Research Article
Double Burden of Tuberculosis-HIV Co-infection and Drug Resistance in the Post-Conflict Far-North Region of Cameroon
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 4, December 2026
Pages:
151-162
Received:
17 July 2026
Accepted:
3 August 2026
Published:
9 October 2026
Abstract: In Cameroon, the Far-north region counts as one of the ten regions that lacks data’s concerning tuberculosis dynamics. Subject to national insecurity few years ago, some of the direct consequences include promiscuity, poverty, under diagnosis, treatment absence, leading to high burden of tuberculosis (TB). The present research was conducted across the Far-North Region of Cameroon for the first time, to investigate pulmonary tuberculosis among affected TB patients. Sputum specimens were collected following a rigorous questionnaire‑based investigation and HIV screening test. The specimens were subjected to microscopic examination, followed by culture. Strains of M. tuberculosis (MTB) complex isolated were tested for susceptibility to antibiotics and molecular detection of drug resistance (DR) was performed with MTB/DRplus. Between May 2022 to December 2025, 213 questionnaires were administered to randomly selected participants at the Maroua Regional Hospital, Mokolo and Koza District Hospitals, Koza Adventist Hospital and Minawao Health Center. Among these included participants, 146 of the 191 sputum samples were confirmed positive for M. tuberculosis complex, yielding a TB positivity rate of 76.4%. HIV seroprevalence of 13.6%, was noted and TB-HIV co-infection rate was 9.9%. Tuberculosis was significantly associated to male sex (p = 0.007), urban residence (p = 0.049), occupational activity primarily in the agricultural sector (p = 0.021) and infection status (p<0.001). 40 randomly selected culture-positive LJ strains of MTBC were subjected to the GenoType MTBDRplus test. While 80% of these strains were susceptible to both rifampicin and isoniazid, 20% exhibited at least one resistance with 7.5% classified as rifampicin monoresistance, 5% isoniazid monoresistance and 7.5% multi-resistant to both drugs. The mutation associated with rifampicin resistance was D516V in rpoB gene. for isoniazid resistance, mutation was identified at katG gene (S315T) and the inhA promoter region (C-15T and A-16G). These findings underscore the need to target sociodemographic determinants of TB in healthcare access and diagnostic delay (male sex, rural residence, agricultural occupation, infection status). The lack of association between HIV status and smear positivity, combined with the well-established risk of paucibacillary disease in HIV-positive individuals, represents an important limitation to acknowledge, and supports advocating need for the use of more sensitive conventional and molecular diagnostics interventions (e.g., Xpert MTB/RIF, LPA) in HIV-positive presumptive TB cases in this setting.
Abstract: In Cameroon, the Far-north region counts as one of the ten regions that lacks data’s concerning tuberculosis dynamics. Subject to national insecurity few years ago, some of the direct consequences include promiscuity, poverty, under diagnosis, treatment absence, leading to high burden of tuberculosis (TB). The present research was conducted across ...
Show More
Research Article
Bioconversion of Sweet Sorghum Stalk Sugars into Ethanol by Zymomonas mobilis Isolated from Palm Wine
Babacar Ngom*
,
Lat Souk Tounkara,
Papa Gueye,
Serigne Fallou Wade,
Mady Ndiaye
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 4, December 2026
Pages:
163-168
Received:
7 October 2026
Accepted:
16 October 2026
Published:
29 October 2026
Abstract: Background and objective: Sweet sorghum is a sugar-rich crop with considerable potential as a feedstock for bioethanol production. This study aimed to characterize sweet sorghum juice and evaluate its alcoholic bioconversion by Zymomonas mobilis isolated from palm wine, using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a reference microorganism. Material and methods: Z. mobilis was isolated from fresh palm wine on Wallerstein Laboratory (WL) medium, purified, and cultivated on a standard medium. Its ethanol tolerance was compared with that of S. cerevisiae at different ethanol concentrations. Sweet sorghum juice was extracted by pressing and characterized for dry matter, ash, total and reducing sugars, nitrogen, and selected mineral elements. Fermentation was performed under non-aerated conditions at 30°C in a 2-L fermenter using a Z. mobilis preculture corresponding to 10% of the final volume. Results: Colonies attributed to Z. mobilis on WL medium were lenticular and appeared after 4-5 days of incubation at 30°C. The isolate showed growth at ethanol concentrations ranging from 2.5% to 10%. Sweet sorghum juice had a mean dry matter content of 25.97 g/100 mL and mean total and reducing sugar contents of 18.99 and 19.12 g/100 mL, respectively. Fermentation with Z. mobilis did not result in a significant decrease in °Brix, which declined from 17°B initially to 16.5°B after 3 days and 16.3°B after 6 days. In contrast, the S. cerevisiae control produced an alcohol content of 5% with a reported yield of 50%. Conclusion: Under the experimental conditions investigated, the Z. mobilis strain isolated from palm wine did not efficiently ferment sweet sorghum juice. This failure may be associated with the nutritional characteristics of the substrate, preculture preparation conditions, or the physiological properties of the strain. Further studies involving more precise microbiological identification, optimization of the culture medium, and analytical monitoring of fermentation metabolites are warranted.
Abstract: Background and objective: Sweet sorghum is a sugar-rich crop with considerable potential as a feedstock for bioethanol production. This study aimed to characterize sweet sorghum juice and evaluate its alcoholic bioconversion by Zymomonas mobilis isolated from palm wine, using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a reference microorganism. Material and metho...
Show More
