Rapid Test Research Articles

Development of new β Ti-10-Mo-Mn alloys for biomedical applications

Metallic biomaterials play a crucial role in various biomedical applications, particularly in developing implants and prostheses. Hence, this study aimed to produce and analyze the structure, microstructure, hardness, and preliminary cytotoxicity of Ti-10Mo-xMn system alloys (with x ranging from 0 to 8 wt%) intended for biomedical applications as biomaterials. The alloys underwent thorough characterization, including chemical composition analysis through EDS measurements, mapping, and density assessments. Structural and microstructural analyses were conducted using x-ray diffraction (XRD), Rietveld refinement, optical (OM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while Vickers microhardness testing provided insights into mechanical properties. Rapid cytotoxicity tests via MTT were also performed to assess biocompatibility. Results indicated that the produced alloys exhibited good quality and homogeneity regarding chemical composition. Adding Mn to the Ti-10Mo alloy facilitated the formation of the β phase, transforming it from a biphasic (α" + β) to a single-phase alloy.Moreover, Mn-induced reductions in lattice parameters and average crystallite size of the β phase were observed due to the smaller atomic radius of substituting Mn than Ti. Despite a decrease in hardness attributed to β phase formation, all alloys demonstrated non-cytotoxic behavior in cell adhesion and viability assays, with values exceeding 70 %. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of Ti-10Mo-xMn alloys as viable biomaterials, warranting further exploration and development in biomedical engineering.

Comparing approaches for chemoprevention for school-based malaria control in Malawi: an open label, randomized, controlled clinical trial

School-age children in sub-Saharan Africa suffer an underappreciated burden of malaria which threatens their health and education. To address this problem, we compared the efficacy of two school-based chemoprevention approaches: giving all students intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) or screening and treating only students with detected infections (IST). In a three-arm, open-label, randomized, controlled trial (NCT05244954) in Malawi, 746 primary school students, aged 5-19 years, were individually randomized within each grade-level to IPT (n=249), IST with a high-sensitivity rapid diagnostic test (hs-RDT, n=248), or control (n=249). At six-week intervals three times within the peak malaria transmission season (February-June 2022) treatment with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) was administered to girls <10 years and all boys, and chloroquine to older girls. The primary outcome was Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) infection detected by PCR 6-8 weeks after the final intervention. Secondary outcomes included anaemia, clinical malaria, and scores on tests of attention, literacy, and math. Analysis was by modified intention-to-treat. Outcomes analyses included 727 (97%) participants. At the end of the study, prevalence of Pf infection was 17% (41/243) in the IPT arm, 24% (58/244) in the IST arm, and 53% (127/240) in the control arm. Compared to controls, IPT and IST reduced the odds of Pf infection (IPT adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.18 (95% CI: 0.11, 0.27); p<0.0001; IST aOR: 0.27 (95% CI: 0.18, 0.40); p<0.0001). However, only participants receiving IPT had a lower incidence of clinical malaria (0.19 cases per person per six months (95% CI: 0.14, 0.27) vs 0.56 (95% CI: 0.46, 0.68); incidence rate ratio: 0.38 (95% CI: 0.26, 0.55); p<0.0001)) and prevalence of anaemia (8% [20/243] vs 15% [36/240]; aOR: 0.49 (95% CI: 0.27, 0.91); p=0.023) compared to controls. Literacy scores were higher in both intervention arms. No between group differences in tests of attention or math or number of serious adverse events were found. Results support implementation of IST with hs-RDTs or IPT for reduction in the prevalence of infection. Based on reductions in clinical malaria, IPT may provide additional benefits warranting further consideration by school-based malaria chemoprevention programs. Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Clinical Scientist Development Award 2021191, U.S. NIH K24AI114996 & K23AI135076.

Are Invasive Group A Streptococcal Infections Preventable by Antibiotic Therapy?: A Collaborative Retrospective Study.

In winter 2022/2023, a resurgence of invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) infections in children was observed in Europe, including Germany and Switzerland. While a simultaneous increase in consultations for scarlet fever and pharyngitis was reported in England, leading to the recommendation to treat any suspected GAS disease with antibiotics, guidelines in Germany and Switzerland remained unchanged. We aimed to investigate whether this policy was appropriate. We conducted a retrospective multicenter study of children hospitalized for invasive GAS disease between September 2022 and March 2023 in pediatric departments in Dresden and Berlin (Germany) and Basel (Switzerland). We reviewed medical records and conducted structured telephone interviews to analyze whether suspected GAS infections with or without antibiotic treatment were reported prehospitalization. In total, 63 patients met the inclusion criteria (median age 4.2 years, 57% males); however, clinical information was not complete for all analyzed characteristics; 32/54 (59%) had ≥1 physician visit ≤4 weeks prehospitalization. In 4/32 (13%) patients, GAS disease, that is, tonsillitis or scarlet fever, was suspected; 2/4 of them received antibiotics, and a positive rapid antigen test for GAS was documented in 1 of them. A small minority of patients had suspected GAS infection within 4 weeks before iGAS disease. These data suggest that there is little opportunity to prevent iGAS disease by antibiotic therapy, because in most patients-even if seen by a physician-there was either no evidence of GAS disease or when GAS disease was suspected and treated with antibiotics, consecutive invasive GAS disease was not prevented.

Group A Streptococcus infections in children and adolescents in the post-COVID-19 era: a regional Italian survey

BackgroundDespite the worldwide increasing incidence of Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections reported since December 2022, data on noninvasive GAS (nGAS) infections in the post COVID-19 era are limited. By a self-reported survey performed in an outpatient setting, we investigated the number and clinical features of GAS infections, the diagnostic work-up and the type of treatment utilized. In addition, the rate of influenza vaccination was evaluated.MethodsIn June 2023 family pediatricians involved in the study sent the survey to parents of patients aged 0–16 years. The survey included questions on GAS infections that occurred from January 1 to May 31, 2023.ResultsAmong 3580 children, 20.3% had a GAS infection (0,8% < 1 year, 16,4% 1–3 years, 42,3% 3–6 years, 26,5% 6–9 years, 11,4%, 9–12 years, and 2,6% 12–16 years). Symptoms reported were sore throat (76.9%), fever (75.2%), tonsillar exudate (25.2%), lymphadenopathy (21.8%), and scarlet fever (14.7%). A single patient was hospitalized due to GAS meningitis.Twenty four percent of children had more than one GAS infection. In this group, frequencies of symptoms reported in the first and in the following infection were similar, except for fever and scarlet fever which were less frequent during relapses. GAS was identified by rapid antigen detection test in 81.0% of children. Eighty-nine per cent of children were treated with antibiotics, mostly amoxicillin/clavulanate (40.4%) and amoxicillin (39.4%). Thirty four percent of children received influenza vaccine. No difference was observed among immunized and not immunized regarding the number and characteristics of GAS infection. ConclusionsWe reported a certain prevalence of nGAS infections in children, mainly those aged 3–6 years age, who were mostly characterized by a low score of symptoms, and in most of the cases diagnosed and treated using a microbiological test as confirmatory tool.In this new clinical setting, a national study would be useful to reach more significant data for the definition of a correct diagnosis and clinical management of nGAS infections in children. Moreover, it is important to improve flu vaccination campaign and coverage to protect children from coinfections that could worsen the disease and misdiagnose the etiology of pharyngitis.

Evaluating EUCAST rapid antimicrobial susceptibility test from positive neonatal blood culture directly against the golden standard disc diffusion method in a tertiary hospital

Evaluating EUCAST rapid antimicrobial susceptibility test from positive neonatal blood culture directly against the golden standard disc diffusion method in a tertiary hospital

Assessment of Helicobacter pylori Infection and Associated Risk Factors in Asymptomatic Patients Attending Muhoza Health Center

Background: H. pylori, is a bacterial pathogen that colonizes the gastric mucous lining and the epithelial tissue of the stomach. Helicobacter pylori strains infections can lead to several diseases such as duodenal ulcers, gastric ulcers, adenocarcinoma of the distal stomach, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease and autoimmune diseases. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of H. pylori infection and risk factors associated with H. pylori in asymptomatic participants attending Muhoza health center Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 13th September to 13th October. Stool samples from 60 eligible participants were collected in sterile containers and they were immunoserologicaly analysed. Rapid tests were used to detect H. pylori antigens. A liquid in the testing kit was mixed with a small portion of the stool. The mixture was poured to the sample hole on the rapid test which displayed results. Data regarding risk factors were collected using questionnaires and were analyzed statistically using SPSS 20. Results: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 37%. Females were more affected than males, with 25% and 12% respectively. Age, education, source of water and household population were significantly associated with Helicobacter pylori with p-values &lt; 0.05. The study was limited since it was one health center based, hence not having large representative population. Conclusion: Education of the population about prevention of the infection, supply clean, treated water for home usage and drinking, are recommended to the local government authorities in Musanze. Screening for H. pylori infection, good adherence on antibiotics against H. pylori, hand washing, and proper household settings to reduce crowding issue are recommended. Further researches are recommended for more conclusive results. Keywords: H. pylori infection, risk factors, stomach, asymptomatic.

Prevalence, Predictors, and Treatment Outcomes of Anemia in Vietnamese School-Age Children With Helicobacter pylori Infection.

Background A growing number of studies suggest that anemia caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is prevalent in developing countries. A combination of H. pylori eradication and iron supplementation may be effective intreating iron deficiency anemia (IDA) caused by H. pylori infection. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence, risk factors, and treatment outcomes of anemia in Vietnamese school-age children infected with H. pylori Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2023 to April 2024 involving 112 dyspeptic children from 5 to 16 years old who were admitted to Can Tho Children's Hospital, Vietnam. H. pylori infection was diagnosed with a positive histopathology combined with a rapid urease test. A bivariate and multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify independent variables associated with anemia in H. pylori-infected children. Results The prevalence of anemia and IDA (iron deficiency anemia) amongH . pylori-infected children were 28.6% and 53.1%, respectively. The risk factor for anemia was age group from 11 to 16 years of age (OR: 3.24; CI 95%:1.21- 8.70). Iron supplementation (OR: 0.14; CI 95%:0.03 - 0.66) and periodic deworming (OR: 0.29; CI 95%: 0.10-0.89) were protective factors against anemia. After H. pyroli eradication and iron supplementation, all hematological parameters were increased among 32 anemic patients. Hemoglobin increased from 9.9 ±2.1 to 11.9±2.1 g/dL (p<0.001), mean corpuscular hemoglobin increased from 25.1 ± 4.1 to 28.0 ± 3.3 pg (P=0.003), and ferritin (IQR) increased from 16.7 (9.5-45.2) to 27.0 (15.1-47.0) µg/L (p<0.001). Conclusion Anemia in Vietnamese school-age children infected with H. pylori is prevalent. Taking iron supplements and periodic deworming reduces the risk of anemia. H. pylori eradication therapy plus oral iron supplementation will improve iron status in H. pylori-infected children.

Is rapid urease test reliable as histopathological evaluation for Helicobacter pylori Infection- A prospective study?

Is rapid urease test reliable as histopathological evaluation for Helicobacter pylori Infection- A prospective study?

PSI-15 Validation of a rapid test to evaluate humoral immunity in Labrador Retrievers across multiple life stages

Abstract This study sought to validate the D2Dx rapid immunity test in canines and investigate the age-related changes in the humoral immune system of healthy large breed dogs. Blood plasma with EDTA anticoagulant was collected from healthy Labrador Retrievers (n = 80) housed at Four Rivers Kennel under IACUC protocol FRK-56. Age groups were defined as follows: puppy 0-1.5 yr, adults 1.5-7 yr, senior 7-10, and geriatric 10-14. Immunity biomarkers including c-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 4 (IL-4), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), complement protein 3 (C3), and immunoglobulin G (IgG) were determined through canine specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The nanoparticle based D2Dx test, which evaluates the cumulative humoral immune response, was also performed. Data were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA between age groups, with a Tukey’s post hoc, and correlations between variables were evaluated through multivariate analysis. The D2Dx score was correlated with body weight, age, IgG, and C3 validating that the test was able to adequately measure the humoral immunity in canines (r ≥ 0.49). D2Dx score was significantly different between age groups (P &amp;lt; 0.01) with puppies having significantly reduced scores compared with all other groups (P &amp;lt; 0.01). C3 was significantly different between age groups (P &amp;lt; 0.01), with puppies significantly less than other life stages (P ≤ 0.03). The C3 of adults averaged significantly greater than seniors and trended greater than geriatric subjects (P ≤ 0.01, 0.07). IgG between ages was also significantly different, with puppies significantly less than other age groups (P &amp;lt; 0.01). There was no significant difference between age groups for IFN-γ, IL-4 ratio, IFN-γ, IL-4, or CRP (P ≥ 0.18). This study showed that the D2Dx Rapid Immunity Test is able to detect changes to humoral immunity in canines. Beyond evaluating the effectiveness of the D2Dx test, this study also provides important information about the under researched topic of canine humoral immunity development and senescence in a robust, healthy cohort of large breed dogs.

Development and Diagnosis Performance of IgM-Based Rapid Antigen Test for Early Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Large Cohort of Suspected COVID-19 Cases - USA, Poland, and Sweden, 2021-2022.

Antigen testing has been crucial in effectively managing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study evaluated the clinical performance of a nasopharyngeal swab (NPS)-based antigen rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDT) compared to the gold standard real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for early detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We developed an IgM-based rapid antigen test for early detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Between July 2021 and January 2022, we analyzed 1,030 NPS samples from participants at three centers in different countries, using both antigen rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDT) and RT-PCR. The Ag-RDT demonstrated minimal detection limits as low as 0.1 ng/mL for recombinant N antigen and 100 TCID50/mL for heat-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus. Specificity assessments involving four human coronaviruses and 13 other respiratory viruses showed no cross-reactivity. The Ag-RDT assay (ALLtest) exhibited high sensitivity (93.18%-100%) and specificity (99.67%-100%) across all centers. Factors such as cycle threshold (Ct) values and the timing of symptoms since onset were influential, with sensitivity increasing at lower Ct values (<30) and within the first week of symptoms. The ALLtest Ag-RDT demonstrated high reliability and significant potential for diagnosing suspected COVID-19 cases.

Research on safety strategies for nucleic acid testing in sudden epidemic conditions based on a SEIARD dynamic model

Infectious diseases have caused enormous disasters in human society, and asymptomatic carriers are an important challenge in our epidemic prevention and control process. Nucleic acid testing has played an important role in rapid testing for asymptomatic individuals. How to carry out nucleic acid testing in a scientific manner is a practical problem encountered in normal production and life. Based on the real COVID-19 epidemic data from Shanghai, we established a susceptible-exposed-infected-asymptomatic-recovered-death (SEIARD) dynamic model. The least squares method was used to fit the data and estimate the unknown parameters β and E(0) in the model, and MATLAB software was employed to simulate the development of the epidemic. The data fitting results indicated that the SEIARD model can better describe the early development patterns of the epidemic (R2 = 0.98; MAPE = 2.54%). We calculated the basic reproduction number of the Shanghai epidemic as R0 = 2.86. As the frequency of nucleic acid testing increased, the basic reproduction number R0 continued to decrease. When there is one latent carrier and one asymptomatic carrier in the nucleic acid testing team, the number of queues is directly proportional to the number of infected individuals, the nucleic acid testing team increases by 50 people, and the number of new asymptomatic cases increases by approximately 4 people. If both susceptible individuals (S) and asymptomatic patients (A) are not wearing masks, the infection rate reaches approximately 7%; after wearing masks, the final infection rate is less than 1% at 1.5 m between two people. The queue spacing is inversely proportional to the number of infected individuals. With a distance of d = 1 m, a nucleic acid testing team of 100 people added 8% of the infected individuals; when d = 1.5 m, fewer than 2% of the newly infected individuals. The results confirmed that controlling the queue size for nucleic acid testing, strictly wearing masks, and maintaining a queue spacing of more than 1.5 m are safe and effective nucleic acid testing strategies. Our findings are also applicable to the prevention of other newly emerging infectious diseases.

A LMOF/MIP paper-based chip and analysis of tetracycline in foodstuff with sample-to-answer performance

The development of high-performance specific sensors is promising for the rapid detection of harmful residues in animal-derived foods. Recently, luminescent metal-organic framework/molecularly imprinted polymer (LMOF/MIP) materials have been developed as ideal candidates for the analysis of harmful residues. Here, we reported a simple fabrication protocol of paper-based chip through in-situ growth of LMOF on a negatively charged modified filter paper, a paper-based molecularly imprinting layer (FP@BA-Eu@MIP) was thereafter successfully prepared via the boronate affinity-based controllable oriented surface imprinting strategy. The paper-based chips obtained were used to construct a rapid test strip of tetracycline (TC). After addition of TC, significant fluorescence changes on the surface of the FP@BA-Eu@MIP paper-based chip could be observed from blue to red via inner filter effect and photo-induced electron transfer under the excitation of 360 nm. The adsorption kinetics was explored in detail. The presented strip exhibited satisfied selectiveness and sensitivity with a limit of detection of 8.47 μg L−1 for TC. It was confirmed that LMOF/MIP as a biomimetic recognition module can play a crucial role in enrichment and fluorescence response. This study provided a real application case for an in-situ fabricated fluorescence paper-based chip in rapidly detecting harmful residues.

Real-time PCR for malaria diagnosis and identification of Plasmodium species in febrile patients in Cubal, Angola

BackgroundMalaria is the parasitic disease with the highest morbimortality worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there were approximately 249 million cases in 2022, of which 3.4% were in Angola. Diagnosis is based on parasite identification by microscopy examination, antigen detection, and/or molecular tests, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of real-time PCR as a diagnostic method for malaria in an endemic area (Cubal, Angola).MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out at the Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz in Cubal, Angola, including 200 patients who consulted for febrile syndrome between May and July 2022. From each patient, a capillary blood sample was obtained by finger prick for malaria field diagnosis [microscopy and rapid diagnostic test (RDT)] and venous blood sample for real-time PCR performed at the Hospital Universitario Vall d’Hebron in Barcelona, Spain. Any participant with a positive result from at least one of these three methods was diagnosed with malaria.ResultsOf the 200 participants included, 54% were female and the median age was 7 years. Malaria was diagnosed by at least one of the three techniques (microscopy, RDT, and/or real-time PCR) in 58% of the participants, with RDT having the highest percentage of positivity (49%), followed by real-time PCR (39.5%) and microscopy (33.5%). Of the 61 discordant samples, 4 were only positive by microscopy, 13 by real-time PCR, and 26 by RDT. Plasmodium falciparum was the most frequent species detected (90.63%), followed by P. malariae (17.19%) and P. ovale (9.38%). Coinfections were detected in ten participants (15.63%): six (60%) were caused by P. falciparum and P. malariae, three (30%) by P. falciparum and P. ovale, and one (10%) triple infection with these three species. In addition, it was observed that P. falciparum and P. malariae coinfection significantly increased the parasite density of the latter.ConclusionsRDT was the technique with the highest positivity rate, followed by real-time PCR and microscopy. The results of the real-time PCR may have been underestimated due to suboptimal storage conditions during the transportation of the DNA eluates. However, real-time PCR techniques have an important role in the surveillance of circulating Plasmodium species, given the epidemiological importance of the increase in non-falciparum species in the country, and can provide an estimate of the intensity of infection.Graphical abstract

A Comparative Study of Bacteriological Profile and Susceptibility Pattern by Rapid Direct Manual Identification and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing with Routine Blood Culture Method in Neonatal Septicemia.

A Comparative Study of Bacteriological Profile and Susceptibility Pattern by Rapid Direct Manual Identification and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing with Routine Blood Culture Method in Neonatal Septicemia.

Distribution of Chlamydia trachomatis ompA-genotypes over three decades in Portugal

ObjectivesChlamydia trachomatis is classified into 15 major genotypes, A to L3, based on the diversity of ompA gene. Here, we evaluated and characterised the distribution and diversity of ompA-genotypes over...

Potential of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for prediction of acrylamide formation in French fries in the potato breeding process

Breeding goals of potatoes for deep-frying purposes include high starch contents, good suitability for long-term storage, and low tendency to form reducing sugars as acrylamide precursors. Due to the extensive number of samples, an accurate analysis of acrylamide in French fries and its precursors in tubers is difficult to implement in the breeding process. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the suitability of NIRS measurements after minimal sample processing for the prediction of reducing sugar contents in the tubers or acrylamide contents in French fries. An external validation with more than 650 samples consisting of 194 potato genotypes resulted in a prediction accuracy of 51 % for acrylamide and 76 % for reducing sugar content. RPD values of less than 1.5 for acrylamide and between 1.64 and 2.23 for reducing sugar prediction rendered low medium to medium model quality. Nevertheless, acrylamide prediction models based on NIRS measurement of mashed tubers categorised over 80 % of unknown samples correctly as being below or above the European threshold value, indicating suitability as rapid test procedure in the breeding process.

Development of a lateral-flow assay for rapid detection of parasitic nematodes

ObjectivesWild animals kept in enclosures are exposed to an increased risk of infection with Soil-transmitted Helminth (STH) due to high animal densities and the resulting heavy contamination of the enclosures. As regular fecal examinations are necessary to monitor and maintain health, a rapid test was developed to detect STH in wildlife. MethodThe rapid test consists of two polyclonal antibodies directed against the nematode SUMO-Protein (C- & N-term). For this study, 102 fecal samples from wild boar, fallow deer, red deer and dogs were examined. The fecal samples were defined by using the sedimentation technique and then used to evaluate the developed rapid test. ResultsThe sensitivity of the rapid test was 95.38 % with a specificity of 81.08 % and a accuracy of 90.2 %. ConclusionsAt this time, there is no commercial rapid test for the detection of STH. This rapid test can enable fast disease monitoring to make a decision in the field to save animals health. In addition, this rapid tests for the detection of parasites in wildlife can be crucial in the context of One Health to prevent the spread of disease within a system through monitoring, to preserve biodiversity and to improve global health security.

Challenges in diagnosis of clinical and subclinical Plasmodium falciparum infections in Ghana and feasibility of reactive interventions to shrink the subclinical reservoir

BackgroundReactive case detection (RCD) aims to reduce malaria transmission stemming from asymptomatic carriers. Symptomatic individuals diagnosed with malaria at a health centre are followed to their households, where members of the index case and neighbouring households are tested and treated for malaria. An RCD programme was tested in the Ashanti region of Ghana in order to study diagnostic accuracy in the hospital and household settings, assess the prevalence of subclinical infections and possible clustering in index case households, and identify operational challenges for future RCD programmes. Currently, transmission in this region is high, but reactive interventions might become an option once transmission is reduced.Methods264 febrile individuals were enrolled at the Mankranso Government Hospital and tested for malaria using rapid diagnostic tests (RDT). From the pool of RDT-positive febrile index cases, 14 successful RCD follow-ups were conducted, and 233 individuals were enrolled from the index case, neighbour, and control households. The sensitivity of diagnostic tools for clinical and subclinical cases was compared, including RDT, expert microscopy by World Health Organization-certified microscopists, field microscopy, and qPCR.ResultsPoor diagnosis and low receptivity to RCD-style follow-ups were major limitations to a successful and effective RCD programme. Field microscopy detected only 49% of clinical infections compared to RDT. 54% of individuals did not agree to a follow-up, and 66% of attempted follow-ups failed. The system effectiveness of RCD, calculated as the product of correctly diagnosed index cases, successful follow-ups, and proportion of asymptomatic infections detected by RDT, was very low at 4.0%.ConclusionsDue to low system effectiveness and the endemic nature of the disease setting in which asymptomatic prevalence is high and infections are not clustered around index case households, RCD is currently not a feasible option for malaria control in this region. The operational challenges identified through this study may help inform future reactive intervention programme designs once transmission is reduced.

Assessing the Benefit of Two Detection Approaches in Screening COVID-19 Using SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Tests among Intercity Public Bus Travelers.

The movement of people contributes to the spread of COVID-19 between communities. Hence, we evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of offering intercity bus travelers testing prior to their departure. We conducted baseline and endline surveys to map COVID-19 prevention practices in travel agencies in western Cameroon. As interventions, buses were randomly assigned to three study arms: 1) offering systematic COVID-19 rapid diagnostic testing (RDT) to all passengers (arm A); 2) offering testing to suspected cases (arm B); or 3) no testing (arm C). All travelers were called 7-10 days after their trip to identify potential cases. Fifty-five (90.2%) of the 61 travel agencies that were reached consented to participate in a baseline survey. Although only 27 (49.1%) of the agencies implemented at least one of the recommended COVID-19 preventive measures, 39 (70.9%) agreed to host a testing station. Six agencies were selected, and 669 buses were enrolled, including 223, 224, and 222 in arms A, B, and C, respectively. A total of 31,484 departing passengers were approached and 9,594 (30.5%) agreed to participate: 1,177 (12.3%) in arm A, 4,086 (42.6%) in arm B, and 4,331 (45.1%) in arm C. In all, 1,731 tests were performed, including 1,177 in arm A and 554 in arm B. Fourteen (0.8%) tests were positive, and two participants (14.3%) agreed to postpone their travel. Offering testing with antigen RDTs in travel agencies is feasible and acceptable. One-third of passengers consented, and testing did not delay any travels. Although this approach can detect COVID-19 cases, actions are needed to increase the proportion of positive cases postponing their travels.

Efficacy of Malaria Symptoms as an Indicator of Malaria Infection among Students of a Tertiary Institution in Ogun State Nigeria

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by the parasite Plasmodium, which is transmitted through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. Asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia refers to the presence of the parasite in the absence of fever or malaria-related symptoms. In Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, Nigeria, a study was conducted to ascertain the frequency of asymptomatic malaria among students attending higher education institutions and determine the efficacy of malaria symptoms as an indicator of malaria infection. A total of 115 students who consented to participate in the study were enrolled, and only a total of 93 of the respondents were recruited for the study, having met the inclusion criteria. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on socio-demographic characteristics, signs and symptoms of malaria, and malaria prevention strategy using Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN). Blood samples were collected from the respondents and diagnosed for malaria using Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT) kit. Of the 93 respondents, 32 (34%) were males while 61 (66%) were females. Analysis of the result showed that 77% of the respondents had malaria parasites, 38.7% of the respondents indicated that they do feel feverish sometimes while 47.3% responded that they rarely feel feverish, those who rarely show symptoms were observed to be asymptomatic as the result of the RDT was positive for malaria. On the use of Insecticide Treated Net (ITN) for both categories of students, those who are not using the net had a higher prevalence (64.5%) of malaria infection. The result of this study shows that malaria symptoms is not a good diagnostic tool for determining treatment. Asymptomatic malaria was a risk factor among the students therefore measures to reduce the prevalence are advocated.