Study of the antibacterial capacity of extracts of Solanum incanum L., (Solanaceae) traditionally used for the management of avian cholera in rural areas of Burkina Faso

Nowadays, thanks to the rise of microbial resistance, the lack of health care personnel and especially the high cost of synthetic molecules, phytotherapy could be a panacea in many developing countries. For this reason, the present work which aims to evaluate the phenolic compounds and to study the antibacterial capacity of extracts of roots, stems, leaves and fruits of Solanum incanum L., (Solanaceae) traditionally used for the treatment of pasteurellosis or avian cholera in Burkina Faso, was undertaken. For this purpose, we collected plant material in the commune of Dedougou. After extraction with acetone and water, colorimetric tests were carried out on the different extracts and revealed mostly the presence of tannins and coumarins. The Hydroacetone macerated extract was found to be very interesting for biological activities compared to the macerated extracts and the aqueous decoctions. Inhibition of bacterial growth on different bacterial strains was also shown for all the extracts, especially with Hydroacetone extract. These results could be mainly explained by the inhibitory effect of phenolic compounds. The Hydroacetone extract was also found to be especially very relevant for the prevention and treatment of microbial diseases from poultry.

Burkina Faso: Jihadist landscape will become murkier

Significance These included the death of 53 gendarmes at Inata in November and an ambush that killed over 40 government-affiliated vigilantes near Ouahigouya in December. Public anger is producing protests and backlash that have put President Roch Marc Christian Kabore’s administration under intense pressure, including possible coup plotting exposed by arrests this week. Impacts Local dialogue efforts with jihadists may be inhibited by harder-line government policies. Kabore’s administration will struggle to define and pursue its ‘national reconciliation’ project. Burkina Faso’s 2021-25 national development plan may deliver modest improvements in growth prospects. Burkina Faso will have longer-term problems operationalising military cooperation with neighbours.

Experimentation of the Incineration of Paper Waste at the University Press of Ouagadougou (PUO)

Waste management and recycling is major problem in our developing countries for several reasons, including population growth. In Burkina Faso, various techniques for treating this garbage exist and among them, we can cite incineration. Incineration is a heat treatment of garbage that reduces the volume of the latter. This work relates to the experimental study of the incineration of paper waste from the incinerator of the University Press of Ouagadougou. The results of this study show that this device is very useful in that it allows the incineration of paper garbage produced by the printing press. It, therefore, has an environmental advantage because its use promotes better management of paper waste.

Comparing Azithromycin to Amoxicillin in the Management of Uncomplicated Severe Acute Malnutrition in Burkina Faso: A Pilot Randomized Trial

Azithromycin is a promising alternative to amoxicillin in the management of uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition (SAM) as it can be administered as a single dose and has efficacy against several pathogens causing infectious disease and mortality in children under 5. In this pilot trial, we aimed to establish the feasibility of a larger randomized controlled trial and provide preliminary evidence comparing the effect of azithromycin to amoxicillin on weight gain in children with uncomplicated SAM. We enrolled children 6–59 months old with uncomplicated SAM at six healthcare centers in Burkina Faso. Participants were randomized to a single dose of azithromycin or a 7-day course of amoxicillin and followed weekly until nutritional recovery and again at 8 weeks. Apart from antibiotics, participants received standard of care, which includes ready-to-use therapeutic food. Primary feasibility outcomes included enrollment potential, refusals, and loss to follow-up. The primary clinical outcome was weight gain (g/kg/day) over 8 weeks. Outcome assessors were masked. Between June and October 2020, 312 children were screened, 301 were enrolled with zero refusals, and 282 (93.6%) completed the 8-week visit. Average weight gain was 2.5 g/kg/day (standard deviation [SD] 2.0) in the azithromycin group and 2.6 (SD 1.7) in the amoxicillin group (mean difference −0.1, 95% CI −0.5 to 0.3, P = 0.63). Fewer adverse events were reported in the azithromycin group (risk ratio 0.50, 95% CI 0.31–0.82, P = 0.006). With strong enrollment and follow-up, a fully powered trial in this setting is feasible.