Effectiveness of incidence thresholds for detection and control of meningococcal meningitis epidemics in northern Togo.

Background: Early outbreak detection is necessary for control of meningococcal meningitis epidemics. A weekly incidence of 15 cases per 100 000 inhabitants averaged over 2 consecutive weeks is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for detection of meningitis epidemics in Africa. This and other thresholds are tested for ability to predict outbreaks and timeliness for control measures.

Regulatory effects of Th1-type (IFN-gamma, IL-12) and Th2-type cytokines (IL-10, IL-13) on parasite-specific cellular responsiveness in Onchocerca volvulus-infected humans and exposed endemic controls.

The present study investigated in vitro the regulatory effects of T helper 1 (Th1)-type (interferon-gamma, IFN-gamma; interleukin-12, IL-12) and Th2-type cytokines (IL-10, IL-13) on Onchocerca volvulus-specific cellular reactivity in onchocerciasis patients, and in exposed endemic control individuals presenting no clinical and parasitological signs of disease. In both patients and controls, addition of IL-10 dose-dependently depressed O. volvulus antigen (OvAg)-specific cellular proliferation, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients who were more sensitive to the suppressive effect of IL-10 than those from endemic controls.

Prenatal immune priming in onchocerciasis-onchocerca volvulus-specific cellular responsiveness and cytokine production in newborns from infected mothers.

This study investigated the effect of maternal Onchocerca volvulus infection on humoral and cellular responsiveness in newborn children and their mothers. Onchocerca volvulus-specific IgG isotypes and IgE were significantly elevated in infected mothers and their infants. One year post partum, O.

[An epidemic of meningococcal meningitis in the region of Savanes in Togo in 1997: research and control strategies].

Neisseria meningitidis is responsible for high levels of morbidity and mortality in the developing countries of the African meningitis belt. There are frequent meningococcal meningitis epidemics in this region affecting almost 1,000 people in every 100,000 (1%). Epidemics generally occur during the dry season but the interval between epidemics is variable (between 2 and 25 years).