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.

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.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a significant cause of liver disease and cancer worldwide. Understanding the genetic factors influencing HBV evolution is crucial for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. Host genetic and environmental factors particularly influence the evolution of this infection. Recent studies have implicated the ECM1 gene in HBV pathogenesis, mainly two specific polymorphisms (rs3834087 and rs3754217). In an African cohort, we comprehensively analyzed these ECM1 gene polymorphisms and their association with HBV evolution.In this case-control analysis, 167 samples, consisting of 59 controls and 108 cases, were examined. The cases included 50 patients with Chronic Hepatitis B(CHB), 16 with cirrhosis, and 42 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Genomic DNA extraction was executed using INVITROGEN and FAVORGEN kits. Genotyping of rs3834087 and rs3754217 polymorphisms in the ECM1 gene was accomplished via real-time PCR on the QuantStudioTM 5 Real-Time instrument, followed by allelic discrimination using TaqMan Genotyper Software. Data was interpreted using SPSS version 20 and Epi info version 7.5.2.0. Odds ratios (OR), confidence intervals (CI), and p-values were derived for risk and significance evaluation.In our study, the heterozygous genotype (GT) of rs3754217 could confer protection to controls against the onset of chronic hepatitis in the event of infection (OR=0.05; CI=0.006-0.46; p=0.002). In addition, carriage of mutated alleles of the two (2) polymorphisms was associated with the course of infection and may influence the appearance of severe forms at certain stages of the disease.Our study is the first to assess the association between polymorphisms (rs3834087 and rs3754217) in the ECM1 gene and the course of HBV infection in Burkina Faso. It showed that combining specific genotypes of the two (2) polymorphisms would be associated with protection against chronic hepatitis.

Background: The use of reference equipment is crucial for ensuring the accuracy of analytical measurements. The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of the ELISA Evolis Twin Plus System and the Multiskan FC spectrophotometer, in performing ELISA tests. Material and Methods: The methodological approach entailed the execution of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests using samples obtained from subjects participating in a nationwide survey. The WANTAI SARS-CoV-2 Ab ELISA kit, which detects total antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, was employed on various instruments namely Multiskan FC spectrophotometer and Evolis Twin Plus and Elisys Uno automated systems. The diagnostic performance was subsequently assessed using the OpenEpi online software. Results: The results of the study indicated that the Multiskan FC method exhibited a marginally higher rate of positivity (76.13%) compared to the Evolis Twin Plus System (75.73%). The findings indicate that the performance of the manual ELISA method (sensitivity: 94.67%; specificity: 87.39%) marginally exceeds that of the automated ELISA method (sensitivity: 93.67%; specificity: 86.11%). However, McNemar's Chi-squared test with Yates correction indicates that there is no significant difference in the positivity rate of the ELISA test using Multiskan FC (X2= 1.03, p = 0.311) and Evolis Twin Plus System (X2= 2.03, p = 0.155) compared with the reference. Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrated that the Multiskan FC and the Evolis Twin Plus System exhibited comparable technical capabilities to those of the standard reference and are suitable for use in the serological diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2.

Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) plays a crucial role in resistance to mycobacterial infections, as it is a regulatory cytokine that acts as a pro-inflammatory mediator. Consequently, variants in the gene encoding this cytokine may be associated with a high risk of contracting pulmonary tuberculosis. The present study aimed to investigate the genetic susceptibility of polymorphisms in the gene coding for IFN-γ to infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Burkina Faso. This cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2023 to January 2024. Venous blood was collected from suspected cases. Tuberculosis was confirmed by GeneXpert (CEPHEID). Human genomic DNA was extracted using the salting-out extraction technique, followed by the amplification and genotyping of IFN-γ gene polymorphisms,through the conventional PCR. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS and Epi info software. A total of 168 participants were included in the study, with an average age of 38.58 ±14.88, the majority of whom were men (76.19%). In our study population, 73.2% (123/168) were confirmed positive for tuberculosis. Some 46.4% (78/168) of the previous cases were contacts. Of these contact cases, 82.05% (64/78) were GeneXpert positive. The genotypic frequencies of the IFN-γ gene were distributed as follows: 73.3% (AA), 21.8% (AT) and 4.9% (TT), with a frequency of 84.2% for the A allele versus 15.8% for the mutated T allele. No statistically significant association was found between IFN-γ gene polymorphisms and M. tuberculosis infection in Burkina Faso. IFN-γ gene polymorphisms (IFN +874T/A) do not appear to be associated with M. tuberculosis infection in Burkina Faso.

Introduction: Microbiology of effusion fluids in children in Burkina Faso is characterized by the scarcity of data. This work aimed to study the bacteriological and antibiotics susceptibility profile of bacteria involved in effusion fluid infections in paediatrics in order to improve the choice of probabilistic antibiotics therapy. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was used in children aged 0 to 15 years from 2017 to 2020 at the Charles De Gaulle Pediatric University Hospital Center (CHUP-CDG) in Ouagadougou. Classical bacteriology methods such as macroscopy, Gram staining, identification galleries and antibiotics susceptibility testing were used. Results: Of 231 samples, 64 bacteria were isolated. The most common bacterial strains of pleural fluid were Staphylococcus aureus (25%) and 40% for Enterobacteriaceae. Of the peritoneal fluid, 77% were Enterobacteriaceae with 57% Escherichia coli; and from joint fluid, 33% were S. aureus and 22% for P. aeruginosa. The overall susceptibility profile showed 29% extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL), 10% methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and 8% carbapenemases. Conclusion: Bacteriological profile is characterized by ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae and MRSA. The most active antibiotics were macrolides, aminoglycosides, and cefoxitin (methicillin) for Gram-positive cocci, carbapenems, and aminoglycosides for Gram-negative bacilli. Then, the monitoring of antibiotics resistance must be permanent.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) Infection remains a public health problem and a threat to blood transfusion safety. The aim of this study was to summarise the scientific literature on the seroprevalence of HBV and occult HBV among blood donors in Africa. Searches were carried out in PubMed, Science Direct, Global Index Medicus and African Journals Online from 2012 to 2022. Dersimonian and Laird's random-effects model-based method was used for statistical analyses to estimate pooled seroprevalence at a 95% confidence interval (CI) using STATA version 14 software. Heterogeneity was assessed on the basis of Cochran's Q test and quantified by the I2 index. The methodological quality of the articles was assessed using the Joanna Brigg Institute's critical appraisal checklist. Among 90 articles included, 86 reported data in serological test that a pooled HBV seroprevalence of 5.53% (95% CI: 4.56-6.58; I2 = 99.94%) and 14 provided occult hepatitis B data. A high prevalence of 9.69% (95% CI: 8.42-11.03) was observed in the West African region. Lowest prevalence was 1.22% (95% CI: 0.74-1.83) in South Africa region. Prevalence in Africa among men was: 5.18% (95% CI: 3.97-6.54) and in women: 3.50% (95% CI: 2.45-4.71) (I2 = 99.76% and p < 0.01). While the overall pooled prevalence of occult hepatitis B was 3.18% (95% CI: 1.29-5.81). HBV seroprevalence is high in low-resource areas of Africa, and the data generated by this situation calls for constant epidemiological surveillance. Emphasis must be placed on building blood donor loyalty and integrating molecular testing into the biological qualification of blood donations.

Background: Dengue fever is a vector-borne disease that raises a major public health problem worldwide, particularly in Burkina Faso. The gold standard diagnosis is based on the research of viral RNA by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) during the first days, or the presence of specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) by serological tests or the isolation of the virus. Burkina Faso reported a localized outbreak of dengue fever in 2016. This study aimed to evaluate dengue fever seroprevalence among children aged 0-5 years. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study which covered the period from January 2016 to December 2019 and involved 621 suspected cases of children aged 0-5 years at the Charles de Gaulle University Paediatric Hospital in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso from Results: Of the suspected cases,189 were confirmed positive to dengue fever with a seroprevalence of 30.47%. Among positive cases, young children (1 to 29 months age group) were the most represented, with a sex ratio (M/F) of 1.15 in favor of males (53.44%) of dengue cases. Clinical symptoms were polymorphous. Fever (86.24%), algic syndrome (75.13%) and vomiting (46.03%) were the most frequent clinical manifestations. The majority of patients (28.57%) had positive IgG serology. The main biological feature was thrombocytopenia (26.50%), (p=0.039). Conclusion: This study confirms the emergence of this disease in young children, as mentioned in previous studies. Improving the technical facilities in our hospitals, providing ongoing training for healthcare workers in the management of this disease and disseminating the national protocol for the management of dengue fever could improve the situation. Keywords: Seroprevalence, Dengue Fever, Children, Burkina Fas. Impact of Employee Compensation and Benefits on Operating Performance This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Copyright © Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

Malaria-endemic countries in Africa have recorded the lowest number of covid-19 cases and deaths compared to other countries. Pre-existing Naturally acquired Immunity to malaria was an hypothesis that was stated to explain this situation. In a context where malaria is endemic, we carried out this study in order to investigate the existence of antibody cross-reactivity between COVID-19 and malaria and to estimate the seroprevalence of COVID-19 during the third year of the pandemic in the plateau central Region in Burkina Faso. Samples collected in 2007 and positive for IgG against Plasmodium falciparum alpha-helical coiled coil proteins were used to look for a possible antibody cross-reactivity with SARS-CoV-2 antigens. Samples collected in 2022 were used to estimate the seroprevalence of COVID-19. A total of 628 individuals of both sexes, aged over 5 years were enrolled. The seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was measured using an ELISA test and an RDT. All the samples collected in 2007 showed no cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and Plasmodium falciparum. The seroprevalence during the third year of the pandemic was 100% and 86.88% respectively by ELISA and RDT. The proportions of IgG and IgM antibodies were respectively 86.56% and 2.81%. The results did not show antibody cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV2 and Plasmodium falciparum in the study population. High exposure to SARS-CoV-2 was found in the study area in 2022. Due to their high specificity, WANTAI ELISA and Right Sign RDT can be considered as good serological tools for COVID-19 serosurveillance in a context where malaria is endemic.

Background Dengue fever (DF) is a significant public health concern in Burkina Faso, particularly in the Central Region, previously endemic for malaria. However, limited research has focused on dengue prevalence and associated factors among adult febrile patients in this region. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of symptomatic dengue fever among adults and identify the sociodemographic and clinical determinants of the disease. Methods A seroepidemiological cross-sectional study was conducted in the Central Region of Burkina Faso, through a three-stage sampling. Five health facilities, one from each of the region five districts, were purposively selected. Febrile patients aged 16 and older, suspected of having dengue, were included in the study, after consenting. Bivariate analyses and multivariate binary logistic regression were done at a 5% confidence level. Results A total of 637 patients between the ages of 16 and 90 years were included. Most of the participants were females (58.71%). Most dengue cases resided in Arrondissement 4 (59.62%), or were present in the Arrondissement 4 at daytime during the previous days (51.92%). 52.90% of the participants knew of dengue. Dengue prevalence was estimated at 8.16% (95% CI: 6.16%-10.57%). The most frequent markers for dengue were immunoglobulins M detected in 4.40% (2.94%-6.29%), followed by Antigen NS1 at 4.24% (95% CI: 2.81%-6.11%). The Antigen NS1 marker was associated with myalgia ( p = 0.024), vomiting ( p < 0.001), hemorrhagic manifestations ( p = 0.001), and anorexia ( p < 0.001). Staying at Arrondissement 4 (vs staying at Saaba) during daytime (aOR = 2.36 95% CI: 1.03–5.45; p = 0.044) significantly increased the odds of dengue. Dengue cases were about 3 times more likely to have vomited (aOR = 2.99 95% CI: 1.58–5.64; p = 0.001). Participants knowing of dengue (aOR = 0.53 95% CI: 0.29–0.98; p = 0.042) and those coinfected with malaria (aOR = 0.28 95% CI: 0.14–0.57; p < 0.001) instead had reduced odds of dengue. Conclusion The study revealed a relatively high prevalence of symptomatic dengue fever among adults in the Central Region of Burkina Faso in 2022. These findings emphasize the need for continuous surveillance and targeted control measures. The low coinfection of dengue and malaria warrants further investigation.

The ACE2 gene polymorphisms (rs143936283, rs146676783, and rs4646116) in infected and noninfected persons by SARS-CoV-2 in Burkina Faso. Our cross-sectional study population comprised 137 SARS-CoV-2 infected persons and 181 non-infected persons. Three ACE2 gene polymorphisms rs143936283, rs146676783, and rs4646116, were genotyped using the real-time PCR standard TaqMan allelic discrimination technique. The association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the polymorphisms were evaluated by a binary logistic regression. There was no association between the polymorphisms rs143936283, rs4646116 haplotypes, and SARS-CoV-2 infection in our study population. However, in the female population, the heterozygous genotype CT of rs146676783 increased by two and half the risk (OR=2.58 95%CI (1.2-5.48), p= 0.014) of being infected by SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, carrying the homozygous minor allele (genotype TT) of rs146676783 increased by more than five and half the risk (OR=5.57 95%CI (1.64-18.78), p=0.006) of being infected by SARS-CoV-2 among females. This study showed that the ACE2 gene variant rs146676783 was associated with an increased risk of being infected by SARS-CoV-2 in females, suggesting a need for further investigation to contribute to a better understanding of the African COVID-19 enigma.

Salmonella spp and Shigella spp are implicated in gastroenteritis. The increasing antibiotic resistance of these pathogenic bacteria is a public health problem in Burkina Faso. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibiotic susceptibility profile of Salmonella spp and Shigella spp strains isolated from coprocultures at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Pédiatrique Charles De Gaulle (CHUP-CDG). This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Data were collected from 1 January 2018 to 30 April 2022 from patients in whom Salmonella spp and Shigella spp strains were identified from coprocultures at the biomedical analysis laboratory. The study population consisted of patients whose stool culture samples were received and analysed during the study period with complete data. Five thousand four hundred and eighty-seven (5487) coprocultures were performed during the study period, of which 1.6% (87/5487) were positive for Salmonella spp and Shigella spp 45.97% of the patients were aged between 1 and 29 months. Also, 54.02% were male, giving a sex ratio of 1.18 in favour of males. Salmonella spp and Shigella spp were susceptible to ceftriaxone (82.5%), imipenem (70.84%), ciprofloxacin (64.17%), chloramphenicol (63.33%), gentamicin (62.5%) and cefepime (57.5%). This study revealed a wide variety of Salmonella spp and Shigella spp serotypes circulating at the CHUP-CDG. As a result, the most commonly used and affordable antibiotics no longer appear to be effective against these strains.

Purpose: The emergence of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae is a public health problem in tropical countries such as Burkina Faso. Antibiotic resistance could be identified using a variety of approaches. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of pathogenic enterobacteria strains from three sources, as well as their antibiotic resistance profile to biotope and climatic season. Material and Methods: The methodological approach consisted of identifying Enterobacteriaceae from human (urine, stool), animal (eggs, milk, fish), and environmental (soil, lettuce) samples, followed by assessing their antibiotic susceptibility. Samples were collected from February to December 2023. Bacterial species were isolated and phenotypically identified (morphologically, culturally, biochemically, and antigenically) using standard methods. The prevalence of bacterial susceptibility to ten antibiotics was determined using the agar disk diffusion method. The collected data were analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics 25 software. Results: A total of 615 Enterobacteriaceae isolates were collected, including 300, 168, and 147 samples from human, animal, and environmental sources respectively. Phenotypic characteristics allowed to partially identify 43 species, among these 29.76% belonged to Escherichia coli, 24.72% to Enterobacter cloacae, 13. 82% to Klebsiella pneumoniae, 3.41% to Enterobacter sakazakii and 2.6% to Klebsiella oxytoca. Bacterial resistance rates were: aminopenicillins (54.8%), first-generation cephalosporins (35.3%), sulfonamides (33.3%), third-generation cephalosporins (30.7%), fourth-generation cephalosporins (22.5%), fluoroquinolones (21.8%), phenicols (16.8%), and carbapenems (16.2%). The distribution of antibiotic resistance was 45.3% from human sources, 19.3% from animal sources, and 13.8% from environmental sources. Conclusion: The results indicate that resistant bacteria can come from any of the three biotopes, with human origin being the most frequent. The high prevalence of resistance to the antibiotics tested in isolated bacteria raises interest in investigating the genetic factors

In 2023, Burkina Faso experienced the largest dengue epidemic ever in Africa. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of symptomatic, subclinical, and asymptomatic dengue and determine the associated factors among adult contacts of dengue in the Central Region, Burkina Faso. This cross-sectional study included contacts of dengue probable cases through cluster sampling in 2022–2023. These suspected cases that tested positive were identified from the five health facilities (Pissy CMA, Saaba CM, Kossodo CMA, Samandin CM, and Marcoussis CSPS) that reported the highest number of cases in 2021 per district. All participants underwent dengue and malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDT). Samples positive for non-structural 1 protein antigen (AgNS1) and/or immunoglobulin M (IgM) were tested for serotype detection by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Binary logistic regression was done to identify the determinants of asymptomatic, subclinical, and symptomatic dengue among contacts of probable dengue cases. A total of 484 contacts were included, mostly in 2023 (75.2