G1 and G2 variants of apolipoprotein L1 among Central African population in Trypanosoma brucei gambiense endemic rural area.

Introduction: Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) risk variants (G1, G2) are known to enhance the protective ability against human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), in addition to their role in kidney and cardiovascular disease. The effects of these variants on trypanosome infection could differ regionally owing to local adaptations of the host and pathogen. This study explored APOL1 risk variants distribution in HAT-infected and non-infected populations from a rural Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (T.

Malaria infection among adults residing in a highly endemic region from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Background: Adults infected with Plasmodium spp. in endemic areas need to be re-evaluated in light of global malaria elimination goals. They potentially undermine malaria interventions but remain an overlooked aspect of public health strategies.

Cost-effectiveness of incorporating Ebola prediction score tools and rapid diagnostic tests into a screening algorithm: A decision analytic model.

Background: No distinctive clinical signs of Ebola virus disease (EVD) have prompted the development of rapid screening tools or called for a new approach to screening suspected Ebola cases. New screening approaches require evidence of clinical benefit and economic efficiency. As of now, no evidence or defined algorithm exists.

Target product profile: diagnostic test for .

Human African trypanosomiasis is a life-threatening parasitic infection endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. Around 95% of cases are due to , found in western and central Africa. Clinical signs and symptoms are nonspecific, current diagnostic tests are not sufficiently accurate, and parasitological confirmation of infection requires microscopic examination of body fluids and specialized techniques for concentrating parasites.

Target product profile: test for low-prevalence settings.

Having caused devastating epidemics during the 20th century, the incidence of life-threatening human African trypanosomiasis has fallen to historically low levels as a result of sustained and coordinated efforts over the past 20 years. Humans are the main reservoir of one of the two pathogenic trypanosome subspecies, , found in western and central Africa. The expected advent of a safe and easy-to-use treatment to be given to seropositive but microscopically unconfirmed individuals would lead to further depletion; in the meantime, the presence of infection in the community must be monitored to allow the control strategy to be adapted and the elimination status to be assessed.

Target product profile: diagnostic test for .

Rhodesiense human African trypanosomiasis is a lethal parasitic infection caused by and transmitted by tsetse flies in eastern and southern Africa. It accounts for around 5% of all cases of human African trypanosomiasis. Currently, there is no simple serological test for rhodesiense human African trypanosomiasis and diagnosis relies on microscopic confirmation of trypanosomes in samples of blood or other tissues.

Target product profile: test to verify elimination.

Human African trypanosomiasis is a life-threatening parasitic infection transmitted by the tsetse fly in sub-Saharan Africa. The most common form is caused by , with humans as the main reservoir. Diagnosis in the field requires microscopic examination performed by specifically trained personnel.

Development of Ebola virus disease prediction scores: Screening tools for Ebola suspects at the triage-point during an outbreak.

Background: The control of Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreaks relies on rapid diagnosis and prompt action, a daunting task in limited-resource contexts. This study develops prediction scores that can help healthcare workers improve their decision-making at the triage-point of EVD suspect-cases during EVD outbreaks.

Methods: We computed accuracy measurements of EVD predictors to assess their diagnosing ability compared with the reference standard GeneXpert® results, during the eastern DRC EVD outbreak.

Candidate gene family-based and case-control studies of susceptibility to high worm burden in African children: a protocol.

Approximately 25% of the risk of is associated with host genetic variation. We will test 24 candidate genes, mainly in the T 2 and T 17 pathways, for association with infection intensity in four African countries, using family based and case-control approaches. Children aged 5-15 years will be recruited in endemic areas of Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Artemisia annua and Artemisia afra tea infusions vs. artesunate-amodiaquine (ASAQ) in treating Plasmodium falciparum malaria in a large scale, double blind, randomized clinical trial.

Background And Objective: Prior small-scale clinical trials showed that Artemisia annua and Artemisia afra infusions, decoctions, capsules, or tablets were low cost, easy to use, and efficient in curing malaria infections. In a larger-scale trial in Kalima district, Democratic Republic of Congo, we aimed to show A. annua and/or A.

Baseline characterization of epilepsy in an onchocerciasis endemic area of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Increased epilepsy prevalence is reported in onchocerciasis (OC) endemic areas and is associated with the occurrence of distinct syndromes such as nodding disease and Nakalanga syndrome. To date, a causal relationship between OC and epilepsy is still a matter of controversy. We conducted a case-control study of participants with epilepsy and age- and gender-matched presumably healthy controls to elucidate the relationships between OC and epilepsy and explore the role of inflammation and growth factors in an OC endemic area in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Effect of Artemisia annua and Artemisia afra tea infusions on schistosomiasis in a large clinical trial.

Background And Objective: Schistosomiasis (bilharzia), a serious neglected tropical disease affecting millions, has few cost-effective treatments, so two Artemisia wormwood species, A. annua and A. afra, were compared with the current standard praziquantel (PZQ) treatment in an 800 patient clinical trial, August-November of 2015.

Seroepidemiology of Dengue, Zika, and Yellow Fever Viruses among Children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Flaviviruses such as Zika, dengue, and yellow fever cause epidemics throughout the tropics and account for substantial global morbidity and mortality. Although malaria and other vector-borne diseases have long been appreciated in Africa, flavivirus epidemiology is incompletely understood. Despite the existence of an effective vaccine, yellow fever continues to cause outbreaks and deaths, including at least 42 fatalities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 2016.

Konzo: a distinct neurological disease associated with food (cassava) cyanogenic poisoning.

Epidemics of neurodegenerative diseases putatively caused by food toxins have been reported in the tropics with no clear understanding of their pathogenetic mechanisms. These diseases include the disease named Konzo that has been well documented in sub-Sahara Africa, mostly among children and women of childbearing age. Outbreaks of Konzo have occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Tanzania, Central African Republic, Angola, Cameroun, and most recently in Zambia.

Comparison of PCR Methods for Detection in Skin Snip Biopsies from the Tshopo Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Defining the optimal diagnostic tools for evaluating onchocerciasis elimination efforts in areas co-endemic for other filarial nematodes is imperative. This study compared three published polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods: the -specific qPCR-O150, the pan-filarial qPCR melt curve analysis (MCA), and the O150-PCR enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) currently used for vector surveillance in skin snip biopsies (skin snips) collected from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The pan-filarial qPCR-MCA was compared with species-specific qPCRs for and .

The Impact of the Virulome on Infection in a Developing Country: A Cohort Study.

We performed a cohort study to analyze the virulome of from the Democratic Republic of the Congo using whole genome sequencing and to assess its impact on the course of infections. Community-associated from nasal colonization ( = 100) and infection ( = 86) were prospectively collected. Phenotypic susceptibility testing and WGS was done for each isolate.

Cognitive and motor performance in Congolese children with konzo during 4 years of follow-up: a longitudinal analysis.

Background: Konzo is an irreversible upper-motor neuron disorder affecting children dependent on bitter cassava for food. The neurocognitive ability of children with konzo over time has yet to be fully documented.

Methods: We did a longitudinal study in a konzo outbreak zone continuously affected by konzo since 1990, in the district of Kahemba, southern Bandundu Province, Congo.

Measurement of Circulating Filarial Antigen Levels in Human Blood with a Point-of-Care Test Strip and a Portable Spectrodensitometer.

The Alere Filariasis Test Strip (FTS) is a qualitative, point-of-care diagnostic tool that detects Wuchereria bancrofti circulating filarial antigen (CFA) in human blood, serum, or plasma. The Global Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis employs the FTS for mapping filariasis-endemic areas and assessing the success of elimination efforts. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between the intensity of positive test lines obtained by FTS with CFA levels as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with blood and plasma samples from 188 individuals who live in a filariasis-endemic area.

Performance of Microscopy for the Diagnosis of Malaria and Human African Trypanosomiasis by Diagnostic Laboratories in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Results of a Nation-Wide External Quality Assessment.

The present External Quality Assessment (EQA) assessed microscopy of blood parasites among diagnostic laboratories in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The EQA addressed 445 participants in 10/11 provinces (October 2013-April 2014). Participants were sent a panel of five slides and asked to return a routinely stained slide which was assessed for quality of preparation and staining.