Hemogram abnormalities in apparently healthy first-time blood donors in Libreville, Gabon

Background: The objective of this study was to determine complete blood count (CBC) abnormalities in Libreville blood donors to advocate for hemoglobin pre-donation implementation and to take into account CBC results in blood donation qualification.Methods: This retrospective study was conducted with 4,573 blood donors in March 2016 and from January to April 2017. CBC was performed using SysmexXP-300TM hematology analyzer (SYSMEX Corporation, Kobe, Japan).Results: Blood donors were predominantly males (83.7%) with an age ranging from 18 to 59 yrs. The abnormalities of leukocyte, platelet, and erythrocyte counts were determined in blood donors. Leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were significantly more common in men than women (29.02% vs 24.4%, p = 0.011 and 16.2% vs 7.5%, p < 0.001). Only 1.0% of women and 0.84% of men had leukocytosis, and 0.7% of women and 0.2% of men had thrombocytosis. Anemia was significantly more common in women compared to men (69.4% vs 45.0%, p < 0.001). Normocytic normochromic and normocytic hypochromic anemia were most common among Libreville blood donors with 39.4% and 23.6%; followed by microcytic normochromic (18.7%) and microcytic hypochromic (13.2%) anemia. Normocytic normochromic and normocytic hypochromic anemia were significantly more common in men than in women, whereas microcytic normochromic anemia was more prevalent among women compared to men (34.6% vs 13.9%, p < 0.001).Conclusions: The results of this study clearly show the need to perform a pre-donation hemoglobin test in blood donors and to take into account their hemogram in the blood donation selection process at the Libreville National Blood Transfusion Center.Keywords: hemogram, anemia, blood donors, Libreville, Gabo

ABO, Rhesus blood groups and transfusion-transmitted infections among blood donors in Gabon

Background: Few studies focused on the study of blood groups in Gabon. This study aimed to determine the phenotypic frequency of ABO and Rhesus antigens in blood donors of Libreville and to assess the association between ABO blood groups and transfusion-transmitted infections.Materials and Methods: The study of ABO and Rhesus blood groups concerned 4,744 blood donors. ABO and Rhesus phenotyping were obtained using monoclonal monospecific antisera: anti-A, anti-B, anti-AB, anti-D, anti-E, anti-C, anti-c, and anti-e with an automate (QWALYS® 3, DIAGAST, France) or a card gel (ID Card, BIO-RAD) according to manufacturer’s instructions.Results: The phenotypic frequency of blood group antigens A, B, AB and O were respectively 21.0%; 17.6%; 2.6% and 58.9%. Those of rhesus antigens D, d, C, c, E and e were 97.7%; 2.3%; 15.9%; 99.9%; 17.6%; 99.3%, respectively. The prevalence of ABO and Rh antigens in Gabonese donors reported here are significantly different from those of neighboring countries. No association was found between the prevalence of HIV, HCV and syphilis and ABO blood groups. Instead, HBV seroprevalence was twice as high among non-O blood groups donors compared with blood group O donors [OR = 2 (CI 1.26 to 3.2), p = 0.003].Conclusions: This study provides new data on phenotypic frequency of ABO and Rh blood groups in a representative sample of the Gabonese blood donor population. It suggests a significant association between ABO blood group and HBV infection

Acceptability of neonatal sickle cell disease screening among parturient women at the Paul Moukambi Regional Hospital in rural Eastern Gabon, Central Africa

Neonatal screening and the effective management of sickle cell disease (SCD) are now well established in urban areas in some sub-Saharan African countries. The high rate of sickle cell trait in Koula-Moutou, Gabon, prompted an assessment of the psycho-clinical context of the introduction of neonatal screening in this rural area in eastern Gabon. Interviews were conducted with 215 women from February to June 2016 in Maternity and Maternal Child Protection services at the Paul Moukambi Regional Hospital Center in Koula-Moutou. Few childbearing women knew about SCD (24%), very few (6%) knew their hemoglobin status and only 30% of parturient women authorized sampling for neonatal SCD screening. Young mothers aged 16-28 years (p=0.018) and those who were educated (p=0.002) were more likely to authorize neonatal blood screening. There was no association between acceptance of blood sampling and knowledge of SCD or the parturient woman’s hemoglobin status. The barriers to acceptance for SCD neonatal diagnosis are related to the education and culture rather than the knowledge of this disease. Introduction of diagnosis in rural areas requires a team comprising a psychosocial worker and health workers known to the rural population, to remove inhibitions related to blood collection from newborn infants

Caractérisation de la flore bactérienne des péritonites communautaires opérées au Burkina Faso

Introduction: La péritonite communautaire est une urgence chirurgicale récurrente chez l'adulte qui constitue une préoccupation majeure pour le chirurgien et l'anesthésiste-réanimateur dans sa prise en charge. L'objectif de cette étude était d'établir non seulement le profil bactériologique des péritoniques communautaires opérées dans le service de chirurgie générale et digestive du CHU-YO mais aussi  d'évaluer la sensibilité aux antibiotiques des souches bactériennes isolées à partir de ces dernières. Méthodes: Cent six (106) patients ont été recrutés dans cette étude et des prélèvements  bactériologiques préopératoires ont été effectués dont 63 se sont révélés positifs. Résultats: Sur les 63 prélèvements positifs, 78 germes ont été isolés soit une moyenne de 1,2 germe  par échantillon. Escherichia coli été le germe le plus fréquemment isolé (33,3%), suivi des anaérobies (11,5%), Streptococcus sp (9%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (6,4%) et Staphylococcus sp (5,1%). Les  antibiotiques les plus efficaces sur les bactéries identifiées dans les péritonites communautaires étaient respectivement l'imipenème (100%), la colistine (100%), la céftriaxone (100%), et la ciprofloxacine  (65,4%) Conclusion: Le profil de sensibilité des bactéries identifiées dans les principales péritonites  communautaires aux  antibiotiques montre une augmentation inquiétante du nombre de souches résistantes, notamment à  l'association amoxicilline/acide clavulaniqueKey words: Péritonites communautaires, antibiothérapie, bactériologi

Hemogram abnormalities in apparently healthy first-time blood donors in Libreville, Gabon.

Background: The objective of this study was to determine complete blood count (CBC) abnormalities in Libreville blood donors to advocate for hemoglobin pre-donation implementation and to take into account CBC results in blood donation qualification. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted with 4573 blood donors in March 2016 and from January to April 2017. CBC was performed using SysmexXP-300TM hematology analyzer (SYSMEX Corporation, Kobe, Japan). Results: Blood donors were predominantly males (83.7%) with an age ranging from 18 to 59 years. The abnormalities of leukocyte, platelet and erythrocyte counts were determined in blood donors. Leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were significantly more common in men than women (29.02% vs 24.4%, p = 0.011 and 16.2% vs 7.5%, p <0.001). Only 1.0% of women and 0.84% of men have leukocytosis, and 0.7% of women and 0.2% of men have thrombocytosis. Anemia was significantly more common in women compared to men (69.4% vs. 45.0%, P <0.001). Normocytic normochromic and normocytic hypochromic anemia were most common among Libreville blood donors with 39.4% and 23.6%; followed by microcytic normochromic (18.7%) and microcytic hypochromic (13.2%) anemia. Normocytic normochromic and normocytic hypochromic anemia were significantly more common in men than in women, whereas microcytic normochromic anemia was more prevalent among women compared to men (34.6% vs. 13.9%, p <0.001). Conclusions: The results of this study clearly show the need to perform a pre-donation hemoglobin test in blood donors and to take into account their hemogram in the blood donation selection process at the Libreville National Blood Transfusion Center. Keywords: Hemogram, Anemia, Blood Donors, Libreville, Gabon

Seroprevalence Of Syphilis Among Pregnant Women At The Omar Bongo Ondimba Regional Hospital In Makokou, North-East Of Gabon

ABSTRACTSyphilis is a major public health problem worldwide. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with this infection among pregnant women. These women were received for a prenatal consultation in 2022 at the laboratory of the Omar Bongo Ondimba Regional Hospital of Makokou (OBORHM), Northeast of Gabon.Patients and Methods: Conducted from April 11 to June 11, 2022, this retrospective, cross-sectional study was based on registers containing sociodemographic information, obstetrical data, and results of examinations for the detection of Treponema pallidum in the pregnant women in the study. Data were analyzed using R software and results were considered significant at a p value ≤ 0.05.Results: A total of 215 records were collected. Of these, 5 were positive for syphilis, indicating an overall prevalence of 2.33% (95% CI: [0.01- 0.53]). Univariate analysis of syphilis prevalence by sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics showed that being between 31 and 40 years of age (Odds Ratio = 7.01; 95% CI [1.13;43.44], p=0.000), and being single (Odds Ratio = 10.0; 95% CI [1.1;91.31] p=0.013), were significantly associated with syphilis prevalence.Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated the existence of syphilis among pregnant women, which can be transmitted to the child in Makokou. They may raise awareness among the population. Emphasis should be placed on systematic screening during prenatal visits of pregnant women.in Gabon.Keywords: Prevalence; Syphilis; Pregnant women; Makokou; Gabo

Towards the complete eradication of mother-to-child HIV/HBV coinfection at Saint Camille Medical Centre in Burkina Faso, Africa

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Decrease on malaria clinical cases from 2017 to 2019 in Franceville, Southeast Gabon, Central Africa

Background. In Gabon, malaria remains a major public health problem. All malaria cases with axillary temperature ≥ 37.5°C with a parasites density ≥ 1200/μL are serious cases and must be treated as a medical emergency. Thus, early diagnosis is essential for successful treatment. Because of the impact of malaria on the population, the surveillance of malaria infections in hospitals is urgently needed. The aim of this study was to to assess of clinical cases of malaria in a private health structure in Franceville between 2017 and 2019.Methods. For that, we conducted a retrospective study using data on malaria cases recorded in a private medical analysis laboratory in Franceville, southeast Gabon. Malaria was diagnosed in this laboratory using a Rapid Diagnostic Test and confirmed by microscopic analysis.Results. Analysis of 2518 patient forms revealed an increase in malaria prevalence in Franceville between 2017-2019. The global clinical cases was 26.1% (658/2015). Children under 5 years (44.0%) and patients aged 5-14 years (40.1%) were more affected than patients aged ≥15 years (18.8%, P=0.0001). Malaria infection was also significantly dependent on season and gender. We observed at least three Plasmodium species and the predominant Plasmodium species was P. falciparum 80.0%, followed by P. ovale (19.5%) and P. malariae (17.8%).Conclusion. Our study showed that malaria remains a public health priority for the population of Franceville and that the prevalence of clinical cases of malaria at the laboratory decrease between 2017 and 2019. Our results highlight the need for strategies to control malaria in Franceville, adapted to epidemiological contexts and environmental constraint

CD4 intragenic SNPs associate with HIV-2 plasma viral load and CD4 count in a community-based study from Guinea-Bissau, West Africa.

OBJECTIVES: The human genetics of HIV-2 infection and disease progression is understudied. Therefore, we studied the effect of variation in 2 genes that encode products critical to HIV pathogenesis and disease progression: CD4 and CD209. DESIGN: This cross-sectional study consisted of 143 HIV-2, 30 HIV-1 + HIV-2 and 29 HIV-1-infected subjects and 194 uninfected controls recruited from rural Guinea-Bissau. METHODS: We genotyped 14 CD4 and 4 CD209 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were tested for association with HIV infection, HIV-2 plasma viral load (high vs. low), and CD4 T-cell count (high vs. low). RESULTS: The most significant association was between a CD4 haplotype rs11575097-rs10849523 and high viral load [odds ratio (OR): = 2.37, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.35 to 4.19, P = 0.001, corrected for multiple testing], suggesting increased genetic susceptibility to HIV-2 disease progression for individuals carrying the high-risk haplotype. Significant associations were also observed at a CD4 SNP (rs2255301) with HIV-2 infection (OR: = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.19 to 4.65, P = 0.01) and any HIV infection (OR: = 2.50, 95% CI: 1.34 to 4.69, P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Our results support a role of CD4 polymorphisms in HIV-2 infection, in agreement with recent data showing that CD4 gene variants increase risk to HIV-1 in Kenyan female sex workers. These findings indicate at least some commonality in HIV-1 and HIV-2 susceptibility