Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of meningococcal carriage and disease isolates in Burkina Faso after mass vaccination with a serogroup a conjugate vaccine

BACKGROUND: The conjugate vaccine against serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis (NmA), MenAfriVac, was first introduced in mass vaccination campaigns of the 1-29-year-olds in Burkina Faso in 2010. The aim of this study was to genetically characterize meningococcal isolates circulating in Burkina Faso before and up to 13 months after MenAfriVac mass vaccination. METHODS: A total of 1,659 meningococcal carriage isolates were collected in a repeated cross-sectional carriage study of the 1-29-year-olds in three districts of Burkina Faso in 2010 and 2011, before and up to 13 months after mass vaccination. Forty-two invasive isolates were collected through the national surveillance in Burkina Faso in the same period. All the invasive isolates and 817 carriage isolates were characterized by serogroup, multilocus sequence typing and porA-fetA sequencing. RESULTS: Seven serogroup A isolates were identified, six in 2010, before vaccination (4 from carriers and 2 from patients), and one in 2011 from an unvaccinated patient; all were assigned to sequence type (ST)-2859 of the ST-5 clonal complex. No NmA carriage isolate and no ST-2859 isolate with another capsule were identified after vaccination. Serogroup X carriage and disease prevalence increased before vaccine introduction, due to the expansion of ST-181, which comprised 48.5% of all the characterized carriage isolates. The hypervirulent serogroup W ST-11 clone that was responsible for most of meningococcal disease in 2011 and 2012 was not observed in 2010; it appeared during the epidemic season of 2011, when it represented 40.6% of the serogroup W carriage isolates. CONCLUSIONS: Successive clonal waves of ST-181 and ST-11 may explain the changing epidemiology in Burkina Faso after the virtual disappearance of NmA disease and carriage. No ST-2859 strain of any serogroup was found after vaccination, suggesting that capsule switching of ST-2859 did not occur, at least not during the first 13 months after vaccination

Etude de faisabilité d'un projet d'appui aux unités de conservation de la faune au Burkina Faso. Document final et proposition de projet

Dans le cadre de la réforme de la gestion des ressources naturelles, le Burkina Faso innove avec le concept d'Unité de Conservation de la Faune. Les zones de chasse et les parcs nationaux amodiés au secteur privé doivent contribuer au développement local, subvenir en partie à leurs propres besoins de gestion pour soulager les finances publiques et conserver durablement la biodiversité en la valorisant par différents modes de tourisme : vision, grande chasse, petite chasse. Cette approche devrait être appuyée par un projet de la coopération bilatérale France/Burkina Faso au travers de l'Agence Française de Développement et au Fonds Français pour l'Environnement Mondial. Le présent document étudie la faisabilité de ce projet. Il fait suite à mon premier document dans lequel était présentée une étude détaillée du contrat. (Résumé d'auteur

Impact des Déchets Plastiques sur les Pâturages Urbains et Péri-urbains de la Ville de Dori, Région du Sahel : cas des Ruminants Domestiques

Les pâturages naturels constituent la principale ressource alimentaire des ruminants dans la zone urbaine et péri-urbaine de Dori. Ces pâturages naturels sont non seulement insuffisants pour les animaux mais aussi pollués par les sachets plastiques. Cette insuffisance alimentaire (quantitative et qualitative) amène les ruminants à ingérer des sachets plastiques. Notre étude avait pour objectif général d’étudier la prévalence de l’ingestion des sachets plastiques chez les ruminants (bovins, caprins et ovins). Elle s’est déroulée de février à juin 2021 par une collecte aléatoire de données à l’abattoir sur 600 échantillons de ruminants domestiques : 200 bovins, 200 caprins et 200 ovins. Nos résultats ont révélé que la prévalence de l’ingestion des sachets n’est pas liée à l’espèce: 31,5% chez les ovins, 30% chez les bovins et 23% chez les caprins (p = 0,131). Cette prévalence n’est pas également liée au sexe: 30% chez les femelles contre 26% chez les mâles (p = 0,379). Par ailleurs, les poids des sachets ingérés variaient significativement d’une espèce à l’autre (p < 0,001). Ainsi les bovins et ovins avaient tendance à en consommer plus que les caprins (p < 0,05). Les poids vifs et carcasses des animaux ayant ingérés des sachets plastiques sont sensiblement égaux à ceux qui n’en ont pas ingérés. Notre étude suggère que des dispositions particulières soient prises, notamment l’élevage en stabulation et la sensibilisation à l’usage et gestion des sachets dans les villes.   Natural pastures are the main alimentary resource for ruminants in the urban and peri-urban area of Dori. These natural pastures are not only insufficient for the animals but also polluted by plastic bags. This food insufficiency (quantitative and qualitative) leads ruminants to ingest plastic bags. The general objective of our study was to investigate the prevalence of plastic bag ingestion in ruminants (cattle, goats and sheep). It was conducted from February to June 2021 through random data collection at the abattoir on 600 samples of domestic ruminants: 200 cattle, 200 goats and 200 sheep. Our results revealed that the prevalence of plastic ingestion is not related to species: 31.5% in sheep, 30% in cattle and 23% in goats (p = 0.131). This prevalence was also not linked to sex: 30% in females versus 26% in males (p = 0.379). Furthermore, the weights of the plastic bags ingested varied significantly between species (p < 0.001). Cattle and sheep tended to consume more than goats (p < 0.05). The live and carcass weights of animals that ingested plastic bags were approximately equal to those that did not. Our study suggests that special measures should be taken, including stall breeding and sensitisation on the use and management of bags in cities

Impact des Déchets Plastiques sur les Pâturages Urbains et Péri-urbains de la Ville de Dori, Région du Sahel : cas des Ruminants Domestiques

Les pâturages naturels constituent la principale ressource alimentaire des ruminants dans la zone urbaine et péri-urbaine de Dori. Ces pâturages naturels sont non seulement insuffisants pour les animaux mais aussi pollués par les sachets plastiques. Cette insuffisance alimentaire (quantitative et qualitative) amène les ruminants à ingérer des sachets plastiques. Notre étude avait pour objectif général d’étudier la prévalence de l’ingestion des sachets plastiques chez les ruminants (bovins, caprins et ovins). Elle s’est déroulée de février à juin 2021 par une collecte aléatoire de données à l’abattoir sur 600 échantillons de ruminants domestiques : 200 bovins, 200 caprins et 200 ovins. Nos résultats ont révélé que la prévalence de l’ingestion des sachets n’est pas liée à l’espèce: 31,5% chez les ovins, 30% chez les bovins et 23% chez les caprins (p = 0,131). Cette prévalence n’est pas également liée au sexe: 30% chez les femelles contre 26% chez les mâles (p = 0,379). Par ailleurs, les poids des sachets ingérés variaient significativement d’une espèce à l’autre (p < 0,001). Ainsi les bovins et ovins avaient tendance à en consommer plus que les caprins (p < 0,05). Les poids vifs et carcasses des animaux ayant ingérés des sachets plastiques sont sensiblement égaux à ceux qui n’en ont pas ingérés. Notre étude suggère que des dispositions particulières soient prises, notamment l’élevage en stabulation et la sensibilisation à l’usage et gestion des sachets dans les villes.   Natural pastures are the main alimentary resource for ruminants in the urban and peri-urban area of Dori. These natural pastures are not only insufficient for the animals but also polluted by plastic bags. This food insufficiency (quantitative and qualitative) leads ruminants to ingest plastic bags. The general objective of our study was to investigate the prevalence of plastic bag ingestion in ruminants (cattle, goats and sheep). It was conducted from February to June 2021 through random data collection at the abattoir on 600 samples of domestic ruminants: 200 cattle, 200 goats and 200 sheep. Our results revealed that the prevalence of plastic ingestion is not related to species: 31.5% in sheep, 30% in cattle and 23% in goats (p = 0.131). This prevalence was also not linked to sex: 30% in females versus 26% in males (p = 0.379). Furthermore, the weights of the plastic bags ingested varied significantly between species (p < 0.001). Cattle and sheep tended to consume more than goats (p < 0.05). The live and carcass weights of animals that ingested plastic bags were approximately equal to those that did not. Our study suggests that special measures should be taken, including stall breeding and sensitisation on the use and management of bags in cities

Impact des Déchets Plastiques dans l’Alimentation des Ruminants Domestiques: cas de l’Élevage Urbain et Périurbain de la Ville de Dori, Région du Sahel

Les pâturages naturels constituent la principale ressource alimentaire des ruminants dans la zone urbaine et péri-urbaine de Dori. Ces pâturages naturels sont non seulement insuffisants pour les animaux mais aussi pollués par les sachets plastiques. Cette insuffisance alimentaire quantitative et qualitative amène les ruminants à ingérer des sachets plastiques. La presente étude avait pour objectif général d’étudier la prévalence de l’ingestion des sachets plastiques chez les ruminants, notamment des bovins, caprins et ovins. Elle s’est déroulée de février à juin 2021 par une collecte aléatoire de données à l’abattoir de Dori lors d’une étude tranversale sur un échantillon de 600 ruminants domestiques : 200 bovins, 200 caprins et 200 ovins. Les résultats ont révélé que la prévalence de l’ingestion des sachets n’est pas liée à l’espèce: 31,5% chez les ovins, 30% chez les bovins et 23% chez les caprins (p = 0,131). Cette prévalence n’est pas également liée au sexe: 30% chez les femelles contre 26% chez les mâles (p = 0,379). Par ailleurs, les poids des sachets ingérés variaient significativement d’une espèce à l’autre (p < 0,001). Ainsi les bovins et ovins avaient tendance à en consommer plus que les caprins (p < 0,05). Les animaux qui ingéraient une quantité de sachets inférieure à 100 g étaient plus nombeux que ceux en consommaient plus (p < 0,001). Ainsi, l’ingestion n’a pas eu d’effet sur les poids vifs et carcasses des animaux ayant ingérés des sachets plastiques. L’étude suggère que des dispositions particulières soient prises, notamment l’élevage en stabulation et la sensibilisation à l’usage et à une meilleure gestion des sachets plastiques dans la commune de Dori.   Natural pastures are the main alimentary resource for ruminants in the urban and peri-urban area of Dori. These natural pastures are not only insufficient for the animals but also polluted by plastic bags. This quantitative and qualitative food insufficiency leads ruminants to ingest plastic bags. The general objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of plastic bag ingestion in ruminants, including cattle, goats and sheep. It was conducted from February to June 2021 through random data collection at the Dori abattoir during a cross-sectional study on a sample of 600 domestic ruminants: 200 cattle, 200 goats and 200 sheep. The results revealed that the prevalence of plastic ingestion is not related to species: 31.5% in sheep, 30% in cattle and 23% in goats (p = 0.131). This prevalence was also not linked to sex: 30% in females versus 26% in males (p = 0.379). Furthermore, the weights of the plastic bags ingested varied significantly between species (p < 0.001). Cattle and sheep tended to consume more than goats (p < 0.05). Animals that consumed less than 100 g of plastic wastes were more numerous than those that consumed more (p < 0.001). Thus, ingestion had no effect on the live and carcass weights of animals that ingested plastic bags. The study suggests that special measures should be taken, including stall breeding and sensitisation on the use and better management of bags in the Dori commune

Temporal variation in body measurements in three Taurine cattle populations of Burkina Faso supports introgression of Zebu genes into West African Taurine cattle

A total of 769 adult females belonging to 3 taurine and one zebu cattle populations sampled in 3 provinces of Burkina Faso were assessed for 19 body measurements during two different years (2014 and 2018). The aim of this research was to identify temporal morphological variation in cattle bred in the humid southern zones to obtain empirical evidence supporting a possible introgression of zebu cattle genes into Gourounsi and Lobi taurine cattle breeds. Zebu cattle samples were used as out-group for both 2014 and 2018 subsets. Least square means of body measurements allowed to classify Burkina Faso taurine cattle into three subgroups according to body size (Gourounsi–Sanguié –GourS-, Gourounsi-Nahouri –GourN- and Lobi from the tallest to the smallest respectively). Principal Component Analysis suggested that in 2014, taurine populations were structured. Dispersion map constructed using the two first factors informed that the GourS population was well separated from both the Lobi and the GourN, which, in turn, overlapped. However, in 2018 a strong signal of homogenization was identified, with GourN partially overlapping the other two populations. Linear Discriminant Analysis suggested that about 20% of both GourS and GourN individuals were reciprocally misclassified. Clues for such increase have been pointed out by MANOVA analysis. Although on 2014, Lobi cattle was clearly smaller than Gourounsi and both GourS and GourN populations showed clear differences on body traits, on 2018 it could be assessed an increase in size in Lobi cattle and a strong homogenization signal within Gourounsi cattle. Zebu cattle gene flow southwards in Burkina Faso is likely to have caused these changes, suggesting a fast erosion of taurine cattle genetic background. Keywords: Body traits, quantitative traits, Gourounsi cattle, Lobi, Burkina Faso

Meningitis Dipstick Rapid Test: Evaluating Diagnostic Performance during an Urban Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup A Outbreak, Burkina Faso, 2007

Meningococcal meningitis outbreaks occur every year during the dry season in the “meningitis belt” of sub-Saharan Africa. Identification of the causative strain is crucial before launching mass vaccination campaigns, to assure use of the correct vaccine. Rapid agglutination (latex) tests are most commonly available in district-level laboratories at the beginning of the epidemic season; limitations include a short shelf-life and the need for refrigeration and good technical skills. Recently, a new dipstick rapid diagnostic test (RDT) was developed to identify and differentiate disease caused by meningococcal serogroups A, W135, C and Y. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of this dipstick RDT during an urban outbreak of meningitis caused by N. meningitidis serogroup A in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; first against an in-country reference standard of culture and/or multiplex PCR; and second against culture and/or a highly sensitive nested PCR technique performed in Oslo, Norway. We included 267 patients with suspected acute bacterial meningitis. Using the in-country reference standard, 50 samples (19%) were positive. Dipstick RDT sensitivity (N = 265) was 70% (95%CI 55–82) and specificity 97% (95%CI 93–99). Using culture and/or nested PCR, 126/259 (49%) samples were positive; dipstick RDT sensitivity (N = 257) was 32% (95%CI 24–41), and specificity was 99% (95%CI 95–100). We found dipstick RDT sensitivity lower than values reported from (i) assessments under ideal laboratory conditions (>90%), and (ii) a prior field evaluation in Niger [89% (95%CI 80–95)]. Specificity, however, was similar to (i), and higher than (ii) [62% (95%CI 48–75)]. At this stage in development, therefore, other tests (e.g., latex) might be preferred for use in peripheral health centres. We highlight the value of field evaluations for new diagnostic tests, and note relatively low sensitivity of a reference standard using multiplex vs. nested PCR. Although the former is the current standard for bacterial meningitis surveillance in the meningitis belt, nested PCR performed in a certified laboratory should be used as an absolute reference when evaluating new diagnostic tests

Local ancestry to identify selection in response to trypanosome infection in Baoulé x Zebu crossbred cattle in Burkina Faso

The genomes of crossbred (admixed) individuals are a mosaic of ancestral haplotypes formed by recombination in each generation. The proportion of these ancestral haplotypes in certain genomic regions can be responsible for either susceptibility or tolerance against pathogens, and for performances in production traits. Using a medium-density genomic marker panel from the Illumina Bovine SNP50 BeadChip, we estimated individual admixture proportions for Baoulé x Zebu crossbred cattle in Burkina Faso, which were tested for trypanosome infection by direct ELISA from blood samples. Furthermore, we calculated local ancestry deviation from average for each SNP across 29 autosomes to identify potential regions under selection in the trypanotolerant Baoulé cattle and their crossbreds. We identified significant deviation from the local average ancestry (above 5 and 10% genome-wide thresholds) on chromosomes 8 and 19 in the positive animals, while the negative ones showed higher deviation on chromosomes 6, 19, 21, and 22. Some candidate genes on chromosome 6 (PDGFRA) and chromosome 19 (CDC6) have been found associated to trypanotolerance in West African taurines. Screening for FST outliers in trypanosome positive/negative animals we detected seven variants putatively under selection. Finally, we identified a minimum set of highly ancestry informative markers for routine admixture testing. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of the genetic basis of trypanotolerance in Baoulé cattle and their crossbreeds. Furthermore, we provide a small informative marker set to monitor admixture in this valuable indigenous breed. As such, our results are important for conserving the genetic uniqueness and trypanotolerance of Baoulé cattle, as well as for the improvement of Baoulé and Zebu crossbreds in specific community-based breeding programs