Seroprevalence of HBV and HCV among People Living with HIV in Burkina Faso and Diagnostic Performance of HIV/HCV/HBsAg Combined Rapid Test in Comparison with Architect Assays

Background: The diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a constraint for some populations in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HBV and HCV in people living with HIV and to evaluate the performance of a combined rapid test for the simultaneous detection of HIV, HBV, and HCV. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that took place from February 2017 to November 2018 and included 139 HIV-infected individuals followed up at different medical centers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. HBV and HCV serology tests were performed on-site using finger prick whole blood with HIV/HCV/HBsAg combined rapid test and then serum with two reference tests “Architect HBsAg Qualitative” and “Architect HIV Ag/Ab Combo”. Results: The mean age of the participants was 57 ± 8 years. Of the 139 participants, 10% (14/139) were HIV-1 positive, 71.9% (100/139) were HIV-2 positive, and 18.0% (25/139) were HIV-1/HIV-2 coinfected. The sensitivity and specificity of the HIV/HCV/HBsAg combined rapid test were 33.33% vs 99.11% and 20% vs 99.25% compared to Architect HBsAg Qualitative and Architect HIV Ag/Ab Combo, respectively. The Kappa and Youden Index values were 0.4262 and 0.3244 and 0.2707 and 0.1925, respectively, compared to each of the two reference tests. Conclusion: The results show that the HIV/HCV/HBsAg combined rapid test has poor diagnostic efficiency and should not be recommended for the diagnosis of these viruses.

Cytotoxic Properties on Cervical and Liver Cancer Cells of Two Plant Recipes from Burkina Faso

Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases in developing countries. In recent years, natural plant-based compounds have been used in the search for drugs to combat numerous diseases, including cancer. In this study, we evaluate the cytotoxic properties of paanfo tiben 1 and paanfo tiben 2, two traditional herbal formulations from Burkina Faso used in the treatment of cancer in Burkina Faso. To this end, the recipes were infused and freeze-dried. The dry extracts obtained were used to determine total phenolics and flavonoids content, assess antioxidant activity using the DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods, evaluate anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting 15-LOX, COX 1 and 2, and assess cytotoxic activity on HeLa cervical cancer and HePG2 liver cancer cell lines using the MTT test. The paanfo tiben 1 recipe showed the highest levels of total phenolics and flavonoids, as well as the best antioxidant activities, with IC50 values of 21.020 ± 0.6 µg/ml and 22.94 ± 0.57 µg/ml for DPPH and ABTS, and 165.15 mM EAA/mg dry extract for FRAP. It also exhibited the best cytotoxic activity with IC50 values of 112.02 ± 0.025 µg/ml on HeLa cells and 80.67 ± 6.08 µg/ml on HepG2 cells. On the other hand, paanfo tiben 2 exhibited the best anti-inflammatory activities through inhibition of 15-LOX and COX 1, with inhibition percentages at 100 µg/ml of 32.523% and 24.717 % respectively. These results could justify the traditional use of these two recipes by traditional health practitioners in the treatment of cancer sufferers in Burkina Faso.

Anti-Biofilm, Anti-Quorum Sensing, and Anti-Proliferative Activities of Methanolic and Aqueous Roots Extracts of Carica papaya L. and Cocos nucifera L.

Objective: This study focused on the antibacterial and anti-proliferative activity of extracts from Carica papaya and Cocos nucifera roots. Methodology: The minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum bactericidal concentration of the extracts on Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus mutans, and Staphylococcus aureus were deduced by the microdilution method. The anti-biofilm activity was determined on all four strains and anti-quorum sensing activity by inhibition of violacein production in Chromobacterium violaceum. Anti-proliferative activity on prostate cultured cancer cells was evaluated by MTT assay. Sterols and triterpenes were also assayed in this study. Results: The methanolic extract of Carica papaya showed the best anti-biofilm effect with a percentage inhibition of 66.10 ± 1.79. The methanolic extract of Cocos nucifera had the strongest inhibition on the production of quorum sensing (61.42 ± 0.28). In addition, the methanolic extract of Cocos nucifera roots showed the best cytotoxic effect on prostate cancer LNCaP cell lines (IC50 = 26.98 ± 2.6 μg/mL) and Carica papaya on the PC-3 lines (IC50 = 127.20 ± 5.99 μg/mL). The extracts were also rich in triterpenes and sterols. Conclusion: This study provides support for the ethnomedical use of Carica papaya and Cocos nucifera roots as an antimicrobial and anticancer.

Risk Factors Associated with Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV-1, Spontaneous Abortion and Infant Mortality in HIV-1 Infected Women in Burkina Faso: A Prospective Study

Background: Despite efforts to fight, HIV/AIDS mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 (MTCT), as well as abortion and infant mortality, remains a problem in sub-Saharan Africa. Indeed, a low level of CD4 and a high viral load can be associated with these situations. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors associated with the occurrence of MTCT, spontaneous abortion and infant mortality in HIV-1 infected women in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. This was a prospective study conducted from May 2014 to September 2017 and involved 423 HIV-1 infected women followed at Saint Camille Hospital in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Sociodemographic data were collected through a questionnaire. The CD4 count and HIV-1 viral load were determined using respectively BD FACSCount and Abbott m2000rt instruments. Bivariate analysis and multinomial logistic regression were performed for associations with a significance threshold for p Results: The average age of women was 38.75 ± 7.98 years. Rates of MTCT, abortion and infant mortality were 16.31%, 30.49% and 34.75%, respectively. The number of pregnancies was associated with the number of infant deaths (p = 0.002). A correlation between the number of pregnancies and infant mortality was observed (p = 0.002) with a relatively high rate (28.6%) among women who had three pregnancies. In addition, marital status was associated with HIV-1 infection in infants (p = 0.042) and spontaneous abortion (p = 0.033). HIV-1 infected women with low CD4 counts (less than 350 cells/μL) and those with viral load more than 1000 copies/mL were about twice as likely to have an spontaneous abortion [OR (IC 95%): 2.50 (1.085 - 5.760);p = 0.03] and [OR (95% CI): 2.16 (1.043 - 4.505);p = 0.04]. Conclusions: The results of this study show the need to improve the treatment of HIV-1 infected women in order to restore CD4 levels and make viral load of HIV-1 undetectable.

Resistance of <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i>to Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (<i>Dhfr</i>and <i>Dhps</i>) and Artemisinin and Its Derivatives (K13): A Major Challenge for Malaria Elimination in West Africa

The spread of resistance to antimalarials is a major public health problem worldwide and especially in sub-Saharan Africa where the highest morbidity and mortality rates are found with a critical scarcity of data on resistance. The objective of this review is to describe the mutations in the pfdhfr, pfdhps and k13 genes associated with resistance to artemisinin and Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine reported in West Africa during the decade 2007 to 2017 followed by a meta-analysis of their prevalence. A bibliographic search on the MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE and Sciences Direct databases made it possible to find 405 scientific papers relating to resistance to artemisinin and to Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine during the period 2007-2017. The analysis has concerned 217 scientific articles after the elimination of duplicates with 57 articles included in this review after the examination of titles and abstracts. The results of the present review show that the dhfr and dhps mutants are widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. Although, Kelch 13 mutants from Southeast Asia associated with artemisinin resistance are still absent in West Africa, studies have reported the presence of synonymous or non-K13 mutations correlated with a delay in parasite clearance in Burkina Faso (2.26%), Senegal (5.5%) and Togo (1.8%). The increased prevalence of dhfr and dhps mutants in West Africa could jeopardize its use for intermittent preventive treatment in the near future. Despite the absence of strains resistant to artemisinin-based combination therapy in the West African region, increased surveillance is necessary to prevent the rapid occurrence of possible resistance, especially in the context of synonymous or non-K13 mutations correlated with a delay in parasitic clearance.

HPV/HBV or HPV/HCV Co-Infections in Women Treated for Chronic Hepatitis at Hôpital Saint Camille in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Introduction: Cervical cancer is a public health concern and is mainly caused by Human papillomaviruses (HPV). In many parts of the world, studies are being carried out to understand the different genotypes to better tackle this issue. We conducted a study to determine the prevalence of HPV genotypes in women with chronic hepatitis B or C infection, co-infected or not with HIV, treated at the Hôpital Saint Camille in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). Methods: This study was conducted from April to July 2023, including 100 women in gastroenterology at Hôpital Saint Camille. A questionnaire on their socio-demographic and life style was administrated;and endocervical samples were collected using sterile swabs and then sent to Centre of Biomolecular Research Pietro Annigoni (CERBA). HPV molecular detection and genotyping were performed by PCR and hybridization using the HPV Direct Flow Chips kit. Data were analysis using chi square test or Fischer’s exact test with a significance threshold for p Results: The prevalence of HPV infection was 28% (28/100) on the sample of women tested. The most frequent genotypes were HPV 52 (8.33%), followed by HPV 18 and 68 (6.25% each) for high-risk HPVs, and HPV 6, 44/55 and 62/81 (8.33% each) for low-risk HPVs. Conclusion: This study, the first of its kind in Burkina Faso on this group of the population, reveals that the most frequent genotypes found in this study are not included in the vaccine available in Burkina Faso (Gardasil®4).

Evaluation of the Value Nutritious Leaves Five Varieties Taro (Colocasia esculenta) Cultivated in Burkina Faso

Taro is a perennial herbaceous plant whose large leaves are mainly used as vegetables in human food in several tropical countries. However, young taro leaves are not eaten very much in Burkina Faso unlike other countries which have made them a staple diet. In the present work, we collected leaves of taro varieties cultivated in the provinces of Comoe and Kenedougou. Our study aimed to determine the biochemical composition of these leaves in order to detect their nutritional quality. For this purpose, we first determined the total sugars in our different samples;then quantify the proteins and finally assay the lipids contained in the leaves of the different varieties of taro harvested. Analysis of the organic constituents gave the following results: proteins (186.29 to 265.23 μg EQ/100mg fresh leaves), fats (0.28% to 1.90%), carbohydrates (183.03 to 238.57 μg EG/100mg fresh leaves). The highest energy value was obtained with the variety BF/CO/06 (1728.71 kcal/kg) and the lowest with BF/CO/04 (272.15 kcal/kg). This study allowed us to conclude that the taro leaves (Colocasia esculenta) studied are of nutritional interest with regard to their biochemical composition.

Evaluation of Two Serological Screening Kits for Hepatitis C Virus Infection at the Regional Blood Transfusion Center of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Introduction: In Burkina Faso, screening for hepatitis C virus in blood donations is made using sensitive ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay) type kits. However, no confirmation of the positive results obtained with these kits is made before their notification to the blood donors due to the high costs of the confirmation kits of immunoblots type. Objective: Evaluate two rapid kits against one immunoblot kit in order to determine the most efficiency which will be proposed as an alternative for the confirmation of ELISA tests in the socio-economic context of Burkina Faso. Material and Methods: The study was carried out using a panel of 72 sera, of which 22 were positive for anti-HCV antibodies and 50 were negative. The sera were tested using the Monolisa® HCV Ag-Ab ULTRA kit and confirmed with the DECISCAN HCV Plus kit. The panel was then tested with the SD BIOLINE HCV kit and the HCV TRI-DOT kit and the results obtained were evaluated against those of the DECISCAN HCV Plus kit used as “gold standard”. Results: Compared to the DECISCAN HCV Plus kit, the HCV TRI-DOT kit exhibited a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and the SD BIOLINE HCV kit a sensitivity of 86.36% and a specificity of 100%. Conclusion: Based on the results recorded by the HCV TRI-DOT kit, it would be best suited to the sero-epidemiological context of blood donors from the National Blood Transfusion Center and could be proposed as an alternative for confirmation of ELISA tests.

Distribution of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Genotypes in Precancerous Cervical Lesions in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Aims: We aimed at identifying the high-risk HPV genotypes associated with high-grade dysplastic cervical lesions in Burkina Faso. The available vaccines to Burkina Faso only protect against two high risk HPV genotypes: HPV 16 and 18. Are the genotypes identified in the high-grade precan-cerous lesions in this survey covered by the available vaccines? Methods: The detection and genotyping of high-risk HPV have been conducted based on 118 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded archived tissues using the “HPV Genotypes 14 Real-TM Quant” (Sacace biotechnologies®, Italy) kit allowing for the detection of fourteen high-risk HPV genotypes: HPV 16, 31, 18, 39, 45, 59, 33, 35, 56, 68, 51, 52, 58 and 66. Results: The prevalence of high-risk HPV infections was 48.8% based on the appropriate PCR results (21/43). The most common HPV genotypes were HPV 39 (21.7%), HPV 35 (13.0%) and HPV 45 (13.0%). Two cases of multiple infections between HPV 39 - 45 and HPV 39 - 59 have been observed. HPV 16 was not detected in this study. Conclusions: We noted a high prevalence rate for HPV 39, HPV 35 and HPV 45, which are not covered by the commercial vaccines. We also found that the prevalence of HPV 18 was very low in this study and HPV 16 was not detected.