017, le taux de résistance des souches d’Escherichia coli a augmenté significativement de 18,69% à 39,26% (p< 0,0001) à la Ceftazidime ; de 1,68% à 40,22% à la Ceftriaxone (p< 0,0001) et de 42,37% à 63,23% (p< 0,0001) à la Ciprofloxacine. La résistance des souches de Klebsiella spp à la Ceftazidime a augmenté significativement de 25,26% à 42,54% (p< 0,0001) et celle à la Ceftriaxone de 2,17% à 41,79% (p< 0,0001) respectivement de 2010 à 2017. Conclusion: L’augmentation de la résistance des Entérobactéries aux antibiotiques et surtout l’évolution des résistances aux Céphalosporines de 3e Génération et aux Fluoroquinolones est un phénomène réel. Ceci exposera à des difficultés de prise en charge thérapeutique et nécessite la mise en place des dispositions idoines. Background: Antibiotic resistance in Enterobacteriaceae is a growing problem in medical practice. The objective of this study was to determine the antibiotic resistance profile of Enterobacteriaceae isolated at the National Institute of Hygiene (INH) of Lomé and to analyse its evolution over time. Method: This was a retrospective analysis, over a period of eight years (2010-2017), of all strains of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from pathological samples analysed in the bacteriology laboratory of the INH. Results: A total of 5910 Enterobacteriaceae were isolated mainly from urine (59.59%), with a predominance of Escherichia coli (63.93%) followed by Klebsiella spp (22.86%). Between 2010 and 2017, the resistance rate of Escherichia coli strains increased significantly from 18.69% to 39.26% (p<0.0001) to Ceftazidime; from 1.68% to 40.22% to Ceftriaxone (p<0.0001) and from 42.37% to 63.23% (p<0.0001) to Ciprofloxacin. Resistance of Klebsiella spp strains to Ceftazidime increased significantly from 25.26% to 42.54% (p< 0.0001) and to Ceftriaxone from 2.17% to 41.79% (p< 0.0001) respectively from 2010 to 2017. Conclusion: The increase in antibiotic resistance in Enterobacteriaceae and especially the evolution of resistance to 3rd generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones is a real phenomenon. This will lead to difficulties in therapeutic management and requires the implementation of appropriate measures

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Phytochemical Screening, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of Aloe buettneri, Mitracarpus scaber and Hannoa undulata used in Togolese Cosmetopoeia

Background: Aloe buettneri, Mitracarpus scaber and Hannoa undulata are three plants species used in the Togolese traditional medicine to cure dermatosis. This study aims at assessing their anti-oxidant and anti-microbial activities on acne-developing micro-organisms. Methods: Six micro-organisms including Cutibacterium acnes ATCC 6919, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853; Escherichia coli ATCC 25922; Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 700603; Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213; and Candida albicans ATCC 35659 were used. Inhibition diameter was assessed using the agar well diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory and minimum microbicidal concentrations have been achieved through the liquid dilution method. Anti-oxidant activities were evaluated by DPPH antiradical scaving and FRAP methods. Phytochemical screening was also realized. Results: All the microorganism’s strains tested, excepted Candida albicans and Escherichia coli, were susceptible to plants extracts at 250 mg/mL in the agar well diffusion assay with inhibition diameters ranging from 12.10 ± 0.07 to 18.20 ± 0.10 mm. The MICs values were comprised between 15.625 mg/mL and 62.5 mg/mL, when MMCs ranged from 31.25 to 125 mg/mL. At the concentration of 500 µg/mL, the scavenging properties on DPPH radicals were 49.20 ± 0.15% for H. undulata, 41.29 ± 0.51% for A. buettneri, 59.57 ± 0.41% for M. scaber and 87.22 ± 0.03% for Quercetin. For FRAP assay, the effective concentration (EC50) of A. buettneri, M. scaber and H. undulata extracts were 977.44 ± 1.13 µg/mL; 267.74 ± 10.13 µg/mL and, 272.54 ± 12.87 µg/mL respectively while quercetin presented the EC50 of 48.63 ± 2.00 µg/mL. The antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of these species might be required to the presence of polyphenols, tannins, flavonoids, triterpenes, saponoside and alkaloids identified by phytochemical screening. Conclusion: The three plants extracts are all potential natural antimicrobial and antioxidant candidates for treating acne vulgaris. Keywords: Aloe buettneri, Mitracarpus scaber, Hannoa undulata, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity, phytochemical screening, Acne vulgari

Wissenschaftliche Begleitung des Vorhabens 'Eindampfanlage zur Behandlung von Deponiesickerwaessern beim Zweckverband Sondermuellplaetze Mittelfranken (ZVSMM) Abschlussbericht

Available from TIB Hannover: RN 5905(2268) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman

Dynamics of cholera epidemics from Benin to Mauritania.

The countries of West Africa are largely portrayed as cholera endemic, although the dynamics of outbreaks in this region of Africa remain largely unclear.To understand the dynamics of cholera in a major portion of West Africa, we analyzed cholera epidemics from 2009 to 2015 from Benin to Mauritania. We conducted a series of field visits as well as multilocus variable tandem repeat analysis and whole-genome sequencing analysis of V. cholerae isolates throughout the study region. During this period, Ghana accounted for 52% of the reported cases in the entire study region (coastal countries from Benin to Mauritania). From 2009 to 2015, we found that one major wave of cholera outbreaks spread from Accra in 2011 northwestward to Sierra Leone and Guinea in 2012. Molecular epidemiology analysis confirmed that the 2011 Ghanaian isolates were related to those that seeded the 2012 epidemics in Guinea and Sierra Leone. Interestingly, we found that many countries deemed "cholera endemic" actually suffered very few outbreaks, with multi-year lulls.This study provides the first cohesive vision of the dynamics of cholera epidemics in a major portion of West Africa. This epidemiological overview shows that from 2009 to 2015, at least 54% of reported cases concerned populations living in the three urban areas of Accra, Freetown, and Conakry. These findings may serve as a guide to better target cholera prevention and control efforts in the identified cholera hotspots in West Africa

Characteristics and primer sequences of the six tested <i>V</i>. <i>cholerae</i> VNTRs.

<p>^<b>1</b> Chr.: chromosome.</p><p>² Based on the reference strain El Tor N16961 (GenBank accession numbers: AE003852.1 and AE003853.1).</p><p>Characteristics and primer sequences of the six tested <i>V</i>. <i>cholerae</i> VNTRs.</p

Indices of genetic diversity per locus and observed PCR product size range.

<p>Genetic diversity (Nei, 1987) of 328 <i>V</i>. <i>cholerae</i> isolates, considering six loci, was calculated in GenoDive 2.0b25. Num = number of alleles; Eff num = effective number of alleles; Pop div = gene diversity within populations; IOD = Index of Diversity; Corr IOD = corrected Index of Diversity.</p><p>Indices of genetic diversity per locus and observed PCR product size range.</p

Pairwise differentiation.

<p>The Fst values for all pairs of populations were calculated with GenoDive 2.0b25, considering 328 clinical <i>V</i>. <i>cholerae</i> isolates and six loci. The Fst values are listed on the top triangle, while the corresponding p-values are listed in the lower triangle.</p><p>Pairwise differentiation.</p