Acceptability and Feasibility of the Plasma Separation Card for an Integrated Model of Care for HBV and HCV Screening Among People Attending HIV Clinics in Cameroon and Uganda.

Background: Sub-Saharan African countries have a high burden of viral hepatitis and poor access to screening and care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of using the plasma separation card (PSC) for viral hepatitis B and C screening among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Cameroon and Uganda.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study carried out between 05/2021 and 03/2023 including 192 PLHIV in Cameroon (n = 104) and Uganda (n = 88).

Homozygote drepanocytosis: Ferric status and inflammation in world and Africa: Review article and meta analysis.

Background And Aims: Major sickle cell syndromes are subjected to a high frequency of hemolysis, infections, oxidative stress, and vasooclusive crises which promote inflammation and iron balance disorders. We aimed to systematically review and analyze the studies in this patients addressing in general, and Africa in particular.

Methods: The systematic review of published articles in the Pubmed and Google Scholar databases was carried out according to the recommendations of the PRISMA model.

Implementation of an Africa-specific donor health questionnaire for human immunodeficiency virus risk screening.

Background And Objectives: We had previously developed an Africa-specific donor health questionnaire (ASDHQ) based on local risk factors and designed a scoring scheme. This study assessed the performance of a new donor health questionnaire by comparing the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status in accepted versus deferred donors by ASDHQ and comparing the rate of risk deferrals with historical data.

Materials And Methods: Data were collected during a cross-sectional study conducted over 15 months at three referral-hospital-based blood services in Cameroon.

New insights into Human Pegivirus-1 (HPgV-1) genotypes diversity in sub-Saharan Africa.

In the framework of a viral discovery research program using metagenomics, Human Pegivirus-1 reads (HPgV-1, formerly known as GBV-C) were detected in plasma pools of healthy blood donors from seven sub-Saharan African countries. For five of these countries, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Burundi and Madagascar, no data about HPgV-1 genotypes was reported to date. To confirm our metagenomic findings and further investigate the genotype diversity and distribution of HPgV-1 in Africa, 400 blood donations from these five localities as well as from Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Burkina Faso were screened with a RT-nested PCR targeting the viral 5'NCR region.

Trends in serological markers of transfusion transmissible infections in blood donations at the Bamenda Hospital-based Blood Service, Cameroon.

Objectives: The rate and trend of transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) in blood donations from 2012 to 2017 at the Bamenda Regional Hospital Blood Service (BRHBS), Cameroon was assessed.

Materials And Methods: A six-year retrospective study was conducted by reviewing the records of donors. Blood was screened for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis.

Building capacities in research for blood services in Africa.

Background: Capacity building of African based blood services researchers has been identified as key in developing a sustainable programme of generation local evidence to support sound decision making. There are a number of research training programmes that have been instituted targeted at blood services in Africa. The article shares programme experiences of building research capacities for blood services in Africa.

Effects of HIV infection, antiretroviral therapy, and immune status on the speed of information processing and complex motor functions in adult Cameroonians.

HIV-associated neurocognitive deficits include impaired speed-of-information processing (SIP) and motor functions. There is lack of Cameroonian adult norms for assessing SIP or motor functions. This study of 683 Cameroonians (320 HIV+, 363 HIV-) establishes demographically-adjusted norms for six SIP [Wechsler-Adult-Intelligence-Scale (WAIS)-III Digit Symbol (WAIS-IIIDS) and Symbol Search (WAIS-IIISS), Stroop Color-Naming, Stroop Word-Reading, Trail-Making Test-A (TMT-A), Color Trails-1 (CTT1)], and two motor function [Grooved Pegboard-dominant (GP-DH) and non-dominant (GP-NDH) hands] tests.

The use of the Geenius HIV-1/2 Rapid confirmatory test for the enrolment of patients and blood donors in the WHO Universal Test and Treat Strategy in Cameroon, Africa.

Background And Objective: In the WHO Universal test and treat strategy, false-positive HIV blood donors and patients may be unnecessarily put under antiretroviral treatment and false-negative subjects may be lost to follow-up. This study assessed the false positivity rate of the Cameroonian national HIV screening testing algorithm and the benefit of a confirmation test in the enrolment of patients and donors in the HIV care programme.

Methods: We included initial HIV reactive blood donors and patients in a cross-sectional study conducted in two Cameroonian hospitals.

Variability in HIV-1 Integrase Gene and 3'-Polypurine Tract Sequences in Cameroon Clinical Isolates, and Implications for Integrase Inhibitors Efficacy.

Integrase strand-transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are now included in preferred first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV-infected adults. Studies of Western clade-B HIV-1 show increased resistance to INSTIs following mutations in integrase and nef 3'polypurine tract (3'-PPT). With anticipated shifts in Africa (where 25.

Attention/Working Memory, Learning and Memory in Adult Cameroonians: Normative Data, Effects of HIV Infection and Viral Genotype.

Objective: There is lack of Cameroonian adult neuropsychological (NP) norms, limited knowledge concerning HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa, and evidence of differential inflammation and disease progression based on viral subtypes. In this study, we developed demographically corrected norms and assessed HIV and viral genotypes effects on attention/working memory (WM), learning, and memory.

Method: We administered two tests of attention/WM [Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT)-50, Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS)-III Spatial Span] and two tests of learning and memory [Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R), Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R)] to 347 HIV+ and 395 seronegative adult Cameroonians.

Cytokine levels of interleukin-2 and 7 amongst antiretroviral therapy success and failure HIV patients attending the University Teaching Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Background: Immune reconstitution complications (IRC) are a major problem faced by HIV treated patients world wide. Interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-7 play vital roles in peripheral T-cell homeostasis. Our study objective was to measure and compare the blood plasma levels of IL-2 and IL-7 amongst antiretroviral therapy (ART) patients attending the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, Cameroon.

Occult hepatitis B infection among blood donors from Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Background: In Cameroon, the prevention of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission by blood transfusion is still only based on hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) screening. However, occult HBV infection (OBI) characterised by the absence of detectable HBsAg and low level of viral DNA remains a potential threat for blood safety. The prevalence of OBI was investigated in blood donors from Yaoundé to provide evidence-based recommendations to improve HBV blood safety.

Blood transfusion safety in sub-Saharan Africa: A literature review of changes and challenges in the 21st century.

Background: Access to a safe, adequate blood supply has proven challenging in sub-Saharan Africa, where systemic deficiencies spanning policy, collections, testing, and posttransfusion surveillance have long been recognized. Progress in transfusion safety in the early 2000s was in large part due to intervention by the World Health Organization and other foreign governmental bodies, coupled with an influx of external funding.

Study Design And Methods: A review of the literature was conducted to identify articles pertaining to blood safety in sub-Saharan Africa from January 2009 to March 2018.

Effects of HIV on executive function and verbal fluency in Cameroon.

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are frequently associated with impaired executive function and verbal fluency. Given limited knowledge concerning HAND in Sub-Saharan-Africa and lack of Cameroonian adult neuropsychological (NP) test norms, we administered four executive function [Halstead Category Test (HCT), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Color Trails-II (CTT2), and Stroop Color-Word-Interference (SCWT)] and three verbal fluency (Category, Action, and Letter Fluency) tests to 742 adult Cameroonians (395 HIV-, 347 HIV+). We developed demographically-corrected NP test norms and examined the effects of HIV and related variables on subjects' executive function and verbal fluency.

Blood transfusion in sub-Saharan Africa: understanding the missing gap and responding to present and future challenges.

Blood transfusion in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is at a crossroad. Significant recent developments may help meet local needs in safe blood products and fulfil a global health target, as highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO) Millennium and Sustainable Development Goals, in improving supply and safety, and ensuring the gradual implementation of selective haemotherapy. When WHO recommended the evaluation of convalescent blood or plasma to treat Ebola-infected patients during the recent epidemics, substantial gaps in local blood collection, testing and technology infrastructure and safety, as compared to best accepted quality standards, became evident.

High prevalence of cyclovirus Vietnam (CyCV-VN) in plasma samples from Madagascan healthy blood donors.

Cycloviruses, small ssDNA viruses belonging to the Circoviridae family, have been suggested as possible causes of enteric, respiratory and neurological disorders in human patients. One of these species, cyclovirus-Vietnam (CyCV-VN), initially isolated from cerebrospinal fluid samples of patients with unexplained neurological disorders, has since been reported in serum samples from chronically patients infected with HBV, HCV or HIV, in Italy. On the other hand, CyCV-VN was not detected in serum samples from healthy individuals.

Updated characteristics of blood services, donors and blood products in 11 French-speaking African countries.

Background And Objectives: The Francophone Africa Transfusion Research Network conducted the first large and comprehensive surveys on the status of blood safety in francophone African countries in 2009 and 2012. Since then, there has been substantial investment in blood safety but little is known about progress made in the region.

Materials And Methods: This multicentre cross-sectional study describes characteristics of blood services, donors and blood products and compares results with previous data.

Prevalence of anti-hepatitis C antibodies and its co-infection with HIV in rural Cameroon.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of the co-infection between the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), and the prevalence of factors associated with HCV transmission in a rural Cameroonian community.

Results: The mean age of the 174 participants included in the study was 30.3 (standard deviation = 13.

Gag P2/NC and pol genetic diversity, polymorphism, and drug resistance mutations in HIV-1 CRF02_AG- and non-CRF02_AG-infected patients in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

In HIV-1 subtype-B, specific mutations in Gag cleavage sites (CS) are associated with treatment failure, with limited knowledge among non-B subtypes. We analyzed non-B HIV-1 gag and pol (protease/reverse-transcriptase) sequences from Cameroonians for drug resistance mutations (DRMs) in the gag P2/NC CS, and pol major DRMs. Phylogeny of the 141 sequences revealed a high genetic diversity (12 subtypes): 67.

Risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus among blood donors in Cameroon: evidence for the design of an Africa-specific donor history questionnaire.

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa improving the deferral of at-risk blood donors would be a cost-effective approach to reducing transfusion-transmitted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. We performed a pilot case-control study to identify the risk factors for HIV infection and to develop an adapted donor history questionnaire (DHQ) for sub-Saharan Africa.

Study Design And Methods: We recruited 137 HIV-positive donors (cases) and 256 HIV-negative donors (controls) and gathered risk factor data using audio computer-assisted self-interview.