Genetic factors are involved in susceptibility or protection to tuberculosis (TB). Apart from gene polymorphisms and mutations, changes in levels of gene expression, induced by non-genetic factors, may also determine whether individuals progress to active TB.

Dengue is one of the most common arboviral diseases with increased outbreaks annually in tropical and subtropical areas. In Ethiopia, there are no data regarding clinical, hematological and biochemical parameters which are very important in the clinical management of dengue patients. Hence this study was carried out to provide the first baseline data of clinical, hematological and biochemical profiles of patients infected with dengue virus. A cross-sectional study was carried out among febrile patients in northwest Ethiopia from March 2016 to May 2017. Blood samples were collected from dengue presumed cases and tested against dengue specific IgM antibody by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Those study participants who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. Clinical examination findings were recorded, hematological and biochemical parameters tests were done. During the study period, a total of 102 dengue cases were included in the study. Of these, there were 16 (15.7%) children and 86 (84.3%) adults between 1 and 76 year age. The most common clinical presentations followed by fever (100%) were a headache 89 (87.3%), myalgia 82 (80.4%), nausea/vomiting 71 (69.6%). The common hematological findings were thrombocytopenia 61 (59.8%), followed by anemia 45 (44.1%) and leucopenia 27 (26.5%) and the elevated levels of biochemical parameters were AST 46 (45.1%) and ALT in 18 (17.6%). This study highlights the most common clinical and laboratory profiles of dengue viral infections that could alert physicians to the likelihood of dengue virus infections in the study area.

This study was done to determine the prevalence and phenotypic characterization of Enterococcus species isolated from clinical samples of pediatric patients in Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia. The overall prevalence of Enterococci species was 5.5% (22/403). Five (22.7%) of Enterococci species were vancomycin resistant. Haemolysin, gelatinase and biofilm production was seen among 45.5, 68.2 and 77.3% of isolates respectively. The overall rate of antibiotic resistance was 95.5% (21/22). High resistance was observed against norfloxacin (87.5%), and tetracycline (77.3%). Whereas, low resistance (36.5%) was observed against ciprofloxacin and eighteen (80.8%) of the isolates were multi-drug resistant.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the major public health problems worldwide. Limited information exists about the epidemiology of HBV infection in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess sero-prevalence of HBV markers and associated factors in children living in Hawassa City, southern Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 471 children in Hawassa City, southern Ethiopia from May to September, 2018. A total of 471 children were included in the study using a multistage sampling technique. Data on demographic and risk factors were gathered using structured questionnaires. Blood samples were collected and sera were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to core antigen (anti-HBc), and antibody against surface antigen (anti-HBs) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The sero-prevalence of HBsAg, anti-HBc, and anti-HBs markers among children were 4.4, 19.5 and 20.0%, respectively. Children at higher risk of having HBsAg marker were those who had a history of injectable medications (AOR 5.02, 95% CI: 1.14, 22.07), a family history of liver disease (AOR 6.37, 95% CI: 1.32, 30.74), a HBsAg seropositive mothers, (AOR 11.19, (95% CI: 3.15, 39.67), and had no vaccination history for HBV (AOR, 6.37, 95% CI: 1.32, 30.74). Children from families with low monthly income, who were home delivered, unvaccinated for HBV or with HBsAg seropositive mother had increased risk of having anti-HBc. Conclusions: The study findings showed an intermediate endemicity of HBV infection in the study setting. The observed rate of residual HBV infection with low rate of immunized children after HBV vaccination was high. Hence, introducing birth dose vaccine, safe injection practice and improving immunization coverage during pregnancy as part of the antenatal care package should be considered. Furthermore, governmental and non-governmental organizations should give attention on timely measures for the prevention of ongoing vertical transmission from mother to child as well as early horizontal transmission of HBV in Hawassa City, Ethiopia.

Tamoxifen displays wide inter-individual variability (IIV) in its pharmacokinetics and treatment outcome. Data on tamoxifen pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenetics from black African breast cancer patient populations is lacking. We investigated the pharmacokinetic and pharmacogenetic profile of tamoxifen and its major active metabolite, endoxifen, in Ethiopian breast cancer patients. A total of 81 female breast cancer patients on adjuvant tamoxifen therapy were enrolled. Tamoxifen (Tam) and its major metabolites, N-desmethyltamoxifen (NDM), 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen (4-HT), and (Z)-endoxifen (E) were quantified using LC-MS/MS. Genotyping for CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP3A5, POR, and ABCB1 and UGT2B15 and copy number variation for CYP2D6 were done. The proportion of patients with low endoxifen level (<5.9 ng/mL) was 35.8% (median concentration 7.94 ng/mL). The allele frequency of CYP2D6 gene deletion (*5) and duplication (*1×N or *2×N) was 4.3% and 14.8%, respectively. Twenty-six percent of the patients carried duplicated or multiplicated CYP2D6 gene. An increase in CYP2D6 activity score was associated with increased endoxifen concentration and MR_E/NDM (p < 0.001). The IIV in endoxifen concentration and MR_E/NDM was 74.6% and 59%, respectively. CYP2D6 diplotype explained 28.2% and 44% of the variability in absolute endoxifen concentration and MR_E/NDM, respectively. The explanatory power of CYP2D6 diplotype was improved among ABCB1c.4036G carriers (43% and 65.2%, respectively for endoxifen concentration and MR_E/NDM) compared to A/A genotype. CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A5 genotypes had no significant influence on endoxifen concentration or MR_E/NDM. In conclusion, we report a high rate of low endoxifen level as well as large IIV in tamoxifen and its metabolite concentrations. CYP2D6 is significant predictor of plasma endoxifen level in a gene-dose dependent manner.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection has similar clinical presentations to malaria. Hence, febrile illnesses are often misdiagnosed as malaria. Therefore, this study aimed to generate baseline data on CHIKV infection in northwest Ethiopia where malaria is endemic. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among febrile patients presenting at the Metema and Humera Kahsay Abera hospitals from March 2016 to May 2017. Data on socio-demographic, clinical presentations, and possible risk factors were collected using a structured questionnaire. Serum samples were screened for immunoglobulin-M (IgM) and IgG antibodies to CHIKV infections using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the strength of association. Of 586 samples screened, the overall seroprevalence of CHIKV infection was 23%. Of the total study participants, 22.5% had CHIKV-specific IgM, indicating recent CHIKV infection. During monsoon and post-monsoon periods, increased prevalence of anti-CHIKV IgM seropositivity was found. The most common clinical presentation observed was fever, followed by headache and joint pain. Men had twice the likelihood of CHIKV infection. The presence of stagnant water near the residence almost doubled the risk for CHIKV infection. Most of the study participants had recent infection with CHIKV, suggesting the need to design disease prevention and intervention strategies.