Yaovi Ameyapoh

Wastewater represents a health risk for the population. For sanitary safety, it is important to know its physico-chemical and microbiological qualities in order to better understand the risks incurred by the population. The aim of this study was to analyze Adétikopé’s domestic wastewater from a microbiological and physico-chemical standpoint. Twelve wastewater samples were taken in Adétikopé from December 2022 to February 2023. Physico-chemical parameters were determined in accordance with AFNOR and the French NF standard. In microbiology, AFNOR was used as a reference for the detection of germs contaminating wastewater. Results were assessed in relation to European Union Criteria 98/83/EC. The wastewater analyzed has a pH close to neutral, with an average pH of 7.05. The pollutant load generated ranged from 32 mG/L to 201 mg/L for BOD5, from 660 mG/L to 900 mG/L for COD and from 408 mG/L to 2080 mG/L for suspended solids. The highest levels of germs were detected in the samples taken, with values of 68,000 CFU/100 mL and 47,000 CFU/100 mL for thermotolerant coliforms and fecal streptococci, respectively. The results show that fecal contamination originates from both animal and human sources. Concentrations of fecal coliforms and fecal streptococci are very high, far exceeding WHO guidelines. While a short-term solution would be to disinfect household sanitation systems on a daily basis, in the long term, the construction of collective sanitation systems, backed up by environmental education, remains a sustainable solution for the health and safety of populations.

Background: Wastewater represents a health risk for populations. For sanitary safety, it is important to know their physico-chemical and microbiological qualities in order to better understand the risks incurred by the population. Objective: The aim of this study is to analyse the microbiological and physico-chemical quality of domestic wastewater in Adétikopé. Methodology: 12 wastewater samples were collected in Adétikopé from December 2022 to February 2023. Physico-chemical parameters were determined in accordance with AFNOR T90-105/ T90-023 and French standard NF T 90101. In microbiology, AFNOR was used as a reference for the detection of germs contaminating wastewater. Results were assessed in relation to European Union Criteria 98/83/EC. Results: The wastewater analyzed had a pH close to neutral, with an average pH of 7.05. The pollutant load generated ranged from 32 mg/l to 201 mg/l for BOD5, from 660 mg/l to 900 mg/l for COD and from 408 mg/l to 2080 mg/l for suspended solids. Concentrations of fecal coliforms and fecal streptococci are very high, far exceeding WHO guidelines for population health safety.

Background and Aim: The Goliath chicken is a slow-growing chicken with a high slaughter weight but whose carcass characteristics and meat quality have not yet been documented. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of age at slaughter and sex on the carcass characteristics and technological and sensory meat quality of Goliath chickens raised in southern Benin. Materials and Methods: Data on the carcass characteristics and technological and sensory quality of meat were collected from 80 chickens raised in confinement and divided into two groups. The first group was reared for 12 weeks of age and the second group was for 20 weeks of age. The animals were individually weighed using an electronic balance (Terraillon 5000g) and then slaughtered. The different parts of the chicken carcass was weighed using the same method. Results: The live, hot carcass, cold carcass, wing, thigh, and tail weights of males were significantly greater than those of females (p < 0.01). The wishbone muscle and thigh and tail assembly pH was lower in the 20-week-old chickens than in the 12-week-old chickens. The brightness and red index of the wishbone of the 20-week-old chickens were significantly higher than those of the 12-week-old chickens (p < 0.001). The red index of the wishbone and the yellow index of the thigh and tail assembly of females were lower than those of males. Conclusion: The meat of 20-week-old Goliath chickens was juicier than that of 12-week-old chickens. Thus, the carcass composition of Goliath chickens is better at 20 weeks of age, especially in males.

Hyperreactive onchocerciasis (HO) is characterized by a severe skin inflammation with elevated Th17-Th2 combined responses. We previously demonstrated the anthelminthic activity of Aframomum melegueta (AM), Xylopia aethiopica (XA) and Khaya senegalensis (KS) used by traditional healers to treat helminthiasis in the endemic area of Togo. However, their effect on severe onchocerciasis is poorly investigated. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-Th17 and anti-Th2 effects of hydro-ethanolic extracts of AM, XA and KS during HO. Onchocerca volvulus-infected individuals were recruited in the Central region of Togo in 2018. Isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from both generalized onchocerciasis (GEO) and HO forms were activated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies in the presence or absence of the hydro-ethanolic extracts of AM, XA and KS as well as their delipidated, deproteinized and deglycosylated fractions. After 72 hours, cytokines were assayed from cell culture supernatants. Then, flow cytometry was used to investigate the effects of the extracts on cell activation, proliferation, intracellular cytokines and T cells transcription factors. The production of both Th17 and Th2 cytokines IL-17A and IL-5 were significantly inhibited upon T-cell receptor (TCR) activation in the presence of the hydro-ethanolic extracts of AM, XA and KS in HO individuals’ PBMCs in vitro. AM and XA inhibited CD4⁺RORC2⁺IL-17A⁺ and CD4⁺GATA3⁺IL-4⁺ cell populations induction. This inhibition was not Th1 nor Treg-dependent since both IFN-γ and IL-10 were also inhibited by the extracts. AM and XA did not interfere with T cell activation and proliferation for their inhibitory pathways. Lipid and protein compounds from AM and XA were associated with the inhibition of IL-17A. This study showed that in addition to their anthelminthic effects, hydro-ethanolic extracts of Aframomum melegueta, Xylopia aethiopica and Khaya senegalensis could downregulate both Th17 and Th2 responses and prevent the severe skin disorder observed.

Objective: Chenopodium ambrosioides is an aromatic plant widely used in the Togolese traditional medicine. However, little is known about its pharmacological properties. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant activities of its extracts. Methodology and results: Thus, an ethnopharmacological survey was undertaken in Kara town in the northern part of Togo to assess the main uses in the traditional medicine and Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectral Analysis (GC-MS) was used to identify several compounds in the extracts. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by FRAP, ABTS, DPPH methods. Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities were assessed by soybean lipoxygenase inhibition and in vitro broth micro dilution techniques, respectively. Propidium iodide cell death was evaluated by flow cytometry and in vivo toxicity was assessed using wistar rats. The ethnopharmacological survey revealed that traditional healers use C. ambrosioides to treat malaria, intestinal worms and inflammation in addition to healing wounds. The hydroethanolic extract had high content of total phenols (324.80±17.30 µgEAG/mg) and flavonoids (63.20±8.70 µgEQ/mg), however the highest antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiinflammatory activities were obtained with the essential oil. GC-MS analysis leads to identification of hydrocarbon monoterpenes such as 2carene, ortho-cymene and α-terpinene as the major components of the essential oil. All the tested extracts induced cell death (14.60 ± 9.23% at 2 µL/mL, 72.64 ± 15.92% at 200µL/mL and 89.50 ± 7.16 at 100 mg/mL for essential oil, hydrosol and hydroethanolic extract, respectively). Conclusion and application of results. The present study demonstrated various pharmacological activities of hydroethanolic extract, essential oil and hydrosol of leaves of Chenopodium ambrosioides. The essential oil had antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiinflammatory activities and could be the most active component of the leaves of Chenopodium ambrosioides. Our findings highlighted perspectives for the discovery of new medicinal molecules derived from plant extrats and confirmed certain practices of traditional healers. Keywords: Chenopodium ambrosioides, extract, pharmacological activities

The urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common bacterial infection, especially in women. The increased incidence of UTIs, at the last decades have paralleled with the growing emergence of antibiotic resistance. The aim is to evaluate aqueous garlic extract (AGE) susceptibility against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria isolated in urine of women. The investigation of antibacterial propriety and time kill effect of AGE was performed by the well method, microdilution method and spectrophotometer assay. Antibiotics susceptibility assay revealed that the nine MDR bacteria had high resistance against Amoxicillin/ clavulanic acid (100%) and Erythromycin (100%), Cefotaxime (83.33%) and Ceftazidime (83.33%). AGE exhibited potent antibacterial activity against the nine MDR bacteria tested. In Gram-negative bacteria, the inhibition diameters ranged from 20 ± 3 to 32 ± 4 mm, with Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) ranging from 10% to 12.5% (w/v) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBCs) was 12.5 % (w/v). Gram-positive bacteria exhibited diameters ranging from 38 ± 2 to 45 ± 1 mm; MIC and MBC values ranged from 05 to 10 % (w/v) and were found more susceptible than Gram-negative bacteria. To conclude, this investigation shown that AGE have high potential antibacterial to use as an alternative to treat women UTIs.

Traditional concoctions sold in marketplaces are always assumed to be safe and efficient; however, they can be potentially toxic because of poor hygienic practices in plant processing or storage. The present study aimed to assess for the microbial quality of market-sold vegetable drugs in Lomé. Thus, a total of 209 plant remedies were collected in marketplaces and analysed for the presence of total aerobic bacteria, total coliforms, thermotolerant coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus, sulphite reducing bacteria, and yeast and moulds according to the French Association of Normalisation (AFNOR) guidelines. The results revealed that all formulations were contaminated by several microorganisms, excepted alcohol-based mixtures. According to AFNOR limits nonconform drugs were according to total aerobic bacteria (86.96% powders, 81.82% capsules, 66.67% tisanes, and 42.11% decoctions); to total coliforms (9.10% capsules, 8.70% powders and 1.75% decoction); to yeasts and moulds (77.78% ointments, 40% calcined powders, 36.36% capsules, and 23.91% powders). The microbiological analysis revealed that the majority of contaminating bacteria were gram positive catalase positive and oxidase positive bacilli. Quality control studies on market-sold remedies are currently needed to evaluate the microbial risk in consuming these products and they may allow the standardisation of plant processing and storage.