Seroprevalence of <i>Brucella</i>Antibodies and Risk Factors Associated with Human Brucellosis in High-Risk Occupational Groups of the Noun Division in the West Region of Cameroon

Brucellosis is an anthropozoonotic disease with an important public health impact. Although the transmission of Brucella from animals to humans can occur in different epidemiological settings of sub-Saharan African countries, little data has been published on human brucellosis. This study aimed to detect Brucella antibodies and the risk factors associated to brucellosis among high-risk occupational groups of people in the Noun Division of Cameroon. For this study, a structured questionnaire was used to assess risk factors associated with human brucellosis. Thereafter, blood samples were collected from high-risk occupational groups of people in four villages. Plasma was extracted from each sample and Brucella antibodies were detected using Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (i-ELISA). Of the 273 participants enrolled, the overall seroprevalence of Brucella antibodies was 12.45% with RBPT and 10.26% with i-ELISA test. This seroprevalence was significantly (P = 0.04;X2 = 9.73) higher among livestock herdsmen (15.8%), slaughterhouse workers (9.8%), butchers (4.8%), participants having no educational level (14.3%) and those experiencing above 5 years of risky activity (15%). Raw milk consumption (OR: 4.8;P = 0.001), no formal education (OR: 6.4;P = 0.03) and assistance of animal during parturition (OR: 7.2;P < 0.0001) appeared as factors that may increase the risk of Brucella infections. The detection of Brucella antibodies indicates the risk of human brucellosis in some groups of people of the Noun division. Consuming unpasteurized milk, participating in parturition and lacking knowledge on brucellosis appeared as risk factors associated with human brucellosis in western Cameroon. It raises the need of developing and implementing control measures for human and animal brucellosis.

Antidiabetic potential of methanol extracts from leaves of Piper umbellatum L. and Persea americana Mill.

Objective: To determine inhibitory activity of methanolic leaf extract of Piper umbellatum and Persea americana(P. americana)(traditionally used in Cameroon against diabetes) on β-glucosidase, β-glucosidase, maltase-glucoamylase, aldose reductase and aldehyde reductase activities, enzymes involved in starch digestion or diabetic complications. Methods: The methanol extracts from Piper umbellatum and P. americana were prepared by maceration. To assess relative efficacy of these extracts, the determination of concentrations that were needed to inhibit 50% of enzyme activity was done, whereas, gas chromatography-mass spectrum was used to identify components from extracts that may be responsible for the activities. Results:The tested extracts strongly inhibited β-glucosidase, maltase-glucoamylase, aldose reductase and aldehyde reductase activities with IC50 ranging from(1.07 ± 0.03) to(31.77 ± 1.17) μg/mL.Among the tested extracts, P. americana was the most active against sensitive enzymes(IC50 of1.07 ± 0.03 to 15.63 ± 1.23). But, none of the extracts showed interesting inhibitory effect against β-glucosidase as their percentage inhibitions were less than 16%. From gas chromatographymass spectrum analysis, 10 and 8 compounds were identified in Piper umbellatum and P.americana extracts respectively, using NIST library 2014. Conclusions: Results of this study provide the scientific credential for a prospective usage of these plants to treat diabetes.

Follow Up of Hypertensive Patients at Regional Hospital of Bafoussam, West Cameroon: Biochemical Profiles in Naive and Hypotensive Drug Treated Patients

Objective: The aim of this work was to study the effects of antihypertensive therapies on certain metabolic parameters in hypertensive patients. Methods: A cross-sectional and analytical study conducted within the Bafoussam Re-gional Hospital on 343 patients including 99 normotensives and 244 hyperten-sives distributed in 71 patients naive to treatment and 173 patients under treatment (84 under monotherapy, 67 under bitherapy and 21 under trithera-py). The antihypertensive medications were recorded from the medical records. A questionnaire survey was administered to study participants and potential risk factors for hypertension sought. Blood and urine samples were collected for lipid, renal and hepatic disorder analysis. Two blood pressure measure-ments enabled us to diagnose hypertensive patients. Measurements of bio-chemical parameters such as total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), potassium, chloride and calcium were done in serum by methods resulting from commercial kits. Results: Cal-cium Channel Blockers were significantly associated with increases in blood potassium (odd-ratios (OR) = 8.63, p = 0.036) and sodium (OR = 0.20, p = 0.037). Angiotensin-converting enzyme/Angiotensin II receptor blockers were significantly associated with an increase in plasma activity of ASAT (OR = 0.12, p = 0.03) whereas Diuretics were significantly associated with an increase in ALAT plasma activity (OR = 0.003, p = 0.012). Dual therapies were associ-ated with highest frequencies of hypercreatininemia (41.8%) and hyperglyce-mia (44.8%) whereas hypocholesterolemia HDL (38.1%) was most observed in hypertensive patients on triple therapy. The different therapies resulted in very low frequencies of abnormal liver profiles (in general almost all below 10%). Tritherapy had the most beneficial effects on the different profiles, with no cases of hyperkalemia, glycosuria, hypochloremia, hematuria, hyponatremia, total hypercholesterolemia, ALAT and ASAT hyperactivity. Conclusion: Triple therapy should be recommended as it has the most beneficial effects on met-abolic parameters in the study population.