Some fungi are capable of producing substances that are potent, acute toxins or carcinogens to both animals and humans. These toxic agents are generally called mycotoxins. The diseases these fungi cause are mycotoxicoses, and their impact on domestic animals in terms of decreased growth rate, abnormal reproduction and early death has long been recognized. The impact of these fungi in human carcinogenesis has been the subject of intensive study only since the early 1960s. Mycotoxins of worldwide importance such as aflatoxins B 1 , B 2 , G 1 and G 2 ; deoxynivalenol; zearalenone; fumonisin B 1 ; T-2 toxin; and ochratoxin A, produced by fungi on pre-and post-harvest food and feeds, have led to contamination of the food chain, resulting in severe economic losses and serious health problems in human beings and livestock. In humans, the presence of mycotoxins in foods can be cumulative, leading to cancers and immune-deficiency diseases. This paper discusses the global deleterious effects of the mycotoxins, their metabolism and detoxification, and control measures applicable within the framework of integrated pest management systems.

An understanding of the chemistry of the secondary metabolites of neem plant (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) is essential and important due to its medicinal properties. Several studies have been done on the biological and pharmacological activities with a considerable progress made with respect to its biological activity and medicinal uses. The neem safety is known from its long communal ethno-pharmacological uses as a category one herbal product. It is readily available with great access to the local population at low cost and environmentally friendly. This paper attempts to give an insight into the biological activities of some of the compounds isolated, pharmacological actions of the extract, clinical studies and medicinal applications along with their safety evaluations. Issues on the active chemical constituents of various formulations, commercially available neem products, are also mentioned along with their respective application.

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all the research farms. Ninety corms of the each cultivar were treated before planting with fungiforce at 0.33% concentration while others were not treated. Fungiforce is a contact and systemic fungicide containing high levels of copper oxide (600 grams) and mild levels of metalaxyl (120 grams), various concentrations of 0.4%, 0.33%, 0.27%, at the onset of the first symptom of leaf blight on the leaves using knapsack sprayer of 15 litres at two weeks interval, while the control experiment consisted of unsprayed taro leaves. Data for the disease incidence of taro leaf blight was recorded from the onset of disease in fields and continued at two weeks interval for 6 weeks. The results of planting taro in four seasons in three experimental field sites revealed that there was a decrease in disease incidence in fields sprayed with fungiforce than in the control field. Plots sprayed with fungicide at different concentrations showed no variation on the 4 cultivars in the different field sites. The disease incidence ranged from 10% to 100% in the 4 seasons, at the three experimental field sites. The variation in disease incidence in the three planting sites is an indication of possible genotypes by environment (GXE) interaction that may have significant influence on the taro leaf blight resistance potential.

RESUMELe rotavirus est la première cause de gastroentérites grave chez les enfants de moins de 5 ans. La gravité et la mortalité de la maladie sont majorées dans les pays à revenus faibles d'Asie du sud et d'Afrique subsaharienne. Au Cameroun, la forte prévalence des rotaviroses, associées aux spécificités génotypiques locales du virus, soulignent l'importance de disposer de données épidémiologiques sur le virus. Cette étude visait à contribuer à une meilleure connaissance des principales souches de rotavirus responsables des gastroentérites chez les enfants de moins de 5 ans dans la ville de Yaoundé. Il s'agit d'une étude descriptive transversale d'une durée de 4 mois, dans 8 formations sanitaires de la ville de Yaoundé. Les échantillons de selles d'enfants de moins de 5 ans, hospitalisés pour gastroentérite ont été prélevés. La recherche du rotavirus s'est faite avec le kit ELISA Oxoid ProSpec TTM, et la détermination des génotypes du virus s'est faite par RT -PCR. Cent trente échantillons de selles d'enfants souffrant de gastroentérite ont été collectés. 66,1% de ces échantillons provenaient des hôpitaux FCB/CME, du CHE et de HDE. Le rotavirus a été isolé chez 30% des enfants, dont 40% avait entre 6 et 11 mois. Le CHE (6,9%) et l'HGY (0%) avaient respectivement la prévalence la plus élevée et la plus basse de la ville. Un nombre élevé de combinaisons génotypiques a été isolé, parmi lesquels prédominaient G1P [8] ABSTRACTRotavirus is the leading cause of severe gastroenteritis in children less than 5 years. Severity and mortality of this disease are majored in low-income countries of South -Asia and sub -Saharan Africa. In Cameroon, the high prevalence of rotaviruses associated to local genotypic specificities of virus enhances the importance of epidemiological database on the virus. This study aimed at contributing to a better knowledge of the main rotavirus strains responsible for gastroenteritis in children less than 5 years in Yaoundé. We carried out a descriptive and cross sectional study during 4 months, in 8 health centers in Yaoundé. Stool specimens were collected from children less than 5 years old, hospitalized for gastroenteritis. Rotavirus was detected with ELISA kit Oxoid ProSpecT TM , and genotypes determined by RT -PCR. One hundred and twenty seven stool specimens were collected during the study. FCB/CME, CHE, HDE provided 66.1% of specimens collected. Rotavirus was isolated in 30% of children, and 40% of these children were between 6 to 11 months old. The CHE (6. 9%) and the HGY (0%) had respectively the highest and the lowest prevalence of the town. A large number of genotype has been isolated and G1P[8] (31%) were predominant, followed by G3P [6]

This is a phytochemical and zootechnical study on Physalis peruviana leaves in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. This was part of a scientific development program of plant resources used in Congolese traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in which individual and community consequences are well established. Different fractions with hexane, ethyl acetate and the residue were obtained from the hydroalcoholic extract of P. peruviana leaves. Phytochemical screening was focused on the usual reactions of characterization based on precipitation and coloration with general reagents. The diabetic conditions were induced in rats by a single administration of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg body weight) intravenously. The positive control group received glibenclamide (6.5 mg/kg body weight) and each test group received 100 mg/kg of body weight. Those groups were compared with a control group which received only a Tween 20 solution (1 ml per 100 g body weight). Zootechnical profiles were evaluated by weight monitoring as well as food and water consumption in rats. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, anthocyanins, mucilages, cardiac glycosides, coumarins and betalains in the hydroalcoholic extract and its fractions. A highly significant difference (P ˂ 0.001) of water consumption in opposition to the food intake and weight changes was observed. This study suggested the isolation and characterization of compounds from hydroalcoholic extract from the leaves of P. peruviana L. and its fractions for an extensive antidiabetic investigation.

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