6 research outputs found
Epidemiology of rotavirus diarrhea in children under 5 years in Northern Cameroon
Background: Rotavirus still remains the major cause of diarrhea in children below 5 years. No data on rotavirus epidemiology is available in the Northern regions of Cameroon. We aimed to determine the prevalence of group A rotavirus (RVA) in children below 5 years with diarrhea in two regions of Northern Cameroon (North West and Far North Regions) so as to improve our knowledge on the burden of rotavirus disease for imminent introduction of a rotavirus vaccine. Methods: Stool samples were collected during 2010 and 2011 from 390 children below 5 years presenting with diarrhea in four hospitals in Northern Cameroon and were screened for rotavirus group A by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results: This study revealed that 42.8% of the children below 5 years had group A rotavirus infection, 46.5% in the Far North region while the North West had a prevalence of 33.9%. Of the 252 hospitalized and the 138 outpatient children, 124(49.2%) and 43(31.2%) (P=0.00085), respectively, were positive for group A rotavirus. Children below 24 months were most affected (44.7%), while the age group 49-60 months had the lowest prevalence (25%). The RVA prevalence was 44.6% in the urban and 28.9% in the rural settings of our study. It was observed that the proportion of children with diarrhea who had rotavirus accompanied with fever and vomiting in the outpatient group and inpatient group were 13.0% and 28.6% respectively, P=0.03. Conclusion: This study showed high incidence of rotavirus infection especially among hospitalized children in Northern Cameroon, suggesting that rotavirus is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in this area
Epidémiologie moléculaire du rotavirus du groupe A associé aux gastroentérites chez les enfants de moins de 5 ans dans la ville de Yaoundé (Cameroun)
Le rotavirus est la première cause de gastroentérites grave chez les enfants de moins de 5 ans. La gravité et la mortalité de la maladie sont majorées dans les pays à revenus faibles d’Asie du sud et d’Afrique subsaharienne. Au Cameroun, la forte prévalence des rotaviroses, associées aux spécificités génotypiques locales du virus, soulignent l’importance de disposer de données épidémiologiques sur le virus. Cette étude visait à contribuer à une meilleure connaissance des principales souches de rotavirus responsables des gastroentérites chez les enfants de moins de 5 ans dans la ville de Yaoundé. Il s’agit d’une étude descriptive transversale d’une durée de 4 mois, dans 8 formations sanitaires de la ville de Yaoundé. Les échantillons de selles d’enfants de moins de 5 ans, hospitalisés pour gastroentérite ont été prélevés. La recherche du rotavirus s’est faite avec le kit ELISA Oxoid ProSpec TTM, et la détermination des génotypes du virus s’est faite par RT - PCR. Cent trente échantillons de selles d’enfants souffrant de gastroentérite ont été collectés. 66,1% de ces échantillons provenaient des hôpitaux FCB/CME, du CHE et de HDE. Le rotavirus a été isolé chez 30% des enfants, dont 40% avait entre 6 et 11 mois. Le CHE (6,9%) et l’HGY (0%) avaient respectivement la prévalence la plus élevée et la plus basse de la ville. Un nombre élevé de combinaisons génotypiques a été isolé, parmi lesquels prédominaient G1P[8] (31%) suivit de G3P[6] (28%) et de G4P[6] (13 %). Les génotypes mixtes G1P[6][8], G2P[6][8], et G1G3P[8] représentaient 22% des isolats. Un type G (3%) est resté indéterminé durant cette étude.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Mots clés: Epidémiologie moléculaire, rotavirus, génotypes, gastroentérite, enfants, YaoundéEnglish Title: Molecular epidemiology of group A rotavirus associated to gastroenteritis in children less than 5 years in Yaoundé (Cameroon)English AbstractRotavirus is the leading cause of severe gastroenteritis in children less than 5 years. Severity and mortality of this disease are majored in low-income countries of South - Asia and sub - Saharan Africa. In Cameroon, the high prevalence of rotaviruses associated to local genotypic specificities of virus enhances the importance of epidemiological database on the virus. This study aimed at contributing to a better knowledge of the main rotavirus strains responsible for gastroenteritis in children less than 5 years in Yaoundé. We carried out a descriptive and cross sectional study during 4 months, in 8 health centers in Yaoundé. Stool specimens were collected from children less than 5 years old, hospitalized for gastroenteritis. Rotavirus was detected with ELISA kit Oxoid ProSpecTTM, and genotypes determined by RT - PCR. One hundred and twenty seven stool specimens were collected during the study. FCB/CME, CHE, HDE provided 66.1% of specimens collected. Rotavirus was isolated in 30% of children, and 40% of these children were between 6 to 11 months old. The CHE (6. 9%) and the HGY (0%) had respectively the highest and the lowest prevalence of the town. A large number of genotype has been isolated and G1P[8] (31%) were predominant, followed by G3P[6] (28%) and G4P[6] (13%). Mixt genotypes G1P[6][8], G2P[6][8], and G1G3P[8] represented 22% of isolates. One G - type remained untypable.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Molecular epidemiology, rotavirus, genotypes, gastroenteritis, children, Yaound
Hepatitis B infection awareness, vaccine perceptions and uptake, and serological profile of a group of health care workers in Yaoundé, Cameroon
Abstract Background Cameroon is one of the countries in Africa with the highest burden of Hepatitis B infection. Health care workers are known to be at risk of occupational exposure to blood and other infectious bodily fluids. The aim of this study was to assess the profile of serological markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, knowledge and perceptions regarding HBV infection among health care workers in a health area in Yaoundé. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Mvog-Ada Health Area of the Djoungolo Health District from March 1 to November 31, 2014. All consenting health care workers were included in the study. Serological markers of HBV (HBs Ag, Hbe Ag, anti-HBs Ab, anti-HBe Ab, anti-HBc Ab) were qualitatively tested using Biotech®(OneHBV-5 parameter rapid test website) in each participant and the anti-HBs antibodies were quantified by ELISA (Biorex) among those who were positive with the qualitative test. Chi square test or its equivalents were used to compare qualitative variables and a p-value less than or equal to 0.05 was considered significant. Result A total of 100 participants were retained for the study out of 163 in the health area giving a response rate of 61.34 %; the mean age was 30.5 (SD 6.8) years and 71 % of participants were women. Forty seven percent (47 %) of workers had good level of knowledge of HBV infection. The men were 3.20 times (95 % CI: 1.02–9.19, p = 0.04) more likely to have a good level of knowledge than women. Participants with a university study level were more (95 % CI: 3.17–25, p < 0.0001) likely to have a good level of knowledge than those with a high school study level. Ninety-six percent of participants thought that they were at a greater risk of becoming infected with HBV than the general population, 93 % felt that the vaccine should be compulsory and all (100 %) were willing to recommend it to others. However, only 19 % had received at least one dose of the vaccine. The proportion of HBs Ag was 11 %. The different serological profiles with regard to HBV infection were naive subjects (62 %), chronic carriers (11 %), vaccinated (19 %) and subjects naturally immunized (8 %). Three out of the 19 participants who received at least one dose of the vaccine, only 9 (47.4 %) of whom had titers ≥100 IU/l indicating a good response to vaccination. Among those who received three doses of the vaccine (n = 12, 63 %), 2 (16, 66 %) had poor response to vaccination (HBs Ab titers < 100 IU/l). Conclusion The prevalence of HBs Ag among health care workers in the Mvog-Ada Health Area is high (11 %). These workers are at high risk of HBV infection because of very low vaccine uptake and poor post-exposure practices. Their knowledge of HBV infection is non-optimal
One Year Survey of Human Rotavirus Strains Suggests the Emergence of Genotype G12 in Cameroon
SHARED G12 VP7 GENE AMONG HUMAN AND BOVINE ROTAVIRUSES DETECTED IN CAMEROONIAN VILLAGES
Group A rotaviruses (RVA) are an important enteric pathogen in humans and livestock animals. Transmission of animal RVA strains to humans has been documented on several occasions. A reverse route of transmission of RVA under natural circumstances is anticipated, although evidence is scarce. However, experimental studies indicated that animals can be infected with human RVAs. By screening the stool samples collected from 157 cattle during 2011 in two Cameroonian villages, four samples (2.5%) were found positive for RVA. Upon sequence analysis of a 410 bp fragment of the VP7 gene, the RVA strains shared up to 100% nt identity to each other and to G12 RVAs identified in human patients living in the same geographic regions. This finding provides evidence for a human-to-animal transmission of an epidemic human rotavirus strain