Bhargavaea massiliensis sp. nov. and Dietzia massiliensis sp. nov., Novel Bacteria Species Isolated from Human Urine Samples in Nigeria.

Two novel bacteria species designated Marseille-Q1000T and Marseille-Q0999T were isolated from urine samples of patients in Sokoto, Northwest-Nigeria. They were Gram-positive bacteria and belong to two different genera, Bhargavaea and Dietzia. The genome size and G + C content of Marseille-Q1000T and Marseille-Q0999T were 3.07 and 3.51 Mbp with 53.8 and 71.0 mol% G + C content, respectively. The strains exhibited unique phenotypic and genomic features that are substantially different from previously known bacterial species with standing in nomenclature. On the basis of the phenotypic, phylogenetic and genomic characteristics, strains Marseille-Q0999T (= CSURQ0999 = DSM 112394) and Marseille-Q1000T (= CSURQ1000 = DSM 112384) were proposed as the type strains of Bhargavaea massiliensis sp. nov., and Dietzia massiliensis sp. nov., respectively.

Detection of Artemisinin Resistance Marker Kelch-13 469Y in Plasmodium falciparum, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2022.

Partial artemisinin resistance has emerged in East Africa, posing a threat to malaria control across the continent. The Democratic Republic of the Congo carries one of the heaviest malaria burdens globally, and the South Kivu province directly borders current artemisinin resistance hot spots, but indications of such resistance have not been observed so far. We assessed molecular markers of antimalarial drug resistance in 256 Plasmodium falciparum isolates collected in 2022 in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. One isolate carried the P. falciparum Kelch-13 469Y variant, a marker associated with partial artemisinin resistance and decreased lumefantrine susceptibility in Uganda. In addition, the multidrug resistance-1 mutation pattern suggested increased lumefantrine tolerance.

[Role of GeneXpert MTB/RIF test in the screening for pulmonary tuberculosis at the General Referral Provincial Hospital of Bukavu, in the East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: balance after 10 months of use]. / GeneXpert MTB/RIF dans le dépistage de la tuberculose pulmonaire à l'Hôpital Provincial Général de Référence de Bukavu, à l'Est de la République Démocratique du Congo: quelles leçons tirées après 10 mois d'utilisation?

INTRODUCTION: In sub-Saharan Africa, diagnostic methods for tuberculosis are inadequate and are essentially based on microscopy. They constitute a real obstacle to the control of tuberculosis. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of GeneXpert MTB/RIF test compared to classical Ziehl-Neelsen staining at the the general referral provincial hospital of Bukavu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo after 10 months of use. METHODS: The results of Ziehl-Neelsen staining and GeneXpert MTB/RIF molecular biology test performed in 452 patients with suspected tuberculosis were collected. This study compares the validity of these different diagnostic tests in the detection of tuberculosis. RESULTS: In the entire group, the frequency of the pulmonary tuberculosis was 16.3%. The positivity rate was significantly higher in GeneXpert MTB/RIF test than in Ziehl-Neelsen staining in the entire group (15.9% vs 9.3%, p = 0.03) and in HIV seropositive patients (52.0% vs 24.0%; p = 0.007). However, the sensitivity of GeneXpert MTB/RIF test compared to that in Ziehl-Neelsen staining wasn't maximum (95.2%). Finally, GeneXpert MTB/RIF test detected rifampicin resistance in 20.8%. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the superiority of GeneXpert MTB/RIF test compared to Ziehl-Neelsen staining in the detection of tuberculosis and in the prediction of multi-resistance. Its systematic use coupled with Ziehl-Neelsen staining would better control tuberculosis in sub-Saharan Africa.

Pulmonary localization of Mansonella perstans in a 16 months-old male patient in a tertiary care hospital in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.

INTRODUCTION: Mansonella perstans is a human filarial parasite transmitted by biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) belonging to the genus Culicoides and it is widely spread in sub-Saharan Africa. While most cases are asymptomatic, mansonelliasis can be associated with angioedema, arthralgia, swellings, pain in the scrotum or in serous cavities such as the pleura, the peritoneum, the pericardium, etc. Mansonelliasis can be really hard to treat, but it has been shown that an intensive treatment using albendazole can clear the parasite. CASE REPORT: Here we describe a case of a 16 months-old malnourished child with pneumonia due to M. perstans in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. CONCLUSION: Although our investigations confirmed M. perstans infection, this case shows that it is very difficult to come to a conclusive diagnosis.