Knowledge and practices among healthcare workers regarding dengue in Togo

In Togo where malaria is endemic, because main signs of malaria and dengue are similar, the use of malarial drugs first could contribute to a delay in the diagnosis of dengue and the dissemination of the disease. Thus, it is important that healthcare workers (HCW) have a good knowledge of these diseases. To assess the knowledge, and practices regarding dengue infection among HCW in Togo. A cross-sectional study was carried out from November 2020 to March 2021 among HCW in Togo. A pre-tested digital questionnaire was used for data collection. Based on clinical signs of dengue, preventive measures, infection type and disease type, a knowledge score was constructed with eight questions. A total of 334 HCW with median age 32 years, IQR:(28-38) responded to the survey and the sex ratio male/female was 5.9. The majority (94.0%) of HCW have heard about dengue through training (73.3%), internet (38.0%) and media (33.2%). Compared with lower executive HCW, senior manager were more knowledgeable about the causative agent, the symptoms and preventive methods of dengue infection (p<0.001). Globally, good knowledge (score ≥6) about dengue was found for 47.1% of HCW. More than 9 out of 10 HCW (91.3%) reported the lack of dengue diagnostic tools. Providing health structures with dengue diagnostic tools and training health personnel in their use in any febrile patient with a negative or positive malaria test would help prevent dengue epidemic.

Knowledge and practices of female students at University of Kara regarding sexually transmitted infections in Togo, 2021

A good knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in female students is an important element in the prevention of STI transmission. The objective of this study is to describe the level of knowledge and practices on STI among female students at the University of Kara. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Kara from July to September 2021. Data were collected using a standard, digitalised, selfadministered questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to describe factors associated with the level of knowledge of STIs. A total of 1,055 female students with a median age of 21 years (interquartile range: 20-24) participated in the study. More than one-third (33.7%) of the students had good knowledge of STI. Having already been tested for HIV (aOR=3.25; 95% CI 2.36-4.52), having already had sex (aOR=1.56; 95% CI 1.10-2.24) and the level of education (AOR=3.46; 95% CI 2.10-5.85) were significantly associated with good STIs knowledge. Among the 723 female students (68.5%) who already had sex, 32.5% reported inconsistent use of condoms during sexual intercourse and 18.9% reported having multiple sexual partners. The results of this study highlight the importance of intensifying STIs prevention efforts (awareness, screening, and vaccination) among female students at the University of Kara.

Comparative study of the toxicity of hydroethanolic extracts of the root and stem barks of Cassia sieberiana D.C. on Wistar rats

This study was aimed to evaluate and to compare the acute and subchronic toxicities of the hydroethanolic extracts of theroot (HECRB) and stem bark (HECSB) of Cassia sieberiana in rats. In acute toxicity study, animals were divided into 2groups (n = 3). Rats received the single dose of 5000 mg/kg of HECRB and HECSB extracts of C. sieberiana orally. Forthe subchronic toxicity, 4 groups (n = 6) were given daily 500 and 1000 mg/kg of extracts for 28 days. Animal behaviorswere observed after each treatment. Results showed that HECRB and HECSB were not toxic at 5000 mg/kg. The LD50was >5000mg/kg for both extracts. After repeated doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg, both extracts did not significantly affectthe relative organs weight of treated rats. HECSB did not affect biochemical and hematological parameters. However,HECRB significantly increased parameters such as red and white blood cells, hemoglobin, volume globulaire moyen,teneur corpusculaire moyenne en hemoglobine, and triglycerides. This study showed that HECRB and HECSB are nottoxic. It contributes to a better knowledge of the toxicity of C. sieberiana used for the treatment of several diseases in Togo.

Effect of Aframomum melegueta on carbon tetrachloride induced liver injury.

This present study was performed to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Aframomum melegueta seeds, used as spicy in the traditional conditions. The hepatoprotective activity of the seeds of A. melegueta at 100 and 150 mgEq.pp/kg, administered orally, was assessed using carbon tetrachloride-induced (CCl4) liver damage (1 ml/kg bw 1:1 CCl4 and corn oil). The results obtained from this study show that A. melegueta produced a significant decrease in serum transaminases and alkaline phosphatase. At the dose of 150 mg Eq.pp/kg, A. melegueta induced a significant increase in serum total proteins. Liver and serum antioxidant potentials were also significantly increased. Those results indicate that A. melegueta seeds protect the liver against toxicity induced in this study.

Antimicrobial, antiplasmodial, haemolytic and antioxidant activities of crude extracts from three selected Togolese medicinal plants

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiplasmodial, acute toxicity and haemolytic activities of methanolic extracts of three plants. Phytochemical analysis to determine the phenolic contents was also carried out.@*METHODS@#The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, NCCLS broth microdilution and Plasmodium Lactate Dehydrogenase (pLDH) assays were used to determine antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiplasmodial activities, respectively. Haemolysis assay was conducted on A(+) human red blood cells and acute toxicity on male Swiss albino mice. Phenolics were quantitatively determined using spectrophotometric methods.@*RESULTS@#The DPPH assay yielded interesting antioxidant activities of methanolic extract of Parinari curatellifolia (P. curatellifolia) and Entada africana (E. africana) (IC(50) were 0.20±0.01 μg/mL and 0.47±0.01 μg/mL, respectively). This activity was highly correlated with phenolic contents of extracts. The antimicrobial tests displayed minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) values ranging from 0.90 to 1.80 mg/mL for Serratia marcescens (S. marcescens) the most susceptible bacterial strain. MIC value was 1.20 mg/mL for susceptible fungal strains including Mucor rouxi (M. rouxi), Fusarium oxyporum (F. oxyporum) and Rhizopus nigricans (R. nigricans). pLDH assay showed moderate antiplasmodial activity of Balanites aegyptiaca (B. aegyptiaca) (IC(50) = 24.56±3.45 μg/mL), however this extract was highly haemolytic and toxic in mice (LD(50) = 625±128 mg/kg).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Our results support in part the use of the selected plants in the treatment of microbial infections. In addition the plant showed interesting antioxidant activity that could be useful in the management of oxidative stress.