Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus in Burkina Faso: Screening, vaccination and evaluation of post-vaccination antibodies against hepatitis B surface antigen in newborns

The low rate of screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) in pregnant women is a highrisk factor for its vertical transmission. The objectives of this study were: i) to screen pregnant women for HBV infection; ii) vaccinate all children from birth against HBV regardless their mother HBV status; and iii) evaluate after 7 months of birth the level of their AbHBs among babies who received HBV vaccine at birth. Serological markers of HBV (HBsAg, HBeAg, AbHBs, AbHBe, and AbHBc) were determined on venous blood samples from 237 pregnant women and their children using the Abon Biopharm Kit. One hundred and two (102) children received the three doses of the EUVAX B® vaccine respectively at birth, two months and four months of life. Seven months after delivery, venous blood samples were collected from mothers and their children. Antibodies against hepatitis B surface antigen (AbHBs) were measured in vaccinated children using the ELISA Kit AbHBs Quantitative EIA. DNA extraction was performed on samples from HBV-seropositive mothers and their children using the Ribo Virus (HBV Real-TM Qual) Kit and for Real Time PCR, the HBV Real-TM Qual Kit was used. Serological diagnosis in pregnant women revealed 22 (9.28%) hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive samples of which 21 were positive for viral DNA by real-time PCR. Among the 22 HBsAg+ women, five (05) transmitted the virus to their children with a vertical transmission rate of 22.73%. A transmission rate of 23.81% (5/21) was found with the PCR method. Analysis of AbHBs levels revealed that 98.31% of the children had an average concentration of 218.07 ± 74.66 IU/L, which is well above the minimum threshold for protection (11 IU/L). This study has confirmed that vertical transmission of HBV is a reality in Burkina Faso and that vaccination at birth would significantly reduce this transmission

Association of TNF-α-308G/A and IL-18 Polymorphisms with risk of HPV infection among sexually active women in Burkina Faso

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Persistence infection can lead to the development of cervical cancer potentially due to some genetic factors such as polymorphisms in regulatory and coding regions of cytokine genes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between TNF-308 G/A or IL18 polymorphisms and high-risk HPV infection among sexually active women from Burkina Faso. Ninety-one HPV infected and two hundred and nine HPV negative women (the latter used as healthy controls) were screened. TNFA-308 G/A and IL18-607 C/A polymorphisms were detected using the TaqMan allelic discrimination. HPV 52 (21.19%), HPV 39 (11.86%) and HPV 33 (11.02%) were the most common HPV genotypes. The TNFA-308A and IL18-607 C alleles were predominant in all women in the study. None of the TNFA and IL18 alleles were associated with HPV infection. The results suggest that there is no relationship between TNF-308 G/A or IL18-607C/A polymorphisms and HPV infection among women in the study

World Viral Hepatitis Day in Burkina Faso, 2020: awareness, prevention and hepatitis B vaccine to achieve the WHO eradication goal by 2030

Running title: Hepatitis B vaccine coverage in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Burkina Faso is located in a region where hepatitis B is endemic with low vaccination coverage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the vaccine coverage during Hepatitis B screening campaign organized by "SOS Hepatitis Burkina"in Ouagadougou in July 2020. A rapid HBsAg detection test (Abon Biopharma Guangzhou, Co., Ltd. China; sensitivity > 99.0%; specificity, 96.8%) was performed on 252 individuals who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. This study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of the Centre de recherche Biomoleculaire Pietro Annigoni (CERBA).We included 252 participants aged 2 to 77 years (mean age 31.77±14.07 and 29.67±13.71 for males and females, respectively). The prevalence of HBsAg was 18.25% (46/252) and was slightly high in the age groups 21-30 years (23.71%) and 31-40 years (23.73%). Out of 252 participants, 25 HBV-negative participants were vaccinated, giving a vaccination rate of 9.92%.This study reports a high prevalence of HBV infection in Burkina Faso with low vaccination coverage. The study suggests that more attention should be paid to HBV prevention in Burkina Fas

Confirmation de l’électrophorèse des sujets drépanocytaires SS et non drépanocytaires par PCR en temps réel au Burkina Faso

La drépanocytose, maladie génétique très répandue dans le monde, a une prévalence élevée au Burkina Faso. Cette étude avait pour objectif de confirmer par PCR en temps réel l’électrophorèse des sujets drépanocytaires SS et non drépanocytaires afin de la proposer comme méthode de diagnostic précoce des hémoglobinopathies. Au total 280 patients ont participé à cette étude dont 86 drépanocytaires âgés de 1 à 15 ans (sujets non enceintes) et 194 femmes enceintes dont le génotype de l’hémoglobine était inconnu mais après l’examen, aucune femme enceinte SS n’a été identifiée. Tous les patients ont effectué les tests de l’électrophorèse de l’hémoglobine (EHb) et la PCR pour la détermination de leurs génotypes. En sus, ceux qui portaient l’hémoglobine SS ont réalisé les analyses de fer sérique, de ferritine et d’hémogramme. Le groupe des drépanocytaires étaient constitués de 41,9% de femmes et 58,1% d’hommes. Le génotypage par PCR chez les femmes enceintes a donné les fréquences génotypiques : AA(82,4%); AC(9,3%); AS(5,2%); CC(3,1%). Tous les tests d’EHb ont été confirmés à 100% par la PCR. La PCR était sensible et spécifique à 100% par rapport aux tests de l’EHb. La PCR qui permet d’effectuer des analyses prénatales et périnatales, différentie également l’hémoglobine S de l’hémoglobine D, et l’hémoglobine C de l’hémoglobine A2. Par conséquent, le test PCR de l’hémoglobine peut être dorénavant recommandé pour les examens de routine des hémoglobinopathies.   Englsih title: Electrophoresis confirmation of SS and non-sickle cell subjects using realtime PCR in Burkina FasoSickle cell disease, a genetic disease that is widespread in the world, has a high prevalence in Burkina Faso. The aim of this study was to confirm the electrophoresis of SS and non-sickle cell subjects by real-time PCR in order to propose it as an early diagnosis method for hemoglobinopathies. A total of 280 patients participated in this study, including 86 sickle aged 1 to 15 years (non-pregnant) cell patients and 194 pregnant women with unknown hemoglobin genotypes and no HbSS pregnant women was detected after Hb genotype analysis. All patients underwent hemoglobin electrophoresis (EHb) and PCR tests to determine their genotypes. In addition, those with SS hemoglobin performed serum iron, ferritin, and hemogram tests. The sickle cell group consisted of 41.9% women and 58.1% men. PCR genotyping in pregnant women yielded the following genotype frequencies: AA (82.4%); AC (9.3%); AS (5.2%); CC (3.1%). All EHb tests were 100% confirmed by PCR. PCR was 100% sensitive and specific compared to EHb tests. PCR, which allows for prenatal and perinatal testing, also differentiates hemoglobin S from hemoglobin D, and hemoglobin C from hemoglobin A2. Therefore, the PCR test for hemoglobin can now be recommended for routine exams of hemoglobinopathies

Carriage of Ser217Leu and Ala541Thr Variants of ELAC2 Gene and Risk Factors in Patients with Prostate Cancer in Burkina Faso

Background. Genetic factors are one of the significant contributors to prostate cancer (PCa) development, and hereditary prostate cancer 2 (HPC2) locus gene ELAC2 is considered a PCa susceptibility region. The HPC2/ELAC2 gene has been identified by linkage analysis in familial prostate cancer patients in the United States but has never been studied in Burkina Faso. The objective of the present study was to analyze the carriage of the C650T (Ser217Leu) and G1621A (Ala541Thr) mutations of the ELAC2 gene and the risk factors in prostate cancer patients in Burkina Faso. Methods. This case-control study included 76 participants, including 38 histologically confirmed prostate cancer cases and 38 healthy controls without prostate abnormalities. PCR combined with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was used to characterize the genotypes of the Ser217Leu and Ala541Thr polymorphisms of the ELAC2 gene. The correlations between the different genotypes and risk factors for prostate cancer were investigated. Results. The C650T mutation was present in 44.73% of prostate cancer cases and 47.37% of controls. The G1621A mutation was present in 26.32% of prostate cancer cases and 15.79% of controls. We did not detect an association between prostate cancer risk and the Ser217Leu (p=0.972) and Ala541Thr (p=0.267) variants of the ELAC2 gene. Also, the two ELAC2 SNPs did not correlate with clinical stage, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level at diagnosis, or the Gleason score on biopsies. However, we found that 100% of homozygous carriers of the T650 mutation have an A1621 mutation (p≤0.001). Conclusion. Ser217Leu and Ala541Thr polymorphisms of ELAC2, considered alone or in combination, are not associated with prostate cancer risk