Fecal Excretion of Mycobacterium leprae, Burkina Faso.

Mycobacterium leprae was detected by optical microscopy, fluorescent in situ hybridization, and molecular detection in feces collected for the diagnosis of Entamoeba coli enteritis in a leprosy patient in Burkina Faso. This observation raises questions about the role of fecal excretion of M. leprae in the natural history and diagnosis of leprosy.

Intestinal Protozoa, Helminth Infection, and Associated Factors among Tuberculosis Patients and Nontuberculosis Persons in Bobo-Dioulasso City, Burkina Faso.

We report the frequency and associated factors of tuberculosis (TB) and parasite coinfection from newly diagnosed pulmonary TB patients (TB+) and non-TB participants (TB-) from the Regional Tuberculosis Control Center, households, and health facilities in Bobo-Dioulasso from 2019 to 2021. Biological samples were examined for parasite infection using direct microscopy, concentration techniques, and the immunochromatographic rapid test. Data were analyzed using STATA 14. Of a total of 192 participants involved, 95 were TB+ and 97 were non-TB. There was no statistically significant difference in parasitic infections between the two groups, although it was higher in TB+ than TB- (69.5% [66/95] versus 55.7% [54/97]; P = 0.07). Protozoal infection prevalence was significantly higher in patients with TB+ than in those TB- (61.1% versus 37.1%; P = 0.001). Specifically, Entamoeba spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. followed this pattern with 35.8% versus 19.6% (P = 0.01) and 22.1% versus 8.3% (P = 0.007), respectively. Although higher in TB+ patients, helminthiasis frequency was not significantly different between the two groups (23.2% versus 15.5%; P = 0.2). Helminth species were Schistosomia mansoni (17.9% versus 12.4%), Dicrocoelium dendriticum (3.2% versus 1.0%), Enterobius vermicularis (2.1% versus 2.1%), Wuchereria bancrofti (1.1% versus 0.0%), and Hymenolepis nana (1.1% versus 0.0%). Illiteracy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.0-6.1), smoking (aOR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.1-5.3), and handwashing after defecation (aOR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.2-4.7) were associated with parasites. This study reported a high frequency of parasite coinfection in TB patients. These findings suggest the need for adequate health education for behavioral change and systematic diagnosing of parasites in TB patients for better coinfection management.

Immunological and Haematological Relevance of Helminths and Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Coinfection among Newly Diagnosed Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients from Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

The effect of helminthiasis on host immunity is a neglected area of research, particularly in tuberculosis (TB) infection. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of helminthiasis on immunological and haematological parameters in newly diagnosed TB patients in Bobo-Dioulasso. After all biological analyses, we formed three subpopulations: group 1 (n = 82), as control, were participants without helminthic or Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex infection (Mtb-/Helm-), group 2 (n = 73) were TB patients without helminthic infection (Mtb+/Helm-), and group 3 (n = 22) were TB patients with helminthic infection (Mtb+/Helm+). The proportion of helminth coinfection was 23.16% (22/95) in TB patients, and Schistosoma mansoni infection was found in 77.3% (17/22) cases of helminthiasis observed in this study. A low CD4 T cell count and a low CD4:CD8 ratio were significantly associated with concomitant infection with helminths and the Mtb complex (Mtb+/Helm+) compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the CD8 median among the three participating groups (p > 0.05). Lymphopenia, monocytosis, thrombocytosis, and hypochromic microcytic anaemia were the haematological defects observed in the Mtb+/Helm+ and Mtb+/Helm- patients. Exploring these types of immune-haematological biomarkers would be a valuable aid in diagnosing and a better follow-up and monitoring of the tuberculosis-helminthiasis coinfection.

Magnitude and associated factors of latent tuberculosis infection due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex among high-risk groups in urban Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among three high-risk groups - household contacts of TB index cases, healthcare workers and slaughterhouse workers - in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. Methods: Participants were recruited to this cross-sectional study from March to July 2020 after giving informed consent. Sociodemographic, clinical and biological data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus test (QFT-Plus) and the tuberculin skin test (TST) were used for detection of LTBI. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for LTBI. Results: The prevalence of LTBI among 101 participants (age range 15-68 years) was 67.33% [95% confidence interval (CI) 57.27-76.33] and 84.16% (95% CI 75.55-90.66) based on QFT-Plus and TST results, respectively. Compared with healthcare workers and household contacts of TB index cases, the prevalence of LTBI among slaughterhouse workers was significantly higher for both QTF-Plus (96.8%; P<0.001) and TST (100%; P=0.003). Working in a slaughterhouse [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.095, 95% CI 1.00-2.036], smoking (AOR 4.214, 95% CI 1.051-16.899), ≥15 years of exposure (AOR 5.617, 95% CI 1.202-32.198), having an animal at home (AOR 2.735, 95% CI 1.102-6.789) and protozoal infection (AOR 2.591, 95% CI 1.034-6.491) were significantly associated with LTBI on the QFT-Plus assay. Conclusion: The prevalence of LTBI was high in all three groups, particularly slaughterhouse workers. The risk factors identified could form the basis of targeted intervention.