Cette étude a pour objectif de contribuer à la connaissance de la diversité ichtyologique ainsi que le mode d’exploitation des poissons Schilbeidae (Siluriformes) pêchés dans le Pool Malebo (fleuve Congo) en R.D Congo. La récolte de poissons s’est faite mensuellement entre Février et Septembre 2019 dans quatre stations de pêche à l’aide des filets maillants (50 à 100 m de long et 2,5 m de hauteur et de 8 à 50 mm de mailles), des épuisettes (0,5 à 2 mm de mailles) ainsi que des palangres de 50 m de long portant des hameçons de n° 7, 10, 11 et 13. Des échanges ont été engagés avec les pêcheurs œuvrant dans les stations retenues en vue de déceler le mode d’exploitation de poisson Schilbeidae. Les résultats obtenus montrent qu’il y a une diversité de poissons de cette famille. Huit espèces (Schilbe mystus Linné, 1758 ; S. intermedius Rüppell, 1832 ; S. zairensis De Vos, 1995 ; S. congoensis Leach, 1818 ; S. marmoratus Pellegrin, 1926 ; Parailia congica Boulenger, 1900 ; P. occidentalis Pellegrin, 1901 et Pareutropius mandevillei Poll, 1900) regroupées en trois genres (Schilbe, Parailia et Pareutropius) ont été identifiées dans le Pool Malebo. Les poissons des genres Schilbe (62 %) et Parailia (25 %) sont les plus abondants. Au niveau des espèces, Schilbe mystus (261 spécimens), S. intermedius (107 spécimens) et S. zairensis (26 individus) sont les plus représentatifs. En terme de richesse spécifique, les stations de Kinkole (8 espèces et H’ = 1,42) et Kinsuka (7 espèces et H’ = 1,205) sont les plus diversifiées. En termes d’abondance, les mois de Juillet, Juin, Mai et Août sont les plus propices à la pêche des poissons Schilbe mystus, S. intermedius, S. zairensis et Parailia occidentalis. Les enquêtes réalisées ont montré que ces poissons sont exploités régulièrement et, présentent une grande valeur économique. Toutes les tailles de poissons sont retenues lors de la pêche pratiquée avec des engins non sélectifs, ce qui présage une exploitation irrationnelle de poissons Schilbeidae dans le Pool Malebo.   This study aims to contribute to the knowledge of the ichthyological diversity as well as the exploitation mode of Schilbeidae fishes (Siluriformes) fished in the Malebo Pool (Congo River) in D.R. Congo. The harvesting of fish was done monthly between February and September 2019 in four fishing stations using gillnets (50 to 100 m long and 2.5 m high and 8 to 50 mm mesh), dip nets (0.5 to 2 mm mesh) as well as longlines of 50 m long with hooks of n° 7, 10, 11 and 13. Discussions were held with the fishermen working in the selected stations in order to identify the mode of exploitation of Schilbeidae fish. The results obtained show that there is a diversity of fish in this family. Eight species (Schilbe mystus Linné, 1758; S. intermedius Rüppell, 1832; S. zairensis De Vos, 1995; S. congoensis Leach, 1818; S. marmoratus Pellegrin, 1926; Parailia congica Boulenger, 1900; P. occidentalis Pellegrin, 1901 and Pareutropius mandevillei Poll, 1900) grouped in three genera (Schilbe, Parailia and Pareutropius) have been identified in the Malebo Pool. Fish of the genera Schilbe (62 %) and Parailia (25 %) are the most abundant. At the species level, Schilbe mystus (261 specimens), S. intermedius (107 specimens) and S. zairensis (26 individuals) are the most representative. In terms of species richness, the stations of Kinkole (8 species and H' = 1.42) and Kinsuka (7 species and H' = 1.205) are the most diverse. In terms of abundance, the months of July, June, May and August are the most favorable for the fishing of Schilbe mystus, S. intermedius, S. zairensis and Parailia occidentalis. The surveys carried out have shown that these fish are exploited regularly and have a high economic value. All sizes of fish are retained when fishing with non-selective gears, which indicates an irrational exploitation of Schilbeidae fish in the Malebo Pool.

The objective of this study is to analyse the ichthyological composition of smoked fish sold in the Liberté and Gambela markets in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo through a systematic inventory. A 7-month survey was carried out among 200 smoked fish vendors in the two markets in order to extract the information sought. The results obtained show that the sale of smoked fish in Kinshasa is an activity reserved for women with a dominance of married vendors. The smoked fish sold in the two markets are diversified and belong to 6 orders, 13 families, 20 genera and 22 species. Fish belonging to the Siluriformes (30.8%), Characiformes (23.1%), Osteoglossiformes and Perciformes orders (15.4% respectively) are in the majority, while at the family level, Distichodontidae and Mormyridae fish are the most abundant (13.6%). Parachanna spp: 27.6%, Protopterus doloï: 26.3%, Clarias spp: 19.4% and Channalabes apus: 19.1% are the most sold fish species. Households (with 57.6%), restaurateurs (26.4%) and exporters (with 10.2%) are the biggest consumers of smoked fish sold in Kinshasa, which come from the interior of the country and, essentially, from the provinces of Equateur, Mai-Ndombe, Mongala and Sud Ubangi.

Aim: To assess the population's knowledge of COVID-19 in order to guide future scientific research on the alternative management of this pandemic by Traditional Pharmacopoeia. Place and Duration of Study: The study was undertaken in Lisala city (province of Mongala, Democratic Republic of the Congo), from 26 July to 10 August 2020. Methodology: The surveys consisted in drafting a questionnaire beforehand to apprehend the knowledge of COVID-19among the surrounding population. The interview was conducted in Lingala language using stratified proportional random sampling method. Results: A total of 200 people were interviewed in Lisala city. The majority were men (63.0% vs. 37.0%). The majority of the respondents were aged between 26-45 years (51.5%). The majority of the respondents were Ngombe people (43.5%), followed by Budja (21.5%), Mongo (13.0%) and Lokele (7.0%) respectively. The best source of information on the pandemic in Lisala city was the radio (72.5%), followed by the multisectoral committee for the response to COVID-19 (17.5%), television (9.0%) and newspapers (1.5%). In the event of contamination, the therapeutic approach recommended by the population is modern medicine (76.5%) as opposed to 23.5% of respondents who prefer to resort to traditional medicine. The majority of respondents prefer health products other than vaccines (71.0% vs. 20.0%). The results of the present survey showed statistically significant difference (at the probability threshold of 0.05: χ2≥9.345 and p-value≤0.05) and relationship (Cramer Pearson V value≥0.216) between educational status of the respondents and variables like knowledge on the disease consequences, knowledge on the COVID-19 agent; remarks concerning communication strategy; the risk of infection from living with a COVID-19 infected people; the fear to be infected; the existence of COVID-19 support structures and the knowledge on barrier.    Conclusion and Suggestions: The population's dependence on Traditional Medicine is postulated as one of the protective factors for the population of sub-Saharan Africa against COVID-19. It is therefore desirable to develop a phytochemicals library and its virtual screening in order to partially validate the anti-corona-viral properties of medicinal plants. Computational chemistry and structural biology will thus help to develop sustainable alternative medicine using molecular modelling and dynamics as strategy for predicting bioactivity, pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties of natural products isolated from medicinal plants.

Cette étude a pour objectif d’évaluer les niveaux de contamination en Eléments Traces Métalliques (Cadmium et Plomb) dans l’eau, les sédiments et dans l’organisme de deux espèces de poissons, pélagique (Oreochromis niloticus Linné, 1758) et benthique (Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822). Elle a eu lieu de Juillet 2019 à Octobre 2019, dans le Pool Malebo (fleuve Congo/Kinshasa) à Kingabwa, sur deux sites (Baramoto et Mongole). Les analyses des Eléments Traces Métalliques ont été effectuées à l’aide du spectrophotomètre UV-visible. Les teneurs en ETM dans les eaux ont été respectivement de 0,01±0,001 pour le Cd (mg/L) et 0,05±0,03 pour le Pb (mg/L) à Baramoto, et de 0,02±0,01 pour le Cd (mg/L), et 0,01±0,005 pour le Pb (mg/L) à Mongole. Ces teneurs sont supérieures aux seuils recommandés par l’OMS (Cd: 0,003 mg/L ; Pb: 0,01 mg/L). L’analyse des sédiments des deux sites a révélé des teneurs généralement faibles, en dessous des seuils recommandés par le Conseil Canadien des Ministres de l’Environnement (CCME). Par ailleurs, les teneurs de ces deux ETM ont montré une certaine variabilité relative dans les branchies et les muscles de deux espèces étudiées. Ces teneurs dépassent les seuils de recommandation de l’OMS (Cd: 0,05 mg/kg; Pb: 0,2 mg/kg) sur la comestibilité des poissons. L’espèce pélagique, Oreochromis niloticus (Cd: 0,179±0,086 mg/kg; Pb: 0,249±0,117 mg/kg) a montré des teneurs élevées que l’espèce benthique, Clarias gariepinus (Cd: 0,173±0,097 mg/kg; Pb: 0,219±0,096 mg/kg). Des plus, chez les deux espèces, Les branchies (Pb: 0,272±0,075 mg/kg à 0,263±0,055 mg/kg; Cd: 0,219±0,122 mg/kg à 0,208±0,055 mg/kg) concentrent plus d’Eléments Traces que les muscles (Pb: 0,166±0,081 mg/kg à 0,236±0,082 mg/kg; Cd: 0,127±0,085 mg/kg à 0,150±0,063 mg/kg). La consommation régulière de ces poissons pourrait engendrée des effets néfastes à la santé humaine. The objective of this study is to assess the levels of contamination of Metal Trace Elements (Cadmium and Lead) in the water, sediments and in the organism of two species of fish, pelagic (Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus, 1758) and benthic (Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822). It took place from July 2019 to October 2019, in the Pool Malebo (Congo River / Kinshasa) in Kingabwa, on two sites (Baramoto and Mongole). The analyzes of the Metal Trace Elements were carried out using the UV-visible spectrophotometer. The ETM contents in the water were respectively 0.01 ± 0.001 for Cd (mg / L) and 0.05 ± 0.03 for Pb (mg / L) at Baramoto, and 0.02 ± 0 , 01 for Cd (mg / L), and 0.01 ± 0.005 for Pb (mg / L) in Mongolian. These levels are above the thresholds recommended by WHO (Cd: 0.003 mg / L; Pb: 0.01 mg / L). Analysis of the sediments from both sites revealed generally low levels, below the thresholds recommended by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). In addition, the contents of these two ETM showed a certain relative variability in the gills and the muscles of two species studied. These levels exceed the WHO recommendation thresholds (Cd: 0.05 mg / kg; Pb: 0.2 mg / kg) on the edibility of fish. The pelagic species, Oreochromis niloticus (Cd: 0.179 ± 0.086 mg / kg; Pb: 0.249 ± 0.117 mg / kg) showed higher levels than the benthic species, Clarias gariepinus (Cd: 0.173 ± 0.097 mg / kg; Pb : 0.219 ± 0.096 mg / kg). In addition, in both species, the gills (Pb: 0.272 ± 0.075 mg / kg to 0.263 ± 0.055 mg / kg; Cd: 0.219 ± 0.122 mg / kg to 0.208 ± 0.055 mg / kg) concentrate more Trace Elements than muscles (Pb: 0.166 ± 0.081 mg / kg to 0.236 ± 0.082 mg / kg; Cd: 0.127 ± 0.085 mg / kg to 0.150 ± 0.063 mg / kg). Regular consumption of these fish could have harmful effects on human health.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ethnomedical knowledge of the population of South Ubangi on Myrianthus arboreus, a plant consumed by chimpanzees, with the assumption that this bio-resource is also used by the population in African Traditional Medicine to treat common diseases. The results revealed that M. arboreus treats 23 diseases in the province of South Ubangi in Democratic Republic of the Congo. Of these diseases, six (anaemia, bronchitis, tooth decay, gastritis, hypertension, and spleen) are the most cited. Anaemia and spleen are treated by all socio-cultural groups. The leaf is the most used organ (48%) followed by sap, roots, stems, bark, flowers, and seeds. Expression (61.5%) is the most used method of preparation followed by decoction, maceration, and mastication. Oral (94.5%) is the most used method of administration followed by body bath, massage, anal and auricular route. M. arboreus is a vulnerable species (Iv ≥ 2.5) in the study area. The diseases treated are influenced by the level of education and the profession of the respondents (p < 0.05). While the mode of preparation of recipes is influenced by the family situation, also the composition of recipes is influenced by gender, age and occupation (p < 0.05). The search for new sources of bio-inspired drugs through zoopharmacognosy may thus allow the development of effective phytomedicines for the health care of humans or non-human primates ex situ. Thus the need for advanced phytochemical and pharmacological studies and the domestication of M. arboreus for its multiple food and pharmacological uses is necessary.