Marburg Virus Persistence on Fruit as a Plausible Route of Bat to Primate Filovirus Transmission

Marburg virus (MARV), the causative agent of Marburg virus disease, emerges sporadically in sub-Saharan Africa and is often fatal in humas. The natural reservoir for this zoonotic virus is the frugivorous Egyptian rousette bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) that when infected, sheds virus in the highest amounts in oral secretions and urine. Being fruit bats, these animals forage nightly for ripened fruit throughout the year, including those types often preferred by humans. During feeding, they continually discard partially eaten fruit on the ground that could then be consumed by other Marburg virus susceptible animals or humans. In this study, using qRT-PCR and virus isolation, we tested fruit discarded by Egyptian rousette bats experimentally infected with a natural bat isolate of Marburg virus. We then separately tested viral persistence on fruit varieties commonly cultivated in sub-Saharan Africa using a recombinant Marburg virus expressing the fluorescent ZsGreen1. Marburg virus RNA was repeatedly detected on fruit in the food bowls of the infected bats and viable MARV was recovered from inoculated fruit for up to 6 h.

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Persistence of mRNA indicative of Plasmodium falciparum ring-stage parasites 42 days after artemisinin and non-artemisinin combination therapy in naturally infected Malians

Malaria Journal ◽

10.1186/s12936-020-03576-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Almahamoudou Mahamar ◽

Kjerstin Lanke ◽

Wouter Graumans ◽

Halimatou Diawara ◽

Koualy Sanogo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Combination Therapy ◽

Artemisinin Combination Therapy ◽

Parasite Prevalence ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Ring Stage ◽

Qrt Pcr ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Stage Parasite ◽

Ring Stage Parasite

Abstract Background Malaria control in sub-Saharan Africa relies upon prompt case management with artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). Ring-stage parasite mRNA, measured by sbp1 quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR), was previously reported to persist after ACT treatment and hypothesized to reflect temporary arrest of the growth of ring-stage parasites (dormancy) following exposure to artemisinins. Here, the persistence of ring-stage parasitaemia following ACT and non-ACT treatment was examined. Methods Samples were used from naturally infected Malian gametocyte carriers who received dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine (DP) or sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine (SP–AQ) with or without gametocytocidal drugs. Gametocytes and ring-stage parasites were quantified by qRT-PCR during 42 days of follow-up. Results At baseline, 89% (64/73) of participants had measurable ring-stage parasite mRNA. Following treatment, the proportion of ring-stage parasite-positive individuals and estimated densities declined for all four treatment groups. Ring-stage parasite prevalence and density was generally lower in arms that received DP compared to SP–AQ. This finding was most apparent days 1, 2, and 42 of follow-up (p < 0.01). Gametocytocidal drugs did not influence ring-stage parasite persistence. Ring-stage parasite density estimates on days 14 and 28 after initiation of treatment were higher among individuals who subsequently experienced recurrent parasitaemia compared to those who remained free of parasites until day 42 after initiation of treatment (pday 14 = 0.011 and pday 28 = 0.068). No association of ring-stage persistence with gametocyte carriage was observed. Conclusions The current findings of lower ring-stage persistence after ACT without an effect of gametocytocidal partner drugs affirms the use of sbp1 as ring-stage marker. Lower persistence of ring-stage mRNA after ACT treatment suggests the marker may not reflect dormant parasites whilst it was predictive of re-appearance of parasitaemia.

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Mobile laboratories for rapid deployment and their contribution to the containment of emerging diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa, illustrated by the example of Ebola virus disease

Médecine et Santé Tropicales ◽

10.1684/mst.2015.0485 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 229-233 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J. Diers ◽

B. Kouriba ◽

L. Ladan Fofana ◽

E. Fleischmann ◽

M. Starke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ebola Virus ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Emerging Diseases ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Ebola Virus Disease ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Rapid Deployment

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Pteropine Orthoreovirus in an Angolan Soft-Furred Fruit Bat (Lissonycteris angolensis) in Uganda Dramatically Expands the Global Distribution of an Emerging Bat-Borne Respiratory Virus

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v12070740 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 740

Author(s):

Andrew J. Bennett ◽

Tony L. Goldberg

Keyword(s):

Southeast Asia ◽

Respiratory Virus ◽

Rectal Swab ◽

Geographic Distance ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Zoonotic Virus ◽

Fruit Bat ◽

Dsrna Genome ◽

Sub Saharan

Pteropine orthoreovirus (PRV; Reoviridae: Spinareovirinae) is an emerging bat-borne zoonotic virus that causes influenza-like illness (ILI). PRV has thus far been found only in Australia and Asia, where diverse old-world fruit bats (Pteropodidae) serve as hosts. In this study, we report the discovery of PRV in Africa, in an Angolan soft-furred fruit bat (Lissonycteris angolensis ruwenzorii) from Bundibugyo District, Uganda. Metagenomic characterization of a rectal swab yielded 10 dsRNA genome segments, revealing this virus to cluster within the known diversity of PRV variants detected in bats and humans in Southeast Asia. Phylogeographic analyses revealed a correlation between geographic distance and genetic divergence of PRVs globally, which suggests a geographic continuum of PRV diversity spanning Southeast Asia to sub-Saharan Africa. The discovery of PRV in an African bat dramatically expands the geographic range of this zoonotic virus and warrants further surveillance for PRVs outside of Southeast Asia.

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COVID-19 Response in Sub-Saharan Africa: Lessons From Uganda

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness ◽

10.1017/dmp.2020.248 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. e46-e48 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ivan Lumu

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Ebola Virus ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Disease Spread ◽

East African ◽

Limited Disease ◽

African Countries ◽

Response Team ◽

Sub Saharan

ABSTRACTThe prolongation of the Ebola epidemic may have allowed some countries to prepare and respond to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. In Uganda, the surveillance structure built for Ebola virus disease (EVD) has become a pillar in the COVID-19 response. This testing and tracing apparatus has limited disease spread to clusters with zero mortality compared with the neighboring East African countries. As more sub-Saharan countries implement social distancing to contain the outbreak, the interventions should be phased and balanced with health risk and socioeconomic situation. However, having a decision-making matrix would better guide the response team. These initial lessons from EVD-experienced Uganda may be helpful to other countries in the region.

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Ebola virus disease in West Africa: a call to overhaul health systems in sub-Saharan Africa

International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health ◽

10.5455/ijmsph.2015.03022015216 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 4 (7) ◽

pp. 873 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Samuel Munjita ◽

Mwaba Chileshe ◽

Sikaniso Mutemwa

Keyword(s):

West Africa ◽

Health Systems ◽

Ebola Virus ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Ebola Virus Disease ◽

Sub Saharan

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Impact of Covid-19 on Stock Market in Sub-Saharan Africa

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Studies ◽

10.31098/ijeass.v1i2.774 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 41-70

Author(s):

Saifullahi Adam Bayero ◽

Babangida Danladi Safiyanu ◽

Zaitun Sanusi Bakabe

Keyword(s):

Stock Markets ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Selection Criterion ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

World Health ◽

African Countries ◽

The World ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

The Impact

Corona virus disease (COVID-19) which was declared by the World Health Organization as a global pandemic caused serious economic problem to all the countries including Sub-Saharan Africa. Given the negative impact of COVID19 on the world economy, this paper examined the impact of COVID19 related cases and death on stock exchange markets volatility in Sub-Saharan African countries. The study used the number of reported cases and death from four Sub-Saharan African countries viz Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Botswana, reported cases and death from China and U.S. and all share index as a proxy of stock markets in four countries from 28 February 2020 to 21 December 2020. The study estimated GARCH 11, TGARCH 11, and EGARCH 11 since the variables are heteroskadestic in nature which makes the application of ARCH lausible; the selection criterion was based on Akaike, Schwarz, and Hannan info Criteria. The result shows that COVID19 confirmed cases and death do not affect the operation of the stock markets in Sub-Saharan African countries, but the volatility of the markets has increased within the period of analysis. Furthermore, Botswana and Kenya stock markets were affected by external cases from China. We therefore recommended that stock markets stakeholders in Sub-Saharan Africa should be more concern about health safety measures and be ready for any future pandemic that might affect the markets.

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Awareness and Education on Viral Infections in Nigeria Using Edutainment

Advances in Electronic Government, Digital Divide, and Regional Development - Impacts of the Media on African Socio-Economic Development ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-1859-4.ch016 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 245-260

Author(s):

Suleimanu Usaini ◽

Tolulope Kayode-Adedeji ◽

Olufunke Omole ◽

Tunji Oyedepo

Keyword(s):

Ebola Virus ◽

Viral Infections ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Medical Science ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Public Health Challenge ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Hepatitis C Viruses ◽

Means Of Transmission

Researches in clinical and medical science have shown that Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B, and to some extent Hepatitis C viruses, constitute a major public health challenge in the Sub-Saharan Africa. This is without prejudice to the Ebola virus disease (EVD) that is more deadly than the other three put together, and had affected some countries in West Africa- Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. There is little awareness and education via the mass media on some common viral infections in Nigeria like Hepatitis compared to HIV. Therefore, there is dire need for information, sensitisation and education on the viruses, means of transmission, preventive measures and also therapy. Edutainment is the fusion of education into entertainment programming which can come in form of drama, music, poetry and lots more, and it had been used as a platform to create awareness for positive reproductive health and HIV/AIDS by leading health organisations like WHO, USAID, DFID, SFH, and UNFPA. This paper therefore, examines why edutainment should be used and how it can be used to educate media audience in Nigeria on some viral infections that pose serious health risks and how they can live healthy lives.

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Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers and Malaria Co-Infections Among Febrile Patients Seeking Health Care in Tanzania

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1183528/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sima Rugarabamu ◽

Susan F. Rumisha ◽

Gaspary O. Mwanyika ◽

Calvin Sindato ◽

Hee-Young Lim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Ebola Virus ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Marburg Virus ◽

Immunoglobulin M ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Infection Prevalence ◽

Haemorrhagic Fever ◽

Rapid Diagnostics ◽

Valley Fever

Abstract Background: In recent years there have been reports of viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) epidemics in Sub-Saharan Africa where malaria is endemic. VHF and malaria have overlapping clinical presentations making differential diagnosis a challenge. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of selected zoonotic VHFs and malaria co-infections among febrile patients seeking health care in Tanzania. Methods: This facility-based cross-section study was carried out in Buhigwe, Kalambo, Kyela, Kilindi, Kinondoni, Kondoa, Mvomero, and Ukerewe districts in Tanzania. The study involved febrile patients seeking health care from primary healthcare facilities. Blood samples were collected and tested for infections due to malaria, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), Ebola virus disease (EVD), Marburg virus disease (MVD), Rift Valley fever (RVF) and yellow fever (YF). Malaria infections were tested using rapid diagnostics tests while exposure to VHFs was determined by screening for immunoglobulin M antibodies using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: A total of 308 participants (mean age=35±18.9 years) were involved in the study. Of these, 54 (17.5%) had malaria infection and 15 (4.8%) were positive for IgM antibodies against VHFs (RVF=8; CCHF=2; EBV=3; MBV=1; YF=1). Six (1.9%) individuals had both VHF (RVF=2; CCHF=1; EVD=2; MVD=1) and malaria infections. The highest co-infection prevalence (0.6%), was observed among individuals aged 46-60 years (p<0.05). District was significantly associated with co-infection (p<0.05) with the highest prevalence recorded in Buhigwe (1.2%) followed by Kinondoni (0.9%) districts. Headache (100%) and muscle, bone, back and joint pains (83.3%) were the most significant complaints among those infected with both VHFs and malaria (p=0.001). Conclusions: Co-infections of VHF and malaria are prevalent in Tanzania and affect more the older than the younger population. Since the overlapping symptoms in co-infected individuals may challenge accurate diagnosis, adequate laboratory diagnosis should be emphasized in the management of febrile illnesses.

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