Association between Food or Nutrients and Gut Microbiota in Healthy and Helminth-Infected Women of Reproductive Age from Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Modulating the gut microbiota is recognised as one strategy for preventing and fighting diseases. While the significant impact of diet on the gut microbiota's composition and function has been extensively researched, there is a notable lack of studies on the interactions between diet, microbiota, and helminth infections. Here, we used a combination of self-reported food intake and a 16S rDNA sequencing approach to analyse the composition of the gut microbiota in women of reproductive age from the two main islands of the Zanzibar archipelago, where helminth infections are endemic. We also applied a Spearman correlation analysis to food/nutrients and gut microbiota. Our results reveal that, despite close ethnic and cultural ties, the participants' gut microbiota differs depending on their location. A nutrient intake analysis revealed deficiencies in minerals and vitamins, indicating an imbalanced diet. A correlation analysis identified bacterial taxa consistently correlated with specific food or nutrients in healthy women from both locations, and in two types of helminth infections. Escherichia/Shigella abundances, usually associated with Trichuris trichiura infection, consistently correlated with insufficient levels of vitamins B2 and B12. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the increased consumption of specific food like cassava and fish, as well as essential nutrients such as calcium, B vitamins, and vitamin A, may modulate the gut microbiota of populations residing in regions where helminth infections are endemic.

Anti SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Zanzibar in 2021 before the Omicron wave.

Objectives: For Tanzania, including Zanzibar, the development of the COVID-19 pandemic has remained unclear since the reporting of cases was suspended during 2020/21. Our study was the first to analyze data on COVID-19 seroprevalence in the Zanzibari population before the Omicron variant wave began in late 2021. Design: During August through October 2021, representative cross-sectional data were collected from randomly selected households in 120 wards of the two main islands, Unguja and Pemba. Participants voluntarily provided blood samples to test their sera for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 using a semiquantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: 58.9% of the 2051 sera analysed were positive, without significant differences between Unguja and Pemba or between rural and urban areas. The results were in agreement with observations from other sub-Saharan African countries. Conclusions: The antibody levels observed were most likely due to previous infections with SARS-CoV-2, since vaccination was generally not available before the survey. Therefore, this study offers the first insights into how many Zanzibari had COVID-19 before the Omicron variant emerged. Furthermore, it provides an appropriate basis for a follow-up survey addressing how this seroprevalence has influenced susceptibility to the Omicron variants, given the use of harmonized methodologies.