Caries-related factors and bacterial composition of supragingival plaques in caries free and caries active Algerian adults

Objective: To compare oral hygiene practices, education and social background, food intake and oral malodor of Algerian adults suffering from dental caries with normal controls, and to determine and compare the bacterial composition of the supragingival plaques from the above-mentioned groups.Methods: Participants completed a questionnaire and were clinically examined for dental caries using decayed, missing and filled teeth index according to the criteria laid down by the World Health Organization. Supragingival plaque samples were collected from 50 caries-free adults(CF) and 50 caries-active adults(CA). Standard procedures of culture and identification of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were used. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test.Results: A total of 117 bacterial strains were isolated from supragingival plaques in CF group subjects, 76(64.96%) of them belonged to 9 aerobic genera, and 41(35.04%) to 9anaerobic genera(P < 0.05). While in the second group, 199 strains were isolated, 119(59.80%) of the strains belonged to 10 aerobic genera and 80(40.20%) to 10 anaerobic bacteria(P < 0.05). Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecium, Aerococcus viridans,Actinomyces meyeri, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Eubacterium limosum showed a significantly higher prevalence in the CA group(P < 0.05). The findings revealed that CA group had a high sugar intake(80%). A significantly higher frequency of tooth brushing(P < 0.000) and a significantly less self-reported oral malodor(P < 0.000) and tooth pain(P < 0.000) were found in CF group, while there was no association of socioeconomic levels and intake of meal snacks with dental caries.Conclusions: This study confirms the association of some aciduric bacteria with caries formation, and a direct association of sugar intake and cultural level with dental caries.Furthermore, oral hygiene practices minimize the prevalence of tooth decay.

Assessment of Heavy Metals and Microbial Pollution of Lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i>) Cultivated in Two Sites (Paspanga and Tanghin) of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Environmental pollution can have detrimental effects on crop yield and its consumers. The current study was designed to investigate the potential human health risks associated with the consumption of lettuce crop contaminated with toxic heavy metals and microbiological status. Irrigated water, soil and lettuce were analyzed by AAS technics for heavy metals including Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. Transfer factor (TF), daily intake of metals (DIM) and health risk index (HRI) were also calculated. Microbial analysis was carried out for the presence foodborne pathogens. The results showed that the heavy metals contents were higher in the soil than wastewater and the vegetables. Heavy metals ranged (mg·Kg-1) for Cd (1.27 to 2.93), Cr (7.28 to 7.38), Cu (0.91 to 1.70), Mn (0.29 to 6.60), Ni (1.74 to 2.16), Pb (1.32 to 1.69), Zn (3.08 to 3.79);and were higher than the WHO maximum limit permissible (ML) in vegetables. HRI TF values designated an enhanced bio-contamination. Microbial numeration revealed the presence of spoiler and pathogenic microorganisms. The lettuce tested was not safe for human use, especially for direct consumption by human beings.

Isolation and Identification of Indigenous Yeasts from “<i>Rabil&eacute;</i>”, a Starter Culture Used for Production of Traditional Beer “<i>dolo</i>”, a Condiment in Burkina Faso

Rabilé is a ferment of dolo, a traditional sorghum beer of Burkina Faso and it is harvested at the end of dolo fermentation process. It is a significant source of proteins and it is used like a condiment and food seasoning by some communities. The present study characterized and identified the yeasts isolated from Rabilé. A total of 70 samples were collected from 7 localities of Burkina Faso with dolo sellers according to the ethnic groups. The aerobic mesophilic flora count from Rabilé varied from 8.34 ± 0.72 to 10.07 ± 0.51 log10 CFU·g-1 and yeast varied from 7.24 to 8.28 log10 UFC·g-1. Based on morphological, cultural, sexual and biochemical (carbon and nitrogen assimilation) profiles, 50 yeast strains were identified and found to belong to 4 genera and 7 species. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was found as most predominant yeasts species of yeast in of Rabilé with 64 %, Rhodotorula muciloginosa, (8%), Candida pseudorhangii (6%), Candida heliconiae (12%), Candida utilis (4%), Shizosaccharomyces pombe (4%) and Sporobolomyces odoratus (2%). This activity has been carried out in the Laboratory of Biotechnology for Food and Nutritional Sciences, University Ouaga I Pr Josph KY-ZERBO, Burkina Faso, and it was done from June to October 2018.