In the Republic of Congo, artemisinin-based combinations have been recommended for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria since 2006. However, the emergence of resistant parasites again these combinations in Southeast Asia is a threat for the control of this disease, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where the weight of the disease is important. Indeed, polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum K13-propeller gene have been involved in variations of drug sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to artemisinin-based combinations. The aim of the current study is to determine the prevalence of mutations of this gene in isolates collected in three health centers in Brazzaville. From May 2015 to May 2016, a total of 131, 259 and 416 samples from patients with suspected malaria were collected at the Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, Hôpital de Mfilou, and the CSI «Maman Mboualé» respectively. After DNA isolation, genotyping and sequencing of Plasmodium falciparum K13-propeller were performed in positive Plasmodium falciparum isolates identified after msp-2 gene genotyping. All 806 samples collected were msp-2 genotyped and Plasmodium falciparum infections were confirmed in 287 samples with 43, 85, 159 samples from Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, Hôpital de Mfilou, and the CSI «Maman Mboualé» respectively. Of these 287 msp-2 positives samples, K13-propeller nested PCR products were successfully obtained from 145 (50.52%) isolates and sequences were generated from 127(87.58%) nested products. None of mutations that were associated with ACTs resistance in Southeast Asia were detected on the samples from three different study sites from Brazzaville. However, one mutation type was observed at position 578, where alanine was substituted by serine (A578S) in two isolates (1.57%, 2/127), those from the Hôpital de Mfilou. No mutation was found in isolates from the two other sites. The current study shows a very limited polymorphism in the K13-propeller gene in isolates from the Republic of Congo and K13 polymorphisms associate with ACT resistance are not present in this country. However, permanent and large surveillance of resistant parasite population using K13-propeller gene is recommended.

Introduction: Intestinal parasitoses are colonizations of the digestive tract by parasites, helminths or protozoa, representing a public health problem in developing countries. The factors involved in their occurrence are varied. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors associated with their occurrence in the Republic of Congo. Patients, materials and method: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted over a six-month period from May 1 to October 31, 2021, in elementary school and laboratories in health facilities in 4 departments of the Republic of Congo. Parasitological examination of stools combined with a stool concentration technique was used to search for parasites. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20 software. The threshold of statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: The sample size was 377 school-age children. 97 of the 377 samples were positive, representing a prevalence of 25.7%. The localities of Oyo and Nkayi were those where the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis was significantly higher (p=0.006), with 45.5% and 30.4% respectively. The sex ratio (M/F) was The localities of Pointe-noire and Nkayi were those where the risk of intestinal parasitosis was significantly highest, with p=0.041 and p=0.029 respectively. No risk factors for intestinal parasitosis related to socio-economic conditions and hygiene rules were associated with the occurrence of intestinal parasitosis. Conclusion: Intestinal parasitosis remains a public health problem in our country. They are most prevalent in Pointe-noire and Nkayi. However, no risk factors have been identified in the post-Covid-19 period.

Digestive candidiasis is a major opportunistic infection among people living with HIV (PLHIV). In Gabon, data on antifungal resistance remain limited. This study aimed to characterise Candida colonisation and antifungal resistance according to anatomical site and species in Libreville. In this cross-sectional study, 108 PLHIV provided paired oral and stool samples. Candida spp. was identified using conventional phenotypic methods. Antifungal susceptibility to azoles and polyenes was assessed by disc diffusion following CLSI guidelines. Resistance burden was classified by drug class and by cumulative number of antifungal agents involved. Digestive colonisation was detected in 97 (89.8%) participants. Oral and intestinal colonisation rates were 78.7% and 66.7%, respectively, with dual-site involvement in 55.6%. Among resistant isolates, Candida albicans accounted for 55.2% (oral) and 48.9% (intestinal), while non-albicans Candida represented 29.8% and 44.4%, respectively. Multidrug resistance was significantly higher in intestinal than oral isolates (36.2% vs. 11.8%; OR = 4.99; 95% CI: 2.04–12.16; p < 0.01). Resistance was predominantly azole-driven, with complex cumulative resistance profiles in intestinal isolates. The intestinal tract showed resistance profiles consistent with a preferential accumulation of MDR Candida populations in PLHIV. Site-specific resistance patterns underscore the importance of targeted sampling and antifungal stewardship strategies in resource-limited settings.

Introduction: Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by a flagellate parasite of the genus Leishmania transmitted to humans by the bite of a sandfly. General objective: To contribute to the molecular diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a population of elementary school pupils in the Tchiamba-Nzassi health district with suspicious chronic lesions in the Pointe-Noire department. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study including 23 suspected cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis among elementary school pupils in the DS of Tchiamba-Nzassi in the department of Pointe-Noire, which took place from June to November 2022, a period of 06 months. Sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex) were collected using a survey form. Two diagnostic methods were used to detect Leishmania: Parasitological examination of MGG-stained smears and molecular diagnosis, which involved amplifying Leishmania DNA in lesion secretions by real-time PCR using the TECHNE "Pro qPCR Reagents Leishmania" kit. Results: A total of 23 patients were studied. The mean age of our subjects was 11.7 ± 2 years, with extremes ranging from 8 to 15 years. Males were predominantly represented (67%), with a sex ratio (2H/1F) of 2. Parasitological diagnosis did not reveal the amastigote form of leishmaniasis on the slides. Molecular analysis revealed Leishmania DNA in three (3) samples, i.e., 13% of the study population. The lesions in which L. tropica was detected were the legs (2 cases) and the toe (1 case). Conclusion: The incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis was low in our study. This pathology affected children of all ages with chronic skin lesions located preferentially on the lower limbs. Molecular biology was used to diagnose this neglected tropical disease and the species identified was Leishmania tropica.