Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic and Emerging Infections, INSERM, University of Montpellier, 34000 Montpellier, France.
Published: June 2022
AI Article Synopsis
Article Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) and dengue virus (DENV) are two closely related members of the family, both transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus , and are among the arboviruses most at risk to human health. Burkina Faso has been facing an upsurge in DENV outbreaks since 2013. Unlike DENV, there is no serological evidence of ZIKV circulation in humans in Burkina Faso. The main objective of our study was to determine the seroprevalence of ZIKV and DENV in blood donors in Burkina Faso. A total of 501 donor samples collected in the two major cities of the country in 2020 were first tested by a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect flavivirus antibodies. Positive sera were then tested using Luminex to detect ZIKV and DENV antibodies and virus-specific microneutralization tests against ZIKV were performed. The ZIKV seroprevalence was 22.75% in the donor samples and we found seropositivity for all DENV-serotypes ranging from 19.56% for DENV-1 to 48.86% for DENV-2. Molecular analyses performed on samples from febrile patients and mosquitoes between 2019 and 2021 were negative. Our study showed the important circulation of ZIKV and DENV detected by serology although molecular evidence of the circulation of ZIKV could not be demonstrated. It is essential to strengthen existing arbovirus surveillance in Burkina Faso and more broadly in West Africa by focusing on fevers of unknown origin and integrating vector surveillance to assess the extent of ZIKV circulation and identify the circulating strain. Further studies are needed to better understand the epidemiology of this virus in order to define appropriate prevention and response methods.
HIV-2 infection although less virulent compared to HIV-1 is endemic in many parts of West Africa. In Burkina Faso, few data exist on HIV-2 genotypic resistance. The objective of this study was to assess HIV-2 genotypic resistance and viral load in adult patients infected with HIV-2 in Burkina Faso.
Malaria remains a major public health threat in Burkina Faso, as in most sub-Saharan Africa countries. Malaria control relies mainly on long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying. In Burkina Faso, an escalating of insecticide resistance has been observed over the last decades.
Wheat is the third most widely consumed cereal in the world, after maize and rice. However, it is regularly attacked by the wheat aphid (), causing considerable damage to wheat crops. The acetylcholinesterase enzyme, which plays a key role in the transmission of the synaptic cholinergic signal, has emerged as a promising target for the development of pest control strategies.
