Development of Multiplex Molecular Assays for Simultaneous Detection of Dengue Serotypes and Chikungunya Virus for Arbovirus Surveillance.

The major arboviruses mainly belong to the Bunyaviridae, Togaviridae, and Flaviviridae families, among which the chikungunya virus and dengue virus have emerged as global public health problems. The main objective of this study was to develop specific, sensitive, and cost-effective molecular multiplex RT-PCR and RT-qPCR assays for the rapid and simultaneous detection of CHIKV and the four serotypes of DENV for arbovirus surveillance. Specific primers for all viruses were designed, and one-step multiplex RT-PCR (mRT-PCR) and RT-qPCR (mRT-qPCR) were developed using reference strains of the CHIKV and DENV serotypes. The specificity of the test for all the viruses was confirmed through sequencing. The standard curves showed a high correlation coefficient, R2 = 0.99, for DENV-2 and DENV-3; R2 = 0.98, for DENV-4; and CHIKV; R2 = 0.93, for DENV-1. The limits of detection were calculated to be 4.1 × 10-1 copies/reaction for DENV-1, DENV-3, and CHIKV and 4.1 × 101 for DENV-2 and DENV-4. The specificity and sensitivity of the newly developed mRT-PCR and mRT-qPCR were validated using positive serum samples collected from India and Burkina Faso. The sensitivity of mRT-PCR and mRT-qPCR are 91%, and 100%, respectively. The specificity of both assays was 100%. mRT-PCR and mRT-qPCR assays are low-cost, and a combination of both will be a useful tool for arbovirus surveillance.

Potential Performance of Two New RT-PCR and RT-qPCR Methods for Multiplex Detection of Dengue Virus Serotypes 1-4 and Chikungunya Virus in Mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes of the genus Aedes are the most important arthropod disease vector. Dengue virus (DENV) and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) are the main arboviruses distributed throughout the world. Based on entomo-virological surveillance, appropriate public health strategies can be adopted to contain cases and control outbreaks. This study aims to show the potential performance of two new molecular methods for detecting DENV serotypes and CHIKV in mosquitoes. Mosquitoes were collected in urban and sylvatic areas of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, between July and August 2023. DENV and CHIKV were screened using new multiplex RT-PCR and RT-qPCR methods. A total of 2150 mosquitoes were trapped, consisting of 976 Aedes (959 Ae. aegypti, 6 Ae. furcifer, and 11 Ae. vittatus) and 1174 Culex sp. These were grouped into 39 pools, with each pool containing a maximum of 30 mosquitoes. Molecular screening revealed that 7.7% (3/39) of the pools were positive for DENV. Specifically, DENV-1 was detected in one pool (1/3), and DENV-3 was found in two pools (2/3). All pools tested negative for CHIKV. The overall minimum infection rate (MIR) of DENV in this study was 3.07 (95% CI: 2.24-19.86). This study shows the usefulness of our new molecular tools for the surveillance of DENV serotypes and CHIKV.

Utilization of novel molecular multiplex methods for the detection and, epidemiological surveillance of dengue virus serotypes and chikungunya virus in Burkina Faso, West Africa.

BACKGROUND: Dengue virus (DENV) and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) are major arboviruses that are transmitted to humans by Aedes aegypti (A. aegypti) and Aedes Albopictus (A. Albopictus) mosquitoes. In absence of specific antivirals and vaccine against these two viruses, prompt diagnosis of acute infections and robust surveillance for outbreak identification remain crucial. Therefore, rapid, robust, high-throughput, accessible, and low-cost assays are essential for endemic countries. This study evaluated our recently developed multiplex RT-PCR and RT-qPCR assays to screen for DENV1-4 and CHIKV circulation in Burkina Faso. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study, conducted between June to August 2023, enrolled patients with suspected arbovirus infection presenting at healthcare facilities in three Burkina Faso cities (Bobo-Dioulasso, Houndé, and Ouagadougou). Serum samples were collected and screened for DENV serotypes and CHIKV using our newly multiplex RT-PCR and RT-q PCR techniques recently developed. A total of 408 patients (age median = 33, range from 3 to 84 years) participated in this study. Of these, 13.7% (56/408) had DENV infection; DENV-1 was 32.1% (18/56) and DENV-3 was 67.9% (38/56). DENV-2, DENV-4 and CHIKV were not detected. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of our molecular methods for DENV detection and serotyping in Burkina Faso. The affordability of our methods makes them valuable for implementing widespread routine clinical diagnostics or arbovirus surveillance in resource-limited settings.

Evaluation of the impact of COVID-19 in people coinfected with HIV and/or tuberculosis in low-income countries: study protocol for mixed methods research in Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND: An issue of particular concern is the impact of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019 nCOV) on the people coinfected with the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) and/or tuberculosis (TB). Unfortunately, this interaction has not been well explored in African despite the large proportion of these risk populations living with HIV and/or patients and/or tuberculosis (TB) in the African region. This study aims to design a research protocol for assessment of the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on these risk populations in response to COVID-19 strategic plans in Burkina Faso by generating serological, epidemiological, virological, clinical and socio-anthropological evidence-based data. METHODS: A multidisciplinary research will be conducted in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso using mixed methods. Data will be collected from a cohort of people living with HIV and/or TB patients in the city (i) to determine the proportion of people with specific antibodies against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) using retrospective data ; (ii) to determine the proportion of people infected with Covid-19 and the dynamics of viral loads and antibodies in these people based on prospective data; (iii) to identify circulating SARS-COV-2 variants and novel biomarkers using prospective data ; (iv) to analyze perceptions, community experiences and response strategies during the public health emergencies imposed by COVID-19 through a qualitative study. DISCUSSION: This study will generate factual and comprehensive data that will contribute in improving response strategies to COVID-19 and the other possible emerging diseases with keen interest on the risk populations living with HIV and/or TB infected patients.

Spatiotemporal analysis of dengue fever in Burkina Faso from 2016 to 2019.

BACKGROUND: Burkina Faso experienced an epidemic resurgence of dengue in 2016, which led to the implementation of several control strategies. In order to allow a better adaptation of these strategies, we studied the spatio-temporal distribution of dengue. METHODS: Monthly dengue cases from 2016 to 2019, aggregated at the health district level, were used to map the crude incidence, excess risk, and smoothed incidence of dengue in Burkina Faso with GeoDa software. A Kulldoff scan on Satscan software was then used to identify spatio-temporal clustering of cases. RESULTS: The results show that the distribution of dengue fever across the health districts of Burkina Faso is heterogeneous. Dengue was considered non-endemic in 9 out of the 70 health districts, minimally endemic in 45 districts (< 10 incidences), moderately endemic (10-100 incidences) in 12 districts, and highly endemic (> 100 incidences) in 4 districts. The main cluster covered the health districts of Baskuy, Nongr-massom, Sig-noghin, Boulmiougou, and Bogodogo. The months of October and November corresponded to the peak of cases and a significant temporal cluster in 2017. CONCLUSION: This study identified the spatial and temporal clustering of dengue cases in Burkina Faso. These results may help to develop better preventive strategies.

Malaria vectors diversity, insecticide resistance and transmission during the rainy season in peri-urban villages of south-western Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND: This study reports an updated description on malaria vector diversity, behaviour, insecticide resistance and malaria transmission in the Diébougou and Dano peri-urban areas, Burkina Faso. METHODS: Mosquitoes were caught monthly using CDC light traps and pyrethrum spray catches. Mosquitoes were identified using morphological taxonomic keys. PCR techniques were used to identify the species of the Anopheles gambiae complex and insecticide resistance mechanisms in a subset of Anopheles vectors. The Plasmodium sporozoite infection status and origins of blood meals of female mosquitoes were determined by ELISA methods. Larvae were collected, breed in the insectary and tested for phenotypic resistance against four insecticides using WHO bioassays. RESULTS: This study contributed to update the entomological data in two peri-urban areas of Southwest Burkina Faso. Anopheles populations were mostly anthropophilic and endophilic in both areas and exhibit high susceptibility to an organophosphate insecticide. This offers an alternative for the control of these pyrethroid-resistant populations. These data might help the National Malaria Control Programme for decision-making about vector control planning and resistance management. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributed to update the entomological data in two peri-urban areas of Southwest Burkina Faso. Anopheles populations were mostly anthropophilic and endophilic in both areas and exhibit high susceptibility to an organophosphate insecticide. This offers an alternative for the control of these pyrethroid-resistant populations. These data might help the National Malaria Control Programme for decision-making about vector control planning and resistance management.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women from Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis is one of the common worldwide parasitic zoonosis due to Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). Toxoplasmosis during pregnancy can result in fetal and neonatal death or various congenital defects. The aim of this study was to assess the seroprevalence and risk factors of T. gondii infection in pregnant women following antenatal care (ANC) services at Bobo Dioulasso. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted enrolling a sample of 316 pregnant women attending ANC at centers for maternal and child health of Bobo-Dioulasso town from March 2013 to February 2014. Data on socio-demographic and potential risk factors were collected from each study participant using structured questionnaire through face-to-face interview. Moreover, venous blood specimens were collected and tested for IgM and IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and enzyme linked fluorescent assay, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to identify the potential predictor variables for T. gondii infection. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence for T. gondii infection was 31.1% (98/316). All the pregnant women were positive for IgG anti-bodies exclusively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that having at least a secondary education level (AOR = 2.23; 95% CI: [1.04-4.63]); being urban resident (AOR = 2.81; 95% CI: [1.24-6.86]) and the consumption of meat combination (pork + beef + mutton + wild meat + poultry) (AOR = 4.00; 95% CI: [1.06-15.24]) were potential risk factors of T. gondii infection. CONCLUSION: Toxoplasmosis is frequent in pregnant women and studies that show incidence of T. gondii among the neonates have to be done to introduce routine antenatal screening program to control congenital toxoplasmosis. There is the need for preventive measures such as education of pregnant women about the transmission routes and prevention methods of toxoplasmosis at ANC clinics.

Experimental study of the relationship between Plasmodium gametocyte density and infection success in mosquitoes; implications for the evaluation of malaria transmission-reducing interventions.

The evaluation of transmission reducing interventions (TRI) to control malaria widely uses membrane feeding assays. In such assays, the intensity of Plasmodium infection in the vector might affect the measured efficacy of the candidates to block transmission. Gametocyte density in the host blood is a determinant of the infection success in the mosquito, however, uncertain estimates of parasite densities and intrinsic characteristics of the infected blood can induce variability. To reduce this variation, a feasible method is to dilute infectious blood samples. We describe the effect of diluting samples of Plasmodium-containing blood samples to allow accurate relative measures of gametocyte densities and their impact on mosquito infectivity and TRI efficacy. Natural Plasmodium falciparum samples were diluted to generate a wide range of parasite densities, and fed to Anopheles coluzzii mosquitoes. This was compared with parallel dilutions conducted on Plasmodium berghei infections. We examined how blood dilution influences the observed blocking activity of anti-Pbs28 monoclonal antibody using the P. berghei/Anopheles stephensi system. In the natural species combination P. falciparum/An. coluzzii, blood dilution using heat-inactivated, infected blood as diluents, revealed positive near linear relationships, between gametocyte densities and oocyst loads in the range tested. A similar relationship was observed in the P. berghei/An. stephensi system when using a similar dilution method. In contrast, diluting infected mice blood with fresh uninfected blood dramatically increases the infectiousness. This suggests that highly infected mice blood contains inhibitory factors or reduced blood moieties, which impede infection and may in turn, lead to misinterpretation when comparing individual TRI evaluation assays. In the lab system, the transmission blocking activity of an antibody specific for Pbs28 was confirmed to be density-dependent. This highlights the need to carefully interpret evaluations of TRI candidates, regarding gametocyte densities in the P. berghei/An. stephensi system.

Prevalence and risk factors for Plasmodium falciparum malaria in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso).

BACKGROUND: Malaria during pregnancy remains a serious public health problem. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and possible risk factors for malaria in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at two primary health facilities in Bobo-Dioulasso. METHODS: We conducted a cross sectional study from September to December 2010 in two primary health facilities located in the periurban area of Bobo-Dioulasso. Pregnant women attending antenatal clinic (ANC) were included in the study after signing informed consent. For each participant, the social-demographic profile, malaria and obstetric histories were investigated through a questionnaire. Peripheral blood was collected and thick and thin blood smears were prepared to check Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia. Hemoglobin concentration was measured. The associations between age, parity, gestational age, schooling, number of ANC visits, use of IPTp-SP, use of insecticide-treated nets (ITN) and anemia with the occurrence of P. falciparum malaria infection during pregnancy were analyzed through logistic regression. RESULTS: During the period of study, 105 (18.1%) out of 579 pregnant women were infected by P. falciparum. The hemoglobin concentration mean was 10.5 ± 1.7/dL and was significantly lower in pregnant women with malaria infection (9.8 g/dL ±1.6) than in those who had no malaria infection (10.6 g/dL ±1.7) (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated that, education (AOR 1.9, 95% CI = [1.2-3.2]), parity [primigravidae (AOR 5.0, 95% CI = [2.5-9.8]) and secundigravidae (AOR 2.1, 95% CI = [1.2-3.8])], and anaemia (AOR 2.1, 95% CI = [1.3-3.5]) were significantly associated with P. falciparum malaria infection. The use of IPTp-SP was not associated with P. falciparum malaria infection. CONCLUSIONS: P. falciparum malaria infection is common in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic and anaemia is an important complication. The results show that the use of IPTp-SP does not reduce the risk of malaria incidence during pregnancy.

Epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic features of histoplasmosis: A systematic review.

Histoplasmosis is a mycosis due to a dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. This study aimed at providing an overview of histoplasmosis epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects from the last 30 years. This review was carried out using a systematic literature search on histoplasmosis from 1992 to 2021. We describe the clinical features, diagnostic methods and treatment. Empirical searches were conducted via the databases PubMed, Google Scholar and Science Direct. Between 1992 and 2021, 190 manuscripts were published and reported 212 cases of histoplasmosis. These publications included 115 and 97 cases of American and African histoplasmosis respectively. The number of publications increased over the last ten years with a maximum in 2020 (12.34 % of the cases reported). The disseminated forms of histoplasmosis were the most frequently reported cases as compared to the localized forms. This was the case with the American histoplasmosis (75.65 %) as well as with the African histoplasmosis (55.67 %). Itraconazole (31.17 %) and Amphotericin B (26.62 %) were the most used drugs in the management of these cases. American histoplasmosis is distributed worldwide whereas African histoplasmosis is mainly present in intertropical Africa. There is a critical need for setting up a global surveillance system, towards a better understanding of the disease.

Schistosomiasis in Burkina Faso: review on 60 years' research.

Schistosomiasis is a common neglected helminthic disease in the tropics and sub-tropics particularly in sub-Saharan countries including Burkina Faso. It is the second world parasitic endemic disease after malaria. The two prevalent species infecting human in Burkina Faso are are Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni which cause respectively the urogenital schistosomiasis and the intestinal schistosomiasis. This review aimed at providing an historical perspective of research on schistosomiasis from 1960 to 2020 and shedding some light on the gaps in knowledge useful for the disease control and the elimination efforts in Burkina Faso. Formal systematic review was not followed for this review. Published studies on the schistosomiasis in Burkina Faso over the period from 1960 to 2020, were search in Medline, PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE and the libraries of main universities in Burkina Faso namely: Joseph KI-ZERBO University and Nazi BONI University. The following key words used were: Schistosomiasis, Bilharzia, Bulinus, Biomphalaria, Upper-Volta and Burkina Faso. Over a period of 60 years, a total of 87 scientific research documents were identified. The original scientific research articles represent the majority of the scientific documents found (65.52%). Urinary schistosomiasis was the most common from the documentation. There has been a gradual decrease in the prevalence, more significantly since the implementation of the National Schistosomiasis Control Program (NSCP). The effectiveness of the NSCP could therefore contribute to the elimination of schistosomiasis in Burkina Faso.

Sentinel laboratory compliance with best practices in Burkina Faso's antimicrobial resistance surveillance network.

Background: Standardising procedures is the best way to harmonise and strengthen the quality of laboratory-based antimicrobial resistance surveillance. Since 2018, Burkina Faso has developed and disseminated the national manual of procedures for performing antibiotic susceptibility tests in sentinel laboratories within its national antimicrobial resistance surveillance network. Objective: Our study aimed to assess these sentinel laboratories' compliance with good practices for antibiotics susceptibility tests. Methods: Four teams evaluated the antimicrobial resistance sentinel sites laboratories throughout Burkina Faso from 19 to 28 September 2022. Eighteen out of 19 sentinel laboratories were evaluated. A four-member technical committee designed and validated the evaluation tool composed of three Microsoft Excel sheets. The evaluation emphasised quality controls for culture media, antibiotic discs and compliance with antimicrobial susceptibility testing procedures by the laboratories. Excel software was used for data recording and graphs and table design. The free R software version 4.2.0 was used for descriptive statistics. An overall score below 80% was considered noncompliance. Results: Most (83.33%) of the sentinel laboratories conducted at least one quality control activity for culture media, and 66.67% conducted at least one quality control activity for antibiotic discs. Over three-quarters (76.47%) of the laboratories were more than 80% compliant with the modified Kirby Bauer antimicrobial susceptibility testing method. Conclusion: The evaluation revealed the noncompliance of sentinel laboratories with the national procedure manual, particularly in the quality control component. What this study adds: This study has provided baseline data on the sentinel laboratories' compliance with the national antimicrobial susceptibility testing procedures manual, particularly in areas performing quality control checks or meeting quality indicators for culture media and antibiotic discs.

Situation of onchocerciasis transmission in 2020 in the Cascades region of Burkina Faso.

Faced with the focal resurgence of onchocerciasis reported since 2004 in the South-West of Burkina Faso, the Neglected Tropical Diseases Control Program adopted a resumption of biannual community-directed treatment with ivermectin, since 2011 in the Cascades region and since 2013 in the South West region. The objective of this study was to assess the situation of onchocerciasis transmission in the Cascades region, nine years after the resumption of mass drug administration. This cross-sectional and descriptive survey concerned people over 5. The traditional method of skin snip on both iliac crests was performed for the parasitological diagnosis of onchocerciasis. The Ov-16 serological test was carried out in children aged 5 to 9 years. In 22 surveyed villages, the overall prevalence of microfilariae was 0.11% and below the tolerable threshold of 5%. It was less than 5% in all the villages (n = 22), less than 1% in 21 villages (99%) and zero in 19 villages (86.36%). The community microfilarial loads varied from 0.01 to 0.05 mf/b. Out of 946 children tested for OV-16, only one 9-year-old was positive and whose skin snip examination was negative. All the positive cases came from endemical areas in Côte d'Ivoire. Population migration is a risk factor for introducing the parasite into Burkina Faso; it also is risk factor for the effective elimination of onchocerciasis which requires the joint development of a control strategy between neighboring countries.

Assessment of Culicidae collection methods for xenomonitoring lymphatic filariasis in malaria co-infection context in Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND: Entomological surveillance of lymphatic filariasis and malaria infections play an important role in the decision-making of national programs to control, or eliminate these both diseases. In areas where both diseases prevalence is low, a large number of mosquitoes need to be sampled to determine vectors infection rate. To do this, efficient mosquito collection methods must be used. This study is part in this framework, to assess appropriate mosquito collection methods for lymphatic filariasis xenomonitoring in a coexistence context with malaria in Burkina Faso. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Mosquito collections were performed between August and September 2018 in four villages (Koulpissi, Seiga, and Péribgan, Saptan), distributed in East and South-West health regions of Burkina Faso. Different collection methods were used: Human Landing Catches (HLC) executed indoor and outdoor, Window Exit-Trap, Double Net Trap (DNT) and Pyrethrum Spray Catches (PSC). Molecular analyses were performed to identify Anopheles gambiae s.l. sibling species and to detect Wuchereria bancrofti and Plasmodium falciparum infection in Anopheles mosquitoes. A total of 3 322 mosquitoes were collected among this, Anopheles gambiae s.l. was the vector caught in largest proportion (63.82%). An. gambiae s.l. sibling species molecular characterization showed that An. gambiae was the dominant specie in all villages. The Human Landing Catches (indoor and outdoor) collected the highest proportion of mosquitoes (between 61.5% and 82.79%). For the sampling vectors infected to W. bancrofti or P. falciparum, PSC, HLC and Window Exit-Trap were found the most effective collection methods. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This study revealed that HLC indoor and outdoor remained the most effective collection method. Likewise, the results showed the probability to use Window Exit-Trap and PSC collection methods to sample Anopheles infected.

Studying fitness cost of Plasmodium falciparum infection in malaria vectors: validation of an appropriate negative control.

BACKGROUND: The question whether Plasmodium falciparum infection affects the fitness of mosquito vectors remains open. A hurdle for resolving this question is the lack of appropriate control, non-infected mosquitoes that can be compared to the infected ones. It was shown recently that heating P. falciparum gametocyte-infected blood before feeding by malaria vectors inhibits the infection. Therefore, the same source of gametocyte-infected blood could be divided in two parts, one heated, serving as the control, the other unheated, allowing the comparison of infected and uninfected mosquitoes which fed on exactly the same blood otherwise. However, before using this method for characterizing the cost of infection to mosquitoes, it is necessary to establish whether feeding on previously heated blood affects the survival and fecundity of mosquito females. METHODS: Anopheles gambiae M molecular form females were exposed to heated versus non-heated, parasite-free human blood to mimic blood meal on non-infectious versus infectious gametocyte-containing blood. Life history traits of mosquito females fed on blood that was heat-treated or not were then compared. RESULTS: The results reveal that heat treatment of the blood did not affect the survival and fecundity of mosquito females. Consistently, blood heat treatment did not affect the quantity of blood ingested. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates that heat inactivation of gametocyte-infected blood will only inhibit mosquito infection and that this method is suitable for quantifying the fitness cost incurred by mosquitoes upon infection by P. falciparum.

A continental and global assessment of the role of energy consumption, total natural resource rent, and economic growth as determinants of carbon emissions.

To limit the effects of carbon emissions and realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), countries worldwide seek efficient energy usage, economic sustainability, and natural resource blessing. Studies at the continental level mostly neglected the differences between the continents, while this study explores the long-run effect of natural resource rents, economic development, and energy consumption on carbon emissions and their interactions across the global panel of 159 countries divided into six continents from 2000 to 2019. Recently proposed panel estimators, causality tests, variance decomposition, and impulse response techniques were adopted. Findings from the panel estimator revealed that economic development contributed to environmental sustainability. At the same time, energy consumption increases ecological pollution globally and on most continents. The interaction between economic development and energy consumption positively impacted ecological pollution. Natural resources' rent was found to promote environmental pollution in Asia. The causality test results were mixed across continents and globally. However, findings from the impulse response and variance decomposition confirmed that economic development and energy consumption counted higher variations of carbon emissions than natural resource rents within the 10-year forecast. This study provides a valuable baseline for formulating policies related to the economy-energy-resources­carbon nexus.

Spatio-Temporal Determinants of Dengue Epidemics in the Central Region of Burkina Faso.

The aim of this study was to analyze the spatio-temporal distribution and determinants of the 2017 dengue epidemic in Burkina Faso. A principal component analysis of meteorological and environmental factors was performed to reduce dimensions and avoid collinearities. An initial generalized additive model assessed the impact of the components derived from this analysis on dengue incidence. Dengue incidence increased mainly with relative humidity, precipitation, normalized difference vegetation index and minimum temperature with an 8-week lag. A Kulldoff Satscan scan was used to identify high-risk dengue clusters, and a second generalized additive model assessed the risk of a health area being at high risk according to land-use factors. The spatio-temporal distribution of dengue fever was heterogeneous and strongly correlated with meteorological factors. The rural communes of Sabaa and Koubri were the areas most at risk. This study provides useful information for planning targeted dengue control strategies in Burkina Faso.

Impact of mentoring on the implementation of the quality management system in clinical laboratories in Burkina Faso, West Africa.

In Burkina Faso, the implementation of the quality management system remains weak in diagnostic laboratories. Integrating mentoring into the life of clinical diagnostic laboratories, a qualified mentor is essential for quality system control. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the mentoring process on quality improvement. Mentoring process was implemented at nine laboratories. The process consisted of a one-week mentor stay in the laboratory as one visit, with four in total. The SLIPTA checklist was used as a measurement tool. Two audits were performed (before and after the implementation of the mentoring process. The audit data were analyzed to estimate the effect of mentoring on quality improvement. A score difference of 24.55% was found significant between the two audits (paired Student's t-test p-value = 0.0002). The variables non-conformities, corrective/preventive actions, and facilities/safety have factored more than eight points between the two audits. However, the management/customer service and information one have only slightly increased (2.27 and 0.63, respectively). Mentoring has improved the quality management system in laboratories. However, some points of the process need to be improved to bring these laboratories toward international accreditation.

Climate factors and dengue fever in Burkina Faso from 2017 to 2019.

Dengue is now a major health concern in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding the influence of local meteorological factors on the incidence of dengue is an important element for better prediction and control of this disease. This study aims to assess the impact of meteorological factors on dengue transmission in the central region of Burkina Faso. We analyzed the lagged effects of meteorological factors on the weekly incidence of dengue from 2017 to 2019 in the central region of Burkina Faso using a General Additive Model. The results show that maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed have a significant non-linear effect on dengue cases in the region with 83% of case variance explained. The optimal temperature that increases dengue cases was 27°C to 32°C for the maximum temperature and 18°C to 20°C for the minimum temperature with a decrease beyond that. The maximum temperature shifted by six weeks had the best correlation with dengue incidence. The estimated number of dengue cases increases as the maximum relative humidity increases from 15 to 45% and then from 60 to 70%. In general, an increase in daily wind speed is estimated to decrease the number of daily dengue cases. The relationship between rainfall and dengue cases was not significant. This study provides local information about the effect of meteorological factors on dengue that should help improve predictive models of dengue cases in Burkina Faso and contribute to the control of this disease.

Antimalarial drugs resistance genes of Plasmodium falciparum: a review.

Malaria remains the most common parasitic disease on the planet, with 229 million cases and 409,000 deaths worldwide in 2019, including 274,030 children under the age of 5. It is one of the most important infectious diseases in the world and its control is compromised by the spread of the parasite's resistance to antimalarial drugs. This study aims to review the literature of resistant Plasmodium falciparum genes over the past twenty years. One hundred and five (105) articles were collected and read while the resistance of P. falciparum was being studied. Several P. falciparum gene resistances antimalarial drugs were discovered over the past twenty years. The most recent one is the Kelch13 gene of P. falciparum (Pfkelch13) which has showed resistance to artemisinin in Asia. In Africa, this gene represents a potential candidate for resistance to artemisinin, although no resistance was reported.