Investigation of rodent reservoirs of emerging pathogens in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa

Background: One of the main health problems in West Africa remains upsurge of emerging pathogens. Ebola virus disease outbreak occurred in 2014 in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, Monkeypox virus in Nigeria in 2017 and most recently Lassa virus in Nigeria, Togo and Benin in 2018. These pathogens have animal reservoirs as vectors for transmission. Proper investigation of the pathogens in their rodent vectors could help reduce and manage their emergence and spread. Methodology: This study was conducted with an approval from the Côte d'Ivoire Bioethics Community. Small mammal trappings were carried out in 9 sites within three zones namely, peri-urban, peri-rural and protected areas. Liver, lung and kidney tissues from trapped small mammals were sampled in accordance with the recommended conditions of biosafety and bioethics. The organs were transported in liquid nitrogen to the laboratory. Molecular tests were used to detect pathogens. Orthopoxviruses and Monkeypox virus were detected in the organs by PCR using consensus primers targeting the virus surface membrane haemagglutinin (HA) genes, while Leptospira species were detected by PCR using primers targeting the rrs and lfb1 genes. Results: Out of 4930 night-traps, 256 (5.19%) small mammals were trapped including Crocidura, Rattus, Lophuromys, Praomys, Mus and Mastomys. Leptospira species were detected in 6 genera from 7 study sites and the infected small mammals accounted for 13.3%. Leptospira sp was detected mainly in the rodent vector genera Rattus (32.3%), Lophuromys (29.0%), and Praomys (16.1%). Three species of Leptospira were detected and Leptospira interrogans was the most common frequent species (74.2%). Monkeypox virus was not detected from studied small mammals. Conclusion: The initial data from our investigation indicates the presence of Leptospira sp in rodent vectors, Rattus, Lophuromys and Praomys, which are the potential small mammalian reservoirs of this pathogen in Cote d'Ivoire.

Characterization and in vitro evaluation of a vaginal gel containing Lactobacillus crispatus for the prevention of gonorrhea.

The increasing resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to any current antibiotic treatment and the difficulties associated with the use of prevention means such as condom urge the need for alternative methods to prevent this sexually transmitted infection. In this work, a prevention strategy based on the use of a vaginal gel containing Lactobacilli was assessed in vitro. A Lactobacillus crispatus strain (ATCC 33197) was selected based on the published data on its ability to inhibit Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Its probiotic properties were first characterized. Then, a thermo-sensitive hydrogel containing 21.5% of poloxamer 407, 1% of sodium alginate and 9log10 CFU of Lactobacillus crispatus per gel sample (5 g) was developed. The gelation temperature and the rheological characteristics of this formulation appeared suitable for a vaginal administration. Lactobacillus crispatus was viable in the gel for six months although a large amount of the bacteria was not culturable. The ability of Lactobacillus crispatus to inhibit Neisseria gonorrhoeae was still observed with the gel. Such system, thus, appeared promising for the prevention of gonorrhea.

[Update on a neglected tropical disease from the routine health information system in Côte d'Ivoire: Yaws, 2001 to 2011]. / Le point sur une maladie tropicale négligée à travers le Système d'information sanitaire de routine en Côte d'Ivoire : le pian de 2001 à 2011.

GOAL: The aim of this work is to describe the epidemiological characteristics of yaws in Côte d'Ivoire from 2001 to 2011, by data from the routine health information system. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted from available health statistics from 2001 to 2011. RESULTS: From 2001 to 2006, the completeness of the regional health statistics was below 50%, while afterwards it exceeded 70% in all regions. The incidence rate of yaws in hospitals has declined from 44 to 14.8 per 100 000 population from 2002 to 2011. Two regional offices still reported highly endemic areas rates, four times higher than the national incidence. CONCLUSION: It appears that the action of donors has helped to improve the performance of the routine health information system in Côte d'Ivoire. Additionally, yaws remains endemic. The reduced incidence in hospitals is probably due to the reduction in their use by the population; the real population incidence is undoubtedly higher. A seroprevalence survey would make it possible to focus more accurately the upcoming mass treatment campaigns, under the aegis of WHO, to eradicate yaws.

[Is the mother a risk factor for transmission of Helicobacter pylori infection in children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years in Côte d'Ivoire?]. / La mère est-elle un facteur de risque de transmission de l'infection a Helicobacter pylori a l'enfant de 6 mois a 5 ans en Côte d'Ivoire?

OBJECTIVES: The goals of this study were to determine the prevalence of H. pylori antibodies in children, to establish the relationship between child and mother serostatus, and to identify potential risk factors for contamination. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted over a 3-month period. All children between 6 months and 5 years of age examined in the Pediatrics Department of the University Hospital Center in Yopougon, Côte d'Ivoire were included after obtaining informed consent from their mothers. Testing for H. pylori antibodies using Pylorix (Acon) was performed in both children and mothers. Based on test results, children were divided into two groups, i.e. case group with H. pylori antibodies and control group without H. pylori antibodies. Case and control groups were compared according to the H. pylori status of their mother and several potential lifestyle and environmental factors. RESULTS: A total of 101 children and 101 mothers were included. The prevalence of H. pylori antibodies was 40.6% in mothers and 24.8% in children. The mean age of children (53% male) was 22.8 +/- 15.6 months (median, 18 months). The mean age of the mothers was 29.6 +/- 5.5 years (range, 19 to 46 years; median, 29 years). Most mothers, i.e., 78.2%, lived in two-parent households but 19% lived in single-parent settings (community or shacks). The number of persons living in the same house ranged from 2 to 20 people (mean, 7.2 +/- 3.8; median, 6 people). Mean monthly household income was 226,188 +/- 161,425 FCFA (range: 30,000 - 750,000 FCFA). In the case group, 80% of children had mothers infected with H. pylori. In the control group, 73.7% of children had non-infected mothers (OR = 11.2, p < 0.001). Median income was less than 150 000 FCA in 76% of families with seropositive children in comparison to 46.1% of families with seronegative children (p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: This study confirms the early occurrence of H. pylori infection in children. Findings also showed that poor socio-economic condition was a risk factor for infection but the greatest risk factor was living with a mother infected with H. pylori.

[Evaluation of first void urine in the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in patients less symptomatic in Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire)]. / Evaluation du premier jet d'urine dans la détection de Neisseria gonorrhoeae chez des patients paucisymptomatiques à Abdidjan (Côte d'Ivoire).

Various diagnostic methods have been described to detect Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Collection of first void urine is advantageous because it is non-invasive, reproducible, and painless; and provides specimens that have already been used for detection of N. gonorrhoeae by molecular tools. The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of first void urine for detection of N. gonorrhoeae using conventional bacteriologic techniques in patients with low-grade symptoms. Investigation was focused on first void urine and urethral secretion specimens collected from 87 male patients who were undergoing diagnotic workup for suspicion of sexually transmitted infection. Direct microscopic examination of smears stained using the Gram technique and cultures on modified Thayer-Martin medium and on cooked blood agar were performed on each specimen. The prevalence of urethritis was 58.0%. Gonorrhoea was diagnosed in 7.5% of cases. The sensitivity and specificity of microscopic examination of first void urine for detection of Gram-negative diplococci were 85.7% and 97.5% respectively. First void urine was less productive than urethral secretion for detection of urethritis: sensitivity, 44.4% and specificity, 100%, and urethral flora: sensitivity, 59% and specificity of 96.9%. The good performance of first void urine specimens for detection of Gram-negative diplococci by microscopy may justify their use for identification of N. gonorrhoeae in level 1 laboratories. First void urine could also be useful for epidemiological studies and large-scale screening surveys.

Evaluation du premier jet d'urine dans la detection de Neisseria gonorrhoeae chez des patients paucisymptomatiques a Abdidjan (Cote d'Ivoire)

Il existe differentes methodes de diagnostic sur differents types de prelevement pour mettre en evidence Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Le prelevement de premier jet d'urine presente l'avantage d'etre non invasif; facilement reproductible et est deja utilise dans la detection de N. gonorrhoeae par des techniques moleculaires. L'objectif de cette etude etait d'evaluer le premier jet d'urine dans la detection de N. gonorrhoeae par les methodes classiques de bacteriologie chez des patients paucisymptomatiques. Elle a porte sur les prelevements de premier jet d'urine et de secretions uretrales de 87 patients de sexemasculin recus pour le diagnostic etiologique d'un syndrome d'infections sexuellement transmissibles. Un examen direct du frottis colore par la technique de Gram et des cultures sur le milieu de Thayer et Martin modifie et sur gelose au sang cuit enrichie en polyvitamines ont ete realises sur chacun des echantillons. La frequence des uretrites etait de 58;0. La gonococcie representait 7;5des cas. Le premier jet d'urines avait une sensibilite de 85;7et une specificite de 97;5dans la mise en evidence des diplocoques Gram negatif a l'examen direct. Par contre; il etait moins sensible que le prelevement de secretions uretrales dans la mise en evidence des uretrites microscopiques (sensibilite de 44;4et specificite de 100) et de la flore uretrale d'accompagnement (sensibilite de 59et specificite de 96;9). Les bonnes performances du premier jet d'urines dans la mise en evidence microscopique des diplocoques Gram negatif pourraient justifier son utilisation dans la detection deNeisseria gonorrhoeae dans un laboratoire de niveau 1. Il pourrait egalement etre utilise dans les etudes epidemiologiques et dans les enquetes de depistage a grande echelle

[Detection by RT-PCR of the 1st cases of Astrovirus in human stools in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire]. / Détection par RT-pCR des premiers cas d'Astrovirus dans les selles humaines à Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

Viral gastroenteritis are a problem of public health because of the high rate of morbidity and mortality, particularly in children. Among the etiologic agents, human Astroviruses are the third agents most often incriminated after Rotaviruses and Caliciviruses. Symptoms of gastroenteritis caused by Astroviruses are generally moderated compared with those observed with Rotaviruses and rarely involve hospitalization. In sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Côte d'Ivoire, the majority of viral gastroenteritis is attributed to Rotavirus with rates varying from 20 to 26%. No study on the circulation of human Astroviruses has been carried out in Côte d'Ivoire. Our objective was to detect human Astroviruses in the diarrhoeal stools in Abidjan. Seventy-two samples of human diarrhoeal stools were collected in ambulatory patients. This population was made up of 44 patients from 0 to 15 and 28 patients over 15 years old. The concentration of the viral particles of the samples was followed by the extraction of the RNA by the modified method of Boom. The extracted RNA were amplified by RT-PCR by using specific primers targeting a portion of the 3' end of the open reading frame ORF la of the genome of human Astroviruses. The amplified fragment was 192 pb. The genome of human Astroviruses was detected in 3 stools out of the 72 samples. That is a frequency of 4%. Among these 3 stools, 2 came from 4 month and 3 year-old children and the 3rd stool came from a 33 year-old patient. For the first time this survey has pointed out the circulation of human Astroviruses in the Côte d'Ivoire population. This survey also showed that human Astroviruses could be found in children as well as in adults.

[Methicillin-resistance of Staphylococcus aureus in Abidjan (1998-2001): a new hospital problem]. / La méticillino-résistance de Staphylococcus aureus isolés à Abidjan (1998-2001): un nouveau problème en milieu hospitalier.

OBJECTIVE: The authors had for aim to determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains on infections in Abidjan as well as their susceptibility to other antibiotics. METHODS: Three hundred and forty strains of S. aureus from various samples of hospitalized patients were studied. Methicillin-resistance was assessed using oxacillin disk diffusion in agar. The MRSA, once detected, were confirmed by screening in Mueller-Hinton agar containing oxacillin at 6 microg/ml. The susceptibility to other antibiotics was analyzed using an antibiogram in agar medium. RESULTS: Twenty-five percent of strains were resistant to methicillin (MRSA strains). Those MRSA were identified mainly in blood culture (14.2%), pus (4%) and urine (1.9%). Samples were collected in neonatal unit (13%), surgical units (5.4%) and intensive care unit (3.4%). A variable proportion of MRSA expressed resistance to other families of antibiotics: aminoglycosides 77.6%, rifampicin 8.8%, fluoroquinolones 34.1% and vancomycin 5.9%. CONCLUSION: Circulation of multidrug resistant MRSA in hospital, especially in neonatal unit, should lead to surveillance. Risk factors and other associated markers need to be identified.

[Detection of transfusion transmitted virus (TTV) DNA in sera among three different population groups in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire in 2001]. / Détection de l'ADN du virus transmis par la transfusion (VTT) dans le sérum de trois populations différentes à Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, en 2001.

The aim of this study was to determine the transfusion transmitted Virus (TTV) prevalence in three groups of population from Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The A group contained 39 multitransfused patients, the B group contained 10 blood donors supposed to be healthy persons which have never been transfused and the group C contained 43 patients with chronic liver pathology. In this last group, 33 patients had HBV positive serology and the 10 others, HCV positive serology. We used PCR to investigate TTV in patients serum. Detection rates were comprised between 67% and 82%. This is the first study to provide information about the high portage of TTV in ivorian population.

[The spread of the wild Poliovirus in the rural environment, the case of the Adzopé health district, Côte d'Ivoire]. / Circulation de Poliovirus en milieu rural, cas du district sanitaire d'Adzopé, Côte d'Ivoire.

Wild Poliovirus spreading in rural environment in Adzopé, Côte d'Ivoire In order to determine the level of wild Poliovirus spreading among rural children in an endemic poliomyelitis country 469 stools samples, from children aged between three weeks and twelve years old were processed according to WHO procedures for transportation, conservation, isolation and identification of Poliovirus. Intratypic differenciation was performed by an antigenic method using monoclonal antibodies and a genomic RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism). 50 Poliovirus strains (10.7%) were isolated and analyzed: 15 vaccine-like Poliovirus type 1 (30%), 30 vaccine-like Poliovirus type 2 (60%), 4 vaccine-like Poliovirus type 3 (8%) and one wild Poliovirus type 3 (2%). As expected, in the major cases the duration of post-vaccinal viral excretion did not exceed two months. However, in 14% of cases, it varied between 3 and 9 months after the third OPV dose. This long excretion could be due to an inefficient local intestinal immunity or no local immunity at all, in spite of the three OPV doses. These results argue in favor of an increase of the number of OPV doses in such endemic zones. Moreover, OPV strains are well-known to revert to pathogenicity in vaccinees, therefore, the long term excretion of pathogenic OPV derived strains by a certain amount of vaccinees needs to be considered quite seriously.

[Contribution of gene amplification in Mycobacterium ulcerans detection in exudates and cutaneous biopsies in Côte d'Ivoire]. / Apport de l'amplification génique dans la détection de Mycobacterium ulcerans dans les exsudats et les biopsies cutanées en Côte d'Ivoire.

Mycobacterium ulcerans skin ulceration is a major issue of public health in Côte d'Ivoire. The diagnosis of M. ulcerans infection is hampered by the slow growth of the bacterium in culture, implying a delay of several weeks before a specific diagnosis can be obtained. In Côte d'Ivoire the diagnosis of Buruli ulcer is almost based on clinical features. During the last decade, many studies have demonstrated the extremely high capacity of PCR for rapidly and specifically detecting bacteria and genes of interest. That ability has revealed PCR as a powerful tool in clinical microbiology studies. In this study we evaluated the M. ulcerans detection in specimens of exudates and biopsies collected from patients clinically suspected of Buruli ulcer and treated in "Raoul Follereau" centre of Manikro in the North-central region of Côte d'Ivoire. The microscopic research of BAAR in 185 swabs loaded with skin lesions collected from these patients showed a positive rate of 14.6%. The PCR detection in 48 h or 72 h of the M. ulcerans IS2404 and IS2606 in the swabs and in the 26 biopsies, from these patients, showed positive rates of 15.7% and 84.6% respectively and in the same samples. These results obtained with PCR detection of M. ulcerans insertions sequences suggest that this technique performed with exudates and biopsy can be used to confirm a routine specific diagnosis of M. ulcerans and early screening of Buruli ulcer in Côte d'Ivoire.

[Nasal carriage of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among health care personnel in Abidjan (Côte d'lvoire)]. / Portage nasal de Staphylococcus aureus méticillino-résistant chez le personnel soignant hospitalier a Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire).

To determine the prevalence of méticillino-résistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among health care personnel in Abidjan teaching hospitals as well as their resistance profile against other antibiotics, 592 health care personnel from various surgical and medical services: the intensive care unit, gynaecology and obstetrics and third-degree burns services of the Cocody, Treichville and Yopougon Teaching Hospitals were included. The previous nasal pits of each subject included were swabbed. The isolation of S. aureus strains was run in a Chapman medium followed by Identification based on morphological and biochemical characteristics. The resistance profile of the strains to antibiotics was determined by standard Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method and a 1 microg disc of oxacillin was used for the detection of meticillin-resistance S. aureus strains according to NCCLS (National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards) guidelines. 269 members of the studied personnel were carriers of S. aureus, either a rate of portage of 45.4%. Among the 269 S. aureus isolates, 38.7% were MRSA strains and the carriage rate of MRSA in the population was 17.8%. The health care personnel working in surgery was the more colonized (36.7%) follow-up of those of the medical services (31.4%) and of the the intensive care unit (12.4%). A variable proportion of strains of MRSA also expressed resistances to the other families of antibiotics: 27% to aminosids of which 13.5% of phénotype kanamycine, tobramycine, gentamycine (KTG), 58.7% to macrolids and related (MLS), 37.5% to fluoroquinolons, 14.4% to cyclines and 40% to the cotrimoxazole. This confirms their multi-resistant character. The prevalence of MRSA carriage among health care personnel is high; this personnel constitutes an infectious risk for the hospitalized patients who are so exposed to nosocomial infections caused by MRSA.

[Agents of community acquired purulent meningitis in the child: epidemiologic trends in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, from the year 1995 to 2000]. / Agents des méningites purulentes communautaires de l'enfant: tendance épidémiologique à Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, de 1995 à l'an 2000.

OBJECTIVE: To assess prevalence and trends of community acquired bacterial meningitis in childhood in a tertiary-care hospital before introduction of the HIB conjugate vaccine. STUDY DESIGN: Laboratory based data were recorded from January 1995 to December 2000 on two hundred and eighty seven children with bacterial meningitis. Identification of bacterial agents was performed with conventional methods. Information including age, gender, bacterial aetiology of meningitis, month and annual prevalence of agents was examined. RESULTS: The age of infected children ranges from 1 to 10 years with an average and median age of 34.2 months and 12 months respectively. Fifty five percent of children were male. The overall prevalence of agents were respectively 47.8% for Streptococcus pneumoniae followed by Haemophilus influenzae 39% and Neisseria meningitidis 13.2% with predominance of serogroup C. Stratification by age group shows that Haemophilus influenzae was the most common agent among children < 1 year of age following by S. pneumoniae and N. meningitidis. After 5 years, the number of cases of S. pneumoniae and N. meningitidis was prevalent. After 10 years, N. meningitidis was the first aetiology of bacterial meningitis. The six years data recorded highlighted the high and stable prevalence of H. influenzae B and S. pneumoniae and the low prevalence of N. meningitidis and high incidence of invasive meningococcal, pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenzae during the six years between September and February. CONCLUSION: Conjugated HIB vaccine is needed in our country to lower incidence of H. influenzae meningitis as already seen in developed countries. Continuous surveillance is necessary to monitor the disease trends, serotype distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility in order to implement appropriate public health interventions against community acquired bacterial meningitis.

Hepatitis B and C infections, human immunodeficiency virus and other sexually transmitted infections among women of childbearing age in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa.

Few studies have been conducted in developing countries to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and its association with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). We have screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HCV markers 200 HIV-1-positive, 23 HIV-2-positive and 206 HIV-negative women attending gynaecology clinics in 1995/96 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, a sample selected among 2198 consecutive consultants. Taking into account the prevalence of 21.7% for HIV in this population, the overall prevalence of anti-HBV core antibody was 81.6%, that for hepatitis B surface antigen was 9.9% and for HCV antibody was 3.3%. HIV infection and other STDs were not associated with HBV or HCV markers. Moreover, HBV and HCV markers were not statistically associated. Our results confirm the high prevalence of HIV in Abidjan and the endemic situation of HBV infection. Furthermore, HCV infection is not infrequent in this developing country setting, not explained by sexual transmission.

[Cell culture for active Chlamydia trachomatis infection in a population of symptomatic women in Abidjan]. / Etude par culture cellulaire de l'infection active due à Chlamydia trachomatis dans une population de femmes symptomatiques à Abidjan.

The object of our study has been to assess Chlamydia trachomatis prevalence among symptomatic women in Abidjan and to identify issues related to the use of cell culture methods in a tropical laboratory. 1522 women with vaginal discharge were enrolled in a cross sectional study. One endocervical swab was taken per woman and inoculated into cycloheximide treated Mac Coy cells. Elementary bodies were detected by direct fluorescent antibody (DFA). The isolate rate of Chlamydia trachomatis by cell culture was estimated to 86%. The prevalence of chlamydial infection among symptomatic women was 10.8%. Culture was influenced by presence of blood or cervical mucus in the sample. 206 samples gave no results because of blood or cervical mucus. During this study repeated contaminations of cells with facultative bacteria were noted and disposing of a sufficient number of cells was not easy.

Genital mycoplasmas among pregnant women in Cóte d'Ivoire, West Africa: prevalence and risk factors.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women in Côte d'Ivoire to assess the prevalence and the factors associated with mycoplasma colonization. A positive culture was found in 400 of 551 women (73%); Ureaplasma urealyticum was identified in 22%, Mycoplasma hominis in 20% and both microorganisms in 31%. Mycoplasma colonization was not associated with genital symptoms or signs. Young age, low educational level, antimicrobial chemotherapy before consultation and presence of bacterial vaginosis were factors independently associated with M. hominis colonization. Among women colonized with M. hominis, HIV seroprevalence was 21% in women with high amounts of M. hominis (> or = 10(4) colour-changing units per ml) versus 7% in women with lower amounts (P=0.01). U. urealyticum was found more often in unmarried women and when pregnancy was less than 20 weeks. Mycoplasma colonization is frequent among pregnant women in Abidjan, but their pathogenicity requires further study.