Recherche du réservoir animal sauvage de Trypanosoma sp chez les mammifères de N'Djili-Brasseries à Kinshasa en République Démocratique du Congo (RDC)

Durant 6 mois, 201 spécimens de mammifères sauvages représentant 7 espèces réparties en 6 genres, 4 familles et 3 ordres, dont 2 Genetta angolensis, 3 Nandinia binotata, 10 Galagoides demidoff, 35 Protoxerus strangeri, 73 Funisciurus congicus, 15 Rattus rattus et 63 Rattus norvegicus, ont été capturés dans le quartier N’Djili-Brasseries en vue d’identifier le réservoir animal sauvage des trypanosomes. La présente étude a montré par la méthode de la réaction de polymérisation en chaîne, ou Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), que de ces sept espèces, seule  Rattus rattus et Rattus norvegicus capturées dans le secteur habité par l’homme avaient Trypanosoma brucei gambiense avec une prévalence de 13,3 % pour  Rattus rattus et 9,5 % pour  Rattus norvegicus, ce qui nous conduit à conclure que ces deux espèces seraient réservoirs de Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. Mots clés: Réservoir, Trypanosoma sp, mammifères, N’Djili-Brasseries, Kinshasa.During 6 months, 201 specimens of wild mammals representing 7 species divided into 6 genera, 4 families and 3 orders, of which 2 Genetta angolensis, 3 Nandinia binotata, 10 Galagoides demidoff, 35 Protoxerus strangeri, 73 Funisciurus congicus, 15 Rattus rattus and 63 Rattus norvegicus, were captured at N’Djili- Brasserie to identify the wild animal reservoir of trypanosoma. This study revealed by using the method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that among these seven species, only Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus, captured in the area inhabited by man, had Trypanosoma brucei gambiense with a prevalence of 13.3 % for Rattus rattus and 9.5 % for Rattus norvegicus. This lead us to conclude that these two species would be reservoir of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. Keywords: Reservoir, Trypanosoma sp, mammals, N’Djili-Brasseries, Kinshasa

Molecular, antigenic, and pathogenic characterization of H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses isolated in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2017

In May 2017, high mortality of chickens and Muscovy ducks due to the H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) was reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). In this study, we assessed the molecular, antigenic, and pathogenic features in poultry of the H5N8 HPAIV from the 2017 Congolese outbreaks. Phylogenetic analysis of the eight viral gene segments revealed that all 12 DR Congo isolates clustered in clade 2.3.4.4B together with other H5N8 HPAIVs isolated in Africa and Eurasia, suggesting a possible common origin of these viruses. Antigenically, a slight difference was observed between the Congolese isolates and a representative virus from group C in the same clade. After intranasal inoculation with a representative DR Congo virus, high pathogenicity was observed in chickens and Muscovy ducks but not in Pekin ducks. Viral replication was higher in chickens than in Muscovy duck and Pekin duck organs; however, neurotropism was pronounced in Muscovy ducks. Our data confirmed the high pathogenicity of the DR Congo virus in chickens and Muscovy ducks, as observed in the field. National awareness and strengthening surveillance in the region are needed to better control HPAIVs

Reasons of non-vaccination of dogs by owners (n = 64) in Lemba commune, Kinshasa/DRC.

<p>Reasons of non-vaccination of dogs by owners (n = 64) in Lemba commune, Kinshasa/DRC.</p

The spatial distribution of human clinical cases of rabies in Kinshasa from 2003 to 2016.

<p>The spatial distribution of human clinical cases of rabies in Kinshasa from 2003 to 2016.</p

Dog characteristics associated to rabies vaccination.

<p>Dog characteristics associated to rabies vaccination.</p

Dog-owning households’ characteristics associated to dog rabies vaccination.

<p>Dog-owning households’ characteristics associated to dog rabies vaccination.</p

Knowledge factors associated to dog rabies vaccination.

<p>Knowledge factors associated to dog rabies vaccination.</p

Determinants of dog owner-charged rabies vaccination in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

<div><p>Rabies is a preventable fatal disease that causes about 61,000 human deaths annually around the world, mostly in developing countries. In Africa, several studies have shown that vaccination of pets is effective in controlling the disease. An annual vaccination coverage of 70% is recommended by the World Health Organization as a control threshold. The effective control of rabies requires vaccination coverage of owned dogs. Identification of the factors determining dog owners’ choice to vaccinate is necessary for evidence-based policy-making. However, for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the limited data on rabies vaccination coverage makes it difficult for its control and formulation of appropriate policies. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kinshasa (Lemba commune) with dog-owning households and owned dogs as study populations. The association between dog vaccination and independent factors (household socio-demographics characteristics, dog characteristics, knowledge of rabies and location of veterinary offices/clinics) was performed with Epi-info 7. The Odds Ratio (OR) and p-value < 0.05 were used to determine levels of significance. A total of 166 households owning dogs and 218 owned dogs were investigated. 47% of the dogs had been vaccinated within one year preceding the survey which is higher than the critical coverage (25 to 40%) necessary to interrupt rabies transmission but below the 70% threshold recommended by WHO for control. The determinants of vaccination included socio-economic level of the household (OR = 2.9, p<0.05), formal education level of the dog owner (OR = 4, p<0.05), type of residence (OR = 4.6, p<0.05), knowledge of rabies disease (OR = 8.0, p<0.05), knowledge of location of veterinary offices/clinics (OR = 3.4, p<0.05), dog gender (OR = 1.6, p<0.05) and dog breed (OR = 2.1, p<0.05). This study shows that the vaccination coverage in this area can easily reach the WHO threshold if supplemented by mass vaccination campaigns.</p></div

Seroprevalence of Rift Valley fever virus in cattle in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

This study aimed at assessing the serological and virological status of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) in cattle from four climatically diverse zones of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). A total of 1675 sera samples collected between 2014 and 2015 from cattle without clinical manifestation of RVF infection were tested using competitive and capture enzyme ELISA to detect both IgG and IgM. RT-PCR was used for the detection of nucleic acid of RVFV. Out of the 1675 cattle sera tested, 203 were found to be IgG-positive, giving an overall true seroprevalence of 12.37% (95% CI 10.86-14.05). This seroprevalence varied between the four zones with a seroprevalence of 16.16% (95% CI 12.86-20.12), 14.70% (95% CI 11.72-18.29), 10.82% (95% CI 7.19-14.19), and 7.34% (95% CI 5.13-10.41) recorded in cattle sampled in the mountainous, humid savannah, dry savannah, and forest zones, respectively (p&lt;0.05, (2)=17.26). A higher true seroprevalence of 14.58% (95% CI 9.3-22.13) was found in animals aged 1year compared to 10.43% (95% CI 8.12-13.30) and 13.16% (95% CI 11.19-15.42) in groups aged between 2-3 and &gt;3years, respectively, although the difference was not statistically significant (p&gt;0.05, (2)=2.95). Similarly, no statistically significant difference (p&gt;0.05, (2)=0.04) was found between the sexes of the animals. Among the IgG-positive samples screened for anti-RVFV IgM, only 1.47% (3/203) was IgM-positive. One of the IgM-positive samples was positive by RT-PCR. These findings reveal country-wide distribution of RVF in the DRC for the first time