Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on the Risks of Food Poisoning in Collective Restaurants in the Kloto 1 Municipality, Togo

Collective food toxiinfections (CFTI) are frequent accidents, formidable by their health and economic consequences. They usually result from the consumption of food contaminated with microorganisms or chemical toxins. The objective of our study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of food product handlers in Kloto 1 municipality in order to guarantee food safety. To do this, we carried out a survey using google form whose questions were based on knowledge of foodborne diseases, good hygiene practices, good manufacturing practices, cross-contamination, wearing jewelry during handling, waste management. As a result of the study, It shows that during the years 2018, 2019 and 2020, the frequencies of toxiinfections recorded at the PHC of Kpalimé are respectively 33.09%, 41.84%, and 25.06%. To acces risk factor about this hight case of food poissoning in this area, 197 food handlers (FH) were interviewed and of these, 54.4% were women, 51.3% are between 15 and 25 years old, 67.2% have secondary education, and 68.7% have not received training on food safety. In terms of the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices, 10.7% of FH have insufficient knowledge about food safety, 98.0% have negative attitudes and 100.0% have insufficient food safety practices. Also, it shown that there is a strong positive correlation between knowledge and attitudes (rs = 0,267; p= 0.000), between knowledge and practices (rs = 0.182; p = 0.011), between attitudes and practices (rs = 0.253; p = 0.000), and between knowledge about foodborne illness and practice (rs = 0.189; p = 0,008). In short, the majority of FH have insufficient knowledge, practice and negative attitudes to avoid cases of CFTI because of the lack of training in food safety.

Physicochemical Characteristics, Phenol Content and Fatty Acids of Bitter Almond Oil

In this study, physicochemical properties, thermal analyze, viscosity, phenol content and fatty acid composition were investigated. The plant material used comes from a wild plant growing in the wilaya of Béjaïa (Algeria). Almonds oil is considered functional foods for the presence of polyphenols compounds. The physicochemical parameters of the bitter almond oil were: the acidity values vary from 1.389 to 3.559%, peroxide index 19.538meq of active oxygen/ kg of oil, rancimat test PI=15h, total polyphenols= 0.137mg Gallic acid/mg bitter almond oil. The profile of the viscosity of the oils confirming that oil analyzed was Newtonian in nature. The TG/DTG curves showed bitter almond oil thermally stable consistent with the result of oxidative induction time. The fatty acid composition of bitter almond oil reveals the presence of the following fatty acids: gallic acid; hydrobenzoic acid. Catechic acid, isovanilic acid, vanilic acid, salicylic acid, myricetin, quercetin, anthrone and oxacil acid. Of which gallic acid is the majority. The physicochemical properties of the bitter almond oil indicated that it is promotes use in cosmetics and suggested its suitability for industrial purposes.

Physicochemical Properties, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) Seed and Leaf Oils

Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Commonly known as fennel has been used in traditional medicinal plant belonging to Apiaceae. The aim of this study was to examine quality and biological activities of fennel seed and leaf oils. The oil extraction was done in Soxhlet apparatus using hexane as a solvent. The result for physicochemical properties presented significantly higher oil yield (4.39%) and peroxide value (3.90) was observed for seed oil. Significantly higher antioxidant activities with respect to DPPH (24.45±3.74) and hydrogen peroxide (62.70±0.28) free radical scavenging activities for leaf oil. However, ascorbic acid was found to be significantly higher for seed oil (82.44±4.63). The strongest antibacterial activity with maximum zone of inhibition (14.25mm), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC, 0.25µl/ml) and corresponding minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC, 0.50 µl/ml) was recorded for leaf oil extract against Staphylococcus aureus. On the other hand, the strongest antifungal activity with maximum zone of inhibition (13.50mm), MIC (0.38µl/ml, the least value) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC, 0.75µl/ml) was recorded for leaf oil against Aspergillus Niger. It can be observed from the result in this study that leaf oil extract has demonstrated more effective biological activities including both antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials.

Antimicrobial Effect of Geophila obvallata (Schumach) Didr. Leaf Ectracts Against Pathogenic Microbes

The increase in synthetic drug resistance by pathogenic microbes has led to the development of plant-based antimicrobial drugs that are more reliable and non-lethal to human health at increased dosage. The antibacterial and antifungal potential of Geophila obvallata extracts were tested on clinical isolates (Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis,Streptococcus pyogenes, Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus) using standard techniques. The zones of inhibition were shown to increase with increasing concentrations of the extracts. Inhibition was higher in Gram positive bacteria (9.10 to 31.00mm in 40mg/mL concentration) than Gram negative bacteria (3.50 to 27.00mm in 40mg/mL concentration), while the fungal isolates had the least zones of inhibition (2.83 to 25.00mm in 40mg/ml concentration). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were lowest in the methanol extract than aqueous extract. Simillarly, MIC for bacteria (Bacillus subtilis) and fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus) were 0.3 and 2.0mg/mL respectively. Methanol extract had higher antibacterial and antifungal effect than aqueous extract. Ciprofloxacin, used as control for bacteria had the highest inhibitory activity (33.67mm) when compared to that of the highest concentration of plant extracts administered. Also, ketoconazole gave the highest zones of inhibition (32.33mm) on the fungi isolates compared to those of the extracts. The performance of the methanol extract of 40mg/mL of Geophila obvallata in the inhibition of Bacillus subtilis was not significantly different from that of Ciprofloxacin. The findings in this study therefore validate the antimicrobial effect of Geophila obvallata leaf extracts as well as its possible application in medicine.

Effects of Biologically Synthesized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles on Rhizospheric Microorganisms Associated with Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

In this study, the effect of iron oxide nanoparticles on soil rhizospheric microbial communities of tomato was investigated. Iron oxide nanoparticles were biologically synthesized using plant extract from Azadirachta indica, and characterized using a UV-VIS spectrophotometer. Varying concentrations (25, 50, 75, or 100 %) of biosynthesized iron oxide nanoparticles or precursor solution was rhizoinjected into soils in which tomato plants were grown. Plate count method was used to analyse population size and community structure of test subjects. Quantitative analysis of the bacterial and fungal community was determined and diversity indicies were calculated. The results obtained from the analysis revealed that the addition of iron oxide nanoparticles to the soil changed bacterial and fungal community with respect to the control. Also, the bacterial and fungal abundance were changed. Some tolerant microorganisms such as Micrococcus, Stapylococcus, Aspergillus, Trichoderma and Penicillium could withstand high concentrations of iron oxide nanoparticles. Shannon diversity indices showed that there was difference in the diverisity of each concentration of iron oxide nanoparticles for both fungal and bacterial communties. The study's findings showed that high concentration of iron oxide nanoparticles in the soil had adverse effect on both the tomato and the microorganisms associated with the root of the tomato. Further study needs to be conducted to ascertain the magnitude of impact iron oxide nanoparticles will have on plants and rhizosphere microbiome.

Inhibition of biofilm produced by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by thymoquinone.

Multidrug resistance is a leading public health challenge that is causing a significant increase in mortality and morbidity. If antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains unsolved, it may cause 10 million deaths every year. Along with a public health concern, it is also a financial concern that would cause 2-3.5% reduction in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and a 100 trillion USD loss to the world. One of the ways to combat AMR is to discover new antibiotics. This study was aimed to evaluate the antibiofilm and antibacterial potencies of essential oil of Nigella sativa. Standard microbiological guidelines (CLSI) were used for the identification and antibiogram of selected strains of MRSA. Moreover, a time-kill assay of MRSA against Thymoquinone extracted from Nigella Sativa was also performed. Five strains, including four MRSA strains from implants related infections and one standard strain ATCC 25923, were examined. GC-MS identified components of essential oil of Nigella Sativa. Thymoquinone and p-cymene, major compounds of essential oil, were subjected to antibacterial and antibiofilm activities. Thymoquinone revealed strong inhibitory activities against MRSA strains. Zone inhibition measured 22 to 44 mm, and MIC values ranged from 26 to 43 Ul/mL. Thymoquinone also exhibited strong antibiofilm activity against biofilm producer MDR strains of Staphylococcus aureus.

Assessing the effect of cadmium and Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx extract on the organ gravimetry and lipid profile of the liver and serum of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Toxicity of cadmium to all lives especially the aquatic life cannot be quantified due to their deleterious effect usually caused as a result of their incessant and uncontrollable discharged into the aquatic environment. The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of cadmium and Hibiscus Sabdariffa Calyx Extract on the Organ Gravimetry and Lipid Profile of the Liver and Serum of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Forty juvenile catfish were divided into four groups containing ten fish with average weight 170 ± 2kg per group [Group A, Control (–HSCE – Cd), Group B (+HSCE), Group C (+Cd) and Group D (+HSCE + Cd)]. Group B and D were administered a daily dose of 40ml/kg body weight of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx extracts (HSCE) (0.25%v/v) for 14 days while groups C and D were exposed to the same dose containing 0.3 mg of Cd/L daily for 14 days. The result shows that there was significant decrease (p<0.05) in the liver total- and LDL- cholesterol of fish exposed to HSCE and HSCE + Cd treated groups when compared to control and cadmium treated group. The triglycerides concentration of liver and serum was significantly increased (p<0.05) in fish exposed to cadmium when compared to the control and HSCE + Cd treated group respectively. SOD activity was significantly increase (p<0.05) in the serum of catfish exposed to Cd when compared to control. However, the liver-body weight ratio was significantly decreased in Cd and Cd + HSCE treated groups relative to the control. It is evident from the result obtained in this study that HSCE has protective effect against cadmium intoxicated fish (Clarias gariepinus).

Oral toxicity evaluation of probiotic strains isolated from Finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.] in Wistar rat models (in vivo)

This study evaluates the oral toxicity of five probiotic strains recently isolated from fermented flour of finger-millet (Eleusine coracana) varieties of Sri Lanka. Probiotic strains; Lactobacillus plantarum MF405176, Lactobacillus fermentum MF033346, Lactococcus lactis subspecies lactis MF480428, Enterococcus faecium MF480431and Pediococcus acidilactici MF480434 were evaluated for acute and sub-chronic oral toxicity in Wistars. Three individual doses (108 CFU/g, 1010 CFU/g and 1012 CFU/g) of each probiotic strain at single oral dose of 5000 mg/kg bw were orally administered to rats and observations were done till 14th day. Since no animals demonstrated signs of toxicity as a result of the administrated probiotics strains, repeated dose sub-chronic oral toxicity study was conducted by oral administration of three doses (108 CFU/g, 1010 CFU/g, 1012 CFU/g) of each probiotic strain at 1000 mg/kg bw/day for consecutive 90 days. Administration of probiotic strains to rats did not caused mortality in any of the tested doses. No changes in animal behavior, feed or water intake and negative effects on body weight observed. Probiotic feeding did not cause changes in analyzed biochemical and hematological parameters attributed to toxicity. Bacteremia, bacterial translocation and histopathological changes in rat organs were not observed. No significant difference in liver enzymes observed in treatment groups compared to control. In conclusion, all tested probiotic strains are nonpathogenic therefore could be considered as safe for human consumption.

Harnessing Acremonium zonatum (Sawada) Gams oil formulations as water hyacinth control mycoherbicides.

The effect of formulating Acremonium zonatum (Saw.) Gams in corn oil, mineral oil and glycerol was determined in a glasshouse at Maseno University Botanic Garden and laboratory. The study was situated at latitude -100’ 00’’ S and longitude 340 36’ 00’’E. A. zonatum was aseptically isolated from symptomatic plants and inoculated upon healthy water hyacinth plants in a CRD experiment. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20 computer software. Oil and spore density effects were statistically significant at p < 0.05. The main effect of oil yielded an effect size of 0.281 indicating that 28.1 % of the variance in disease severity was explained by the oil formulation (F(2, 28) = 5.459, p = 0.01). Spore density yielded an effect size of 0.326 indicating that 32.6% of the variance in the study was explained by spore density (F(3, 28) = 4.515, p = 0.011). The interaction effect was not significant (F(6, 28) = 0.199, p = 0.974) indicating that there was no combined effect for the kind of oil used in the formulation of the A. zonatum and the spore density. The results suggested that A. zonatum pathogenicity varies with different spore concentrations, 1x 108 spores/ml being the most potent. A. zonatum has favorable characteristics for consideration as a mycoherbicide. Corn oil as formulation material was concluded to be the best formulation material for A. zonatum.

Biological production of citric acid in submerged culture of Aspergillus niger using cassava pulp wastes

Utilization of cassava pulp wastes for citric acid production was investigated using Aspergillus niger in a submerged culture. A series of experiments were designed on various fermentation parameters to establish the optimal conditions for citric acid production from cassava pulp. This study revealed that production parameters such as cassava pulp concentration, initial pH, incubation temperature, agitation, and nitrogen source and fermentation period had effect on the amount of citric acid produced from cassava pulp. Citric acid concentration increased as the concentration of cassava pulp increases up to 20% with maximum citric acid concentration of 14.9 ± 0.413 g/l after 120 hours of fermentation. pH 5.5 was the optimum with maximum citric acid concentration of 16.8 ± 0.23 g/l after 120 hours of fermentation. Incubation temperature at 300 C was the optimum, with citric acid concentration of 19.15 ± 0.43 g/l. Increased in agitation speed from 100 to 225 rpm gave the maximum citric acid concentration of 25.2 ± 0.32 g/l after 120 hours of fermentation. Soybean meal supplementation was the best maximum citric acid concentration of 28.2 ± 0.51 g/l. Evaluating the effect of different concentration of soybean meal shows that 0.3 % supplementation was the optimum with maximum concentration of 31.2 ±0.35g/l from cassava pulp after 120 hours of fermentation. The result suggested that citric acid can be accumulated using cassava pulp by Aspergillus niger in submerged culture during fermentation. Cassava pulp if well harnessed can be used for large scale citric acid production.