Whole blood pathogen reduction technology and blood safety in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review with regional discussion.

Background: Despite vast improvements in transfusion services in sub-Saharan Africa over the last decade, there remain serious concerns on the safety and adequacy of the blood supply across the region.

Objective: This review paper ascertains the role of pathogen reduction technology (PRT) in improving blood safety and supply adequacy in the region.

Method: The state of blood safety in sub-Saharan Africa was reviewed.

Trypanosome infection rates in tsetse flies in the "silent" sleeping sickness focus of Bafia in the Centre Region in Cameroon.

Background: The Bafia sleeping sickness focus of Cameroon is considered as "silent" with no case reported for about 20 years despite medical surveys performed during the last decades. In this focus, all epidemiological factors that can contribute to trypanosomes transmission are present. To update our knowledge on the current risks of Human and Animal African trypanosomiases, different trypanosome species were identified in midguts of tsetse flies captured in the Bafia focus.

Fast Technology Analysis Enables Identification of Species and Genotypes of Latent Microsporidia Infections in Healthy Native Cameroonians.

Several enteric microsporidia species have been detected in humans and other vertebrates and their identifications at the genotype level are currently being elucidated. As advanced methods, reagents, and disposal kits for detecting and identifying pathogens become commercially available, it is important to test them in settings other than in laboratories with "state-of-the-art" equipment and well-trained staff members. In the present study, we sought to detect microsporidia DNA preserved and extracted from FTA (fast technology analysis) cards spotted with human fecal suspensions obtained from Cameroonian volunteers living in the capital city of Yaoundé to preclude the need for employing spore-concentrating protocols.

Population genetics of forest type of Trypanosoma congolense circulating in Glossina palpalis palpalis of Fontem in the South-West region of Cameroon.

Background: Genetic variation of microsatellite loci is a widely used method for the analysis of population genetic structure of several organisms. To improve our knowledge on the population genetics of trypanosomes, Trypanosoma congolense forest and savannah types were identified in the mid-guts of Glossina palpalis palpalis caught in five villages of Fontem in the South-West region of Cameroon. From the positive samples of Trypanosoma congolense forest, the genetic diversity and the population genetic structure of these parasites were evaluated.

Challenges towards the elimination of Human African Trypanosomiasis in the sleeping sickness focus of Campo in southern Cameroon.

The sleeping sickness focus of Campo lies along the Atlantic coast and extends along the Ntem River, which constitutes the Cameroonian and Equatorial Guinean border. It is a hypo-endemic focus with the disease prevalence varying from 0.3 to 0.

Spatial and temporal variations relevant to tsetse control in the Bipindi focus of southern Cameroon.

Background: Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) remains a public health problem in many poor countries. Due to lack of financial resources in these countries, cost-effective strategies are needed for efficient control of this scourge, especially the tsetse vector. It was shown that perennial water sources maintain a favourable biotope for tsetse flies and thus the transmission dynamics of sleeping sickness.

Identification and genetic characterization of Trypanosoma congolense in domestic animals of Fontem in the South-West region of Cameroon.

To understand the circulation and the spread of Trypanosoma congolense genotypes in animals of Fontem in the southwest region of Cameroon, T. congolense forest and T. congolense savannah were investigated in 397 domestic animals in eight villages.

Identification of different trypanosome species in the mid-guts of tsetse flies of the Malanga (Kimpese) sleeping sickness focus of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Background: The Malanga sleeping sickness focus of the Democratic Republic of Congo has shown an epidemic evolution of disease during the last century. However, following case detection and treatment, the prevalence of the disease decreased considerably. No active survey has been undertaken in this focus for a couple of years.

Characterization of the antiproliferative activity of Xylopia aethiopica.

Background: Xylopia aethiopica, a plant found throughout West Africa, has both nutritional and medicinal uses. The present study aims to characterize the effects of extracts of this plant on cancer cells.

Results: We report that X.

Genetic characterization of Trypanosoma brucei circulating in domestic animals of the Fontem sleeping sickness of Cameroon.

To improve our knowledge on the transmission dynamics of trypanosomes, Trypanosoma brucei was identified in domestic animals of the Fontem sleeping sickness focus of Cameroon and their genetic characterizations were performed using seven polymorphic microsatellite markers. About 397 domestic animals including 225 pigs, 87 goats, 65 sheep and 20 dogs were sampled. The card agglutination test for trypanosomiasis was positive for 254 (63.

Population genetics of Glossina palpalis palpalis from central African sleeping sickness foci.

Background: Glossina palpalis palpalis (Diptera: Glossinidae) is widespread in west Africa, and is the main vector of sleeping sickness in Cameroon as well as in the Bas Congo Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, little is known on the structure of its populations. We investigated G.

Trypanosoma vivax, T. congolense "forest type" and T. simiae: prevalence in domestic animals of sleeping sickness foci of Cameroon.

In order to better understand the epidemiology of Human and Animal trypanosomiasis that occur together in sleeping sickness foci, a study of prevalences of animal parasites (Trypanosoma vivax, T. congolense "forest type", and T. simiae) infections was conducted on domestic animals to complete the previous work carried on T.

Bacterial diversity associated with populations of Glossina spp. from Cameroon and distribution within the Campo sleeping sickness focus.

Tsetse flies were sampled in three villages of the Campo sleeping sickness focus in South Cameroon. The aim of this study was to investigate the flies' gut bacterial composition using culture-dependent techniques. Out of the 32 flies analyzed (27 Glossina palpalis palpalis, two Glossina pallicera, one Glossina nigrofusca, and two Glossina caliginea), 17 were shown to be inhabited by diverse bacteria belonging to the Proteobacteria, the Firmicutes, or the Bacteroidetes phyla.

Trypanosoma brucei s.l.: Microsatellite markers revealed high level of multiple genotypes in the mid-guts of wild tsetse flies of the Fontem sleeping sickness focus of Cameroon.

To identify Trypanosoma brucei genotypes which are potentially transmitted in a sleeping sickness focus, microsatellite markers were used to characterize T. brucei found in the mid-guts of wild tsetse flies of the Fontem sleeping sickness focus in Cameroon. For this study, two entomological surveys were performed during which 2685 tsetse flies were collected and 1596 (59.

A new transmission risk index for human African trypanosomiasis and its application in the identification of sites of high transmission of sleeping sickness in the Fontem focus of southwest Cameroon.

A new index for the risk for transmission of human African trypanosomiasis was developed from an earlier index by adding terms for the proportion of tsetse infected with Trypanosoma brucei gambiense group 1 and the contribution of animals to tsetse diet. The validity of the new index was then assessed in the Fontem focus of southwest Cameroon. Averages of 0.

Traditional medicine: past, present and future research and development prospects and integration in the National Health System of Cameroon.

Traditional medicine refers to health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being. In the last decade traditional medicine has become very popular in Cameroon, partly due to the long unsustainable economic situation in the country. The high cost of drugs and increase in drug resistance to common diseases like malaria, bacteria infections and other sexually transmitted diseases has caused the therapeutic approach to alternative traditional medicine as an option for concerted search for new chemical entities (NCE).

Tsetse fly blood meal modification and trypanosome identification in two sleeping sickness foci in the forest of southern Cameroon.

The blood meal origins of 222 tsetse flies (213 Glossina palpalis palpalis, 7 Glossina pallicera pallicera, one Glossina nigrofusca and one Glossina caliginea) caught in 2008 in two Human African trypanosomiasis foci (Bipindi and Campo) of south Cameroon were investigated. 88.7% of tsetse flies blood meals were identified using the heteroduplex method and the origin of the remaining blood meals (11.

Molecular diversity and polymerase gene genotypes of HIV-1 among treatment-naïve Cameroonian subjects with advanced disease.

Background: The progress of antiretroviral treatment roll-out programs in developing countries requires extensive monitoring of primary drug resistance prior to initiation of therapy. This is particularly relevant for Cameroon where a high HIV diversity has been reported.

Objectives: To determine HIV diversity in Yaoundé, Cameroon, in a cohort of HIV-infected subjects with advanced disease.

Domestic animals as potential reservoir hosts of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in sleeping sickness foci in Cameroon.

An explanation of the endemic nature and/or the resurgence of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) in the historic foci in West and Central Africa may be the existence of an animal reservoir. In some HAT foci, pigs were found infected by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense but the implication of the other domestic animals was not quite evaluated. This study aims to determine the prevalence of T.

Serum lipid profile in highly active antiretroviral therapy-naïve HIV-infected patients in Cameroon: a case-control study.

Background: HIV status has commonly been found to affect the serum lipid profile.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of HIV infection on lipid metabolism; such information may be used to improve the management of HIV-infected patients.

Methods: Samples were collected from December 2005 to May 2006 at Yaounde University Teaching Hospital, Yaounde, Cameroon.

Tripartite interactions between tsetse flies, Sodalis glossinidius and trypanosomes--an epidemiological approach in two historical human African trypanosomiasis foci in Cameroon.

Epidemiological surveys were conducted in two historical human African trypanosomiasis foci in South Cameroon, Bipindi and Campo. In each focus, three sampling areas were defined. In Bipindi, only Glossina palpalis was identified, whereas four species were identified in Campo, G.

Population genetic structure of Central African Trypanosoma brucei gambiense isolates using microsatellite DNA markers.

Genetic variation of microsatellite loci is a widely used method for the analysis of population genetic structure of microorganisms. Seven microsatellite markers were used here to characterize Trypanosoma brucei gambiense isolates from Central Africa sub-region in order to improve knowledge on the population genetic structure of this subspecies. These markers confirmed the low genetic polymorphism within Central African T.

Evidence for high prevalence of Pneumocystis jirovecii exposure among Cameroonians.

Cameroon lacks the capacity for routine Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP) diagnosis, thus, the prevalence of Cameroonian exposure to this microbe is unknown. It is known that Pneumocystis infecting different mammalian host species represent diverse phylogenetic backgrounds and are now designated as separate species. The highly sensitive nature of ELISA and the specificity afforded by using human-derived P.

Evaluation of oxidative stress and antioxidant status of pregnant women suffering from malaria in Cameroon.

Oxidative stress is thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of malaria, especially in pregnancy where natural resistance is markedly reduced. In the present study we investigated oxidative stress in 315 pregnant women out of which 159 had Plasmodium falciparum malaria and 154 controls. We evaluated the level of lipid peroxidation products (MDA level) in the plasma, the activity of erythrocyte antioxidant defense enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC: 1.