Establishment of a New Real-Time Molecular Assay for the Detection of Babanki Virus in Africa.

Babanki virus is a subtype of the Sindbis virus, a widespread arthropod-borne alphavirus circulating in Eurasia, Africa, and Oceania. Characterized by rashes and arthritis, clinical infections due to Sindbis were mainly reported in Africa, Australia, Asia, and Europe. However, its sub-type, Babanki virus, was reported in Northern Europe and Africa, where its epidemiology potential remains poorly understood.

Molecular epidemiology and pathogenicity of Wesselsbron virus circulating in Africa.

Wesselsbron is a neglected, mosquito-borne zoonotic disease transmitted by several species of virus-infected Aedes mosquitoes endemic to tropical regions in Africa. It affects primarily domestic livestock species with teratogenic effects, but can jump to humans. Herein, we investigated the molecular epidemiology of Wesselsbron virus in Africa using whole genome sequencing and structural analysis, and assessed its pathogenicity and tropism through in vivo experiments.

Re-Emergence of Rift Valley Fever Virus Lineage H in Senegal in 2022: In Vitro Characterization and Impact on Its Global Emergence in West Africa.

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a re-emerging vector-borne zoonosis with a high public health and veterinary impact. In West Africa, many lineages were previously detected, but since 2020, lineage H from South Africa has been the main cause of the outbreaks. In this study, clinical samples collected through national surveillance were screened for RVF virus (RVFV) acute infection by RT-PCR and IgM ELISA tests.

An amplicon-based sequencing approach for Usutu virus characterization.

Usutu virus (USUV), an arbovirus from the Flaviviridae family, genus Flavivirus, has recently gained increasing attention because of its potential for emergence. After his discovery in South Africa, USUV spread to other African countries, then emerged in Europe where it was responsible for epizootics. The virus has recently been found in Asia.

Detection and Diagnosis of Rift Valley Fever Virus.

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a globally important mosquito-borne virus that can also be directly transmitted via aerosolization of body fluids from infected animals. RVFV outbreaks cause mass mortality of young livestock and abortions in animals. In most severe human cases, the disease can progress to hemorrhagic fever and encephalitis, leading to death.

The future of public health doctoral education in Africa: transforming higher education institutions to enhance research and practice.

The African Union and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Call to Action in 2022 for Africa's New Public Health Order that underscored the need for increased capacity in the public health workforce. Additional domestic and global investments in public health workforce development are central to achieving the aspirations of Agenda 2063 of the African Union, which aims to build and accelerate the implementation of continental frameworks for equitable, people-centred growth and development. Recognising the crucial role of higher education and research, we assessed the capabilities of public health doctoral training in schools and programmes of public health in Africa across three conceptual components: instructional, institutional, and external.

Aetiology of non-malaria acute febrile illness fever in children in rural Guinea-Bissau: a prospective cross-sectional investigation.

Background: With growing use of parasitological tests to detect malaria and decreasing incidence of the disease in Africa; it becomes necessary to increase the understanding of causes of non-malaria acute febrile illness (NMAFI) towards providing appropriate case management. This research investigates causes of NMAFI in pediatric out-patients in rural Guinea-Bissau.

Methods: Children 0-5 years presenting acute fever (≥38°) or history of fever, negative malaria rapid diagnostic test (mRDT) and no signs of specific disease were recruited at the out-patient clinic of 3 health facilities in Bafatá province during 54 consecutive weeks (dry and rainy season).

Emergence of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in Eastern Senegal in 2022.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), the most widespread tick-borne viral human infection, poses a threat to global health. In this study, clinical samples collected through national surveillance systems were screened for acute CCHF virus (CCHFV) infection using RT-PCR and for exposure using ELISA. For any CCHF-positive sample, livestock and tick samples were also collected in the neighborhood of the confirmed case and tested using ELISA and RT-PCR, respectively.

Genomic Characterization of a Bataï Orthobunyavirus, Previously Classified as Ilesha Virus, from Field-Caught Mosquitoes in Senegal, Bandia 1969.

Bataï virus (BATV), belonging to the Orthobunyavirus genus, is an emerging mosquito-borne virus with documented cases in Asia, Europe, and Africa. It causes various symptoms in humans and ruminants. Another related virus is Ilesha virus (ILEV), which causes a range of diseases in humans and is mainly found in African countries.

The Spatiotemporal Distribution and Molecular Characterization of Circulating Dengue Virus Serotypes/Genotypes in Senegal from 2019 to 2023.

Dengue virus is becoming a major public health threat worldwide, principally in Africa. From 2016 to 2020, 23 outbreaks were reported in Africa, principally in West Africa. In Senegal, dengue outbreaks have been reported yearly since 2017.

Durum wheat heat tolerance loci defined via a north-south gradient.

The global production of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) is hindered by a constant rise in the frequency of severe heat stress events. To identify heat-tolerant germplasm, three different germplasm panels ("discovery," "investigation," and "validation") were studied under a range of heat-stressed conditions.

Non-polio enteroviruses circulation in acute flaccid paralysis cases and sewage in Senegal from 2013 to 2021.

Objectives: Several factors can cause acute flaccid paralysis cases including non-polio enteroviruses. In Senegal, few studies on non-polio enteroviruses (NPEV) have been performed.

Methods: Our study assess the molecular epidemiology of non-polio enteroviruses in Senegal from 2013 to 2021 through the previously existing programs for surveillance of polioviruses.

Detection of a cluster of Omicron's BA.4 sublineage in Northern Senegal and identification of the first XAS recombinant variant in Senegal.

In Senegal, since its first detection in early March 2020, genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 isolates has led to the identification of the emergence of the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sublineages from early June 2022.

Molecular Evolution of Dengue Virus 3 in Senegal between 2009 and 2022: Dispersal Patterns and Implications for Prevention and Therapeutic Countermeasures.

Dengue fever is the most prevalent arboviral disease worldwide. Dengue virus (DENV), the etiological agent, is known to have been circulating in Senegal since 1970, though for a long time, virus epidemiology was restricted to the circulation of sylvatic DENV-2 in south-eastern Senegal (the Kedougou region). In 2009 a major shift was noticed with the first urban epidemic, which occurred in the Dakar region and was caused by DENV-3.

From private incentives to public health need: rethinking research and development for pandemic preparedness.

Pandemic preparedness and response have relied primarily on market dynamics to drive development and availability of new health products. Building on calls for transformation, we propose a new value proposition that instead prioritises equity from the research and development (R&D) stage and that strengthens capacity to control outbreaks when and where they occur. Key elements include regional R&D hubs free to adapt well established technology platforms, and independent clinical trials networks working with researchers, regulators, and health authorities to better study questions of comparative benefit and real-world efficacy.

Shifting Patterns of Influenza Circulation during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Senegal.

Historically low levels of seasonal influenza circulation were reported during the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic and were mainly attributed to implementation of nonpharmaceutical interventions. In tropical regions, influenza's seasonality differs largely, and data on this topic are scarce. We analyzed data from Senegal's sentinel syndromic surveillance network before and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to assess changes in influenza circulation.

Novel Amplicon-Based Sequencing Approach to West Nile Virus.

West Nile virus is a re-emerging arbovirus whose impact on public health is increasingly important as more and more epidemics and epizootics occur, particularly in America and Europe, with evidence of active circulation in Africa. Because birds constitute the main reservoirs, migratory movements allow the diffusion of various lineages in the world. It is therefore crucial to properly control the dispersion of these lineages, especially because some have a greater health impact on public health than others.