Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage of Preschool Children in Libreville, Gabon: Prevalence and Determining Factors.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess hepatitis B vaccination coverage (vaccine coverage) among preschool children in Libreville, Gabon, and determine associated factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done evaluating hepatitis B vaccination records, by cluster random sampling of children aged 4 months to 5 years from 5 medical centres. RESULTS: Of the 500 children (243 males) included, we found a hepatitis B vaccine coverage of 78.6% (95% CI 75% to 82.2%). Factors significantly associated with vaccine coverage included parental confidence in the vaccine (OR=2.2;95% CI 1.4-5.5), the number of children at home lower than the median (aOR=1.6; 95% CI ; 1.3-3.7). and working mothers/fathers. CONCLUSION: Hepatitis B vaccine coverage in Libreville is lower than WHO objectives. Healthcare providers have a crucial role in building up confidence among parents.

[Serological study on toxoplasmosis among pregnant women from Franceville, Gabon]. / Etude sérologique de la toxoplasmosechez les femmes enceintes de Franceville, Gabon.

The serological prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii was studied among 839 pregnant women in two hospitals from Franceville (Gabon), between May 2007 and December 2007. Specific T gondii IgG and IgM were measured by Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay (ELFA). Datation of the infection was carried out by avidity test. Fifty-six percent of women in this study were immunised compare to the 71% who were found as immunised in a previous study carried out fifteen years ago. 2.6% were found to be IgM positive. However, from the avidity test it was found that these infections occurred before pregnancy contact with cats and age increase this prevalence. The lack of information for pregnant women, the lack of continuous training for health personnel and lack of awareness about interpretation of laboratory diagnostic tests like avidity test in these hospitals reduce the level of counselling for women about T gondii.

Apoptosis: a potential triggering mechanism of neurological manifestation in Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

Plasmodium falciparum infection can lead to a life threatening disease and the pathogenetic mechanisms of severe manifestations are not fully understood. Here, we investigated the capacity of P. falciparum-parasitized red blood cells (PRBC) from 45 children with clinical malaria to induce endothelial cell (EC) apoptosis. In all subjects, PRBC that cytoadhered to ECs could be found albeit to a variable degree. By contrast, PRBC that induce EC apoptosis were found only in nine (20%) subjects. Interestingly, children with neurological manifestations were significantly more likely to harbour apoptogenic strains. There was no quantitative relationship between the capacity of these isolates to cytoadhere and apoptosis induction. We hypothesize that P. falciparum-encoded molecules could be responsible for apoptosis induction and therefore suggest new insights in the pathogenesis of P. falciparum malaria. Further investigations are currently in progress to determine whether these results can be confirmed and to identify putative parasite apoptogenic factors.