Victorien Dougnon

Assessment of the Contamination of Some Foodstuffs by Escherichia coli O157 in Benin, West Africa

Escherichia coli O157 is a pathogenic bacterium causing haemorrhagic colitis. It represents a serious public health problem in Northern America and Europe, which can plague Africa. Most cases of mentioned poisoning were related to contaminated meat products and vegetables. The present work aimed to estimate the prevalence of E. coli O157 in meat and vegetables in Benin. For this purpose, 6 lots of faeces samples from pigs and 8 from cattle were collected at the farms on the outskirts of Cotonou. Similarly, 20 samples of carcasses, 20 samples of intestines and stomach, and 20 surfaces samples of slaughtering equipment were taken. Vegetables and environment materials in gardens have also been sampled for 84 samples. Bacteriological analyses revealed a percentage of contamination of 50% for pig faeces and 25% for cattle ones. All the meats from stalling parks have been contaminated by this bacterium. For vegetables, 14.6% of samples were contaminated by E. coli O157. The presence of this pathovar in animal breeding and slaughtering environment and in the gardens shows that Benin is not aware of the risks of foodborne illness associated with the consumption of contaminated products. Therefore, it urges including that germ in a systematic search during safety control of food products in Benin.

Physicochemical Characteristics and Microbiological Quality of Honey Produced in Benin

Honey is a very complex biological product. It has great diversity, giving it a multitude of properties, both nutritionally and therapeutically. This study aimed to study the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of honeys collected during the dry and rainy seasons in the different phytogeographical areas of Benin. The study revealed that all honeys had pH, water content, electrical conductivity, ash content, free acidity, total sugars, and reducing sugars, respectively, ranging within 3.65–4.09; 12.07–13.16%; 530.25–698.50 μs/cm; 0.42–0.53%; 35.67–40.52 meq/kg; 60–70%; and 58–70%. Moisture content, total sugars, and reducing sugars varied very significantly ( to ) from one area to another and from one season to another. However, only the production season has a significant influence ( ) on the pH of the honey. With regard to the ash content, free acidity, and electrical conduction, no significant difference ( ) between the zones or between the seasons was observed. The results of the microbiological characterization showed that there is heterogeneity in the microbial load. These results have shown that these honeys meet international standards and their characterization will make it possible to obtain Beninese quality labels.

Comparative Study of Infectious Risks in Diagnostic Laboratories between Public and Private Hospitals in Benin

Introduction: Laboratory associated infections are serious occupational hazards for laboratory workers who are exposed through various routes. The present study aimed to compare the bacteriological risks encountered at diagnostic laboratories in public and private hospitals in Southern Benin. Methodology: A scorecard of laboratory practices was developed based on WHO laboratory inspection checklist. The private laboratory was split into two sections B1 and B2 and the public in C1 to C5. A total of 125 swabs from hand, cell phones, work surfaces and door knobs were collected from all laboratories and submitted to bacteriological analyses. Results: Apart from some sections of the public laboratories where poor sanitation was noticed, the overall hygiene level are satisfactory in both hospitals even though the private laboratories were significantly safer (p<0.05) than the public ones (68.55% and 55.81% respectively). Bacteriological investigations showed that mobile phones were the most contaminated items in the private labs while work surfaces harboured more germs in the public laboratories. Although private laboratories were contaminated by over 11 bacteria species against 5 from the public labs, coagulase negative Staphylococcus were the most prevalent isolated organisms from both hospitals. All the isolated bacteria form public and private laboratories were multidrug resistant. Conclusions: Though the hygiene level in the private labs was better than in public labs, the risk of lobaratory associated infections is rampant in both areas with respect to isolated organisms. Serious safety instructions and monitoring must be set to avoid worse situations.

Impact of Simultaneous Exposure to Lead and Efavirenz on Some Biochemical Markers in Wistar Rats

Chronic exposure to heavy metals including lead remains a serious problem for humanity. The current study aims to evaluate the impact of co-exposure to lead (Pb) and Efavirenz (EFV) on some biochemical parameters in blood. Twenty eight Wistar rats were divided equally into four groups respectively orally fed with lead acetate at 10 mg/kg (GPb), EFV at 20 mg/kg (GEfv), both xenobiotics (GPb+Efv), and distilled water (GCtrl). On Day 0 and Day 28, the blood of each animal was collected and biochemical assays were conducted. Data were processed with SPSS 16.0. The results showed a significant decrease in total proteinemia, albuminemia, serum calcium and iron as well as a significant increase in blood urea and uric acid in group exposed to lead. The aforementioned changes were more pronounced in group GPb+Efv. Besides, significant increases in total cholesterolemia were observed in GEfv and GPb+Efv. In contrast, changes in blood glucose and triglycerides were not significant. In conclusion, this study highlights a real problem of public health, in the light of thousands of patients receiving antiretroviral therapy and who are unintentionally exposed to heavy metals.

Prévalence de l’antigène HBs à l’Hôpital de Zone d’Abomey-Calavi/Sô-Ava au Bénin de 2009 à 2014

L’infection au virus de l’hepatite virale B est un probleme de sante publique au plan mondial. Le present travail avait pour but de determiner l’evolution de la prevalence de l’Ag HBs a l’hopital de zone d’Abomey-Calavi/So-Ava sur la periode de 2009 a 2014. Deux etudes, l’une retrospective et l’autre prospective ont ete realisees. Un echantillon de 2871 et 62 sujets ont respectivement ete inclus dans ces deux etudes. Celles-ci ont concerne tous les patients de Janvier 2009 a Juillet 2014 et de Aout a Septembre 2014, respectivement, auxquels une serologie Ag HBs avait ete demandee. Un questionnaire a ete administre a chaque patient eligible pour evaluer leurs connaissances et aptitude vis-a-vis de l’hepatite. Au terme de ce travail, il ressort de l’etude retrospective que la frequence du portage de l’Ag HBs decroit d’annee en annee, de facon apparemment liee au niveau d’education particulierement eleve de cette population. Toutefois, elle demeure elevee passant de 15,54% en 2009 a 9,1% au troisieme trimestre de l’annee 2014. Une prevalence globale de 11,01% a ete determinee pour la periode allant de 2009 a Juillet 2014. La frequence de l’AgHBs en ce qui concerne l’etude prospective s’est revelee etre de l’ordre de 6,45%. Cette frequence du portage est plus elevee chez les hommes que chez les femmes. La majorite de la population a connaissance de l’existence de l’hepatite B mais une connaissance moindre sur ses modes de transmission. La sensibilisation et la prevention primaire par rapport aux hepatites, liees au niveau d’education eleve de notre population d’etude pourrait expliquer la frequence de portage de l’AgHBs plus faible que celle rapportee pour la moyenne nationale.