Prevalence of Antiretroviral Drug Resistance Mutations and HIV-1 Subtypes among Newly-diagnosed Drugna\uefve Persons Visiting a Voluntary Testing and Counselling Centre in Northeastern South Africa

Data on antiretroviral drug resistance among drug-na\uefve persons are important in developing sentinel surveillance policies. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of antiretroviral drug resistance mutations among drug-na\uefve HIV-infected individuals attending a voluntary testing and counselling centre at the Mankweng Hospital in northeastern South Africa. In total, 79 drug-na\uefve HIV-positive individuals were sequentially recruited during February 2008-December 2008. Drug resistance mutations were determined using the calibrated population resistance tool available on the Stanford HIV drug resistance database. Viral DNA was obtained from 57 (72%) of the 79 individuals. Reliable nucleotide sequences were obtained for 54 reverse transcriptase (RT) and 54 protease (PR) gene regions from 54 individuals. Overall, five sequences (9.3%) harboured drug resistance mutations (95% confidence interval -1.53 to 16.99). Four (7.4%) of these were nucleoside RT inhibitor mutations (D67G, D67E, T69D, and T215Y), and one (1.9%) was a PR inhibitor mutation (M46I). No major non-nucleoside RT resistance mutation was detected. Several minor resistance mutations and polymorphisms common in subtype C viruses were observed in the PR and RT genes. Phylogenetic analysis of the partial pol sequences showed that 52 (96%) of the 54 isolates were HIV-1 subtype C. One isolate (08MB08ZA) was HIV-1 subtype B while another (08MB26ZA) was related to HIV-1 subtype J. HIV-1 subtype recombination analysis with REGA assigned the pol sequence to HIV subtype J (11_cpx) with a bootstrap value of 75%. The prevalence of drug resistance mutations observed in the population studied was relatively higher than previously reported from other parts of South Africa. In addition, this is apparently the first report of an HIV-1 subtype J-like virus from northeastern South Africa

Beta-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Isolates Recovered from Pig Handlers in Retail Shops and Abattoirs in Selected Localities in Southern Nigeria: Implications for Public Health

Antibiotic resistance evolution among pathogenic microorganisms has become a huge burden globally as it has increased the burden of diseases amongst humans and animals. The prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-Ec) and metallo beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (MBL-Ec) isolated from pig abattoir and handlers in retail shops was studied. In addition, the relationship between the isolates’ prevalence and the background characteristics of the butchers/retailers was also investigated. Samples from 32 hand swabs of pork sellers at retail shops and 8 butchers at abattoirs, as well as 272 swabs taken from knives, tables, floors, water troughs, and carcasses from both retail shops and abattoirs, were collected. Escherichia coli (E. coli) was isolated from hand swabs, fomites, and carcasses and were identified by standard microbiological procedures. The isolates susceptibility to nitrofurantoin (300 µg), ciprofloxacin (5 µg), ceftazidime (30 µg), cefuroxime (30 µg), gentamicin (10 µg), cefixime (5 µg), ofloxacin (5 µg), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (30 µg), imipenem (10 µg), and meropenem (10 µg) and their ability to produce ESBL and MBL was determined by phenotypic methods. Demographic information of the handlers was retrieved by means of a structured questionnaire and, in some cases, via face to face interviews. Out of 104 E. coli isolates from both sources, 52 (50.0%) and 8 (7.7%) were ESBL and MBL producers, respectively. ESBL was more prevalent on the hands of the retailers (40.6%) and butchers (75.0%). The isolates were 100% resistant to ceftazidime, cefotaxime, and amoxicillin–clavulanic acid and 4.8% resistant to nitrofurantoin. Diverse resistance patterns were observed among ESBL-Ec and MBL-Ec. It was found that 90% of ESBL-Ec and 100% of MBL-Ec were multidrug-resistant. A possible epidemiological link between the two sources was observed. The prevalence of E. coli ESBL- and MBL-producing isolates was associated with the duty performed by handlers (p = 0.012) and gender (p = 0.012). Our results provide evidence that the handlers’ hands and abattoir environment had a great role to play in the high prevalence and resistance profiles of the microorganisms

Global Status of Porcine circovirus Type 2 and Its Associated Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa

Globally, Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is a recognized viral pathogen of great economic value in pig farming. It is the major cause of ravaging postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and many other disease syndromes generally regarded as Porcine circovirus associated diseases (PCVAD) in Europe. PCV2 infections, specifically PMWS, had impacted huge economic loss on swine production at different regions of the world. It has been studied and reported at different parts of the globe including: North and South America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, Middle East, and the Caribbean. However, till date, this virus and its associated diseases have been grossly understudied in sub-Sahara African region and the entire continent at large. Two out of forty-nine, representing just about 4% of countries that make up sub-Sahara Africa presently, have limited records on reported cases and occurrence of the viral pathogen despite the ubiquitous nature of the virus. This review presents an overview of the discovery of Porcine circovirus and its associated diseases in global pig herds and emphasizes the latest trends in PCV2 vaccines and antiviral drugs development and the information gaps that exist on the occurrence of this important viral pathogen in swine herds of sub-Saharan Africa countries. This will serve as wake-up call for immediate and relevant actions by stakeholders in the region

Prevalence and capsular type distribution of Streptococcus agalactiae isolated from pregnant women in Namibia and South Africa

Abstract Background Streptococcus agalactiae or Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality resulting in septicaemia, bacteraemia and meningitis. Long term problems in children range from loss of hearing to mental retardation. While Intrapartum Antibiotic Prophylaxis (IAP) has reduced the incidence of S. agalactiae infection, it still remains the leading cause of disease in neonates. GBS has ten capsular types whose distribution varies across the world. Therefore, this study sought to determine the prevalence of GBS in Namibia and South Africa amongst pregnant women between 35 and 37 weeks gestation and elucidate the capsular types. Methods Lower vaginal and rectal swabs were collected from pregnant women between 35 and 37 weeks gestation. Five hundred and thirty pregnant women were recruited into the study in Windhoek, Namibia while one hundred pregnant women were recruited in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The swabs were cultured on 5% sheep blood agar (Biomerieux, New Jersey, USA) for isolation of GBS. Presumptive isolates were confirmed using both the Vitek (2) and molecular techniques targeting the scpB gene. Capsular typing was performed in a multiplex PCR with capsular specific primer pairs. Results The prevalence of GBS in Namibia was 13.6 and 37% in South Africa respectively. In both countries most women were dually colonised with GBS. Capsular types II, III and V were the most prevalent. Conclusions The prevalence of GBS in Namibia was lower than in South Africa in this study. The prevalence in both countries was not different from those reported in other African countries and around the world. The predominant capsular types in this study are the ones commonly associated with adverse maternal outcomes

Prevalence of Antiretroviral Drug Resistance Mutations and HIV-1 Subtypes among Newly-diagnosed Drugnaïve Persons Visiting a Voluntary Testing and Counselling Centre in Northeastern South Africa

Data on antiretroviral drug resistance among drug-naïve persons are important in developing sentinel surveillance policies. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of antiretroviral drug resistance mutations among drug-naïve HIV-infected individuals attending a voluntary testing and counselling centre at the Mankweng Hospital in northeastern South Africa. In total, 79 drug-naïve HIV-positive individuals were sequentially recruited during February 2008-December 2008. Drug resistance mutations were determined using the calibrated population resistance tool available on the Stanford HIV drug resistance database. Viral DNA was obtained from 57 (72%) of the 79 individuals. Reliable nucleotide sequences were obtained for 54 reverse transcriptase (RT) and 54 protease (PR) gene regions from 54 individuals. Overall, five sequences (9.3%) harboured drug resistance mutations (95% confidence interval -1.53 to 16.99). Four (7.4%) of these were nucleoside RT inhibitor mutations (D67G, D67E, T69D, and T215Y), and one (1.9%) was a PR inhibitor mutation (M46I). No major non-nucleoside RT resistance mutation was detected. Several minor resistance mutations and polymorphisms common in subtype C viruses were observed in the PR and RT genes. Phylogenetic analysis of the partial pol sequences showed that 52 (96%) of the 54 isolates were HIV-1 subtype C. One isolate (08MB08ZA) was HIV-1 subtype B while another (08MB26ZA) was related to HIV-1 subtype J. HIV-1 subtype recombination analysis with REGA assigned the pol sequence to HIV subtype J (11_cpx) with a bootstrap value of 75%. The prevalence of drug resistance mutations observed in the population studied was relatively higher than previously reported from other parts of South Africa. In addition, this is apparently the first report of an HIV-1 subtype J-like virus from northeastern South Africa