198 research outputs found
Why we should decolonise the narrative on zoonosis for sustainable health, wildlife, livestock and economic growth in Africa
Africa is often framed as a âhot spotâ of emerging infectious diseases, based on ill-informed and colonial understandings of zoonoses and their origins. A more accurate picture of what drives a virus with pandemic potential should instead focus on global financial centres that promote destructive forms of development. To better address known and future health concerns in Africa, a narrative change is needed that links evidenced research to the relationship between the environment, livestock, wildlife and growing economies
Genetic polymorphism of merozoite surface protein-1 and merozoite surface protein-2 in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
Impact of infectious disease epidemics on tuberculosis diagnostic, management, and prevention services: experiences and lessons from the 2014â2015 Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa
SummaryThe World Health Organization (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report 2015 states that 28% of the world's 9.6 million new tuberculosis (TB) cases are in the WHO Africa Region. The Mano River Union (MRU) countries of West AfricaâGuinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberiaâhave made incremental sustained investments into TB control programmes over the past two decades. The devastating Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak of 2014â2015 in West Africa impacted significantly on all sectors of the healthcare systems in the MRU countries, including the TB prevention and control programmes. The EVD outbreak also had an adverse impact on the healthcare workforce and healthcare service delivery. At the height of the EVD outbreak, numerous staff members in all MRU countries contracted EBV at the Ebola treatment units and died. Many healthcare workers were also infected in healthcare facilities that were not Ebola treatment units but were national hospitals and peripheral health units that were unprepared for receiving patients with EVD. In all three MRU countries, the disruption to TB services due to the EVD epidemic will no doubt have increased Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission, TB morbidity and mortality, and patient adherence to TB treatment, and the likely impact will not be known for several years to come . In this viewpoint, the impact that the EVD outbreak had on TB diagnostic, management, and prevention services is described. Vaccination against TB with BCG in children under 5 years of age was affected adversely by the EVD epidemic. The EVD outbreak was a result of global failure and represents yet another âwake-up callâ to the international community, and particularly to African governments, to reach a consensus on new ways of thinking at the national, regional, and global levels for building healthcare systems that can sustain their function during outbreaks. This is necessary so that other disease control programmes (like those for TB, malaria, and HIV) are not compromised during the emergency measures of a severe epidemic
Genetic polymorphism of merozoite surface protein 2 and prevalence of K76T pfcrt mutation in Plasmodium falciparum field isolates from Congolese children with asymptomatic infections
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In order to prepare the field site for future interventions, the prevalence of asymptomatic <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>infection was evaluated in a cohort of children living in Brazzaville. <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>merozoite surface protein 2 gene (<it>msp</it>2) was used to characterize the genetic diversity and the multiplicity of infection. The prevalence of mutant <it>P. falciparum </it>chloroquine resistance transporter (<it>pfcrt</it>) allele in isolates was also determined.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Between April and June 2010, 313 children below 10 years of age enrolled in the cohort for malaria surveillance were screened for <it>P. falciparum </it>infection using microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The children were selected on the basis of being asymptomatic. <it>Plasmodium falciparum msp2 </it>gene was genotyped by allele-specific nested PCR and the <it>pfcrt </it>K76T mutation was detected using nested PCR followed by restriction endonuclease digestion.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of asymptomatic <it>P. falciparum </it>infections was 8.6% and 16% by microscopy and by PCR respectively. Allele typing of the <it>msp2 </it>gene detected 55% and 45% of 3D7 and FC27 allelic families respectively. The overall multiplicity of infections (MOI) was 1.3. A positive correlation between parasite density and multiplicity of infection was found. The prevalence of the mutant <it>pfcrt </it>allele (T76) in the isolates was 92%.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This is the first molecular characterization of <it>P. falciparum </it>field isolates in Congolese children, four years after changing the malaria treatment policy from chloroquine (CQ) to artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). The low prevalence of asymptomatic infections and MOI is discussed in the light of similar studies conducted in Central Africa.</p
An ethics of anthropology-informed community engagement with COVID-19 clinical trials in Africa
The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the critical role of ethics and community engagement in designing and conducting clinical research during infectious disease outbreaks where no vaccine or treatment already exists. In reviewing current practices across Africa, we distinguish between three distinct roles for community engagement in clinical research that are often conflated: 1) the importance of community engagement for identifying and honouring cultural sensitivities; 2) the importance of recognising the socio-political context in which the research is proposed; and 3) the importance of understanding what is in the interest of communities recruited to research according to their own views and values. By making these distinctions, we show that current practice of clinical research could draw on anthropology in ways which are sometimes unnecessary to solicit local cultural values, overlook the importance of socio-political contexts and wider societal structures within which it works, potentially serving to reinforce unjust political or social regimes, and threaten to cast doubt on the trustworthiness of the research. We argue that more discerning anthropological engagement as well as wider collaboration with other social scientists and those working in the humanities is urgently needed to improve the ethics of current biomedical and pharmaceutical research practice in Africa
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome: need for increased vigilance and watchful surveillance for MERS-CoV in sub-Saharan Africa
Blue Skies research is essential for ending the Tuberculosis pandemic and advancing a personalized medicine approach for holistic management of Respiratory Tract infections
Objectives: Investments into âblue skiesâ fundamental TB research in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have not been forthcoming. We highlight why blue skies research will be essential for achieving global TB control and eradicating TB. // Methods: We review the historical background to early TB discovery research and give examples of where investments into basic science and fundamental âblue skies researchâ are delivering novel data and approaches to advance diagnosis, management and holistic care for patients with active and latent TB infection. // Findings: The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that making available adequate funding for priority investments into âBlue skies researchâ to delineate scientific understanding of a new infectious diseases threat to global health security can lead to rapid development and rollout of new diagnostic platforms, treatments, and vaccines. Several advances in new TB diagnostics, new treatments and vaccine development are underpinned by basic science research. // Conclusions: Basic science research focused can pave the way for a personalized medicine approach for management of TB and other Respiratory Tract Infections and preventing long-term functional disability. Transfer of skills and resources by wealthier nations is required to empower researchers in LMICs countries to engage in and lead basic science âblue skies research
Zika virus outbreak and the case for building effective and sustainable rapid diagnostics laboratory capacity globally
New and re-emerging pathogens with epidemic potential have threatened global health security for the past century.1 As with the recent Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic, the Zika Virus (ZIKV) outbreak has yet again surprised and overwhelmed the international health community with an unexpected event for which it might have been better prepared
Relevance of genomic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in Africa
BACKGROUND: The diversity in the lineages of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) was initially considered insignificant. However, comparative genomics analysis of MTBC have found genomic variation among the genotypes with potential phenotypic implications. OBJECTIVE: Therefore, this viewpoint seeks to discuss the impact of the identified genotypic diversity on the physiology of MTBC and the potential implications on TB control. RESULTS: Studies conducted in West Africa and other parts of Africa have unravelled the implications of the genomic diversity on phenotypes such as disease outcome, transmission dynamics and host immune response. The understanding of the phenotypic diversity among the different lineages of MTBC may be an important key to the fight against TB. CONCLUSION: The relevance of these differences has been observed in the design of new control tools such as diagnostics and anti-TB drugs/vaccines. This only points to the fact that the diversity in MTBC cannot be ignored in future studies especially clinical trials for new vaccines and new anti-TB drugs
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