Wild fruit trees contribute substantially to food security, rural livelihoods, and climate adaptation across sub-Saharan Africa, yet most remain undomesticated and their fruit production is poorly quantified. Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst ex A.DC. is a key wild fruit tree in West African savannas, but quantitative information on its fruit biomass, morphological variability, and size-yield relationships across environmental gradients remains limited. This study evaluated fruit biomass, fruit and seed morphological traits, and allometric relationships across two climate zones (Sudanian and Sudano-Sahelian) and two land-use types (protected and non-protected areas) in Burkina Faso. A total of 185 fruiting trees (diameter at breast height ≥ 5 cm) were sampled across three diameter classes, with 60 trees in the Sudanian zone and 125 in the Sudano-Sahelian zone. Data were analysed using linea...

Introduction : L’accès à une eau potable de qualité représente un défi majeur pour les villes africaines en raison d’une croissance démographique rapide. Cette étude visait à évaluer la conformité des eaux préemballées de Ouagadougou aux normes de qualité en vigueur au Burkina Faso. Méthodes : Une étude transversale a été menée au sein de l’Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l’Environnement, de l’Alimentation, du Travail et des produits de Santé (ANSSEAT). Quinze échantillons ont été collectés auprès de différentes unités de production et analysés selon des méthodes normalisées (spectrométrie, électrochimie, volumétrie et spectrométrie d’absorption moléculaire). Résultats : Les résultats indiquaient une bonne qualité physico-chimique des eaux étudiées. La turbidité variait entre 0,1 et 0,4 NTU (moyenne : 0,25 NTU), tandis que la conductivité électrique était comprise entre 13,4...

Extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBLs) are bacterial plasmid or chromosomal enzymes capable of inactivating Penicillins, Cephalosporins, Aztreonam and inactive on Carbapenems. They are encoded by the beta-lactamase genes (bla genes) of the IMP family (Imipenemase), GES (Guyana Extended Spectrum), CTX-M (Cefotaximase – Munich). Bacterial resistance by ESBL production has become a global public health problem because it seriously compromises antimicrobial therapies. The objective of this study was to characterize the CTX-M and GES type ESBL genes as well as the IMP type carbapenemase gene carried by Gram-negative bacilli at Saint Camille Hospital in Ouagadougou (HOSCO). Ninety-five (95) strains of Enterobacteriaceae were collected at HOSCO and tested for antibiotics (AMC, ATM, IMP, CTX, CRO and CAZ). Resistant strains, the detection of resistance genes coding for extended spectrum beta-lac...

Background Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae represent a major clinical and public health concern due to their ability to confer resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics. Data on the molecular epidemiology of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae remain limited in many regions of Burkina Faso, particularly outside the Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso. This study aimed to determine the frequency of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae and to characterize the ESBL resistance genes circulating in the Boucle du Mouhoun region. Methods A total of 1,845 clinical samples (urine, pus, blood, and semen) collected from patients attending two major healthcare facilities in Dédougou were processed during the study period. From these samples, 247 non-duplicate Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumo...

This study analyzes the impact of the security crisis linked to terrorism on women's small businesses in Dédougou, a town in the Boucle du Mouhoun region (Burkina Faso), which has become a centre for internally displaced people. A mixed approach combining a questionnaire administered to 130 traders and 40 semi-structured interviews with various stakeholders (shopkeepers, customers, town hall, NGOs, chambers of commerce) was used. Terrorism disrupts supply circuits, causes price inflation (a bag of onions going from 15,000 to 60,000 FCFA), reduces the customer base by 70.66% and saturates the urban market. 71.54% of traders say they are dissatisfied with their income. Faced with these challenges, they develop resilience strategies by organizing tontines, carrying out multiple activities, taking out interpersonal loans and turning to family support. The crisis aggravates the vulnerability...

Background: Ethnopharmacology plays a central role in the discovery and validation of medicinal plants and their molecular compounds, particularly in tropical regions where biodiversity and traditional knowledge are highly concentrated. Aim: This semi-systematic review aims to examine how ethnopharmacology and pharmacognosy are being reshaped under WHO frameworks and data-driven approaches. Methods: A PRISMA-informed semi-systematic review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted across major scientific databases and WHO sources. Results: Our research included one hundred and sixteen studies, revealing partial convergence between traditional uses and pharmacognostic validation, alongside significant methodological heterogeneity. Conclusion: Integrative and ethically grounded frameworks are required to ensure scientific rigor, cultural legitimacy, and sustainability in tropica...

Résumé : Cet article a pour objectif de comprendre les causes, les pratiques et les perceptions sociales de la prostitution masculine dans la ville de Dédougou. Pour saisir ce phénomène social, nous avons adopté une approche purement qualitative. Des entretiens semi-directifs ont été conduits auprès de 74 informateurs (travailleurs et travailleuses du sexe, clients, personnes ressources, autorités religieuses et policières). L’investigation empirique met en exergue un profil varié de jeunes (sans emploi, employés de débits de boissons et d’hôtel et d’étudiants) se qualifiant de « thérapeutes ». Quant aux clientes, elles sont commerçantes, fonctionnaires, célibataires ou mariées, et disposant d’une aisance financière. Ce travail, pratiqué dans une discrétion quasi totale via les réseaux sociaux, constitue un marché lucratif aux tarifs très élevés, distinct des formes classiques de prostit...

Background: In Burkina Faso dirty water in particular those of the stoppings and the gutter ones are used for vegetables irrigation in the gardens. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility of Salmonella serotypes from humans and lettuce samples in Burkina Faso. Materials and Methods: Salmonella strains isolated from patients in 2009 to 2015 and lettuce samples in 2014 in Burkina Faso were serotyped using specific antisera. All strains were subjected to a set of 14 antibiotics to study their antibiogram by using Baeur–Kirby disk diffusion method. Results: Out of 154 Salmonella isolated, 60 were from human and 94 from lettuce samples. Serotyping revealed four different serotypes and 39% (60) untypeable strains from human and lettuce (14 and 46 strains). Salmonella serotypes from human and lettuce samples were: Paratyphi A (10% and 22%), Pa...

Salmonella enterica is one of the major enteric pathogen causing diarrhea among children under 5 years worldwide. In rural settings of Burkina Faso where this infection is strongly associated with the consumption of contaminated food and water, the antimicrobial resistant patterns of Salmonella circulating in these areas are currently not well described. To address this issue, stool samples were used to isolate and identify the pathogen. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed to isolate Salmonella. A logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between different variables and outcome. Odds ratio with 95% CI was computed to determine the presence and the strength of the association. Nine (3.30%) Salmonella sp. were isolated and identified as six different serotypes. Among these strains, 43% were isolated from diarrheal children in association with malnutr...

Enterobacteriaceae resistant to β-lactam include Escherichia coli and Klebsiella sp. Multiresistance to antibiotics in Enterobacteriaceae and in particular in Klebsiella sp is constantly evolving. Klebsiella is characterized by natural resistance to aminos and carboxypenicillins. Ceftazidime is a 3rd generation cephalosporin active on Gram-negative bacteria, strict aerobicor facultative anaerobic. Enterobacteriaceae resistance to β-lactam is more frequently mediated by the production of β-lactamases. The objective of this study was based on the resistance of Klebsiella sp to ceftazidime by the production of several enzymes at the Saint Camille Hospital in Ouagadougou. One hundred and sixty-two (162) strains of Enterobacteriaceae were collected at the Saint Camille Hospital in Ouagadougou, including 33 strains of Klebsiella sp and tested with antibiotics. The detection of resistance genes...