Asymptomatic Malaria Infection and Hidden Parasitic Burden in Gabonese Schoolchildren: Unveiling Silent Co-Infections in Rural and Urban Settings.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of co-infection with malaria and intestinal parasites and assess its association with anemia in school-aged children from rural and urban settlements in Gabon. This cross-sectional study involved afebrile school children recruited at schools between May and June 2021. Blood and stool samples were collected from participants whose parents or legal guardians provided informed consent to participate in the study.

Toxoplasma gondii from Gabonese forest, Central Africa: First report of an African wild strain.

The protozoan Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous and highly prevalent parasite that can theoretically infect all warm-blooded vertebrates. In humans, toxoplasmosis causes infections in both immunodeficient and immunocompetent patients, congenital toxoplasmosis, and ocular lesions. These manifestations have different degrees of severity.

Epidemiology and diversity of Plasmodium species in Franceville and their implications for malaria control.

Malaria is a significant public health challenge in Gabon, with high prevalence rates in rural and semi-urban areas. This study investigated Plasmodium infection prevalence among outpatients at a medical laboratory in Franceville, Gabon, in 2020. Data from 500 patients were analyzed, revealing an overall infection rate of 33.

The Influence of Age, Sex, and Season on Hematological Parameters in a Captive Population of Former Laboratory Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

This study aimed to establish a baseline hematological profile and examine the influence of age, sex, and season on hematological parameters in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) living in a humid tropical climate. Hematological parameters are a useful tool for assessing health status and diagnosing diseases in animals. We analyzed 473 blood samples collected from 84 chimpanzees (43 females and 41 males) during annual health checks, conducted under anesthesia for a routine physical examination.

Serological evidence of natural exposure to rabies in rural populations in Gabon.

Rabies is one of the oldest known zoonotic diseases, with dogs being the main reservoir for 99% of the cases of human rabies. However, wild animals may also be rabies vectors. In most cases, contact with a rabid animal results in rabies without pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis, and the disease is nearly always fatal.

Great ape abundance and per capita carbon storage in their habitats.

The ecological importance of great apes is widely recognised, yet few studies have highlighted the role of protecting great apes' habitats in mitigating climate change, particularly through carbon sequestration. This study used GIS tools to extract data from various sources, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature database, to examine carbon quantity and great ape abundance in African great ape habitats. Subsequently, we employed a generalised linear model to assess the relationship between locally measured great ape populations abundance and carbon storage across areas with different levels of protection.

A chromosomal reference genome sequence for the malaria mosquito, , Theobald, 1903.

We present a genome assembly from an individual female (the malaria mosquito; Arthropoda; Insecta; Diptera; Culicidae) from Lopé, Gabon. The genome sequence is 225.7 megabases in span.

SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Seroprevalence in Gabon: Findings from a Nationwide Household Serosurvey in a Sub-Saharan Africa Country.

Seroconversion surveys of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies provide accurate estimates of the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections. This nationwide population-based cross-sectional serosurvey aimed to evaluate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among residents in Gabon and compare the estimated cumulative number of COVID-19 cases with the officially registered number of laboratory-confirmed cases up to December 2021. Households in each province were randomly selected.

Chromosomal reference genome sequences for the malaria mosquito, , Laveran, 1900.

We present genome assembly from individual female (African malaria mosquito; Arthropoda; Insecta; Diptera; Culicidae) from Lopé, Gabon. The genome sequence is 270 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into three chromosomal pseudomolecules with the X sex chromosome assembled for both species.

Safety and efficacy of praziquantel in pregnant women infected with Schistosoma haematobium in Lambaréné, Gabon - Clinical results from the randomized, single-blinded, controlled freeBILy-Gabon trial.

Objectives: Despite evidence of praziquantel's (PZQ) safety for treating schistosomiasis in pregnancy, many countries withhold treatment. Only two randomized controlled trials have investigated PZQ in pregnancy, none involving Schistosoma haematobium.

Methods: Pregnant women during the second trimester in Lambaréné (Gabon) were screened for S.

Neopterin production in relation to COVID-19 in the Haut-Ogooué Province, Gabon.

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, understanding of the immune process associated with the COVID-19 pandemic remains scarce. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between plasma neopterin concentrations and COVID-19 infection, focusing on changes over time and age-related changes in immune response.

Methods: A retrospective case study was conducted during the first wave of COVID-19 from March to August 2020.

Antimicrobial Plants Used by Fang Populations and Phytochemical Profiling of .

Gabon has a rich flora, many species of which are used in traditional medicine. However, little research has been carried out on this wealth. An ethnopharmacological survey in the Fang language was carried out among traditional practitioners to collect antimicrobial medicinal plants.

Drug-induced hepatotoxicity and association with slow acetylation variants NAT2*5 and NAT2*6 in Cameroonian patients with tuberculosis and HIV co-infection.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) are major contributors to morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa including Cameroon. Pharmacogenetic variants could serve as predictors of drug-induced hepatotoxicity (DIH), in patients with TB co-infected with HIV. We evaluated the occurrence of DIH and pharmacogenetic variants in Cameroonian patients.

Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of Bat Hepatitis B Viruses in Bat Species Living in Gabon.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection leads to around 800,000 deaths yearly and is considered to be a major public health problem worldwide. However, HBV origins remain poorly understood. Here, we looked for bat HBV (BtHBV) in different bat species in Gabon to investigate the role of these animals as carriers of ancestral hepadnaviruses because these viruses are much more diverse in bats than in other host species.

An early-life challenge: becoming an older sibling in wild mandrills.

In monotocous mammals, most individuals experience the birth of a younger sibling. This period may induce losses in maternal care and can be physiologically, energetically and emotionally challenging for the older sibling, yet has rarely been studied in wild primates. We used behavioural data collected from a natural population of mandrills to investigate changes in maternal care and mother-juvenile relationship throughout the transition to siblinghood (TTS), by comparing juveniles who recently experienced the birth of a younger sibling, to juveniles who did not.

First Detection of Antibodies Specific to Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in Rural Populations of Gabon.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne viral disease with a mortality rate reaching up to 40% in humans. Currently, CCHF affects three continents: Asia, Europe, and Africa. An increase in confirmed cases in Africa has been observed since 2000.

No evidence of mpox virus circulation in putative animal reservoirs in Gabon wildlife.

Objectives: Mpox is a neglected viral endemic tropical disease in Central and Western African countries transmitted to humans by an animal. However, the natural reservoir of the virus remains elusive. In this study, we looked for potential reservoirs of the mpox virus (MPXV) in Gabonese wildlife to prevent future outbreaks and enrich the literature with additional data on animal reservoirs.

Extensive variation and strain-specificity in dengue virus susceptibility among African Aedes aegypti populations.

African populations of the mosquito Aedes aegypti are usually considered less susceptible to infection by human-pathogenic flaviviruses than globally invasive populations found outside Africa. Although this contrast has been well documented for Zika virus (ZIKV), it is unclear to what extent it is true for dengue virus (DENV), the most prevalent flavivirus of humans. Addressing this question is complicated by substantial genetic diversity among DENV strains, most notably in the form of four genetic types (DENV1 to DENV4), that can lead to genetically specific interactions with mosquito populations.

Identification of termites from Gabon using MALDI-TOF MS.

Termites are one of the most common pests that damage wood and other cellulosic materials Although Africa has more varieties of termite species than any other continent, few entomological studies have been conducted in Gabon. Identifying termites poses significant difficulties for entomologists. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and confirm the significance of MALDI-TOF MS in identifying fresh termites collected in equatorial Africa.