Emergence of epidemic Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C in Niger, 2015: an analysis of national surveillance data.

Background: To combat Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A epidemics in the meningitis belt of sub-Saharan Africa, a meningococcal serogroup A conjugate vaccine (MACV) has been progressively rolled out since 2010. We report the first meningitis epidemic in Niger since the nationwide introduction of MACV.

Methods: We compiled and analysed nationwide case-based meningitis surveillance data in Niger.

Serogroup-Specific Characteristics of Localized Meningococcal Meningitis Epidemics in Niger 2002-2012 and 2015: Analysis of Health Center Level Surveillance Data.

To compare dynamics of localized meningitis epidemics (LE) by meningococcal (Nm) serogroup, we analyzed a surveillance database of suspected and laboratory-confirmed Nm cases from 373 health areas (HA) of three regions in Niger during 2002-2012 and one region concerned by NmC epidemics during 2015. We defined LE as HA weekly incidence rates of ≥20 suspected cases per 100,000 during ≥2 weeks and assigned the predominant serogroup based on polymerase chain reaction testing of cerebrospinal fluid. Among the 175 LE, median peak weekly incidence rate in LE due to NmA, W, X and C were 54, 39, 109 and 46 per 100,000, respectively.

Spatio-temporal factors associated with meningococcal meningitis annual incidence at the health centre level in Niger, 2004-2010.

Background: Epidemics of meningococcal meningitis (MM) recurrently strike the African Meningitis Belt. This study aimed at investigating factors, still poorly understood, that influence annual incidence of MM serogroup A, the main etiologic agent over 2004-2010, at a fine spatial scale in Niger.

Methodology/principal Findings: To take into account data dependencies over space and time and control for unobserved confounding factors, we developed an explanatory Bayesian hierarchical model over 2004-2010 at the health centre catchment area (HCCA) level.

A five-year field assessment of rapid diagnostic tests for meningococcal meningitis in Niger by using the combination of conventional and real-time PCR assays as a gold standard.

Background: Meningococcocal meningitis represents an important cause of mortality and morbidity in sub-Saharan countries. Confirmatory bacteriological or molecular diagnosis is essential for patient management/treatment and meningitis surveillance, but many laboratory tests are expensive and rarely available for low-income countries. A rapid diagnostic test (RDT) represents a valuable alternative to improve case management and surveillance.

[Outbreak of meningitis in the province of Logone occidental (Chad): descriptive study using health ministry data from 1998 to 2001].

Unlabelled: Outbreaks of meningitis are a public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa where more than thousand cases are declared every year In Chad, the last outbreak happened between 1998 and 2001. The objective of this study is to describe epidemiologic profile of meningitis in the province of Logone Occidental from 1998 to 2001.

Methods: Study used epidemiologic data of surveillance's tools from years 1998 to 2001 in Chad.

Reduction of Wuchereria bancrofti adult worm circulating antigen after annual treatments of diethylcarbamazine combined with ivermectin in French Polynesia.

Circulating filarial antigen (CFA), determined with Og4C3 ELISA, is a marker of Wuchereria bancrofti adult worm infection. The reduction of CFA over 2 years was determined in 185 microfilaremic and 111 amicrofilaremic but CFA+ adults given an annual dose of either diethylcarbamazine (DEC) or ivermectin or the two combined. Reduction of CFA level was good with DEC but weak with ivermectin and followed the same pattern in amicrofilaremic and microfilaremic groups.

Control of bancroftian filariasis in an endemic area of Polynesia by ivermectin 400 micrograms/kg.

Community treatment with ivermectin was implemented in Opoa, French Polynesia from April 1991 to October 1993. All consenting inhabitants aged 3 years or more were treated with twice-yearly single doses of ivermectin, pregnant women excepted. A dosage of 100 microgram/kg was used for the 3 first treatments and then abandoned because it did not reduce the prevalence of microfilariae (mf) carriers.

A polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of Wuchereria bancrofti in blood samples from French Polynesia.

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay based on a highly repeated deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequence found in Wuchereria bancrofti (the SspI repeat) has been developed to address the shortcomings of traditional diagnostic methods. In this field study in a W. bancrofti endemic region of French Polynesia, 373 human blood samples were collected and 100 microL of blood were screened by the SspI PCR assay and 1 microL by membrane filtration.

[Combinations of ivermectin and diethylcarbamazine for improved control of lymphatic filariasis].

Since 1993, a three arm double-blind controlled trial was implemented in French Polynesia to compare the efficacy of single doses of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) 6 mg/kg vs. ivermectin (IVR) 400 micrograms/kg vs. the combination IVR 400 + DEC 6 for treatment of Wuchereria bancrofti mf carriers.

[Control of hepatitis B in French Polynesia with a program of systematic vaccination of newborns with the Genhevac B vaccine].

In 1988, a 5-year vaccination program against hepatitis B was launched for all newborns in a pilot area, the Austral archipelago in French Polynesia. Genhevac B, a recombinant vaccine produced from mammalian cells was administered. Three different immunization schedules were used, none of them including additional specific immunoglobulin: i) four doses, one at each months (M) 0, 1, 2, and 12; ii) three doses one at each MO, M1 and M6; and iii) three doses one at each MO, M1 and M12.

Advantages of an annual single dose of ivermectin 400 micrograms/kg plus diethylcarbamazine for community treatment of bancroftian filariasis.

In 1994 and 1995, 2 supervised single dose treatments for bancroftian filariasis were given to all inhabitants ( > 3500) aged > or = 3 years on a Polynesian island. This island is divided into 4 political zones. Each zone was treated with a different dosage of the combination ivermectin (IVR) and diethylcarbamazine (DEC) as follows: (1) IVR 400 micrograms/kg plus DEC 6mg/kg, (2) IVR 400 micrograms/kg alone, (3) DEC 6 mg/kg alone (4) IVR 400 micrograms/kg plus DEC 3 mg/kg.

Alpha-thalassaemia and globin gene rearrangements in French Polynesia.

The prevalence of alpha-thalassaemia and various globin gene rearrangements was determined in 1992 individuals living on 11 islands in French Polynesia. The gene frequencies for alpha(+)-thalassaemia (almost exclusively the -alpha 3.7III deletion form) range from 5.

Single doses of ivermectin 400 micrograms/kg-1: the most effective dosage in bancroftian filariasis.

Forty-three Wuchereria bancrofti carriers were given four successive semi-annual single doses of ivermectin 100 micrograms.kg-1 (IVER 100). The geometric mean microfilaremia (mf) recurrence percentage as compared to the pre-initial treatment mf level was 35%, 21%, 17% and 17% at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months, respectively.

Combination ivermectin plus diethylcarbamazine, a new effective tool for control of lymphatic filariasis.

In 1993, a three arm double-blind controlled trial was implemented in French Polynesia, to compare the tolerance and efficacy of single doses of the combination ivermectin (IVR) 400 micrograms.kg-1 plus diethylcarbamazine (DEC) 6mg.kg-1 vs IVR 400 micrograms.

Wuchereria bancrofti filariasis in French Polynesia: age-specific patterns of microfilaremia, circulating antigen, and specific IgG and IgG4 responses according to transmission level.

The age-specific patterns of microfilaremia, Og4C3 antigenemia, anti-Brugia malayi IgG and IgG4 were assessed in 3 villages of low, medium and high transmission level for Wuchereria bancrofti filariasis. The prevalence rates for each of the 4 markers were clearly age dependent and their patterns strongly associated with the transmission level. The antigenemia prevalence rate was consistently higher than the microfilaremia prevalence rate, in all age groups.

Double-blind controlled trial of a single dose of the combination ivermectin 400 micrograms/kg plus diethylcarbamazine 6 mg/kg for the treatment of bancroftian filariasis: results at six months.

In 1993, a three-arm double-blind controlled trial was implemented in French Polynesia to compare the tolerance and efficacy of a single dose of the combination ivermectin (IVR) 400 micrograms/kg plus diethylcarbamazine (DEC) 6 mg/kg vs. IVR 400 micrograms/kg alone vs. DEC 6 mg/kg alone, for treatment of Wuchereria bancrofti carriers.

Low positive predictive value of anti-Brugia malayi IgG and IgG4 serology for the diagnosis of Wuchereria bancrofti.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for anti-Brugia malayi immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgG4 were evaluated on sera from 1561 subjects in French Polynesia for the serodiagnosis of Wuchereria bancrofti filariasis, compared with the test for Onchocerca gibsoni circulating antigen (Og4C3) as a 'gold standard'. The sensitivity of the ELISA-IgG and ELISA-IgG4 assays was 90.8% and 94.

Og4C3 circulating antigen, anti-Brugia malayi IgG and IgG4 titers in Wuchereria bancrofti infected patients, according to their parasitological status.

This study involved 221 microfilaremic (Mf+), 302 amicrofilaremic (Mf-) antigen positive (AG+) and 1454 Mf-antigen negative (AG-) individuals living in endemic villages. Whatever the group considered, antigen and antibody titers were widely distributed. Og4C3 antigen, detected both in Mf- and Mf+ patients, was significantly higher in Mf+ patients.

Efficacy of ivermectin for the treatment of head lice (Pediculosis capitis).

Twenty six male and female patients aged 5 to 17 years who had head lice infestation confirmed by eggs presence and received treatments with a single 200 mu/kg oral dose of ivermectin in open fashion. At day 14 after treatment, 20 responded to the treatment (77%), and 6 patients (23%) presented with a complete disappearance of eggs and all clinical symptoms. At day 28, 7 patients were healed (27%), but 4 patients of the 6 healed at day 14 presented with signs of reinfestation.

Og4C3 circulating antigen: a marker of infection and adult worm burden in Wuchereria bancrofti filariasis.

Og4C3 circulating filarial antigen was detected in the sera of 94.5% (259/274) of microfilaremic patients, 32% (239/751) of persons with presumption of filariasis, and 23% (11/48) of chronic filariasis patients. The antigen level was correlated with the microfilariae (Mf) density and patient age (P < .

Advantages of ivermectin at a single dose of 400 micrograms/kg compared with 100 micrograms/kg for community treatment of lymphatic filariasis in Polynesia.

In April and October in 1991-1993, 5 supervised single doses of ivermectin were given to inhabitants aged > or = 3 years in a Polynesian district: the first 3 treatments were with 100 micrograms/kg and the 2 latter with 400 micrograms/kg. At each treatment, about 97% of the eligible population (899) were treated and blood samples were collected just before treatment from 96% of the 613 inhabitants aged > or = 15 years. Following the 5 successive treatments, adverse reactions were observed in, respectively, 23.

A 5-year immunization field trial against hepatitis B using a Chinese hamster ovary cell recombinant vaccine in French Polynesian newborns: results at 3 years.

A hepatitis immunization field trial, using a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell recombinant vaccine, was implemented for newborns in the Austral archipelago of French Polynesia in 1988. Three different schedules were used: (1) four vaccine doses at months (M) M0, M1, M2 and M12; (2) three vaccine doses at M0, M1 and M6; and (3) three vaccine doses at M0, M1 and M12. The programme evaluation was performed yearly at fixed dates, i.