Molecular surveillance of hepatitis E virus in wastewater in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic pathogen mainly transmitted through contaminated food or water in sub-Saharan countries, highlighting the need for environmental surveillance. This study aimed to assess the burden and molecular characterization of HEV in environmental wastewater.

Method: A community-based surveillance was conducted in Yaoundé, Cameroon, using untreated wastewater samples collected monthly from January to December 2023 from hospitals, residential sewage systems, markets, and plant watering points.

Comparison of two polymerase chain reaction assays, DaAn Gene (DaAn Gene 2019-ncov) and Cepheid (Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2) for Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 detection in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Background: New severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants may affect diagnostic test accuracy.

Aim: To evaluate the performance of two reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays, DaAn Gene and Cepheid, for detecting Delta and Omicron variants.

Setting: Nasopharyngeal samples were collected in Yaoundé, Cameroon, between October 2021 and December 2022.

First molecular detection of five gastroenteritis viruses in untreated wastewater and impact of seasonal change on their distribution in Cameroon.

Background: Wastewater-based epidemiology has emerged as a valuable tool for surveilling food- and waterborne disease outbreaks. However, wastewater-based epidemiology remains poorly understood in sub-Saharan Africa. The current study investigated the prevalence of five human enteric viruses and the effect of seasonality on their distribution.

Prevalence, Molecular Characterization, and Immune Status Response of Hepatitis B Virus Among Healthcare Workers in Yaoundé General Hospital, Cameroon, During May to June 2024: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is preventable through vaccination. However, healthcare workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of HBV transmission due to occupational exposure.

Aims: This study investigates the prevalence of HBV markers of exposure and infection, HBV genotypes, and immunity among HCWs at Yaoundé General Hospital.

In silico and in vitro screening of licensed antimalarial drugs for repurposing as inhibitors of hepatitis E virus.

Abstract: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is emerging in Cameroon and represents one of the most common causes of acute hepatitis and jaundice. Moreover, earlier reports showed evidence of falciparum malaria/HEVcoexistence. Although the Sofosbuvir/Ribavirin combination was recently proposed in the treatment of HEV-infected patients, no specific antiviral drug has been approved so far, thereby urging the search for new therapies.

Enrichment in selected genotypes, basal core and precore mutations of hepatitis B virus in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in Cameroon.

Worldwide, the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is known to be influenced by several hepatitis B viral factors. However, the effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes and a landscape of nucleotide changes affecting the precore (PC) and basal core promoter (BCP) during infection leading to HCC remain largely unknown in the Central Africa region. Thus, we performed a case-control study on patients with HBV-related HCC and matched controls without HCC but with chronic HBV infection.

Dichotomous associations of liver pathology with hepatocellular carcinoma morphology in Middle Africa: the situation in Cameroon.

Objective: This study evaluates the occurrence of the various morphological subtypes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their connections with some risk factors in Cameroonian patients. The database of the 360 liver biopsies received and associated medical records were reviewed for histological and demographic analysis. Archival formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded liver biopsy specimens or slide were re-evaluated in malignancies patients.

A prominent role of Hepatitis D Virus in liver cancers documented in Central Africa.

Background: Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is one of the commonest cancers in Central Africa, a region with the unusual peculiarity to be hyperendemic for infections with Hepatitis B, C and D viruses. However, data estimating the respective proportions of HCC cases attributable to these viruses are still limited in this area. The current study was undertaken to determine the role of these viruses in HCC compared to non-HCC Cameroonian patients.