Analysis of the Genetic Variation of the Fruitless Gene within the Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae) Complex Populations in Africa

Targeting genes involved in sexual determinism, for vector or pest control purposes, requires a better understanding of their polymorphism in natural populations in order to ensure a rapid spread of the construct. By using genomic data from An. gambiae s.l., we analyzed the genetic variation and the conservation score of the fru gene in 18 natural populations across Africa. A total of 34,339 SNPs were identified, including 3.11% non-synonymous segregating sites. Overall, the nucleotide diversity was low, and the Tajima’s D neutrality test was negative, indicating an excess of low frequency SNPs in the fru gene. The allelic frequencies of the non-synonymous SNPs were low (freq < 0.26), except for two SNPs identified at high frequencies (freq > 0.8) in the zinc-finger A and B protein domains. The conservation score was variable throughout the fru gene, with maximum values in the exonic regions compared to the intronic regions. These results showed a low genetic variation overall in the exonic regions, especially the male sex-specific exon and the BTB-exon 1 of the fru gene. These findings will facilitate the development of an effective gene drive construct targeting the fru gene that can rapidly spread without encountering resistance in wild populations

Seroprevalence of human immunodefi ciency virus, hepatitis B and C viruses and syphilis among blood donors in Koudougou (Burkina Faso) in 2009

Background. The high prevalence of numerous transfusion-transmitted infectious diseases such as human immunodefi ciency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis in sub-Saharan Africa affects the safety of blood for recipients. This study was undertaken with the aim of determining the seroprevalence of HIV, HCV, HBV, syphilis and socio-demographic risk factors associated with blood donation in a new regional blood transfusion centre in Burkina Faso. Material and methods. Sera samples were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to HCV, HIV types 1 and 2 and to Treponema pallidum using enzymelinked immunosorbent assays and Rapid Plasma Reagin test (RPR) respectively. All the reactive samples for HIV, HBsAg, and HCV were confi rmed using a second enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Antibodies to Treponema pallidum were confi rmed with a Treponema pallidum haemagglutination test (TPHA). Results. From the total of 4,520 blood donors in 2009, 1,348 (29.82%) were infected with at least one pathogen and 149 (3.30%) had serological evidence of multiple infections. The overall seroprevalence rate of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis was 2.21%, 14.96%, 8.69% and 3.96%, respectively. Among blood donors with multiples infections, the most common dual or triple combinations were HBsAg-HCV (1.39%), HBsAg-syphilis (0.66%) and HBsAg-HCV-syphilis (0.11%). The highest prevalences of HBsAg and HIV were found among blood donors from rural areas and in the age groups of 20-29 years and >40 years old, respectively. Conclusion. HBV and HCV remain the greatest threats to blood safety in Burkina Faso. Strict selection and retention of voluntary, non-remunerated low-risk blood donors are recommended to improve blood safety in the regional blood transfusion centre of Koudougou