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Dr. Augustin Twabela
Hokkaido University, faculty of Veterinary Medicine

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0 Animal Health
0 Disease Control
0 virology and microbiology
0 Epidemiology of infectious diseases
0 one health approach

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Journal article
Published: 20 January 2021 in Viruses
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Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly transmissible and devastating disease that affects poultry and wild birds worldwide. Comprehensive knowledge regarding the characteristics and epidemiological factors of the ND virus (NDV) is critical for the control and prevention of ND. Effective vaccinations can prevent and control the spread of the NDV in poultry populations. For decades, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported the impacts of ND on commercial and traditional poultry farming systems. The reports were preliminary clinical observations, and few cases were confirmed in the laboratory. However, data on the phylogenetic, genetic, and virological characteristics of NDVs circulating in the DRC are not available. In this study, the whole-genome sequences of three NDV isolates obtained using the next-generation sequencing method revealed two isolates that were a new variant of NDV, and one isolate that was clustered in the subgenotype VII.2. All DRC isolates were velogenic and were antigenically closely related to the vaccine strains. Our findings reveal that despite the circulation of the new variant, ND can be controlled in the DRC using the current vaccine. However, epidemiological studies should be conducted to elucidate the endemicity of the disease so that better control strategies can be implemented.

ACS Style

Augustin Twabela; Lam Nguyen; Justin Masumu; Patrick Mpoyo; Serge Mpiana; Julienne Sumbu; Masatoshi Okamatsu; Keita Matsuno; Norikazu Isoda; Bianca Zecchin; Isabella Monne; Yoshihiro Sakoda. A New Variant Among Newcastle Disease Viruses Isolated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2018 and 2019. Viruses 2021, 13, 151 .

AMA Style

Augustin Twabela, Lam Nguyen, Justin Masumu, Patrick Mpoyo, Serge Mpiana, Julienne Sumbu, Masatoshi Okamatsu, Keita Matsuno, Norikazu Isoda, Bianca Zecchin, Isabella Monne, Yoshihiro Sakoda. A New Variant Among Newcastle Disease Viruses Isolated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2018 and 2019. Viruses. 2021; 13 (2):151.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Augustin Twabela; Lam Nguyen; Justin Masumu; Patrick Mpoyo; Serge Mpiana; Julienne Sumbu; Masatoshi Okamatsu; Keita Matsuno; Norikazu Isoda; Bianca Zecchin; Isabella Monne; Yoshihiro Sakoda. 2021. "A New Variant Among Newcastle Disease Viruses Isolated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2018 and 2019." Viruses 13, no. 2: 151.

Communication
Published: 14 December 2020 in Viruses
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Global dispersion of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI), especially that caused by H5 clade 2.3.4.4, has threatened poultry industries and, potentially, human health. An HPAI virus, A/northern pintail/Hokkaido/M13/2020 (H5N8) (NP/Hok/20) belonging to clade 2.3.4.4b, was isolated from a fecal sample collected at a lake in Hokkaido, Japan where migratory birds rested, October 2020. In the phylogenetic trees of all eight gene segments, NP/Hok/20 fell into in the cluster of European isolates in 2020, but was distinct from the isolates in eastern Asia and Europe during the winter season of 2017–2018. The antigenic cartography indicates that the antigenicity of NP/Hok/20 was almost the same as that of previous isolates of H5 clade 2.3.4.4b, whereas the antigenic distances from NP/Hok/20 to the representative strains in clade 2.3.4.4e and to a strain in 2.3.4 were apparently distant. These data imply that HPAI virus clade 2.3.4.4b should have been delivered by bird migration despite the intercontinental distance, although it was not defined whether NP/Hok/20 was transported from Europe via Siberia where migratory birds nest in the summer season. Given the probability of perpetuation of transmission in the northern territory, periodic updates of intensive surveys on avian influenza at the global level are essential to prepare for future outbreaks of the HPAI virus.

ACS Style

Norikazu Isoda; Augustin T. Twabela; Enkhbold Bazarragchaa; Kohei Ogasawara; Hirotaka Hayashi; Zu-Jyun Wang; Daiki Kobayashi; Yukiko Watanabe; Keisuke Saito; Hiroshi Kida; Yoshihiro Sakoda. Re-Invasion of H5N8 High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Virus Clade 2.3.4.4b in Hokkaido, Japan, 2020. Viruses 2020, 12, 1439 .

AMA Style

Norikazu Isoda, Augustin T. Twabela, Enkhbold Bazarragchaa, Kohei Ogasawara, Hirotaka Hayashi, Zu-Jyun Wang, Daiki Kobayashi, Yukiko Watanabe, Keisuke Saito, Hiroshi Kida, Yoshihiro Sakoda. Re-Invasion of H5N8 High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Virus Clade 2.3.4.4b in Hokkaido, Japan, 2020. Viruses. 2020; 12 (12):1439.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Norikazu Isoda; Augustin T. Twabela; Enkhbold Bazarragchaa; Kohei Ogasawara; Hirotaka Hayashi; Zu-Jyun Wang; Daiki Kobayashi; Yukiko Watanabe; Keisuke Saito; Hiroshi Kida; Yoshihiro Sakoda. 2020. "Re-Invasion of H5N8 High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Virus Clade 2.3.4.4b in Hokkaido, Japan, 2020." Viruses 12, no. 12: 1439.

Journal article
Published: 08 December 2020 in Viruses
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Control measures in the case of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in poultry include culling, surveillance, and biosecurity; wild birds in captivity may also be culled, although some rare bird species should be rescued for conservation. In this study, two anti-influenza drugs, baloxavir marboxil (BXM) and peramivir (PR), used in humans, were examined in treating HPAI in birds, using chickens as a model. Chickens were infected with H5N6 HPAI virus and were treated immediately or 24 h from challenge with 20 mg/kg BXM or PR twice a day for five days. As per our findings, BXM significantly reduced virus replication in organs and provided full protection to chickens compared with that induced by PR. In the 24-h-delayed treatment, neither drug completely inhibited virus replication nor ensured the survival of infected chickens. A single administration of 2.5 mg/kg of BXM was determined as the minimum dose required to fully protect chickens from HPAI virus; the concentration of baloxavir acid, the active form of BXM, in chicken blood at this dose was sufficient for a 48 h antiviral effect post-administration. Thus, these data can be a starting point for the use of BXM and PR in treating captive wild birds infected with HPAI virus.

ACS Style

Augustin Twabela; Masatoshi Okamatsu; Keita Matsuno; Norikazu Isoda; Yoshihiro Sakoda. Evaluation of Baloxavir Marboxil and Peramivir for the Treatment of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza in Chickens. Viruses 2020, 12, 1407 .

AMA Style

Augustin Twabela, Masatoshi Okamatsu, Keita Matsuno, Norikazu Isoda, Yoshihiro Sakoda. Evaluation of Baloxavir Marboxil and Peramivir for the Treatment of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza in Chickens. Viruses. 2020; 12 (12):1407.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Augustin Twabela; Masatoshi Okamatsu; Keita Matsuno; Norikazu Isoda; Yoshihiro Sakoda. 2020. "Evaluation of Baloxavir Marboxil and Peramivir for the Treatment of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza in Chickens." Viruses 12, no. 12: 1407.

Journal article
Published: 22 November 2019 in Nature Communications
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The role of Africa in the dynamics of the global spread of a zoonotic and economically-important virus, such as the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5Nx of the Gs/GD lineage, remains unexplored. Here we characterise the spatiotemporal patterns of virus diffusion during three HPAI H5Nx intercontinental epidemic waves and demonstrate that Africa mainly acted as an ecological sink of the HPAI H5Nx viruses. A joint analysis of host dynamics and continuous spatial diffusion indicates that poultry trade as well as wild bird migrations have contributed to the virus spreading into Africa, with West Africa acting as a crucial hotspot for virus introduction and dissemination into the continent. We demonstrate varying paths of avian influenza incursions into Africa as well as virus spread within Africa over time, which reveal that virus expansion is a complex phenomenon, shaped by an intricate interplay between avian host ecology, virus characteristics and environmental variables.

ACS Style

Alice Fusaro; Bianca Zecchin; Bram Vrancken; Celia Abolnik; Rose Ademun; Abdou Alassane; Abdelsatar Arafa; Joseph Adongo Awuni; Emmanuel Couacy-Hymann; M.’ Bétiégué Coulibaly; Nicolas Gaidet; Emilie Go-Maro; Tony Joannis; Simon Dickmu Jumbo; Germaine Minoungou; Clement Meseko; Maman Moutari Souley; Deo Birungi Ndumu; Ismaila Shittu; Augustin Twabela; Abel Wade; Lidewij Wiersma; Yao P. Akpeli; Gianpiero Zamperin; Adelaide Milani; Philippe Lemey; Isabella Monne. Disentangling the role of Africa in the global spread of H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza. Nature Communications 2019, 10, 1 -13.

AMA Style

Alice Fusaro, Bianca Zecchin, Bram Vrancken, Celia Abolnik, Rose Ademun, Abdou Alassane, Abdelsatar Arafa, Joseph Adongo Awuni, Emmanuel Couacy-Hymann, M.’ Bétiégué Coulibaly, Nicolas Gaidet, Emilie Go-Maro, Tony Joannis, Simon Dickmu Jumbo, Germaine Minoungou, Clement Meseko, Maman Moutari Souley, Deo Birungi Ndumu, Ismaila Shittu, Augustin Twabela, Abel Wade, Lidewij Wiersma, Yao P. Akpeli, Gianpiero Zamperin, Adelaide Milani, Philippe Lemey, Isabella Monne. Disentangling the role of Africa in the global spread of H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza. Nature Communications. 2019; 10 (1):1-13.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alice Fusaro; Bianca Zecchin; Bram Vrancken; Celia Abolnik; Rose Ademun; Abdou Alassane; Abdelsatar Arafa; Joseph Adongo Awuni; Emmanuel Couacy-Hymann; M.’ Bétiégué Coulibaly; Nicolas Gaidet; Emilie Go-Maro; Tony Joannis; Simon Dickmu Jumbo; Germaine Minoungou; Clement Meseko; Maman Moutari Souley; Deo Birungi Ndumu; Ismaila Shittu; Augustin Twabela; Abel Wade; Lidewij Wiersma; Yao P. Akpeli; Gianpiero Zamperin; Adelaide Milani; Philippe Lemey; Isabella Monne. 2019. "Disentangling the role of Africa in the global spread of H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza." Nature Communications 10, no. 1: 1-13.

Original article
Published: 09 November 2019 in Archives of Virology
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In May 2017, high mortality of chickens and Muscovy ducks due to the H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) was reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). In this study, we assessed the molecular, antigenic, and pathogenic features in poultry of the H5N8 HPAIV from the 2017 Congolese outbreaks. Phylogenetic analysis of the eight viral gene segments revealed that all 12 DR Congo isolates clustered in clade 2.3.4.4B together with other H5N8 HPAIVs isolated in Africa and Eurasia, suggesting a possible common origin of these viruses. Antigenically, a slight difference was observed between the Congolese isolates and a representative virus from group C in the same clade. After intranasal inoculation with a representative DR Congo virus, high pathogenicity was observed in chickens and Muscovy ducks but not in Pekin ducks. Viral replication was higher in chickens than in Muscovy duck and Pekin duck organs; however, neurotropism was pronounced in Muscovy ducks. Our data confirmed the high pathogenicity of the DR Congo virus in chickens and Muscovy ducks, as observed in the field. National awareness and strengthening surveillance in the region are needed to better control HPAIVs.

ACS Style

Augustin T. Twabela; Masatoshi Okamatsu; Georges Mbuyi Tshilenge; Serge Mpiana; Justin Masumu; Lam Thanh Nguyen; Keita Matsuno; Isabella Monne; Bianca Zecchin; Yoshihiro Sakoda. Molecular, antigenic, and pathogenic characterization of H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses isolated in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2017. Archives of Virology 2019, 165, 87 -96.

AMA Style

Augustin T. Twabela, Masatoshi Okamatsu, Georges Mbuyi Tshilenge, Serge Mpiana, Justin Masumu, Lam Thanh Nguyen, Keita Matsuno, Isabella Monne, Bianca Zecchin, Yoshihiro Sakoda. Molecular, antigenic, and pathogenic characterization of H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses isolated in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2017. Archives of Virology. 2019; 165 (1):87-96.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Augustin T. Twabela; Masatoshi Okamatsu; Georges Mbuyi Tshilenge; Serge Mpiana; Justin Masumu; Lam Thanh Nguyen; Keita Matsuno; Isabella Monne; Bianca Zecchin; Yoshihiro Sakoda. 2019. "Molecular, antigenic, and pathogenic characterization of H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses isolated in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2017." Archives of Virology 165, no. 1: 87-96.

Journal article
Published: 01 March 2019 in Journal of Virological Methods
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ACS Style

Enkhbold Bazarragchaa; Masatoshi Okamatsu; Ankhanbaatar Ulaankhuu; Augustin Tshibwabwa Twabela; Keita Matsuno; Hiroshi Kida; Yoshihiro Sakoda. Evaluation of a rapid isothermal nucleic acid amplification kit, Alere™ i Influenza A&B, for the detection of avian influenza viruses. Journal of Virological Methods 2019, 265, 121 -125.

AMA Style

Enkhbold Bazarragchaa, Masatoshi Okamatsu, Ankhanbaatar Ulaankhuu, Augustin Tshibwabwa Twabela, Keita Matsuno, Hiroshi Kida, Yoshihiro Sakoda. Evaluation of a rapid isothermal nucleic acid amplification kit, Alere™ i Influenza A&B, for the detection of avian influenza viruses. Journal of Virological Methods. 2019; 265 ():121-125.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Enkhbold Bazarragchaa; Masatoshi Okamatsu; Ankhanbaatar Ulaankhuu; Augustin Tshibwabwa Twabela; Keita Matsuno; Hiroshi Kida; Yoshihiro Sakoda. 2019. "Evaluation of a rapid isothermal nucleic acid amplification kit, Alere™ i Influenza A&B, for the detection of avian influenza viruses." Journal of Virological Methods 265, no. : 121-125.

Historical article
Published: 01 July 2018 in Emerging Infectious Diseases
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In 2017, highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) virus was detected in poultry in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Whole-genome phylogeny showed the virus clustered with H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4B strains from birds in central and southern Asia. Emergence of this virus in central Africa represents a threat for animal health and food security.

ACS Style

Augustin T. Twabela; Georges M. Tshilenge; Yoshiro Sakoda; Masatoshi Okamatsu; Ezekiel Bushu; Philippe Kone; Lidewij Wiersma; Gianpiero Zamperin; Alessandra Drago; Bianca Zecchin; Isabella Monne. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N8) Virus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2017. Emerging Infectious Diseases 2018, 24, 1371 -1374.

AMA Style

Augustin T. Twabela, Georges M. Tshilenge, Yoshiro Sakoda, Masatoshi Okamatsu, Ezekiel Bushu, Philippe Kone, Lidewij Wiersma, Gianpiero Zamperin, Alessandra Drago, Bianca Zecchin, Isabella Monne. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N8) Virus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2017. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2018; 24 (7):1371-1374.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Augustin T. Twabela; Georges M. Tshilenge; Yoshiro Sakoda; Masatoshi Okamatsu; Ezekiel Bushu; Philippe Kone; Lidewij Wiersma; Gianpiero Zamperin; Alessandra Drago; Bianca Zecchin; Isabella Monne. 2018. "Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N8) Virus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2017." Emerging Infectious Diseases 24, no. 7: 1371-1374.

Research article
Published: 07 April 2016 in PLOS ONE
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Rabies is one of the major public health problems mostly affecting developing countries in Africa and Asia where 99.9% of all rabies related human deaths are recorded each year. In Democratic Republic of Congo, repeated outbreaks have been reported. Despite this, there is little reliable epidemiological data about rabies in the country for the development of effective control strategies. A retrospective study was carried out in Kinshasa Province during a period of five years (2009–2013) to describe the proportion of rabid animals and the species involved in rabies transmission and maintenance. The survey also aimed at describing the spatial-temporal distribution of rabies. To gather information, the daily registers of institutions involved in rabies diagnosis were reviewed and each rabies case was traced back to area of occurrence for collection of geographic coordinates. A total of 5,053 attacks were registered involving six animal species including dog, cat, monkey, rabbit, rat, and pig. Based on clinical observations, rabies was reported in dogs and cats while data obtained from the laboratory confirmed rabies cases included dogs, cats and a goat. The annual distribution showed a significant decrease of rabies cases from 2009 up to 2011 and a later increase up to 2013. There was no difference in rabies occurrence between seasons (p = 0.721). Rabies cases were three times higher in peri-urban zone than in urban zone OR = 3.4 (95% CI: 2.3–5.1). The positive proportion of rabies was 2.6% (95% CI: 2.1–3) based on clinical evidence and 65.9% (95% CI: 50–79.5) for laboratory confirmed cases. This study confirms the endemicity of rabies in Kinshasa where occurrence of rabies cases was related to human population density and lifestyle. In order to control rabies, there is need to set up a surveillance program and implement efficient mass vaccination campaigns of susceptible animals.

ACS Style

Augustin Tshibwabwa Twabela; Aaron Simanyengwe Mweene; Justin Mulumbu Masumu; John Bwalya Muma; Boniface Pongombo Lombe; Careen Hankanga. Overview of Animal Rabies in Kinshasa Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. PLOS ONE 2016, 11, e0150403 .

AMA Style

Augustin Tshibwabwa Twabela, Aaron Simanyengwe Mweene, Justin Mulumbu Masumu, John Bwalya Muma, Boniface Pongombo Lombe, Careen Hankanga. Overview of Animal Rabies in Kinshasa Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. PLOS ONE. 2016; 11 (4):e0150403.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Augustin Tshibwabwa Twabela; Aaron Simanyengwe Mweene; Justin Mulumbu Masumu; John Bwalya Muma; Boniface Pongombo Lombe; Careen Hankanga. 2016. "Overview of Animal Rabies in Kinshasa Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo." PLOS ONE 11, no. 4: e0150403.