Effectiveness and safety of artesunate-amodiaquine versus artemether-lumefantrine for home-based treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria among children 6-120 months in Yaoundé, Cameroon: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have reported high efficacy and safety of artesunate-amodiaquine (AS-AQ) and artemether-lumefantrine (AL) when administered under direct observation in Cameroon. There is paucity of data to support their continuous use in home-based treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Cameroon. Hence, this study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of AS-AQ versus AL for home-based treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria among children 6-120 months in Yaoundé, Cameroon. METHODS: A two-arm, open-label, randomized, controlled trial comparing the equivalence of AS-AQ (experimental group) and AL (control group) was carried out from May 2019 to April 2020 at two secondary hospitals in Yaoundé. Participants were randomized to receive either AS-AQ or AL. After the first dose, antimalarial drugs were given at home, rather than under direct observation by a study staff. The conventional on-treatment and post-treatment laboratory and clinical evaluations were not done until day 3 of the full antimalarial treatment course. The evaluation of effectiveness was mainly based on per protocol polymerase chain reaction adjusted adequate clinical and parasitological response (PP PCR adjusted ACPR) on day 28 post-treatment. Safety was based on assessment of adverse events (AEs) and severe adverse events (SAEs) from day 1 to day 28. RESULTS: A total of 242 children were randomized to receive AS-AQ (n = 114) and AL (n = 128). The PP PCR adjusted day 28 cure rates were [AS-AQ = 96.9% (95% CI, 91.2-99.4) versus AL = 95.5% (95% CI, 89.9-98.5), P = 0.797]. Expected mild to moderate adverse events were reported in both arms [AS-AQ = 83 (84.7%) versus AL = 99 (86.1%), P = 0.774]. The most common adverse events included: transient changes of hematologic indices and fever. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that AS-AQ and AL are effective and safe for home management of malaria in Yaoundé. The evidence from this study supports the parallel use of the two drugs in routine practice. However, the findings from this study do not describe the likely duration of antimalarial effectiveness in holoendemic areas where multiple courses of treatment might be required. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is a randomized controlled trial and it was retrospectively registered on 23/09/2020 at ClinicalTrials.gov with registration number NCT04565184.

Pyronaridine-artesunate real-world safety, tolerability, and effectiveness in malaria patients in 5 African countries: A single-arm, open-label, cohort event monitoring study.

BACKGROUND: In Phase II/III randomized controlled clinical trials for the treatment of acute uncomplicated malaria, pyronaridine-artesunate demonstrated high efficacy and a safety profile consistent with that of comparators, except that asymptomatic, mainly mild-to-moderate transient increases in liver aminotransferases were reported for some patients. Hepatic safety, tolerability, and effectiveness have not been previously assessed under real-world conditions in Africa. METHODS AND FINDINGS: This single-arm, open-label, cohort event monitoring study was conducted at 6 health centers in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, and Republic of Congo between June 2017 and April 2019. The trial protocol as closely as possible resembled real-world clinical practice for the treatment of malaria at the centers. Eligible patients were adults or children of either sex, weighing at least 5 kg, with acute uncomplicated malaria who did not have contraindications for pyronaridine-artesunate treatment as per the summary of product characteristics. Patients received fixed-dose pyronaridine-artesunate once daily for 3 days, dosed by body weight, without regard to food intake. A tablet formulation was used in adults and adolescents and a pediatric granule formulation in children and infants under 20 kg body weight. The primary outcome was the hepatic event incidence, defined as the appearance of the clinical signs and symptoms of hepatotoxicity confirmed by a >2× rise in alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST) versus baseline in patients with baseline ALT/AST >2× the upper limit of normal (ULN). As a secondary outcome, this was assessed in patients with ALT/AST >2× ULN prior to treatment versus a matched cohort of patients with normal baseline ALT/AST. The safety population comprised 7,154 patients, of mean age 13.9 years (standard deviation (SD) 14.6), around half of whom were male (3,569 [49.9%]). Patients experienced 8,560 malaria episodes; 158 occurred in patients with baseline ALT/AST elevations >2×ULN. No protocol-defined hepatic events occurred following pyronaridine-artesunate treatment of malaria patients with or without baseline hepatic dysfunction. Thus, no cohort comparison could be undertaken. Also, as postbaseline clinical chemistry was only performed where clinically indicated, postbaseline ALT/AST levels were not systematically assessed for all patients. Adverse events of any cause occurred in 20.8% (1,490/7,154) of patients, most frequently pyrexia (5.1% [366/7,154]) and vomiting (4.2% [303/7,154]). Adjusting for Plasmodium falciparum reinfection, clinical effectiveness at day 28 was 98.6% ([7,369/7,746] 95% confidence interval (CI) 98.3 to 98.9) in the per-protocol population. There was no indication that comorbidities or malnutrition adversely affected outcomes. The key study limitation was that postbaseline clinical biochemistry was only evaluated when clinically indicated. CONCLUSIONS: Pyronaridine-artesunate had good tolerability and effectiveness in a representative African population under conditions similar to everyday clinical practice. These findings support pyronaridine-artesunate as an operationally useful addition to the management of acute uncomplicated malaria. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03201770.

Drug resistance markers within an evolving efficacy of anti-malarial drugs in Cameroon: a systematic review and meta-analysis (1998-2020).

BACKGROUND: Malaria remains highly endemic in Cameroon. The rapid emergence and spread of drug resistance was responsible for the change from monotherapies to artemisinin-based combinations. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the prevalence and distribution of Plasmodium falciparum drug resistance markers within an evolving efficacy of anti-malarial drugs in Cameroon from January 1998 to August 2020. METHODS: The PRISMA-P and PRISMA statements were adopted in the inclusion of studies on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of P. falciparum anti-malarial drug resistance genes (Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Pfdhfr, Pfdhps, Pfatp6, Pfcytb and Pfk13). The heterogeneity of the included studies was evaluated using the Cochran's Q and I2 statistics. The random effects model was used as standard in the determination of heterogeneity between studies. RESULTS: Out of the 902 records screened, 48 studies were included in this aggregated meta-analysis of molecular data. A total of 18,706 SNPs of the anti-malarial drug resistance genes were genotyped from 47,382 samples which yielded a pooled prevalence of 35.4% (95% CI 29.1-42.3%). Between 1998 and 2020, there was significant decline (P < 0.0001 for all) in key mutants including Pfcrt 76 T (79.9%-43.0%), Pfmdr1 86Y (82.7%-30.5%), Pfdhfr 51I (72.2%-66.9%), Pfdhfr 59R (76.5%-67.8%), Pfdhfr 108 N (80.8%-67.6%). The only exception was Pfdhps 437G which increased over time (30.4%-46.9%, P < 0.0001) and Pfdhps 540E that remained largely unchanged (0.0%-0.4%, P = 0.201). Exploring mutant haplotypes, the study observed a significant increase in the prevalence of Pfcrt CVIET mixed quintuple haplotype from 57.1% in 1998 to 57.9% in 2020 (P < 0.0001). In addition, within the same study period, there was no significant change in the triple Pfdhfr IRN mutant haplotype (66.2% to 67.3%, P = 0.427). The Pfk13 amino acid polymorphisms associated with artemisinin resistance were not detected. CONCLUSIONS: This review reported an overall decline in the prevalence of P. falciparum gene mutations conferring resistance to 4-aminoquinolines and amino alcohols for a period over two decades. Resistance to artemisinins measured by the presence of SNPs in the Pfk13 gene does not seem to be a problem in Cameroon. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42020162620.

The effect of improved housing on indoor mosquito density and exposure to malaria in the rural community of Minkoameyos, Centre Region of Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the effectiveness of improved housing on indoor residual mosquito density and exposure to infected Anophelines in Minkoameyos, a rural community in southern forested Cameroon. METHODS: Following the identification of housing factors affecting malaria prevalence in 2013, 218 houses were improved by screening the doors and windows, installing plywood ceilings on open eaves and closing holes on walls and doors. Monthly entomological surveys were conducted in a sample of 21 improved and 21 non-improved houses from November 2014 to October 2015. Mosquitoes sampled from night collections on human volunteers were identified morphologically and their parity status determined. Mosquito infectivity was verified through Plasmodium falciparum CSP ELISA and the average entomological inoculation rates determined. A Reduction Factor (RF), defined as the ratio of the values for mosquitoes collected outdoor to those collected indoor was calculated in improved houses (RFI) and non-improved houses (RFN). An Intervention Effect (IE = RFI/RFN) measured the true effect of the intervention. Chi square test was used to determine variable significance. The threshold for statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 1113 mosquitoes were collected comprising Anopheles sp (58.6%), Culex sp (36.4%), Aedes sp (2.5%), Mansonia sp (2.4%) and Coquillettidia sp (0.2%). Amongst the Anophelines were Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) (95.2%), Anopheles funestus (2.9%), Anopheles ziemanni (0.2%), Anopheles brohieri (1.2%) and Anopheles paludis (0.5%). Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (s.s.) was the only An. gambiae sibling species found. The intervention reduced the indoor Anopheles density by 1.8-fold (RFI = 3.99; RFN = 2.21; P = 0.001). The indoor density of parous Anopheles was reduced by 1.7-fold (RFI = 3.99; RFN = 2.21; P = 0.04) and that of infected Anopheles by 1.8-fold (RFI = 3.26; RFN = 1.78; P = 0.04). Indoor peak biting rates were observed between 02 a.m. to 04 a.m. in non-improved houses and from 02 a.m. to 06 a.m. in improved houses. CONCLUSION: Housing improvement contributed to reducing indoor residual anopheline density and malaria transmission. This highlights the need for policy specialists to further evaluate and promote aspects of house design as a complementary control tool that could reduce indoor human-vector contact and malaria transmission in similar epidemiological settings.

Accuracy of One Step malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) in detecting Plasmodium falciparum placental malaria infection in women living in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes sequestering in placental tissue release Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) and histidine-rich protein-II (HRP-II). These proteins can be detected in peripheral blood using monoclonal antibody-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). Nevertheless, studies to evaluate the reliability of RDTs in detecting placental malaria compared with microscopy of placental tissue impression smear (PTIS) as the gold standard are scarce. METHODS: Between August 2013 and January 2015, Giemsa-stained blood smears for peripheral blood smear (Pbs), placental intervillous space (IVS) blood smear and placental tissue impression smear (PTIS)] were prepared from HIV-negative women during delivery at the Marie Reine Medical Health Centre in Yaoundé, Cameroon. RDTs with monoclonal antibodies specific to HRP-II (P.f) or pLDH (Pan) antigens were used to screen maternal peripheral blood samples. RESULTS: The prevalence of malaria was 16%, 7.5%, 11.5%, 8% and 13% for One Step malaria HRP-II and pLDH RDTs, peripheral blood smear, IVS blood and placental tissue impression smears, respectively. The proportion of women positive by One Step malaria pLDH RDT and Pbs increased with parasite density in PTIS, while One Step malaria HRP-II RDT detected high proportion of infected women even with low parasite density. Although the prevalence of malaria infection by both microscopy and RDTs decreased significantly with mother age (0.0008 ≤ p ≤ 0.025), parity seemed to have very little influence. The sensitivity of One Step malaria HRP-II and pLDH RDTs were 96.15% and 61.53%, respectively, compared to 80.76% for Pbs (p = 0.014 and 0.0029, respectively). The specificity of these RDTs was 96.49% and 100%, respectively, compared to 100% for Pbs (p ≥ 0.12). In addition, the positive predictive values were 80.64% and 100% for HRP-II and pLDH-based RDTs, respectively, compared to 100% for Pbs (p < 0.0001 and 1, respectively), while the negative predictive values were 99.40% and 94.48%, respectively, compared to 97.16% for Pbs (p ≥ 0.49). The combination of One Step malaria HRP-II RDT and Pbs showed the similar performance as that observed with One Step malaria HRP-II RDT only. CONCLUSION: These results depict One Step malaria HRP-II RDT to be better in detecting placental P. falciparum infection in pregnant women compared to Giemsa-stained peripheral thick blood smear. This is important for better case management since microscopic examination of PTIS cannot be employed during pregnancy.

Evidences of the Low Implication of Mosquitoes in the Transmission of Mycobacterium ulcerans, the Causative Agent of Buruli Ulcer.

BACKGROUND: Buruli ulcer (BU) continues to be a serious public health threat in wet tropical regions and the mode of transmission of its etiological agent, Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU), remains poorly understood. In this study, mosquito species collected in endemic villages in Benin were screened for the presence of MU. In addition, the ability of mosquitoes larvae to pick up MU from their environment and remain colonized through the larval developmental stages to the adult stage was investigated. METHODS: 7,218 adults and larvae mosquitoes were sampled from endemic and nonendemic villages and screened for MU DNA targets (IS2404, IS2606, and KR-B) using qPCR. Results. MU was not detected in any of the field collected samples. Additional studies of artificially infected larvae of Anopheles kisumu with MU strains revealed that mosquitoes larvae are able to ingest and host MU during L1, L2, L3, and L4 developmental stages. However, we noticed an absence of these bacteria at both pupae and adult stages, certainly revealing the low ability of infected or colonized mosquitoes to vertically transmit MU to their offspring. CONCLUSION: The overall findings highlight the low implication of mosquitoes as biological vectors in the transmission cycle of MU from the risk environments to humans.

Impact of placental Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection on the Cameroonian maternal and neonate's plasma levels of some cytokines known to regulate T cells differentiation and function.

BACKGROUND: The impact of placental malaria (PM) infection on the expression profile of some cytokines known to regulate T cell differentiation and function and their influence on birth weight remain unclear. Moreover, there are no reports showing the relationship between PM and IL-27 or IL-28A. This study therefore sought to investigate whether placental P. falciparum infection alters the expression profile of the cytokines IL-28A, IL-27, IL-17E and IL-6 in mothers and their new born. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study conducted between 2013 and 2015 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, peripheral, placental and cord blood samples were collected from 108 women at delivery. Parasitaemia was determined microscopically and haemoglobin levels determined using a Coulter counter. Plasma levels of cytokines (IL-28A, IL-27, IL-17E and IL-6) were measured by Luminex magnetic screening assay. RESULTS: Malaria parasite density in placenta impression smear associated negatively with maternal haemoglobin level (P < 0.0001) and baby birth weight (P = 0.016). While IL-17E, IL-27 and IL-28A levels were significantly higher in placental and cord plasma than in peripheral (P < 0.0001, < 0.001 and P = 0.026, respectively), an opposite relationship was observed with IL-6 (P = 0.0018). Multivariate analysis confirmed results of univariate analysis where the presence of malaria parasites or pigments in placenta tissue impression smears correlated with decrease levels of maternal IL-17E, IL-27 and IL-28A and neonate levels of IL-28A and IL-17E (0.0001 ≤ P ≤ 0.02). Placental and peripheral parasitaemias also correlated positively with peripheral plasma levels of IL-6 (rs = 0.18, P = 0.05 and rs = 0.17, P = 0.07, respectively). In addition, high maternal haemoglobin level associated with increasing levels of IL-17E, IL-27 and IL-28A in peripheral plasma (0.002 ≤ P ≤ 0.018) and high placental and cord plasma levels of these cytokines associated with increasing birth weight (0.0001 ≤ P ≤ 0.0027). CONCLUSIONS: Placental malaria downregulates maternal plasma levels of IL-17E, IL-27 and IL-28A and neonates' plasma levels of IL-17E and IL-28A cytokines, which could help for parasite clearance and increase child birth weight. The study is expected to provide leads that should help identify potential biomarkers for improved birth weight and therapeutic interventions.

Antibody responses to the full-length VAR2CSA and its DBL domains in Cameroonian children and teenagers.

BACKGROUND: Antigenic variation of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 is a key parasite mechanism for immune evasion and parasite survival. It is assumed that the number of parasites expressing the same var gene must reach high enough numbers before the host can produce detectable levels of antibodies (Ab) to the variant. VAR2CSA is a protein coded for by one of 60 var genes that is expressed on the surface of infected erythrocytes (IE) and mediates IE binding to the placenta. The idea that Ab to VAR2CSA are pregnancy-associated was challenged when VAR2CSA-specific Ab were reported in children and men. However, the frequency and conditions under which Ab to VAR2CSA are produced outside pregnancy is unclear. This study sought to determine frequency, specificity and level of Ab to VAR2CSA produced in children and whether children with hyperparasitaemia and severe malaria are more likely to produce Ab to VAR2CSA compared to healthy children. METHODS: Antibody responses to a panel of recombinant proteins consisting of multiple VAR2CSA Duffy-binding-like domains (DBL) and full-length VAR2CSA (FV2) were characterized in 193 1-15 year old children from rural Cameroonian villages and 160 children with severe malaria from the city. RESULTS: Low Ab levels to VAR2CSA were detected in children; however, Ab levels to FV2 in teenagers were rare. Children preferentially recognized DBL2 (56-70%) and DBL4 (50-60%), while multigravidae produced high levels of IgG to DBL3, DBL5 and FV2. Sixty-seven percent of teenage girls (n = 16/24) recognized ID1-ID2a region of VAR2CSA. Children with severe forms of malaria had significantly higher IgG to merozoite antigens (all p < 0.05), but not to VAR2CSA (all p > 0.05) when compared to the healthy children. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that children, including teenage girls acquire Ab to VAR2CSA domains and FV2, but Ab levels are much lower than those needed to protect women from placental infections and repertoire of Ab responses to DBL domains is different from those in pregnant women. Interestingly, children with severe malaria did not have higher Ab levels to VAR2CSA compared to healthy children.

Field evaluation of the 22 rapid diagnostic tests for community management of malaria with artemisinin combination therapy in Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: All suspected cases of malaria should receive a diagnostic test prior to treatment with artemisinin-based combinations based on the new WHO malaria treatment guidelines. This study compared the accuracy and some operational characteristics of 22 different immunochromatographic antigen capture point-of- malaria tests (RDTs) in Cameroon to inform test procurement prior to deployment of artemisinin-based combinations for malaria treatment. METHODS: One hundred human blood samples (50 positive and 50 negative) collected from consenting febrile patients in two health centres at Yaoundé were used for evaluation of the 22 RDTs categorized as "Pf Only" (9) or "Pf + PAN" (13) based on parasite antigen captured [histidine rich protein II (HRP2) or lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) or aldolase]. RDTs were coded to blind technicians performing the tests. The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the positive and negative tests (PPV and NPV) as well as the likelihood ratios were assessed. The reliability and some operational characteristics were determined as the mean values from two assessors, and the Cohen's kappa statistic was then used to compare agreement. Light microscopy was the referent. RESULTS: Of all RDTs tested, 94.2 % (21/22) had sensitivity values greater than 90% among which 14 (63.6%) were 'Pf + PAN' RDTs. The specificity was generally lower than the sensitivity for all RDTs and poorer for "Pf Only" RDTs. The predictive values and likelihood ratios were better for non-HRP2 analytes for "Pf + PAN" RDTs. The Kappa value for most of the tests obtained was around 67% (95% CI 50-69%), corresponding to a moderate agreement. CONCLUSION: Overall, 94.2% (21/22) of RDTs tested had accuracy within the range recommended by the WHO, while one performed poorly, below acceptable levels. Seven "Pf + PAN" and 3 "Pf Only" RDTs were selected for further assessment based on performance characteristics. Harmonizing RDT test presentation and procedures would prevent mistakes of test performance and interpretation.

Design of a study to determine the impact of insecticide resistance on malaria vector control: a multi-country investigation.

BACKGROUND: Progress in reducing the malaria disease burden through the substantial scale up of insecticide-based vector control in recent years could be reversed by the widespread emergence of insecticide resistance. The impact of insecticide resistance on the protective effectiveness of insecticide-treated nets (ITN) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) is not known. A multi-country study was undertaken in Sudan, Kenya, India, Cameroon and Benin to quantify the potential loss of epidemiological effectiveness of ITNs and IRS due to decreased susceptibility of malaria vectors to insecticides. The design of the study is described in this paper. METHODS: Malaria disease incidence rates by active case detection in cohorts of children, and indicators of insecticide resistance in local vectors were monitored in each of approximately 300 separate locations (clusters) with high coverage of malaria vector control over multiple malaria seasons. Phenotypic and genotypic resistance was assessed annually. In two countries, Sudan and India, clusters were randomly assigned to receive universal coverage of ITNs only, or universal coverage of ITNs combined with high coverage of IRS. Association between malaria incidence and insecticide resistance, and protective effectiveness of vector control methods and insecticide resistance were estimated, respectively. RESULTS: Cohorts have been set up in all five countries, and phenotypic resistance data have been collected in all clusters. In Sudan, Kenya, Cameroon and Benin data collection is due to be completed in 2015. In India data collection will be completed in 2016. DISCUSSION: The paper discusses challenges faced in the design and execution of the study, the analysis plan, the strengths and weaknesses, and the possible alternatives to the chosen study design.

Patterns of microbiome composition in tsetse fly Glossina palpalis palpalis during vector control using Tiny Targets in Campo, South Cameroon.

Novel vector control tools against African trypanosomiases require a deep understanding of the factors driving tsetse vector fitness or population resilience in their ecosystems. Following evidence of microbiota-mediated host fitness or traits shaping, including insecticide resistance in arthropod populations, we undertook a comparative study of the microbiota in wild-caught tsetse flies during vector control with deltamethrin-impregnated traps called Tiny Targets. The bacterial microbiome composition of tsetse flies collected before and after 6, 12, and 18 months of vector control were characterized using high-throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and compared. Overall, 48 bacterial genera and five phyla were identified. The primary symbiont Wigglesworthia dominated almost all the samples with an overall relative abundance of 71.76%. A significant increase was observed in microbiome diversities over the vector control with new taxa identified. Interestingly, few genera, like Curvibacter for instance, displayed a regularly increasing abundance, from 0.57% to 0.65%, 4.73%, and 8.57% after 6, 12, and 18 months of tsetse control, respectively. This study provided preliminary for further investigation into the role and mechanism of action of microbiota in tsetse fly fitness under selective pressure like insecticides.IMPORTANCEThe interest in vector control in the fight against African trypanosomiases has been reinforced in recent years, with the development of small insecticide-impregnated screens, known as "Tiny Targets". As some tsetse biotopes are difficult to access for their installation, other tools are under consideration that involve using bacteria harbored by the tsetse vector to block the development of trypanosomes or impair the tsetse's fitness in its natural environment. Several bacterial symbionts were previously described as important for tsetse fly development, and some like Burkholderia and Citrobacter also found in tsetse flies were found associated with insecticide tolerance in other arthropods. In this research, we found the bacterial genera, Curvibacter and Acinetobacter, increased in abundance in tsetse flies during vector control. These bacteria deserve further attention to determine if they can interfere with insecticides used to control tsetse fly populations.

The Effects of HIV Infection on the Immune Response to Malaria Among Pregnant Women in Kumba, Southwest Cameroon: Protocol for a Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Malaria and HIV, 2 of the world's deadliest diseases, share a lot of territory in sub-Saharan Africa. OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to investigate the effect of HIV on the immune response to malaria infection among pregnant women in Kumba in the southwest region (SWR) of Cameroon. The study aims to determine the prevalence of malaria infection, assess the occurrence of Plasmodium falciparum genetic diversity, and evaluate the antibody (immunoglobulin [Ig]G and IgM: apical membrane antigen-1 [AMA1], merozoite surface protein [MSP]1, MSP2, MSP3, and erythrocyte-binding antigen [EBA]175) and cytokine (interleukin [IL]-10, tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], and interferon gamma [IFNγ]) response to malaria infection among pregnant women with and without HIV in Kumba. METHODS: The study will be a hospital-based cross-sectional design that will run from March 2022 to February 2023. It will recruit pregnant women with and without HIV who are in their third trimester of pregnancy. The study will be carried out in 5 health institutions in Kumba: General Hospital Kumba, Presbyterian Hospital Kumba, District Hospital Kumba-town, Kossala Integrated Health Center Kumba, and Catholic Hospital Kumba. About 3 mL of the mother's venous blood, placental blood, and baby cord blood will be collected from each pregnant women at the point of delivery. Microscopy, rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) will be performed to identify the malaria parasite in all the samples, and nested PCR targeting the different genetic diversity markers for P. falciparum will also be performed. Furthermore, sequencing will be performed to study the nucleotide sequence of different alleles, and the genetic diversity of the alleles responsible for malaria infection among pregnant women will be assessed. A multiplex assay will be conducted to analyze the peripheral blood plasma and cord blood plasma for the cytokine and total antibody response to malaria infection among pregnant women with and without HIV. The questionnaire for data collection will be pretested at the Kumba District Hospital, and ethical clearance will be obtained from the University of Buea and the Regional Delegation of Public Health for the SWR. Data will be analyzed using SPSS Statistics and STATA. All P values <.05 will be considered statistically significant. BioEdit 7.0.0 software will be used to align the nucleotide sequences of different genes after sequencing. Phylogenetic tree searching will be conducted using the maximum-likelihood (ML) method in MEGA V6.0. RESULTS: The project started in March 2022 and will end in February 2023. Presently, three-fourth of the project funding has been disbursed to date. A total of 218 participants have been enrolled: 193 (88.5%) women without HIV and 25 (11.5%) women with HIV. Between February 2023 and March 2024, the following results will be ready for publication: maternal-neonatal malaria prevalence among pregnant women and babies in Kumba, the effect of HIV on (1) P. falciparum genetic diversity among pregnant women in Kumba, (2) the maternal and neonatal immune response to MSP1, MSP2, and EBA175 IgG antibody response to P. falciparum-caused malaria infection among pregnant women, and (3) the maternal and neonatal pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine response to malaria infection. CONCLUSIONS: HIV infection increases the prevalence of malaria infection among pregnant women and also influences the genetic diversity of P. falciparum, with MSP1 alleles being the most prevalent. HIV infection also reduces the antibody response to malaria infection, as well as altering the level of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses to malaria infection. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/38213.

Impact of a small-scale tsetse fly control operation with deltamethrin impregnated "Tiny Targets" on tsetse density and trypanosomes' circulation in the Campo sleeping sickness focus of South Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: Significant progress has been made towards African sleeping sickness elimination in the last decade. Indeed, the World Health Organization (WHO) global goal of eliminating the chronic form of the disease as a public health problem was achieved in 2020 (i.e., < 2,000 new cases per year). Vector control has played an important role in achieving this goal. In this study, we evaluated the impact of the insecticide impregnated Tiny Targets on tsetse fly densities and their infection rates with Trypanosoma spp in the Campo sleeping sickness focus of South Cameroon. METHODS: The study site was divided into two areas: (i) the south-west experimental area, which included vector control, and (ii) the eastern part as the non-intervention area. After compiling the baseline entomological data (tsetse densities and trypanosome infection rates), around 2000 Tiny Targets were deployed in the South-West area and replaced every six months for two years. Post-intervention surveys were conducted every six months to determine tsetse densities and levels of trypanosome infections with PCR-based methods. RESULTS: Following the intervention, tsetse mean catches decreased by 61% after six months, and up to 73% after twelve months (pre-intervention: 2.48 flies/trap/day, 95%CI [1.92-3.14]; 12-months post-intervention: 0.66 tsetse/trap/day, 95%CI [0.42-0.94]). This decrease was not sustained after 18 months, and the mean catch doubled compared to that after 12 months. After 24 months, the mean catches still increased by 17% (18 months: 1.45 tsetse/trap/day, 95%CI [1.07-1.90] and 24 months: 1.71 tsetse/trap/day, 95%CI [1.27-2.24]). In the non-intervention area, a variation in tsetse catches was observed during the two years, with a general increase from 2.43 [0.73-5.77] to 3.64 [1.47-7.70] tsetse/trap/day. In addition, trypanosome infection rates dropped by 75% in both areas (P-value < 0.001) from 21.20% to 5.06% and from 13.14% to 3.45% in intervention and control areas respectively. CONCLUSION: Tiny targets have proven useful in reducing tsetse population densities and trypanosome infection rates, providing evidence for the integration of this tool in current strategies towards trypanosomiasis elimination in Campo. The non-sustained decrease of tsetse densities after one year may indicate reinvasions from neighbouring breeding sites or that the intervention area was not large enough. Our results show the need to scale up by accessing difficult breeding sites and extend the tiny targets to the whole transborder focus.

Community health workers in clinical research at the example of a phase IIIb/ IV antimalarial drug trial conducted in five African countries.

Global health, particularly in underserved settings can benefit immensely from well-trained community health workers (CHWs) supporting primary healthcare interventions. They can reduce morbidity and mortality of infectious diseases like malaria. Disease control programs can particularly benefit from a tight link between CHWs and communities and several studies have shown the benefit of the participation of non-facility-based CHWs in malaria control program activities for reducing malaria-related mortality in children. Because CHWs are often part of and trusted by served communities, they can also be an important resource to address challenges faced by their communities. Where post-marketing surveillance systems are underserved, they can relay important information about suspected safety signals and factors affecting therapeutic effectiveness in their communities. The CANTAM-Pyramax® trial was a phase IIIb/ IV cohort event monitoring study conducted at six centers in five African countries. To assess real-world effectiveness and safety of the anti-malarial pyronaridine-artesunate in 8560 malaria episodes, follow-up was not primarily conducted by medical staff but by specifically trained CHWs. This perspective paper discusses how the participation of a CHW workforce can be of benefit for effectiveness trials in limited-resource settings, using the example of the CANTAM-Pyramax trial.

Comparative evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 serological tests shows significant variability in performance across different years of infection and between the tests.

Introduction: While the global COVID-19 pandemic is slowly coming under control, current efforts are focused on understanding the epidemiology of endemic SARS-CoV-2. The tool of choice for doing so remains serological tests that detect SARS-CoV-2 induced antibodies. However, the performance of these tests should be evaluated to ensure they comply with the specific performance criteria desired by each country that they are used in. Methods: Here, we use pre-COVID-19 plasma and plasma from SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals collected in 2020, 2021 and 2022 to evaluate the performance of two commercial Rapid Lateral Flow (RLF) tests (the PANBIO™ COVID-19 IgG/IgM rapid test and the LABNOVATION™ COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) IgG/IgM rapid test) and one commercial ELISA test (the PLATELIA™ SARS-CoV-2 total Ab). Results: We find that whereas the specificity of the two RLF tests is ≥ 95%, it was 91% for the ELISA tests. However, at 14 days post-COVID-19 date of diagnosis (DoD), only the ELISA test constantly achieved a sensitivity of ≥80% over all the three years. In addition, the rate of detection of the two RLF tests varied across the years with a sensitivity ranging from <80% in 2021 to >80% in 2022. More importantly the capacity of these two RLF tests to detect IgG antibodies decreased with time. On the contrary, the sensitivity of the ELISA test was still above 80% more than six months post DoD. Conclusion: We recommend that sero-epidemiological surveys focused on testing antibodies should not rely on performances reported by the assay manufacturers. They should include a formal evaluation of the selected assays to ensure its limitations and strengths conform with the data-accuracy requirements of the surveys.

Evolution of Plasmodium falciparum antimalarial drug resistance markers post-adoption of artemisinin-based combination therapies in Yaounde, Cameroon.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the evolution of Plasmodium falciparum antimalarial drug resistance markers by comparing the pre- and post-adoption of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) in Yaounde, Cameroon. METHODS: The molecular characterization of known antimalarial drug resistance markers (Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Pfdhfr, Pfdhps, and Pfk13) in P. falciparum-positive samples collected in 2014 and 2019-2020 was achieved using nested polymerase chain reaction, followed by targeted amplicon deep sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform. Data derived were compared with those published during the pre-ACT adoption period from 2004 to 2006. RESULTS: A high prevalence of Pfmdr1 184F, Pfdhfr 51I/59R/108N, and Pfdhps 437G mutant alleles was observed during the post-ACT adoption period. The Pfcrt 76T and Pfmdr1 86Y mutant alleles significantly declined between 2004 and 2020 (P <0.0001). Conversely, the resistance markers to antifolates, Pfdhfr 51I/59R/108N and Pfdhps 437G, significantly increased during the same study period (P <0.0001). We identified nine mutations in the propeller domains of Pfk13; although they were all present in single parasite isolates, none of them are known to confer artemisinin resistance. CONCLUSION: This study documented a near-complete reversion to sensitive parasites for markers conferring resistance to the 4-aminoquinolines and arylamino alcohols in Yaounde. In contrast, the Pfdhfr mutations associated with pyrimethamine resistance are moving toward saturation.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of maternal and fetal outcomes among pregnant women with bacterial vaginosis.

BACKGROUND: Women of childbearing age are commonly affected by bacterial vaginosis (BV). Maternal-fetal outcomes associated with BV during pregnancy can be fatal for both the mother and the newborn. AIM: To identify maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women with BV encountered globally, highlight their prevalence, and identify maternal-fetal outcomes associated with BV. METHODS: The databases Embase, PubMed, Web of Science and Global Index Medicus were searched from inception until December 2022. No restrictions on time or geographical location were imposed when searching for published articles that examined maternal-fetal outcomes in pregnant women with BV. A random effects model was used to perform the meta-analysis. Sources of heterogeneity were investigated using subgroup analysis, and publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger tests. FINDINGS: In total, 26 of the 8983 articles retrieved from the databases met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study. Twenty-two maternal outcomes and 22 fetal outcomes were recorded among pregnant women with BV worldwide. This study determined the prevalence of maternal-fetal outcomes reported in three or more studies. Among fetal outcomes, preterm birth (PTB) had the highest prevalence [17.9%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 13-23.3%], followed by mechanical ventilation (15.2%, 95% CI 0-45.9%), low birth weight (LBW) (14.2%, 95% CI 9.1-20.1%) and neonatal intensive care unit admission (11.2%, 95% CI 0-53.5%). BV was associated with PTB [odds ratio (OR) 1.76, 95% CI 1.32-2.35], LBW (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.41-2.12) and birth asphyxia (OR 2.90, 95% CI 1.13-7.46). Among maternal outcomes, premature rupture of membranes (PROM) had the highest prevalence (13.2%, 95% CI 6.1-22.3%). BV was associated with the following maternal outcomes: intrauterine infection (OR 2.26, 95% CI 1.44-3.56), miscarriage (OR 2.34, 95% CI 1.18-4.64) and PROM (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.39-4.82). Maternal and fetal outcomes were most prevalent in women whose BV was diagnosed using the Amsel criteria (37.2%, 95% CI 23-52.6%) and in the third trimester (29.6%, 95% CI 21.2-38.8%). Although reported in fewer than three studies, some maternal-fetal outcomes are highly prevalent, such as respiratory distress (76.67%, 95% CI 57.72-90.07%), dyspareunia (68.33%, 95% CI 55.04-79.74%) and malodorous discharge (85.00%, 95% CI 73.43-92.90%). CONCLUSION: BV has been associated with several adverse maternal-fetal outcomes around the world. While BV is a common vaginal infection, the types of maternal-fetal outcomes from pregnant women with BV vary by country.

Assessing the Tsetse Fly Microbiome Composition and the Potential Association of Some Bacteria Taxa with Trypanosome Establishment.

The tsetse flies, biological vectors of African trypanosomes, harbour a variety of bacteria involved in their vector competence that may help in developing novel vector control tools. This study provides an inventory of tsetse bacterial communities in Cameroon and explores their possible associations with trypanosome establishment in Glossina palpalis palpalis. High throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene, with subsequent metagenomic, multivariate, and association analyses, were used to investigate the levels and patterns of microbial diversity in four tsetse species. Overall, 31 bacterial genera and four phyla were identified. The primary symbiont Wigglesworthia dominated almost all the samples, with an overall relative abundance of 47.29%, and seemed to be replaced by Serratia or Burkholderia in some G. tachinoides flies. Globally, significant differences were observed in the microbiome diversity and composition among tsetse species and between teneral and non-teneral flies, or between flies displaying or not displaying mature trypanosome infections. In addition, differential abundance testing showed some OTUs, or some bacteria taxa, associated with trypanosome maturation in tsetse flies. These bacteria could be further investigated for an understanding of their mechanism of action and alternatively, transformed and used to block trypanosome development in tsetse flies.

Expression profiles of miR3181 and miR199a in plasma and placenta of virally suppressed HIV-1 infected Cameroonian pregnant women at delivery.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection during pregnancy reduces the transplacental transfer of protective maternal antibodies needed to confer immunity during early postnatal life. However, the mediation of MicroRNA in this dysregulation is not well understood MicroRNAs 3181 and 199a have been shown to mediate neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn)-like transmembrane antibody transfer and endocytosis respectively but their expression levels in the placenta and plasma in women living with HIV have not been extensively investigated. The objective of this study was to determine how the expression levels of miR-3181 and miR-199a in the placenta and plasma are affected in women chronically infected with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and are virally suppressed at delivery. In this pilot case-control study, plasma and placenta biopsies were obtained from 36 (18 HIV+ and 18 HIV-) Cameroonian women at delivery. MicroRNAs 3181 and 199a expression levels were measured using RT-qPCR, data was analyzed using SPSS22.0 and R 3.60, and p values below 0.05 were considered statistically significant. All the HIV-infected women were on known ART regimens and were virally suppressed. There was no significant difference in the levels of miR-3181 (p>0.05) in the placenta and plasma amongst HIV-infected and HIV uninfected women. The expression levels of miR-199a were significantly greater in the plasma compared to the placenta of HIV+ (p = 0.00005) and HIV- (p = 0.027) women. Moreover, there was a significantly higher (p = 0.02) level of miR-199a in the plasma of women with HIV and their uninfected counterparts. Linear regression models adjusted for systolic pressure showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in the levels of miR-199a and miR-3181 in both the placenta and plasma due to HIV infection. Our findings suggest that even though ART uptake and viral suppression might help in maintaining miR3181 and miR199a levels in the placenta of women with HIV at comparative levels to those of their HIV negative counterparts, the significantly higher levels of miR-199a in the plasma of women with HIV compared to the placenta might highlight lurking systemic dangers and requires further investigation.

Diversity and behavioral activity of Anopheles mosquitoes on the slopes of Mount Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: Malaria remains endemic in Cameroon, with heterogeneous transmission related to eco-climatic variations, vector diversity and spatial distribution. The intensification of malaria prevention and control through the free distribution of insecticide-treated nets in recent years may have altered the composition, geographic distribution and natural infection rate of Anopheles species, with implications for malaria transmission dynamics. The present study seeks to assess the vectorial diversity, dynamics and infectivity across different seasons and altitudes in relationship to parasite prevalence around the slopes of Mount Cameroon, southwestern region. METHOD: Mosquitoes were sampled (indoors and outdoors) in 11 eco-epidemiological settings at low (18-197 m), intermediate (371-584 m) and high (740-1067 m) altitude by nightly human landing catches. The mosquitoes were identified morphologically and Anopheles gambiae sibling species identified by PCR. Parity status was ascertained by examining the ovaries and the entomological inoculation rates (EIR) determined by Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite antigen ELISA of the head-thorax. The prevalence of Plasmodium infection across target communities was assessed using rapid diagnostic tests. RESULTS: A total of 7327 (18.0 mosquitoes/trap/night) mosquitoes were trapped, mainly during the rainy season (5678, 77.5%) and at low altitude (3669, 50.1%). Anopheles spp. (5079, 69.3%) was the most abundant genera and An. gambiae complex (2691, 36.7%) the major vector, varying with altitude (χ2 = 183.87, df = 8, P < 0.001) and season (χ2 = 28.14, df = 4, P < 0.001). Only An. gambiae (s.s.) was identified following molecular analysis of An. gambiae complex siblings. The overall biting peak for An. gambiae complex was 2-3 a.m. Anopheles cinctus was the most abundant secondary vector in the area. The average EIR in the area was 2.08 infective bites per person per night (ib/p/n), higher at low (2.45 ib/p/n) than at intermediate altitude (1.39 ib/p/n) and during the rainy (1.76 ib/p/n) compared to the dry season (0.34 ib/p/n). Anopheles funestus was most infectious overall (28.1%, 16/57) while An. gambiae had the highest inoculation rates averaging 1.33 ib/p/n. Most Anopheles species across all altitudes and seasons were parous, highest in communities with the highest proportion of malaria parasite infections. CONCLUSION: Anopheles gambiae (s.s.) remains the major malaria vector in the area and An. cinctus possibly a secondary vector of the disease in the slopes of Mt. Cameroon. The seasonal and altitudinal effects on the distribution of these mosquitoes may have implications for the transmission of malaria and its control strategies in the area. Regular monitoring of the bionomics of local Anopheles vector species and targeted control interventions in the 'hotspots' is necessary to curb the prevalence of the infection and incidence of disease.