We must harness technology to deliver the musculoskeletal disease epidemiology that is urgently needed across sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract During the 11th International Conference on Typhoid and Other Invasive Salmonelloses held in Hanoi, Vietnam, a number of papers were presented on the burden of disease, epidemiology, genomics, management, and control strategies for invasive nontyphoidal Salmonella (iNTS) disease, which is increasingly becoming an important public health threat in low- and middle-income countries, but especially in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA). Although there were minor variations in characteristics of iNTS in different settings (urban vs rural, country to country), it was observed that iNTS has gained greater recognition as a major disease entity in children younger than 5 years. Renewed efforts towards greater understanding of the burden of illness, detection and diagnostic strategies, and management and control of the disease in communities in sSA through the introduction of vaccines will be important.

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Three monthly doses of 60 mg/kg praziquantel for Schistosoma haematobium infection is a safe and effective treatment regimen.

10.21203/rs.2.19724/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Samuel Nkansah Darko ◽

Henry Hanson ◽

Sampson Twumasi Ankrah ◽

Sandra Baffour ◽

Priscilla Adjei-Kusi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Renal Function ◽

Schistosoma Haematobium ◽

Post Treatment ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Gamma Glutamyl Transferase ◽

Disease Epidemiology ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Pre Treatment ◽

And Gender ◽

Glutamyl Transferase

Abstract Background Praziquantel (PZQ) is the standard treatment for Schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is evidence suggesting praziquantel treatment failure in Schistosome infections with associated potential renal impairment. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of three monthly doses of 60 mg/kg/day PZQ on schistosome egg count, liver and renal function during the treatment of urinary schistosomiasis in Ghana. Methods A nested case-control study was designed from a cohort screened for schistosomiasis; 28 schistosomiasis positive cases by microscopy matched with 53 healthy controls by age and gender. The study population was urban dwellers from the Asokwa sub-metropolitan area, Kumasi in Ghana. Participants were within the age range of 6 to 30 years. We assessed Schistosoma haematobium egg counts in urine and its associated impact on liver and renal function at baseline, treatment and post-treatment phases using serum. Results Of the 28 cases and 53 controls, 78.6% and (81.1% were males respectively. Globulin levels before treatment was higher in cases [36.7 (32.8, 40.1) vrs 30.5 (22.4, 33.8) , p=0.005] at pre-treatment but not at post-treatment [35.8 (31.2, 39.1)vrs 37.4 (29.7, 43.0), p= 0.767]. Estimated cure rate was 42.9%, 46.4% and 96.4% after first, second and third dose respectively. Schistosome egg counts dropped significantly (p= 0.001) from before second dose to post-treatment. Similarly, levels of alanine aminotransferase (p=0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (p=0.028) and gamma glutamyl transferase (p=0.001) significantly declined towards post-treatment. Estimated glomerular filtration rate significantly improved from before second dose to post-treatment using both the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Program (p=0.001) and 4-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (p=0.002) equations. Conclusion Treatment of urinary Schistosoma hematobium infections with a repeated high monthly dose of 60 mg/kg of praziquantel for 3 months is safe and effective.

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Can telerheumatology improve rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease service delivery in sub-Saharan Africa?

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-218449 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. annrheumdis-2020-218449 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Akpabio Akpabio ◽

Richard Oluyinka Akintayo ◽

Utibe Effiong

Keyword(s):

Service Delivery ◽

Musculoskeletal Disease ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan

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Three monthly doses of 60 mg/kg praziquantel for Schistosoma haematobium infection is a safe and effective treatment regimen.

10.21203/rs.2.19724/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Samuel Nkansah Darko ◽

Henry Hanson ◽

Sampson Twumasi Ankrah ◽

Sandra Baffour ◽

Priscilla Adjei-Kusi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Renal Function ◽

Post Treatment ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Gamma Glutamyl Transferase ◽

Disease Epidemiology ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Pre Treatment ◽

Effective Treatment Regimen ◽

And Gender ◽

Glutamyl Transferase

Abstract Background: Praziquantel (PZQ) is the standard treatment for Schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is evidence suggesting praziquantel treatment failure in Schistosome infections with associated potential renal impairment. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of three monthly doses of 60 mg/kg/day PZQ on schistosome egg count, liver and renal function during the treatment of urinary schistosomiasis in Ghana.Methods: A nested case-control study was designed from a cohort screened for schistosomiasis; 28 schistosomiasis positive cases by microscopy matched with 53 healthy controls by age and gender. The study population was urban dwellers from the Asokwa sub-metropolitan area, Kumasi in Ghana. Participants were within the age range of 6 to 30 years. We assessed Schistosoma haematobium egg counts in urine and its associated impact on liver and renal function at baseline, treatment and post-treatment phases using serum. Results: Of the 28 cases and 53 controls, 78.6% and (81.1% were males respectively. Globulin levels before treatment was higher in cases [36.7 (32.8, 40.1) vrs 30.5 (22.4, 33.8), p=0.005] at pre-treatment but not at post-treatment [35.8 (31.2, 39.1) vrs 37.4 (29.7, 43.0), p= 0.767]. Estimated cure rate was 42.9%, 46.4% and 96.4% after first, second and third dose respectively. Schistosome egg counts dropped significantly (p= 0.001) from before second dose to post-treatment. Similarly, levels of alanine aminotransferase (p=0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (p=0.028) and gamma glutamyl transferase (p=0.001) significantly declined towards post-treatment. Estimated glomerular filtration rate significantly improved from before second dose to post-treatment using both the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Program (p=0.001) and 4-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (p=0.002) equations. Conclusion: Treatment of urinary Schistosoma hematobium infections with a repeated high monthly dose of 60 mg/kg of praziquantel for 3 months is safe and effective.

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Treatment related renal dysfunction after 3 monthly doses of 60 mg/kg of praziquantel for Schistosome haematobium infection

10.21203/rs.2.19724/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Samuel Nkansah Darko ◽

Henry Hanson ◽

Sampson Twumasi Ankrah ◽

Sandra Baffour ◽

Priscilla Adjei-Kusi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Renal Function ◽

Current Treatment ◽

Post Treatment ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Gamma Glutamyl Transferase ◽

Safe Alternative ◽

Disease Epidemiology ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Pre Treatment ◽

Glutamyl Transferase

Abstract Background: Praziquantel (PZQ) is the standard treatment for Schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is evidence suggesting praziquantel treatment failure in Schistosome infections with associated potential renal impairment. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of three monthly doses of 60 mg/kg/day PZQ on schistosome egg count, liver and renal function during the treatment of urinary schistosomiasis in Ghana.Methods: A nested case-control study was designed from a cohort screened for schistosomiasis; 28 schistosomiasis positive cases by microscopy matched with 53 healthy controls by age and gender. The study population was urban dwellers from the Asokwa sub-metropolitan area, Kumasi in Ghana. Participants were within the age range of 6 to 30 years. We assessed S. haematobium egg counts in urine and its associated impact on liver and renal function at baseline, treatment and post-treatment phases. Results: Of the 28 cases and 53 controls, 78.6% and (81.1% were males respectively. Globulin levels before treatment was higher in cases [(36.92±1.46 vrs 27.88±1.49), p=0001] at pre-treatment but not at post-treatment [(35.35±1.28 vrs 37.26±1.77), p= 0.391]. Estimated cure rate was 42.9%, 46.4% and 96.4% after first, second and third dose respectively. Schistosome egg counts dropped significantly (p= 0.001) from before second dose to post-treatment. Similarly, levels of alanine aminotransferase (p=0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (p=0.028) and gamma glutamyl transferase (p=0.001) significantly declined towards post-treatment. Estimated glomerular filtration rate significantly improved from before second dose to post-treatment using both the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Program (p=0.001) and 4-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (p=0.002) equations. Conclusion: Treatment of urinary Schistosoma hematobium infections with a repeated high monthly dose of 60 mg/kg of praziquantel for 3 months could be an effective and safe alternative for the current treatment option 40 mg/kg body weight.

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Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (lungsickness) in Africa : historical overview : Onderstepoort and veterinary research in Africa

Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research ◽

10.4102/ojvr.v76i1.55 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 76 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

W. Amanfu

Keyword(s):

Central Africa ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia ◽

Beef Industry ◽

Resource Base ◽

Disease Epidemiology ◽

Prime Concern ◽

Mycoplasma Mycoides ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Proactive Measures

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) or lung sickness, is an insidious pneumonic disease of cattle caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides small colony variant (MmmSC) and it is one of the major diseases affecting cattle in Africa. With the imminent eradication of rinderpest from Africa (Somali ecosystem) CBPP has become the disease of prime concern in terms of epizootics that affect cattle on the continent. The control and/or eradication of the disease have suffered from unsustained control actions due to lack of operational funds to support such actions and deterioration in the quality of veterinary services in many countries affected by the disease. Stamping out procedures which were adopted by Botswana to control the disease (1995-1997) cannot be carried out by many countries currently affected by CBPP due to the high financial cost, the widespread nature of disease, animal welfare considerations and the potential loss of a valuable genetic resource base. The current scenario of CBPP disease epidemiology in sub-Saharan Africa requires that proactive measures are taken to safeguard countries in southern Africa which are currently free from CBPP from being contaminated by the disease thus affecting the beef industry and people's livelihoods ; and to progressively control the disease in endemic zones of Western and Central Africa.

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RTS,S/AS01, a vaccine targeting pre-erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum

Emerging Topics in Life Sciences ◽

10.1042/etls20170101 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 1 (6) ◽

pp. 533-537

Author(s):

Lorenz von Seidlein ◽

Borimas Hanboonkunupakarn ◽

Podjanee Jittmala ◽

Sasithon Pukrittayakamee

Keyword(s):

Protective Efficacy ◽

Age Groups ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Phase Iii ◽

European Medicines Agency ◽

Older Children ◽

Pivotal Phase ◽

Malaria Epidemiology ◽

Maximum Benefit ◽

Sub Saharan

RTS,S/AS01 is the most advanced vaccine to prevent malaria. It is safe and moderately effective. A large pivotal phase III trial in over 15 000 young children in sub-Saharan Africa completed in 2014 showed that the vaccine could protect around one-third of children (aged 5–17 months) and one-fourth of infants (aged 6–12 weeks) from uncomplicated falciparum malaria. The European Medicines Agency approved licensing and programmatic roll-out of the RTSS vaccine in malaria endemic countries in sub-Saharan Africa. WHO is planning further studies in a large Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme, in more than 400 000 young African children. With the changing malaria epidemiology in Africa resulting in older children at risk, alternative modes of employment are under evaluation, for example the use of RTS,S/AS01 in older children as part of seasonal malaria prophylaxis. Another strategy is combining mass drug administrations with mass vaccine campaigns for all age groups in regional malaria elimination campaigns. A phase II trial is ongoing to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the RTSS in combination with antimalarial drugs in Thailand. Such novel approaches aim to extract the maximum benefit from the well-documented, short-lasting protective efficacy of RTS,S/AS01.

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