Background In mid-November, 2021, the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant (B.1.1.529; BA.1 sublineage) was detected in southern Africa, prompting international travel restrictions. We aimed to investigate the spread of omicron BA.1 in Africa. Methods In this observational study, samples from patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 from 27 laboratories in 24 African countries, collected between June 1, 2021 and April 14, 2022, were tested for omicron BA.1 and delta (B.1.617.2) variants using real-time RT-PCR. Samples that tested positive for BA.1 by RT-PCR and were collected before estimated BA.1 emergence according to epidemiological properties were excluded from downstream analyses. The diagnostic precision of the assays was evaluated by high-throughput sequencing of samples from four countries. The observed spread of BA.1 was compared with mobility-based mathematical simulations and entries for SARS-CoV-2 in the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) genomic database. We estimated the effective reproduction number (R-t) at the country level considering the BA.1 fraction and the reported numbers of infections. Phylogeographical analyses were done in a Bayesian framework. Findings Through testing of 13 294 samples from patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, we established that, by November-December, 2021, omicron BA.1 had replaced the delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 in all African subregions, following a south-north gradient, with a median R-t of 2.60 (95% CI 2.46-2.71). This south-north spread, established on the basis of PCR data, was substantiated by phylogeographical reconstructions, ancestral state reconstructions, and GISAID data. PCR-based reconstructions of country-level BA.1 predominance and the availability of BA.1 genomic sequences in GISAID correlated significantly in time (p=0.0002, r=0.78). The first detections of BA.1 in high-income settings beyond Africa were predicted accurately in time by mobility-based mathematical simulations (p<0.0001). Comparing PCR-based reconstructions with mobility-based mathematical simulations suggested that SARS-CoV-2 infections in Africa were under-reported by approximately ten times. Inbound travellers infected with BA.1, departing from five continents, were identified in six African countries by early December, 2021. Interpretation Omicron BA.1 was widespread in Africa when travel bans were implemented, limiting their effectiveness. Combined with genomic surveillance and mobility-based mathematical modelling, PCR-based strategies can inform R-t and the geographical spread of emerging pathogens in a cost-effective and timely manner, and can guide evidence-based, non-pharmaceutical interventions such as travel restrictions or physical distancing. Copyright (c) 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
The rising prevalence of chronic diseases and antibiotic-resistant bacteria underscores the need for natural remedies as sustainable, side-effect-free alternatives. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of carob, a plant rich in bioactive compounds with remarkable health benefits. Aqueous extracts from its leaves and pods contain significant levels of polyphenols (9.2 ± 0.31 to 8.53 ± 0.32 mg GAE/g), flavonoids (up to 3.34 ± 0.14 mg QE/g), and tannins (4.34 ± 0.32 to 0.39 ± 0.06 mg EC/g), contributing to its strong antioxidant properties. Furthermore, carob extract exhibited potent antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones measuring 8.2 ± 0.5 mm for Salmonella spp., 8.4 ± 0.6 mm for Staphylococcus aureus, 9.5 ± 0.5 mm for Escherichia coli, and 8.8 ± 0.6 mm for Bacillus cereus. These bioactive compounds support gut health by acting as antioxidants and microbiome regulators, preventing inflammatory bowel diseases and promoting intestinal balance. This study highlights carob's role in chronic disease prevention, advocating for a holistic health approach.
In the era of polio eradication, acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), a major clinical presentation of poliovirus infection, continues to pose a public health problem.Several infectious agents comprising different families of viruses have been isolated from cases of AFP.Non-polio Enteroviruses (NPEVs) are considered to be the main infectious agents in AFP cases; further investigations have shown the isolation of Adenovirus from the stools of these patients.However, some Enteroviruses do not grow in the conventional cell lines used for the detection of Enteroviruses which is laborious and time consuming.Thus, more sensitive and faster methods are urgently needed for accurate detection of Enteroviruses in stool samples from AFP cases.
AbstractCurrently, the convergence of climate change, population growth, and deteriorating water quality has triggered a scarcity of freshwater resources, presenting substantial hurdles for agricultural endeavors. Consequently, repurposing treated wastewater for agricultural use is gaining prominence. This strategy offers a noteworthy advantage by furnishing an alternative water source, distinct from conventional freshwater, for agricultural irrigation. The considered irrigation water categories encompass treated wastewater, sewage treated with supplementary fertilization, treated water of a specific quality, and treated water quality fortified with fertilizer. An assessment of the treated wastewater extracted from the Imzouren‐Bni Bouayach treatment facility was undertaken, encompassing scrutiny of its physical, chemical, and bacteriological attributes. This analysis yielded measurements for a range of parameters, including pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, suspended matter, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total phosphorus, nitrate, nitrite, total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and fecal streptococci. These measurements align with acceptable thresholds for direct discharge and are following Morocco's established water quality standards tailored for irrigation. In light of the soil analysis, the soil is classified as alkaline, with a pH of 8.2, and displays low salinity, evidenced by an electrical conductivity of 2.42 mS/cm. Furthermore, the soil exhibits deficiencies in organic matter and essential nutrients, with carbon content measuring 0.84%, organic matter at 1.45%, nitrogen at 0.07%, phosphorus at 10.6 mg/L, and potassium at 56.5 mg/L. The utilization of treated wastewater for irrigation purposes bestows the crop with a dependable water supply, ensuring stability in its growth.
