Total Flora Research Articles

COMPETITIVE ABILITY OF INVASIVE WEED SPECIES AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON PHYTOCENOSE BIODIVERSITY

The global threat from the spread of invasive plant species leads to an imbalance of plant living conditions in the agrocenosis and depletion / destruction of biodiversity. Ukrainian scientists are conducting a research on the impact of alien species of flora in the context of environmental threats to phytoinvasions. Invasive plants are especially dangerous both for the integrity of natural ecosystems and for various areas of economic activity. Invasive plant species cause significant damage to agriculture, forestry and water management, nature reserve areas.
 Less common invasive plant species create one of the biggest environmental problems in the world. This is a scientifically proven fact, which is legally reflected both in international conventions and in the legislation of individual countries.
 The foundation of an ecosystem is made by its flora. Therefore, invasive plant species are a blow to its foundation. If climatic conditions are suitable for invasive plants, they have a huge competitive advantage over native species, as they have no or limited natural enemies/consumers and diseases in the local ecosystem that could deter their spread. Therefore, they simply squeeze out local species from the territories, dooming them to extinction.
 The extinction of native plant species leads to extinction of native species of animals, fungi and many microorganisms that have built ties with the aboriginal flora for thousands or millions of years. They are directly dependent on it and are organically interconnected. That is why the invasion of an alien species does not increase the number and activity of local biodiversity, but, on the contrary, leads to the death of a significant number of species of flora and fauna dominated by only one or more species of invasive plants.
 In Ukraine, the impact of non-native plants on the environment is growing every year. In terms of Adventist flora, Ukraine ranks first among other flora in the world. The spontaneous fraction of adventive flora of Ukraine has 830 species of vascular plants (including 18 % – archeophytes and 82 % – kenophytes), which is about 14 % of the total flora of the country, which has more than 6,000 species of vascular plants (including all aboriginal and adventitious species), as well as the main cultivated and wild plants.

Total Gastrointestinal Flora Transplantation in the Treatment of Leaky Gut Syndrome and Flora Loss.

Introduction The aim of this work was to treat patients with leaky gut syndrome (LGS) and gastrointestinal flora loss in a simple, inexpensive, permanent and effective way without the need for further treatment. Methods A total gastrointestinal flora transplantation (TGFT)procedure is performed by simultaneously transferring the "flora" taken from approximately 30 different anatomical sites, from the mouth to the anus, of healthy donors to the corresponding anatomical site of the patient using the endoscopic lavage method. Results Of the patients, 25 (44.6%) were female and 31 (55.4%) were male, totaling 56 (100%). The mean age was 32.88±15.78 years. Among the 56 patients enrolled in the study, TGFT had no efficacy in one patient, five patients underwent repeat TGFT during a mean follow-up period of 23.73±16.74 months, and the treatment was permanent in 50 patients; our success rate during the follow-up period was 89.3%. Conclusion In LGS, TGFT should be the gold standard treatment.

Comparative study of the physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of raw and pasteurized camel milk

Camel milk is three times richer in vitamin C than cow's milk, it is also rich in niacin, antimicrobial factors prostaglandins and insulin. Pasteurization is an adequate option for camel milk conservation, allowing it to be consumed by people not living in arid environments. However, the obvious problem is that people prefer to consume raw camel milk for its therapeutic virtues, which they think, loses its quality after pasteurization. Therefore, the aim of this research is to study the effect of pasteurization on camel milk nutritional and hygienic quality. This work consists on analyzing four camel milk samples: a sample of raw milk and three samples of this milk , pasteurized at 63°C/30min, 72°C/15sec and at 85°C/2min under laboratory conditions. The data was subjected to Kruskal-wallis using XL-Stat software. These results show stability of the physicochemical composition (PH, acidity, density) and chemical composition (dry matter, lactose, fat, vitamine C, protein) ( p > 0.05) of camel milk pasteurized at 63°C (low pasteurization) and instability ( p < 0.05) following pasteurization high at (85°C) except the fat content which remains intact (p > 0.05). For pasteurization at (72°C) we notice a instability (p ˂ 0.05) in pH, acidity, dry matter, vitamine C and protein, a stability in the density, fat and lactose. Only low pasteurization (63°C for 30 min) can be an alternative for the conservation of
 camel milk while preserving its nutritional quality. To study its hygienic quality before and after pasteurization, the reductase test was carried out; it shows a good to fair quality for the raw milk sample and good for the pasteurized milk sample. Contaminating and original flora were counted on appropriate culture media. Results obtained shows that the pasteurization caused a total inhibition of the pathogenic flora (Halotolerants, Coliforms and Enterobacteriaceae), and partial destruction of the total aerobic mesophilic flora (TAMF), psychrotrophic and thermophilic lactic acid bacteria. This study confirms that the nutritional quality can be preserved almost intact after pasteurization at 63°C for 30min. In addition, pasteurization has an important role in camel milk sanitation by inhibiting pathogenic flora.

Modification of microbiological quality and valorization of different ruminants species ruminal content in farm animals feeding


 This study is based on the microbiological analysis of a common slaughterhouse by-product which is the rumen content, before and after treatment with HCl 1N, targeting its valorization in domestic animal feeding. A total of 24 rumen content samples were collected in pairs (two series) immediately after slaughter from 12 ruminants (cattle, sheep and goats). The first series was not treated with HCl (N0 = 12), while the second series was treated with HCl 1N (N1 = 12) to adjust its pH to about 2. Then all samples (series 1 and 2) were subject to a group of microbiological analyzes targeting identification and enumeration of total aerobic mesophilic flora; fecal and total coliforms; Clostridium perfringens; Staphylococcus aureus; Salmonella spp. as well as yeasts and molds. The results revealed that after lowering the pH to about 2, the 2nd series samples were considered of satisfactory quality, with reference to Algerian microbiological standards for livestock feeds. The reduction rates of germs in the 2nd series compared to the 1st series were as follows: total aerobic mesophilic flora (86.45%), total coliforms (96.43%), faecal coliforms (70.41). %), Clostridium perfringens (88.4%), yeast and mold (87.75%). The total absence of Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp. was registered.

Plant Diversity of Mts. Oligirtos and Farmakas (NE Peloponnisos, Greece) with Emphasis on Their Endemic Flora.

Greece is known to be a biodiversity hotspot. Though the plant diversity of Peloponnisos, the southernmost part of the Greek mainland, has been well-studied during the past 200 years, there are still gaps in our knowledge. To this end, the flora of the neighboring mountains Oligirtos and Farmakas was investigated, with a total of 740 and 762 taxa (species and subspecies) recorded, respectively, of which 635 and 756 for the first time. Ten species or subspecies were previously not known from Peloponnisos. Endemics correspond to 10.2% and 8.9% of the total flora and are predominately hemicryptophytes and entomogamous. Almost half of them produce capsules. The number of endemics per 2 × 2 km grid cell reveals that their highest number is found in areas of high elevation, and corresponds to habitats above the tree line, or to the limestone cliffs vegetation. No less than 62 endemic plant taxa of Mt. Oligirtos and 58 of Mt. Farmakas are threatened. A comparison of Mts. Oligirtos and Farmakas with five neighboring mountains shows that elevation correlates positively with the number of regional or bi-regional endemics but not with local or narrow endemics. The importance of mountainous regions for plant conservation is stressed.

Assessment of the Sanitary Quality of Fruit Juices Sold in Some Public Schools in the Agblangandan District in the Southern Part of Benin

Fruit juices are one of the favorite drinks for children these days. As a result, its production must be organized in such a way as to ensure quality and guarantee the safety of consumers in general and schoolchildren in particular. The objective of this study is to analyze the health quality of bissap, lemon and pineapple juices sold in some public schools in the district of Agblangandan. For this, we collected from the vendors, 12 pineapple juice, 14 bissap juice and 8 lemon juice during the morning recess. Then, the microbiological and physico-chemical analyzes were carried out on the juices. The microbiological analyzes made it possible to identify the presence of total mesophilic flora (1.09.104 CFU/ml), total Coliforms (2.78.103 CFU/ml), Escherichia coli (4.44.102 CFU/ml), Enterococci (86.1 CFU/ml) and Clostridium (13.2 CFU/ml) in bissap juices. These same germs have been identified in lemon and pineapple juices with varying loads. As for the physico-chemical parameters, the results revealed a high rate of turbidity, conductivity, temperature and pH of the juices. Factors such as failure to master hygiene rules when bagging juices, non-compliance with hygiene rules during handling and storage and then inappropriate hygiene practices are origin of the contamination of these juices. It is therefore urgent to prioritize the hygiene and health of school children through awareness-raising, education and regular and rigorous health control of the juices sold by sworn agents.

Characterization of the traditional cheese Adghess produced from cow's milk

In Algeria, milk is traditionally transformed into several forms to allow its preservation, particularly fermented products, among which cheese has been the pride of the culinary tradition for a long time. Adghess is a fresh cheese frequently made in the region, especially in rural areas. Adghess is a product poorly known outside its original geographical area. The objective of this study was to characterize Adghess cheese by determining some of its physicochemical and microbiological characteristics. The characterization was preceded by a survey carried out in Oum El Bouaghi with 50 households in order to determine the production diagram of this cheese. The survey was carried out by means of a questionnaire based on random sampling. Ten samples were collected at the level of five farms located in the region and were analyzed for physicochemical attributes such as pH, total dry extract, total lipids as well as, dornic acidity, and microbial population such as total flora, total and fecal coliforms, Salmonella, Clostridium, yeast, and molds. The results obtained showed that the cheese samples analyzed were acidic (pH and an acidity of 4.4 and 38.4°D, respectively). For the total dry extract of Adghess cheese is 334 g kg-1 with a lipid level of 91 g kg-1, the recorded ash content was 3.8g/kg, while sodium chloride was 2.4g/kg. The microbiological results showed a high content of the total flora (7.8×108cfu g-1): Total coliforms were noted to be present in all the analyzed samples, with the absence of fecal coliforms. Unlike molds, yeasts marked their presence (4.6×102cfu g-1). The microbiological findings revealed a high level of total flora (7.8108 cfu g-1): total coliforms were found to be present in all of the examined samples, although fecal coliforms were not found. Yeasts (4.6 102 cfu g-1) left a trace of their existence, unlike molds. The absence of all the pathogenic microorganisms sought (Salmonella, Clostidium, and molds) made the cheese healthier for consumption. Overall, the hygienic quality of the cheese studied was satisfactory. This work constituted the starting point to launch research on this product in order to preserve the know-how on the one hand and achieve the objective of manufacturing it on artisanal, then industrial scales. Key words: Adghess, characterization, traditional, cheese, microbiological, Oum El Bouaghi, preservation, physicochemical, survey

Novel pulsed infrared radiation: Effect on microbial, chemical and sensory properties of saffron (Crocus sativus L.).

In this study, the effect of pulsed infrared (PIR) irradiation on saffron microbial, chemical and sensory properties were evaluated. The PIR power (250, 350 and 450 W), the distance of sample with irradiation source (10, 20 and 30 cm), irradiation time (0-20 min) and PIR pulse (1, 2 and 3 pulse/s) were investigated. Decontamination of total bacteria and total mould and yeast flora and microbial inactivation kinetics were determined. Saffron quality by FTIR and HPLC and sensory attributes were also measured. The highest reduction of the total bacterial count (2.203 log10 CFU per g) and total mould and yeast counts (2.194 log10 CFU per g) were obtained in Sargol Negin saffron at 350 W PIR power, 10cm distance, 1.5min treatment time and 3 pulse/s. The Double Weibull model is the best-fit model for the prediction of the microbial population. Until now, there have been no reports of application for PIR in food processing and decontamination. According to the results, it can be concluded that PIR can be used as a safe method of saffron processing. Utilization of a proper decontamination method for spices especially saffron as the most expensive agricultural product is challengeable. It is recommended to use the PIR method for food processing because due to the reduction of microbial population, it can maintain foodstuff quality at an acceptable level.

Marine Benthic Algae of the Eastern Samar Islands of Homonhon, Sulu-an, and Manicani, Philippines

Botanical explorations in the Philippines have been conducted for the most part in easily accessible regions, resulting in fragmentary information that prevents a thorough assessment of its total biological richness. Many insular sites, which are potentially biologically diverse, remain unexplored due to reasons of geographic isolation, weather disturbance, and logistical considerations. To address these gaps and to provide added information on the diversity and distribution of the seaweed flora around the archipelago, we report herein the taxonomy of the marine benthic algae of three islands in Eastern Samar province. Macrobenthic algae were collected in 18 sites in Homonhon, Sulu-an, and Manicani islands in Guiuan. Seaweeds were identified in situ up to the lowest taxonomic level possible and further analyzed in the laboratory. Cluster analysis based on the Jaccard index using the PAST software was used to infer similarities among the sampling sites with respect to the seaweed flora of the newly collected samples. Analysis of similarities and similarity percentage were also used to further support the results of the study. The paper highlights 56 seaweeds (Chlorophyceae: 28 spp.; Phaeophyceae: 11 spp.; Rhodophyceae: 17 spp.) collected in 18 collection sites in Homonhon, Manicani, and Sulu-an Islands in Guiuan, Eastern Samar. All are considered new records to the small islands, whereas 39 are considered new records of species in the Eastern Samar province. Cluster analysis suggests similarities in seaweed flora in the islands, which may be attributed to the substrates and hydrodynamism in the islands. The islands have a relatively diverse seaweed flora, despite its narrow areas highlighting 5% of the total seaweed flora of the country. This paper is the first attempt to provide better documentation of macroalgal communities in remote islands in the Eastern Philippines (Guiuan, Eastern Samar).

Development of a Process for Domestic Wastewater Treatment Using Moringa oleifera for Pathogens and Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Inhibition under Tropical Conditions

Developing countries are confronted with general issues of municipal wastewater management and treatment. Untreated wastewater and faecal sludge from septic tanks and traditional toilets are often discharged into rivers and used for urban agriculture without any treatment to minimize potential biorisks. Such practices result in potential environmental and public health risks. In this study, a wastewater treatment plant prototype coupled with Moringa oleifera seeds treatment was developed to evaluate their effectiveness for the reduction of faecal indicator bacteria and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in domestic wastewater. We demonstrated that that the proposed wastewater treatment plant prototype reduces bacteria by 99.34%. A high removal of the bacteria load was obtained after the addition of Moringa oleifera seeds into waters, with removal rates of 36.6–78.8% for E. coli, 28.3–84.6% for faecal coliform, 35.3–95.6% for Vibrio cholera and 32.1–92.4% for total flora. A similar effect of Moringa oleifera seeds was noted for the removal of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, extended-spectrum beta-lactamases and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, with a removal rate of up to 98% for E. coli and faecal coliform, 100% for Vibrio cholera and 91.96% for total flora. This study demonstrated the high removal efficiency pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria from domestic wastewater using Moringa oleifera seeds.

Epigenetic effects of climate on dairy parameters of Prim’Holstein breed in west coast Algeria

This research aimed to evaluate the effect of the epigenetic climatic factor of heat stress expressed by the THI on some parameters of milk production of Prim'Holsteins cows kept in the climate of the Algerian West coast. The THI was used as an indicator of the heat stress threshold. A sample of 75 lactating cows was divided into three groups according to THI level. The cows of group 1, with severe stress (THI>78), those of group 2, with light stress (THI 72-78), and those of group 3 in thermal comfort (THI<72). The daily milk production (DMY), the Physico-chemical quality (TB, TP, and EST), and the hygienic quality (total flora FMAT) of raw milk showed a decrease with the increase of the THI threshold. A significant effect (p<0.05) of heat stress is recorded on the Physico-chemical and microbiological parameters of milk. The FMAT count values of raw milk samples were highest for groups 1 and 2, while a low bacterial load was recorded for group 3 (THI<72). Heat stress had a negative impact on the performance of Prim'Holsteins cows. These preliminary results show the severity of the negative impact of heat stress in the littoral region on the production and the physicochemical and hygienic quality of milk and will serve as a useful guide for farmers to adopt actions to mitigate the impact within the barns for the sustainability of livestock.

Latitudinal variation in the woody species diversity and population structure of Lannea microcarpa Engl. and K. Krause in Burkina Faso

Latitude is source of variations of plant species diversity and stand structure. This study aimed to characterize the populations of the African grape tree, Lannea microcarpa, in its range in Burkina Faso. Data were collected according to oriented sampling scheme, based on the presence of the species. Overall, 140 inventory plots of 1000 m2 each were considered across the sub-Sahelian, north-Sudanian and south-Sudanian phytogeographical zones. Tree diameter at breast height (DBH) and total height of L. microcarpa individuals were measured and all woody species in each plot were recorded. A comparative analysis was made between zones for woody flora diversity associated with L. microcarpa, dendrometric and stand structure parameters. The results revealed a total woody flora richness of 109 species. Correlogram analysis revealed that species associated with L. microcarpa differed between phytogeographical zones. Ten species showed a probability of association with L. microcarpa. The density of L. microcarpa populations and the floristic diversity of its habitats decreased significantly (p < 0.001) from sub-Sahelian to south-Sudanian zones. The diameter classes’ structure in the three phytogeographical zones revealed unstable populations with a predominance of intermediate classes compared to extreme classes. The height structure of juveniles is marked by a poor transition between the different classes, showing unpredictable regeneration of L. microcarpa in the three phytogeographical zones. The results of this study draw attention to the need to adopt conservation measures for the species. In this sense, the data on the comparative demographic characteristics can serve as a basis for the implementing of adequate management strategies of natural populations of the species across its distribution range in Burkina Faso.

Taxonomic composition of dry and floodplain meadows of the Bolshaya Kokshaga nature reserve

The paper deals with the study of the taxonomic structure of floodplain and dry meadow communities of the Bolshaya Kokshaga State Nature Reserve of the Republic of Mari El. The dependence between the meso- and microrelief of the territory and the conditions of plant growth is revealed. It has turned out that the flora of the studied 12 meadow phytocoenoses (6 floodplain and 6 dryland) includes 174 species of vascular plants belonging to 110 genera from 36 families. The leading families with the greatest species diversity include 6: Compositae (23 species), Poaceae (19), Fabaceae (15), Rosaceae (15), Scrophulariaceae (12), Caryophyllaceae (11), which include 55,17% of the total flora of the meadows studied. The Jacquard coefficient revealed the similarity of the species composition of dry and floodplain meadows. Both types of meadows are dominated by species of the family Compositae and Poaceae. The studies have shown that in the absence of anthropogenic load, processes of transformation of meadow communities into forest communities are observed. The most intensive processes of overgrowth are in forest hayfields, due to the proximity of forest phytocoenoses, the possibility of invasion of seed and vegetative diasporas. One of the common variants of overgrowth observed on the territories after the cessation of economic activity is a gradual reduction in the area of meadow communities along the edges from bordering forest communities. In this case, explerent species of trees and shrubs growing in forest coenoses are introduced. After a certain period of time, meadow communities are replaced by aspen, birch, and pine forests. As long as the meadows are regularly mowed down, the restoration of woody vegetation is not possible.

Ex situ conservation of plant diversity in Romania: A synthesis of threatened and endemic taxa

Romania hosts a relatively high species diversity, including 3,829 vascular and 979 non-vascular spontaneous plant taxa. Multiple national red lists exist, with the number of taxa assessed as threatened varying greatly between them, from 548 to 1,438, and with number of taxa assigned to a given threat category also varying between the different sources. A composite list including all taxa mentioned in at least one of the selected red listings from Romania is required in order to compensate for this lack of consensus and to assess their ex situ conservation status. In this study, we synthesized data from the national red lists and counted 1,220 spontaneous vascular plant species and 201 subspecies, of which 77 are endemic and 76 subendemic for Romania. In addition, 18 non-red-listed endemics and 14 subendemics have been added, bringing the total to 1,453 threatened and (sub)endemic plant taxa, representing almost 38% of the total native vascular flora of Romania. Despite the large network of protected areas in Romania, many taxa are still being threatened with extinction in the region mainly due to anthropogenic pressure. Several ex situ conservation measures have been employed to assure a more substantial buffer against plant extinction in the wild, supported by thorough and adequate conservation strategies and multiple means to reintroduce taxa back to their natural habitats. Consequently, our second aim was to evaluate the ex situ conservation status of these threatened and (sub)endemic plants from Romania, focussing on both conventional methods (cultivation in botanic gardens, seed banking) and biotechnological approaches (in vitro tissue culture, medium-term storage and cryostorage). Of the 1,453 taxa included in our list, 642 (44.2%) are conserved by ex situ approaches. Of these, 524 are harboured in the most important botanic gardens throughout Romania, while 156 are currently held in long-term seed banks locally or in the Millennium Seed Bank of the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew (UK). Conversely, only 64 taxa from the list are preserved at the national level through in vitro cultures, and cryopreservation protocols have been developed for only 8 taxa. Overall, more than half of the threatened and (sub)endemic vascular flora from Romania remains unprotected outside the classical in situ conservation measures. For red-listed bryophytes, only 0.6% are preserved in national ex situ collections. Moreover, some aspects related to population genetic studies and the genetic stability of ex situ conserved plants are also briefly discussed, as essential prerequisites for applied biodiversity conservation programs. Finally, considering the distribution range of targeted taxa, we included a synthesis of biotechnological approaches at both national and international level. Our study presents not only a first assessment of the ex situ conservation status of national red listed flora, but also, to our knowledge, the most comprehensive and updated overview of the rare, threatened and (sub)endemic taxa from Romania. This evaluation will provide a supporting tool for national decision- and policy-making actions for biodiversity conservation, using both in situ and ex situ approaches. We also highlight the need for an updated red list for the Romanian flora that accurately follows the IUCN assessment criteria and protocols.

Analysis of floristic composition and species diversity of vascular plants native to the State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza Strip).

This study aims at providing an updated checklist of the native vascular flora of the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza Strip (State of Palestine, SP), serving as a taxonomic and nomenclatural basis for botanical research and encouraging new floristic surveys and biosystematic studies. The study provides an up-to-date checklist of native vascular taxa of the SP and their distribution within the plant districts in the country. This is the very first annotated checklist for the native vascular plants of the SP which incorporates recent name changes, new distribution records, habitat, herbarium specimens catalouge, Red List criteria, wild edible plants, endemism and use in Traditional Palestinian Herbal Medicine. The quantitative analysis of the flora has shown that the SP hosts 1826 taxa, distributed in 686 genera and 108 families; five taxa are gymnosperms, nine taxa are Pteridophytes and 1812 taxa are angiosperms. The most represented families are Leguminosae (222 taxa, 12.2%), Asteraceae (197, 10.2%) and Poaceae (196, 10.7%), while the most represented genera are Trifolium (38, Leguminosae), Silene (32, Caryophyllaceae), Astragalus (27, Leguminosae), Medicago (26, Leguminosae), Allium (25, Amaryllidaceae) and Euphorbia (25, Euphorbiaceae). Annuals (52.4%), Hemicryptophytes (20.2%) and Chamaephytes (12.2%) are the most represented life-forms amongst the SP flora. The richest plant districts in the SP vascular plant taxa are Gaza Strip (GS) (1216 taxa), Jerusalem and Hebron Mountains (JHM) (1235) and Nablus Mountains (NM) (1126). Agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) permitted the division of SP into two main regions, based on the existence of vascular plant taxa: Region 1 (western plant districts with 1128-1237 taxa) with higher water availability and temperate Mediterranean climate which permit the establishment of more than 65% of the total SP flora in these districts and Region 2 (eastern plant districts with 571-698 taxa), characterised by desert and semi-desert conditions, as well as the presence of alluvial and co-alluvial soils, which allow the survival of lower numbers of plant taxa. One hundred and sixty-five taxa of the SP flora are endemic and near-endemic. However, in comparison with some countries of the Mediterranean Basin, this number is below the average endemism concentration, along with other southern arid countries, such as Tunisia and Egypt. In total, there are 102 threatened plant taxa, belonging to 39 families and 83 genera representing 5.6% of the total plants in the SP. IUCN and the Conservation Measures Partnership (CMP) unified classification of direct threats for SP Red-Listed plants has shown a high extinction risk to the Palestinian threatened wild flora, with 76.5% of the threatened species being either critically endangered (CR) or endangered (EN); only 23.5% were vulnerable (VU). However, several taxa are threatened by numerous factors including small population size, human activities, for example, conversion of traditional to intensive agriculture accompanied by deep ploughing and the application of pesticides, urban development and construction, global climatic change, drying of marshes and wetlands, quarrying, fires and pollution. This checklist can help focus conservation efforts and provide a framework for research, protection and policy applications for the SP flora, especially for the endemic and threatened plants.

Regionally unique lichens of the ukrainian carpathians and perspectives of their protection

The Carpathian Mts, showing the highest lichen biodiversity in Ukraine, i.e. 1,395 species of 2,106 of the total Ukrainian lichens, have been found to contain the highest proportion of regionally unique taxa (i.e. so far recorded only from the Carpathian Mts) (i.e. 551 species, or 39.5% of the Carpathian and 26.2% of the total Ukrainian lichen flora). Species diversity of widely distributed lichens (i.e. which hitherto known from all five macroregions of Ukraine), as well as ‘scarcely distributed’ lichens (i.e. missing at least in one or more macroregions) are also discussed. Representation of these three groups of lichens in the geomorphological districts of the Carpathian Mts and the administrative oblasts Zakarpattia, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi is shown.The Chornohora Mts, a district of the Carpathian Mts, found to show the highest proportion of species so far recorded from this district of the Carpathian Mts, while the Eastern Beskydy and the Gorgany Mts are characterised hitherto by the highest species diversity of lichens. That is established that among geomorphological districts of Zakarpattia oblast, the Eastern Beskydy and the Gorgany Mts parts of Zakarpattia oblast territory are characterised by the highest number of species of lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi in the Carpathian macroregion (674 and 611 species, respectively), and the proportion of regionally unique taxa in these two florae is also the highest (483 species or 71.6% and 453 species or 74.1%, respectively). Lichens of the Chyvchyn Mts of Ivano-Frankivsk oblast are found to be the most diverse in this oblast (344 species totally), and they include the highest proportion of regionally unique taxa (171 species or 49.7%). The Eastern Beskydy Mts, part of Lviv oblast territory, the only part of this oblast in the Carpathian Mts, are found to be represented by 224 lichen species of which 32 (i.e. 14.3%) are regionally unique to the Carpathian Mts.List of the rarest taxa of the regionally unique group (hitherto known from single or a few localities) proposed as candidates for including to regional red lists of Zakarpattia, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi oblasts since the whole nature protection activity in Ukraine is done according to oblast division. 254 lichen species are proposed for including in the red list of Zakarpattia oblast, while 44, 4 and 9 species in the red lists of Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv and Chernivtsi oblasts, respectively. The smallest amount of these taxa is proposed for the red list of Lviv oblast, which includes also the Forest zone of the Ukrainian Plains.

Analysis of microbiological risks and effects of refrigeration on the evolution of the bacteriological and the physicochemical quality of camel meat from Bechar (South-Western Algeria)

Camel meat is widely consumed in the Bechar region which happens to be warm to hot, exceeding 50°C in summer; fact that probably affects its physicochemical and microbiological quality. This study aimed to assess the camel meat production chain upstream. A primary HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) study was conducted to detect the hazards, that were all related to the cold chain and refrigeration was the only mean used to preserve camel meat before marketing it raw. The kinetics of the physicochemical (temperature, pH, Total Dry Extract and humidity) and of the microbiological (Total Aerobic Mesophilic Flora, Coliforms, Staphylococci, Salmonella sp, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas sp, yeast and molds) parameters were then analyzed before and during cold storages, to study their limit over time. The results obtained showed that a temperature above the refrigeration temperature (+4 and +6°C) is likely to accelerate the microbial activity and to make the product unfit for consumption, a deterioration which resulted in a decrease in the rate of total dry extract (TDE) where the higher the temperature, the greater the loss of TDE, an alkalinization following proteolysis reactions with an increase in the humidity of the product. This study proved that the camel meat can meet national legislation for two weeks of storage at a temperature of up to 10°C. The evolution of the microbial and physicochemical parameters depends on several factors that should be strictly monitored, in particular the hygienic quality of the raw material, its handling and its storage conditions.

Monitoring Some Physicochemical and Bacteriological Parameters and Sensory Analysis of Juniperus phoenicea L. Leaves-supplemented Goat Milk: A South-western Algerian Traditional Flavored and Fermented Product

Background: Traditional dairy products are widely consumed by the Mediterranean and sub-Saharan countries; they are traditionally prepared by rural women. This work focuses on understanding the traditional practices and enhancing the same by studying the physicochemical, bacteriological and organoleptic properties of fermented raw goat milk, supplemented by the leaves of the Phenician juniper species. Methods: Monitoring of the juniper leaves-supplemented goat milk sample against a control one (without juniper leaves) was conducted. Three physicochemical parameters were tracked: pH, titratable acidity and temperature. However, the bacteriological analysis featured the following parameters: the total aerobic mesophilic flora, thermotolerant coliforms, coagulase-positive Staphylococci, Pathogenic bacteria namely Salmonella spp and Listeria monocytogenes, while the sensory test was based on the descriptive and hedonic analyses. Result: The obtained physicochemical results showed a significant change in the pH and the titratable acidity parameters of the test sample compared to the control sample. This change was marked by an increase in the total aerobic mesophilic flora load (due to the fermentation phenomenon) and a decrease in the thermotolerant coliforms and the coagulase-positive Staphylococci loads for the test sample compared to the control test. A total absence of Salmonella spp and L. monocytogenes as pathogenic microorganisms was also notified for both samples. The qualitative phytochemical screening carried out on the J. phoenicea L leaves showed the presence of several compounds known as constituents having an antimicrobial effect. On the sensory level, the control sample was characterized by a milky and acidic taste, while the herbaceous taste due to the components of the Phenician juniper leaves characterizing the test sample gave it a lower score on the established rating scale. A vision to maintain this type of artisanal practice, traditional knowledge and preserve this important indigenous wealth become necessary which contributes to improving the hygienic, sensory quality and shelf-life of the fermented goat milk.

Microbiological quality assessment of five common foods sold at different points of sale in Burkina-Faso.

The aim of the present study was to assess the microbial quality of five ready-to-eat food such as bread, pasta, rice with sauce, beans and milk sold in five localities of Burkina Faso namely, Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso, Dakola, Cinkansé and Niangoloko. One hundred and one samples were collected and microbial quality were assessed by evaluating the food hygiene indicators such as total aerobic mesophilic flora, total coliforms, thermotolerant coliforms, yeast and mould. Food safety indicators such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella, coagulase-positive staphylococci, Clostridium perfringens and Bacillus cereus were also tested for contamination. Samples were tested according to ISO guidelines for all parameters. The results showed that 74 (73.27%) of samples were satisfactory while 15 (14.85%) were acceptable and 12 (11.88%) were not satisfactory according to international standards. Among the food safety indicators sought, Escherichia coli was detected in two samples and Bacillus cereus in four samples. Most of the analyzed food exhibited good hygiene behavior within the acceptable limits and the highest of not satisfactory rate was observed in milk powder and rice with sauce. Ouagadougou samples recorded the highest number of not satisfactory samples. Despite the general quality was satisfactory, the presence of specific microorganisms such as coliforms is indicative of the poor hygiene surrounded these foods. It is therefore necessary to train and follow up the vendors in the handling of equipment, hand-washing practices and selling environment hygiene for better improvement of the quality of the street foods.

Impact of tobacco on periodontium

Tobacco is the major risk for causing oral lesion or disease as well as systemic disease. Tobacco smoking and chewing is a significant contributing factor of periodontal health. The bacteria that are involved in periodontitis accumulate in the subgingival plaque that comprises predominantly of Gram negative strict anaerobes. This clinical study was designed to evaluate the clinical, microbiological changes in Tobacco user and compared these to the Non Tobacco user. 400 subjects were enrolled with an age distribution from 20-55 years complain with periodontitis, Subject were classified in four group Tobacco chewers, Tobacco smokers, Both chewers and smokers and non tobacco user. To identify the growth of anaerobic bacteria using anaerobic culture method in periodontitis patient. To analyse prevalence of periodontal disease among tobacco user a descriptive method involving the colony forming units per millilitre (CFU/ml) and mean of the total flora percentage. The study shows a high percentage of anaerobic bacteria in tobacco smokers compare with tobacco chewers and non tobacco user. On the basis of CFU/ml and mean% of the total flora. Tobacco smokers show high percentage of anaerobic bacteria compare to other subject.