Effect of TB Treatment on Neutrophil-Derived Soluble Inflammatory Mediators in TB Patients with and without HIV Coinfection.

The mycobacteriological analysis of sputum samples is the gold standard for tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment monitoring. However, sputum production can be challenging after the initiation of TB treatment. As a possible alternative, we therefore investigated the dynamics of neutrophil-derived soluble inflammatory mediators during TB treatment in relation to HIV ART status and the severity of lung impairment.

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus and immunity status among healthcare workers in Beira City, Mozambique.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can be prevented by vaccination. Exposure to blood or body fluids poses a high risk of transmission of HBV in health care workers (HCWs). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of markers of exposure, susceptibility, and protection to HBV infection in HCWs in Beira, Mozambique.

Clinical Performance of Self-Collected Nasal Swabs and Antigen Rapid Tests for SARS-CoV-2 Detection in Resource-Poor Settings.

Background: In resource-poor countries, antigen-based rapid tests (Ag-RDTs) performed at primary healthcare and community settings improved access to SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics. However, the technical skills and biosafety requirements inherent to nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal (OP) specimens limit the scale-up of SARS-CoV-2 testing. The collection of nasal-swabs is programmatically viable, but its performance has not been evaluated in resource-poor settings.

Prevalence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Antibodies in the Mozambican Population: A Cross-Sectional Serologic Study in 3 Cities, July-August 2020.

Background: The extent of population exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was uncertain in many African countries during the onset of the pandemic.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study and randomly selected and surveyed general population and occupational groups from 6 July to 24 August 2020, in 3 cities in Mozambique. Anti-SARS-CoV-2-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies were measured using a point-of-care rapid test.

Performance Evaluation of the STANDARD Q COVID-19 and Panbio COVID-19 Antigen Tests in Detecting SARS-CoV-2 during High Transmission Period in Mozambique.

(1) Background: Laboratory-based molecular assays are the gold standard to detect SARS-CoV-2. In resource-limited settings, the implementation of these assays has been hampered by operational challenges and long turnaround times. Rapid antigen detection tests are an attractive alternative.

High level of HIV false positives using EIA-based algorithm in survey: Importance of confirmatory testing.

The Mozambique Indicators of Immunization, Malaria and HIV/AIDS (IMASIDA) survey was conducted in 2015 and used a two Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) (Vironostika HIV-1/2 and Murex HIV-1/2) based algorithm to determine the HIV status of the consented participants. The Mozambique Ministry of Health, with support from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), added Bio-Rad Geenius™ HIV-1/2 Supplemental Assay to the IMASIDA HIV testing algorithm to confirm all specimens that were found to be reactive on one or both EIAs. In total 11690 specimens were collected to estimate the proportion of HIV positive samples.

Retrospective investigation of IgM antibodies against Zika virus in serum from febrile patients in Mozambique, 2009-2015.

Objective: Zika virus (ZIKV) has emerged as an important health problem worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence, geographical distribution and trend of immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies against ZIKV between 2009 and 2015 in Mozambique.

Results: The median age of participants was 3 years [interquartile range (IQR): 1.

Retrospective investigation of antibodies against chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in serum from febrile patients in Mozambique, 2009-2015: Implications for its prevention and control.

Introduction: Longitudinal data and trends about chikungunya virus (CHIKV) are critical for its control, however in Mozambique very few studies were conducted over 5 decades, between 1957 and 2013. In this study, we retrospectively investigated the occurrence, geographical distribution and trend of anti-CHIKV antibodies between 2009 and 2015 in Mozambique using serum samples from febrile patients.

Methods: A total of 895 serum samples collected from febrile patients for measles and rubella surveillance between 2009 and 2015 in 127 districts of Mozambique were retrospectively tested for IgM and IgG antibodies against CHIKV using a commercially available ELISA.

Seroepidemiology of Chikungunya Virus Among Febrile Patients in Eight Health Facilities in Central and Northern Mozambique, 2015-2016.

Background: The burden and spread of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) are rapidly increasing worldwide, but the epidemiology in Mozambique is barely known. The aim of this study was to determine the seroepidemiology of CHIKV in central and northern Mozambique.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between March 2015 and May 2016 in eight health facilities situated in central and northern Mozambique to recruit 392 patients with undifferentiated febrile illness from outpatient clinics.

Evidence for chikungunya and dengue transmission in Quelimane, Mozambique: Results from an investigation of a potential outbreak of chikungunya virus.

Background: In January 2016, health authorities from Zambézia province, Mozambique reported the detection of some patients presenting with fever, arthralgia, and a positive result for chikungunya in an IgM-based Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT). We initiated a study to investigate a potential chikungunya outbreak in the city of Quelimane.

Methods/principal Findings: From February to June 2016, we conducted a cross-sectional study enrolling febrile patients attending five outpatient health units in Quelimane.

Dengue Virus Serotype 2 Established in Northern Mozambique (2015-2016).

After the report of an outbreak of dengue virus serotype 2 in 2014 in Nampula and Pemba cities, northern Mozambique, a surveillance system was established by the National Institute of Health. A study was performed during 2015-2016 to monitor the trend of the outbreak and confirm the circulating serotype of dengue virus (DENV). After the inclusion of consenting patients who met the case definition, samples from 192 patients were tested for the presence of nonstructural protein 1 antigen, and 60/192 (31%) samples were positive.

First serological evidence of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in febrile patients in Mozambique.

Objective: Despite its geographical spread, the epidemiology of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Sub-Saharan Africa is incompletely understood and its occurrence in Mozambique is unknown. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the occurrence of CCHF virus (CCHFV) among febrile patients attending an outpatient appointment clinic at three separate primary health care centres in Mozambique.

Methods: Serum samples were collected from a total of 300 febrile patients aged >5 years who were recruited between March 2015 and March 2016 at three health centres in Mozambique.