Characterizing hepatitis B virus infection in children in the Democratic Republic of Congo to inform elimination efforts.

Objective: Despite global reductions in hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevalence, an estimated 6.2 million children are infected, two-thirds of whom live in the WHO Africa region. We sought to characterize childhood HBV to inform elimination efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), one of the largest and most populous African countries. Methods: Using the most recent (2013-14) nationally representative Demographic and Health Survey in the DRC, we analyzed HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) on dried blood spots and associated survey data from children aged 6-59 months. We estimated HBsAg-positivity prevalence nationally, regionally, and by potential correlates of infection. We evaluated spatial variation in HBsAg-positivity prevalence, overall and by age, sex, and vaccination status. Findings: Using data from 5,679 children, we found national HBsAg-positivity prevalence was 1.3% (95% CI: 0.9%-1.7%), but ranged from 0.0% in DRC's capital city province, Kinshasa, to 5.6% in northwestern Sud-Ubangi Province. Prevalence among boys (1.8%, 95% CI: 1.2%-2.7%) was double that among girls (0.7%, 95%CI: 0.4%-1.3%). Tetanus antibody-negativity, rurality, and lower household wealth were also significantly associated with higher HBsAg-positivity prevalence. We observed no difference in prevalence by age. Children had higher HBsAg-positivity odds if living with ≥1 HBsAg-positive adult household member (OR: 2.3, 95%CI: 0.7-7.8), particularly an HBsAg-positive mother (OR: 7.2, 95%CI:1.6-32.2). Conclusion: In the largest national survey of HBV among children and household contacts in the DRC, we found that childhood HBV prevalence was 10-60 times the global target of 0.1%. We highlight specific regions and populations for further investigation and focused prevention efforts.

[Association between the viruses of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and the hepatitis C virus among young blood donors in Kinshasa: Retrospective analysis of 10 years]. / Association entre les virus du syndrome d'immunodéficience acquise et le virus de l'hépatite C chez les jeunes donneurs de sang à Kinshasa : analyse rétrospective de 10 années.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The screening of anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus antibodies is mandatory in every blood donor admitted to the Blood Bank of Kinshasa University Clinics since 1984. However, no compiled data are available to date. The objective of this study was to establish the trend, prevalence, viral co-infections, and determinants of Human Immunodeficiency anti-Virus serology in blood donors admitted between 2003-2006 and 2008-2013. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out at University Kinshasa Clinics, using blood donors' records during 2003-2006 and 2008-2013. The prevalence of the human immunodeficiency virus per year, age, sex and type of blood donors were estimated. Independent predictors of human immunodeficiency virus seropositivity were also identified. RESULTS: Out of 26,341 blood donors, 2.2% (n=576/26,341) were seropositive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Age<25 years (OR=1.7; 95% CI: 1.4-2; P<0.0001) and Hepatitis C virus seropositivity (OR=3; 95% CI; 1.8-4.9; P<0.001) emerged as independent predictors of Human Immunodeficiency Virus seropositivity. CONCLUSION: This study shows a strong association between the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and hepatitis C and younger age respectively. Further studies are needed to ensure safety of Blood donation in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Divergent HIV-1 strains (CRF92_C2U and CRF93_cpx) co-circulating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Phylogenetic insights on the early evolutionary history of subtype C.

Molecular epidemiological studies revealed that the epicenter of the HIV pandemic was Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in Central Africa. All known subtypes and numerous complex recombinant strains co-circulate in the DRC. Moreover, high intra-subtype diversity has been also documented. During two previous surveys on HIV-1 antiretroviral drug resistance in the DRC, we identified two divergent subtype C lineages in the protease and partial reverse transcriptase gene regions. We sequenced eight near full-length genomes and classified them using bootscanning and likelihood-based phylogenetic analyses. Four strains are more closely related to subtype C although within the range of inter sub-subtype distances. However, these strains also have small unclassified fragments and thus were named CRF92_C2U. Another strain is a unique recombinant of CRF92_C2U with an additional small unclassified fragment and a small divergent subtype A fragment. The three remaining strains represent a complex mosaic named CRF93_cpx. CRF93_cpx have two fragments of divergent subtype C sequences, which are not conventional subtype C nor the above described C2, and multiple divergent subtype A-like fragments. We then inferred the time-scaled evolutionary history of subtype C following a Bayesian approach and a partitioned analysis using major genomic regions. CRF92_C2U and CRF93_cpx had the most recent common ancestor with conventional subtype C around 1932 and 1928, respectively. A Bayesian demographic reconstruction corroborated that the subtype C transition to a faster phase of exponential growth occurred during the 1950s. Our analysis showed considerable differences between the newly discovered early-divergent strains and the conventional subtype C and therefore suggested that this virus has been diverging in humans for several decades before the HIV/M diversity boom in the 1950s.

Cytologie des hemopathies malignes de type myeloide a Kinshasa

Objectifs : Determiner la part de differentes entites d'hemopathies malignes myeloides et identifir leurs caracteres cytologiques et epidemiologiques. Methodes: L'etude s'est deroulee de 2004 a 2010 au sein de deux laboratoires de biologie medicale de Kinshasa. Apres la ponction medullaire a l'aiguille intramusculaire ou spinale; les frottis des patients sont colores au May Grunwald Giemsa. Les hemopathies myeloides malignes sont retenues; les variables cytologiques et epidemiologiques des patients sont etudiees. Resultats : Soixante dix neuf hemopathies malignes du tissu myeloide sont diagnostiquees sur un total de 483 malades ponctionnes. Elles sont reparties chez 52 hommes et 27 femmes. Ces hemopathies atteignent tous les ages. Leur distribution selon les tranches d'age montrait une courbe ascendante avec trois paliers : la vingtaine; la quarantaine et la soixantaine. Les entites les plus rencontrees etaient: 39;2 de leucemie myeloide chronique (LMC) et 24;1 des syndromes myelodysplasiques (SMD). La LMC predominait entre 20-39 ans ; les SMD et quelques LAM; entre 50-59 ans. Au-dela de 60 ans; on avait le grand pic des LAM et le second pic de la LMC. Conclusion : Les hemopathies malignes myeloides presentaient une tendance a l'augmentation progressive sur la duree de l'etude. Les differentes entites apparaissaient plus tot qu'a l'age decrit dans la litterature avec un taux de SMD plus important