BackgroundSevere acute respiratory illness (SARI) is recognized as an important cause of morbidity, mortality, and hospitalization among children in developing countries. Little is known, however, in tropical countries like Cameroon about the cause and seasonality of respiratory infections, especially in hospitalized settings.Objectives: Our study investigates the viral etiology and seasonality of SARI in hospitalized children in Yaounde, Cameroon.MethodsProspective clinic surveillance was conducted to identify hospitalized children aged ≤15 years presenting with respiratory symptoms ≤5‐day duration. Demographic and clinical data, and respiratory specimens were collected. Nasopharyngeal samples were tested for 17 respiratory viruses using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction. The viral distribution and demographic data were statistically analyzed.ResultsFrom September 2011 through September 2013, 347 children aged ≤15 years were enrolled. At least one virus was identified in each of 65·4% children, of which 29·5% were coinfections; 27·3% were positive for human adenovirus (hAdV), 13·2% for human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV), 11·5% for rhinovirus/enterovirus (RV/EV), 10·6% for human bocavirus (hBoV), 9·8% for influenza virus (Inf), 6·6% for human parainfluenza virus (hPIV), 5·7% for human coronavirus (hCoV), and 2·3% for human metapneumovirus (hMPV). While hRSV showed seasonal patterns, hAdV and RV/EV were detected throughout the year and no evident temporal patterns were observed for the remaining viruses.ConclusionRespiratory viruses were associated with a high burden of hospitalizations among children in Cameroon. Nevertheless, additional studies evaluating asymptomatic Cameroonian children will be important in understanding the relationship between viral carriage and disease.

ObjectiveHuman Bocavirus (HBoV) was first identified in 2005 and has been shown to be a common cause of respiratory infections and gastroenteritis in children. In a recent study, we found that 10.7% of children with acute respiratory infections (ARI) were infected by HBoV. Genetic characterization of this virus remains unknown in Central Africa, particularly in Cameroon Leeding us to evaluate the molecular characteristics of HBoV strains in Cameroonian children with ARI.ResultsPhylogenetic analysis of partial HBoV VP1/2 sequences showed a low level of nucleotide variation and the circulation of HBoV genotype 1 (HBoV-1) only. Three clades were obtained, two clustering with each of the reference strains ST1 and ST2, and a third group consisting of only Cameroon strains. By comparing with the Swedish reference sequences, ST1 and ST2, Cameroon sequences showed nucleotide and amino acid similarities of respectively 97.36–100% and 98.35–100%. These results could help improve strategies for monitoring and control of respiratory infections in Cameroon.

Background Acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRIs) are one one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among people of all ages worldwide, particularly in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). The purpose of this study was to determine epidemiological characteristics of respiratory viruses in acute respiratory infection (ARI) patients during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Methods Patients were monitored for respiratory symptoms as part of the surveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) and other respiratory viral infections. Patients of all ages with respiratory symptoms less than 5 days were considered. Sociodemographic and clinical data as well as nasopharyngeal samples was collected from patients. Nasopharyngeal samples were tested for SARS‐CoV‐2, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) using real‐time reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction methods. Virus distribution and demographic data were analyzed with R version 2.15.1. Results From July 2020 to October 2021, 1120 patients were included. The overall viral detection rate was 32.5%, including 9.5% for RSV, 12.6% for influenza virus and 12.8% for SARS‐CoV‐2. Co‐infections were detected in 6.9% of positive cases. While RSV and influenza virus showed seasonal trends, SARS‐CoV‐2 was detected throughout the study period. Conclusion We found that during COVID‐19 pandemic, respiratory viruses play an important role in etiology of influenza‐like illness in Cameroon, and this observation was true for patients of all ages.

Background and Aims: Respiratory viruses are responsible for the majority of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) worldwide. However, there is a gap on the epidemiology of viral LRTIs in adults in sub-Saharan African countries. In Cameroon, like in other countries, the role of viral respiratory pathogens in the etiology of LRTIs in adults is helpful for clinical management. This study aimed to determine the viral aetiologies of LRTIs among hospitalized adults in a reference center for respiratory diseases in the town of Yaounde in Cameroon and its surroundings. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2017 to January 2018 at Jamot Hospital in Yaounde (Cameroon). Clinical and demographic information; BAL and sputa were collected from hospitalized patients meeting LRTI case definitions. The clinical samples were investigated for respiratory pathogens with a commercial Reverse Transcriptase Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) targeting 21 viruses, cultures for bacterial and fungal infections. Results: The 77 included adult patients with LRTIs had an appropriate clinical sample for microbial investigations. A viral agent was detected in 22.1% (17/77) samples. The main viruses detected included rhinovirus (10/77), coronavirus (hCoV-OC43 and hCoV-229E), and influenza A virus (3/77 each). A concomitant viral and bacterial co-infection occurred in 7.8% of patients (6/77) while viral co-infection occurred in one patient (1.3%). No Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was detected in clinical samples. Most patients were under antimicrobials before getting diagnosed.

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