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(China), the Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease quickly spread around the world in such a way that most response plans were outdated.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.

Analysis of malaria diagnosis discrepancies between RDTs and microscopy by nested PCR

A total of 415 samples from febrile children exhibiting either concordant (n = 108) or discordant (n = 307) results between microscopy, the gold standard diagnostic test, and two Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs), OptiMAL-IT?(pLDH) and Acon?HRP2, were analysed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from May to December 2011 in Gabon. The aim of the study was to analyse these discrepancies using poly-merase chain reaction (PCR). Nested PCR targeting the Plasmodium ssrRNA gene was used to distinguish P. falciparum, P. malariae and P. ovale. Plasmodium falciparum was the only malaria species identified. Discrepancies frequently involved samples that were negative by microscopy and positive by Acon?HRP2 (90%) or Optimal-it?(86%). The PCR assay detected submicroscopic infection in almost 23% of the microscopy-negative samples, whereas plasmodial DNA was not found in 77% of the Acon?HRP2 positive-microscopy negative samples. Although results obtained with Optimal-it? were more frequently concordant with those of PCR genotyping, the low specificity of Optimal-iT?for non-falciparum malaria parasite detection resulted in a high proportion of false negative RDTs (90%) and a high frequency of tests with faint line intensity. The present study highlights the specific attributes of the different methods used to identify malaria parasite below the microscopy level of detection. RDT results that were discordant with either microscopy or PCR as the gold standard could represent a challenge for rapid, accurate fever case management in malaria endemic areas. It is necessary to pursue the development of more precise and more sensitive point-of-care diagnostic tools for malaria.

Assessment of HRP2-Based RDT in Diagnosing Malaria Cases

Background： HRP2-based Rapid Diagnostic Tests （RDTs） for malaria ensure a rational use of artemisinin-based combination therapy （ACT）. The HRP2 antigen can go through the cerebrospinal fluid （CSF）. Purpose： To assess the HRP2-based RDT in malaria and detect the HRP2 in CSF. Methods： From November 2006 to May 2007, all patients under 15 years showing clinical symptoms of malaria were included. RDT was performed on the CSF and peripheral blood. Results： Out of the 951 patients included, 131 （13.7%） were confirmed through RDT and 130 （13.6%） through thick blood smear. Sensitivity and specificity stood at 96.96% and 99.71% respectively, for uncomplicated cases and at 100% and 99.13% for severe cases. Tests to detect HRP2 in the CSF of 52 cases were negative. Conclusion： Tests to detect HRP2 in the CSF could make it possible to diagnose severe malaria cases when peripheral parasitemia would be below the detection threshold.

Contribution of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Human Development of Young Researchers at Institut Pasteur de Côte d’Ivoire

The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has compelled Institut Pasteur de Cote d’Ivoire (IPCI) to set up strategies for an outstanding mobilisation of human resources to fight against it. Among these strategies, we can quote the screening of people requesting COVID-19 tests at IPCI for emergency travel after the lifting of flight restrictions. Newly recruited Young researchers at IPCI, as well as Ph.D. students and trainees, were mobilised. This document describes firstly, the benefits, knowledge acquired, and difficulties encountered, and secondly, recommendations to be followed for a future large-scale epidemic. This study helped to outline some achievements, such as upgrading the talents of young researchers, strong collaboration between young researchers from different fields, and between IPCI and other institutions. The lessons learned are numerous, including mood and stress management. The difficulties encountered during this study are mainly misunderstandings, increased workload, and insufficient awareness of COVID-19 travel test procedures. These results are relevant for a possible pandemic management in our country, as well as in other African countries.

Prevalence of and risk factors for malaria,filariasis,and intestinal parasites as single infections or co-infections in different settlements of Gabon,Central Africa

Background:Malaria,filariasis,and intestinal parasitic infections(IPIs)are common and frequently overlap in developing countries.The prevalence and predictors of these infections were investigated in three different settlements(rural,semi-urban,and urban)of Gabon.Methods:During cross-sectional surveys performed from September 2013 to June 2014,451 individuals were interviewed.In addition,blood and stool samples were analysed for the presence of Plasmodium,filarial roundworm,intestinal protozoan,and helminth infections.Results:Intestinal parasitic infections(61.1%),including intestinal protozoa(56.7%)and soil-transmitted helminths(STHs)(22.2%),predominated,whereas Plasmodium falciparum(18.8%),Loa loa(4.7%),and Mansonella perstans(1.1%)were less prevalent.Filariasis and STHs were mainly found in rural settlements,whereas a higher plasmodial infection prevalence rate was observed in the periurban area.The most common IPI was blastocystosis(48.6%),followed by ascaridiasis(13.7%),trichuriasis(11.8%),amoebiasis(9.3%),giardiasis(4.8%),and strongyloidiasis(3.7%).Hookworm was detected in one adult from rural Dienga.Adults had a higher prevalence of Blastocystis hominis and STHs,whereas Giardia duodenalis was more frequently observed among children aged below 5 years(P<0.01).The polyparasitism rate was 41.5%,with 7.0%Plasmodium-IPIs and 1.8%Plasmodium-STH co-infections.The multivariate analysis showed that living in a suburban area,belonging to the age group of 5-15 years,having none or a secondary education,or having an open body water close to home were significant risk factors for malaria(P≤0.01).For STH infections,identified risk factors were drinking untreated water and living in a rural area(P≤0.04).No significant predictors were identified for IPIs and malaria-IPI co-infection.Conclusions:This study reports a high prevalence of IPIs and intestinal protozoa,but a low rate of malaria-IPI co-infections in the study sites.Improvements in the living conditions of the population such as adequate water supply and proper health education and sanitation should be integrated into control strategies for malaria,STHs,and IPIs.

Correction to:prevalence of and risk factors for malaria,filariasis,and intestinal parasites as single infections or co-infections in different settlements of Gabon,Central Africa

Correction Unfortunately,the original article[1]contained some errors.The table title of Tables 4,5,6,7 were interchanged by mistake and displayed incorrectly in the article.The correct table titles of Tables 4,5,6,7 can be found below.Table 4:Distribution of intestinal parasite species,according to the age.Table 5:Risk factors for P.falciparum infection.Table 6:Risk factors for IPIs.Table 7:Risk factors for polyparasitism(bivariate analysis).