Reduced levels of chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum in selected foci of the South West Province, Cameroon

A CAJM article on malaria parasites.The objectives of this study were firstly to evaluate the state of chloroquine resistant malaria in the South West Province 13 years after it was first reported and secondly, to obtain accurate information on the prevalence of the different species of Plasmodium in the area using the more sensitive PCR amplification technique

Antibiogram of Klebsiella Pneumoniae Isolates from Buea, Cameroon.

A CAJM article on Antibiogram of Klebsiella pneumoniae pathogen in Buea, Cameroon.Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important human pathogen that has been associated in recent decades with nosocomial outbreaks.They are important opportunistic pathogens, commonly isolated from urinary tract infections, surgical wounds, nosocomial pneumonia and bloodstream infections. These organisms are also an important source of transferable antibiotic resistance, and several outbreaks caused by multiple resistant K. pneumoniae, especially the extended-spectrum B-lactamase-producing(ESBL) strains of the types TEM and SHV have been reported

Acute Spotted Fever Rickettsiosis among Febrile Patients, Cameroon

Although potential arthropod vectors are abundant in Cameroon, acute febrile illnesses are rarely evaluated for arboviral or rickettsial infections. Serum samples from 234 acutely febrile patients at clinics in Tiko and Buea, Cameroon, were examined for antibodies to Rickettsia africae and African alphaviruses and flaviviruses. These serum samples did not contain antibodies against typhoid, and blood malarial parasites were not detected. Serum samples of 32% contained immunoglobulin M antibodies reactive with R. africae by immunofluorescence assay and were reactive with outer membrane proteins A and B of R. africae by immunoblotting. These findings established a diagnosis of acute rickettsiosis, most likely African tick-bite fever. Hemagglutination inhibition testing of the serum samples also detected antibodies to Chikungunya virus (47%) and flaviviruses (47%). High prevalence of antibodies to arboviruses may represent a major, previously unrecognized public health problem in an area where endemic malaria and typhoid fever have been the principal diagnostic considerations

Reduced levels of chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum in selected foci of the South West Province, Cameroon

The objectives of this study were firstly to evaluate the state of chloroquine resistant malaria in the South West Province 13 years after it was first reported and secondly, to obtain accurate information on the prevalence of the different species of Plasmodium in the area using the more sensitive PCR amplification technique

production and characterization of excretory/secretory products of

Onchocerca volvulus excretory/secretory products (ESP) free of host contaminants are often needed for immunologic and biochemical studies. Since prolonged in vitro survival of O. volvulus in culture requires the presence of human serum, as a supplement, it was necessary to investigate other culture medium supplements in which pure ESP could be generated. Thus heat-inactivated normal rabbit serum, fetal calf serum and the synthetic serum substitute Ultroser-G were tested for their abilities to sustain O. volvulus adult females and nodular microfilariae in vitro and their abilities to promote the synthesis and release of ESP. Using [35S]-methionine as the radioactive precursor, O. volvulus nodular microfilariae and adult females were shown to actively synthesize and release excretory/secretory proteins with increasing efficiency in human serum, rabbit serum, Ultroser-G and fetal calf serum. Analysis of the ESP by SDS-PAGE revealed that at least 30 polypeptides in the 7-174 kDa range were continuously released. About 14 of these components were immunogenic to the human host as shown by immunoprecipitation. Prominent antigenic polypeptides were those with relative molecular weights of 13, 16, 33, 68 and 170. Rabbit serum, fetal calf serum and Ultroser-G could therefore, conveniently replace human serum in cultures of O. volvulus nodular microfilariae and adult females

Expression and characterization of Ov-47, a dominant antigen of Onchocerca volvulus

The expression and characterization of a recombinant antigen termed Ov-47 are described. Ov-47 was identified and isolated from a lambda gt-11 eDNA expression library derived from adult female Onclrucercu volvukrs mRNA using rabbit antiserum raised against the surface proteins of O. vulvulcw female worms. The antiserum was earlier found to mediate, in vitro, cytoadherence and cytotoxicity reactions to microfilariae in the presence of heat-labile serum factors. The deduced amino acid sequence of the gene was assigned the ENIBL GenBank Accession No. Y t5993. The open reading frame (1077 bp) of the gene was then subcloned into pQE60 and expressed in Escherchia coli JM 109 cells. The gene encodes a protein with an apparent molecular weight of 47,0 Da as revealed by SDS-PAGE. Up to (00 Itg/ml pure Ov-47 recombinant protein could be isolated from E. coli cultures by Ni-agarose affinity chromatography. The 47-kDa protein was recognized by sera from both infected and endemic normal subjects. The parent protein was found to have a molecular weight of 60 kDa. IeG3 subclass responses to Ov-47 were significantly higher in endemic normals than in infected subjects (P < 0.05). In contrast, IgGy responses were higher in infected subjects than in endemic normals (P < 0.05). I?GZ response exhibited marked age dependency with lower responses in younger patients, which rose to higher levels in elderly patients. IgGt, IgG3, and IgG4 responses did not show any age dependency. This study clearly shows that Ov-47 is a dominant antigen of O. volvetlus adult worms with an important role in the host-parasite-interplay

Characterisation of a heparan sulfate proteoglycan homologue OVPG-1 from Onchocerca volvulus

Objective: To determine the role of an immunodominant antigen OvPG-1 in human onchocerciasis. Design: Cross-sectional study of subjects living in three onchocerciasis endemic areas. Setting: Mbonge and Tubah divisions of Western Cameroon and in Esmeralda Province of Ecuador. Subjects: There were 94 and 99 subjects from the Cameroon rain forest and savannah respectively, and 83 endemic residents from Ecuador. Results: The IgG2 anti-OvPG-1 responses of visually impaired and microfiladermic patients were significantly higher than for their age and sex matched counterparts with normal vision and no microfiladermia (p=0.024). Furthermore, the isotype specificity of anti-OvPG-I responses varied for the various onchocerciasis endemic zones. IgGl, IgG2, IgG3 and IgE levels correlated with the presence of microfilariae in Cameroon, but not in Ecuador. Conclusion: Increased IgG and IgE levels to the antigen OvPG-1 seem to correlate with the development of onchocercal eye pathology. The present results suggest that the OvPG1 is a dominant antigen of Onchocerca volvulus with a significant role in the pathogenesis of onchocerciasis

Seasonal variation and prevalence of tuberculosis among health seekers in the south western Cameroon

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in Fako health District, to assess the effects of seasonal variation on the incidence of TB in the study area and to use sentinel analysis to predict areas of greatest infection.Design: A prospective cross sectional study based on laboratory investigations.Setting: Fako health District, South Western Carneroon.Results: The prevalence of TB was 23.3%.Tuberculosis was significantly more prevalent in males (12.6%) as compared with females (10.7%) (P = 0.034). TB prevalence was significantly different between age groups, with the highest number of cases recorded in the age group 21-30 (P = 0.002).When the health areas were compared, TB prevalence varied significantly (P = 0.001), with Limbe Town recording the highest number of TB cases. We recorded more TB cases in the wet season compared with the dry season and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.000). Therewas a significant drop in the prevalence of TB over the study period (P = 0.000).Conclusion: This study is the first to report on the effects of season on the prevalence of TB in Cameroon. These findings will therefore provide additional useful base line data for setting upTB control strategies in Cameroon

PREVALENCE AND INTENSITY OF URINARY SCHISTOSOMIASIS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN OF THE KOTTO BAROMBI HEALTH AREA, CAMEROON

Objective: To assess the prevalence and intensity of urinary schistosomiasis in school pupilsaged five to sixteen years.Setting: Barombi Kotto Health Area, southwest Cameroon.Design: A cross-sectional study.Subjects: Three hundred and forty seven primary school children.Intervention: All children found to be infected were treated with praziquantel (biltricide).Main outcome measures: The study would be able to provide baseline information on theepidemiology of schistosomiasis which is vital for control strategies.Results: The overall prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium in the study areas was 53.6%,with the highest prevalence of 73.9% recorded in Barombi Kotto village. Children residenton Barombi Kotto island were more significantly infected than those on the peripheralmainland (93.3% versus 46.2%, p &lt; 0.01). Prevalence rate and intensity of infection did notvary significantly (p &gt; 0.05) with sex, class or age of the pupils. The mean egg count variedsignificantly between schools (p &lt; 0.001).Conclusion: Barombi Kotto village was identified as the focus of urinary schistosomiasis,with the highest recorded in children dwelling on the island, the surrounding lake being themain focus of transmission. Focal snail control as an adjunct of chemotherapy and intensivehealth education for the local population are strongly recommended as a means of reducingthe high infection rate in the area