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Chantal Emade Nkwelle,1,2 Smith B Babiaka,3,4 Clovis S Metuge,2,3 Kimberly Liang,5 Unique Stephens,5 Seraphine Nkie Esemu,1 David S Zuzga,5 Kristy Shuda McGuire,5 Luis J Montaner,5 Roland N Ndip,1 Ian Tietjen,5 Fidele Ntie-Kang2,3,6 1Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon; 2Center for Drug Discovery, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon; 3Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon; 4Department of Microbial Bioactive Compound, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; 5Drug Discovery, The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology, Philadelphia, PA, USA; 6Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, GermanyCorrespondence: Ian Tietjen, The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA, Tel +1-215-898-3938, Email itietjen@wistar.org Fidele Ntie-Kang, Center for Drug Discovery, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P. O. Box 63, Buea, Cameroon, Tel +237-673872475, Email fidele.ntie-kang@ubuea.cmBackground: Croton oligandrus Pierre & Hutch is a tropical tree that grows in West and Central Africa, used in ethnomedicine to treat cancer, diabetes, headaches, convulsions, urinary diseases, and inflammatory diseases. As other Croton species have been observed to possess chemical compounds that target HIV latency-reversal, we hypothesized that this species may have similar properties.Aim of the Study: The identification of extracts and compounds of this species, which have HIV-1 latency-reversing activity in J-Lat T cell lines.Methods: The stem bark was obtained, air-dried, powdered, and extracted using dichloromethane. In vitro flow cytometry was used to monitor GFP expression, a marker of HIV latency reversal, following treatment of J-Lat T cells with extracts and compounds.Results: Four extracts were found to reverse HIV latency, the most active extract showing better activity (ie, latency reversal in 69.7 ± 7.1% [mean ± s.e.m.] of J-Lat 10.6 cells at 1 μg/mL) than control agents prostratin (46.2 ± 9.5% at 1.2 μg.mL) and the “Mukungulu” (Croton megalobotrys) extract (34.9 ± 24.2% at 1 μg/mL). Extracts reversed HIV latency through mechanisms over and above protein kinase C (PKC) activation and distinct from histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition. The most active extract also synergized with the control HDAC inhibitor romidepsin but did not synergize with other extracts. Isolated compounds (β-Stigmasterol and lupeol) had limited but consistent latency reversal on their own.Conclusion: The plant extracts and compounds reverse HIV latency through mechanisms additional to PKC activation and/or synergize with romidepsin in vitro. Extracts and compounds from this plant may enhance the activity of current HIV latency-reversing agents being assessed in HIV cure studies.Keywords: antiviral, compounds, extracts, HIV-1, latency reversal, screening

Helicobacter pylori is a major cause of such upper gastrointestinal diseases as gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. The risk of infection is increased in those living in the developing world, which has been ascribed to precarious hygiene standards, crowded households, and deficient sanitation common in this part of the world. Fecal samples were collected from 356 apparently healthy subjects, consisting of 168 males and 188 females aged from 3 months to > or = 60 years (Mean = 31 years). A standardized questionnaire describing demographic characteristic including age, sex, household hygiene, socioeconomic status, and so on was applied. A sandwich-type enzyme immunoassay amplification technology (Amplified IDEIA Hp StAR, Oxoid, UK) was used to analyze the fecal samples for the detection of H. pylori antigens using monoclonal antibodies specific for H. pylori antigens. Fisher's exact test was used to assess the univariate association between H. pylori infection and the possible risk factors. Odds ratio (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to measure the strength of association using EPI INFO 3.41 package. P values of < .05 were required for significance. H. pylori antigen was detected in 309 of the 356 subjects giving an overall prevalence of 86.8%. Prevalence increased with age from 75.9% in children < 12 years age to 100% in young adults aged 25-47 years and subjects aged > or = 60 years (P < .05). H. pylori prevalence was higher in females than in males. Of 188 females who participated in the study, H. pylori antigen was detected in 172 (91.5%) versus 144 (85.7%) 168 males (P > .05). Interestingly, H. pylori antigen was detected more often (100%) in the high socioeconomic group than in those of low socioeconomic group (85.9%) (P > .05). The results of this study have revealed a high prevalence of H. pylori antigens in fecal samples of asymptomatic individuals in the Nkonkobe municipality, an indication of active infection. Socioeconomic status, contaminated water, and poor sanitation may play a role in H. pylori transmission in this population. This finding is of public health and epidemiologic significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing economic and recreational opportunities, attractive scenery and a perception of a better quality of life are luring people to the coast. Unfortunately, these activities together with the commensurate increase in population in the area inevitably result in pollution of coastal waters with excessive microorganisms and other pollutants. Microbial pollutants not only contaminate the coastal water but also aquatic food sources, thus posing a health risk to consumers. Fish is a major source of protein in Cameroon, especially in the coastal areas. In this study, we investigated the microbiological quality of fish from the Limbe and Tiko beaches in South West Cameroon from May to October 2007. We isolated human pathogenic bacteria from three anatomic sites (skin, gills, intestine) of 50 fish (150 specimens) and investigated their susceptibility patterns to a battery of antibiotics. Data were analyzed statistically using chi2 with significance set at p < .05. Eleven bacterial species were identified, including Escherichia coli type 1 (20.8%), Citrobacter fruendii (16.4%), Proteus vulgaris (13%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (12.1%), Klebsiella ozaenae (7.7%), Enterobacter cloacae (7.2%), Klebsiella oxytoca (5.8%), Serratia marcescens (4.8%), Serratia odorifera (4.8%), Hafnia alvei (4.4%) and Proteus penneri (2.9%). More contaminated fish were found at Limbe beach than at Tiko beach (61.4% versus 38.6%, respectively (p < .05)). When ranking contamination with respect to anatomic site, skin was the most contaminated (40.6%) specimen and gills the least (28.5%). Ciprofloxacillin, ofloxacillin, and cotrimoxazole were the most effective antibiotics against all isolates, exhibiting 100% sensitivity. Almost half of the isolates (45.7%) were resistant to ampicillin. The results of our study demonstrate that fish from the coastal waters of South West Cameroon are a source of human pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria; hence this finding has public health implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicobacter pylori are Gram-negative micro-aerophilic motile curve rods that inhabit the gastric mucosa of the human stomach. The bacterium chronically infects billions of people worldwide and is one of the most genetically diverse of bacterial species. More than half of the world population in both developed and developing countries are infected with this organism. Infection usually occurs without overt clinical symptoms, particularly in poor communities. If untreated, the infection can last for decades without causing symptoms. In some communities, however, infection with the organism causes peptic and duodenal ulcers, gastritis, duodenitis, and gastric cancers. How H. pylori initially enters the stomach is not known, but contaminated food particles and water are suspected, with the former physically shielding it from stomach acid. Similarly, the route of transmission of this pathogen is unknown. Several reports have suggested the possibility of waterborne transmission as the organism can survive for a few days in fresh cold water, salt water, distilled water, and tap water. Knowledge of the epidemiology and mode of transmission of H. pylori is important to prevent its spread and may be useful in identifying high risk populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was aimed at determining bacterial agents of the upper respiratory tract and the susceptibility patterns of isolates to antibiotics. In total, 200 throat swabs were obtained from students attending different boarding schools within the Buea Municipality and screened to obtain the prevalence of respiratory pathogens and to understand the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of isolates using standard microbiological procedure and the disc-diffusion test. Of the 200 samples screened, 112 (56%) had positive cultures with the dominant bacterial pathogens being Haemophilus influenzae (20%), followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (15%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (11%), and Staphylococcus aureus (10%). Although 56% of the isolates were recovered from females compared to 44% from males, the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Sixty-seven percent of the pathogens were isolated from the age-group of 10-13 years, 19.6% from the age-group of 14-17 years, and 12.5% from the age-group of 18-21 years. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that gentamicin (92%) and cefuroxime (88.4%) were the most effective antibiotics against the isolates. Generally, susceptibility ranged from 0% to 92% depending on the antibiotic and the species of microorganism. Penicillin had the highest (100%) resistance to all the isolates. The findings revealed that students living in boarding schools in the Buea Municipality were at risk of acquiring upper respiratory tract infections from their peers since the upper respiratory tract of more than 50% of the students was colonized with respiratory pathogens. Although multidrug-resistant strains of organisms were identified, gentamicin and cefuroxime are recommended as the first-line antibiotics of choice against the pathogens. There is, therefore, a need for surveillance of nasopharyngeal carriage of resistant strains of these organisms, especially H. influenzae in unhealthy school children since the vaccine is yet to be introduced in Cameroon. The findings have clinical and epidemiological significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infection with Helicobacter pylori is strongly associated with a number of gastroduodenal pathologies. Antimicrobial resistance to commonly-used drugs has generated a considerable interest in the search for novel therapeutic compounds from medicinal plants. As an ongoing effort of this search, the susceptibility of 32 clinical strains of H. pylori and a reference strain-NCTC 11,638-was evaluated against five solvent extracts of Combretum molle, a plant widely used for the treatment of gastric ulcers and other stomach-related morbidities in South Africa. The extracts were screened for activity by the agar-well diffusion method, and the most active one of them was tested against the same strains by micro-broth dilution and time kill assays. Metronidazole and amoxicillin were included in these experiments as positive control antibiotics. The solvent extracts all demonstrated anti-H. pylori activity with zone diameters of inhibition between 0 and 38 mm. The most potent anti-H. pylori activity was demonstrated by the acetone extract, to which 87.5% of the clinical strains were susceptible. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC90) values for this extract ranged from 1.25 to 5.0 mg/mL while those for amoxicillin and metronidazole ranged from 0.001 to 0.94 mg/mL and from 0.004 to 5.0 mg/mL respectively. The acetone extract was highly bactericidal at a concentration of 2.5 and 5.0 mg/mL, with complete elimination of the test organisms in 24 hours. Its inhibitory activity was better than that of metronidazole (p<0.05) as opposed to amoxicillin (p<0.05). The results demonstrate that C. molle may contain therapeutically-useful compounds against H. pylori, which are mostly concentrated in the acetone extract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is the most commonly notified disease and the fifth largest cause of mortality. One in 10 cases is resistant to treatment in some areas. Several plants are used locally to treat TB-related disease. AIMS OF THE STUDY: The aim was to screen selected South African medicinal plants used to treat TB and related symptoms by traditional healers for antimycobacterial activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethnobotanical information on these plants was obtained. Crude acetone, methanol, hexane and ethanol extracts of 21 selected medicinal plants obtained in Venda, South Africa were screened for their ability to inhibit MTB H(37)Ra and a clinical strain resistant to first-line drugs and one second-line drug using tetrazolium microplate assay to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Results were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2007 and One way ANOVA; p<0.05 was considered for statistical significance. RESULTS: Few acetone extracts were active against MTB with MIC under 100 microg/mL. Four plants showed lower MIC values; Berchemia discolor Klotzsch Hemsl 12, 5 microg/mL on H(37)Ra and 10.5 microg/mL on the clinical isolate, Bridelia micrantha Hochst. Baill (25 microg/mL), Warbugia salutaris Bertol. F Chiov (25 microg/mL), and Terminalia sericea Burch ex D. F (25 microg/mL) on both H(37)Ra and clinical isolate. However, the roots of Ximenia caffra Sond. Var. caffra, barks of Sclerocarya birrea (A Rich) Hochst, Asclepias fruticosa L, tubers of Allium sativum L, leaves of Carica papaya L, Solanum panduriforme E. Mey C, and roots of Securidaca longepedunculata Fresen gave MIC greater than 100 microg/mL. CONCLUSION: The acetone extracts of Berchemiadiscolor, Bridelia micrantha, Terminalia sericea and Warbugia salutaris could be important sources of mycobactericidal compounds against multidrug-resistant MTB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella spp. have been extensively incriminated worldwide as common causes of bacterial gastroenteritis in humans, with food-animals serving as important reservoirs. The study was aimed at investigating cattle and pigs slaughtered in Buea as reservoirs of Salmonella Typhimurium and the susceptibility of isolates to antibiotics. In total, 230 specimens (comprising 50 each from the rectum, ileum, and gall bladder of cattle; and 10 each from same anatomical sites of pigs and 50 from abattoir drains) were analyzed for Salmonella using the standard microbiological, biochemical and serological techniques. Antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was determined by the Kirby-Bauer disc-diffusion test. The isolates were characterized into biotypes using the API 20E kit, and results were analyzed using the chi-square test. Seventy-five (32.6%) of the 230 specimens were positive for S. Typhimurium, with pigs and abattoir drains presenting the highest level of isolation (40%). Biochemical typing grouped the isolates into five biotypes. Biotype I was the most prevalent (30.6%) while biotype IV was the least prevalent (9.3%) and was absent in samples from pigs. Antibiotic susceptibility studies revealed 14 antibiotypes based on antibiotics used in the study. The predominant antibiotype AMX DOX CEF was recorded in 13 (17.3%) of the isolates. Multidrug resistance (to four or more antibiotics) was recorded in 50.7% (38/75) of the isolates. The most active drugs were ciprofloxacin (98.6%), ofloxacin (93.3%), amikacin (90.6%), and gentamicin (84%). All the isolates (100%) were resistant to tetracycline and ampicillin. Cattle and pigs were found to be reservoirs of S. Typhimurium in the environment of Buea, Cameroon, implying that foods from these sources, if not properly handled, could serve as vehicles for its transmission to humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric and duodenal ulcers are increasingly becoming global health burdens. The side effects of conventional treatments such as non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), antibiotics, and cytoprotective agents have necessitated the search for new medications. Plants are a rich source of active metabolites and herbal medicines have been used in the treatment of ulcers and cancers. In this study, we used in silico methods like molecular docking and MM-GBSA calculations to evaluate the effects of some anti-ulcer and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals on some key enzymes, cyclooxygenase (COX), and lipoxygenase (LOX), which are implicated in the protection and destruction of the gastric mucosa. The phytochemicals were retrieved from the literature and docked toward the binding sites of the three enzymes (COX-1, COX-2, and 5-LOX). Five compounds, rhamnetin, kaempferol, rutin, rosmarinic acid, and chlorogenic acid were observed to putatively bind to cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) but not to cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1). The interaction mechanisms between these phytochemicals and the target proteins are discussed. The compounds' drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity have been evaluated to assess their suitability as potential next-generation anti-ulcer and anti-inflammatory drugs., Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40203-024-00269-2., Competing Interests: Competing interestThe authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Background: The elevated rate of AIDS-related mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa among adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) is influenced by various factors, notably immunosuppression, within a framework of limited therapeutic alternatives. We aimed to enhance the management of pediatric HIV by assessing the immune response and associated factors in perinatally-infected ALHIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Cameroon., Methods: A cohort study was conducted from 2018-2020 among 271 ART-experienced ALHIV in Cameroon. Sociodemographic data, immunological (CD4), and virological (plasma viral load, PVL) responses were measured at enrolment (T0), 6-months (T1), and 12-months (T2) using PIMA CD4 (Abbott/Pantech (Pty) Ltd) and Abbott Applied Biosystem platform (Real-Time PCR m2000RT) respectively. Immunological failure (IF) was defined as absolute CD4 < 250 cells/mm 3 , and Virological failure (VF) as PVL ≥ 1,000 copies/ml. A linear mixed-effects model with R version 4.4.1 was used to estimate both fixed and random effects, with significance set at p  < 0.05., Results: Of the 271 perinatally-infected ALHIV enrolled over three phases, females were predominant (55.7, 55.1, and 56.0%); median age was 14 (IQR: 12-17); majority of the participants were followed-up in urban areas (77.5, 74.5, and 78.6%); and the age distribution favored older adolescents (48.7, 61.2, and 58.5%). Most participants achieved clinical success (93.1, 89.7, 88.9%), predominantly on first-line ART (80.8, 66.2, and 53.0%), with good adherence (64.2, 58.9, and 64.5%). Most participants had secondary education (67.2, 70.1, and 67.5%). Median CD4+ counts fluctuated overtime, with values of 563 (IQR: 249.0-845.0), 502 (IQR: 319.0-783.5), and 628 (IQR: 427.5-817.5), respectively. Of note, being male was linked to a reduction in CD4+ count compared to females, [-200.63 (-379.32 to -21.95), p  = 0.028]. Similarly, late adolescence was associated with lower CD4+ counts compared to early adolescence, [-181.08 (-301.08 to -61.09), p  = 0.003]. Moreover, participants experiencing VF showed significantly lower CD4+ counts compared to those with undetectable viral loads, [-353.08 (-465.81 to -240.36), p  < 0.001]. Additionally, there was a marginally significant interaction between male gender and secondary educational level, [209.78 (-6.94-426.51), p  = 0.058]., Conclusion: Among perinatally-infected ALHIV, age, gender, educational level, and virological status are key factors influencing their immune health and treatment outcomes. Prioritizing targeted interventions and close monitoring within these subgroups is crucial for optimal management, employing holistic care strategies that consider not only medical interventions but also psychosocial support and education., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Togna Pabo, Kengni Ngueko, Nka, Santoro, Bouba, Chenwi, Ngoufack Jagni Semengue, Takou, Teto, Dambaya, Nyasa, Tommo Tchouaket, Beloumou, Djupsa Ndjeyep, Ka’e, Tekoh, Ayuk Ngwese, Etame, Mundo, Kamgaing, Sosso, Ndip, Colizzi, Cecchereni-Silberstein, Ndjolo and Fokam.)

J-Lat cells are derivatives of the Jurkat CD4+ T cell line that contain a non-infectious, inducible HIV provirus with a GFP tag. While these cells have substantially advanced our understanding of HIV latency, their use by many laboratories in low and middle-income countries is restricted by limited access to flow cytometry. To overcome this barrier, we describe a modified J-Lat assay using a standard microplate reader that detects HIV-GFP expression following treatment with latency-reversing agents (LRAs). We show that HIV reactivation by control LRAs like prostratin and romidepsin is readily detected with dose dependence and with significant correlation and sensitivity to standard flow cytometry. For example, 10 µM prostratin induced a 20.1 ± 3.3-fold increase in GFP fluorescence in the microplate reader assay, which corresponded to 64.2 ± 5.0% GFP-positive cells detected by flow cytometery. Similarly, 0.3 µM prostratin induced a 1.7 ± 1.2-fold increase compared to 8.7 ± 5.7% GFP-positive cells detected. Using this method, we screen 79 epigenetic modifiers and identify molibresib, quisinostat, and CUDC-101 as novel LRAs. This microplate reader-based method offers accessibility to researchers in resource-limited regions to work with J-Lat cells and more actively participate in global HIV cure research efforts., Highlights: J-Lat T-cell lines are important to HIV cure research but require flow cytometryWe describe a method to work with J-Lat cells using a standard microplate readerThis assay can detect control LRAs similar to flow cytometry and discover new LRAsThis assay allows low-resourced laboratories to contribute to HIV cure research.

Objective: This study reports on food insecurity (FI) amidst the COVID-19 pandemic., Participants and Methods: College students in four regions of the US completed the two-item validated Hunger Vital Sign™ screening tool on Qualtrics., Results: FI increased significantly after March 2020 among US students (worry about food running out: 25% to 35%; food did not last: 17% to 21%) with significant regional increase in the Midwest and South. An adjusted multivariable logistic regression model indicated students that ran out of food were significantly at greater odds of experiencing hardship with paying bills (AOR: 5.59, 95% CI =3.90-8.06)., Conclusions: The findings identified an increase in the prevalence of FI among college students during the pandemic. Suggestions of how to address FI are discussed.

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The MRSA colonization of neonates, attributed to various sources, including mothers, healthcare workers, and environmental surfaces, can lead to severe infection, prolonged hospital stays, and even death, imposing substantial economic burdens. Given the pressing need to mitigate MRSA spread in these vulnerable environments, further examination of the subject is warranted. This systematic review is aimed at synthesizing available evidence on MRSA carriage proportions among mothers of newborns, healthcare workers, and environmental surfaces in NICUs. Methodology . We included observational studies published in English or French from database inception to March 21, 2023. These studies focused on MRSA in nonoutbreak NICU settings, encompassing healthy neonate mothers and healthcare workers, and environmental surfaces. Literature search involved systematic scanning of databases, including Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Global Health, and Global Index Medicus. The quality of the selected studies was assessed using the Hoy et al. critical appraisal scale. The extracted data were summarized to calculate the pooled proportion of MRSA positives, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) based on the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model., Results: A total of 1891 articles were retrieved from which 16 studies were selected for inclusion. Most of the studies were from high-income countries. The pooled proportion of MRSA carriage among 821 neonate mothers across four countries was found to be 2.1% (95% CI: 0.3-5.1; I 2 = 76.6%, 95% CI: 36.1-91.5). The proportion of MRSA carriage among 909 HCWs in eight countries was determined to be 9.5% (95% CI: 3.1-18.4; I 2 = 91.7%, 95% CI: 87.1-94.6). The proportion of MRSA carriage among HCWs was highest in the Western Pacific Region, at 50.00% (95% CI: 23.71-76.29). In environmental specimens from five countries, a pooled proportion of 16.6% (95% CI: 3.5-36.0; I 2 = 97.7%, 95% CI: 96.6-98.4) was found to be MRSA-positive., Conclusion: With a significant heterogeneity, our systematic review found high MRSA carriage rates in neonate mothers, healthcare workers, and across various environmental surfaces in NICUs, posing a potential risk of nosocomial infections. Urgent interventions, including regular screening and decolonization of MRSA carriers, reinforcing infection control measures, and enhancing cleaning and disinfection procedures within NICUs, are crucial. This trial is registered with CRD42023407114., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Nene Kaah Keneh et al.)

Background: The emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has increased and poses a significant threat to human and animal health in Cameroon and the world at large. MRSA strains have infiltrated various settings, including hospitals, communities, and livestock, contributing to increased morbidity, treatment costs, and mortality. This evidence synthesis aims to understand MRSA prevalence, resistance patterns, and genetic characterization in Cameroon., Methods: The methodology was consistent with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Studies of any design containing scientific data on MRSA prevalence, genetic diversity, and antimicrobial resistance patterns in Cameroon were eligible for inclusion, with no restrictions on language or publication date. The search involved a comprehensive search strategy in several databases including Medline, Embase, Global Health, Web of Science, African Index Medicus, and African Journal Online. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using the Hoy et al tool, and the results were synthesized and presented in narrative synthesis and/or tables and graphs., Results: The systematic review analyzed 24 studies, mostly conducted after 2010, in various settings in Cameroon. The studies, characterized by moderate to low bias, revealed a wide prevalence of MRSA ranging from 1.9% to 46.8%, with considerable variation based on demographic and environmental factors. Animal (0.2%), food (3.2% to 15.4%), and environmental samples (0.0% to 34.6%) also showed a varied prevalence of MRSA. The genetic diversity of MRSA was heterogeneous, with different virulence gene profiles and clonal lineages identified in various populations and sample types. Antimicrobial resistance rates showed great variability in the different regions of Cameroon, with notable antibiotic resistance recorded for the beta-lactam, fluoroquinolone, glycopeptide, lincosamide, and macrolide families., Conclusion: This study highlights the significant variability in MRSA prevalence, genetic diversity, and antimicrobial resistance patterns in Cameroon, and emphasizes the pressing need for comprehensive antimicrobial stewardship strategies in the country., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Keneh et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Acquired drug resistance (ADR) is common among adolescents living with perinatal HIV (APHI) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Personalized management has the potential to improve pediatric antiretroviral therapy (ART), even in the presence of long-term treatment and HIV-1 subtype diversity. We sought to evaluate the effect of HIV-1 mutational profiling on immuno-virological response and ADR among APHI. A cohort-study was conducted from 2018-2020 among 311 APHI receiving ART in Cameroon. Clinical, immunological and virological responses were measured at enrolment (T1), 6-months (T2) and 12-months (T3). Immunological failure (IF: CD4 #x003C;250 cells/mm 3 ), VF (viremia ≥1,000 copies/ml), and ADR were analyzed, with P#x003C;0.05 considered significant. Mean age was 15(±3) years; male-female ratio was 1:1; median [IQR] ART-duration was 36[21-81] months. At T1, T2, and T3 respectively, adherence-level was 66.4, 58.3 and 66.5%; 14 viral clades were found, driven by CRF02&#95;AG (58.6%); ADR-mutations favored increased switch to second-line ART (16.1, 31.2, and 41.9%, P#x003C;0.0001). From T1-T3 respectively, there were declining rates of IF (25.5, 18.9, and 9.83%, P#x003C;0.0001), VF (39.7, 39.9, and 28.2%, P=0.007), and HIVDR (96.4, 91.7, and 85.0%, P=0.099). Predictors of ADR were being on first-line ART (P=0.045), high viremia at enrolment (AOR=12.56, P=0.059), and IF (AOR=5.86, P=0.010). Of note, optimized ART guided by mutational profile (AOR=0.05, P=0.002) was protective. Moreover, full Tenofovir+Lamivudine+Dolutegravir efficacy was predicted in 77 and 62% of APHI respectively after first- and second-line failure. Among APHI in this SSA setting, viral mutational profiling prompts the use of optimized Dolutegravir-based ART regimens, leading to improved immuno-virological response and declining ADR burdens. Thus, implementing personalized HIV medicine in this vulnerable population would substantially improve ART response and the achievement of the 95-95-95 goals in these underserved populations., (Copyright © 2023, the Author(s).)

Introduction: Despite a high fatality rate in humans, little is known about the occurrence of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) in Cameroon. Hence, this pioneer study was started with the aim of determining the prevalence of CCHFV in domestic ruminants and its potential vector ticks in Cameroon., Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in two livestock markets of Yaoundé to collect blood and ticks from cattle, sheep, and goats. CCHFV-specific antibodies were detected in the plasma using a commercial ELISA assay and confirmed using a modified seroneutralization test. Ticks were screened for the presence of orthonairoviruses by amplification of a fragment of the L segment using RT-PCR. Phylogeny was used to infer the genetic evolution of the virus., Results: Overall, 756 plasma samples were collected from 441 cattle, 168 goats, and 147 sheep. The seroprevalence of CCHFV was 61.77% for all animals, with the highest rate found in cattle (433/441, 98.18%) followed by sheep (23/147, 15.65%), and goats (11/168, 6.55%), ( p -value < 0.0001). The highest seroprevalence rate was found in cattle from the Far North region (100%). Overall, 1500 ticks of the Rhipicephalus (773/1500, 51.53%), Amblyomma (341/1500, 22.73%), and Hyalomma (386/1500, 25.73%) genera were screened. CCHFV was identified in one Hyalomma truncatum pool collected from cattle. Phylogenetic analysis of the L segment classified this CCHFV strain within the African genotype III., Conclusion: These seroprevalence results call for additional epidemiological studies on CCHFV, especially among at-risk human and animal populations in high-risk areas of the country., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Simo Tchetgna, Yousseu, Cosset, de Freitas, Kamgang, McCall, Ndip, Legros and Wondji.)

Okra is grown globally for its nutritional and economic benefits. Okra seeds ensure continuous production of the crop but challenges of poor production, adaptability and management may not allow the seeds to express their full potential. There are two seed production systems in Cameroon; the informal and formal. In Buea, the informal seed system is used by most farmers for seed production/utilization and farmers are reluctant to use hybrid seeds. This study aimed to assess the informal seed system of okra and evaluate the adaptability of seed produce from informal and formal systems in Buea. A survey and a field experiment were carried out. The designs for the survey and field experiment were stratified random sampling and randomized complete block design respectively. Data collection for the survey was done using questionnaires and other data collection instruments, while for the field experiment, data was collected on germination, vegetative growth parameters, incidence and severity of pests / diseases and yield. Data analysis for the survey was done using descriptive statistics, while data from the field experiment was done using a two-way ANOVA test and treatment means compared using the Tukey test at 5% probability. Results from the survey showed that women (60%) were mostly involved in seed production by mass selection from two landraces identified. Preservation of seeds was mostly done with the use of wood ash (58%) and insects were the major postharvest pest (76%). For the field experiment, at 66 DAP, Yellen recorded the highest significant number of leaves (13.417), leaf area (771.4 cm2) and the number of branches (5.64). Clemson spineless recorded the highest significant incidence (89.9%) and severity for pests / diseases while Kirikou and Landrace recorded the least incidence (0.0%) and severity. Kirikou recorded the highest significant yield (6.0 tons/ha), followed by Landrace (5.3 tons/ha). These findings reveal the performance of the landrace and provide reasons why farmers in Buea are reluctant to use hybrid okra seeds. The Landrace should certainly have adaptable genes, coupled with the autogamous nature of okra which encourages inbreeding for homozygous traits, which are dominant in expression compared to heterozygous traits., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2022 Nkongho et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merrill] cultivation is important for its dual role as rich source of dietary protein and soil fertility enhancer, but production is constrained by soil nutrient deficiencies. This is often resolved using chemical fertilizers that exert deleterious effects on the environment when applied in excess. This field study was conducted at Nkolbisson-Yaoundé in the agro-ecological zone V of Cameroon to assess the performance of soybean when inoculated with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) and arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF), with or without NPK fertilizer addition. Ten treatments (Control, PGPB, AMF, PGPB+AMF, PGPB+N, PGPB+PK, PGPB+N+PK, PGPB+AMF+N, PGPB+AMF+PK, and PGPB+AMF+N+PK) were established in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Mycorrhizal colonization was only observed in AMF-inoculated soybean roots. In comparison to control, sole inoculation of PGPB and AMF increased the number of root nodules by 67.2% and 57%, respectively. Co-application of PGPB and AMF increased the number of root nodules by 68.4%, while the addition of NPK fertilizers significantly increased the number of root nodules by 66.9-68.6% compared to control. Acid phosphatase activity in soybean rhizosphere ranged from 46.1 to 85.1 mg h -1 kg -1 and differed significantly across treatments ( p < 0.001). When compared to control, PGPB or AMF or their co-inoculation, and the addition of NPK fertilizers increased the acid phosphatase activity by 45.8%, 27%, 37.6%, and 26.2-37.2%, respectively. Sole inoculation of PGPB or AMF and their integration with NPK fertilizer increased soybean yield and grain contents (e.g., carbohydrate, protein, zinc, and iron) compared to the control ( p < 0.001). Soil phosphorus correlated significantly ( p < 0.05) with soybean grain protein ( r = 0.46) and carbohydrate ( r = 0.41) contents. The effective root nodules correlated significantly ( p < 0.001) with acid phosphatase ( r = 0.67) and soybean yield ( r = 0.66). Acid phosphatase correlated significantly ( p < 0.001) with soybean grain yield ( r = 0.63) and carbohydrate ( r = 0.61) content. Effective root nodules correlated significantly with carbohydrate ( r = 0.87, p < 0.001), protein ( r = 0.46, p < 0.01), zinc ( r = 0.59, p < 0.001), and iron ( r = 0.77, p < 0.01) contents in soybean grains. Overall, these findings indicate strong relationships between farm management practices, microbial activities in the rhizosphere, and soybean performance., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Ngosong, Tatah, Olougou, Suh, Nkongho, Ngone, Achiri, Tchakounté and Ruppel.)

Little is known about the impact of ticks on livestock and humans in Cameroon. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, seasonal variation, and genetic diversity of hard ticks in the country. Ticks were collected during a cross-sectional survey on domestic livestock in two markets of Yaoundé in 2019 and 2020 and identified using morphological keys, 16S ribosomal DNA, (16S rDNA), and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (Cox1) genes. The infestation rates were 39.18%, 11.53%, and 2.74% in cattle, sheep, and goats respectively. Three genera of ticks were identified, Rhipicephalus, Amblyomma, and Hyalomma comprising eleven tick species. The main species were Rhipicephalus decoloratus (30.25%), R. microplus (24.43%), and Amblyomma variegatum (12.96%). Rhipicephalus spp. (81.31%) and Amblyomma variegatum (51.54%) were abundant during the rainy season, while Hyalomma spp. (83.86%) during the dry season (p-value <0.00001). Cox1 and 16S rDNA analysis showed a high level of genetic diversity among tick species with sequences close to those observed across Africa. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that our R. microplus belong to clade A and we identified R. sanguineus s.l. as R. linnea. This study shows a high tick infestation rate in cattle, while low in small ruminants with an extensive diversity of tick species, including several known vectors of important tick-borne diseases., (© 2022 The Authors. Medical and Veterinary Entomology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Royal Entomological Society.)

Background: Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne zoonosis endemic in Africa. With little known of the burden or epidemiology of RVF virus (RVFV) in Cameroon, this study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of RVFV in domestic ruminants of various origins in two markets of Yaoundé, Cameroon., Methodology/principal Findings: The origin of animals randomly sampled at two livestock markets in Yaoundé were recorded and plasma samples collected for competitive and capture Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to determine the prevalence of Immunoglobulins G (IgG) and Immunoglobulins M (IgM) antibodies. Following ELISA IgM results, a real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect RVFV RNA. In June-August 2019, February-March 2020, and March-April 2021, 756 plasma samples were collected from 441 cattle, 168 goats, and 147 sheep. RVFV IgG seroprevalence was 25.7% for all animals, 42.2% in cattle, 2.7% in sheep, and 2.4% in goats. However, IgM seroprevalence was low, at 0.9% in all animals, 1.1% in cattle, 1.4% in sheep, and 0% in goats. The seroprevalence rates varied according to the animal's origin with the highest rate (52.6%) in cattle from Sudan. In Cameroon, IgG and IgM rates respectively were 45.1% and 2.8% in the North, 44.8% and 0% in the Adamawa, 38.6% and 1.7% in the Far-North. All IgM positive samples were from Cameroon. In cattle, 2/5 IgM positive samples were also IgG positive, but both IgM positive samples in sheep were IgG negative. Three (42.9%) IgM positive samples were positive for viral RVFV RNA using qRT-PCR but given the high ct values, no amplicon was obtained., Conclusion/significance: These findings confirm the circulation of RVFV in livestock in Cameroon with prevalence rates varying by location. Despite low IgM seroprevalence rates, RVF outbreaks can occur without being noticed. Further epidemiological studies are needed to have a broad understanding of RVFV transmission in Cameroon., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: Coliform bacteria are major causative agents of bovine mastitis, a disease that has devastating effect on dairy animal health and milk production. This cross-sectional study, carried out in the North West region of Cameroon, sought to determine the prevalence of bovine mastitis, coliforms associated with bovine mastitis, risk factors for infection and the antibiotic resistance pattern of coliform bacterial isolates., Materials and Methods: A total of 1608 udder quarters were sampled from 411 cows using a questionnaire, clinical examination, California Mastitis Test and milk culture. Primary isolation of coliform bacteria was done on MacConkey agar while identification of coliforms employed Gram-staining and biochemical testing. Each coliform bacterial isolate was challenged with 11 antibiotics using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method., Results: The prevalence of mastitis was 53.0% (218/411) and 33.1% (532/1608) at the cow- and quarter-levels respectively. Overall, 21.9% (90/411) cows and 8.2% (132/1608) udder quarters showed coliform mastitis. Escherichia coli was isolated in 7.0% of mastitis milk, and other coliforms isolated were Enterobacter cloacae (12.6%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (2.4%), Enterobacter sakazakii (1.1%), Klebsiella oxytoca (0.8%), Citrobacter freudii (0.4%), Serratia ficaria (0.4%) and Serratia liquefaciens (0.2%). Lactation stage, breed, history of mastitis and moist/muddy faeces contaminated environment were significantly associated (P-value < 0.05) with coliform mastitis. Coliform isolates (99.0%; 203/205) were resistant to at least one antibiotic tested. Amoxicillin had the highest resistance (88.8%) while norfloxacin had the least resistance (3.4%). Multidrug resistance was exhibited by 52.7% (108/205) of the isolates in a proportion of 27.8% Enterobacter cloacae, 10.7% E. coli, 6.3% Klebsiella pneumoniae, 2.9% Enterobacter sakazakii, 2.0% Klebsiella oxytoca, 1.0% Citrobacter freundii, 1.0% Serratia ficaria, 0.5% Serratia liquefaciens and 0.5% Serratia odorifera., Conclusion: Results indicate a need to educate these dairy farmers about mastitis (particularly subclinical), proper hygiene methods in milking and the public health implications of consuming contaminated raw milk., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

The release of untreated wastes from abattoirs into the environment and nearby water bodies poses a significant threat to public health. Such litters may contain pathogens, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study investigated 80 samples collected from butchering tables, slaughter slabs, meat rinsing points, and abattoir wastes receiving water from two abattoirs (A and B). Total Enterobacteriaceae count (TEC) for each sample was determined, and Escherichia coli ( E . coli ), Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) were isolated and identified. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done on all bacterial isolates against nine locally used antibiotics. Overall, 118 bacterial isolates, comprising E. coli (42.5%), Salmonella spp. (27.5%), Shigella spp. (37.5%), and S. aureus (40.0%), were recovered. Of the 118 bacterial isolates, 104 (88.1%) were multidrug-resistant, including 58 (55.8%) from abattoir A and 46 (44.2%) from abattoir B; however, this difference was not statistically significant ( p = 0.6837). Of the 32 S . aureus isolates, 29 (90.6%) were multidrug-resistant. All S . aureus were 100% sensitive to vancomycin, kanamycin, and amikacin. Similarly, 31 (91.2%) of the 34 E . coli isolates recovered in this study were multidrug-resistant. Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. also showed high levels of multidrug resistance corresponding to 81.8% and 86.7%, respectively. All isolates of E. coli , Salmonella , and Shigella were 100% resistant to ampicillin and 100% sensitive to ciprofloxacin. Minimum and maximum mean values for TEC were 3.62-5.83 log CFU/mL for abattoir A and 4.08-5.56 log CFU/mL for abattoir B. The highest and lowest TEC counts were from slaughter slab and upstream water, respectively, in each abattoir. Our results indicate a predominance of multidrug-resistant bacteria in abattoir wastes and their receiving waters in the study sites. Hence, we recommend the treatment of abattoir wastes before disposal and improved hygiene and sanitation practices to enhance public health., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 Seraphine Nkie Esemu et al.)

Globally, malaria in recent years has witnessed a decline in the number of cases and death, though the most recent world malaria report shows a slight decrease in the number of cases in 2018 compared to 2017 and, increase in 2017 compared to 2016. Africa remains the region with the greatest burden of the disease. Cameroon is among the countries with a very high burden of malaria, with the coastal and forest regions carrying the highest burden of the disease. Nkongho-mbeng is a typical rural setting in the equatorial rain forest region of Cameroon, with no existing knowledge of the epidemiology of malaria in this locality. This study aimed at determining the current status of malaria epidemiology in Nkongho-mbeng. A cross-sectional survey was conducted, during which blood samples were collected from 500 participants and examined by microscopy. Risk factors such as, age, sex, duration of stay in the locality, housing type, environmental sanitation and intervention strategies including use of, LLINs and drugs were investigated. Trends in malaria morbidity were also determined. Of the 500 samples studied, 60 were positive, giving an overall prevalence of 12.0% with the prevalence of asymptomatic infection (10.8%), more than quadruple the prevalence of symptomatic infections (1.2%) and, fever burden not due to malaria was 1.4%. The GMPD was 6,869.17 parasites/μL of blood (95% C.I: 4,977.26/μL- 9,480.19/μL). A LLINs coverage of 84.4% and 77.88% usage was observed. Unexpectedly, the prevalence of malaria was higher among those sleeping under LLINs (12.56%) than those not sleeping under LLINs (8.97%), though the difference was not significant (p = 0.371). Being a male (p = 0.044), being unemployed (p = 0.025) and, living in Mbetta (p = 0.013) or Lekwe (p = 0.022) and the presence bushes around homes (p = 0.002) were significant risk factors associated with malaria infection. Trends in proportion demonstrated that, the prevalence of malaria amongst patients receiving treatment in the health center from 2015 to 2019 decreased significantly (p < 0.001) and linearly from 9.74% to 3.08% respectively. Data generated from this study can be exploited for development of a more effective control measures to curb the spread of malaria within Nkongho-mbeng., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exist.

Students at higher institutions of learning are more susceptible to psychosocial problems compared to the general public. These may further be exacerbated by the measures put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19. This mixed methods study examined the factors associated with the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on students' financial stability, interpersonal relationships and worries related to achieving academic milestones. Data comprised of a series of closed and open-ended questions collected via Qualtrics from students in the United States and Africa (Central and West). The quantitative data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages and chi-square, while the qualitative data was analyzed using thematic content analysis. More than 90% of the students resided in the United States, 72.5% were females and 78.4% were undergraduates. Financial hardship was experienced by 26.4% of the students, 55.8% indicated that COVID-19 negatively affected their relationship with friends and over 40% worried over delays in achieving academic milestones. Continent of residence, employment status and financial hardship were significantly associated with the negative impact of COVID-19 on one or more of the students' relationships and with worries about achieving academic milestones. Qualitative data support the findings that financial hardship contributed to experience of psychological distress by students. It also revealed negative (compromised relationships - broken or fractured relationships and loneliness) and positive (bonding) impact of COVID-19 on interpersonal relationships. School administrators should provide students with resources to access economic relief packages and tele-counseling services to help meet their financial and psychosocial support needs amidst COVID-19., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest The authors declare they have no conflict of interests.

Background: Escherichia coli O157 is an emerging foodborne pathogen of great public health concern. It has been associated with bloody diarrhoea, haemorrhagic colitis and haemolytic uremic syndrome in humans. Most human infections have been traced to cattle and the consumption of contaminated cattle products. In order to understand the risk associated with the consumption of cattle products, this study sought to investigate the prevalence and identify virulence genes in E. coli O157 from cattle in Cameroon., Method: A total of 512 rectal samples were obtained and analysed using conventional bacteriological methods (enrichment on modified Tryptone Soy Broth and selective plating on Cefixime-Tellurite Sorbitol Mac-Conkey Agar) for the isolation of E. coli O157. Presumptive E. coli O157 isolates were confirmed serologically using E. COLIPROTM O157 latex agglutination test and molecularly using PCR targeting the rfb gene in the isolates. Characterisation of the confirmed E. coli O157 strains was done by amplification of stx1, stx2, eaeA and hlyA virulence genes using both singleplex and multiplex PCR., Results: E. coli O157 was detected in 56 (10.9%) of the 512 samples examined. The presence of the virulence genes stx2, eaeA and hylA was demonstrated in 96.4% (54/56) of the isolates and stx1 in 40 (71.4%) of the 54. The isolates exhibited three genetic profiles (I-III) with I (stx1, stx2, eaeA and hlyA) being the most prevalent (40/56; 71.4%) while two isolates had none of the virulence genes tested., Conclusion: A proportion of cattle slaughtered in abattoirs in Buea are infected with pathogenic E. coli O157 and could be a potential source of human infections. We recommend proper animal food processing measures and proper hygiene be prescribed and implemented to reduce the risk of beef contamination., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Thirty-three (33) isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from healthy edible marine fish harvested from two aquaculture settings and the Kariega estuary, South Africa, were characterised in this study. The phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility profiles to 13 antibiotics were determined, and their antibiotic resistance determinants were assessed. A multiplex PCR was used to determine the epidemiological groups based on the type of SCC mec carriage followed by the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin-encoding genes sea - sed and the Panton Valentine leucocidin gene ( pvl ). A high antibiotic resistance percentage (67-81%) was observed for Erythromycin, Ampicillin, Rifampicin, and Clindamycin, while maximum susceptibility to Chloramphenicol (100%), Imipenem (100%), and Ciprofloxacin (94%) was recorded. Nineteen (58%) of the MRSA strains had Vancomycin MICs of ≤2  μ g/mL, 4 (12%) with MICs ranging from 4-8  μ g/mL, and 10 (30%) with values ≥16  μ g/mL. Overall, 27 (82%) isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR) with Erythromycin-Ampicillin-Rifampicin-Clindamycin (E-AMP-RIP-CD) found to be the dominant antibiotic-resistance phenotype observed in 4 isolates. Resistance genes such as tetM , tetA , ermB , blaZ, and femA were detected in two or more resistant strains. A total of 19 (58%) MRSA strains possessed SCC mec types I, II, or III elements, characteristic of healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA), while 10 (30%) isolates displayed SCC mec type IVc, characteristic of community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA). Six (18%) of the multidrug-resistant strains of MRSA were enterotoxigenic, harbouring the see, sea, or sec genes. A prevalence of 18% (6/33) was also recorded for the luk-PVL gene. The findings of this study showed that marine fish contained MDR-MRSA strains that harbour SCC mec types, characteristic of either HA-MRSA or CA-MRSA, but with a low prevalence of enterotoxin and pvl genes. Thus, there is a need for continuous monitoring and implementation of better control strategies within the food chain to minimise contamination of fish with MDR-MRSA and the ultimate spread of the bug., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Justine Fri et al.)

This study aimed to evaluate the antibiogram and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) of Vibrio isolates recovered from a marine fish (Argyrosomus japonicus) and water samples from two commercial dusky kob aquaculture farms and the Kariega estuary, South Africa, and to evaluate these findings for their public health implications. A total of 277 molecularly confirmed Vibrio isolates consisting of 126 Vibrio fluvialis, 45 Vibrio vulnificus, 30 Vibrio Parahaemolyticus, and 76 vibrios belonging to species of the genus other than Vibrio cholerae were subjected to susceptibility testing to 15 antibiotics by the disc diffusion method. Multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) was used to determine the antibiotic resistance-associated health risk, while polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate the presence of 14 ARGs for nonsusceptible strains. Highest resistances were recorded to amoxicillin (76.2%), ampicillin (67.5%), erythromycin (38.3%), and doxycycline (35.0%), while susceptibilities were highest to gentamicin (100%), followed by norfloxacin (97.8%), florfenicol (90.3%), tetracycline (87.7%), and chloramphenicol (87.4%). We recorded a 58.5% multidrug resistance (resistance to ≥2 antimicrobial classes). MARI did not vary significantly between sites (p > 0.05); however, values of >0.2 were recorded in 40% (108/277) of all strains tested. ARG markers, ampC, blaOXA, tetA, tetM, dfr1, sul1, sul2, ermB, nptII, strA, and SXT integrase, were detected in one or more strains with ermB (82.5%), sul2 (53.8%), strA (44%), dfr1 (42.3%), and tetM (38.3%) being the most abundant. Healthy marine finfish (dusky kob) and their environment can serve as reservoirs for antibiotic resistant vibrios and ARGs, which could be disseminated to humans and other susceptible bacteria and this therefore becomes a public health concern.

Objectives: Helicobacter pylori is a pathogenic bacterium that parasitizes the gastric mucous layer and the epithelial lining of the stomach causing duodenal ulcers, gastric ulcers and cardiovascular disease amongst others. This study aimed at establishing the epidemiologic profile of H. pylori infection in gastritis patients presenting at the Melong District Hospital., Results: Blood, stool and epidemiological data collected from 500 patients were analyzed for the presence of H. pylori antibody in serum, antigen in stool and elucidation of risk factors captured in questionnaires. Of 500 blood samples, 217 (43.4%) were seropositive with male and female seroprevalences of 45.5% (61/134) and 42.6% (156/366) respectively. Similarly, 47.4% (237/500) samples tested positive for stool antigen with prevalences of 47.0% (63/134) for males and 47.5% (174/366) for females. The antigen prevalence was higher (53.2%; 118/222) in older patients (> 50 years) than in younger patients (42.8%; 119/278; P = 0.021). The antigen test had a higher (47.4%) prevalence than the antibody test (43.4%). Educational level, source of income, source of drinking water, age of patients, and alcohol consumption had positive associations with H. pylori infection. These results have clinical and epidemiological significance and call for intervention to mitigate the situation.

Objectives: Ehrlichia ruminantium infection (heartwater) is a major constraint that impacts negatively on the cattle industry development in sub-Saharan Africa and so far, little is known of the presence of heartwater in cattle in Cameroon. This study sought to investigate the prevalence of E. ruminantium infection in cattle in Cameroon and to determine the predictors of infection., Results: A species-specific semi-nested pCS20 polymerase chain reaction was used to screen the buffy coats from 182 cattle (comprising 82 cattle that received intensive tick control regimen and 100 cattle on strategic tick control) from two study sites in Cameroon for E. ruminantium DNA in a cross-sectional study. E. ruminantium infection was confirmed in 12 (6.6%) of the 182 cattle comprising 11 that received intensive tick control and one on strategic tick control. Of the 12 cattle detected, 11 were apparently healthy and one was clinically diagnosed of heartwater. All DNA sequences of pCS20 amplicons were identical to each other (a representative sequence deposited in GenBank under accession number JQ039939). These findings which have veterinary and epidemiological significance, suggest the need for further investigation to determine the extent and role of heartwater in cattle in Cameroon.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) has been ranked as one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In Cameroon, the National Tuberculosis Control Program aims to fight TB through the implementation of international directives (Directly Observed Treatment Short course [DOTS]). TB control program must reach global targets for detection (70%) and treatment success (85%) as stated by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Implementing DOTS in Cameroon has not met the MDGs of 85% success rate. This study aimed at identifying factors affecting treatment success., Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was used to collect data from 895 TB registers from January 2011 to December 2012. Out of the seven treatment centers in Fako Division, three were randomly selected following stratification into government, not-for-profit and for-profit structures. Descriptive statistics were used to obtain frequencies. Binomial logistics regression was used to obtain significant values for the various factors. Multinomial logistics was used on significant factors., Results: Of the 895 registered TB patient records obtained, 416 (46.5%) patient were female and 479 (53.5%) patient were male. Characterizing TB patients, 510 (57.0%) were smear-positive pulmonary TB, 225 (25.1%) were smear-negative pulmonary TB, and 160 (17.9%) were extrapulmonary TB patients. Comparing treatment success rate (TSR) across the three centers, Baptist Hospital Mutengene had the highest value 94.97 (38%), followed by Regional Hospital Buea 83.74 (33%), and Central Clinic Tiko the least 73.13 (29%)., Conclusion: Patient registration year, treatment center, TB classification, and HIV status were identified to significantly affect TSR, hence, effectiveness of the TB program., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest

Background : Seafood-borne Vibrio infections, often linked to contaminated seafood and water, are of increasing global public health concern. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of human pathogenic vibrios and their associated virulence genes isolated from fish and water samples from 2 commercial dusky kob farms and Kareiga estuary, South Africa. Methods : A total of 200 samples including dusky kob fish ( n = 120) and seawater ( n = 80) were subjected to Vibrio screening on thiosulfate-citrate-bile salts-sucrose agar (TCBS). Presumptive isolates were confirmed and delineated to V. cholerae , V. parahaemolyticus , V. vulnificus , and V. fluvialis by PCR. Various pathogenic gene markers were screened: V. parahaemolyticus ( trh and tdh ), V. vulnificus ( vcgE and vcgC) and V. fluvialis (stn, vfh, hupO , vfpA ). Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) of the vvh A gene of V. vulnificus strains was performed to determine the associated biotypes. Results : Total Vibrio prevalence was 59.4% (606/1020) of which V. fluvialis was the most predominant 193 (31.85%), followed by Vibrio vulnificus 74 (12.21%) and V. parahaemolyticus 33 (5.45%). No V. cholerae strain was detected. One of the V. parahaemolyticus strains possessed the trh gene 7 (9.46%) while most (91.9%; 68/74) V. vulnificus isolates were of the E-type genotype. V. fluvialis virulence genes detected were stn (13.5%), hupO (10.4%) and vfpA (1.0%). 12.16% (9/74) of V. vulnificus strains exhibited a biotype 3 RFLP pattern. Conclusions : This is the first report of potentially pathogenic vibrios from healthy marine fish in the study area, and therefore a public health concern., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Purpose: Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) among HIV positive patients varies widely in different geographic regions. We undertook a study to determine the prevalence of occult hepatitis B infection among HIV infected individuals visiting a health facility in South West Cameroon and characterized occult HBV strains based on sequence analyses., Methods: Plasma samples (n = 337), which previously tested negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), were screened for antibodies against hepatitis B core (anti-HBc) and surface (anti-HBs) antigens followed by DNA extraction. A 366 bp region covering the overlapping surface/polymerase gene of HBV was then amplified in a nested PCR and the amplicons sequenced using Sanger sequencing. The resulting sequences were then analyzed for genotypes and for escape and drug resistance mutations., Results: Twenty samples were HBV DNA positive and were classified as OBI giving a prevalence of 5.9%. Out of these, 9 (45%) were anti-HBs positive, while 10 (52.6%) were anti-HBc positive. Additionally, 2 had dual anti-HBs and anti-HBc reactivity, while 6 had no detectable HBV antibodies. Out of the ten samples that were successfully sequenced, nine were classified as genotype E and one as genotype A. Three sequences possessed mutations associated with lamivudine resistance. We detected a number of mutations within the major hydrophilic region of the surface gene where most immune escape mutations occur., Conclusions: Findings from this study show the presence of hepatitis B in patients without any of the HBV serological markers. Further prospective studies are required to determine the risk factors and markers of OBI.