Browsing by Author "Mesembe, Martha Tongo"

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    Evidence of co and triple infections of Hepatitis B and C amongst HIV infected pregnant women in Buea, Cameroon
    (Science Publishing Group, 2016-03) Ikomey, George Mondinde; Jacobs, Graeme Brendon; Tanjong, Becky; Mesembe, Martha Tongo; Eyoh, Agnes; Lyonga, Emilia; Mfoataw, Ebot; Ngoh, Rose; Tamandjou Tchuem, Cynthia Raissa; Ikomey, Greg; Okomo Assoumou, Marie Claire
    Little epidermiological data is available on the prevalence of HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Co-and or triple infection during pregnancy in Cameroon as well as many other resource limited settings. HIV and Hepatitis B and C are major public health concerns world wide. Our study aimed at assessing the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and C amongst HIV infected pregnant women in Buea, located in the Southwest region of Cameroon. A Cross-sectional study on consented pregnant women were conducted from March 2015 to August 2015. HIV-1 infections were detected using the national HIV-1 test algorithms. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HBe and anti- Hepatitis C (anti-HCV) were detected using Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISAs). Of the 1230 recruited pregnant women, 97/1230 (7.8%) (95% CI: 3.5, 29.0%) were confirmed HIV-1 positive. HIV/HBV co-infection were observed in 14/97 (14.4%) (95% CI: 39.8, 100%), whilst 11/97 (11.3 %; 95% CI: 27.5, 100%) were HIV/HCV co-infections. Two HIV-infected pregnant women (8/97(8.2%; 95% CI: 0.1, 17.2%)) were HIV/HBV/HCV triple-infected. Anti-HBc was detected in all HBV-infected pregnant women (14/14; (100.0%)) (95.0% CI: 39.8, 100.0%). Seropositivity for HIV-1 was higher (37%) amongst subjects aged between 32-37 years, whilst none was found above 40. From our results we conclude that Co- and triple infections of HIV, Hepatitis B and C were present amongst pregnant women in Buea. Epidemiological data generated from this study are limited due to the existence of triple infected. It will therefore serve as a guide to the government policies to reinforce screening, treatment and prevention strategies, through its Mother–to-Child–transmission (pMTCT) Programme nationwide.
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    Fas mediated(CD95L) periferal T-cell Apotosis marker in monitoring HIV-1 disease progression in adults in Yaoundé, Cameroon
    (Science Publishing Group, 2016-03-22) Ikomey, George Mondinde; Julius, Atashili; Jacobs, Graeme Brendon; Mesembe, Martha Tongo; Eyoh, Agnes; Lyonga, Emilia; Claire, Okomo Assoumou Marie; Pathology: Medical Virology
    sFas (CD95) / FasL are hallmarks of apoptosis involvement in pathogenesis of HIV. We assess changes in soluble Fas /FasL, CD4 % and HIV-1 viral load in patients prior to the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 6 months thereafter. A prospective longitudinal study on sixty consented HIV-1 positive adults. sFas and sFasL levels were measured by ELISA. CD4 cell counts and HIV-1 viralloads were measured using standard methods. Samples were analysed according to the manufacturers’ guidelines.There was a significant positive correlation between HIV-1 viral load and FasL at six months (M6) on treatment [r = +0.49, (0.03)]. There were no correlation between sFas/FasL and CD4 cell counts [ r = -33 (0.16), -31 (0.17) - 23 (0.03) respectively]. The significant correlation between sFasL and HIV-1 viral load at six months of ART suggests that sFasL could be a signal biomarker for HIV-1 disease progression. We have shown in this study that high levels of sFasL depict high HIV-1 viral loads and advance state of the HIV disease. These biomarker should be investigated further in other settings.