Molecular detection and genotyping of human herpes virus 8 in blood donors in Congo.

OBJECTIVES: Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) is rarely studied in Congo, despite its prevalence in Africa. Among healthy individuals, HHV-8 does not always lead to a life-threatening infection; however, in immunocompromised individuals, it could lead to more severe disease. The distribution of HHV-8 genotypes varies depending on ethnicity and geographic region. METHOD: A prospective cross-sectional study included 265 samples from healthy blood donors from the National Blood Transfusion Center in Brazzaville, with an average age of 35 years, with extremes ranging from 18 to 60 years. After DNA extraction, a nested PCR was carried out for molecular detection, followed by genotyping by amplification of specific primers. RESULT: In this study, 4.9% were positive for molecular detection of HHV-8 DNA. All HHV-8 positive DNA samples that were subjected to genotyping by amplification with specific primers allowing discrimination of two major genotypes (A and B). Genotype A was identified in 5 (1.9%) samples and genotype B in 2 (0.7%) samples, indicating that both genotypes were predominant. The remaining viral DNA samples not identified as the major genotypes were classified as «indeterminate¼ and consisted of 6 (2.3%) samples. CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that Congo is an area where HHV-8 infection is endemic.

The contribution of commonly consumed edible insects to nutrition security in the Eastern D.R. Congo.

Edible insects are perceived as an incredible opportunity to mitigate the major challenge of sustainably producing healthy foods for a growing world population in the face of climate change uncertainties over the coming decade. In this study, we assessed the nutrient composition and sensory properties of Acheta domesticus, Apis mellifera, Gnathocera trivittata, Gryllotalpa africana, Imbrasia epimethea, Imbrasia oyemensis, Locusta migratoria, Macrotermes subhylanus, Nomadacris septemfasciata, Rhyncophorus phoenicis, Ruspolia differens and Rhynchophorus ferrugineus consumed in Eastern D. R. Congo. The investigated edible insects are highly appreciated and nutritious, with proteins (20.67-43.93 g/100 g) and fats (14.53-36.02 g/100 g) being the major macro-nutrients, proving their potential to improve diets through food enrichment. The high potassium (24-386.67 mg/100 g), sodium (152-257.82 mg/100 g), magnesium (32-64 mg/100 g), iron (5.3-16.13 mg/100 g), calcium (25-156.67 mg/100 g) and zinc (11-19.67 mg/100 g) content make the assessed edible insects a useful mineral-containing ingredient for preventing undernutrition in countries which are plagued by micronutrient deficiencies. A scatter plot of matrices and Pearson's correlations between sensory attributes and nutritional composition showed a negative correlation (r = - 0.45) between protein and appearance. While no strong correlation was observed between nutritional attributes and sensory acceptance, a positive correlation was observed between potassium and aroma (r = 0.50), after-taste (r = 0.50) and acceptability (r = 0.52). Principal component analysis results indicated that the two axes accounted for up to 97.4% of the observed variability in the nutrient composition and sensory attributes of commonly consumed edible insects in the Eastern D. R. Congo. Given the significant delicacy and nutritional potential of edible insects highlighted in this paper, households can rely on the latter to meet their nutritional needs rather than conventional livestock, thus contributing to environmental and financial security through local business opportunities.

[Hepatosplenic sarcoidosis: description of a case at the University hospital center of Brazzaville, Congo]. / Sarcoïdose à localisation hépatosplénique : description d'un cas au Centre hospitalier universitaire de Brazzaville, Congo.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. The isolated extrapulmonary form is rare. We report the case of hepatosplenic sarcoidosis in a 29-year-old female patient.It is a patient with no notable medical history, who was seen in consultation for repeated epistaxis. Clinical examination noted nodular hepatomegaly associated with signs of portal hypertension and splenomegaly. Sedimentation rate, alkaline phosphatase, serum angiotensin converting enzyme, aminotransferases were high. Histological examination of the spleen and liver biopsy noted granulomatous inflammatory infiltration without cancerous lesion or tonsil stones.This picture is comparable with sarcoidosis, despite the absence of PET scans. The main challenge remains the differential diagnosis with other granulomatoses. Corticosteroid therapy is the first-line treatment, and after splenectomy the patient has achieved clinical and biological stability.

Cocoa, livelihoods, and deforestation within the Tridom landscape in the Congo Basin: A spatial analysis.

In the context of emerging international trade regulations on deforestation-free commodities, the drivers of households' deforestation in conservation landscapes are of interest. The role of households' livelihood strategies including cocoa production, and the effects of human-elephant conflict are investigated. Using a unique dataset from a survey of 1035 households in the Tridom landscape in the Congo basin, the spatial autoregressive model shows that: (1) Households imitate the deforestation decisions of their neighbors; (2) A marginally higher income from cocoa production-based livelihood portfolios is associated with six to seven times higher deforestation compared to other livelihood strategies with a significant spillover effect on neighboring households' deforestation. The increase in income, mainly from cocoa production-based livelihoods in open-access systems can have a negative effect on forests. Households with a higher share of auto-consumption are associated with lower deforestation. If economic development brings better market access and lower auto-consumption shares, this is likely to positively influence deforestation. Without proper land use planning/zoning associated with incentives, promoting sustainable agriculture, such as complex cocoa agroforestry systems, may lead to forest degradation and deforestation.

Central African dwarf crocodiles found in syntopy are comparably divergent to South American dwarf caimans.

Recent molecular taxonomic advancements have expanded our understanding of crocodylian diversity, revealing the existence of previously overlooked species, including the Congo dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus osborni) in the central Congo Basin rainforests. This study explores the genomic divergence between O. osborni and its better-known relative, the true dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis), shedding light on their evolutionary history. Field research conducted in the northwestern Republic of the Congo uncovered a locality where both species coexist in sympatry/syntopy. Genomic analysis of sympatric individuals reveals a level of divergence comparable to that between ecologically similar South American dwarf caimans (Paleosuchus palpebrosus and Paleosuchus trigonatus), suggesting parallel speciation in the Afrotropics and Neotropics during the Middle to Late Miocene, 10-12 Ma. Comparison of the sympatric and allopatric dwarf crocodiles indicates no gene flow between the analysed sympatric individuals of O. osborni and O. tetraspis. However, a larger sample will be required to answer the question of whether or to what extent these species hybridize. This study emphasizes the need for further research on the biology and conservation status of the Congo dwarf crocodile, highlighting its significance in the unique biodiversity of the Congolian rainforests and thus its potential as a flagship species.

Scaling up area-based conservation to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework's 30x30 target: The role of Nature's Strongholds.

The Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), signed in 2022 by Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, recognized the importance of area-based conservation, and its goals and targets specify the characteristics of protected and conserved areas (PCAs) that disproportionately contribute to biodiversity conservation. To achieve the GBF's target of conserving a global area of 30% by 2030, this Essay argues for recognizing these characteristics and scaling them up through the conservation of areas that are: extensive (typically larger than 5,000 km2); have interconnected PCAs (either physically or as part of a jurisdictional network, and frequently embedded in larger conservation landscapes); have high ecological integrity; and are effectively managed and equitably governed. These areas are presented as "Nature's Strongholds," illustrated by examples from the Congo and Amazon basins. Conserving Nature's Strongholds offers an approach to scale up initiatives to address global threats to biodiversity.

Contribution of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato mosquitoes to malaria transmission during the dry season in Djoumouna and Ntoula villages in the Republic of the Congo.

BACKGROUND: Mosquitoes belonging to the Anopheles gambiae sensu lato complex play a major role in malaria transmission across Africa. This study assessed the relative importance of members of An. gambiae s.l. in malaria transmission in two rural villages in the Republic of the Congo. METHODS: Adult mosquitoes were collected using electric aspirators from June to September 2022 in Djoumouna and Ntoula villages and were sorted by taxa based on their morphological features. Anopheles gambiae s.l. females were also molecularly identified. A TaqMan-based assay and a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed to determine Plasmodium spp. in the mosquitoes. Entomological indexes were estimated, including man-biting rate, entomological inoculation rate (EIR), and diversity index. RESULTS: Among 176 mosquitoes collected, An. gambiae s.l. was predominant (85.8%), followed by Culex spp. (13.6%) and Aedes spp. (0.6%). Three members of the An. gambiae s.l. complex were collected in both villages, namely An. gambiae sensu stricto (74.3%), Anopheles coluzzii (22.9%) and Anopheles arabiensis (2.8%). Three Plasmodium species were detected in An. gambiae s.s. and An. coluzzii (Plasmodium falciparum, P. malariae and P. ovale), while only P. falciparum and P. malariae were found in An. arabiensis. In general, the Plasmodium infection rate was 35.1% (53/151) using the TaqMan-based assay, and nested PCR confirmed 77.4% (41/53) of those infections. The nightly EIR of An. gambiae s.l. was 0.125 infectious bites per person per night (ib/p/n) in Djoumouna and 0.08 ib/p/n in Ntoula. The EIR of An. gambiae s.s. in Djoumouna (0.11 ib/p/n) and Ntoula (0.04 ib/p/n) was higher than that of An. coluzzii (0.01 and 0.03 ib/p/n) and An. arabiensis (0.005 and 0.0 ib/p/n). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides baseline information on the dominant vectors and dynamics of malaria transmission in the rural areas of the Republic of the Congo during the dry season. In the two sampled villages, An. gambiae s.s. appears to play a predominant role in Plasmodium spp.

Regional determinants of quality of care for sick children: A multilevel analysis in four countries.

Background: The limited impact of increased access to care on improvements in health outcomes during the Millennium Development Goal era has been attributed, in part, to inadequate quality of care. We identified regional factors associated with health service quality for sick child care in low-income countries and examined whether provider factors interact with regional factors to affect the quality of care. Methods: We conducted cross-sectional random intercept four-level linear regression using the most recent Service Provision Assessment and Demographic Health Survey data from four countries (467 from the Democratic Republic of Congo 2018, 2425 from Afghanistan 2018, 2072 from Nepal 2015, and 813 from Senegal 2017). The outcome variable was the service quality score for sick child care, which was measured as the percentage of clinically recommended tasks completed in the integrated management of childhood illness (ranging from 0 to 100). Regional factors were selected based on the High-Quality Health System Framework. Results: The service quality score was found to be positively associated with the proportion of large facilities (ß = 8.61; P = 0.004) and the proportion of providers ranked in the top fifth for service quality score (ß = 30.15; P < 0.001) in the region. We identified significant cross-level interactions between provider qualifications (ß = -16.6; P < 0.001) or job descriptions (ß = 12.01; P = 0.002) and the proportion of providers in the top fifth for service quality scores within the region. As the proportion of top-performing providers in a region increased, the increase in the service quality score was more pronounced among providers who were nonmedical doctors or did not have job descriptions than among their counterparts. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the quality of care for sick children in a region improves with a greater proportion of high-performing providers or larger facilities. Providers who are not medical doctors, or those who have specific job descriptions, tend to benefit more from the presence of these top-performing providers.

Exploring the dietary practices and perceptions of African immigrants in Illinois- a qualitative study of immigrants from Nigeria and Congo.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies suggest an increased prevalence of diet-related chronic diseases among African immigrants with increased length of stay in the U.S. The objective of the current study is to understand the dietary practices and perceptions of recent African immigrant families. DESIGN: Focus group sessions were conducted with Nigerian and Congolese immigrant parents residing in Illinois. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling methods and focus group sessions were conducted via videoconference. Participants discussed dietary practices, meal preparation, and family mealtimes for their families. They also discussed experiences with eating different kinds of foods since arrival in the U.S. Verbatim transcription of focus group sessions were completed and deductive thematic analysis of transcribed data was conducted using NVivo (QSR International Pty Ltd. [2020] NVivo [version 12]). RESULTS: Twenty African immigrant parents (Mean age: 42 years, Female: 95%) residing in Northern and Central Illinois participated in a total of five focus group sessions. Seven themes were derived from the analysis. Participants had a positive attitude toward healthy diet and had a high level of interest in receiving educational resources to make healthier food choices. Participants preferred and mostly consumed foods they were familiar with before migration. A majority of the participants perceived 'American foods' as unhealthy, characterizing them as containing a high amount of sugar and salt. Parents reported that their school-aged children often preferred a western diet over traditional African meals. CONCLUSION: This study helps to understand unique diet-related practices and perceptions of recent Nigerian and Congolese African immigrants in Illinois. Findings could help to inform cultural adaptation of evidence-based nutrition education programs for these groups of African immigrants.

Comparing urine point-of-care tests to screen preeclampsia: Congo-red dot paper test versus dipstick urinalysis.

To compare the urine Congo-red dot paper test (CRD) with dipstick urinalysis to screen preeclampsia (PE). A total of 409 paired spot urine samples were obtained prospectively from women with suspected pre-eclampsia attending for routine hospital visits. Congo-red dot paper test and dipstick urinalysis were examined and compared to screen pre-eclampsia. The agreement between the two urinary test is modest (kappa coefficient = 0.28, 95% CI 0.14-0.42). The specificity of CRD was higher than urinalysis (97.4% vs. 90.4%, p < .001). Urinalysis performed better in sensitivity (77.3% vs. 40.9%, p = .04) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) (0.84 [95% CI 0.74-0.94] vs. 0.69 [95% CI 0.55-0.83], p = .04) than CRD, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, AUC of the parallel test of them is 86.4% (64.0%-96.4%), 89.1% (85.5%-92.0%), and 0.88 (95% CI 0.79-0.96). And the serial test is 31.8% (14.7%-54.9%), 98.7% (96.8%-99.5%), 0.65 (95% CI 0.51-0.79), accordingly. The urinalysis is a better diagnosing test for preeclampsia. CRD could aid in the diagnosis of patients with preeclampsia. Combined the two tests in suspected patients may further improve the performance in the diagnosis of preeclampsia. Further study need to be made for its potential clinical practice.

Entomological indicators of Plasmodium species transmission in Goma Tsé-Tsé and Madibou districts, in the Republic of Congo.

BACKGROUND: Malaria remains a major public health problem in the Republic of Congo, with Plasmodium falciparum being the deadliest species of Plasmodium in humans. Vector transmission of malaria is poorly studied in the country and no previous report compared rural and urban data. This study aimed to determine the Anopheles fauna and the entomological indices of malaria transmission in the rural and urban areas in the south of Brazzaville, and beyond. METHODS: Indoor household mosquitoes capture using electric aspirator was performed in rural and urban areas during raining and dry seasons in 2021. The identification of Anopheles species was done using binocular magnifier and nested-PCR. TaqMan and nested-PCR were used to detect the Plasmodium species in the head/thorax and abdomens of Anopheles. Some entomological indices including the sporozoite infection rate, the entomological inoculation rate and the man biting rate were estimated. RESULTS: A total of 699 Anopheles mosquitoes were collected: Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) (90.7%), Anopheles funestus s.l. (6.9%), and Anopheles moucheti (2.4%). Three species of An. gambiae s.l. were identified including Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (78.9%), Anopheles coluzzii (15.4%) and Anopheles arabiensis (5.7%). The overall sporozoite infection rate was 22.3% with a predominance of Plasmodium falciparum, followed by Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale. Anopheles aggressiveness rate was higher in households from rural area (1.1 bites/night) compared to that from urban area (0.8 ib/p/n). The overall entomological inoculation rate was 0.13 ib/p/n. This index was 0.17 ib/p/n and 0.092 ib/p/n in rural and in urban area, respectively, and was similar during the dry (0.18 ib/p/n) and rainy (0.14 ib/p/n) seasons. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight that malaria transmission remains high in rural and urban area in the south of Republic of Congo despite the ongoing control efforts, thereby indicating the need for more robust interventions.

Association between arterial stiffness and Loa loa microfilaremia in a rural area of the Republic of Congo: A population-based cross-sectional study (the MorLo project).

BACKGROUND: Loa loa filariasis (loiasis) is still considered a relatively benign disease. However, recent epidemiologic data suggest increased mortality and morbidity in L. loa infected individuals. We aimed to examine whether the density of L. loa microfilariae (mfs) in the blood is associated with cardiovascular disease. METHODOLOGY: Using a point-of-care device (pOpmètre), we conducted a cross-sectional study to assess arterial stiffness and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in 991 individuals living in a loiasis-endemic rural area in the Republic of the Congo. Microfilaremic individuals were matched for age, sex and village of residence with 2 amicrofilaremic subjects. We analyzed markers of arterial stiffness (Pulse-Wave Velocity, PWV), PAD (Ankle-Brachial Index, ABI) and cardiovascular health (Pulse Pressure, PP). The analysis considered parasitological results (L. loa microfilarial density [MFD], soil-transmitted helminths infection, asymptomatic malaria and onchocerciasis), sociodemographic characteristics and known cardiovascular risk factors (body mass index, smoking status, creatininemia, blood pressure). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Among the individuals included in the analysis, 192/982 (19.5%) and 137/976 (14.0%) had a PWV or an ABI considered out of range, respectively. Out of range PWV was associated with younger age, high mean arterial pressure and high L. loa MFD. Compared to amicrofilaremic subjects, those with more than 10,000 mfs/mL were 2.17 times more likely to have an out of range PWV (p = 0.00). Factors significantly associated with PAD were older age, low pulse rate, low body mass index, smoking, and L. loa microfilaremia. Factors significantly associated with an elevation of PP were older age, female sex, high average blood pressure, low pulse rate and L. loa microfilaremia. CONCLUSION: A potential link between high L. loa microfilaremia and cardiovascular health deterioration is suggested. Further studies are required to confirm and explore this association.

Simultaneous measurements of radon, thoron and thoron progeny and induced cancer risk assessment in Djeno, Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo.

In this study, the activity concentrations of radon (222Rn), thoron (220Rn) and thoron progeny were measured simultaneously in Djeno (Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo) using RADUET detectors to evaluate the air quality and the radiological risks due to the inhalation of these radionuclides. Activity concentrations of radon progeny were calculated from those of radon. Indoor radon, thoron and progenies followed a lognormal distribution ranging between 20 and 40, 6 and 62, 8 and 17.6 and 0.4 and 19.6 Bq m-3 for radon, thoron, radon progeny and thoron progeny, respectively. Mean values for radon were lower than the worldwide values estimated by the United Nation Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), which are 40 Bq m-3 (arithmetic mean) and 45 Bq m-3 (geometric mean). Radon concentrations in the dwellings under study were below the World Health Organization and the International Commission on Radiological Protection recommended reference levels, which are, respectively, 100 and 300 Bq m-3. The mean concentration of thoron was twice the world average value of 10 Bq m-3 estimated by UNSCEAR. Thoron progeny mean concentration was sharply greater than the typical value (0.3 Bq m-3) for indoor atmosphere provided by UNSCEAR. Annual effective dose ranges were 0.40-0.87 mSv (arithmetic mean, 0.57 ± 0.11 mSv) for radon and 0.10-4.14 mSv (arithmetic mean, 0.55 ± 0.77 mSv) for thoron. The mean value for radon was lower than the value (1.15 mSv) estimated by UNSCEAR, while the mean value for thoron was five times higher than the UNSCEAR value (0.10 mSv). The study showed that the use of the typical equilibrium factor value given by UNSCEAR to compute effective dose led to an error above 80%. Finally, the results of this study showed that the excess relative risk of radon-induced cancer was low, below 2% for the population under 55 y. The results presented in the present study prove that the population of Djeno is exposed to a relatively low potential risk of radon- and thoron-induced cancer.

Women's subsistence networks scaffold cultural transmission among BaYaka foragers in the Congo Basin.

In hunter-gatherer societies, women's subsistence activities are crucial for food provisioning and children's social learning but are understudied relative to men's activities. To understand the structure of women's foraging networks, we present 230 days of focal-follow data in a BaYaka community. To analyze these data, we develop a stochastic blockmodel for repeat observations with uneven sampling. We find that women's subsistence networks are characterized by cooperation between kin, gender homophily, and mixed age-group composition. During early childhood, individuals preferentially coforage with adult kin, but those in middle childhood and adolescence are likely to coforage with nonkin peers, providing opportunities for horizontal learning. By quantifying the probability of coforaging ties across age classes and relatedness levels, our findings provide insights into the scope for social learning during women's subsistence activities in a real-world foraging population and provide ground-truth values for key parameters used in formal models of cumulative culture.

Dynamic assessment of the impact of agricultural land use change and globalization on environmental quality in the tropical African Rainforest: evidence from the Congo Basin.

The rising human demand for food has increased the pursuit for more agricultural land to feed the ever-growing human population. Although agriculture constitutes the cornerstone of most economies and serves as a vital source of foreign earnings to others, experts suggest that it emits a substantial amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, thereby enhancing global warming. Furthermore, with the growing pace of globalization, less developed countries are witnessing economic growth with detrimental impacts on the environment. Inspired by the need to protect tropical rainforests and basins, the current research aims to assess the dynamic impacts of agricultural land use change (LALUC) and globalization (LGLO) on environmental quality (LCO2) in the Congo Basin while controlling for economic growth (LGDP), biomass energy consumption (LBIO), and urbanization (LURBN). Based on panel data from 1980 to 2018, this study utilized second-generation econometric methods including the cross-sectional Im, Peseran Shin (CIPS), Westerlund bootstrapped co-integration test, autoregressive distributive lag/pooled mean group (ARDL/PMG), and the Dumitrescu Hurlin (D-H) panel causality estimates. The outcome reveals a long-run equilibrium co-integrating association among the estimated variables, and LALUC, LBIO, and LURBN were found to reduce LCO2, while LGDP and LGLO increase LCO2. These findings imply the inverted U-shaped relationship between LALUC, LBIO, and LURBN is beneficial for environmental quality in the Congo Basin. Based on the findings, environmental quality and economic growth can be achieved instantaneously in this region by engaging in large-scale production of biomass energy. Therefore, policymakers and governments should promote renewable energy use and convey foreign funds towards its enhancement, while investments in agriculture should prioritize environmentally benign practices such as agroforestry.

Socioecological factors influencing intraspecific variation in ranging dynamics of western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in Ndoki Forest.

Ranging dynamics are physical and behavioral representations of how different socioecological factors affect an organism's spatial decisions and space use strategies. Western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) are a model species to investigate the drivers of spatial dynamics based on both the natural variation in socioecological factors within the species and compared with their mountain gorilla counterparts. In this study, we evaluate the influences of resource seasonality and social dynamics on variation in home range size, utilization, and intergroup overlap among multiple gorilla groups over an 8-year study period in the northern Republic of Congo. This study shows that western lowland gorillas can have small home ranges comparable to mountain gorillas, rather than universally larger home ranges as previously supposed, and that home ranges are stable through time. The largest source of variation in space use was the degree of intergroup home range overlap. The study groups did not demonstrate intraspecific variation in range size nor changes in intergroup overlap with respect to seasonality of fruit resources, but all groups demonstrated expansion of monthly range and core area with group size, matching predictions of intragroup feeding competition. These findings highlight the potential impact of intergroup relationships on space use and prompt further research on the role of social dynamics in ranging strategies. In this study, we reveal a greater degree of variability and flexibility in gorilla ranging behavior than previously realized which is relevant to improving comparative studies and informing conservation strategies on behalf of these endangered primates.

Deadliest mpox outbreak ever sparks a new worry.

Congo cases suggest viral strain there is spreading sexually, like less lethal one that triggered last year's global outbreak.

Loa loa and Mansonella perstans microfilaremia in the department of Lékoumou, Republic of Congo.

BACKGROUND: Loiasis is endemic in the northern and western part of the Republic of Congo. Between 2004 and 2010, surveys were conducted, using the RAPLOA method, in all departments of the Republic of Congo to assess the distribution of loiasis. Prior to 2004, only two parasitological surveys on loiasis had been conducted in Congo and mainly in the Department of Lékoumou, in the southwestern of the country. In 2019, we conducted a parasitological survey in this same department, more than 30 years after the first surveys. METHODS: The study was conducted in 21 villages. Loa loa and Mansonella perstans microfilaremia levels were quantified using 50 µl calibrated blood smears. RESULTS: A total of 2444 individuals were examined. The median age of the screened individuals was 43 (interquartile range: 30-57, range: 18-91) years old. The overall prevalences of L. loa and M. perstans microfilaremia were 20.0% [95% confidence intervals (CI) 18.0-21.6%] and 1.0% (95% CI 0.6-1.4%) respectively. The proportion of individuals with a microfilarial density of L. loa > 8000 mf/ml and > 30,000 mf/ml were 5.1% (95% CI 4.3-6.1%) and 1.1% (95% CI 0.8-1.7%), respectively. The overall community microfilarial load was 3.4 mf/ml. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalences and intensities of L. loa infection remained generally stable between the late 1980s and 2019 in the Lékoumou Department. In contrast, parasitological indicators for M. perstans have declined sharply in the intervening years for an unknown reason.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Republic of Congo, February 2022.

In resource-limited countries, the lack of widespread screening masks the true situation of COVID-19. We conducted this study to assess SARS-CoV-2 spread by detection of specific antibodies and to determine associated factors. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Subjects were tested for the presence of two antibodies (IgM and IgG) specific to SARS-CoV-2. Data collection was done using a smartphone with the KoboCollect application. Prevalence of antibodies was estimated with 95% confidence intervals. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with positive serological test. A total of 9,094 persons were tested in 4,340 households. The mean age was 30.18 ± 18.65 years, 46.5% male. The overall seroprevalence (prevalence, 95% CI) of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was (48.2% [47.2%-49.2%]). Being vaccinated, having been in contact with a COVID-19 patient, being older than 50 years, living in a union, having secondary education and having tertiary education were factors independently associated with the likelihood of having anti-sars-CoV-2. We estimate in February 2022 that 48% persons had antibodies against the COVID-19 virus, more among those vaccinated. Vaccination intensification in low prevalence departments will reduce the risk of new outbreaks.