Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is the second most frequently isolated bacterium in medical bacteriology laboratory after Escherichia coli. It can be responsible for many infections including urinary tract infections and pneumonia. The treatment of these infections is often prolonged because of the resistance of this bacterium to antibiotics. The production of aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes and the production of RNA methylases confer resistance to aminoglycosides. In Burkina Faso, studies on bacterial resistance to aminoglycosides, an antibiotic regularly prescribed and consumed by patients, are limited, hence the purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of aminoglycoside resistance genes in K. pneumoniae isolated from urine and pus samples. Methods and Findings: A total of 150 Klebsiella strains from pus and urine cultures were collected from October 2018 to June 2019 in two hospitals in Ouagadougou and were included in this study. After plating on Muller Hinton (MH) medium to obtain pure colonies, antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed with aminoglycosides, β-lactams, fluoroquinolones and sulfonamides. PCR testing for the phoE gene allowed genotypic identification of Klebsiella pneumoniae. PCRs were then performed on strains with at least one aminoglycoside resistance for identification of the aac(6')-Ib, aac(3)-IIc, and armA resistance gene. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that 38.67% (58/150) of the strains were resistant to Tobramycin, 28.67% (43/150) to Gentamicin, 10.00% (15/150) to Netilmicin, 8.67% (13/150) to Kanamycin, 4.67% (7/150) to Amikacin and 0.67% (1/150) to Neomycin. Of the 63 strains (42.66%) with at least one aminoglycoside resistance, the resistance genes, aac(3)-IIc and aac(6')-Ib were detected in 49 strains (77.77%) and 39 strains (61.90%), respectively; and 34 strains (53.97%) had both genes. The armA gene was present in 19.04% of the strains (12/63). Conclusion: Aminoglycoside resistance in K. pneumoniae strains in this study is primarily due to aac(3)-IIc and aac(6')-Ib acetyltransferases. Although armA RNA methylase genes are less frequent, increased surveillance is necessary due to the high level of aminoglycoside resistance conferred by this gene.

Background : Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing is recommended as a high-performance screening method within the World Health Organization (WHO) global strategy for cervical cancer elimination. However, the programmatic effectiveness of HPV screening relies on the analytical quality and reproducibility of results produced under routine laboratory conditions. Objective : The aim is to assess the agreement between HPV test results reported by peripheral laboratories as part of an external quality control program conducted by the National Reference Laboratory for Human Papillomavirus (NHPVRL) in Burkina Faso. Methods : We conducted a cross-sectional evaluation based on an external quality assessment (EQA). Samples collected from women aged from 25 to55 years screened in 10 health facilities were tested in routine laboratories using GeneXpert® HPV or Cobas® 4800 assays and subsequently retested at the NHPVRL. Binary agreement for high-risk HPV (HPV-HR) detection (positive vs negative) was assessed using Cohen’s Kappa coefficient with 95% confidence intervals. The proportions of false-positive and false-negative results were also estimated. Results : A total of 200 samples were received at the NHPVRL, of which 199 yielded valid results. The median age of participants was 34 years (IQR 28–44). Among the valid samples, 100/199 (50.3%) were HPV-HR positive at the reference laboratory. The overall agreement between routine laboratory results and NHPVRL results was moderate (Kappa = 0.343; 95% CI 0.226–0.461), with a high proportion of false-positive results in routine testing (0.64; 95% CI 0.53–0.73) and a low proportion of false-negative results (0.06; 95% CI 0.02–0.13). Agreement was slightly higher for GeneXpert® HPV (Kappa = 0.374; 95% CI 0.227–0.522) than for Cobas® 4800 (Kappa = 0.124; 95% CI -0.340–0.282). Conclusion: The concordance between routine HPV testing and results from the national HPV reference laboratory was moderate and largely driven by an excess of false-positive results. These findings highlight the need to strengthen external quality assessment programs, standardize pre-analytical and analytical procedures, and implement targeted quality assurance measures at critical points of the testing pathway to ensure reliable scale-up of HPV screening.

A major global public health issue, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, prostate cancer (PCa) is most often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Data on the molecular mechanisms involved in African populations remain limited. Among the genetic alterations studied, microsatellite instability (MSI) is a marker of genomic instability with diagnostic and therapeutic significance. This preliminary study aimed to assess the frequency and characteristics of MSI in patients with PCa in Burkina Faso. Eighty-four patients with histologically confirmed prostate cancer were enrolled between July 2023 and June 2024. MSI status was analyzed using five standard markers from the Bethesda panel by conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) followed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Overall, 78.6% of tumors were microsatellite stable (MSS), while 21.4% were unstable (20.2% MSI-Low (MSI-L) and 1.2% MSI-High (MSI-H)). The most frequently unstable marker was D5S346 (14.3%), followed by BAT26 (7.1%). MSI was significantly associated with age ≥ 65 years (p = 0.011), Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels > 100 ng/mL (p = 0.004), and Gleason score (GS) ≥ 7 (p = 0.003). However, these associations were not confirmed by multivariate analysis. These results confirm the rarity of the MSI-H phenotype in PCa but suggest that the MSI-L phenotype may be more common in our population.

Background Chikungunya is an emerging arbovirus disease transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes , mainly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus . Since it was first identified in Tanzania in 1952, the virus has caused numerous epidemics around the world. Despite arbovirus surveillance since 2017 through sentinel and non-sentinel sites in Burkina Faso, the National Reference Laboratory for Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (LNR-FHV) confirmed the first cases of Chikungunya in 2023. In spite of a few cases detected in 2024, data on the circulation of the virus remain fragmentary. The objective of this study is to document cases of Chikungunya in 2024 in Burkina Faso. Method From January to December 2024, the LNR-FHV received and analyzed 5,821 serum samples from suspected or probable arbovirus cases using real-time RT-PCR. The tests were performed using a triplex kit (ZDC), a reagent that allows the simultaneous detection of the genomes of three arboviruses (chikungunya, dengue, and Zika). Results Of the 5,821 samples tested, 107 cases were confirmed, representing a prevalence of 1.84%. Women accounted for 54.20% of confirmed cases. The most affected age group was 25–64 years old, with a frequency of 50.47%. No significant association was found between gender (p = 0.28), age (p = 0.73), and infection. The peak was observed in October, accounting for 34.58% of confirmed cases. The Kadiogo region was the most affected by the infection. Conclusion This study confirms the circulation of the chikungunya virus in Burkina Faso and highlights the importance of strengthening surveillance, improving diagnosis, and intensifying vector control to prevent outbreaks and better understand the dynamics of the virus.

INTRODUCTION:Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. It is a major public health issue in tropical and subtropical areas. In West Africa, the most prevalent dengue virus (DENV) serotypes are DENV-1 and DENV-2, which are responsible for the majority of epidemics on the continent. In addition to environmental factors, genetics, including HLA class II alleles, could influence susceptibility or protection against disease. AIMS OF STUDY:This study aimed to characterize HLA-DRB1*03 and HLA-DRB1*04 alleles in dengue patients, exploring their association with susceptibility or protection against disease in Burkina Faso. METHOD AND RESULT:Case-control analysis performed in Ouagadougou, with typing of HLA-DRB1*03 and HLA-DRB1*04 alleles by SSP-PCR, followed by an analysis of allele frequencies and statistical associations, reveals that frequencies of HLA-DRB1*03; HLA-DRB1*04 were respectively 85.48% and 51.62% in dengue patients (case) whereas in the control group their freuencies were respectively 96.83% and 44.44%. Statistical analysis showed a significant association between the carriage of the HLA-DRB1*03 allele and the occurrence of dengue fever (OR = 0.19; 95% CI: 0.01-1.00; p = 0.029). In contrast, no significant association was found with HLA-DRB1*04 (p = 0.533). No significant differences were observed by sex or progression to secondary dengue. CONCLUSION:These results highlight the importance of the HLA-DRB1*03 allele, it's carriage of this allele could be associated with a decrease in the odds of dengue occurrence, suggesting a potential protective, paving the way for future investigations into the involvement of HLA alleles in dengue immunity.

A collection of 21 bacterial isolates recovered from urine specimens collected between September 2018 and February 2019 at Saint-Camille and SCHIPHRA hospitals in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, is presented. Isolates were identified using the API 20E system and tested for antibiotic susceptibility according to CASFM 2018 guidelines. Genomic DNA was extracted, barcoded with the SQK-RBK114.96 Rapid Barcoding Kit, and sequenced on an Oxford Nanopore MinION Mk1C using an R10.4.1 flowcell. Basecalling was performed with Dorado, and reads were quality filtered prior to de novo assembly with Flye, followed by polishing with Racon and Medaka. Assemblies were evaluated with QUAST, taxonomically assigned with Kraken2, and annotated with Bakta. The dataset comprises 21 barcode-specific raw read sets (1.5 million reads; 4.9 Gb), polished genome assemblies, per-isolate metadata including collection site, collection date, and antibiotic susceptibility measurements, and quality assessment outputs including read statistics, assembly metrics, and functional annotation completeness estimates. All data are available under NCBI BioProject PRJNA1307828. These data provide a useful resource for long-read bacterial genome assembly benchmarking, comparative genomics, and analyses integrating phenotypic and genomic antimicrobial resistance information.

Cervical cancer is a multifactorial disease like any other human cancer. Among these factors, genetic polymorphisms of Glutathione S-Transferase Mu1 (GSTM1) have been incriminated, but the studies results remain controversial. The objective of this meta-analysis was to study the influence of GSTM1 polymorphisms on the occurrence of cervical cancer and to explore interactions between genes and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and exposure to tobacco smoke. A meta-analysis was conducted on studies published up to June 12, 2025, from six databases: ScienceDirect, Embase, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science. Eligible studies included all case-control investigations that assessed the association between GSTM1 polymorphisms and the risk of cervical cancer. Odds ratios and confidence intervals from the studies were used to estimate the combined effect size. Statistical analyses were conducted using both the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model and Mantel and Haenszel fixed-effect model with a 95% confidence interval. Subgroup analyses were performed to identify potential sources of variability. A significant association was observed between the GSTM1-null and an increased risk of Cervical Cancer (ORCC=1.47, Pz=0.011) and Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (ORSIL=1.42, Pz=0.035) compared with the GSTM1-present. The included studies showed high heterogeneity. Overall, carriers of the GSTM1-null had a higher likelihood of developing Cervical Cancer compared to carriers of the GSTM1-present. In subgroup analyses, an increased risk associated with the GSTM1-null was found among Asian populations (ORCC=1.54, Pz=0.002) and according to sample type, in blood DNA extracts (ORCC=1.27, Pz=0.052). Furthermore, the GSTM1-null was associated with increased risk in HPV+ women (ORCC=4.88, Pz=0.005) and in women exposed to tobacco smoke (ORCC=1.35, Pz=0.033). According to histological type, GSTM1-null was also associated with the development of Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ORSCC=1.52, Pz=0.020). in conclusion, GSTM1-nullwere associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer in women, especially in HPV+ women and those exposed to tobacco smoke.

Introduction: Dengue fever, a viral disease caused by arboviruses of the Flaviviridae family and transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, remains a major public health challenge worldwide. In Burkina Faso, dengue has been endemic since 2013, with recurrent outbreaks despite vector control efforts and the establishment of sentinel surveillance in 2017. In 2023 the most severely affected countries by a large-scale dengue outbreak on the African continent. The 2024 study aims to analyze this dynamic to strengthen the national health response. Methodology: The retrospective study conducted in 2024 at the National Reference Laboratory for Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (LNR-FHV) analyzed 6,048 serum samples collected from suspected or probable dengue cases as part of national surveillance. Samples were transported under cold chain condition, and diagnostic methods varied according to the interval between symptom onset and sample collection. RT-PCR was used cases within 5 days, combined RT-PCR and ELISA for 5 to 7 days and ELISA alone for more than 7 days. RT-PCR positive sample were further serotyped. Sociodemographic data and ELISA/RT-PCR results were analyzed with R 4.4.1 at a 95% confidence interval. Descriptive and statistical analyses, including Chi‑square, Welch t‑test, Fisher’s exact test, and logistic regressions, were performed to identify risk factors and describe monthly trends. Results: The results revealed a predominance of female patients among suspected cases, but confirmed cases showed a slight male majority. Adults aged 25-64 years were the most affected group, representing 58.77% of confirmed infections. Temporal analysis indicated peaks in suspected cases in October and confirmed cases in November. The overall prevalence among suspected and probable cases was 9.29%. Three serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3) co-circulated, with DENV-1 being predominant (58.96%). Conclusions: These findings confirm active dengue virus circulation in Burkina Faso and underscore the urgent need to reinforce, surveillance, and response strategies. Strengthening laboratory capacity, vector control, and public awareness will be essential to mitigate future outbreaks and reduce the burden of this neglected tropical disease.

Clinical outcomes following exposure to hepatitis B virus vary enormously from spontaneous clearance to chronic hepatitis B, often progressing to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The presence and expression of polymorphisms in the HLA-DQB1 gene have been shown to correlate with spontaneous clearance and susceptibility to HBV infection. This study aimed to determine the association of HLA-DQB1 gene polymorphisms with chronic hepatitis B infection, cirrhosis, and HBV-related HCC in Burkina Faso. This case-control study was conducted in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from August 2022 to May 2023. It characterized the HLA-DQB1 gene polymorphism (HLA-DQB1*0303, HLA-DQB1*0502, HLA-DQB1*0604) in 111 participants stratified into four groups: HCC (n=35), cirrhosis (n=13), chronic hepatitis B (CHB, n=37), and healthy controls (n=26). HLA-DQB1*03: 03, *05: 02, and *06: 04 alleles were characterized using PCR with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 and R version 4.3.1. Our data suggest that HLA-DQB1*0502 (OR=28.4; 95%CI= 5.7-141.3; p-value <0.01; OR=7.1; 95%CI = 1.43-35.02 and p-value <0.01) was a risk factor for progression from hepatitis B to CHB and HCC. However, this allele also appeared to have a protective effect against cirrhosis (OR=0.03; 95%CI=0.004-0.305; p-value=<0.01). Carriers of the HLA-DQB1*0303 allele iniquitously had a higher risk of developing cirrhosis following chronic HBV infection (OR=29.4; CI95%=3.4-254.67, p-value<0.01). The simultaneous absence of HLA-DQB1*0502/HLA-DQB1*0604 alleles showed statistically significant values in healthy controls versus patients with HCC (58.5% versus 41.5%) (OR=0.03; CI95%=0.02-0.38; p-value<0.01). Our results revealed that carrying the HLA-DQB1*0502 allele could induce susceptibility to the progression of infection to critical stages, and the HLA-DQB1*0303 allele could be protective against the progression of hepatitis B.

ABSTRACT Background and Objectives Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major global health burden, with disease progression influenced by host genetic and immune factors, including variants in the mannose‐binding lectin 2 (MBL2) gene. This study aimed to evaluate the association between MBL2 polymorphisms and clinical outcomes of HBV infection in a cohort from Burkina Faso. Method A total of 74 participants were recruited in 2022, including individuals with chronic hepatitis B (CHB, N = 12), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, N = 28), cirrhosis (N = 12) and resolved hepatitis B (n = 22). Genotyping of MBL2 promoter polymorphisms (rs11003125 and rs7096206) was performed using real‐time PCR (QuantStudio 5). Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS v20 and Epi Info v7.5.2.0, with significance defined as p < 0.05 (Fisher's exact test). Results For rs11003125, the GC heterozygous genotype predominated (77%), followed by GG (16.2%) and CC (6.7%). For rs7096206, genotype frequencies were 43.2% (CC), 28.4% (CG) and 28.4% (GG). The rs7096206 GG genotype and G allele were strongly associated with infection resolution (OR = 0.02, 95% CI: 0.0002–0.3, p < 0.001; and OR = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.01–0.2, p < 0.001, respectively), and with reduced risk of progression from cirrhosis to HCC (OR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.09–0.7, p = 0.009). Additionally, the rs11003125 C allele was associated with a decreased risk of progression to HCC (OR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1–0.7, p = 0.01). Conclusion From an exploratory perspective, the analysis of the rs11003125 and rs7096206 polymorphisms located in the promoter region of the MBL2 gene suggests their possible involvement in the progression of HBV infection. These preliminary results support the hypothesis of a potential functional role of this gene in HBV pathogenesis, while highlighting the need for further studies to confirm and clarify these associations.

BACKGROUND:Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major global public health problem with devastating consequences, such as hepatocellular carcinoma. Currently, approved treatments are limited to interferon and nucleoside/nucleotide analogues for chronic hepatitis B and chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery for cancer. Both treatments have their limitations, making complete cure an elusive goal. Therefore, the identification of new therapeutic targets using medicinal plants and the development of new antiviral and anticancer strategies are of utmost importance. OBJECTIVE:The aim of this review is to identify from the literature the substances and molecules of West African flora involved in the fight against chronic hepatitis B and liver cancer and to provide a summary of their mechanisms of action. METHODS:Pubmed, HAL open science, and Google Scholar literature search engines were used to identify medicinal plants and molecules from the West African flora. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS:Among West African countries, Gambia and Niger had the highest prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection, and 09 West African countries had high rates of liver cancer. A number of studies carried out in Mali, Benin, Senegal, and Burkina Faso enabled us to list anti-HBV and anticancer plants, as well as a number of molecules isolated from plants found in West African regions. CONCLUSION:By offering a glimpse into the world of anti-HBV and anticancer molecules from West Africa, this review provides valuable information to support the future development of herbal antiviral and anticancer drugs.

Diarrheal diseases are responsible for significant mortality worldwide. In many regions, local populations rely on traditional medicine, including medicinal plants, to manage these illnesses. This study aimed to identify the medicinal plants used by traditional healers in the Hauts-Bassins region of Burkina Faso for treating diarrheal diseases. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted from September 4 to 30, 2020, using a semi-structured questionnaire. Key indicators such as Family Importance Value (FIV), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), plant parts used, preparation methods, and routes of administration were assessed. A total of 51 traditional healers were interviewed, 90.20% of whom were male. Most participants were over 60 years of age, and 54.9% were from the village of Bala. Eighteen (18) plant species from eleven (11) botanical families were recorded, with the Annonaceae family being the most frequently cited (35.56%). The most commonly reported species included Annona senegalensis Pers. (35.56%), Euphorbia hirta L. (11.11%), and Erythrina senegalensis DC (8.89%). Roots (44.44%) and trunk bark (20.00%) were the most frequently used plant parts. Decoction (57.78%) and maceration (42.22%) were the primary preparation methods, with oral administration being the most common. Species including Opilia celtidifolia, Erythrina senegalensis, Entada africana, Acacia erythrocalyx, and Combretum nigricans were reported as rare. This study contributes to the preservation of indigenous knowledge and provides a foundation for future pharmacological investigations into antidiarrheal medicinal plants.

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), yet reliable biomarkers for early detection and risk stratification remain limited. This study aimed to identify plasma proteins associated with disease progression from chronic HBV infection to HCC. Plasma proteomic profiling was conducted using high-resolution LC–MS/MS on samples from healthy controls, chronic HBV carriers, patients with cirrhosis, and individuals with HBV-associated HCC. Differentially expressed proteins were identified through bioinformatics analysis, and protein–protein interaction networks were reconstructed to assess functional relevance. Eight proteins displayed distinct, stage-specific expression patterns along the disease continuum. ICAM1, TIMP1, and IGFBP7 were progressively upregulated, reflecting roles in inflammation, fibrosis, and tumorigenesis. In contrast, PF4V1 and GPLD1 were downregulated, suggesting loss of protective functions during disease progression. PFN1, TUBA1B, and MDH1 exhibited dynamic modulation linked to cytoskeletal remodeling, cell division, and metabolic reprogramming. Network analysis revealed their involvement in pathways critical for immune regulation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and angiogenesis. Random forest modeling further confirmed their strong discriminatory potential for disease staging. This study identifies a panel of plasma proteins closely associated with HBV-related HCC progression. These biomarkers may facilitate early detection, improve risk stratification in HBV-infected individuals, and provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms driving liver cancer development.

Chikungunya is an emerging arbovirus disease transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, mainly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Since it was first identified in Tanzania in 1952, the virus has caused numerous epidemics around the world. Despite arbovirus surveillance since 2017 through sentinel and non-sentinel sites in Burkina Faso, the National Reference Laboratory for Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (LNR-FHV) confirmed the first cases of Chikungunya in 2023. In spite of a few cases detected in 2024, data on the circulation of the virus remain fragmentary. The objective of this study is to document cases of Chikungunya in 2024 in Burkina Faso. From January to December 2024, the LNR-FHV received and analyzed 5,821 serum samples from suspected or probable arbovirus cases collected from various sentinel sites, health districts, and medical facilities, using real-time RT-PCR. The tests were performed using a triplex kit (ZDC), a reagent that allows the simultaneous detection of the RNA of three arboviruses (chikungunya, dengue, and Zika). Of the 5,821 samples tested, 107 cases were confirmed, representing a percentage of positivity case of 1.84

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, implicated in urinary tract infections, represent a major challenge and limit therapeutic options. Our study sought to characterize the genes of resistance to IMP and NDM in urine samples from patients in the city of Ouagadougou by real-time PCR. This cross-sectional study focused on 130 bacterial isolates collected from February to July 2023 at HOSCO and CERBA. The determination of the enterobacterium species was followed by the performance of an antibiogram. Gene detection consisted of the extraction of bacterial DNA and its amplification by real-time PCR. 60 isolates came from male patients (46.2