Contribution to the Study of Fungal Strains Contaminating Peanut Pastes in Bangui (Central African Republic)

Introduction: Peanut pastes are food products resulting from artisanal or industrial processing, used in cooking in Africa in general and in Central African Republic in particular. These peanut pastes are often contaminated by molds and filamentous fungi involved in the degradation of hygienic and organoleptic or even toxicological quality. This study aims to determine the epidemiological profile of molds contaminating peanut pastes sold on the Central African market. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study carried out from June to September 2023. Samples of peanut pastes sold on Central African market were taken and analyzed at the National Laboratory of Clinical Biology and Public Health using the conventional microbiology method according to ISO 7954 standards. The data obtained were collected in the ODK 2023.3.1 application and analyzed with the Epi Info 7 software. A multivariate analysis by logistic regression, Ficher’s exact test, and chi2 at the 5% threshold (p Penicillium sp.;11.25% of Mucor sp.;10.63% of Aspergillus terrei;3.13% of Aspergillus niger;1.25% of Aspergillus medullans;28.13% of Aspergillus flavus;2.50% of Aspergillus fumigatus. Peanut pastes stored beyond three days were more contaminated (94.19%). Conclusion: The results of this study made it possible to highlight strains of mold that impact the hygienic and organoleptic quality of peanut pastes sold at the Central African market. Most of the isolated strains were the Aspergillus flavus species which is recognized by its toxigenic effects. This species is much more incriminated in the contamination of foodstuffs with the production of the toxin which causes underlying pulmonary pathologies in humans.

Identification and Characterization of Risk Factors Linked to the Bacteriological Contamination of Street Foods: Case of Porridge Made from Rice Sold in the City of Bangui, Central African Republic

Traditional ready-to-eat food products are topical in Central African Republic They are sold in most cases on the roadside and present a variety of productions including the porridge made from cereal derivatives (Peanut and Rice), commonly called “potato” These foods are sold under precarious hygienic conditions, which constitute a major public health risk for consumers, especially children under five and vulnerable people. It is in this context that a study was carried out in eight districts of the city of Bangui on porridge made from rice and peanuts in order to assess the levels and risks of contamination of these foods. The results obtained showed that this activity is performed most often by women between the ages of 20 and 29. Of these, 17.85% have never been to school;44.64% have a level of primary school. The results of the microbiological analysis carried out revealed a strong proliferation of germs indicators of faecal contamination, hygiene indicators in different points of sale, the average content of the contamination of aerobic mesophilic flora, fecal coliforms, total coliforms and Staphylococcus aureus are respectively 4.33 × 103, 1.845 × 103 and 1.508 × 103 CFU. No presence of Salmonella and Shigella was observed. The various stages of porridge production until sale requires the application of hygiene rules in order to avoid intoxication and toxi-infection of consumers.