Acute and Repeated Dose 28-Day Oral Toxicity Study of the Aqueous Extracts from the Leafy Stem and Fruit of Pedalium murex D.Royen EX.L in Wistar Rats.

Background: Pedalium murex (P. murex) is used in folk medicine for treatment of male infertility. However, scientific data on its safety are limited. Objective: This study was carried out to assess the acute and repeated dose 28-day oral toxicity of the aqueous extracts from P. murex leafy stem and fruit in Wistar rats. Methods: The acute toxicity test was performed according to the line 423 of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines. The rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 3). The control group received distilled water, while the experimental groups were given at a single dose, 5000 mg/kg of each extract. The repeated dose 28-day oral toxicity was performed according to the line 407 of the OECD guidelines. 35 rats divided into 7 groups of 5 male rats each were daily treated for 28 days with each extract at 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg, respectively. The in-life parameters were recorded during the follow-up. At the end of this study, organ weights, hematology, biochemistry, and histology parameters were analyzed. Results: In the acute oral toxicity test, there was no morbidity or mortality related to the treatments. Both extracts belong therefore to category 5 of the globally harmonized system (GHS) of classification. In the repeated dose 28-day oral toxicity test, both extracts did not alter animal's behavior. However, both extract administration led to proteinuria and renal damages. Conclusion: P. murex leafy stem and fruit aqueous extracts exhibited potential nephrotoxicity. Therefore, care should be taken when they are used over an extended period.

Parasites of Sardinella maderensis (Lowe, 1838) (Actinopterygii: Clupeidae) and Their Potential as Biological Tags for Stock Identification along the Coast of West Africa.

This study is the first to provide information on the parasite fauna of Sardinella maderensis along the coasts of Benin and Ghana, and the first to investigate the potential use of parasites as biological tags in fish population studies in the area. It may thus serve as a starting point for upcoming studies. From February to June 2021, a total of 200 S. maderensis were sampled from the fishing port of Cotonou (Benin) and the Elmina landing site (Ghana). The prevalence and abundance of each parasite were recorded. The following are the outcomes of this study: Parasite species, such as Parahemiurus merus, Mazocraeoides sp. and Hysterothylacium fortalezae, were recorded along the coasts of Benin and Ghana, while Anisakis sp(p). and Tentacularia coryphaenae were only recorded along the coast of Benin. Parahemiurus merus was the most prevalent and abundant among all the parasites recorded. Anisakis sp(p). and T. coryphaenae were selected as having potential in the stock identification of S. maderensis. Both parasites were only recorded along the coast of Benin at a low prevalence. As a result, examinations of more S. maderensis from each location for these parasites may justify their use in stock identification studies.

A 90-Day Oral Toxicity Study of an Ethanolic Root Extract of Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb. in Wistar Rats.

BACKGROUND: Plant medicine is the oldest form of health care known to mankind; hence, studies on their safety for use are essential for the control of adverse drug effects. In Benin, Caesalpinia bonduc is one of many medicinal plants used as aphrodisiac, and for treatment of various ailments including prostatic hyperplasia. Despite its numerous ethnomedicinal benefits, toxicological information associated with its chronic use is currently limited. OBJECTIVE: The present study therefore assessed the toxicity of an ethanolic root extract of Caesalpinia bonduc in Wistar rats. METHODS: Caesalpinia bonduc root extract was administered by oral gavage at doses of 31.25, 125, and 500 mg/kg/day for 90 days to male Wistar rats, after which body weight changes, food consumption, urinary parameters, hematological and blood biochemical parameters, organ weights changes, gross pathology, and histopathology of vital organs were assessed. RESULTS: There were no death or abnormal clinical signs, no significant changes in body weight gain or urinary parameters, and no changes in necropsy and histopathology findings of vital organs associated with extract treatment. However, some indices such as erythrocytes, total cholesterol, and aspartate amino transferase increased in rats treated with high doses of the extract, as well as relative weight of testes, followed by a decrease in food intake and prostate relative weight. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that an ethanolic root extract of Caesalpinia bonduc does not cause significant adverse effects and suggest its tolerability up to 500 mg/kg for daily administration of 90 days.

Some pathophysiological insights into ovarian infestation by Myxobolus sp. (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) in Clarias gariepinus (Clariids: Silurids) from Bénin (West Africa).

Mature female specimens of the catfish Clarias gariepinus originating from Ouémé River (Benin) were investigated into ovarian myxozoan parasites. Spores of Myxobolus sp. (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) were found encrusted in the whitish color oocytes which present fat dot aspect in the gonads. The pathological investigation by electron microscopy revealed that maturation and multiplication of spores induced lytic action, deformation and dysfunction of the oocyte internal structures. No host inflammatory reaction was observed, while yolk, lipid, mitochondria, and other oocyte components were degenerated inducing empty area in the oocyte and could lead to castration in case of wide infestation. The mean prevalence was 19.79%. No significant difference was observed within seasonal prevalence (χ(2) = 1.771; df = 3; p > 0.05). Though the host length classes ranging from 35 to 39 cm and 40 to 45 cm were more infected, difference was not significant (χ(2) = 2.273; df = 4; p > 0.05) within them. The spores are ovoid in shape with two polar capsules which are equal in size, pyriform, and converging in anterior part of spore with four to five polar filament turns. Spore body are (11.47 ± 0.67) × (8.19 ± 0.52) µm length by width while polar capsule size are (4.24 ± 0.25) × (3.07 ± 0.28) µm and located in the first third portion of the spore. The molecular approaches are still running for accurate identification of this parasite.

Histopathological and ultrastructural studies of a Henneguya species (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) infesting the intestine of Clarias gariepinus from Benin (West Africa).

Fish culture is the best alternative to fill the gap between natural fish catches and estimated needs of populations in animal protein consumption. In West Africa, this goal required to have suitable fishes for aquaculture which are Clariidae and Tilapia. Clarias gariepinus (Clariidae) fetches a higher price than tilapias as it can be sold alive at the market but a high infestation by Henneguya leads to decrease this commercial value. Those reasons lead us to perform studies on seasonal variations, histopathological aspects and life cycle of Henneguya sp. infecting the intestine of C. gariepinus using light and electron microscope. From November 2011 to December 2012, 339 specimens were collected from Ouémé River (Benin) and examined. An overall prevalence of 7.37 % was recorded for plasmodia of Henneguya sp. Parasite occurrence did not vary significantly between seasons (χ(2) = 12.235; df = 3; p > 0.05), nor sexes (χ(2) = 2.992; df = 7; p > 0.05) while differences were significant between classes of weight (χ(2) = 39.929; df = 5; p < 0.05). The highest prevalence was recorded in host ranging from 300 to 374 g. Histopathological analysis showed that the mass continuous development of the plasmodium produced thickening of the intestine wall and compressed neighboring tissues and destroyed villi and smooth muscle layers. The stages of the parasite development including sporogenesis, capsulogenesis, and valvogenesis were asynchronous. Investigations are still running by molecular approaches in order to identify accurately this species.

Metazoan parasite communities of catfishes (Teleostei: Siluridae) in Benin (West Africa).

The need for more precise information on the effect of dry season on fish parasite communities in Benin lead us to undergo a focus during this season in one of the major sites of collection fry by fish farmers.Metazoan parasites were then inventoried in 166 specimens of catfishes which constituted of C larias gariepinus, Clarias ebriensis, Synodontis schall, Synodontis nigrita, and Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (Teleostei: Siluridae). Those fishes were collected from fishermen of Agonlin-Lowé at the side of Oueme River in south Benin from November 2011 to March 2012. In total, 12 parasite species were listed comprising three Monogena (Gyrodactylus sp., Synodontella sp., and Protoancylodiscoides chrysichthes), three Cestoda (Stoeksia pujehuni, Lytocestus sp., and Cestode indeterminate), five Nematoda (Paracamallanus cyathopharynx, Procamallanus laevionchus, Cithariniella petterae, Synodontisia thelastomoides, and nematode indeterminate), and one indeterminated Copepod species. Total infestation rate varied between 83.87 and 100% for the different fish species. This was high but independent of fish sex (χ(2) = 1.669, df = 4, nonsignificant). The highest mean intensity and mean abundance were, respectively, 44 and 13.33. Monogenea and Nematoda have elevated frequency of dominance, and their presence in the host is significantly correlated (r = -0.999; p < 0.05). Clariids were highly infected by Nematoda. Except for P. laevionchus and Proteoancylodiscoides, respectively, in C. gariepinus and in C. nigrodigitatus, the parasites showed clumped distribution. The component community diversity, as measured by the Shannon index (H'), revealed that S. schall had the most parasite diversity.