Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor alleles influence susceptibility to occult hepatitis B infection in West African population.

Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is a public health problem in Burkina Faso. OBI represents a risk factor for the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). OBI could be due to mutant viruses undetectable by HBsAg assays or a strong suppression of viral replication and gene expression under the pression of the host immune system. To investigate the role of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) gene polymorphisms in patients with OBI in Burkina Faso compared to healthy and chronic hepatitis B subjects. A total of 286 participants was recruited, including 42 cases of OBI, 110 cases of chronic hepatitis B and 134 HBV negative subjects. SSP-PCR was performed to search for the presence of KIR genes. The HBV viral load was determined by qPCR. The frequencies of the activator gene KIR2DS5 (P=0.045) and the pseudogene KIR2DP1 (P<0.001) in patients with OBI were higher than those in patients with chronic hepatitis B. These genes are associated with susceptibility of occult hepatitis B infection. The frequencies of the inhibitory KIR gene KIR2DL3 (P=0.01) of patients with occult hepatitis B were lower than those in chronic hepatitis B patients. This gene KIR2DL3 is associated with protection against occult hepatitis B infection. Also, the frequencies of the inhibitory KIR genes KIR2DL2 (P<0.001), KIR2DL3 (P<0.001) and activators KIR2DS2 (P<0.001) in chronic hepatitis B patients were higher compared to the frequencies of the KIR genes in healthy subjects. These genes KIR2DL3, KIR2DL5 (A, B), KIR3DL3, KIR3DS1, KIR2DL2 and KIR2DS2 are thought to be genes associated with the susceptibility to OBI. The KIR2DS5 and KIR2DP1 genes could be associated with susceptibility to OBI. As for the KIR gene KIR2DL3 could be associated with protection against occult hepatitis B infection.

Association of HLA-DRB1*11 and HLA-DRB1*12 gene polymorphism with COVID-19 in Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND: The clinical manifestations of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) can vary widely, ranging from asymptomatic to severe, and may be influenced by the host genetic background. The aim of the present study was to determine the frequencies of HLA-DRB1*11 and HLA-DRB1*12 allele polymorphisms and their associations with COVID-19. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 198 subjects were enrolled, including 150 COVID-19 positive cases and 48 subjects who tested negative for COVID-19. Participants were recruited from the emergency, intensive care, and infectious diseases departments of the Bogodogo Centre University Hospital (CHU-B) or the routine laboratory of Centre de Recherche Biomoléculaire Pietro Annigoni (CERBA). Genomic DNA was extracted from nasopharyngeal swabs samples and multiplex PCR-SSP was used to detect the HLA-DRB1*11 and HLA-DRB1*12 alleles. The study was approved by CERS (№ 2021-02-033). RESULTS: The positive cases were categorized into 38 asymptomatic (CC+), 60 symptomatic (NC+), and 52 severe cases (SC+). Females were more frequent in the overall study population (53.0%, 105/198) as well as in the negative group's CC- (68.75%, 33/48) and SC+ (57.69%, 30/52 negative groups, whereas males were more frequent in the CC+ (63.16%, 24/38) and NC+ (53.33%, 32/60) groups. The highest mean age was observed in the SC + group. A frequency of 19.19% (38/198) and 14.65% (29/198) was found for the HLA-DRB1*11 and HLA-DRB1*12 alleles, respectively. Individuals carrying the HLA-DRB1*11 allele had an approximately sixfold higher risk of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR = 5.72 [1.683-19.442], p = 0.005) based on the association analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, the present study reports high frequency of HLA-DRB1*11 and HLA-DRB1*12 alleles within a population from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The results suggest that individuals carrying the HLA-DRB1*11 allele are more susceptible to COVID-19 infection but may not display symptoms.

Association of DRB1*11 and DRB1*12 alleles of the HLA system with the evolution of the Hepatitis B virus infection in Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection affect all social strata of humanity and in the absence of any management, this infection has a different outcome from one infected person to another. This suggests that there are specific individual factors that influence the outcome of the pathology. Sex, immunogenetics and age of contraction of the virus have been cited as factors that influence the evolution of the pathology. In this study, we looked at two alleles of the Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA) system to measure their possible involvement in the evolution of HBV infection. METHOD AND RESULTS: We conducted a cohort study involving 144 individuals spread over 04 distinct stages of infection and then compared allelic frequencies in these populations. A multiplex PCR was conducted and the data obtained was analyzed using R and SPSS software. Our study revealed a predominance of HLA-DRB1*12 in our study population without, however, showing a significant difference between HLA-DRB1*11 and HLA-DRB1*12. The HLA-DRB1*12 proportion was significantly higher in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and resolved hepatitis B (RHB) compared to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (p-value = 0,002). Carrying HLA-DRB1*12 has been associated with a low risk of complication of infection (CHB → cirrhosis; OR 0,33 p-value 0,017; RHB → HCC OR 0,13; p-value = 0,00,045) whereas the presence of HLA-DRB1*11 in the absence of HLA-DRB1*12 increased the risk of developing severe liver disease. However, a strong interaction of these alleles with the environment could modulate the infection. CONCLUSION: Our study shown that HLA-DRB1*12 is the most frequent and it's carriage may be protective in the development of infection.

Performance of VIDAS® Diagnostic Tests for the Automated Detection of Dengue Virus NS1 Antigen and of Anti-Dengue Virus IgM and IgG Antibodies: A Multicentre, International Study.

Dengue is a serious mosquito-transmitted disease caused by the dengue virus (DENV). Rapid and reliable diagnosis of DENV infection is urgently needed in dengue-endemic regions. We describe here the performance evaluation of the CE-marked VIDAS® dengue immunoassays developed for the automated detection of DENV NS1 antigen and anti-DENV IgM and IgG antibodies. A multicenter concordance study was conducted in 1296 patients from dengue-endemic regions in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. VIDAS® dengue results were compared to those of competitor enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The VIDAS® dengue assays showed high precision (CV ≤ 10.7%) and limited cross-reactivity (≤15.4%) with other infections. VIDAS® DENGUE NS1 Ag showed high positive and negative percent agreement (92.8% PPA and 91.7% NPA) in acute patients within 0-5 days of symptom onset. VIDAS® Anti-DENGUE IgM and IgG showed a moderate-to-high concordance with ELISA (74.8% to 90.6%) in post-acute and recovery patients. PPA was further improved in combined VIDAS® NS1/IgM (96.4% in 0-5 days acute patients) and IgM/IgG (91.9% in post-acute patients) tests. Altogether, the VIDAS® dengue NS1, IgM, and IgG assays performed well, either alone or in combination, and should be suitable for the accurate diagnosis of DENV infection in dengue-endemic regions.

KIR2DL2, KIR2DL5A and KIR2DL5B Genes Induce Susceptibility to Dengue Virus Infection, while KIR3DL3 and KIR2DS5 Confer Protection.

Background and Objectives: Dengue fever (DF), an emerging and re-emerging viral disease, is a major public health problem. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of KIRs genes polymorphism and KIRs genotypes in susceptibility to dengue virus infection and disease severity in a population from Burkina Faso through a case-control study. Methods: KIRs genes determination was performed using PCR-SSP in 50 patients infected by dengue virus (DENV) and 54 Healthy controls (HC) subjects who had never been infected. Results: Data analysis showed significant association between frequencies of three KIR genes and dengue virus infection (DF): KIR2DL2 (OR: 7.32; IC: 2.87-18.65; P < 0.001); KIR2DL5A (OR: 15.00, IC: 5.68-39.59; P < 0.001) and KIR2DL5B (OR: 11.43; IC: 4.42-29; P < 0.001). While, KIR3DL3 (OR: 0.13, IC: 0.052-0.32; P < 0.001) and KIR2DS5 (OR: 0.12; IC: 0.04-0.30; P < 0.001) were associated with protection against DF. KIR2DL4 (OR: 9.75; IC95%: 1.33-70.97; p: 0.03) and KIRD3DL1 (OR: 12.00; IC95%: 1.60-90.13; p: 0.02) were associated with an increased risk in the development of secondary dengue infection (SDI). Conclusion: The results suggest a contribution of KIR2DL2, KIR2DL5A, and KIR2DL5B genes in the susceptibility of DF development. In contrast, KIR3DL3 and KIR2DS5 were associated with protection against DF development by enhancing both innate and acquired immune responses.

Carriage of mutations R462Q (rs 486907) and D541E (rs 627928) of the RNASEL gene and risk factors in patients with prostate cancer in Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (Pca) is a public health problem that affects men, usually of middle age or older. It is the second most common cancer diagnosed in men and the fifth leading cause of death. The RNASEL gene located in 1q25 and identified as a susceptibility gene to hereditary prostate cancer, has never been studied in relation to prostate cancer in Burkina Faso. The aim of this study was to analyze the carriage of RNASEL R462Q and D541E mutations and risks factors in patients with prostate cancer in the Burkina Faso. METHODS: This case-control study included of 38 histologically diagnosed prostate cancer cases and 53 controls (cases without prostate abnormalities). Real-time PCR genotyping of R462Q and D541E variants using the TaqMan® allelic discrimination technique was used. Correlations between different genotypes and combined genotypes were investigated. RESULTS: The R462Q variant was present in 5.3% of cases and 7.5% of controls. The D541E variant was present in 50.0% of cases and 35% of controls. There is no association between R462Q variants (OR = 0.60; 95%IC, 0.10-3.51; p = 0.686) and D541E variants (OR = 2.46; 95%IC, 0.78-7.80; p = 0.121) and genotypes combined with prostate cancer. However, there is a statistically significant difference in the distribution of cases according to the PSA rate at diagnosis (p ˂ 0.001). For the Gleason score distribution, only 13.2% of cases have a Gleason score greater than 7. There is a statistically significant difference in the Gleason score distribution of cases (p ˂ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These variants, considered in isolation or in combination, are not associated with the risk of prostate cancer.

KIR2DL5B and HLA DRB1*12 alleles seems to be associated with protection against HIV-1 in serodiscordant couples in Burkina Faso.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) belongs to the Retroviridae family and remains a public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. Recent reports from WHO have shown that 33 million people died from HIV infections. HIV is one of the most serious fatal human diseases of the 20th and 21st centuries. However, variations in genetic and immunological factors are associated with protection against HIV infection in uninfected people exposed to HIV. This is the case with naturals killers which play an important role in the progression or regression of HIV infection. The objective of this study is to characterize certain HLA (human leukocyte antigen) class II genes and KIR genes in HIV-1 serodiscordant couples in Burkina Faso. This study was carried out at Burkina Faso among nineteen (19) HIV-1 serodiscordant couples. Classical multiplex PCR (SSP-PCR) was used to characterize the presence or absence of the KIR genes and certain class II HLAs (DRB1*11 and DRB1*12). The characterization of the KIR and HLA genes DRB1*11, DRB1*12 in this study demonstrated that the inhibitor KIR2DL5B, would confer protection against HIV-1 infection in seronegative partners (odd ratio [OR] = 0.13 [0.02-0.72] and p = 0.029), and the HLA DRB1*12 allele was associated with protection against HIV-1 infection in seronegative partners (OR = 0.16 [0.03-0.77] and p = 0.038). AA and Bx haplotypes were not found to be associated with HIV-1 infection in serodiscordant couples. This study confirms the involvement of the KIR genes in viral pathologies such as HIV-1 infection. Future larger-scale studies may provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanism by which the KIR haplotype and combination of KIR/HLA are associated with protection against HIV infection.

Carriage of Ser217Leu and Ala541Thr Variants of ELAC2 Gene and Risk Factors in Patients with Prostate Cancer in Burkina Faso.

Background: Genetic factors are one of the significant contributors to prostate cancer (PCa) development, and hereditary prostate cancer 2 (HPC2) locus gene ELAC2 is considered a PCa susceptibility region. The HPC2/ELAC2 gene has been identified by linkage analysis in familial prostate cancer patients in the United States but has never been studied in Burkina Faso. The objective of the present study was to analyze the carriage of the C650T (Ser217Leu) and G1621A (Ala541Thr) mutations of the ELAC2 gene and the risk factors in prostate cancer patients in Burkina Faso. Methods: This case-control study included 76 participants, including 38 histologically confirmed prostate cancer cases and 38 healthy controls without prostate abnormalities. PCR combined with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was used to characterize the genotypes of the Ser217Leu and Ala541Thr polymorphisms of the ELAC2 gene. The correlations between the different genotypes and risk factors for prostate cancer were investigated. Results: The C650T mutation was present in 44.73% of prostate cancer cases and 47.37% of controls. The G1621A mutation was present in 26.32% of prostate cancer cases and 15.79% of controls. We did not detect an association between prostate cancer risk and the Ser217Leu (p=0.972) and Ala541Thr (p=0.267) variants of the ELAC2 gene. Also, the two ELAC2 SNPs did not correlate with clinical stage, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level at diagnosis, or the Gleason score on biopsies. However, we found that 100% of homozygous carriers of the T650 mutation have an A1621 mutation (p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: Ser217Leu and Ala541Thr polymorphisms of ELAC2, considered alone or in combination, are not associated with prostate cancer risk.

COVID-19: profil virologique et clinique des patients diagnostiqués dans deux laboratoires à Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso / COVID-19: Virological and clinical profile of patients diagnosed in two laboratories in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Contexte/objectif : La maladie à coronavirus (COVID-19) est une maladie émergente, dont l'agentpathogène est le virus du syndrome respiratoire aigu sévère dû au coronavirus 2 (SRAS-CoV-2). L'objectif de cette étudeétait de décrire le profil virologique et clinique des patients diagnostiqués dans deux laboratoires. Matériels et méthodes : Il s'est agi d'uneétude descriptive avec collecte rétrospective de données des patients atteints de COVID-19, qui a couvert la période du 04 avril au 31 décembre 2020. Le test de khi deux et le test exact de Fisher sont les tests statistiques utilisées. Résultats : Au total, 28 872 échantillons ont été testés dans les deux laboratoires. L'étude arévélé 1965 cas positifs soit 6, 80% (63 % hommes et 37,05 % femmes). La tranche d'âge de 20 à 50 ans représentait 68,68 %. La province de la capitale a enregistré autant le plus grand nombre d'échantillons (26277 soit91,00%) que le plus grand nombre des cas positifs (91,15%). Les manifestations cliniques étaient dominées par la toux 68,42%, la fatigue générale (43,86%), les céphalées (43,86%), l'écoulement nasal (40,93%), la fi èvre (39,18%). Les comorbidités les plus fréquentes étaient l'hypertension artérielle (HTA) et le diabète. Conclusion: Cette étude a montré unepopulation jeune testée. La capitale (Ouagadougou) a enregistré le plus grand nombre de demandeurs de tests et de cas positifs. La toux était la principale manifestation clinique. Les patients avec comorbidités dont l'HTA et le diabète ont été les plus nombreux a effectué le test

Background/Purpose. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an emerging disease, whose pathogen is the severe acute respiratory syndrome virus due to coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The objective of this study was to describe the virological and clinical profile of patients diagnosed in two laboratories. Methods. This was a descriptive study with retrospective data collection of patients with COVID-19, which covered the period from 04 April to 31 December 2020. Chisquare test and Fisher's exact test were used as statistical tests. Results. A total of 28,872 samples were tested in the two laboratories. The study revealed 1965 positive cases or 6, 80% (63% male and 37.05% female). The age group 20-50 years represented 68.68%. The capital province recorded both the largest number of samples (26277 or 91.00%) and the largest number of positive cases (91.15%). Clinical manifestations were dominated by cough 68.42%, general fatigue (43.86%), headache (43.86%), nasal discharge (40.93%), fever (39.18%). The most frequent comorbidities were arterial hypertension (AH) and diabetes. Conclusion. This study showed a young population tested. The capital (Ouagadougou) recorded the highest number of testers and positive cases. Cough was the main clinical manifestation. Patients with comorbidities including hypertension and diabetes were the most numerous to be tested

Carriage of HLA-DRB1*11 and 1*12 alleles and risk factors in patients with breast cancer in Burkina Faso.

Several factors contribute to the development of breast cancer, including the immune system. This study is aimed to characterize the carriage of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1*11 and 1*12 alleles in patients with breast cancer. This case-control study consisted of 96 histologically diagnosed breast cancer cases and 102 controls (cases without breast abnormalities). A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to characterize the carriage of HLA-DRB1*11 and 1*12 alleles. The HLA-DRB1*11 allele was present in 26.59% of cases and 22.55% of controls. The HLA-DRB1*12 allele was present in 56.63% of cases and 55.88% of controls. This study found no direct association between the carriage of the HLA-DRB1*11 and HLA-DRB1*12 alleles and the occurrence of breast cancer. In addition, the deletion of the HLA-DRB1*11 allele is associated (beneficial effect) with obesity/overweight (OR = 0.13; 95% CI [0.01-1.14]; and p = 0.03) which is a risk for breast cancer. No direct association was found between the carriage of HLA-DRB1*11 and 1*12 alleles and breast cancer risk. However, further investigation of other HLA alleles involved in the occurrence of breast cancer may provide more information.

Glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 genes deletion polymorphisms and blood pressure control among treated essential hypertensive patients in Burkina Faso.

OBJECTIVE: Glutathione S-transferases have been associated with experimental resistance to some drugs. The present study investigated the factors associated with blood pressure control in patients with essential hypertension, especially the role of GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes polymorphisms. This cross-sectional study in Burkina Faso consisted of 200 patients with essential hypertension and under treatment. RESULTS: In the present study, 57.5% (115/200) of patients had their hypertension under control. No statistically significant difference was found between controlled and uncontrolled groups for anthropometric and biochemical parameters as well as for GSTT1 or GSTM1 gene polymorphisms (all p > 0.05). Current alcohol consumption (OR = 3.04; CI 1.88-6.13; p < 0.001), Physical inactivity (OR = 3.07; CI 1.71-5.49; p < 0.001), severe hypertension before any treatment (Grade III [OR = 3.79; CI 2.00-7.17; p < 0.001]) and heart damage (OR = 3, 14; CI 1.59-6.02; p < 0.001) were statistically more frequent in uncontrolled essential hypertensive patients than controlled hypertensive patients.

Molecular Epidemiology of Human Papillomaviruses, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium among Female Sex Workers in Burkina Faso: Prevalence, Coinfections and Drug Resistance Genes.

Viral and bacterial infections represent an occupational risk for female sex workers. This study aimed at determining HPV coinfection with genital pathogens among female sex workers in West and Central Africa and identifying antibiotic resistance genes. A total of 182 samples from female sex workers were analyzed by real-time PCR and classic PCR. For the molecular diagnosis of HPV, the real-time multiplex amplification kit "HPV Genotypes 14 Real-TM Quant" from SACACE Biotechnologies®, detecting 14 high-risk HPV genotypes, was used, while for other pathogens, the real-time multiplex amplification kit N. gonorrhoeae/C. trachomatis/M. genitalium/T. vaginalis Real-TM, allowing their simultaneous detection, was used. The women were aged 17-50 years with an average age of 27.12 ± 6.09 years. The pathogens identified were HPV 54.94% (100/120), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (13.74%), Chlamydia trachomatis (11.54%) and Mycoplasma genitalium (11.54%). The most common HPV genotypes were HPV68, HPV38 and HPV52. The antibiotic resistance genes identified were bla QNR B 24.00%, bla GES 22.00%, bla SHV 17.00%, blaCTX-M 13.00% and bla QNR S 1.00%. This study revealed the presence of various HPV genotypes associated with other pathogens with problems of antibiotic resistance among sex workers of West and Central African origin working in Ouagadougou.

Role of Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) genes in stages of HIV-1 infection among patients from Burkina Faso.

Objectives A cluster of specialized KIR genes of specialized KIR genes has been shown to be associated with susceptibility or resistance to viral infections in humans. Therefore, this pilot study, this pilot investigation sought to determine the frequencies of KIR genes human immunodeficiency virus type 1( HIV-1) patients and establish their potential clinical involvement in disease progression and staging. Methods HIV-1 infected and healthy individuals were selected for this study. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HCV antibodies and anti-HIV-1/2 antibody/ antigen were screened using a 4th generation ELISA assay (Cobas e 411 Analyzer, Roche Diagnostics GmbH Mannheim, Germany). SSP-PCR was used to evaluate the frequencies of KIR genes. CD4+ T counts and HIV-1 viral load were measured in patients using respectively BD FACSCount and Abbott m2000rt instruments. Results We found a significant association between the frequencies of KIR2DL2 (OR=4.41; p < 0.001), KIR2DS2 (OR=4.76; p < 0.001), KIR2DS3 (OR=2.27; p=0.004), KIR2DS4 (OR=1.76; p=0.026), KIR3DS1 (OR=2.43; p=0.016) and HIV-1 infection; whilst the KIR3DL1 gene (OR= 0.39; p < 0.001) was associated with protection against HIV-1 infection. HIV-1 replication was found to be associated with the presence of KIR2DS2 (OR=6.08, p = 0.024). In contrary the pseudogene KIR2DP1 (OR=0.39; p=0.026) were linked to a protective status with the highest number of lymphocyte T CD4 counts. Conclusion Our data showed that KIR2DL2, KIR2DS2, KIR2DS3, KIR2DS4, and KIR3DS1 were significantly associated with HIV-1 infection whereas KIR3DL1 was associated with protection against HIV-1 infection. Further investigations are needed to fully comprehend the clinical significance of KIR genes in HIV disease progression.

Glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and T1 (GSTT1) variants and breast cancer risk in Burkina Faso.

Background and objective Breast cancer remains the most common cause of cancer mortality in women. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between genetic variability in GSTM1 and GSTT1 and susceptibility to breast cancer. Methods Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples for 80 cases of histologically diagnosed breast cancer and 100 control subjects. Genotyping analyses were performed by PCR-based methods. Associations between specific genotypes and the development of breast cancer were examined using logistic regression to calculate odds ratios [1] and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results No correlation was found between GSTM1-null and breast cancer (OR = 1.83; 95%CI 0.90-3.71; p = 0.10), while GSTT1-null (OR = 2.42; 95%CI 1.17-5.02; p= 0.01) was associated with increased breast cancer risk. The GSTM1/GSTT1 double null was not associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer (OR = 2.52; 95%CI 0.75-8.45; p = 0.20). Furthermore, analysis found no association between GSTM1-null (OR =1.12; 95%CI 0.08-15.50; p = 1.00) or GSTT1-null (OR = 1.71; 95%CI 0.13-22.51; p = 1.00) and the disease stage of familial breast cancer patients or sporadic breast cancer patients (GSTM1 (OR = 0.40; 95%CI 0.12-1.32; p = 0.20) and GSTT1 (OR = 1.41; 95%CI 0.39-5.12; p = 0.75)). Also, body mass index (BMI) was not associated with increased or decreased breast cancer risk in either GSTM1-null (OR = 0.60; 95%CI 0.21-1.68; p = 0.44) or GSTT1-null (OR = 0.60; 95%CI 0.21-1.68; p =0.45). Conclusion Our results suggest that only GSTT1-null is associated with increased susceptibility to breast cancer development.

Insights into the Interplay between KIR Gene Frequencies and Chronic HBV Infection in Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the leading risk factor for cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The objective of this investigation was to assess the association between "Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor" (KIR) gene frequencies and chronic HBV infection. METHODS: Chronic HBV carriers and healthy patients were selected for this study. The viral load for HBV were performed, and SSP-PCR was used to characterize the frequencies of KIR genes. RESULTS: The study suggested that inhibitory genes KIR2DL2 (crude OR = 2.82; p < 0.001), KIR2DL3 (crude OR = 2.49; p < 0.001) and activator gene KIR2DS2 (crude OR = 3.95; p< 0.001) might be associated with chronic stages of HBV infection. Conversely the inhibitory genes KIR3DL1 (crude OR = 0.49; p = 0.0018) and KIR3DL2 (crude OR = 0.41; p = 0.005), the activator gene KIR2DS1 (crude OR = 0.48; p = 0.014) and the pseudo gene KIR2DP1 (crude OR = 0.49; p = 0.008) could be associated with immunity against HBV infection. Chronic HBV patients who are carriers for the KIR3DL3 gene (crude OR = 8; p = 0.048) were positive for HBeAg and patients who carried the KIR3DL2 gene (crude OR = 3.21; p = 0.012) had a high HBV viral load compared to the rest of the study population. CONCLUSION: Our data showed evidence of a correlation between the risk of developing chronic HBV infection and certain KIR gene frequencies and also show that KIR3DL1, KIR3DL2, KIR2DS1 might confer a protective status against chronic HBV infection.

Impact of Multiplex PCR in Reducing the Risk of Residual Transfusion-Transmitted Human Immunodeficiency and Hepatitis B and C Viruses in Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The improved performance of serological tests has significantly reduced the risk of human immunodeficiency and hepatitis B and C viruses transmission by blood transfusion, but there is a persistence of residual risk. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of multiplex PCR in reducing the risk of residual transmission of these viruses in seronegative blood donors in Burkina Faso. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March to September 2017. The serological tests were performed on sera using ARCHITECTSRi1000 (Abbot diagnosis, USA). Detection of viral nucleic acids was performed by multiplex PCR on mini-pools of seronegative plasma for HBV, HCV and HIV using SaCycler-96 Real Time PCR v.7.3 (Sacace Biotechnologies). Multiplex PCR-positive samples from these mini-pools were then individually tested by the same method. RESULTS: A total of 989 donors aged 17 to 65 were included in the present study. "Repeat donors" accounted for 44.79% (443/989). Seroprevalences for HIV, HBV, and HCV were 2.53% (25/989), 7.28% (72/989) and 2.73% (27/989), respectively. Of the 14 co-infections detected, HBV/HCV was the most common with 0.71% (7/989) of cases. Of 808 donations tested by multiplex PCR, 4.70% (38/808) were positive for HBV while no donation was positive for HIV or HCV. CONCLUSION: Our study showed a high residual risk of HBV transmission through blood transfusion. Due to the high prevalence of blood-borne infections in Burkina Faso, we recommend the addition of multiplex PCR to serologic tests for optimal blood donation screening.

Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Associated Genotypes among HBsAg-negative Subjects in Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND: The presence of HBV DNA in the liver (with detectable or undetectable HBV DNA in the serum) of individuals tested HBsAg negative by currently available assays is defined occult B Infection (OBI). It remains a potential transmission threat and risk to HBV chronic infection. The purpose of this study was to determine the OBI prevalence among HBsAg negative subjects and to characterize associated genotypes. METHODS: Blood samples of 219 HBsAg-negative subjects tested by ELISA were collected. HBV DNA was investigated in all samples. Viral loads were determined using quantitative real-time PCR. All samples were screened for HBV markers (anti-HBc, anti-HBe, HBsAg). The Pre-S/S region of the HBV genome was sequenced. The database was analyzed using the SPSS and Epi info software. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using the BioEdit and MEGA software. RESULTS: Of the 219 samples, 20.1% were anti-HBc positive, 1.8% HBeAg and 22.8% were anti-HBe positive. Fifty-six (56) (25.6%) of the samples had a detectable HBV DNA and viral loads ranging from 4 IU/mL to 13.6 106 IU/mL. Sixteen of them (16/56) had a viral load < 200 IU/mL, resulting in an OBI prevalence of 7.3% (16/219) in our study. The remaining 40 subjects had viral loads > 200 IU/mL, resulting in a "false OBI" prevalence of 18.3% (40/219). HBV genotype E was predominant followed by the quasi-sub-genotype A3. A single "false OBI" strain had the characteristic mutation G145R. Other mutations were observed and all located in the major hydrophilic region (MHR) of the S gene. CONCLUSION: The study reported a prevalence of 7.3% of occult hepatitis B infection. It confirms the predominance of genotype E and the existence of a subgroup of quasi-sub-genotype A3 of HBV in Burkina Faso. It further provides information on the presence of "false OBI." This study has found mutations in the major hydrophilic region (MHR) of the pre-S/S gene of HBV.

EBV and HHV-6 Circulating Subtypes in People Living with HIV in Burkina Faso, Impact on CD4 T cell count and HIV Viral Load.

Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) and Human Herpes Virus 6 (HHV-6) are responsible for severe diseases, particularly in immunocompromised persons. There is limited data of the infection of these opportunistic viruses in Burkina Faso. The purpose of this study was to characterize EBV and HHV-6 subtypes and to assess their impact on CD4 T cell count, HIV-1 viral load and antiretroviral treatment in people living with HIV-1. The study population consisted of 238 HIV-positive patients with information on the CD4 T cell count, HIV-1 viral load and HAART. Venous blood samples collected in EDTA tubes were used for EBV and HHV-6 Real Time PCR subtyping. An infection rate of 6.7% (16/238) and 7.1% (17/238) were found respectively for EBV and HHV-6 in the present study. Among EBV infections, similar prevalence was noted for both subtypes (3.9% (9/238) for EBV-1 vs 4.6% (11/238) for EBV-2) with 2.1% (5/238) of co-infection. HHV-6A infection represented 6.3% (15/238) of the study population against 5.0% (12/238) for HHV-6B. EBV-2 infection was significantly higher in patients with CD4 T cell count ≥ 500 compared to those with CD4 T cell count less than 500 cells (1.65% vs 8.56%, p = 0,011). The prevalence of EBV and HHV-6 infections was almost similar in HAART-naive and HAART-experienced patients. The present study provides information on the prevalence of EBV and HHV-6 subtypes in people living with HIV-1 in Burkina Faso. The study also suggests that HAART treatment has no effect on infection with these opportunistic viruses in people living with HIV-1.