Nazi Boni University

ObjectivesIn Guinea, around 17 new cases of HIV occurred each day and it was responsible for 10 deaths a day in 2022. In addition to this burden, regional disparities have emerged over the years. This study aimed to describe and explain the uneven distribution of HIV infection in Guinea using spatial analysis.DesignThis is a retrospective cross-sectional secondary analysis using data from the 2012 and 2018 Guinea Demographic and Health Survey (DHS).SettingThis study was conducted in Guinea.Participants and methodsWe conducted a secondary analysis of data from 300 and 400 enumeration areas, respectively, included in the 2012 and 2018 DHS Program for participants aged 15 to 49 who underwent HIV testing. Spatial analysis methods, including Moran I, interpolation and Kulldorff’s scan statistic, were applied to examine variation and identify high-risk spatial clusters of HIV prevalence rate. The potential relationship between HIV status and socio-demographic, biological, behavioural and socio-environmental explanatory variables was explored using logistic regression at individual level.ResultsIn total, 7922 individuals in 2012 and 8539 in 2018 participated in the study. HIV prevalence rate in 2012 and 2018 was 1.9% and 1.5%, respectively. Across Guinea’s 33 prefectures, HIV prevalence rate varied from 0% to 3.9% in 2012 and from 0% to 3.5% in 2018. Spatial analysis identified four significant high-risk spatial clusters in 2012 and one high-risk cluster in 2018. The high-risk clusters in 2012 were in Kissidougou (relative risk (RR)=3.97; p value=0.037), Matam (RR=2.80; p value=0.019), Pita (RR=3.46; p value=0.035) and N’zerekore prefectures (RR=6.08; p value=0.027), the high-risk cluster in 2018 was located in Boffa prefecture (RR=3.95; p value=0.022). Factors significantly and positively associated with HIV infection in 2012 included age class 25–34 (aOR: 2.20; 95% CI 1.40 to 3.47), age class 35–49 (aOR: 2.43; 95% CI 1.51 to 3.92), number of HIV healthcare facilities>30 (aOR: 2.14; 95% CI 1.34 to 3.43). HIV infection was significantly lower in men (aOR: 0.52; 95% CI 0.35 to 0.77). In 2018, in addition to age groups 25–34 years (aOR=1.90; 95% CI 1.18 to 3.04) and 35–49 years (aOR=2.25; 95% CI 1.40 to 3.64), the Soussou ethnicity group (aOR=1.73; 95% CI 1.04 to 2.87) was also positively associated with HIV infection.ConclusionThis study describes the spatial distribution of HIV prevalence rate and identified high-risk clusters in Guinea. In addition, risk factors associated with HIV status were identified. The information can help prioritise surveillance and response efforts to control HIV in Guinea.

Contexte : La transhumance constitue une pratique courante de l’élevage au Burkina Faso. Cependant, les éleveurs sont confrontés à plusieurs difficultés liées à cette pratique. Objectif : Cette étude visait à contribuer à l’analyse des défis spécifiques auxquels sont confrontés les éleveurs transhumants au Burkina Faso. Méthodes : Une enquête a été menée auprès de 231 éleveurs afin d’identifier les contraintes liées à la transhumance et différenciées selon leur statut défini en fonction de leur niveau de mobilité et de leur ancrage territorial (éleveurs déplacés internes, agropasteurs migrants, agropasteurs natifs). L’étude a combiné une analyse factorielle, une modélisation en réseau et une régression logistique multinomiale afin d’explorer ces difficultés associées à la transhumance. Résultats : Les principales contraintes sont l’obstruction des pistes à bétail (62,5 % de l’ensemble des enquêtés), les conflits (37,5 %) et le banditisme (12,5 %). Les contraintes sécuritaires et infrastructurelles sont dominantes, tandis que les défis administratifs et sanitaires sont considérés comme secondaires. En outre, les contraintes liées à la transhumance affectent les éleveurs de manière différenciée selon leur statut. Les conflits constituent la principale contrainte de tous les éleveurs enquêtés. Les déplacés internes et les natifs sont également affectés par le banditisme et le déficit en ressources naturelles, et les migrants par l’obstruction des pistes à bétail, la fermeture des frontière et la non-prise en compte du certificat international de transhumance. Conclusions : Ces résultats soulignent l’urgence de mettre en oeuvre des interventions ciblées visant à sécuriser les couloirs de transhumance et à lever les barrières administratives, tout en intégrant des solutions durables en faveur des populations pastorales vulnérables. Une approche multisectorielle s’avère essentielle pour répondre aux défis sécuritaires, infrastructurels et sociopolitiques.

BackgroundTsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) are vectors of human and animal trypanosomes. The Glossina palpalis gambiensis Burkina Faso (BKF) colony, established in 1972 and rejuvenated once in 1981, is a long-standing closed colony used extensively for research and vector control. While its performance and competitiveness for sterile insect technique (SIT) programs are regularly monitored, its vector competence (VC) data are outdated. This study aimed to update the VC data of this 47-year-old colony (from the onset of experiment in 2019) against Trypanosoma congolense and T. brucei brucei in laboratory conditions using trypanosome clone and tsetse fly individuals from the BKF colony.MethodsVector competence was studied by infecting rats with T. congolense IL1180 and T. b. brucei BE8P2P2, on which tsetse flies received their first blood meal. Dissections were subsequently performed at different time intervals.ResultsFollowing experimental infections with T. congolense IL1180, 10.58% (20/189) of G. p. gambiensis developed mature infections (trypanosomes in the proboscis), resulting in an average VC index of 0.106. For T. b. brucei BE8P2P2, 4.21% (11/261) of flies developed mature infections (trypanosomes in the salivary glands), yielding an average VC index of 0.042.ConclusionsThe VC for T. b. brucei aligned with previous findings from 21 years ago, though a different trypanosome isolate was used at that time. However, using the same trypanosome strain, the observed competence for T. congolense was 4.8 times higher than previously reported. These results raise questions about the long-term effects of insectary rearing on VC, particularly in the absence of prolonged parasite exposure.Graphical abstract

Introduction Hibiscus sabdariffa L. is an economically important and widely adopted crop in Burkina Faso. Yet its production is constrained by the lack of improved, locally adapted varieties. This study used a participatory variety selection approach to identify preferred landraces and selection criteria across two agroecological zones: Sudanian and Sudano-Sahelian. Methods The evaluation of landraces/accessions was carried out using an ordinal rating system, assigning scores ranging from 9 (most preferred accession), through 7 (very interesting), 5 (moderately interesting), 3 (less interesting), to 1 (least interesting). Landraces considered undesirable were specifically evaluated using negative scores of −5, −3, and −1, reflecting the degree of rejection expressed by the participants. Results Participatory selection involved 126 stakeholders (75.4% women), including producers (37.3%), consumers (30.9%), processors (16.7%), and traders (15.1%). The findings showed that 130 accessions (81.25%) were positively selected across zones, with traits such as leaf size, tenderness, absence of pubescence, market value, and drought tolerance being prioritized. Preferences differed significantly by agroecological zone, ethnicity (p < 0.001), age group, and actor role (χ² = 360.21, p< 0.001). Two accessions (CKK1 and CKN5) were consistently ranked at the top, with index scores of 0.0441 and 0.0428, respectively. In contrast, accessions like CKO2 and HBB3 were most rejected due to poor agronomic and culinary traits. The analysis showed that only 30% of the selected accessions were shared between the two zones. Conclusion These results highlight the potential value of participatory selection in identifying varieties that are well-adapted, socially acceptable, and potentially more resilient for underutilized species in West Africa.

In the rice sector, the adoption of new technologies such as the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is one of the best options to improve productivity and increase rice production in Burkina Faso. High domestic demand leads to massive outflows of foreign currency every year. The objective of this study is to analyze the factors influencing the adoption of the System of Rice Intensification in the developed lowland of Songo II, a village located in the Pô commune in the Nahouri province. To achieve this goal, a survey was conducted in 2024 with twenty-five (25) rice farmers from the site using a standardized questionnaire. The sample size is 25 (n=25). The results showed certain advantages in practicing the intensive rice cultivation system, notably, the increase in yield (6222 kg/ha for the intensive rice cultivation system compared to 4444 kg/ha for the traditional system) and the reduction in the amount of seed used. However, a number of difficulties have been noted. Most of the respondents find sowing and thinning to one plant per hill quite tedious and slow, the time required for practicing the intensive rice cultivation system, the insufficiency of organic fertilizer, the lack of labor, and the absence of water to cope with climatic hazards. Moreover, the intensity of adoption of a new agricultural technology is positively influenced by its economic profitability (gross margin of 439,400 FCFA for the intensive rice farming system compared to 417,800 FCFA for the traditional system), the labor demand of the technological package, as well as the level of investment required for the farming technique and its ease of implementation, and contact with agricultural extension services. While yield increased significantly, the gross margin difference was narrow due to high labor costs. Given the benefits highlighted by producers and considering that the intensive rice cultivation system represents a technological package that already encompasses good agricultural practices, it could be recommended to rice growers to rely on the positive aspects identified to improve their usual practices. However, this approach must be considered within the context of adapting to their socio-economic and agro-ecological production conditions to facilitate its adoption.

Background: Mosquito-borne diseases remain a major health concern threatening more than 40% of people worldwide. The presence of the pathogens and their vectors in the same area constitute key factors for the maintenance of vector-borne diseases. Seeing this, hospitals appear to be an area having high risk of mosquito-borne diseases transmission. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of chikungunya, dengue fever and malaria transmission in the CHUSS. Method: We collected mosquitoes outside the hospital buildings using the Human Landing Catch technique and BG traps during 4 consecutive days. Specimens belonging to the Anopheles gambiae complex were identified using molecular techniques as well as detection of Plasmodium falciparum infection and blood meal source. Results: Overall Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles gambiae s.l. and Aedes aegypti were the most abundant mosquito found in the study area. Anopheles arabiensis was the most abundant malaria vector (70.16%, n = 207), while Aedes aegypti was the main arbovirus vector, with a positivity index of 1. Further, PCR-based blood meal identification showed that the majority of blood meals from Anopheles gambiae s.l. were from human and goat hosts (42.11%, n=16). Of 282 Anopheles gambiae s.l. tested, (21.98%) were found carrying Plasmodium sporozoites. Anopheles arabiensis played a major contribution in malaria transmission in CHUSS, being responsible of 17.02% infection rate. Conclusion: In our study, we observed a high density of mosquitoes associated with a risk of disease transmission. The Plasmodium falciparum infection rate was very high. This study should alert decision-makers about the risk of mosquito-borne disease transmission in hospitals. Key words: Transmission, Plasmodium falciparum, risk, mosquito-borne diseases, CHUSS, Bobo-Dioulasso and Burkina Faso

Introduction : La capacité antiplasmodiale d’un phytomédicament « YIKI » composée de 7 plantes médicinales a été évalué à la suite d’une enquête ethnomédicale qui avait montré l’utilisation régulière de cette recette par un tradipraticien dans le traitement du paludisme Méthode : Un macéré aqueux de la recette a été réalisé et la Dose Equivalent Humain (DEH) déterminée (20,5mg/kg pc). Une extrapolation de la DEH a été réalisée chez la souris NMRI (2,05mg/kg pc). La capacité antiplasmodiale de la recette a été évaluée avec des doses D1=2,05 mg/kg pc ; D2=20,5 mg/kg pc ; D3=205 mg/kg pc et la dose de référence (D4=250mg/kgpc) et le solvant de dilution commecontrôle (Ctrl). Résultats : Les densités parasitaires moyennes des groupes de souris comprenaient : Ctrl=26±1,0% ; D1=9,33±1,5% ; D2=7,33±0,6% ; D3=5,66±0,6% et D4=2,66±0,6%. La chimio-suppression des parasites étaient : D1= 64.1±4.45% ; D2 = 71.2±2.22% ; D3 = 81.7±7.28% et D4 = 92.3±4% comparativement au groupe contrôle. Les augmentations des doses avaient un effet significatif sur la chimio-suppression (P<0.0001). Pour D1, D2 et D3, les activités antiplasmodiales étaient « bonne à modérée » et « très bonne à bonne » pour la dose de référence (D4). Une activité antiplasmodiale dose dépendante a été observée. Une gamétocytogénèse doses dépendantes a également été démontré : Ctrl=1 ; D1=11 ; D2=12 ; D3=5 ; D4=5. Conclusion : Le phytomédicament « YIKI » a démontré une capacité antiplasmodiale contre P. berghei. Cependant, la dose utilisée par le tradipraticien pour soigner ses patients serait sub-curative.