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PURPOSE: The boom in Burkina Faso's artisanal gold mining since 2007 has attracted populations from Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea, which are the West African countries most affected by human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) and therefore increases its risk of re-emergence. Our aim was to update the HAT data in Burkina Faso in the risk of the re-emergence context with the advent of artisanal gold mining.METHODS: The study was carried out in the southwestern Burkina Faso where entomological surveys were conducted using biconical traps in March 2017. Follow by an active medical survey in April 2017, which was targeted the gold panners in 7 villages closer to artisanal gold sites, using CATT, mini-anion exchange centrifugation technique, trypanolysis test (TL) and ELISA test to measure human/tsetse contacts. The buffy coat technique and the TL were also applied in pigs to check their reservoir role of human trypanosomes.RESULTS: Our results have shown no case of HAT among 958 individuals tested and all the 50 pigs were also negative, but the level of antibodies against tsetse saliva evidenced by ELISA revealed low human/tsetse contact. Moreover, gold panners practise agriculture and breeding in an infected tsetse area, which are increased the risk.CONCLUSION: Our results illustrate that the risk of re-emergence is low. The passive surveillance system implemented in 2015 in southwestern Burkina Faso is needed to increase the sentinel sites to better cover this area by taking into account the gold mining. Finally, awareness-raising activities are needed among populations about HAT.

Beekeeping is a very old practice in Burkina Faso and has many advantages, including the availability of honey resources, of endogenous knowledge and support from public policies. However, it faces challenges, including health problems, which are poorly documented. This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and May 2019 in the Central and Central-west regions of Burkina Faso to determine the prevalence and risk factors of wax moth in bee colonies. A total of 200 modern hives were visited of which 106 were colonized or previously colonized. Methods of observation and inspection of the hives were used to search for witnesses of the wax moth infestation: eggs, larvae, pupae cocoons, woven silk cloth, gallery in wax or adult butterflies. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect information on beekeepers and apiaries characteristics. An inspection sheet was used to record observations made during the inspection of the hives. The results revealed that the average size was 18 hives by apiary. Hives used were Kenyan, Dadant, and rectangular frame hives with a colonization rate of 53%. The overall prevalence of wax moth was 23.6% [15.5-31.7%]. Other predators/pests were observed in 43.4% of the hives, the main ones being beetles (25.5%) and ants (17%). The analysis of the radio adjusted odds ratio showed the absence of risk factors among the modalities of the studied variables. In view of the results of this pilot study, more extensive studies could be carried out to have a better understanding of the epidemiology of the infestation and its possible impact that it can have on honey production.

Background Insecticide resistance has become a widespread problem causing a decline in the effectiveness of vector control tools in sub-Saharan Africa. In this situation, ongoing monitoring of vector susceptibility to insecticides is encouraged by the WHO to guide national malaria control programmes. Our study was conducted from April to November 2018 in Tchonka (Sud-Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo) and reported primary data on the resistance status of Anopheles funestus and Anopheles gambiae. Methods Insecticide susceptibility bioassays were performed on wild populations of A. funestus and A. gambiae using WHO insecticide-impregnated papers at discriminating concentration. In addition, PCR was performed to identify mosquito species and to detect kdr and ace-1R mutations involved in insecticide resistance. Results Bioassay results show resistance to all tested insecticides except pirimiphos-methyl, propoxur, fenitrothion and malathion with a mortality rate ranging from 95.48 to 99.86%. The addition of piperonyl butoxide (PBO) increased the susceptibility of vectors to deltamethrin and alpha-cypermethrin by exhibiting a mortality ranging from 91.50 to 95.86%. The kdr mutation was detected at high frequencies (approximately 0.98) within A. gambiae while ace-1R was not detected. Conclusions This study provides useful data on the insecticide resistance profiles of malaria vector populations to better manage vector control. Our results highlight that, despite the high level of resistance, organophosphorus compounds and pyrethroids + PBO remain effective against the vectors.

A successful application of the sterile insect technique requires the release of sterile males of high biological quality. Glossina palpalis gambiensis strain, mass-reared at Centre International de Recherche-Developpement sur l’Elevage en zone Sub-humide, Burkina Faso was used since 1980. This study aims to compare the biological parameters of this old strain with a newly domesticated strain and a hybrid of both strains to select the most productive strain. Three strains of G. p. gambiensis are reared at Insectarium de Bobo-Dioulasso : CIRDES, IBD and SEIB strains. Five batches were performed including three pure batches (Cirdes-Cirdes, Seib-Seib, and Ibd-Ibd) and two hybrid batches (Ibd-Seib and Ibd-Cirdes). The female survival varied by batch and sex (p

Background: Peridomestic animals play a role in maintaining residual transmission of Plasmodium, being alternative blood meal sources for malaria vectors. The blood of animals treated with veterinary formulations of ivermectin show a mosquitocidal effect on malaria vectors, but for a too short period of time to impact Plasmodium transmission. This study proposes to treat cattle with innovative long-acting (six months) injectable formulations of ivermectin as a complementary vector control measure.Methods: The local breeds of cattle were used in two treatment arms (Four cattle injected with two long-acting formulations of ivermectin with the BEPO® technology at the therapeutic dose of 1.2 mg/kg, and two control arms (Four cattle injected with the vehicles of the formulations). The lethality of the formulations was evaluated on 3-5 days old Anopheles coluzzii mosquitoes through direct-skin feeding assays, from one to 210 days after treatments. Formulations’ efficacy was evaluated and compared using Cox proportional hazards survival models, Kaplan-Meier estimates and 4 parameters log-logistic regression on cumulative mortalities. These results were extrapolated to field scenarii using entomological and transmission models, considering different mosquito feeding preferences, hosts abundances, and bed nets uses ratios. Results: Both formulations released mosquitocidal concentrations of ivermectin until 210 days post-treatment (Hazard ratios > 1). The treatments significantly reduced mosquito survival, with the average median survival times of 4-5 days post-feeding. The Lethal Concentrations to kill 50% of the Anopheles (LC50) before they become infectious (10 days after infectious blood meal) were reached until 210 days post injection for both formulations. Modeling showed that administering long-acting ivermectin formulations to calves would significantly decrease Anopheles populations in the fields. The population of infectious vectors may decrease from 35% to 75% depending mostly on the mosquito feeding preference and on the hosts species relative availability.Conclusions: This study shows that, in complement to bed nets, a long-lasting BEPO® formulation of ivermectin injected to cattle could help to decrease field populations of malaria mosquitoes and residual transmission, the impact of this approach being dependant on the field epidemiological context.

To determine the prevalence and risk factors for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among three high-risk groups - household contacts of TB index cases, healthcare workers and slaughterhouse workers - in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.Participants were recruited to this cross-sectional study from March to July 2020 after giving informed consent. Sociodemographic, clinical and biological data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus test (QFT-Plus) and the tuberculin skin test (TST) were used for detection of LTBI. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for LTBI.The prevalence of LTBI among 101 participants (age range 15-68 years) was 67.33% [95% confidence interval (CI) 57.27-76.33] and 84.16% (95% CI 75.55-90.66) based on QFT-Plus and TST results, respectively. Compared with healthcare workers and household contacts of TB index cases, the prevalence of LTBI among slaughterhouse workers was significantly higher for both QTF-Plus (96.8%;The prevalence of LTBI was high in all three groups, particularly slaughterhouse workers. The risk factors identified could form the basis of targeted intervention.

The World Health Organisation has targeted the elimination of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) as zero transmission by 2030. Continued surveillance needs to be in place for early detection of re-emergent cases. In this context, the performance of diagnostic tests and testing algorithms for detection of the re-emergence of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense HAT remains to be assessed. We carried out a door-to-door active medical survey for HAT in the historical focus of Batié, South-West Burkina Faso. Screening was done using three rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). Two laboratory tests (ELISA/T. b. gambiense and immune trypanolysis) and parasitological examination were performed on RDT positives only. In total, 5883 participants were screened, among which 842 (14%) tested positive in at least one RDT. Blood from 519 RDT positives was examined microscopically but no trypanosomes were observed. The HAT Sero-K-Set test showed the lowest specificity of 89%, while the specificities of SD Bioline HAT and rHAT Sero-Strip were 92% and 99%, respectively. The specificity of ELISA/T. b. gambiense and trypanolysis was 99% (98-99%) and 100% (99-100%), respectively. Our results suggest that T. b. gambiense is no longer circulating in the study area and that zero transmission has probably been attained. While a least cost analysis is still required, our study showed that RDT preselection followed by trypanolysis may be a useful strategy for post-elimination surveillance in Burkina Faso.Suivi de l’élimination de la Trypanosomiase Humaine Africaine dans le foyer historique de Batié au sud-ouest du Burkina Faso.L’Organisation mondiale de la santé a ciblé l’élimination de la trypanosomiase humaine africaine (THA) comme transmission zéro d’ici 2030. Une surveillance continue doit être mise en place pour la détection précoce des cas réémergents. Dans ce contexte, la performance des tests de diagnostic et des algorithmes de test pour la détection de la réémergence de la THA de Trypanosoma brucei gambiense reste à évaluer. Nous avons réalisé une enquête médicale en porte-à-porte pour la THA dans le foyer historique de Batié, au sud-ouest du Burkina Faso. Le dépistage a été effectué à l’aide de trois tests de diagnostic rapide (TDR). Deux tests de laboratoire (ELISA/T. b. gambiense et trypanolyse immunitaire) et un examen parasitologique ont été effectués uniquement sur les TDR positifs. Au total, 5883 participants ont été dépistés, parmi lesquels 842 (14 %) ont été testés positifs dans au moins un TDR. Le sang de 519 TDR positifs a été examiné au microscope mais aucun trypanosome n’a été observé. Le test HAT Sero-K-Set a montré la spécificité la plus faible de 89 %, tandis que les spécificités de SD Bioline HAT et rHAT Sero-Strip étaient de 92 % et 99 %, respectivement. La spécificité d’ELISA/T. b. gambiense et de la trypanolyse étaient respectivement de 99 % (98–99 %) et 100 % (99–100 %). Nos résultats suggèrent que T. b. gambiense ne circule plus dans la zone d’étude et que la transmission zéro a probablement été atteinte. Bien qu’une analyse de moindre coût soit toujours nécessaire, notre étude a montré qu’une présélection par TDR suivie d’une trypanolyse peut être une stratégie utile pour la surveillance post-élimination au Burkina Faso.

SummaryContextIn the current context of residual plasmodium transmission where zoophagic proclivities of Anopheles intervene, we propose to treat peridomestic animals using the endectocide Ivermectin as a complementary approach to bednets. As Ivermectin remanence with classic veterinary compounds is insufficient to induce a significant decrease in vectors’ populations, we developed a long-lasting injectable formulation of ivermectin from the BEPO® technology designed to release insecticidal concentrations of the molecule for 6 months. The work reported here is a proof of concept that using this new technology could help decrease field Anopheles populations.MethodsEight calves were injected with Ivermectin therapeutic doses of 1.2 mg/kg body weight using 2 long lasting formulations (A and B). Efficacy of the product at killing wild derived An. coluzzii has been evaluated by direct-skin feeding assays from 1 to 210 days after injection (DAI). Efficacy on survival was estimated with Cox proportional hazards mixed models and Kaplan meier estimates. To predict efficacy in field-based scenarii, we used a transmission model fed with an entomological model considering different levels for the Anopheles’ zoophagic preference, calves vs humans ratios, and bed net use variables.ResultsThe release at mosquitocidal plasmatic concentrations of Ivermectin during 6 months is confirmed for both formulations (Hazard ratios > 1 for both formulations against their vehicle for 210 days). The Ivermectin concentration allowing to kill 90% of the mosquitoes before the extrinsic incubation period of the parasite is achieved (10 days) are 11 and 9 ng/ml for formulations A and B if the blood meal is taken before the infectious one, and 15 and 13 ng/ml if it was taken after. Modeling showed that Ivermectin treatment of calves using BEPO® technology would reduce infectious vector populations, from at least 35% for most anthropophagic Anopheles in villages where cattle to human ratio is the lowest, to more than 75% if vectors were zoophagic and calves numbers superior to humans’.ConclusionOur study gives the proof of concept that a long-lasting formulation of Ivermectin administered to calves could help decrease field malaria vectors’ populations, which may, ultimately, have an impact at the epidemiological level.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among three high-risk groups - household contacts of TB index cases, healthcare workers and slaughterhouse workers - in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. Methods: Participants were recruited to this cross-sectional study from March to July 2020 after giving informed consent. Sociodemographic, clinical and biological data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus test (QFT-Plus) and the tuberculin skin test (TST) were used for detection of LTBI. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for LTBI. Results: The prevalence of LTBI among 101 participants (age range 15-68 years) was 67.33% [95% confidence interval (CI) 57.27-76.33] and 84.16% (95% CI 75.55-90.66) based on QFT-Plus and TST results, respectively. Compared with healthcare workers and household contacts of TB index cases, the prevalence of LTBI among slaughterhouse workers was significantly higher for both QTF-Plus (96.8%; P /=15 years of exposure (AOR 5.617, 95% CI 1.202-32.198), having an animal at home (AOR 2.735, 95% CI 1.102-6.789) and protozoal infection (AOR 2.591, 95% CI 1.034-6.491) were significantly associated with LTBI on the QFT-Plus assay. Conclusion: The prevalence of LTBI was high in all three groups, particularly slaughterhouse workers. The risk factors identified could form the basis of targeted intervention.

African animal trypanosomoses are vector-borne diseases that cause enormous livestock losses in sub-Saharan Africa, with drastic socio-economic impacts. Vector control in the context of an area-wide integrated pest management program with a sterile insect technique component requires the production of high-quality sterile male tsetse flies. In our study, we evaluated the effect of irradiation on the fecundity of Glossina palpalis gambiensis to identify the optimal dose that will induce maximum sterility while maintaining biological performance as much as possible. In addition, male mating performance was evaluated in semi-field cages. The irradiation doses used were 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, and 150 Gy, and untreated males were used as the control. The results showed that pupal production and emergence rates were higher in batches of females that had mated with fertile males than in those that had mated with irradiated males with any experimental dose. A dose of 120 Gy administered to male flies induced 97–99% sterility after mating with virgin females. For the semi-field cage experiments, males irradiated with 120 Gy showed good sexual competitiveness as compared to fertile males and those irradiated with 140 Gy, considering the level of filling of spermatheca and the number of pairs formed. The optimal radiation dose of 120 Gy found in this study is slightly different from the traditional dose of 110 Gy that has been used in several eradication programmes in the past. The potential reasons for this difference are discussed, and an argument is made for the inclusion of reliable dosimetry systems in these types of studies.

Fasciolosis is a major zoonosis of ruminants which causes great economic losses to breeders. Given the economic and public health importance of this pathology, it is necessary to establish the current situation in a perspective of animal and ruminant meat consumer health protection. Therefore, the present study was conducted at the slaughterhouse of Dédougou in order to identify the species of fluke that caused this pathology in the Boucle du Mouhoun region and to estimate the prevalence, the risk factors and the economic losses associated with this pathology. For this purpose, 820 cattle and 6360 small ruminants were diagnosed through post-mortem examination over a five-month period from March to August 2018. Out of the 6360 small ruminant livers examined, no cases of infestation were observed unlike cattle in which the prevalence of infestation was 2.07%. These infestations were all due toFasciola gigantica. Regarding the risk factors, a slight effect of the month and a high influence of animals' origin were observed. March, with a prevalence of 0.25%, was the most favorable infestation month (P-value=0.05) and Sourou (19.51%), was the highest infestation risk area (P-value

Background There is a great need to find new effective tools to prevent mosquitoes from biting humans. As part of this search, the Lehmann Funnel Entry Trap, a window screen, was tested and has proven to be effective in mosquito density reduction in low and high vector density settings. Here we aimed to assess whether a large-scale deployment of pyriproxyfen-treated traps can control malaria mosquito populations and how well the traps were accepted at community level. Method Overall, 1,313 traps impregnated with Pyriproxyfen (PPF) were deployed. Of these, 12 traps in 12 houses were randomly selected across the intervention village, Vallée du Kou 3 (VK3), for indoor mosquito density assessment compared to houses without traps in the control village, Vallée du Kou 5 (VK5). Traps were placed in the windows, while doors were blocked with curtains. From July until October 2015, for nine days per month, mosquitoes were collected from the traps and matching houses in VK3, and in houses only in VK5. Anopheles coluzzii collected from the field as adults and as larvae reared through to adults and An. gambiae were used or released into traps to assess the bio-efficacy effect of PPF in VK3 against control mosquitoes from VK5. Then, mosquitoes that were in contact with the PPF trap netting were allowed to oviposit in the laboratory for fecundity and egg fertility reduction evaluation as compared to a control. The mosquitoes collected as part of the monthly programme were morphologically identified, counted, and preserved in 80% ethanol vials for subsequent analyses, including resistance genes and female mosquito age structure. The impact of the trap on mosquito density at community level was assessed by performing a pyrethrum spray catch (PSC). The integrity of net fabric as well as some sociological points of view on the trap’s efficacy and design were then reported. Results Overall mosquito density was reduced by ~ 90% in all houses equipped with traps in VK3. At the community level, while mosquito density before intervention was 33% higher in VK3 than in VK5, it was 47% higher in VK5 after the intervention. Old female mosquito numbers increased in VK5 by 12% in October but not in VK3, indicating that the traps were cumulatively killing older females. The additional effect of PPF was to limit egg-laying, with a smaller number of eggs counted, and with a lower hatching rate than in VK5. Mosquitoes were highly resistant to pyrethroids with a ~ 0.9 frequency of the kdr mutation. The trap was well accepted by the communities as most of the interviewees in VK3 found the traps reduced mosquito bites with peaceful sleep. They hoped to keep the traps in place beyond the study period. Conclusion The Lehmann Funnel Entry Trap has real potential to control malaria mosquito populations and can be widely used to sustain the global effort of malaria elimination.

Background Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) consists of administration of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) + amodiaquine (AQ) at monthly intervals to children during the malaria transmission period. Whether the addition of azithromycin (AZ) to SMC could potentiate the benefit of the intervention was tested through a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The effect of SMC and the addition of AZ, on malaria transmission and on the life history traits of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes have been investigated. Methods The study included 438 children randomly selected from among participants in the SMC + AZ trial and 198 children from the same area who did not receive chemoprevention. For each participant in the SMC + AZ trial, blood was collected 14 to 21 days post treatment, examined for the presence of malaria sexual and asexual stages and provided as a blood meal to An. gambiae females using a direct membrane-feeding assay. Results The SMC treatment, with or without AZ, significantly reduced the prevalence of asexual Plasmodium falciparum (LRT X22 = 69, P 22 = 54, P 22 = 61, P X22 = 22.8, P 21 = 5.2, P = 0.02), suggesting a significant effect of AZ on gametocyte infectivity. There was a slight negative effect of SPAQ and SPAQ + AZ on mosquito survival compared to mosquitoes fed with blood from control children (LRTX22 = 330, P Conclusion This study demonstrates that SMC may contribute to a reduction in human to mosquito transmission of P. falciparum, and the reduced mosquito longevity observed for females fed on treated blood may increase the benefit of this intervention in control of malaria. The addition of AZ to SPAQ in SMC appeared to enhance the infectivity of gametocytes providing further evidence that this combination is not an appropriate intervention.

After intensive control efforts, human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) was declared eliminated in Côte d'Ivoire as a public health problem in December 2020 and the current objective is to achieve the interruption of the transmission (zero cases). Reaching this objective could be hindered by the existence of an animal reservoir of Trypanosoma (T.) brucei (b.) gambiense. In the framework of a study led in 2013 to assess the role of domestic animals in the epidemiology of HAT in the two last active foci from Côte d'Ivoire (Bonon and Sinfra), plasmas were sampled from four species of domestic animals for parasitological (microscopic examination by the buffy coat technique (BCT)), serological (immune trypanolysis (TL)) and molecular (specific PCR: TBR for T. brucei s.l., TCF for T. congolense forest type, TVW for T. vivax and PCR for T. b. gambiense) testing. In order to improve the understanding of the involvement/role of these animals in the transmission of T. b. gambiense, we have quantified in this study the IgG response to whole saliva extracts of Glossina palpalis gambiensis in order to perform an association analysis between anti-saliva responses and the positivity of diagnostic tests. Cattle and pigs had significantly higher rates of anti-tsetse saliva responses compared to goats and sheep (p 0.01). In addition, the anti-tsetse saliva responses were strongly associated with the parasitology (BCT+), serology (TL+) and PCR (TBR+ and TCF+) results (p 0.001). These associations indicate a high level of contacts between the positive/infected animals and tsetse flies. Our findings suggest that protecting cattle and pigs against tsetse bites could have a significant impact in reducing transmission of both animal and human trypanosome species, and advocates for a "One health" approach to better control African trypanosomosis in Côte d'Ivoire.

In West Africa, cross-border transhumance, also called seasonal migration, is known to be a very important animal production strategy, as it involves about 70 to 90% of cattle. In spite of the cattle movements, some strategic areas of transhumance remain poorly explored regarding ticks and their associated pathogens investigations. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the involvement of transhumance in the spread of cattle ticks and associated pathogens in Burkina Faso (BF) and Benin (BN), in a context of speedy invasion of West African livestock by Rhipicephalus microplus. A longitudinal survey was performed on 210 cattle from BF, monitored for ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBP) during one seasonal transhumance. The first sampling coded "T0BF" took place in eastern BF, at the transhumance departure. A second sampling "T1BN" was carried out in northern BN, the transhumance arrival zone. A third sampling "T2BF" was done at the return of cattle in eastern BF. Ticks were morphologically identified and TBP detected with reverse line blot hybridization (RLB) assay. A total of 1027 ticks (7 species), 1006 ticks (11 species) and 1211 ticks (9 species) were respectively found at T0BF, T1BN and T2BF. Some species were collected at the three times of sampling without any significant difference in their relative abundances. However, other tick species appeared only at T1BN and/or T2BF. The TBP species found at the three points surveyed were Theileria annulata, Theileria mutans, Theileria velifera, Babesia bigemina and Anaplasma marginale. The most prevalent was T. mutans with 166/210 (79%), 159/210 (75.7%) and 78/210 (37%) cattle positive respectively at T0BF, T1BN and T2BF. Anaplasma centrale was evidenced with 0.5% and 0.9% respectively at T0BF and T2BF. To our knowledge, this represents its first report in the study area. Overall, the TBP prevalences were significantly lower at T2BF, highlighting the effect of tick populations changes induced by transhumance combined with the seasonal variation influence.

Since 2011, period of the livestock invasion by the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus in Burkina Faso (BF), tick-control problems were exacerbated. Based on farmer’s reports, most commonly used commercial acaricides were found to be ineffective in Western South part of the country. To investigate the occurrence and extent of such acaricidal ineffectiveness, we performed the standardized larval packet test (LPT) with commercial deltamethrin (vectocid) and cypermethrin (cypertop), on two cattle tick species, the native Amblyomma variegatum and the invasive R. microplus. The resistance ratios (RR) were computed with susceptible Hounde strain of Rhipicephalus geigyi as reference. The R. microplus population showed resistance to the two acaricides tested with the highest lethal concentration (LC) values, and different resistance ratios higher than 4 (deltamethrin: RR50 = 28.18 and RR90 = 32.41; cypermethrin: RR50 = 8.79 and RR90 = 23.15). In the contrary, A. variegatum population was found to be highly susceptible to acaricides tested with low lethal concentrations and resistance ratio values (deltamethrin: RR50 = 0.5 and RR90 = 0.48; cypermethrin: RR50 = 0.68 and RR90 = 0.79). These data demonstrate high synthetic pyrethroid resistance in R. microplus strain, leading to conclude that the acaricide ineffectiveness in tick populations control remains a concern in BF.

Background There is a global consensus that new intervention tools are needed for the final steps toward malaria elimination/eradication. In a recent study in Burkina Faso, the Lehmann Funnel Entry Trap (LFET) has shown promising results in the reduction of mosquito densities, even in areas where insecticide resistance is as high as 80%. The LFET requires no chemicals and is self-operated. However, one of the issues with the original LFET is the size of the funnel, which often occupies too much space within users’ homes. Here, the performance of three new, smaller-sized LFET prototypes that combine a screening and killing effect on mosquitoes was assessed. Methods The study was carried out over three months during the rainy season in low and high malaria vector density sites, Soumousso and Vallée du Kou, respectively. The original LFET (or ‘Prototype 1’/‘P1’) was modified to produce three new prototypes, which were referred to as prototype 2 (‘the Medium’ or ‘P2’), prototype 3 (P3) and prototype 4 (P4). Each of the new prototypes was tested on eight days per month over the three-month period to assess their effectiveness in trapping and killing mosquitoes entering houses through the windows compared to the original LFET. Results Overall, 78,435 mosquitoes (mainly Anopheles gambiae sensu lato) were collected in the two study sites, both in the traps and in the houses. A total of 56,430 (72%) mosquitoes were collected from the traps. In Vallée du Kou, the original LFET caught a greater number of mosquitoes than the medium (prototype 2), whereas no difference was observed between the other new prototypes (3 and 4) and the medium. In Soumousso, both the original and medium LFETs collected significantly greater numbers of mosquitoes compared to prototypes 3 and 4. Conclusion This study has shown that the new LFET prototypes are effective in trapping mosquitoes in high mosquito density settings. A large-scale study with one of the prototypes will be needed to assess community acceptance of the traps and their ability to control malaria vectors.

The malaria parasite, which is transmitted by several Anopheles mosquito species, requires more time to reach its human-transmissible stage than the average lifespan of a mosquito. Monitoring the species-specific age structure of mosquito populations is critical to evaluating the impact of vector control interventions on malaria risk. We developed a rapid, cost-effective surveillance method based on deep learning of mid-infrared spectra of mosquitoes’ cuticle that simultaneously identifies the species and the age of three main malaria vectors, in natural populations. Using over 40,000 ecologically and genetically diverse females, we could speciate and age grade An. gambiae, An. arabiensis, and An. coluzzii with up to 95% accuracy. Further, our model learned the age of new populations with minimal sampling effort and detected the impact of control interventions on simulated mosquito populations, measured as a shift in their age structures. We anticipate our method to be applied to other arthropod vector-borne diseases.

The objective set by WHO to reach elimination of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) as a public health problem by 2020 is being achieved. The next target is the interruption of gambiense-HAT transmission in humans by 2030. To monitor progress towards this target, in areas where specialized local HAT control capacities will disappear, is a major challenge. Test specimens should be easily collectable and safely transportable such as dried blood spots (DBS). Monitoring tests performed in regional reference centres should be reliable, cheap and allow analysis of large numbers of specimens in a high-throughput format. The aim of this study was to assess the analytical sensitivity of Loopamp, M18S quantitative real-time PCR (M18S qPCR) and TgsGP qPCR as molecular diagnostic tests for the presence of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in DBS. The sensitivity of the Loopamp test, with a detection limit of 100 trypanosomes/mL, was in the range of parasitaemias commonly observed in HAT patients, while detection limits for M18S and TgsGP qPCR were respectively 1000 and 10,000 trypanosomes/mL. None of the tests was entirely suitable for high-throughput use and further development and implementation of sensitive high-throughput molecular tools for monitoring HAT elimination are needed.

International audience; The molecular identification of arboviruses in West Africa is of particular interest, due to their zoonotic potential in a population living in close contact with livestock, and in a region where the livestock migration across borders raises the risk of diseases infection and dissemination. The aim of the study was the screening of potential circulating arboviruses and the assessment of their zoonotic implications. Therefore, ticks were collected on cattle located in three provinces of eastern Burkina Faso. Tick pools were tested using a panel of genus-specific real-time assays targeting conserved regions of parapoxvirus, orthopoxvirus, flavivirus and phlebovirus. On the 26 farms visited, a total of 663 ticks were collected. Four genera and six tick species were morphologically identified, with Amblyomma variegatum and Hyalomma spp. being the most represented species. No arboviruses were found. However, this study highlights the presence of pseudocowpox virus (8.2%) and bovine papular stomatitis virus (5.8%) among the positive tick pools. BPSV positive ticks were found in herds sharing water and pastures resources and with a history of seasonal transhumance. Therefore, common grazing and the seasonal transhumance are likely to support the transmission of the virus. This could have important health and economic impacts, especially regarding transboundary cattle movements

Babesiosis, theileriosis, anaplasmosis, and heartwater are tick-borne diseases that threaten livestock production in sub-Saharan Africa including Burkina Faso and Benin. For over a decade, these two bordering countries have been facing an invasion of the livestock by the tick Rhipicephalus microplus, a major vector for babesiosis, accidentally introduced in Benin in 2004. The molecular identification of tick-borne pathogens in this border area is of particular interest due to animals seasonal migration between the two countries. In this survey, epidemiological features of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in cattle were investigated to compare the eastern Burkina Faso, corresponding to a seasonal migration departure zone, and the northern Benin, which represents a seasonal migration arrival zone. Ticks and peripheral blood were collected from a total of 946 cattle in the two areas. Ticks were morphologically identified and the DNA samples from bovine blood and ticks were analysed by Reverse Line Blot (RLB) hybridization process. A total of 2856 ticks were collected on 490 cattle in Burkina Faso, eight tick species were identified, while 3583 ticks were collected on 456 cattle in North Benin with nine tick species identified. The invasive tick, R. microplus was not found in eastern Burkina Faso, but its spread farthest north in Benin is reported. Six tick-borne pathogen species were found in cattle blood both in eastern Burkina Faso and in northern Benin. Ranked in decreasing order of overall prevalences, they are: Theileria mutans (91.1%), Theileria velifera (77.8%), Babesia bigemina (10.9%), Anaplasma marginale (4.2%), Babesia bovis (3.3%), and Theileria annulata (1.8%). To the best of our knowledge, this survey represents the first report of T. velifera and T. annulata in the region. Overall, the TBP prevalences were significantly higher in northern Benin than in eastern Burkina Faso, indicating a higher parasitological risk in this area.

Background Onchocerciasis, or river blindness, is a dermal filariasis caused by infection with the nematode parasite Onchocerca volvulus, transmitted to humans through the bites of blackflies of the genus Simulium. Despite the decade-long West African Regional Programme for the Elimination of Onchocerciasis, involving the mass administration of ivermectin to populations in endemic areas, recrudescence has occurred. An example is in the Cascades Region of south-west Burkina Faso where the resumption of transmission had resulted in infection prevalences of up to 70% in some villages. In 2011, a strategy for community-directed distribution of ivermectin (CDTI) was set up to respond to this worrying re-emergence. Here, we report on a study of Onchocerca spp. transmission in the affected area carried out from January to December 2012. Every month, host-seeking adult females of the S. damnosum complex were collected at sites on the River Comoé near the four villages (Bodadiougou, Bolibana, Badara Karaboro and Badara Dogossè) that had recorded the highest prevalences in 2010. Collected blackflies were dissected and infective larvae were identified using the O-150 PCR method. Results A total of 9114 S. damnosum (s.l.) adult females were collected, of which 5142 were parous (56.4%) and 78 (1.51%) were infective carrying a total of 137 infective larvae. The annual transmission potential (ATP) was calculated as 0, 30, 255 and 771 infective larvae/man/year in Badara Dogossè, Bolibana, Badara Karaboro and Bodadiougou, respectively. Transmission levels in the latter two are of particular concern as they were higher than 100 infective larvae/person/year, the designated minimum threshold required for elimination of severe pathology, including damage to vision. Conclusions These results confirm that recrudescence of onchocerciasis has occurred, and that transmission of O. volvulus was active at sites on the Comoé River in the Cascades region in 2012. In accordance with WHO recommendations, CDTI should be continued and the situation in the Cascades region should be closely monitored if further spread of this outbreak is to be avoided. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-019-3290-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Tsetse flies are cyclical vectors of trypanosomes, the causative agents of sleeping sickness or Human African Trypanosomosis and nagana or African Animal Trypanosomosis in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Insectarium de Bobo-Dioulasso (IBD) was created and equipped in the frame of Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomosis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC) with the main goal to provide sterile males for the different eradication programs in West Africa which is already the case with the ongoing eradication program in Senegal. The aim of this study was to identify the best feeding regime in mass-rearing colonies of Glossina palpalis gambiensis to optimize the yield of sterile males. We investigated the mortality and fecundity for various feeding regimes and day alternation (3×: Monday-Wednesday-Friday, 4×: Monday-Wednesday-Friday-Saturday, 4×: Monday-Wednesday-Thursday-Friday and 6×: all days except Sunday) on adult tsetse flies in routine rearing over 60 days after emergence. The day alternation in the 4 blood meals per week (feeding regimes 2 and 3) had no effect on tsetse fly mortality and fecundity. The best feeding regime was the regime of 4 blood meals per week which resulted in higher significant fecundity (PPIF = 2.5; P = 0.003) combined with lower mortality of females (P = 0.0003) than the 3 blood meals per week (PPIF = 2.0) and in similar fecundity (PPIF = 2.6; P = 0.70) and mortality (P = 0.51) than the 6 blood meals per week. This feeding regime was extended to the whole colonies, resulting in an improved yield of sterile males for the ongoing eradication program in Senegal and would be more cost-effective for the implementation of the next-coming sterile insect technique (SIT) programs in West Africa.

Introduction : Malgre les efforts d’education a la sante, les jeunes se trouvent toujours confrontes a d’importants problemes de sante. L’objectif de cette etude etait d’evaluer le niveau des connaissances et attitudes des jeunes de Bobo-Dioulasso sur la sante sexuelle et reproductive.Methodes : Sur la base d’un echantillonnage a deux degres representant les 94 947 menages de la commune urbaine de Bobo-Dioulasso, 573 jeunes de 15 a 24 ans ont ete interroges. Cette collecte des donnees a ete realisee entre septembre 2014 et janvier 2015 dans les trois arrondissements de la commune. Un questionnaire a ete utilise pour evaluer les connaissances et les attitudes des jeunes.Resultats : Les connaissances exactes des enquetes sur la transmission, la prevention du VIH et la contraception etaient approximatives. Tres peu de jeunes (9 %) avaient une connaissance complete des modes de transmission, et 5 % n’avaient aucune connaissance. La persistance des perceptions erronees sur l’efficacite du preservatif (25 %) et la contraception (32 %) n’empechaient pas certains jeunes a les utiliser. Les connaissances et les attitudes des jeunes vis-a-vis du VIH et de la contraception variaient selon l’âge, le sexe, le niveau d’education et le type de supervision parentale.Conclusion : Une proportion non negligeable de jeunes continue toujours d’avoir des connaissances insuffisantes sur le VIH/Sida et les contraceptifs. Les actions visant a renforcer les connaissances des jeunes sont de toute importance. Les capacites des parents et des prestataires devraient aussi etre renforcees pour l’amelioration de la qualite de leurs relations avec les jeunes.

Le système d’information géographique constitue une aide considérable lors de la définition d’un plan de lutte contre les glossines. Son application pratique pour la collecte de données entomologiques servant de base à la planification de la lutte et à son évaluation future a été faite dans l’ouest du Burkina Faso, de décembre 2007 à novembre 2008. Choisie pour englober les bassins versants des principaux fleuves ou rivières et les limites de distribution de Glossina palpalis gambiensis et G. tachinoides, la zone d’étude a été divisée en cellules de 10 km x 10 km. Dans chaque cellule, un maximum de 13 sites potentiels de piégeage ont été sélectionnés par l’utilisation d’imagerie satellite, puis repérés sur le terrain à l’aide du système mondial de positionnement (GPS). L’enquête entomologique a été réalisée avec des pièges biconiques Challier-Laveissière et les récoltes ont eu lieu 72 heures après leur installation. L’analyse des données a été conduite en utilisant des modèles aléa­toires mixtes binomiaux et de distribution de Poisson. La cartographie, réalisée avec le logiciel Arc Gis 9.3, a permis de déterminer la limite nord (12° 45’ N) des glos­sines dans la zone d’intervention. Les proportions de sites infestés étaient de 89,6 et 76,4 % respectivement au niveau des sections ascendante et descendante de la rivière Mouhoun (la première coule vers le nord-est depuis la source, la seconde vers le sud-est puis le sud après avoir conflué avec le Sourou), et de 16,7 et 10,3 % respectivement au niveau de leurs affluents. Entre les isohyètes 700–800 m et 800–900 m aucune différence significative n’a été observée dans les densités apparentes des glossines par piège, ni dans les sites infestés. Les deux espèces de glossines cap­turées étaient distribuées différemment selon les sections du Mouhoun : les cap­tures étaient composées de 79,5 % de G. p. gambiensis sur la section ascendante et de 96,0 % de G. tachinoides sur la section descendante. Les captures de vecteurs mécaniques ont été relativement faibles, leur distribution étant comparable à celle des glossines avec cependant quelques densités importantes sur les affluents.

Background Diminazene diaceturate (DA) and isometamidium chloride hydrochloride (ISM) are with homidium bromide, the main molecules used to treat African Animal Trypanosomosis (AAT). These drugs can be purchased from official suppliers but also from unofficial sources like local food markets or street vendors. The sub-standard quality of some of these trypanocides is jeopardizing the efficacy of treatment of sick livestock, leading thus to economic losses for the low-resource farmers and is contributing to the emergence and spread of drug resistance. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of trypanocidal drugs sold in French speaking countries of West Africa. In total, 308 drug samples including 282 of DA and 26 of ISM were purchased from official and unofficial sources in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Niger and Togo. All samples were analysed at LACOMEV (Dakar, Senegal), a reference laboratory of the World Organisation for Animal Health, by galenic inspection and high performance liquid chromatography. Results The results showed that 51.90% of the samples were non-compliant compared to the standards and were containing lower quantity of the active ingredient compared to the indications on the packaging. The non-compliances ranged from 63.27% in Togo to 32.65% in Burkina Faso (61.82% in Benin, 53.84% in Mali, 50% in Côte d’Ivoire, 47.36% in Niger). The rates of non-compliance were not statistically different (P = 0.572) from official or unofficial suppliers and ranged from 30 to 75% and from 0 to 65% respectively. However, the non-compliance was significantly higher for ISM compared to DA (P = 0.028). Conclusions The high non-compliance revealed in this study compromises the efficacy of therapeutic strategies against AAT, and is likely to exacerbate chemoresistance in West Africa. Corrective actions against sub-standard trypanocides urgently need to be taken by policy makers and control authorities.

Background Tsetse flies are the sole vectors of human and animal trypanosomosis. In Burkina Faso, a project aiming to create zones free of tsetse flies and trypanosomosis was executed from June 2006 to December 2013. After the determination of tsetse distribution in the intervention area from December 2007 to November 2008, the control campaign was launched in November 2009 and ended in December 2013. The goal was to eliminate tsetse flies from 40,000 km2 of area, through an integrated control campaign including insecticide targets, traps and cattle, sequential aerial treatment (SAT) and the mass treatment of livestock using trypanocides. The campaign involved assistance of the beneficiary communities at all the steps of the control strategy with insecticide impregnated targets. Methods This study was carried out to assess the impact of the control project on tsetse apparent density per trap per day (ADT). To evaluate the effectiveness of tsetse control, 201 sites were selected based on the baseline survey results carried out from December 2007 to November 2008. These sites were monitored bi-monthly from January 2010 to November 2012. At the end-of-study in 2013 a generalized entomological survey was carried out in 401 infested sites found during the longitudinal survey done before the control. Barrier and tsetse persistence areas were treated by ground spraying and evaluated. Controls were also done before and after aerial spraying. Results In the insecticide-impregnated target area, the control showed that ADT of tsetse flies declined from 10.73 (SD 13.27) to 0.43 (SD 2.51) fly/trap/day from the third month of campaign onwards (P

Objective: In malaria endemic area, women acquire throughout successive pregnancies, increasing protection against Plasmodium falciparum malaria infections by having increased levels of antibodies to the Variant 2 Cell Surface antigen- Chondroitin Sulphate A. Primigravidae are more susceptible to placental malaria due to the lack of these specific antibodies to placental malaria-antigens. However, it is currently difficult to diagnose placental malaria by a noninvasive method prior to delivery. The objective of this study was to assess whether VAR2CSA specific antibody levels from peripheral blood obtained during the third trimester of pregnancy, could predict placental infection at delivery. Methods: A total of 263 pregnant women participating to the COSMIC study (NCT01941264) were included in this study. Peripheral blood samples were collected at the third antenatal care visit performed during the third trimester of pregnancy. Placental infec-tions were determined by histology. Antibody levels (total IgG, IgG1 and IgG3) to VAR2CSA subdomains DBL5 and ID1-ID2a in serum samples were quantified using En-zyme Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay. Results: Placental malaria was estimated at 54.9% among pregnant women enrolled in the study. More than half of the study population had a past placental infection. Among factors investigated, in univariate analyses ITN use, gravidity, season of delivery, number of IPTp-SP doses, gestational age and peripheral malaria status at the 3rd ANC visit significantly affected DBL5 and ID1ID2a specific antibody titres. In multivariate analyses, ITN use (OR=5.17, 95% CI: (1.36 - 19.61), p = 0.016) was associated with the risk of placental malaria at delivery, while older women were at lower risk (OR = 0.45, 95% CI: (0.23-0.88), p=0.021). Importantly, higher levels of IgG1 anti-DBL5 at the 3rd trimester (OR=11.96, 95% CI: (3.69-38.77), p

Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (T. b. gambiense) is the major causative agent of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). A great variety of clinical outcomes have been observed in West African foci, probably due to complex host-parasite interactions. In order to separate the roles of parasite genetic diversity and host variability, we have chosen to precisely characterize the pathogenicity and virulence of T. b. gambiense field isolates in a mouse model. Thirteen T. b. gambiense strains were studied in experimental infections, with 20 Balb/C infected mice per isolate. Mice were monitored for 30 days, in which mortality, parasitemia, anemia, and weight were recorded. Mortality rate, prepatent period, and maximum parasitemia were estimated, and a survival analysis was performed to compare strain pathogenicity. Mixed models were used to assess parasitemia dynamics, weight, and changes in Packed Cell Volume (PCV). Finally, a multivariate analysis was performed to infer relationships between all variables. A large phenotypic diversity was observed. Pathogenicity was highly variable, ranging from strains that kill their host within 9 days to a non-pathogenic strain (no deaths during the experiment). Virulence was also variable, with maximum parasitemia values ranging from 42 million to 1 billion trypanosomes/ml. Reduced PCV and weight occurred in the first two weeks of the infection, with the exception of two strains. Finally, the global analysis highlighted three groups of strains: a first group with highly pathogenic strains showing an early mortality associated with a short prepatent period; a second group of highly virulent strains with intermediate pathogenicity; and a third group of isolates characterized by low pathogenicity and virulence patterns. Such biological differences could be related to the observed clinical diversity in HAT. A better understanding of the biological pathways underlying the observed phenotypic diversity could thus help to clarify the complex nature of the host-parasite interactions that determine the resistance/susceptibility status to T. brucei gambiense.