Serological and molecular detection of Leishmania species in dog peripheral blood from Bobo-Dioulasso city, a confirmation of canine leishmaniasis enzootic area for Burkina Faso.

Canine leishmaniasis is increasingly reported worldwide and represent a threat to both animal and human health. In a previous pilot study conducted in Bobo-Dioulasso, the second town of Burkina Faso, we reported five cases of canine leishmaniasis. With the perspective of a One Health action plan, and in the context of increasing urbanization, this study aimed to provide new information on Leishmania spp in dogs in this city. A cross-sectional survey was carried out from May to August 2018 in six districts of the city in order to record clinical and biological data from domestic dogs randomly selected per district. Blood samples were collected into EDTA tubes (4-5 mL), treated and stored at -20 °C until further analyses. The infection status of the dogs was performed by serological tests using plasma, and real time-PCR (RT-PCR) to detect Leishmania parasites using buffy coats. Nested PCR was used for typing the Leishmania species in dogs which were found to be RT-PCR positive. A total of 147 dogs were examined clinically and sampled for blood collection, including 53.7% females and 46.3% of males with a median age of 3 years. The seroincidence of Leishmania parasites within this dog population was 4.76% (95% CI:2.26-9.72). The incidence of Leishmania was 10.88% (95% CI: 6.73-17.11) by RT-PCR which was significantly more sensitive (p = 0,047) and a fair concordance was observed between both tests (Kappa = 0.39, p < 0.001). The characterization of Leishmania species revealed that L. major was circulating in this domestic dog population. Our results confirmed the persistence of zoonotic circulation of Leishmania parasites such as L. major currently in Bobo-Dioulasso city and highlight the need for targeted interventions in order to control transmission of leishmaniasis in this region.

Antipneumococcal seroprevalence and pneumococcal carriage during a meningococcal epidemic in Burkina Faso, 2006.

BACKGROUND: To better understand the high incidence of pneumococcal meningitis in the African meningitis belt, we conducted a pneumococcal seroprevalence study during a meningococcal meningitis epidemic in Western Burkina Faso, March 2006. METHODS: In 3 villages experiencing epidemics, we included 624 healthy persons (1-39 years) by cluster sampling. We determined pneumococcal serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody concentrations against 12 serotypes contained in 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, and evaluated determinants for IgG ≥ 0.35 µg/mL by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The percentage of subjects with serotype-specific IgG concentrations ≥0.35 µg/mL increased with age and was similar for the different serotypes: it was 20%-43% among 1-4-year-olds and 56%-90% among 20-39-year-olds. Prevalence of IgG ≥ 0.35 µg/mL against serotype 1 was up to 71% after age 10 years. During multivariate analyses, determinants of IgG concentrations ≥0.35 µg/mL varied by serotype; for 5 and 6 serotypes, respectively, female sex (around 2-fold increased odds) and cigarette smoking (about 5-fold reduced odds) predicted elevated titers. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a substantially higher historical pneumococcal meningitis incidence in Burkina Faso, the general population has an antibody seroprevalence against 12 pneumococcal serotypes similar to that reported from the United Kingdom. The role of putatively protective antibody seroprevalence in preventing pneumococcal meningitis in the meningitis belt requires more thorough evaluation.

Spoligotyping of Mycobacterium africanum, Burkina Faso.

Using Ziehl-Neelsen-positive slides collected from tuberculosis diagnostic centers in Burkina Faso, we showed that 20% of 80 spoligotyping-positive DNA samples had a characteristic Mycobacterium africanum-specific genomic signature. This result suggests that M. africanum is still present in Burkina Faso at almost the same prevalence as 15-20 years ago.