BackgroundAntiretroviral therapy (ART) has improved the survival of HIV infected persons. However, rapid scale-up of ART and the high HIV-1 genetic variability, has greatly influenced the emergence of drug-resistant strains. This constitutes a potential threat to achieving the UNAIDS’ 90-90-90 goals by 2020. We investigated the prevalent HIV-1 genotypes, drug resistance-associated mutations and assessed some predictors of the occurrence of these mutations.MethodsThis was a hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted between October 2010 and June 2012. Participants were consecutively enrolled from selected HIV treatment centers of the Southwest and Northwest regions of Cameroon. Viral load was determined with the automated Abbott Real-time HIV-1 m2000rt System. HIV genotyping and antiretroviral resistance mutations analysis were performed using Bayer’s HIV-1 TRUGENE™ Genotyping Kit and OpenGene DNA Sequencing system. The drug resistance mutation was interpreted with the Stanford HIV database. Epidemiological data were obtained using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires.ResultsOf the 387 participants, 239 were successfully genotyped. The median age of these participants was 33 years (interquartile range, IQR: 28–40 years), and a majority (65.7%) were female. A total of 29.3% of the participants were receiving ART. The median duration of ART was 10.5 months (IQR: 4–17.25 months). The median CD4 count and log10 viral load of study participants were 353.5 cells/ml (IQR:145–471) and 4.89 copies/ml (IQR: 3.91–5.55) respectively. CRF02 (A/G) (69%) was the most prevalent subtype followed by G (8.2%) and F (6.7%). Overall, resistance mutations were present in 37.1% of ART-experienced and 10.7% of ART-naive patients. Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) mutations occurred in 30% of ART-experienced and 2.4% of ART-naïve patients, while non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) mutations occurred in 34.2% of ART-experienced and 10.1% of -naïve patients. M184V (8.4%, 20/239) and K103N (5.4%, 13/239) were the most prevalent mutations. Major protease inhibitor mutations occurred in 3 (1.3%) out of the 239 sequences. The duration of ART independently predicted the occurrence of resistance mutation among ART-experienced patients.ConclusionThe high resistance to NNRTIs, which are the main support to the backbone (NRTIs) first-line antiretroviral regimen in Cameroon, has prompted the need to rollout an integrase strand transfer inhibitor regimen (containing Dolutegravir) with a higher genetic barrier to resistance as the preferred first line regimen.

The accurate diagnosis of tuberculosis caused by members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) has remained a major challenge in clinical laboratories worldwide. Several studies have evaluated the use of highly specific in-house PCR assays targeting the IS6110, hupB, rpoB, oxyR, and IS1081 genes in the detection of MTBC species with reports on variable sensitivities depending on the geographical sourcing of isolates. In the present investigations, we evaluated the sensitivities of these PCR assays on 125 MTBC cultured isolates from five (West, Centre, Littoral, North West and South West) of the ten regions of Cameroon. Of this number, 124 (99.2%), 117 (93.6%), 123 (99.1%), 119 (95.2%) and 118 (94.4%) were positive by the IS6110, hupB, rpoB, oxyR, and IS1081-based PCR assays respectively. A total of 110 (88%) of the cultured isolates were also identified as MTBC by standard biochemical tests. Of this number, 109 (99.1%), 104 (94.5%), 109 (99.1%), 106 (96.4%) and 104 (94.5%) were positive in the IS6110, hupB, rpoB, oxyR, and IS1081-based PCR assays respectively. Concordant PCR results were obtained for 108 of the 125 samples. The 15 isolates that were negative biochemically scored sensitivities ranging from 100% (for the IS6110 assay) to 86.7% (for the hupB and oxyR assay). The combination of the IS6110 assay, which turned out to be the most sensitive, and each of the other assays gave 100% sensitivity. We conclude that the combined targeting of the IS6110 and rpoB genes is likely to yield the most sensitive PCR procedure for the diagnosis of MTBC infection in the five regions of Cameroon. F. Cho-Ngwa et al.

The commonly used probiotics bacteria are lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from gastro intestinal tract. However, other LAB from exogenous origin having similar functional properties may also confer health benefit to the host. Palm wine has been described as a rich source of LAB. But very few studies have investigated their probiotic potential. Twenty LAB were isolated from palm wine collected in the South West Region of Cameroon by pour plate method on MRS agar. These isolates were assessed in vitro for their potential to inhibit the growth of some foodborne pathogens, mainly Salmonella sp. and Escherichia coli using disc diffusion method. Acid and bile tolerance were evaluated by measuring the survival rate of LAB after incubation at pH range from 1.0 to 3.0 and various bile salt concentrations (0.15-0.30%). Only five isolates were selected based on their potential to inhibit food borne pathogens tested and their tolerance in acid and bile. They were identified using API kit 50 CHL BioMerieux as strains of Lactobacillus pentosus, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus brevis. All these strains showed antimicrobial activity against strains of Salmonella sp. and E. coli with diameters of inhibition varying from 12 to 20 mm. Only L. pentosus and L. brevis1 tolerated pH 3.0 (acidic condition of interest) with survival rates of 55 and 69% respectively, while all survived in bile with survival rates above 60%.

Introduction: This study was carried out using a multistage cross sectional study to evaluate the extent of knowledge on HIV/AIDS and its effects on youths in the North West Region of Cameroon.

Introduction: The use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically decreased HIV-associated morbidity and mortality in high-and low-income countries with a corresponding reduction in tuberculosis (TB) incidence. Nevertheless, the risk of TB remains substantially higher in people living with HIV (PLHIV) compared to non-HIV infected individuals. In Cameroon, free ART was introduced in 2007 and our understanding of the possible role of ART in reducing HIV-associated TB remains limited. We assessed TB incidence, mortality and risk factors for TB and mortality among PLHIV treated at Buea Regional Hospital between 2008 and 2014. Materials and Methods: In a retrospective study we reviewed the records of 1,477 HIV patients on ART. The data was entered and analysed using SPSS version 21. Bivariate and Multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to determine the risk factors associated with TB and mortality occurrences at 5% significance level. Results: Of the 1477 patients' records that was reviewed, females (70.7%) constituted a greater proportion. Majority of the participants (60.5%) were between the ages 21-40 years (mean: 37.5 ± 11.5. SD). A total of 209 patients developed TB giving an overall TB incidence density rate 4.25/100PYR (95% CI: 2.47-6.46). There was an increasing trend in the incidence of TB over the years from 1.69 (95% CI: 0.72-1.98) in 2008 to 19.63 (95% CI: 7.36-21.20) in 2014. The overall mortality rate was 12.4% (183/1477) of which 38.8% (71/183) of them were on TB treatment or previously treated for TB. In a multivariate analysis, low CD4 cells level at ART initiation (AOR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.11-.2.10), WHO HIV clinical stage 3 and 4 (AOR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.01-2.22) were significantly associated with increase odds of TB occurrence. Conclusion: Even in the era of HAART, TB still remains a significant cause of mortality among PLHIV and therefore efforts should be scaled-up for early diagnosis and prompt treatment of TB.

Introduction: Neonatal sepsis is a leading cause of mortality in Cameroon. Diagnosis still relies heavily on the detection of C reactive protein (CRP) levels, whereas other biomarkers like interleukin 6 (IL-6), could improve the early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis in comparison to CRP. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and feasibility of IL-6 ELISA as an early diagnostic tool within a Cameroonian context with the hope of its applicability in other poor income settings and in other diseases like COVID-19. Methods: We enrolled thirty-two (32) neonates equally distributed between a septic group (including infants with risk factors and clinical signs of sepsis) and a control group (infants without clinical signs of infections) in the study. We performed Full Blood Count, C-reactive protein and IL-6 ELISA on all blood samples. Thirty-five (35) medical personnel were interviewed in order to assess acceptability, practicality (cost and duration) and a limited-efficacy of IL-6 ELISA testing at the Bafoussam regional Hospital, Cameroon. Results: The mean age of participants was 2.81 days. IL-6 ELSIA showed a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 56.20%, 100%, 100% and 69.56% respectively while CRP was reported to be highly specific (81.25%). Despite a longer testing time of IL-6 ELISA compared to CRP (p = 0.0385), the IL-6 was acceptable (p = 0.008), affordable (p = 0.006) and could be promising for use within this poor setting. Conclusion: Though we did not see a strong correlation between its levels and the apparition of disease, IL-6 ELISA testing was feasible as a highly specific marker for an early diagnosis neonatal sepsis in Bafoussam, and could acceptably be used as an early diagnostic marker for other diseases like COVID-19 within that context.