Emerging organic compounds in surface and groundwater reflect the urban dynamics in sub-Saharan cities.

Rapid and uncontrolled urbanization in sub-Saharan Africa has led to an increased production and expansion of synthetic chemicals, resulting in significant pollution of the aquatic environments, particularly by Emerging Organic Contaminants (EOCs). Due to the low income of the population in this region, there is often a lack of control over water and fishery resources prior to consumption. Therefore, the current study aims to use EOCs as markers of water resource quality degradation, and to assess the potential environmental risk of these compounds on some aquatic organisms.

Emerging organic compounds as markers of the degradation of groundwater qualitative and quantitative equilibrium in a context of rapid urban expansion.

With the neo-metamorphosis of the residential landscape worldwide and sluggish sanitation strategies in urban environments, rudimentary on-site sanitation systems remain commonly used, especially in developing countries, despite the risks of groundwater contamination. The effective management of such water resources relies on assessment of the sensitivity of anthropized aquifers to man-made impact, including groundwater behavioural alteration, in terms of both quality and quantity. Associated with tracking of changes in land use, this study proposes an approach involving emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) as indicators of the alteration of groundwater balance due the exposure of shallow aquifers to the risks of infiltration of untreated wastewater from soak pits.

Rapid Detection of Beta-Lactamases Genes among in Urine Samples by Using Real-Time PCR.

The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate newly improved, rapid, and reliable strategies based on real-time PCR to detect the most frequent beta-lactamase genes recorded in clinical strains, particularly in Tunisia ( , , , , , , , and ) directly from the urine. Following the design of primers for a specific gene pool and their validation, a series of real-time PCR reactions were performed to detect these genes in 78 urine samples showing high antibiotic resistance after culture and susceptibility testing. Assays were applied to DNA extracted from cultured bacteria and collected urine.