Prevalence of malaria among febrile patients and assessment of efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine and artesunate-amodiaquine for uncomplicated malaria in Dolisie, Republic of the Congo.

Background: In the Republic of the Congo, malaria represents a major public health problem affecting all age groups. A regular surveillance of the current efficacy of first-line anti-malarial drugs is required in the face of possible emergence and spread of artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains in Africa. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria among febrile patients of all ages and assess the efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) and artesunate-amodiaquine (ASAQ) in Congolese children.

Neonatal Screening for Sickle Cell Disease in Congo.

Introduction: Sickle cell disease is an autosomal recessive inherited disorder due to the mutation of a gene coding for the globin beta chain. The aim of this study is to update the epidemiological data on hemoglobinoses, in particular sickle cell disease in newborns in Congo.

Materials And Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted from October 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020, throughout the Congolese national territory.

Variation of prevalence of malaria, parasite density and the multiplicity of Plasmodium falciparum infection throughout the year at three different health centers in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

Background: In the Republic of Congo, hot temperature and seasons distortions observed may impact the development of malaria parasites. We investigate the variation of malaria cases, parasite density and the multiplicity of Plasmodium falciparum infection throughout the year in Brazzaville.

Methods: From May 2015 to May 2016, suspected patients with uncomplicated malaria were enrolled at the Hôpital de Mfilou, CSI « Maman Mboualé», and the Laboratoire National de Santé Publique.

High prevalence of norovirus and rotavirus co-infection in children with acute gastroenteritis hospitalised in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical severity of diarrhoea associated to viral co-infection in children with acute gastroenteritis.

Methods: About 461 children under five years hospitalised with acute diarrhoea (266 males and 187 females) were enrolled in the study. Using stool samples, rotavirus and adenovirus infections were investigated by ELISA, and norovirus infections by nested duplex RT-PCR.

Molecular characterization of norovirus infection responsible for acute diarrhea in Congolese hospitalized children under five years old in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

Background: Acute diarrhea is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five worldwide. As no published data is available on the occurrence of this infection in the Republic of Congo, this study aimed at (1) determining the prevalence and (2) characterizing genotypes of norovirus strains in Brazzaville.

Methods: From June 2012 to June 2013, stool samples were collected from hospitalized young children with acute gastroenteritis.

Distribution of the cytochrome P450 CYP2C8*2 allele in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

Background: Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes are essential in the metabolism of most drugs used today. Single nucleotide polymorphism(s) occurring in CYP genes can adversely affect drug pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety. Individuals carrying the CYP2C8*2 c.

Sub-microscopic Plasmodium falciparum infections in matched peripheral, placental and umbilical cord blood samples from asymptomatic Congolese women at delivery.

In malaria-endemic areas, most pregnant women are susceptible to asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infections. We present here the results of a cross-sectional study conducted in Madibou, a southern district of Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo, between March 2014 and April 2015. The main aim was to characterize P.

An update on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in children from Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

Background: Malaria transmission-blocking anti-malarial drugs, such as primaquine, offers an effective strategy for reducing the incidence of falciparum malaria. However, this drug induces haemolytic anaemia among glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient individuals. The distribution of G6PD deficiency in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo and the association of G6PD deficiency with haemoglobin levels and blood cell counts were investigated.

Cytochrome P450 CYP2B6*6 distribution among Congolese individuals with HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria infection.

Background: The cytochrome P450 CYP2B6*6 (CYP2B6 c.516G>T; rs3745274) is one of the genetic factors that alters the drug metabolism in antimalarial, antiretroviral and TB first-line drugs. In Central African populations, the distribution of the CYP2B6*6 variant is poorly documented.

No polymorphisms in K13-propeller gene associated with artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum isolated from Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

Background: In the Republic of Congo, artemisinin-based combinations have been recommended for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria since 2006. However, the emergence of resistant parasites again these combinations in Southeast Asia is a threat for the control of this disease, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where the weight of the disease is important. Indeed, polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum K13-propeller gene have been involved in variations of drug sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to artemisinin-based combinations.

Evaluation of Routine Microscopy Performance for Malaria Diagnosis at Three Different Health Centers in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

Background: In Republic of Congo, malaria diagnosis still widely relies on microscopy. We aimed to evaluate the performance of routine microscopy for malaria diagnosis at three different health centers in Brazzaville.

Methods: A total of 259, 416, and 131 patients with clinical signs of uncomplicated malaria were enrolled at the Hôpital de Mfilou, Centre de Santé Intégré "Maman Mboualé," and Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, respectively.

Plasmodium falciparum merozoite protein-1 genetic diversity and multiplicity of infection in isolates from Congolese children consulting in a pediatric hospital in Brazzaville.

As in many sub-Saharan African countries, the burden of malaria has been reduced in the Republic of Congo as a result of massive deployment of insecticide treated nets and availability of artemisinin-combinations therapies (ACTs). High to moderate genetic diversity of msp-1 gene of Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) has been reported from different parts of the world but limited data are available from Central Africa including the Republic of Congo.

A study on HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B and C virus infections among female sex workers in the Republic of Congo.

Background: Female Sex Workers (FSWs) are considered to be at high risk for transmission of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and are defined as a priority of the national HIV/AIDS response in the Republic of Congo (RoC). However, no data are available regarding STIs in this group. This study aimed to determine the prevalences of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B and C among FSWs in five cities in the country.

Plasmodium falciparum infection in febrile Congolese children: prevalence of clinical malaria 10 years after introduction of artemisinin-combination therapies.

Objectives: To investigate the proportion of malaria infection in febrile children consulting a paediatric hospital in Brazzaville, to determine the prevalence of submicroscopic malaria infection, to characterise Plasmodium falciparum infection and compare the prevalence of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria according to haemoglobin profiles.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from children aged <10 years with an axillary temperature ≥37.

Lysinibacillus louembei sp. nov., a spore-forming bacterium isolated from Ntoba Mbodi, alkaline fermented leaves of cassava from the Republic of the Congo.

Investigation of the microbial diversity of Ntoba Mbodi, an African food made from the alkaline fermentation of cassava leaves, revealed the presence of a Gram-positive, catalase-positive, aerobic, motile and rod-shaped endospore-forming bacterium (NM73) with unusual phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. The analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the isolate was most closely related to Lysinibacillus meyeri WS 4626T (98.93%), Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus XDB9T (96.

Response mechanisms of lactic acid bacteria to alkaline environments: a review.

Regulation of the cytoplasmic or internal pH (pHin) is a fundamental requirement for the survival and viability of bacteria. The optimum pHin for most bacteria is near the neutral point (pH 7.0).