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Cysticercosis is caused by the larvae of the cestode Taenia solium. Few data are available on the prevalence of this disease in pigs and humans in West African countries. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of existing data concerning the spread of this parasitosis in the countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the basis of the literature published over the last five decades. Systematic searches for publications were carried out on PubMed and Google Scholar, as well as in certain regional and local journals. From a total of 501 articles initially retrieved concerning T. solium cysticercosis in West African countries, only 120 articles were relevant for this review and therefore finally retained. For pigs, only eight out of sixteen countries of the region have reported porcine cysticercosis. Post-mortem examination of carcasses at slaughterhouses, meat inspection at butcheries or tongue inspection in herds have been the main source of data, but may not entirely reflect actual parasite distribution. For humans, only five out of sixteen countries reported epidemiological data on neurocysticercosis. Most data referred to neurocysticercosis prevalence among epileptic patients or isolated clinical cases. Furthermore, existing data are often old. Overall, T. solium cysticercosis remains largely neglected in West Africa, and its prevalence appears not to be affected by any religion in particular. There is an urgent need to promote and implement health partnerships and programs on this disease in order to collect more data and identify sensitive populations in the countries of the ECOWAS area.

Background: Whooping cough due to Bordetella pertussis (BP) and/or B. parapertussis (BPP) is a highly contagious infection sometimes fatal for infants. Africa accounts for the largest share of cases and deaths worldwide. To evaluate pertussis circulation, we conducted a hospital-based prospective study (PS) including household contact-cases investigation (CCS) and a sero-epidemiological cross-sectional study (SECS). Methods: The PS, in which Bordetella diagnostics (qPCR) were performed, included infants aged ≤6 months presenting with ≥5 days of cough associated with one pertussis-like symptom. CCS was performed using qPCR and serology regardless of clinical signs. In the SECS, serology was performed in children aged 3–15 years with primary pertussis immunization. Results: Study took place in Abidjan between April 2019 and July 2021. In the PS, 187 infants with median age of 2.8 months were enrolled. A total of 42 (22.5%) were confirmed as positive, including 29 (15.5%), 4 (2.1%) and 9 (4.8%) of BP, BPP and BP/BPP coinfections respectively. Age <3 months, low BMI, apnea and inclusion period were identified as risk factors of infection. In the CCIS, 36 households were investigated, representing 158 people with median age of 21.4 years. BP and/or BPP infection was confirmed for 77/157 (49.0%). Twenty-nine households (81%) had at least one positive case. Sixty-seven (42.7%) contact cases were categorized as possibly contaminated, mainly siblings older than five years (25.4%). Twenty-seven contact cases were considered as possible contaminators, primarily mothers (26%). In the SECS, 444 people were enrolled. Two hundred and thirty-eight (53.6%) and nine (2.0%) children had received one and two boosters, respectively. A positive serology was observed in 96 (21.7%) of children and adolescents. Conclusion: Our study highlighted high circulation of pertussis. Barriers to accessing boosters recommended by WHO need to be overcome. Laboratory capacities are key at individual level and to build an effective surveillance system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To the Editor: Chikungunya is a disease caused by an arboviral alphavirus transmitted to humans by Aedes mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus). Symptoms include fever, myalgia, rash, and joint pain [...]

Objectives: To estimate the sensitivity and specificity of childhood pulmonary tuberculosis (CPTB) diagnostic tests, including Xpert MTB/RIF and alternative samples such as nasopharyngeal aspirate and stool. We used latent class analysis to overcome the lack of reference standards., Methods: We included 1165 children suspected of having CPTB in a prospective cohort study conducted in the Ivory Coast, Madagascar, and Cameroon. We used Bayesian latent class analysis to evaluate the performance of multiple diagnostic tests for CPTB: smear microscopy, mycobacterial culture, and Xpert carried out on different types of samples (sputum after 10 years of age, gastric aspirate before 10 years of age, nasopharyngeal aspirate, and stool), tuberculin skin test, and chest X-ray., Results: Median age was 3.5 years (95% credible interval [1.3-8.2]). Smear microscopy was highly specific in all types of samples but lacked sensitivity (sputum 31%; 95% credible interval [18-46]), gastric aspirate 36% [27-45], nasopharyngeal aspirate 24% [17-32], and stool 24% [17-32]). Culture sensitivity was slightly higher in gastric (75% [65-83]) than in nasopharyngeal aspirate (64% [54-72]). Xpert sensitivity was similar in gastric (69% [59-78]) and nasopharyngeal aspirate (66% [57-74]) but lower in sputum (58% [43-74]) and stools (53% [44-62]). Xpert was highly specific in all respiratory samples (sputum 96% [96-100], gastric aspirate 100% [99-100], and nasopharyngeal aspirate 100% [99-100])., Discussion: The Xpert performed on the nasopharyngeal aspirate shows similar accuracy to the culture. It was also similar to that in gastric aspirate. It highlights an interesting CPTB diagnostic combination., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)