BackgroundHantavirus infection is a zoonotic disease that is associated with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and cardiopulmonary syndrome in human. Anjozorobe virus, a representative virus of Thailand orthohantavirus (THAIV), was recently discovered from rodents in Anjozorobe-Angavo forest in Madagascar. To assess the circulation of hantavirus at the national level, we carried out a survey of small terrestrial mammals from representative regions of the island and identified environmental factors associated with hantavirus infection. As we were ultimately interested in the potential for human exposure, we focused our research in the peridomestic area.MethodsSampling was achieved in twenty districts of Madagascar, with a rural and urban zone in each district. Animals were trapped from a range of habitats and examined for hantavirus RNA by nested RT-PCR. We also investigated the relationship between hantavirus infection probability in rats and possible risk factors by using Generalized Linear Mixed Models.ResultsOverall, 1242 specimens from seven species were collected (Rattus rattus, Rattus norvegicus, Mus musculus, Suncus murinus, Setifer setosus, Tenrec ecaudatus, Hemicentetes semispinosus). Overall, 12.4% (111/897) of Rattus rattus and 1.6% (2/125) of Mus musculus were tested positive for THAIV. Rats captured within houses were less likely to be infected than rats captured in other habitats, whilst rats from sites characterized by high precipitation and relatively low seasonality were more likely to be infected than those from other areas. Older animals were more likely to be infected, with infection probability showing a strong increase with weight.ConclusionsWe report widespread distribution of THAIV in the peridomestic rats of Madagascar, with highest prevalence for those living in humid areas. Although the potential risk of infection to human may also be widespread, our results provide a first indication of specific zone with high transmission. Gathered data will be helpful to implement policies for control and prevention of human risk infection.

Kitoza is a traditional meat product from Madagascar manufactured with strips of pork or beef. The process includes a first step of salting and mixing with spices followed by sun-drying or smoking step. As salting and drying select coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), our aim was to identify the CNS species in kitoza with the objective in the future of developing indigenous starters. Microbial analyses revealed that the only pathogenic bacterium enumerated was Staphylococcus aureus, which was found in 54% of the samples. The level of Enterobacteriaceae revealed a rather good hygienic quality of these products. CNS were confirmed in all the samples at high levels ranging from 5 to 7logcfu/g. Identification of CNS species in a large collection of 829 isolates revealed 9 identified species, 7 for beef and 8 for pork kitoza. There were significant difference in the distribution of CNS species according to the type of meat and the process. Staphylococcus saprophyticus was the dominant species for sun-dried or smoked beef and sun-dried pork kitoza (73-75%), while for smoked pork kitoza Staphylococcus equorum (26%), S. saprophyticus (23%), Staphylococcus succinus (23%) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (17%) co-dominated. Some CNS could be used as indigenous starters in particular to compete against S. aureus.

Consumer acceptance and sensory profiling of reengineered kitoza products, Food Chemistry (2015), doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ j.foodchem. 2015.08.128 This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. CONSUMER

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This work aimed at assessing the antimicrobial activity of Albizia bernieri seed extracts. Methanol extract (SME), alkaloids extracted under basic (Alk1) and acidic (Alk2) conditions, polar saponosides (Sap1) and less polar saponosides (Sap2) obtained by n-butanol fractionation were used. Their activities were tested against 9 pathogenic germs including 4 Gram (+) bacteria, 5 Gram (-) bacteria and 1 yeast using disc diffusion and microdilution methods. Regardless the method used to assess the antimicrobial activity, all extracts were efficient but their effects depended upon the germs tested. They all displayed a broad spectrum activity. Alkaloids were by far the most efficient with an excellent effect (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration or MIC<100µg/ml) against all germs tested. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Clostridium perfringens and Candida albicans were the most sensitive with MICs less than 10 µg/ml. SME and Sap 2 had moderate or low effects (MIC between 100 and 1000 µg/ml) and Sap1 was the less efficient (MIC ≥1000 µg/ml). All the extracts exerted bactericidal or fungicidal action on all sensitive germs. These preliminary results revealed antimicrobial activity of Albizia bernieri seeds that could be used to treat different infectious diseases and might lead to the development of pharmaceutical agents.

Kitoza samples collected from producers in Madagascar were analyzed for their physicochemical and microbial properties. Lactic acid bacteria and coagulase‐negative staphylococci were the two codominant populations with average counts of 6–7 log cfu/g. Good hygienic practices were sometimes lacking but samples were not contaminated with Salmonella , Clostridium perfringens , and Bacillus cereus and only once with Listeria monocytogenes . Staphylococcus aureus was found occasionally with higher counts in salted/dried products than in salted/smoked products. Moisture, protein, fat, and salt contents varied considerably and were on average 41.5, 43.5, 14.3, and 3.3 g/100 g, respectively, and water activity was 0.893 on average. Smoked kitoza showed higher moisture content compared to dried kitoza. Most of the smoked kitoza had a water activity higher than 0.9 which is not in accordance with their storage at ambient temperatures. Benzo(a)pyrene content was above 2 µg/kg in 11 out of 30 smoked samples (17 ± 16.5 µg/kg on average).

In this study, we report for the first time the presence of alkaloids belonging to β-carboline type in the pods of the endemic Albizia polyphylla from Madagascar. Three major alkaloids were isolated and structurally identified as: 1-methyl-β-carboline, (+)-(R)-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline and (-)-(S)-1,2-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline.

The aim of this study was to assess the antibacterial potential of Albizia mahalao, a Madagascar Fabaceae. Leaf methanolic extracts (LME), root bark methanolic extract (RME), stem bark methanolic extract (SME), and alkaloids extracted from leaves under basic and acidic conditions were used. All the methanol extracts contained alkaloids and saponins. The antimicrobial activity was tested against many bacteria spp. including; Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens, Enterobacter aerogenes, Salmonella enterica, Shigella flexneri, and Vibrio fischeri, using the Disc diffusion and the Microdilution assays. With the exception of the SME which is inactive, the other extracts exhibited broad spectrum potential against all the tested bacteria. The alkaloids are efficient against nearly all the bacteria under both of the basic and acidic conditions, with an inhibition zone diameter (IZ) of >17 mm, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of <100 µg/ ml. RME is the least efficient (IZ ≤ 10 mm, and 100< MIC < 1000 µg/ ml). S. enterica is the most sensitive bacterium (IZ= 23 mm, and MIC= 47 µg/ ml), whereas, Staph. aureus (IZ= 10 mm, and MIC >12000 µg/ ml) is the more resistant species. The majority of the extracts expressed bactericidal potency against the tested bacterial spp. Current results revealed the antibacterial potential of the Albizia mahalao leaves and root bark extracts thus could be used to treat infectious diseases.