Use of a rapid digital microfluidics-powered immunoassay for assessing measles and rubella infection and immunity in outbreak settings in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has a high measles incidence despite elimination efforts and has yet to introduce rubella vaccine. We evaluated the performance of a prototype rapid digital microfluidics powered (DMF) enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) assessing measles and rubella infection, by testing for immunoglobulin M (IgM), and immunity from natural infection or vaccine, by testing immunoglobulin G (IgG), in outbreak settings. Field evaluations were conducted during September 2017, in Kinshasa province, DRC.

Development of the PREDS score to predict in-hospital mortality of patients with Ebola virus disease under advanced supportive care: Results from the EVISTA cohort in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Background: As mortality remains high for patients with Ebola virus disease (EVD) despite new treatment options, the ability to level up the provided supportive care and to predict the risk of death is of major importance. This analysis of the EVISTA cohort aims to describe advanced supportive care provided to EVD patients in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and to develop a simple risk score for predicting in-hospital death, called PREDS.

Methods: In this prospective cohort (NCT04815175), patients were recruited during the 10 EVD outbreak in the DRC across three Ebola Treatment Centers (ETCs).

Adherence to COVID-19 Prevention Measures in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Results of Two Consecutive Online Surveys.

Adherence to preventive measures is essential to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Two online surveys were conducted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from 23 April to 8 June 2020, and from August 24th to September 8th, respectively. A total of 3268 (round 1) and 4160 (round 2) participants were included.

Factors associated with adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): results of an online survey.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the level of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and to identify factors associated with non-adherence.

Design: A cross-sectional population-based online survey.

Settings: The study was conducted in 22 provinces of the DRC.

Volcanic activity controls cholera outbreaks in the East African Rift.

We hypothesized that Cholera (Vibrio cholerae) that appeared along Lake Kivu in the African Rift in the seventies, might be controlled by volcano-tectonic activity, which, by increasing surface water and groundwater salinity and temperature, may partly rule the water characteristics of Lake Kivu and promote V. cholerae proliferation. Volcanic activity (assessed weekly by the SO2 flux of Nyiragongo volcano plume over the 2007-2012 period) is highly positively correlated with the water conductivity, salinity and temperature of the Kivu lake.

Molecular identification of Plasmodium species in symptomatic children of Democratic Republic of Congo.

Background: Worldwide, the highest malaria mortality is due to Plasmodium falciparum infection. However, other species of Plasmodium (Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium malariae, and Plasmodium knowlesi) can also cause malaria. Therefore, accurate identification of malaria species is crucial for patient management and epidemiological surveillance.

Molecular Analysis of Influenza A(H3N2) and A(H1N1)pdm09 Viruses circulating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 2014.

Background: Very little is known about influenza viruses circulating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We aim to characterize genetically and antigenically Influenza A(H3N2) and A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses circulating in the country.

Methods: From August to December 2014, specimens were collected from patients with influenza like-illness (ILI) or severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) in various surveillance sites.

Acute flaccid paralysis surveillance indicators in the Democratic Republic of Congo during 2008-2014.

Introduction: The last wild poliovirus (WPV) case in Africa was reported in July 2014, thus underscoring the tremendous progress towards polio eradication worldwide. This study aimed to analyze the results of a seven-year surveillance of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and to identify potential gaps that need to be addressed.

Methods: Epidemiological and virological data obtained from AFP surveillance among AFP cases less than 15 years from January 2008 to December 2014 in DRC were retrospectively considered and analyzed in this study.

Phylogeography and epidemic history of hepatitis C virus genotype 4 in Africa.

HCV genotype 4 is prevalent in many African countries, yet little is known about the genotype׳s epidemic history on the continent. We present a comprehensive study of the molecular epidemiology of genotype 4. To address the deficit of data from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) we PCR amplified 60 new HCV isolates from the DRC, resulting in 33 core- and 48 NS5B-region sequences.

Pseudo-outbreak of pre-extensively drug-resistant (Pre-XDR) tuberculosis in Kinshasa: collateral damage caused by false detection of fluoroquinolone resistance by GenoType MTBDRsl.

Fluoroquinolones are the core drugs for the management of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Molecular drug susceptibility testing methods provide considerable advantages for scaling up programmatic management and surveillance of drug-resistant TB. We describe here the misidentification of fluoroquinolone resistance by the GenoType MTBDRsl (MTBDRsl) (Hain Lifescience GmbH, Nehren, Germany) line probe assay (LPA) encountered during a feasibility and validation study for the introduction of this rapid drug susceptibility test in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Multi drug resistant tuberculosis in Mosango, a rural area in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a serious threat which jeopardizes the worldwide efforts to control TB. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of 27 countries with a high burden of MDR-TB. Data on the magnitude, trends, and the distribution of MDR-TB in DRC are scanty.

Elimination of cholera in the democratic Republic of the Congo: the new national policy.

We evaluated published and unpublished data on cholera cases and deaths reported from clinical care facilities in the 56 health districts of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the National Ministry of Health during 2000-2011. Cholera incidence was highest in the eastern provinces bordering lakes and epidemics primarily originated in this region. Along with a strong seasonal component, our data suggest a potential Vibrio cholerae reservoir in the Rift Valley lakes and the possible contribution of the lakes' fishing industry to the spread of cholera.

Hepatitis C virus infections in the Democratic Republic of Congo exhibit a cohort effect.

The prevalence and genetic diversity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human pegivirus (HPgV) in many regions of sub-Saharan Africa is poorly characterized, including in the Democratic Republic of Congo--the largest country in the region and one of the most populous. To address this situation we conducted a molecular epidemiological survey of HCV and HPgV (previously named GB Virus C or hepatitis G virus) in samples collected in 2007 from 299 males from the DRC, whose ages ranged from 21 to 71 years old. Samples were tested for the presence of HCV antibodies by ELISA and reactive samples were subsequently tested for HCV RNA using RT-PCR in which both the HCV Core and NS5B genome regions were amplified.

Detection of human monkeypox in the Republic of the Congo following intensive community education.

Monkeypox is an acute viral infection with a clinical course resembling smallpox. It is endemic in northern and central Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), but it is reported only sporadically in neighboring Republic of the Congo (ROC). In October 2009, interethnic violence in northwestern DRC precipitated the movement of refugees across the Ubangi River into ROC.

Resistance to antiretroviral drugs in treated and drug-naive patients in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Background: We studied virological outcome and drug resistance in patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in health care centers in the Democratic Republic of Congo and looked for the presence of drug resistance in antiretroviral-naive patients attending the same clinics.

Methods: In 2008, we conducted a cross-sectional survey among patients on ART for ≥ 12 months in 4 major cities [Kinshasa (n = 289), Matadi (n = 198), Lubumbashi (n = 77), and Mbuji-Mayi (n = 103)]. Genotypic drug resistance tests were done with an in-house assay on samples with viral load >1000 copies/mL.

High HIV type 1 group M pol diversity and low rate of antiretroviral resistance mutations among the uniformed services in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

For the first time the genetic diversity among the uniformed personnel in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a country that has experienced military conflicts since 1998 and in which the global HIV-1/M pandemic started, has now been documented. A total of 94 HIV-1-positive samples, collected in 2007 in Kinshasa garrison settings from informed consenting volunteers, were genetically characterized in the pol region (protease and RT). An extensive diversity was observed, with 51% of the strains corresponding to six pure subtypes (A 23%, C 13.

Diagnostic accuracy and feasibility of serological tests on filter paper samples for outbreak detection of T.b. gambiense human African trypanosomiasis.

Control of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) in the Democratic Republic of Congo is based on mass population screening by mobile teams; a costly and labor-intensive approach. We hypothesized that blood samples collected on filter paper by village health workers and processed in a central laboratory might be a cost-effective alternative. We estimated sensitivity and specificity of micro-card agglutination test for trypanosomiasis (micro-CATT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)/T.