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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

[Animal reservoir hosts of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in Zaire: trypanosome infections in two foci in Bas-Zaire].

The prevalence of Trypanosoma spp. infections in domestic animals was estimated in a forest (Boma) and a savanna (Kimpese) sleeping focus in Bas-Zaire. The miniature anion-exchange centrifugation technique was used to determine the infection rates with T. congolense, T. vivax and T. brucei spp. in 505 animals. T. congolense predominated in both foci with the highest prevalence in pigs (76.2%), followed by sheep (31.3%), dogs (30.6%) and goats (7.4%). T. vivax was seen only on two occasions. In the forest zone, T. brucei spp. infections were frequent (pigs 16.5%, sheep 6.2%, dogs 3.4%, goats 1.1%) in contrast to the savanna area where only one T. brucei spp. infection was diagnosed. Twenty five primary isolations of T. brucei were done using different isolation and stabilization approaches. Isolates and stocks await behavioural, biochemical and molecular biological identification to discriminate T. b. brucei and T. b. gambiense of domestic animal origin.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

[Clinical results of the treatment with ketotifen in asthmatic children in Zaire. Apropos of 36 cases followed at university clinics in Kinshasa (Zaire)].

The results obtained with Ketotifen in 36 asthmatic children followed up during 12 months in the paediatrics department of the University Clinic of Kinshasa are reported. Ketotifen gave good to excellent results in more than 90% of the cases and was perfectly well tolerated. Following the improvement in general health consecutive to treatment, 28% of the patients with initial weight deficit reported some weight gain. However, the high price of Ketotifen is a limiting factor to its wide prescription and use in a developing country.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1997

Selenium status in pregnant women of a rural population (Zaire) in relationship to iodine deficiency.

Endemic myxoedematous cretinism has been associated with combined selenium and iodine deficiency in several areas of Zaire. To determine selenium and iodine status across the country, serum selenium and thyroid function parameters including urinary iodide were determined at prenatal clinics in 30 health centres of rural villages distributed over the whole country. Only in Bas-Zaire was the mean serum selenium level similar to that in non-deficient areas (80-120 ng/ml); in the regions of Bandunda and Kasai levels were marginally decreased (55-80 ng/ml), and in Kivu, Haut-Zaire, Equateur and Shaba they were marginally or moderately decreased (< 55 ng/ml). The frequency of abnormally low urinary iodide (< 5 micrograms/dl) varied from 20% in the region of Bas-Zaire to 50% in Kasai (P < 0.001), and to still higher percentages in the 5 other regions of Zaire (Bandundu, 57%; Kivu, 63%; Equateur, 72%; Shaba, 76%; Haut-Zaire, 84%). With the exception of Bas-Zaire, biochemical maternal hypothyroidism (serum TSH > 5mU/l) was present in every region, with a frequency ranging from 3% in Kivu to 12% in Equateur. Iodine deficiency affects most of the Zairean population and requires public health measures on a larger scale than previously estimated. Combined iodine and selenium deficiency affects Equateur, Haut-Zaire and Kivu, where endemic myxoedematous cretinism occurs, but also Shaba, where it was not previously described. Besides combined iodine and selenium deficiency which is permissive, another factor (thiocyanate?) must be taken into account to explain the peculiarly elevated prevalence of endemic myxoedematous cretinism in Central Africa.

Congenital Hypothyroidism↗
PubMed1991

Human immunodeficiency virus infection among Peace Corps volunteers in Zaire. No evidence for unusual modes of transmission.

A prospective study of US Peace Corps volunteers (PCVs) serving in Zaire, central Africa, was undertaken to determine the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus infection in an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-aware expatriate population living in an area of high endemicity for both diseases. Of the 338 PCVs who served in Zaire between October 1985 and May 1988, 282 (83%) were enrolled, representing 7776 volunteer-months of service. Analyses of serum samples for HIV and hepatitis B virus were performed on enrollment and at completion of service. All PCVs received extensive education and counseling regarding HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome throughout their stay in Zaire. There were no documented seroconversions to HIV among 282 PCVs who lived in Zaire for periods ranging from 1 to 81 months, with a mean length of stay of 27.4 months. Of the 14 (6.2%) of 226 PCVs tested who had at least one positive serologic marker for infection with hepatitis B virus, none was documented to have seroconverted during service. During the study period, the rate of all sexually transmitted diseases among PCVs in Africa decreased from 131 to 68 per 1000 study population per year, and there were 52 cases of confirmed malaria among volunteers in Zaire. These data suggest that the risk of acquiring infection with HIV or hepatitis B virus in PCVs in Zaire is very low, and there is no evidence for unusual modes of transmission.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Isolation of Mycobacterium avium complex from water in the United States, Finland, Zaire, and Kenya.

Disseminated infection with organisms of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is a common complication of AIDS in the United States and other developing countries, but it is rare or absent in sub-Saharan Africa. To assess the comparative likelihood of exposure to MAC in these geographic areas, we used a standard protocol to culture 91 water samples from environmental sites and piped water supply systems in the United States, Finland, Zaire, and Kenya. MAC was isolated from all geographic areas and from 22 of 91 (24%) samples. Isolation rates were 13 of 47 (28%) for environmental samples and 9 of 44 (20%) for water supply samples. Overall isolation rates were 18 of 52 (35%) samples in the United States and Finland, whereas they were 4 of 39 (10%) samples in Zaire and Kenya (P = 0.015). MAC isolation rates from water supply systems were 8 of 25 (32%) samples in the United States and Finland and 1 of 19 (5%) samples in Zaire and Kenya (P = 0.056). MAC was isolated from hospital water in the United States and Finland but not in hospital water in Zaire and Kenya. Serovar determinations showed that six of eight isolates from the United States were serovar 4 or 8. One MAC isolate from Zaire was identified as an "X" mycobacterium. These data suggest that exposure to MAC in water is likely in diverse areas of the world, but that the likelihood of human exposure to the organism in water may be slightly less in sub-Saharan Africa than in developed countries in the Northern Hemisphere.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1994

Community-based hygiene education to reduce diarrhoeal disease in rural Zaire: impact of the intervention on diarrhoeal morbidity.

BACKGROUND: Diarrhoeal disease is a leading cause of morbidity in young children in rural Zaire. Few diarrhoea prevention programmes have been implemented in Bandundu Province, where available data suggest an annual prevalence rate of 10%. The urgent need to reduce diarrhoeal morbidity in Zaire, together with the potential effectiveness and feasibility of hygiene education as a diarrhoea prevention strategy, led to the development of the present research project. METHODS: A randomized, controlled trial of an education intervention to reduce diarrhoea through improved personal and domestic hygiene behaviours was conducted in 18 geographically separate village clusters (sites) in rural Zaire. For 12 weeks baseline information on the diarrhoeal morbidity of 2082 children aged 3-35 months was collected at weekly home visits, and structured observations of hygiene practices related to diarrhoea were made on a subset of 300 families. Intervention messages addressed disposal of animal faeces from the yard, handwashing after defecation and before meal preparation and eating, and disposal of children's faeces. Three months after the start of the intervention and exactly 1 year after the baseline studies, a second diarrhoeal morbidity study and a second observational study were conducted in order to evaluate the intervention. RESULTS: Children in intervention communities experienced an 11% reduction in the risk of reporting diarrhoea during the peak diarrhoeal season, compared to controls (P < 0.025). The largest differences were seen among children aged 24-35 months, with those from intervention communities reporting significantly fewer episodes, shorter mean durations and hence fewer days of diarrhoea. There was some evidence that greater reductions in diarrhoea occurred in sites where the quality of the intervention, a scored measure of volunteer efficacy and community participation, was highest. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that hygiene education may be an effective approach to reduce the incidence and duration of diarrhoeal episodes in rural Zaire. Children aged 2 years appear to benefit the most. A Hawthorne effect of the education may contribute to diarrhoeal reductions.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Health care organization and health in a region of Zaire].

Kampene is a roughly 10,000 inhabitants village in Kivu, eastern region of Republic of Zaire. The equatorial rainforest in river Zaire basin surrounds it, far from the main and most crowded roads. Climate is warm and wet, rainfalls constant throughout ten months a years. Eighty seven per cent of the population of Kampene and of its administrative district (around 100,000 inhabitants) work in agriculture. Most of the remainder gets by on mineral search and mining (tin, cassiterite, gold). Health facilities and their organisation should be set up as according to Zaire Health Planning, worked out of 1977 Alma Ata Conference's guidelines on Primary Health Care, but actually they are hard to be implemented because of the wide territory, of the scattered settlements to be served, because of infrastructure and funds shortages. High children death ratio (roughly from 104 to 200/1000 altogether, short mean lifetimes and generally morbidity are caused by: parasitoses (malaria, filariasis, gut worms, bilharziosis, amebiasis), bacterial infections (breast feeding babies' toxic enteritis, tuberculosis, salmonellosis, shigellosis, gonococcosis, tetanus, epidemic meningitis), viral diseases (measles, poliomyelitis, virus B hepatitis, AIDS), protein-energy malnutrition, obstetric pathology (uterus fractures, ectopic pregnancy, obstructed labour). The management of Kampene Hospital is taken over by a Zaire-Italian team, according to the "Progetto Socio-Sanitario a Kampene", project carried out by Centro Volontari Marchigiani, a not-governmental organisation recognized and financed by Italian Foreign Office. The utilization of Kampene hospital wards has been investigated throughout 20 months (since 1/1/1986 to 31/8/1987) by working some parameters out: numbers of admissions, numbers of hospital days, man length of stay, bed occupancy rate, turnover index for bed. The utilisation of outpatient clinic has been investigated by means of the number of outpatients and outpatients per health operator ratio. Moreover the death rate for each ward has been appraised. These data show that wards and outpatient clinics are largely utilized; but a better redistribution of beds from Gynecology to Medicine and Pediatrics wards is suggested. The importance of a steady health team on the run stands out. Moreover the data stress the high death rates both of measles epidemics and protein-energy malnutrition (21.4% so far). In conclusion mother-child clinic is not yet satisfactory and should be better developed; protein-energy malnutrition urges food supply and deeper food consumption education projects to be supported.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

Historical review of the changing pattern of infant feeding in developing countries: the case of Malaysia, the Caribbean, Nigeria and Zaire.

Prolonged lactation and early supplementation have been traditional practices among low-income mothers in Malaysia, the Caribbean, Nigeria and Zaire. Early supplementation is still the norm but there have been some substantial changes in the types of supplement offered. Thus, except in Zaire, there is now widespread use of processed milks as supplements for very young infants. The use of processed milks began in the 1920s in Malaysia and the Caribbean, but not until the 1960s in Nigeria. Processed milks are, as yet, rarely used in Zaire. The use of processed milks has not, however, led to the abandonment of traditional paps. The latter are still given as supplements to young infants in Nigeria and to older infants in Malaysia and the Caribbean. Breast-feeding duration has declined in Malaysia and the Caribbean although initiation is almost universal. In Nigeria and Zaire most low-income mothers continue to breast-feed for at least 12 months. The changes in the types of supplements used and in breast-feeding duration are analogous to the changes observed in industrialised countries from the mid-19th century, and many of the associated factors are similar: urbanisation; female participation in the labour force; increased availability of processed milks and their promotion both by companies and the health sector; and the regimentation of breast-feeding. This review highlights the negative role played by the health sector in the past, and discusses its future role in promoting and supporting breast-feeding.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1979

Studies of the relationship between Schistosoma and their intermediate hosts. III. The genus Biomphalaria and Schistosoma mansoni from Egypt, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda, West Indies (St. Lucia) and Zaire (two different strains: Katanga and Kinshasa).

The compatibility between strains of Schistosoma mansoni from Egypt, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda, the West Indies, and Zaire (two strains which came from Katanga and from Kinshasa), and various species and strains of Biomphalaria, i.e. Biomphalaria pfeifferi, B. alexandrina, B. glabrata and B. camerunensis was investigated. Data as mortality, rate of infection of the surviving snails, duration of infection, cercarial production per day per positive snail, etc., were observed. The main emphasis was placed on determining the total cercarial production per 100 exposed snails for each snail population. It was possible to infect all the tested populations of B pfeifferi with the various strains of S. mansoni, but the observation as e.g. TCP/100 exposed snails varied greatly according to the population of snail and the strain of S. mansoni. The results for the remaining species of Biomphalaria varied greatly, depending on the combination, e.g. B. alexandrina was only susceptible to the local S. mansoni from Egypt. The highest TCP/100 exposed snails was more than 1 million for the strains of S. mansoni from Egypt, Kenya and the West Indies in B. alexandrina, B. pfeifferi and B. glabrata, respectively. The next group, with a TCP/100 exposed snails on 7--800 000 consists of S. mansoni from Sudan, Uganda and Zaire (Katanga) all in B. pfeifferi. The last tested strain of S. mansoni, Zaire (Kinshasa) yielded a cercarial production on 500 000 per 100 exposed snails in B. pfeifferi and B. camerunensis. The shortest prepatent period, 19 days, was observed for S. mansoni from Kinshasa, Zaire, in B. camerunensis, and the longest prepatent period, 25 days, was found for strains from Egypt and from the West Indies in B. alexandrina and B. glabrata, respectively. In general, a very long duration of infection, lasting up to 200 days, was observed.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Malignant tumors in children of northeastern Zaire. A comparison of distribution patterns.

In an effort to better understand the epidemiology of cancer in Zaire, a retrospective review of biopsy-proven malignant tumors was undertaken. Of 188 biopsies taken from children aged 0-15 years over a 4.5 year period, 73 (39%) revealed malignancy. Fifty-six percent of patients with malignant tumors were boys. Lymphoma was the most common tumor (28 patients, 15 with Burkitt's Lymphoma). Sarcoma (15 patients), carcinoma (8 patients), Wilms' Tumor (6 patients), and retinoblastoma (5 patients) were also seen. Lymphomas were most heavily represented in the first 5 years of life, while sarcoma and carcinoma accounted for most of the malignancies in children after 10 years of age. Lymphomas and sarcomas are relatively more common in Zaire than in North America and Europe, while leukemia and central nervous system tumors are notably less common in Zaire. In view of current limitations on health care in rural Zaire, cancer care should be directed toward early diagnosis, quick referral for appropriate surgical care, and use of the limited arsenal of chemotherapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Emergence of subtype Zaire Ebola virus in Gabon.

Gabon has recently been struck three times by Ebola hemorrhagic fever. The first isolate originating from the 1994 outbreak has been subjected to molecular characterization of its GP and VP24 genes. Sequence analysis demonstrates that the agent, Gabon-94 virus, belongs to subtype Zaire of Ebola virus. The isolate is closely related to the Kikwit-95 isolate, and both viruses seem to have evolved from a progenitor virus different from that of the Zaire-76 isolates. The relatively close relationship of all subtype Zaire viruses isolated at different geographical locations and up to 20 years apart suggests an extreme conservation in the yet unknown natural reservoir of Ebola viruses. The level of genetic variability in the human host might be different as indicated by the comparison of isolates from a single outbreak (Mayinga-76 and Eckron-76), but needs further investigation on clinical material of patients by PCR since both isolates have different levels of passages in tissue culture.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Computer simulations of proteolysis of Marburg and Ebola-Zaire filovirus coded proteins to generate nonapeptides with motifs of known HLA class I haplotypes and detection of antigenic domains in the viral glycoproteins.

The primary amino acid sequences of the proteins coded by Marburg and Ebola-Zaire filoviruses were studied by computer programs to search for putative proteolytic cleavages which yield nonapeptides with motifs of binding to known HLA class I haplotypes. The computer analyses predicted that numerous nonapeptides with motifs to bind HLA class I A68 and A2 haplotypes were detected. A few nonapeptides with motifs HLA class I A24, B8, B27 and B35 were predicted in Marburg virus proteins. A similar finding is reported for Ebola-Zaire viral proteins (the viral polymerase was not studied). The search for antigenic domains that may induce the humoral immune response in the viral glycoproteins was based on computer analyses of the physical properties and antigenicity predictions of amino acids in certain domains of the primary amino acid sequences. Twelve putative antigenic domains were detected in Marburg virus glycoprotein and 11 putative antigenic domains in Ebola-Zaire virus glycoprotein. Despite the marked differences in the primary amino acid sequences in the putative antigenic domains of the two viral glycoproteins, 8 antigenic domains were found to have similar locations in the viral glycoproteins of the two viruses. Each pair of antigenic domains resemble each other in the physical properties of the amino acids that are different. These computer analyses may provide an approach to developing synthetic peptides capable of induction of both the cellular and humoral responses to protect against infection with Marburg or Ebola viruses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Use of a urea breath test versus invasive methods to determine the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in Zaire.

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Zaire was determined by means of a [14C] urea breath test in 133 asymptomatic subjects, by culture and histological examination of biopsies in 324 consecutive endoscopy patients with chronic epigastric complaints, and by both the breath test and culture/histology in a subset of 92 patients. Sixty healthy Belgian students or hospital laboratory workers were also included for comparison. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori was significantly higher in asymptomatic Zairian subjects (77.4%) than in the Belgians (30%; p less than 10(-6)). Infection was also acquired much earlier in life in Africans, 66% of the children aged 5 to 9 years already being infected versus none of the Belgian subjects below the age of 20 years. In Zaire, however, the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in patients with gastroduodenal disorders (87.5%) was similar to that in the group of asymptomatic subjects (77.5%) after adjustment for age and other epidemiological parameters (gender, place of residency, education level, smoking and drinking habits) in a multivariate analysis. The high rate of acquisition of Helicobacter pylori infection in Zaire emphasizes the need to consider the baseline prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in a defined population when studying its association with various diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Studies of the relationships between Schistosoma and their intermediate hosts. II. The genus Bulinus and Schistosoma haematobium from Sudan, Zaire and Zambia.

The relationship between Schistosoma haematobium from Sudan, Zaire and Zambia and various species and strains of Bulinus, has been investigated. The main emphasis was placed on evaluating the total cercarial production per 100 exposed snails as an index of the compatibility between snail and schistosome. The observations confirmed the results of previous compatibility studies which showed that there were two groups of S. haematobium, truncatus-borne from Sudan and Zaire, and africanus-borne, from Zambia. They also revealed that this division was not absolute, as some overlapping occurred. However, if the cercarial production was taken as an indication of compatibility, instead of the infection rate, there was a more definite division between the two groups. The observation that there is a truncatus-borne strain of S. haematobium present in Zaire extends the area where there is a mixture of truncatus- and africanus-borne strains farther southwards.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mortality and morbidity among Rwandan refugees repatriated from Zaire, November, 1996.

INTRODUCTION: Following renewed ethnic violence at the end of September 1996, conflict between Tutsi rebels and the Zairian army spread to North Kivu, Zaire where approximately 700,000 Rwandan Hutu refugees resided following the 1994 genocide. After a major rebel offensive against the camps' militia groups on 15 November, a massive movement of refugees towards Rwanda through Goma town, the capital of North Kivu, began. Massive population movements such as this are likely to be associated with substantial mortality and morbidity. OBJECTIVE: To study patterns of mortality, morbidity, and health care associated with the Rwandan refugee population repatriation during November 1996. METHODS: This study observed the functioning of the health-care facilities in the Gisenyi District in Rwanda and the Goma District in Zaire, and surveyed mortality and morbidity among Rwandan refugees returning from Zaire to Rwanda. Patterns of mortality, morbidity, and health care were measured mainly by mortality and health centre consultation rates. RESULTS: Between 15 and 21 November 1996, 553,000 refugees returned to Rwanda and 4,530 (8.2/1,000 refugees) consultations took place at the border dispensary (watery diarrhea, 63%; bloody diarrhea, 1%). There were 129 (0.2/1,000) surgical admissions (72% soft tissue trauma) to the Gisenyi hospital in the subsequent two weeks. The average number of consultations from the 13 health centres during the same period was 500/day. Overall, the recorded death rate was 0.5/10,000 (all associated with diarrhea). A total of 3,586 bodies were identified in the refugee camps and surrounding areas of Goma, almost all the result of trauma. Many had died in the weeks before the exodus. Health centres were overwhelmed and many of the deficiencies in provision of health care identified in 1994 again were evident. CONCLUSIONS: Non-violent death rates were low, a reflection of the population's health status prior to migration and immunity acquired from the 1994 cholera outbreak. Health facilities were over stretched, principally because of depleted numbers of local, health-care workers associated with the 1994 genocide. Health-care facilities running parallel to the existing health-care system functioned most effectively.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Interactions between Schistosoma intercalatum (Zaire strain) and S. mansoni.

Schistosoma mansoni and S. intercalatum, two schistosomes from different evolutionary lineages, are parasitic in humans and therefore able to co-infect the same host where they occur sympatrically in Africa. Previous studies of mating interactions between these species in mice, using the Lower Guinea strain of S. intercalatum, have demonstrated the competitive dominance of S. mansoni over S. intercalatum in terms of pairing ability, which is potentially an important mechanism restricting the distribution of S. intercalatum in Africa. The study presented here examines the mating interactions in mice between S. mansoni and the Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo) strain of S. intercalatum, which differs from the Lower Guinea strain in many biological characteristics. Analysis of the data showed a preponderance of intraspecific pairs over interspecific, demonstrating a specific mate preference system for both species. Mating competition between these species and the ability of males of both species to effect a change of mate by pulling paired females away from their partners was indicated. Comparisons are made between the competitive mating abilities of both strains of S. intercalatum relative to those of S. mansoni, with the data suggesting that S. mansoni is competitively dominant to S. intercalatum (Zaire) in sequential infections but to a lesser extent than for S. intercalatum (Lower Guinea). Additional factors which may contribute to the confinement of S. intercalatum (Zaire) to the Democratic Republic of Congo are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) among female prostitutes in Kinshasa, Zaire.

Three hundred seventy-seven prostitutes from Kinshasa, Zaire, were enrolled in a study to determine associated risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infection. Twelve samples (3.2%) were seropositive for HTLV-I; results for HIV-1 (101 [26.8%]) are reported elsewhere. HTLV-I prevalence increased with age, and seven of the seropositive women originated from the Equateur region, a remote area in northwestern Zaire. The prevalence among women from Equateur (7.2%) was higher than that of women from all other regions (1.8%, P = .02). Presence of HTLV-I antibodies was not associated with frequency or type of sex practice. In a subsequent study, 350 serum samples were obtained from a variety of subjects in the Equateur region in 1986. Nineteen (5.4%) showed antibodies to HTLV-I. These data and a recent report of a cluster of patients with tropical spastic paraparesis from this region suggest that HTLV-I is endemic in the Equateur region of Zaire.

Adult↗