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Background: Bushmeat represents an important animal protein source for populations in rural areas of Côte d'Ivoire; consequently, the exploitation of the bushmeat reserves has contributed to food security in these areas for long time. However, emergence of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa in 2014 has led to a ban and stigmatization of this essential food source in rural zones. The present study analyses the influence of the decision to ban bushmeat consumption due to EVD on the patterns of consumption of proteins sources and food security. It aims to characterize the different protein sources consumed in rural areas in the Toumodi region before and after the EVD outbreak in order to identify alternatives to bushmeat. Results:The results demonstrated that fish remains the principal animal protein source (92.1% of households) even outside the EVD crisis. Among protein sources, only bushmeat and fish consumptions have been modified with the Ebola threat. The proportion of households that regularly consume bushmeat decreased to 19.8%, however, this reduction in consumption has been driving by sensitization and repression. Fish consumption frequency increased from 4 to 7 times per week in the EVD crisis period. Picking up in the bush is a main mode of supply of some protein sources such as snail or shellfish but their seasonal character limits their use in the households. Vegetable protein sources seem to play a minor role in the diet of the households assessed, whereas edible mushrooms are consumed frequently to complement or substitute animal protein sources. Conclusion:The ban on bushmeat has led to a reduction in its consumption while fish and edible mushrooms seem to have filled related protein deficits in the households assessed. However, constraints in availability and utilization of these alternative sources build an inconsistent basis to fulfil the nutritional needs. To counteract potentially arising protein deficiencies among the population, the development and implementation of fish farming and livestock at short cycle are suggested in order to improve access to protein sources other than bushmeat.

A new Gram-positive, facultative anaerobic, microaerophilic bacterium, designated strain M5 T , was isolated from a decantation reservoir of olive mill wastewater. The cells were rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore-forming and catalase-negative. Growth occurred at pH ranging from 45 to 95, with optimum growth at 70. The optimum temperature for growth was around 30 SC. Although growth occurred under anaerobic and aerobic conditions, the optimum O 2 concentration for growth was determined as 5 % in the gas phase of the culture. During anaerobic growth, glucose or lactate were mainly fermented to propionate, acetate and CO 2 . In the presence of O 2 (more than 2 %), glucose was oxidized completely to CO 2 . The GMC content of the DNA was 677O06 mol % and 16S rRNA gene analysis revealed that the new isolate belonged to the cluster of ' dairy ' propionibacteria, Propionibacterium acidipropionici being its closest phylogenic relative (975 % similarity). However, the level of DNA relatedness between strain M5 T and P. acidipropionici was 562 %. Consequently, both the phenotypic (range of substrates used) and genotypic characteristics of strain M5T allow it to be assigned as a new species of the genus Propionibacterium, Propionibacterium microaerophilum sp. nov. The type strain is strain M5 T (l CNCM I-2360 T l DSM 13435 T ).

This study was conducted to determine the risk factors associated with the contamination of lettuce grown in the suburban area of Abidjan. A total of 216 samples were collected. Total aerobic bacterial counts and Enterobacteriaceae were investigated on soil, fertilizer, irrigation water and lettuce samples. Mean values of total aerobic count for sites 1 and 2 were 9.97 log 10 cfu/g and 8.20 log 10 cfu/g for the manure respectively, and 8.11 log 10 cfu/g for the soil of both sites. Lettuce samples from the market were more contaminated by Enterobacteriaceae than those obtained from the production sites. The main enterobacteria isolated were Salmonella gallinarum, Serratia marcescens and E. coli. All the lettuce samples analysed were contaminated by E. coli and Serratia. The prevalences of Serratia marcescens on lettuce from the market and from the production sites 1 and 2 were 58.33%, 33.33% and 41.67% respectively while those of E. coli were 33.33%, 25% and 8.33% respectively. The most common Salmonella serotypes isolated was Salmonella gallinarum with prevalences of 50%, 41.67%, 58.33%. Salmonella choleraesuis and Shigella sonnei were weakly represented. The manure has the highest potential as a source of contamination and infection of lettuce followed by the soils.