There is a high prevalence of blood-borne infections in West Africa. This study sought to determine the seroprevalence of blood-borne infections, including hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), HIV, and syphilis, in blood donors in Burkina Faso. Blood donors were recruited from 2009 to 2013 in four major cities in Burkina Faso of urban area (Ouagadougou) and rural area (Bobo Dioulasso, Fada N’Gourma, and Ouahigouya). Serology tests including Hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-HCV, anti-HIV, and rapid plasma reagin test were used for screening and were confirmed with ELISA. Disease prevalence was calculated among first-time donors. Incidence and residual risk were calculated from repeat donors. There were 166,681 donors; 43,084 had ≥ 2 donations. The overall seroprevalence of HBV, HCV, HIV, and syphilis were 13.4%, 6.9%, 2.1%, and 2.4%, respectively. The incidence rates (IRs) of HBV, HCV, HIV, and syphilis infection were 2,786, 2,707, 1,113, and 1,574 per 100,000 person-years. There was lower seroprevalence of HBV and HCV in urban area than in rural area (12.9% versus 14.0%, P < 0.001; and 5.9% versus 8.0%, P < 0.001), and no difference in HIV (2.1% versus 2.1%, P = 0.25). The IRs of new HBV, HCV, HIV, and syphilis were 2.43, 3.06, 1.12, and 1.29 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. The residual risk was one per 268 donations for HBV, one per 181 donations for HCV, and one per 1,480 donations for HIV, respectively. In conclusion, this comprehensive study from four blood donation sites in Burkina Faso showed high HBV and HCV seroprevalence and incidence with high residual risk from blood donation.

IntroductionAs demonstrated in mathematical models, the simultaneous deployment of multiple first-line therapies (MFT) for uncomplicated malaria, using artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), may extend the useful therapeutic life of the current ACTs. This is possible by reducing drug pressure and slowing the spread of resistance without putting patients’ life at risk. We hypothesised that a simultaneous deployment of three different ACTs is feasible, acceptable and can achieve high coverage rate if potential barriers are properly identified and addressed.Methods and analysisWe plan to conduct a quasi-experimental study in the Kaya health district in Burkina Faso. We will investigate a simultaneous deployment of three ACTs, artemether–lumefantrine, pyronaridine–artesunate, dihydroartesinin–piperaquine, targeting three segments of the population: pregnant women, children under five and individuals aged five years and above. The study will include four overlapping phases: the formative phase, the MFT deployment phase, the monitoring and evaluation phase and the post-evaluation phase. The formative phase will help generate baseline information and develop MFT deployment tools. It will be followed by the MFT deployment phase in the study area. The monitoring and evaluation phase will be conducted as the deployment of MFT progresses. Cross-sectional surveys including desk reviews as well as qualitative and quantitative research methods will be used to assess the study outcomes. Quantitatives study outcomes will be measured using univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis, including logistic regression and interrupted time series analysis approach. Content analysis will be performed on the qualitative data.Ethics and disseminationThe Health Research Ethics Committee in Burkina Faso approved the study (Clearance no. 2018-8-113). Study findings will be disseminated through feedback meetings with local communities, national workshops, oral presentations at congresses, seminars and publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals.Trial registration numberNCT04265573.

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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous RNAs approximately 22 nucleotides involved in the regulation of several cellular metabolisms including cholesterol metabolism. The objective of this study was to measure miRNAs 33a and 33b in type 2 diabetics to evaluate their impact on the lipids levels and prevalence of dyslipidemia. The study population profile was 45 subjects including 30 type 2 diabetic patients and 15 healthy controls. The lipids tests were performed using an automated Spintech 240 Biolis analyzer and the microRNAs (33a and 33b) by applied biosystems 7500 Fast Real Time PCR System using the TaqMan® MicroRNA Assay kit. The prevalence of dyslipidemia was higher in miRNA-33a positive subjects than miRNA-33a negative (p <0.0001). The prevalence of dyslipidemia was however not significant between miRNA-33b positive and miRNA-33b negative. A comparison between miRNA-33a positive and miRNA-33b positive showed a significant increase of dyslipidemia in miRNA-33a positive than in miRNA-33b positive subjects. The dyslipidemic types in miRNA-33a positive diabetics were 90% hypercholesterolemia, 88% LDLC increase and 83.33% HDLC decrease. The measurement of the HDLC subclasses showed 82.6% HDL2C decrease and 90.91% HDL3C increase. The HDL3C level increased in 100% of non hypertensive diabetics versus 46.67% in hypertensive diabetics (p=0.003). The increase of HDL3C was 90.9% in miRNA33a positive subjects versus 54.5% in miRNA33b positive subjects (p <0.006). The study therefore confirms the relationship between the presence of microRNAs 33a and increased cardiovascular risk. The results showed a role of microRNA-33a on the increase of HDL3C which has a weak atheroprotective role compared to HDL2C. This observation suggests that the research on drugs able to increase the HDLC level based on microRNA regulation should target the stimulation of HDL2C synthesis.