Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among pregnant women in Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso).

Pregnant women are the most vulnerable populations exposed to intestinal parasitoses. To develop strategies to fight against these infections, it is essential to carry out regular surveys in order to provide reliable epidemiological data on intestinal parasitoses in at-risk populations. A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out from February to April 2015 in pregnant women seen during the prenatal consultation. The study took place in 3 health centers located in Health District of Dafra at Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso. The parasitological examination consisted in carrying out a standard stool parasitological examination and the modified Ziehl Neelsen staining. A total of 315 stool samples were collected and analyzed. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitosis was 66.7% [95% CI: 61.1­71.8] with prevalences of 60.9% in Bolomakot., 69.2% in Guimbi and 69.8% in Y.gu.r.sso. Protozoa were the most encountered with of 66.0% prevalence and 1.3% of helminths. The most common protozoa species were Entamoeba coli (36.2%), Giardia lamblia (16.2%), Entamoeba histolytica (14.9%), Cryptosporidium sp. (12.1%) and Trichomonas intestinalis (10.5%). The helminths were represented by Hymenolepis nana (0.6%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.3%) and Dicrocoelium sp. (0.3%). The prevalence of intestinal parasitosis is very high in pregnant women and dominated by protozoa. Most recently, it has been shown that metronidazole can be administered at all ages of pregnancy at a dosage of 1 g/day for 5 days for the treatment of intestinal protozoa in pregnant women. It would therefore be essential to evaluate this strategy in Burkina Faso by administering metronidazole concomitantly with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine.

Prevalence and factors associated of Trichomonas vaginalis infection among pregnant women in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

Epidemiological studies of vaginalis trichomonosis, especially in pregnant women are rare in Africa due to the lack of screening programs. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of T. vaginalis infection and its associated factors in pregnant women who attended the antenatal care clinics in three primary health centers of Bobo-Dioulasso. We carried out a cross-sectional study for descriptive and analytical purposes from February to April 2015 in pregnant women seen in prenatal consultations. The study took place in 3 primary public health centers: Guimbi (Central Urban), Bolomakoté (Peri-urban) and Yéguérésso (rural). The trophozoites of Trichomonas vaginalis was carried out by microscopy on vaginal swabs and urine samples. Sociodemographic, obstetric and biological variables were also collected. A total of 315 pregnant women were included in the study. The overall prevalence of urogenital trichomonosis was 3.2%. It was 1.9% in Guimbi, 2.9% in Bolomakoté, and 4.7% in Yéguérésso. The prevalence of HIV infection was 2.2%. Married women were less exposed to T. vaginalis infection than single women (p=0.03). The prevalence of urogenital trichomonosis obtained was considered lower compared to the previously reported from Burkina Faso. Thus, it is essential to extend this study to the whole country periodically by integrating other STIs not subject to a surveillance system and by integrating molecular epidemiology tools.

Detection of DNA of filariae closely related to Mansonella perstans in faecal samples from wild non-human primates from Cameroon and Gabon.

BACKGROUND: The Onchocercidae is a family of filarial nematodes with several species of medical or veterinary importance. Microfilariae are found in the blood and/or the dermis and are usually diagnosed in humans by microscopy examination of a blood sample or skin biopsy. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate whether filariae DNA can be detected in faecal samples of wild non-human primates (NHPs), whether the detected parasites were closely related to those infecting humans and whether filarial DNA detection in faeces is associated with co-infections with nematodes (Oesophagostumum sp. and Necator sp.) known to cause blood loss while feeding on the host intestinal mucosa. METHODS: A total of 315 faecal samples from 6 species of NHPs from Cameroon and Gabon were analysed. PCRs targeted DNA fragments of cox1 and 12S rDNA genes, to detect the presence of filariae, and the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2), to detect the presence of Oesophagostomum sp. and Necator sp. infections. RESULTS: Among the 315 samples analysed, 121 produced sequences with > 90% homology with Onchocercidae reference sequences. However, 63% of the 12S rDNA and 78% of the cox1 gene sequences were exploitable for phylogenetic analyses and the amplification of the 12S rDNA gene showed less discriminating power than the amplification of the cox1 fragment. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the cox1 sequences obtained from five chimpanzee DNA faecal samples from Gabon and two from Cameroon cluster together with Mansonella perstans with high bootstrap support. Most of the remaining sequences clustered together within the genus Mansonella, but the species could not be resolved. Among the NHP species investigated, a significant association between filarial DNA detection and Oesophagostomum sp. and Necator sp. infection was observed only in gorillas. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting DNA from Mansonella spp. in faecal samples. Our results raise questions about the diversity and abundance of these parasites in wildlife, their role as sylvatic reservoirs and their potential for zoonotic transmission. Future studies should focus on detecting variants circulating in both human and NHPs, and improve the molecular information to resolve or support taxonomy classification based on morphological descriptions.

Prevalence of intestinal opportunistic parasites infections in the University hospital of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal parasites infections are widespread in Africa and their prevalence infections vary from country to country. This study aimed at assessing the prevalence of opportunistic intestinal parasites infection and other gastrointestinal parasites infection among patients attending the laboratory of Parasitology and Mycology of the University Hospital Souro Sanou of Bobo-Dioulasso. METHODS: A hospital cross-sectional based study was conducted from April to August, 2012. Participants were persons whom parasitological examination of stools has been prescribed by a clinician. The stools examination methods included direct wet saline examination, lugol's iodine staining technique, formol-ether concentration and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining. We recorded age and sex information for each patient. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasite infections was 65.3 % (190/291). Majority of the parasitic infections was waterborne (64.3 %) consisting of high prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp. (26.5 %) and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (23.4 %). The prevalence of opportunistic parasites was 28.9 % and Cryptosporidium sp. was the most prevalent species followed by Blastocystis sp. (1.0 %), Cyclospora sp. (0.7 %) and Isospora belli (0.7 %). The prevalence of intestinal helminthes was 1.7 %. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of intestinal parasitism in general remains high in Bobo-Dioulasso requiring the establishment of adequate diagnostic techniques, treatment and prevention.