scholarly journals Disease Burden of Group B Streptococcus Among Infants in Sub-Saharan Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (9) ◽  
pp. 933-942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anushua Sinha ◽  
Louise B. Russell ◽  
Sara Tomczyk ◽  
Jennifer R. Verani ◽  
Stephanie J. Schrag ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Burden ◽  
Group B Streptococcus ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Group B

scholarly journals Endemic foot and mouth disease: pastoral in-herd disease dynamics in sub-Saharan Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
I. McLachlan ◽  
G. Marion ◽  
I. J. McKendrick ◽  
T. Porphyre ◽  
I. G. Handel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Burden ◽  
Foot And Mouth Disease ◽  
Mouth Disease ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Herd Level ◽  
Population Turnover ◽  
Foot And Mouth ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Multiple Strains ◽  
Reduced Risk

AbstractFoot and mouth disease (FMD) burden disproportionally affects Africa where it is considered endemic. Smallholder livestock keepers experience significant losses due to disease, but the dynamics and mechanisms underlying persistence at the herd-level and beyond remain poorly understood. We address this knowledge gap using stochastic, compartmental modelling to explore FMD virus (FMDV) persistence, outbreak dynamics and disease burden in individual cattle herds within an endemic setting. Our analysis suggests repeated introduction of virus from outside the herd is required for long-term viral persistence, irrespective of carrier presence. Risk of new disease exposures resulting in significant secondary outbreaks is reduced by the presence of immune individuals giving rise to a period of reduced risk, the predicted duration of which suggests that multiple strains of FMDV are responsible for observed yearly herd-level outbreaks. Our analysis suggests management of population turnover could potentially reduce disease burden and deliberate infection of cattle, practiced by local livestock keepers in parts of Africa, has little effect on the duration of the reduced risk period but increases disease burden. This work suggests that FMD control should be implemented beyond individual herds but, in the interim, herd management may be used to reduced FMD impact to livestock keepers.

scholarly journals Inter-rater Variability in Malaria Microscopy at the LEKMA Hospital, Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Andrew Nii Adzei Bekoe ◽  
Emmanuel Alote Allotey ◽  
Elliot Elikplim Akorsu ◽  
Albert Abaka-Yawson ◽  
Samuel Adusei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Medical Laboratory ◽  
Rater Agreement ◽  
Laboratory Personnel ◽  
Parasite Count ◽  
Laboratory Staff ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Expected Outcome ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Group B

Background. Malaria remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where it is endemic. As such, it is important that a proper diagnosis is made before treatment is initiated. Malaria parasite count plays a key role in the diagnosis and management of malaria. Variations in ratings by laboratory personnel can impact negatively on the treatment regimen for malaria-infected patients. The study is thus aimed at evaluating and comparing the proficiency and parasitaemia counts by two different categories of laboratory staff at the LEKMA Hospital, Ghana. Materials and Methods. A total of 200 confirmed malaria-positive samples were used in the study. Six thick and thin films were prepared from each sample and uniquely labelled. Two of the six slides were given to two WHO-accredited malaria microscopists to examine and report their respective parasite count/μl ( parasite   count / WBC × 8000 ). These were used as the reference for the two categories of laboratory staffs: rater A being diploma holders (Technical Officers referred to as untrained rater) and rater B being degree holders (Medical Laboratory Scientist referred to as trained rater) at the LEKMA Hospital. Results. In comparison to the expected outcome, the parasite count by the rater group A (190 (151-239)]) and the rater group B (177 (140-224)) demonstrated significant positive correlation ( r = 0.995 , p < 0.0001 vs. r = 0.995 , p < 0.0001 , respectively) with the expected outcome in the cases of heavy parasitaemia. A statistically significant difference ( p < 0.05 ) between counts by the different raters in low parasitemia was observed in this study. A persistent nosedive inter-rater agreement from k = 0.82 to k = 0.40 with increasing density cutoff was observed in this study. Conclusion. The study observed that the degree of inter-rater agreement of parasite density count by various categories of laboratory personnel is almost perfect. However, the parasite count between raters varied significantly with very low levels of parasitemia but better correlated with heavy parasitemia.

scholarly journals Potential of Spirulina Platensis as a Nutritional Supplement in Malnourished HIV-Infected Adults in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Randomised, Single-Blind Study

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. NMI.S5862 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Azabji-Kenfack ◽  
S. Edie Dikosso ◽  
E.G. Loni ◽  
E.A. Onana ◽  
E. Sobngwi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Viral Load ◽  
Serum Albumin ◽  
Spirulina Platensis ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Nutritional Rehabilitation ◽  
Group A ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Group B

Background Malnutrition is a major global public health issue and its impact on communities and individuals is more dramatic in Sub-Saharan Africa, where it is compounded by widespread poverty and generalized high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Therefore, malnutrition should be addressed through a multisectorial approach, and malnourished individuals should have access to nutritional rehabilitation molecules that are affordable, accessible, rich in nutrient and efficient. We thus assessed the efficacy of two affordable and accessible nutritional supplements, spirulina platensis versus soya beans among malnourished HIV-infected adults. Methods Undernourished patients, naïve of, but eligible to antiretroviral treatment (ART), aged 18 to 35 years were enrolled and randomly assigned to two groups. The first group received spirulina (Group A) as food supplement and the second received soya beans (Group B). Patients were initiated ART simultaneously with supplements. Food supplements were auto-administered daily, the quantity being calculated according to weight to provide 1.5 g/kg body weight of proteins with 25% from supplements (spirulina and soya beans). Patients were monitored at baseline and followed-up during twelve weeks for anthropometric parameters, body composition, haemoglobin and serum albumin, CD4 count and viral load. Results Fifty-two patients were enrolled (Group A: 26 and Group B: 26). The mean age was 26.4 ± 4.9 years (Group A) and 28.7 ± 4.8 (Group B) with no significant difference between groups ( P = 0.10). After 12 weeks, weight and BMI significantly improved in both groups ( P < 0.001 within each group). The mean gain in weight and BMI in Group A and B were 4.8 vs. 6.5 kg, ( P = 0.68) and 1.3 vs. 1.90 Kg/m2, ( P = 0.82) respectively. In terms of body composition, fat free mass (FFM) did not significantly increase within each group (40.5 vs. 42.2 Kg, P = 0.56 for Group A; 39.2 vs. 39.0 Kg, P = 0.22 for Group B). But when compared between the two groups at the end of the trial, FFM was significantly higher in the spirulina group (42.2 vs. 39.0 Kg, P = 0.01). The haemoglobin level rose significantly within groups ( P < 0.001 for each group) with no difference between groups ( P = 0.77). Serum albumin level did not increase significantly within groups ( P < 0.90 vs. P < 0.82) with no difference between groups ( P = 0.39). The increase in CD4 cell count within groups was significant ( P < 0.01 in both groups), with a significantly higher CD4 count in the spirulina group compared to subjects on soya beans at the end of the study ( P = 0.02). Within each group, HIV viral load significantly reduced at the end of the study ( P < 0.001 and P = 0.04 for spirulina and soya beans groups respectively). Between the groups, the viral load was similar at baseline but significantly reduced in the spirulina group at the end of the study ( P = 0.02). Conclusion We therefore conclude in this preliminary study, firstly, that both spirulina and soja improve on nutritional status of malnourished HIV-infected patients but in terms of quality of nutritional improvement, subjects on spirulina were better off than subjects on soya beans. Secondly, nutritional rehabilitation improves on immune status with a consequent drop in viral load but further investigations on the antiviral effects of this alga and its clinical implications are strongly needed.

scholarly journals The relative importance and stability of disease burden causes over time: summarizing regional trends on disease burden for 290 causes over 28 years

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Dyson ◽  
Raf Van Gestel ◽  
Eddy van Doorslaer
Keyword(s):  
Disease Burden ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Regional Trends ◽  
Disability Adjusted Life ◽  
Life Years ◽  
Causes Of Disease ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Disease Study ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background Since the Global Burden of Disease study (GBD) has become more comprehensive, data for hundreds of causes of disease burden, measured using Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), have become increasingly available for almost every part of the world. However, undergoing any systematic comparative analysis of the trends can be challenging given the quantity of data that must be presented. Methods We use the GBD data to describe trends in cause-specific DALY rates for eight regions. We quantify the extent to which the importance of ‘major’ DALY causes changes relative to ‘minor’ DALY causes over time by decomposing changes in the Gini coefficient into ‘proportionality’ and ‘reranking’ indices. Results The fall in regional DALY rates since 1990 has been accompanied by generally positive proportionality indices and reranking indices of negligible magnitude. However, the rate at which DALY rates have been falling has slowed and, at the same time, proportionality indices have tended towards zero. These findings are clearest where the focus is exclusively upon non-communicable diseases. Notably, large and positive proportionality indices are recorded for sub-Saharan Africa over the last decade. Conclusion The positive proportionality indices show that disease burden has become less concentrated around the leading causes over time, and this trend has become less prominent as the DALY rate decline has slowed. The recent decline in disease burden in sub-Saharan Africa is disproportionally driven by improvements in DALY rates for HIV/AIDS, as well as for malaria, diarrheal diseases, and lower respiratory infections.

scholarly journals Group B Streptococcus vaccine development: present status and future considerations, with emphasis on perspectives for low and middle income countries

F1000Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 2355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miwako Kobayashi ◽  
Johan Vekemans ◽  
Carol J. Baker ◽  
Adam J. Ratner ◽  
Kirsty Le Doare ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Disease Burden ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Young Infant ◽  
Group B Streptococcus ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Young Infants ◽  
Group B ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Globally, group BStreptococcus(GBS) remains the leading cause of sepsis and meningitis in young infants, with its greatest burden in the first 90 days of life. Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) for women at risk of transmitting GBS to their newborns has been effective in reducing, but not eliminating, the young infant GBS disease burden in many high income countries. However, identification of women at risk and administration of IAP is very difficult in many low and middle income country (LMIC) settings, and is not possible for home deliveries. Immunization of pregnant women with a GBS vaccine represents an alternate pathway to protecting newborns from GBS disease, through the transplacental antibody transfer to the fetus in utero. This approach to prevent GBS disease in young infants is currently under development, and is approaching late stage clinical evaluation.This manuscript includes a review of the natural history of the disease, global disease burden estimates, diagnosis and existing control options in different settings, the biological rationale for a vaccine including previous supportive studies, analysis of current candidates in development, possible correlates of protection and current status of immunogenicity assays. Future potential vaccine development pathways to licensure and use in LMICs, trial design and implementation options are discussed, with the objective to provide a basis for reflection, rather than recommendations.

scholarly journals Generation of Simian Rotavirus Reassortants with VP4- and VP7-Encoding Genome Segments from Human Strains Circulating in Africa Using Reverse Genetics

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Falkenhagen ◽  
Corinna Patzina-Mehling ◽  
Ashish K. Gadicherla ◽  
Amy Strydom ◽  
Hester G. O’Neill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Culture ◽  
Disease Burden ◽  
Reverse Genetics ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Rotavirus A ◽  
Virus Particles ◽  
Rotavirus Vaccines ◽  
Human Rotavirus ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Infants And Young Children

Human rotavirus A (RVA) causes acute gastroenteritis in infants and young children. The broad use of two vaccines, which are based on RVA strains from Europe and North America, significantly reduced rotavirus disease burden worldwide. However, a lower vaccine effectiveness is recorded in some regions of the world, such as sub-Saharan Africa, where diverse RVA strains are circulating. Here, a plasmid-based reverse genetics system was used to generate simian RVA reassortants with VP4 and VP7 proteins derived from African human RVA strains not previously adapted to cell culture. We were able to rescue 1/3 VP4 mono-reassortants, 3/3 VP7 mono-reassortants, but no VP4/VP7 double reassortant. Electron microscopy showed typical triple-layered virus particles for the rescued reassortants. All reassortants stably replicated in MA-104 cells; however, the VP4 reassortant showed significantly slower growth compared to the simian RVA or the VP7 reassortants. The results indicate that, at least in cell culture, human VP7 has a high reassortment potential, while reassortment of human VP4 from unadapted human RVA strains with simian RVA seems to be limited. The characterized reassortants may be useful for future studies investigating replication and reassortment requirements of rotaviruses as well as for the development of next generation rotavirus vaccines.

scholarly journals Disease burden and the role of pharmacogenomics in African populations

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Mpye ◽  
A. Matimba ◽  
K. Dzobo ◽  
S. Chirikure ◽  
A. Wonkam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Burden ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Drug Side Effects ◽  
Quality Healthcare ◽  
Therapeutic Drugs ◽  
African Populations ◽  
The Status ◽  
Sub Saharan

Background.The burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa poses a challenge in achieving quality healthcare. Although therapeutic drugs have generally improved health, their efficacy differs from individual to individual. Variability in treatment response is mainly because of genetic variants that affect the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs.Method.The intersection of disease burden and therapeutic intervention is reviewed, and the status of pharmacogenomics knowledge in African populations is explored.Results.The most commonly studied variants with pharmacogenomics relevance are discussed, especially in genes coding for enzymes that affect the response to drugs used for HIV, malaria, sickle cell disease and cardiovascular diseases.Conclusions.The genetically diverse African population is likely to benefit from a pharmacogenomics-based healthcare approach, especially with respect to reduction of drug side effects, and separation of responders and non-responders leading to optimized drug choices and doses for each patient.

scholarly journals The S Protein of Group B Streptococcus Is a Critical Virulence Determinant That Impacts the Cell Surface Virulome

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anaamika Campeau ◽  
Satoshi Uchiyama ◽  
Concepcion Sanchez ◽  
Consuelo Sauceda ◽  
Victor Nizet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Surface ◽  
Disease Burden ◽  
Group B Streptococcus ◽  
Systemic Infection ◽  
Proteome Analysis ◽  
Invasive Disease ◽  
S Protein ◽  
Virulence Determinant ◽  
Altered Cell ◽  
Group B

Group B Streptococcus (GBS, S. agalactiae) is a human commensal and occasional pathogen that remains a leading cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis with increasing disease burden in adult populations. Although programs for universal screening in pregnancy to guide intrapartum prophylaxis have reduced GBS invasive disease burden resulting from mother-to-newborn transfer during birth, better knowledge of disease mechanisms may elucidate new strategies to reduce antibiotic exposure. In our efforts to expand the knowledge base required for targeted anti-virulence therapies, we identified a GBS homolog for a recently identified virulence determinant of group A Streptococcus, S protein, and evaluated its role in GBS pathogenesis. A GBS S protein deletion mutant, Δess, showed altered cell-surface properties compared to the WT parent strain, including defective retention of its surface polysaccharide. Quantitative proteome analysis of enzymatically shaved surface epitopes of the GBS Δess mutant revealed a dysregulated cell surface virulome, with reduced abundance of several protein and glycoprotein components. The Δess mutant showed markedly attenuated virulence in a murine model of GBS systemic infection, with increased proteasome activity detected in the spleens of animals infected with the Δess mutant. These results expand the key roles S protein plays in streptococcal pathogenesis and introduces a new GBS virulence determinant and potential target for therapy development.

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