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Cervical cancer remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in women worldwide and is the leading cause of cancer-related death in Botswana. It is well established that women with HIV have a higher risk of persistent HPV infection leading to cervical cancer. We assessed HPV prevalence and genotype distribution in 126 tissue specimens from confirmed invasive cervical cancer cases using Abbott real-time PCR assay. Overall, 88 (69.8%) women were HIV-infected. Fifty-seven (64.8%) of the HIV-infected women had a baseline CD4+ count ≥350 cells/μl, and 82 (93.2%) were on antiretroviral therapy at the time of cervical cancer diagnosis. The median age of HIV-infected patients was significantly younger than that of HIV-uninfected patients (p

Of the 5 species of Plasmodium that cause human malaria, P. vivax has the broadest geographic distribution with 2.85 billion persons at risk throughout the world (1). Scientists are becoming [...]

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to investigate cytochrome P450 2C8*2 (CYP2C8*2) distribution and allele frequency in three populations from West and East Africa exposed to Plasmodium falciparum malaria. CYP2C8 enzyme is involved in the metabolism of the anti-malarials amodiaquine and chloroquine. The presence of the CYP2C8*2 defective allele has been recently associated to higher rate of chloroquine-resistant malaria parasites. Methods A total of 503 young subjects were genotyped for the single nucleotide polymorphism rs11572103 (A/T). Eighty-eight were from southern Senegal, 262 from eastern Uganda and 153 from southern Madagascar. The PCR-RFLP technique was used to discriminate the wild-type (A) from the defective allele (T). Results A CYP2C8*2 (T) allele frequency of 0.222 ± 0.044 was detected in Senegal, 0.105 ± 0.019 in Uganda and 0.150 ± 0.029 in Madagascar. Conclusions This study demonstrated that CYP2C8*2 allele is widespread in Africa. This allele occurs at different frequency in West and East Africa, being higher in Senegal than in Uganda and Madagascar. These data indicate that an important fraction of the populations analysed has a decreased enzymatic activity, thus being at higher risk for drug accumulation with two possible consequences: i) an exacerbation of drug-associated adverse side effects; ii) an increase of drug-resistance selection pressure on P. falciparum parasites.

Abstract Background Plasmodium vivax is estimated to affect 75 million people annually. It is reportedly absent, however, from west and central Africa due to the high prevalence of the Duffy negative phenotype in the indigenous populations. Despite this, non-African travellers consistently return to their own countries with P. vivax malaria after visiting this region. An attempt was made, therefore, to detect the presence of P. vivax parasites in blood samples collected from the indigenous populations of west and central Africa. Methods Parasite species typing (for all four human malaria parasites) was carried out by PCR on 2,588 blood samples collected from individuals from nine African malaria-endemic countries. Results Most infections (98.5%) were Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae was identified in 8.5% of all infections, and Plasmodium ovale in 3.9%. The prevalence of both parasites varied greatly by country. Only one case of P. vivax was detected from Sao Tome, an island off the west coast of Africa, confirming the scarcity of this parasite in Africa. Conclusion The prevalence of P. vivax in local populations in sub-Saharan Africa is very low, despite the frequent identification of this parasite in non-African travellers.

Introduction: Prostate cancer (CaP) is the most common malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in Botswana. Currently, diagnosing CaP relies on examining prostate biopsy samples, which can be challenging due to benign mimics. This study aims to evaluate the potential of Alpha-methyl acyl-CoA racemase (AMACR/p504s) and p63, as diagnostic markers for CaP. This may potentially validate the use of immunohistochemistry for detecting CaP in Botswana, where it is not routinely utilized., Methods: The study included 69 samples, comprising 5 prostatic chip specimens, 50 core biopsies, and 14 radical prostatectomy specimens. These cases were reviewed and categorized into CaP (49 cases) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (20 cases). Immunohistochemistry was performed using AMACR/p504s and p63 immunohistochemical stains., Results: The study found that AMACR/p504s had a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 95%, while p63 had a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. PSA levels showed significant positive correlation with AMACR/p504s expression ( P < 0.00001)., Discussion: In this study, we have demonstrated the diagnostic utility of AMACR/p504s and p63 due to their high sensitivity and specificity in detecting CaP in Botswana, where these biomarkers are not yet widely used. Furthermore, utilizing these markers in conjunction with other diagnostic tools, such as PSA levels and morphological evaluation, could improve the diagnostic accuracy, especially in challenging cases where histopathological examination alone may be inconclusive., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests in this work., (© 2025 Ramatlho et al.)

Arboviruses are an existing and expanding threat globally, with the potential for causing devastating health and socioeconomic impacts. Mitigating this threat necessitates a One Health approach that integrates vector surveillance, rapid disease detection, and innovative prevention and control measures. In Southern Africa, limited data on the epidemiology of arboviruses, their vectors, and their hosts prevent an effective response. We reviewed the current knowledge on arboviruses in Southern Africa and identified opportunities for further research. A literature search was conducted to identify studies published on arboviruses in 10 tropical and temperate countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) from 1900 onward. We identified 280 studies, half (51.1%) originating from South Africa, that described 31 arboviral species, their vectors, and their clinical effects on hosts reported in the region. Arboviral research flourished in the SADC in the mid-20 th century but then declined, before reemerging in the last two decades. Recent research consists largely of case reports describing outbreaks. Historical vector surveillance and serosurveys from the mid-20 th century suggest that arboviruses are plentiful across Southern Africa, but large gaps remain in the current understanding of arboviral distribution, transmission dynamics, and public health impact.