Stratification of the Degree of Hepatic Involvement in HIV-HCV Coinfection Using Two Biomarkers: APRI and FIB-4

Hepatitis C infection in people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) poses management challenges. Of the world’s population, 3% are estimated to have chronic Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection, which is responsible for about 70% of cases of chronic hepatitis (accelerated chronicity in the presence of HIV and for such major complications as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The fibrosis 4 (FIB-4) and Aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index (APRI) scores are simple, inexpensive tests accessible to most people, and their performance has not yet been studied in C?te d’Ivoire. Objective: To prospectively evaluate the diagnostic performance of APRI and FIB-4 scores in liver damage in those co-infected with HIV/HCV in C?te d’Ivoire. Methods: This study was conducted over three months. The patients came from national blood transfusion center of the cities of Man and Daloa. The criteria for selecting respondents were at least 18 years of age and a positive test for HIV and HCV. APRI and FIB-4 scores were calculated for each patient from biological data obtained by COBAS C311 (Roche Hitachi, Japan). Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad and MED-CALC software. Results: Our study involved 30 patients (men) of middle age (25 - 52 years), with extremes ranging from 0.67 to 8 for APRI and 0.201 to 22 for FIB-4. A predictive APRI and FIB4 score of significant hepatic fibrosis was observed in 23% of patients;however, 46% and 54% of patients for the APRI and FIB-4 score, respectively, would not have significant fibrosis. An APRI and FIB4 score not included in the classification limits of the type of fibrosis hepatitis was observed in 31% and 23% of patients, respectively. Conclusion: The performance of the APRI and FIB-4 biological scores analyzed according to the interpretation of their cut-off values would enable classifying about 70% and 77%, respectively, of the patient population in the stages of hepatitis C fibrosis.

The Institut Pasteur of Côte D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in the Emergency Management of Air Travellers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Unique Experience in Supporting the Response Strategy in Côte D’Ivoire from 2021 to 2022

Since its outbreak in December 2019 in Wuhan Province (China), the Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease quickly spread around the world in such a way that most response plans were outdated. There was an urgent need to change and adapt response strategies as the virus globally spread. Entire firms and economies were brought to a standstill in order to reduce the virus’ capacity to spread and to limit some of the short-term impacts in order to save time and find out solutions to come back to a more or less normal way of life. Thus, most of the countries that closed their air, sea and land borders had to reopen them progressively, with travel restrictions submitted to rigid controls. In Côte d’Ivoire, as in all other countries, air travellers leaving the territory were required to provide a certificate for a negative COVID-19 test, valid for 24 to 72 hours depending on the country of destination. However, the national system implemented could not provide a result before 48 hours. The objective of this work was to develop an alternative strategy to the system for air travellers who were in a hurry and those who had a computer bug in obtaining their result. A total of 38,444 air travellers benefited from this strategy implemented by the Institut Pasteur de Côte d’Ivoire during these two years.

Digestive fungal flora in asymptomatic subjects in Bobo-Dioulasso,Burkina Faso

Objective::To identify Candida species in asymptomatic subjects in Bobo-Dioulasso(Burkina Faso) by the matrix—assisted laser desortption ionization—time of flight mass spectrometry.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to February 2013 in BohoDioulasso to coiled fecal and urine specimens from voluntary donors.Fungal strains were isolated on Sabouraud dextrose agar and analyzed using matrix—assisted laser desorption ionisation—time-of—flight mass spectrometry.Results:A total of 135 samples including stools(78.5%,106/135) and urine(21.5%,29/135) were analyzed.The results revealed that fecal specimens contained mainly Candida krusei(C.krusei)(42.5%) followed by Candida albicans(29.3%),Candida glabrata(18.0%) and Candida tropicalis(C.tropicalis)(4.7%).C.krusei(34.6%) was also found to be the most frequently identified in urine samples followed by Candida albicans(27.0%).C.tropicalis(15.4%) and Candida parapsilosis,However,uncommon species such as Candida nivariensis.Candida kefyr.Candida norvegensis,Candida parapsilosis.Candida lusitaniae and Candida robusta were also identified from fecal and urines samples.Conclusions:This study noted the emergence of species such as C.krusei,Candida glabrata,Candida parapsiolosis,C.tropicalis,Candida nivariensis,Candida norvegensis,and others.It is an imperative to take into account the existence of these species in the therapeutic management of patients in Bobo—Dioulasso.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection Is Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency in Côte d’Ivoire

In 2019, the coronavirus pandemic broke out as a serious public health issue worldwide. In Côte d’Ivoire, the number of cases of COVID-19 has increased rapidly. The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome virus (SARS-CoV-2) binds to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors in the respiratory tracts and enters the respiratory and alveolar cells of infected patients. Deficiency of fat-soluble vitamin D3 is associated with respiratory distress syndrome and pulmonary fibrosis by activation of the renin-angiotensin system. In Côte d’Ivoire, very little research is being done on SARS-CoV-2 and vitamin D. The objective of this study was to assess the vitamin D status of people infected and suffering from COVID-19 in order to contribute to their medical treatment. The study involved 100 adults infected with SARS-CoV-2 (24 women and 76 men). After confirmation of the patient’s SARS-CoV-2 status by RT-PCR, the 25 (OH) vitamin D assay was performed on the Cobas 6000 device and compared to control subjects, the non-COVID-19 positive. A significant decrease in 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 concentrations (44 ± 1.29 nmole/L) was observed in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, compared to control (78 ± 0.68 nmole/L) (p < 0.0001). The 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 deficiency requires vitamin D supplementation in the management of hospitalized patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.