Molecular characterization and genetic susceptibility of sapovirus in children with diarrhea in Burkina Faso.

Sapoviruses (SaVs) are a common cause of gastroenteritis in children. In sub-Saharan Africa, there is a scarcity of information regarding SaV as an etiological agent of diarrhea. Here, we investigated the prevalence, molecular characterization and clinico-epidemiological features of SaV infections in children less than 5years of age with diarrhea in Burkina Faso. We further investigated the role of type 1 histo blood group antigens as susceptibility factors. In total, 309 fecal and 208 saliva samples from diarrheal children in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, were collected between May 2009 and March 2010. SaV was detected using real-time PCR, and genogrouped/genotyped by PCR or sequencing. Saliva samples were ABO, Lewis and secretor phenotyped using in house ELISA assays. We found a high prevalence (18%) and large genetic diversity with all 4 human genogroups, and 9 genotypes/genoclusters circulating during the study period. The SaV infections were generally associated with milder symptoms, and neither ABH, Lewis or secretor phenotypes affected susceptibility to SaV infections.

Efficiency of HAART in the prevention of mother to children HIV-1 transmission at Saint Camille medical centre in Burkina Faso, West Africa

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate efficiency of HAART in the prevention of mother to child HIV transmission.@*METHODS@#A longitudinal study was conducted on 1 300 women attending the antenatal service at Saint Camille Medical Centre from September 2010 to July 2011. The HIV status of mothers was determined by rapid tests and ELISA. Discordant results were confirmed by real-time PCR. PCR was used to determine HIV status of children born from HIV-positive mothers.@*RESULTS@#Among 1 300 pregnant women tested for HIV, 378 were seropositive. Mothers were predominantly housewives (69.7%), and their mean age was (28.32±0.15) years. The overall prevalence of HIV transmission from mother to child was 4.8% (18/378). This prevalence differed significantly from 0.0% (0/114) to 6.8% (18/264) in children born from mothers under HAART and those with mothers under New Prophylactic Protocol (AZT + 3TC + NVP), respectively (P< 0.01). Children's mortality rate during the medical follow up was 1.3% (5/378). Among 16 women with HIV dubious status by ELISA, the Real Time PCR confirmed 2/16 (12.5%) as HIV positive.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The protocol of prevention of mother to children HIV transmission (PMTCT) is effective. The rate of HIV vertical transmission is significantly reduced. Early diagnosis determined by PCR of children born from HIV-positive mother is necessary and recommended in the context of PMTCT in Burkina Faso. We also found that PCR is an effective tool to confirm HIV status in pregnant women.

Enteric parasites prevalence at Saint Camille Medical Centre in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the prevalence of parasitic infections among patients attending Saint Camille Medical Centre and to estimate co-parasitic infections rates.@*METHODS@#From January to December 2009, stool samples were collected from 11 728 persons, aged from five months to 72 years and suffering from gastroenteritis. After macroscopic description, the stools were examined by light microscopy to search for the presence of parasites.@*RESULTS@#From the 11 728 analyzed stools, 6 154 (52.47%) were infected with at least one parasite. Protozoan frequently encountered were: Giardia intestinalis (43.47%), Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar (30.74%) and Trichomonas intestinalis (21.72%), while Hymenolepis nana (2.25%) was the most common helminth. Co-infections occurred in 22.34% cases. Within the multi-infected samples, dual and triple infections accounted for 71.18% and 20.00%, respectively. Giardia intestinalis for protozoan and Hymenolepis nana for helminths were the most implicated co-infections.@*CONCLUSIONS@#This study confirms that intestinal parasites are still a public health problem in Burkina Faso. To reduce the incidence of parasitic infections, it is necessary to promote the education of people so that they practice the rules of individual and collective hygiene.

Prevalence of rotavirus, adenovirus and enteric parasites among pediatric patients attending Saint Camille Medical Centre in Ouagadougou.

The present study carried out in the Saint Camille Medical Centre of Ouagadougou and related to the prevalence of Rotaviruses, Adenoviruses and enteric parasites infections among HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative children allowed to include 66 children aged from 2 to 60 months presenting acute diarrhea. The results revealed that 10.60% were infected by HIV. Stool samples analysis by direct microscopy and immunochromatographic tests (Rota-strip and Adeno-strip) showed 42.42% of global infections, among these, 18.18% parasitic infections and 24.24% viral infections, predominantly rotaviruses (22.73 and 1.52% for Rotaviruses and Adenoviruses, respectively). Among parasitic infections, Protozoan were most common than Helminthes (12.12% versus 6.06%). According to present results, Rotaviruses appeared as the major etiological agents in children aged from 2 to 11 months. However high rate of protozoan and helminthes was found in children aged from 12 to 60 months. Thus, virus, particularly Rotavirus must be painstaking as the principal etiologic agent of infant diarrhea in our country.

Prevalence of human herpes virus-8 and hepatitis B virus among HIV seropositive pregnant women enrolled in the Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission Prevention Program at Saint Camille Medical Centre in Burkina Faso.

The aims of this research are: i) to evaluate the prevalence of HHV-8, HBV and HIV among pregnant women, ii) to determine the percentage of these co-infections and iii) to estimate the frequency of the mother-to-child transmission of HIV among HBV and HHV-8 positive mothers. Thus, 379 pregnant women attending ante-natal consultation in Saint Camille Medical Centre were subject to HIV, HHV-8 antibodies and the viral marker Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) detection. We observed 48/379 (12.66%) HIV seropositive subjects. Among them, HIV-1 type infection was predominant (95.83%), only 2/48 (4.17%) subjects had a dual HIV-1 type and HIV-2 type infection, no single HIV-2 type infection was detected. 38/379 (10.02%) subjects were infected by HHV-8 and 30/379 (7.91%) were HBsAg positive. HHV-8 and HIV Co-infections rates were high within HBV positive patients and we had respectively 20.00 and 16.67%. 10.42% HIV positive women were coinfected by HBV while 12.50% were infected by HHV-8. Then, 15.79% subjects HHV-8 positive were co-infected by HBV or HIV. In spite of the PMTCT protocol application, five (10.42%) HIV positive women transmitted the virus to their children. Two HIV positive mothers were co-infected by HHV-8 and one by HBV. Among the 5 HIV infected, one mother (20.0%) was HBV positive and two (40.0%) HHV-8 positive. Although we did not have a large sample which would show large prélalences of the infections, we could put forward that the Co-infection of the HIV with one of these viruses (HBV or HHV-8) could favorite the mother-to-child transmission.