Impact of repeated mass ivermectin administration using a community directed approach on . infection in of the rain forest and forest savanna of Cameroon.

Background: Loiasis is an endemic filarial infection in the rainforest zone of West and Central Africa. Repeated annual community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) delivered for several years to control onchocerciasis has been shown to reduce the prevalence and intensity of Loiasis in some co-endemic areas. However, the impact of these multiple rounds of CDTI on entomological indicators of loiasis transmission is not known, and was therefore assessed in this study in areas with contrasting histories of CDTI.

Factors associated with a measles outbreak in three health districts of Cameroon in 2019: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: measles is an infectious viral disease that affects susceptible individuals of all ages. It is a leading cause of death among young children globally due to suboptimal vaccination coverage. In 2019, measles outbreaks affected several parts of the world, including three health districts (HDs) of Cameroon's South West Region (SWR) experiencing armed conflict.

Phenotypical characterization, and antibiotics susceptibility patterns of skin bacteria found in podoconiosis patients in the North West Region of Cameroon.

Background: Podoconiosis, a non-infectious disease originating from long-term exposure of bare feet to irritant red clay soil is a lifelong, disabling disease with no specific diagnostic tool, classified into 5 stages based on the severity of leg swelling (lymphoedema). Secondary bacterial infections have been suggested to cause acute dermatolymphangioadenitis (ADLA) attacks and drive disease progression. Although the North West Region of Cameroon has a proven history of podoconiosis endemicity, the bacterial composition of lymphoedema due to this condition has not been studied.

Concordance between Ov16 Rapid Diagnostic Test(RDT) and Ov16 Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for the Diagnosis of Onchocerciasis in Areas of Contrasting Endemicity in Cameroon.

The diagnosis of onchocerciasis in endemic areas has been demanding given the need to replace the invasive skin snip method with a more sensitive and specific rapid point-of-contact tool. Filarial antigen detection tests are better alternative methods in diagnosing infections, as they detect infections and could be used to monitor transmission in endemic areas following mass drug administration. With the shift in paradigme from control to elimination, a rapid point- of-contact tool is required to support elimination programs.

Application of loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays for the detection of , and in humans and vectors.

Conventional diagnosis of filarial infections is based on morphological identification of microfilariae using light microscopy and requires considerable expertise, is time-consuming, and can be subjective. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has advantages over microscopy or PCR because of its operational simplicity, rapidity and versatility of readout options. LAMP assays represent a major step forward in improved filarial diagnostic tools suitable for low resource settings and field applicability.

Prevalence of Occupational Exposure to HIV and Factors Associated with Compliance with Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Health Workers of the Biyem-Assi, Buea, and Limbe Health Districts of Cameroon Maternal and Child Health and AIDS.

Background: Although a few studies have assessed occupational exposure and knowledge on post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV among health care workers (HCWs), limited information is available on the factors that influence the use of HIV PEP among HCWs after occupational exposure in Cameroon. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of occupational exposure to HIV infection and identify factors (knowledge, attitudes, and practices) that influence compliance to the use of HIV PEP among HCWs in the Biyem-Assi, Buea, and Limbe health districts.

Methods: A stratified cross-sectional study was carried out among health care workers from the Biyem-Assi, Buea, and Limbe health districts of Cameroon.

histidine-rich protein 2 and 3 gene deletion in the Mount Cameroon region.

Objective: produces histidine-rich protein 2/3 () genes that accumulate to high levels in the bloodstream and serve as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for malaria. gene deletions may lead to false-negative rapid diagnostic test (RDT) results. We aimed to determine the prevalence of / gene deletions in isolates and the implications for RDT use in the Mount Cameroon region.

The preparatory phase for ground larviciding implementation for chocerciasis control in the Meme River Basin in South West Cameroon: the COUNTDOWN Consortium alternative strategy implementation trial.

Background: Onchocerciasis control using ivermectin alone has been achieved in some endemic savannah zones of Africa. In the forest regions, the co-endemicity with Loa loa has led to severe adverse events (SAEs) resulting in poor adherence of community members to ivermectin mass drug administration (MDA). This may jeopardize achieving the interruption of transmission of onchocerciasis.

The Mbam drainage system and onchocerciasis transmission post ivermectin mass drug administration (MDA) campaign, Cameroon.

Background: The impact of large scale Mass Drug Adminstration (MDA) of ivermectin on active onchocerciasis transmission by Simulium damnosum, which transmits the parasite O. volvulus is of great importance for onchocerciasis control programmes. We investigated in the Mbam river system area, the impact of MDA of ivermectin on entomological indices and also verify if there are river system factors that could have favoured the transmission of onchocerciasis in this area and contribute to the persistence of disease.

Validation of loop-mediated isothermal amplification for the detection of Loa loa infection in Chrysops spp in experimental and natural field conditions.

Background: The mass drug administration of ivermectin for onchocerciasis control has contributed to a significant drop in Loa loa microfilaria loads in humans that has, in turn, led to reduction of infection levels in Chrysops vectors. Accurate parasite detection is essential for assessing loiasis transmission as it provides a potential alternative or indirect strategy for addressing the problem of co-endemic loiasis and lymphatic filariasis through the Onchocerciasis Elimination Programme and it further reflects the true magnitude of the loiasis problem as excess human mortality has been reported to be associated with the disease. Although microscopy is the gold standard for detecting the infection, the sensitivity of this method is compromised when the intensity of infection is low.

Clinical, haematological and biochemical profiling of podoconiosis lymphoedema patients prior to their involvement in a clinical trial in the Northwest Region of Cameroon.

Background: Prior to carrying out clinical trials, it is important to assess the health status of the study participants to be able to interpret subsequent changes that may be related to the effects of the treatments during the follow-up of patients. This study presents the clinical, haematological and biochemical profiles of podoconiosis patients prior to their involvement in the PodoLEDoxy clinical trial.

Methods: All lower limb lymphoedema patients visiting the centre were screened and a podoconiosis diagnosis was based on clinical manifestation and detailed medical history.

Differential susceptibility of Onchocerca volvulus microfilaria to ivermectin in two areas of contrasting history of mass drug administration in Cameroon: relevance of microscopy and molecular techniques for the monitoring of skin microfilarial repopulation within six months of direct observed treatment.

Background: Ivermectin is an excellent microfilaricide against Onchocerca volvulus. However, in some regions, long term use of ivermectin has resulted in sub-optimal responses to the treatment. More data to properly document the phenomenon in various contexts of ivermectin mass drug administration (IVM-MDA) is needed.

The prevalence of HBsAg, knowledge and practice of hepatitis B prevention among pregnant women in the Limbe and Muyuka Health Districts of the South West region of Cameroon: a three-year retrospective study.

Introduction: hepatitis B infection is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV is transmitted through sexual intercourse, by exchange of saliva during kissing and also to newborns of infected mothers. In the Global Burden of Diseases 2010, 786,000 deaths were attributed to HBV.

A cross-sectional survey on the prevalence of anaemia and malnutrition in primary school children in the Tiko Health District, Cameroon.

Introduction: Anaemia and malnutrition are common health problems in developing countries with children being the most vulnerable. They have negative impacts on human performance, growth and development, in children, both as cause and consequences of disease. Although annual mass deworming and nutrition supplement strategies have been implemented in the Tiko Health District (THD), no study has been carried out to determine the prevalence of anaemia and malnutrition.

Mapping of lymphatic filariasis in loiasis areas: A new strategy shows no evidence for Wuchereria bancrofti endemicity in Cameroon.

Background: Mapping of lymphatic filariasis (LF) caused by Wuchereria bancrofti largely relies on the detection of circulating antigen using ICT cards. Several studies have recently shown that this test can be cross-reactive with sera of subjects heavily infected with Loa loa and thus mapping results in loiasis endemic areas may be inaccurate.

Methodology/principal Findings: In order to develop an LF mapping strategy for areas with high loiasis prevalence, we collected day blood samples from 5,001 subjects residing in 50 villages that make up 6 health districts throughout Cameroon.

Soil-transmitted Helminth infection in the Tiko Health District, South West Region of Cameroon: a post-intervention survey on prevalence and intensity of infection among primary school children.

Introduction: Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) infection remains a public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa with children being most vulnerable. STH infection may result in impairment, permanent disability or death. Annual mass deworming has been implemented in the Tiko Health District (THD), however, no study has assessed the current prevalence of STH infection.

Retarded Onchocerca volvulus L1 to L3 larval development in the Simulium damnosum vector after anti-wolbachial treatment of the human host.

Background: The human parasite Onchocerca volvulus harbours Wolbachia endosymbionts essential for worm embryogenesis, larval development and adult survival. In this study, the development of Wolbachia-depleted microfilariae (first stage larvae) to infective third stage larvae (L3) in the insect vector Simulium damnosum was analysed.

Methods: Infected volunteers in Cameroon were randomly and blindly allocated into doxycycline (200 mg/day for 6 weeks) or placebo treatment groups.

Chrysops silacea biting densities and transmission potential in an endemic area of human loiasis in south-west Cameroon.

We studied the biting densities of Chrysops silacea and the transmission of loiasis over 1 year in a regenerated forest in the south-west province of Cameroon. A total of 3015 flies caught near a wood fire at ground level during rainy and dry seasons were identified morphologically and 1975 caught during the rainy season were dissected to determine their physiological age and infection rate. The prevalence of microfilaraemia in the human population in the study area was determined using the thick blood smear method.